What an amazing presentation from OLPS of Kisimu, Kenya last week. We recently gave this organization $2000 to upgrade their kitchen. I wish you could have heard the students singing for us, an amazing experience. Here's a screenshot, and know that our giving is making a difference, all over the world.
We'll use our normal Zoom link. Please do register, it is helpful to know how many are attending. We expect a large attendance including many guests from other Clubs. We recently sent $3910 to RC Oradea (Romania); I wouldn't be shocked if we elected to offer a donation to RC Kyiv. Rotary colors are already blue and yellow, so if you have some blue and yellow, wear it.
All of this very meaningful international work is made possible by our fundraising efforts, and one of our most important ones is going on right now, and there is only one more week. Surprisingly, we are way behind last year's sales. Please share your Maple Syrup fundraising page with friends far and wide!
I've been so impressed with the student participation in the Red Ribbon program. Did you know that we received more than one hundred design ideas from students? Remarkable. Red Ribbon is the nation's largest and oldest substance misuse disorder in-school program. We are really doing a lot this year, please get involved! Here's our action plan.
The Raised Bed Garden project is looking for Biddeford-Saco families in need -- thanks to a District Grant, we can supply as many as 20 Raised Bed gardens, filled with rich soil, delivered together with seeds and starts. Who do you know that we can help?
Next week, on the 30th, we'll be back in person at Dizzy Birds! We'll have a great program featuring Dora Zuniga of RC Tampa; a new member induction; a guest prospective member, and some good food & fellowship. Plan on it!
Following yesterday's presentation by Dacian Coita, Roland and I discussed ways we could help as a Club. Marty is already working on a Club donation. Additionally, we'd like to make it easy for you to personally support Ukrainian mothers and their children who are escaping the violence.
If you would like to help through ANY level of donation, please do so through one of the following two methods before next Tuesday, March 8th:
1) Venmo your donation to @Treasurer-BSRC and add "Ukraine support" when it asks you "What's if for?"
2) Drop off your check at Apex Youth Connection. We have a donation box for donor forms in the back of the building if you come by at night or over the weekend. Please write the check to Biddeford-Saco Rotary (NOT to Apex Youth Connection!), and add "Ukraine support" in the note. I will gather the checks and deliver them to Sue on Tuesday.
Your donation of any amount will be combined with all other Rotary gifts and we will send them together for a powerful impact! Please dig deep and give. If you have seen the footage of children pulled away from their fathers, brothers, and grandfathers who they may never see again, you know how much they need us. Just to know we care will give them strength. Thank you!
Happy New Year! I'm excited for 2022, and it gives me a chance to provide some updates on goings-on at our Biddeford Saco Rotary Club:
We have a new member proposed, Phillip Mateja. He is sponsored by Heather Gendron. Phil is a Realtor and has volunteered with the National Athletic Trainers Association and the Knights of Columbus. He has been to a few meetings and was approved for membership by the board at our December meeting. However, I did not do a good job of "posting" or announcing his prospective membership at our last two meetings (our process for new members is attend a meeting as a guest, be placed on the agenda for board approval, followed by announcing or "posting" the proposed new member at two consecutive club meetings, then induction at a meeting). So, if you have concerns about adding Phil to our club, please contact me ASAP, otherwise he will be inducted at our meeting this Wednesday January 5 at Ricetta's at 12:15.
Speaking of new members, it has really been great to see you stepping up and getting so involved with our programs, and bringing new energy to our group. Volunteering and getting involved is the best way to get to know the Club, and you have been doing that. Welcome!
More volunteer opportunities: Wreaths Across America is seeking our help at St Joseph's Cemetery on Saturday January 15 at 9AM to pick up the wreaths we placed last month. Cold, unglamorous work -- our specialty :)
Before too long it will be time for our Raised Bed Gardens to be built and delivered. Look for a note from Ken Farley about that in the next couple weeks. We hope to provide as many as fifteen or twenty "gardens ready to go" for area families in need this year. The work involves building, delivering, and filling the raised beds with dirt. Again with the unglamorous work.
Someone who does a lot of unglamorous work for the Club but doesn't always get much mention is Brian Dallaire. Thank you Brian for setting up all the Zooms, the meeting invites, and the website.
Please do register for our weekly lunch if you get the chance. It helps us plan. But then we always have extra food, so don't hesitate to just show up if your plans change -- we love to see you.
Omicron is a wild card. We do have masks available at the restaurant, will make them more prominent, and Zoom is always an option which seems to be working fairly well. We'll be discussing this at the Board meeting Wednesday morning, so please bring your ideas and concerns to your favorite board member (listed on the left column of the website).
Our signature holiday program Adopt-A-Family was a great success. We helped a record number of families, a total of 97 children. So rewarding. Thank you for participating, and thanks again to Karen Chasse and Heather Gendron for coordinating. All this was made possible by our Raffle, which was a huge success, and provided us the budget to give the most we've ever given this year.
Speaking of thanks, here's to our nominating committee for developing a strong slate of officers for 2022 (starting in July). As we head into our 102nd year of Service Above Self, we'll be in good hands.
Sometimes I don't do enough to mention our international activities. Lots of communities around the world can use our help, and Roland Gagne does an amazing job keeping us involved.
Internationally, we have two projects underway:
Monday, January 3rd (today!) at 9AM we’ll be holding a Zoom meeting with Rotarians in Uganda; a local Portland, ME environmental engineer; and two community members from Biddeford to discuss/review water project proposals received for a hydrogeological study for a community near the borders of Rwanda and DRC. Our club will be helping fund and support this project. Any Rotarians interested in joining the Zoom meeting, email Roland for the link: rotaryroland@gmail.com. And here’s a Google Earth link to the community in Rwanda where the proposed water project is being developed: Rwanda Water Project
The Children’s Rescue Center in Kisumu, Kenya is in need of support for orphaned children being cared for at the center. We continue to engage with the center to understand the most pressing needs that we can support. Anyone interested in joining the discussion, email Roland at rotaryroland@gmail.com.
Looking ahead, we have exciting programs in the works. For example, in March we'll be doing our Maple Syrup fundraiser. It was a big success last year thanks to Roland Gagne, and we have it in the works again this year, so don't buy any syrup between now and then... also, in late April, we are looking at a new event, together with the Rotary District 7780 Recovery Initiative, called a "Recovery Workforce Job Fair"... In May, We'll be back at St. Joseph's Cemetery, where together with students from Biddeford Schools, we place flags on veterans graves for Memorial Day... and in June we'll have our essay contest, which provides a chance for student authors to show their stuff. Lastly, coming up soon, we'll be looking for volunteers to help sort, organize and hang pictures and historical articles at the newly renovated lodge at West Brook Skating Rink. More with the unglamorous work.
The Biddeford Saco Rotary Club now accepts Venmo! You can pay your dues, the golf fundraiser, fines & happy dollars, foundation giving or anything else you’d like to pay directly to our bank account.
If you don’t have Venmo, please download the app and set up an account. It’s very easy. And it’s especially helpful that you can pay with your phone while we don’t meet in person.
Please send payments to @Treasurer-BSRC and put a note with your name (if it’s not identifiable) and what you’re sending money for. I can also try to answer questions if you respond to this email.
CLYNK bags are available at Whimsical Me on Main Street Saco. Stop into Heather’s store to pick-up several bags. Drop your bags off at the CLYNK DEPOSITORY In the Hannaford Shopping Center. Scan the bag tag on the outside of the door and place the bag inside Help us support Roland Gagne’s school in Kenya. A few cans and bottles goes a long way to improve the lives of these children. Let’s fulfill our commitment. .
Thank you
Roland
Our Club is in first place of 10 Rotary Clubs who participate in this program! But Saco Bay is gaining on us.
Rotary Club of Biddeford Saco
Total Raised
$3,187.05
Containers CLYNKed
56,626
Saved enough energy to light 79.2 lightbulbs—24 hours a day—for a year.
Saved the emissions equivalent of driving a car 14,985 miles.
Diverted enough containers to fill 575.4 lobster traps.
Fill up those green bags. If you need more bags and/or labels, just let Julie Villemaire know and she can hook you up…no charge!
Simple fill with returnables and drop off at any Hannaford.
Alternately, if you already have a CLYNK account of your own, you can designate you funds as a donation. Hit the Donate button and search for Rotary and you'll find our account.
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