If you go to the Run of the Mill this week you will be in the wrong place! We are meeting at the Alfond Center (the hockey rink) at the University of New England on the 20th. Don’t take a left into the campus, but go beyond the main entrance on the Pool Road and take a right. I am sure that there will be signs. The President of UNE, Danielle Ripich will be our speaker. It should be a great meeting. Thanks to Mark Nahorney for coordinating it.
Unless you had your tear ducts surgically removed I am guessing you might have been fighting back a tear or two last Wednesday. As usual the local eighth graders wrote some excellent essays on “What Family Means to Me”. More than one of them was very forthcoming with her (all the winners were girls) struggles and tragedies. From a story about a single Mom living with her deadbeat boyfriend to a girl who lost her young brother in a zip line accident (she could not read her own essay and even her teacher struggled through it) the essays were often revealing, clearly from the heart and all were well written. Congrats and thanks to Elaine Palmitessa and Sarah Neault for hosting a great event.
I would love to get feedback about Duffy’s from members who attended the meeting on the 13th. How did you find the commute to the meeting location, longer, about the same, too long, acceptable? How did you like to room, keeping in mind that for the most part if we relocated there we would not be meeting in that room. How did you like the food, quality, portion sizes, etc.? How was the service? Any feedback, good or bad, would really be appreciated. I certainly have my own opinions about how things went, but I will reserve my comments at this time.
Hope to see you all at UNE in the 20th. Otherwise, have a great week.
Thank you to mentors- Fausto, Jim, Dennis, Sabeen, Jackson, Bill, James A. & Andy
Thank you cleanup crew- Brian D, Sabeen, Dennis, Bill & Jim
Red Ribbon Update- Awareness Week 25th PLEASE ATTEND EVENTS– no meeting next week but will follow up after events to plan new goals – also adding option to Facebook page for donations
Next week’s meeting at UNE
May 18th meeting at COT
April 28th – Fireside chat at 5pm at Duffys
May 21st- Trail cleanup at bicycle center
New member posting Delilah P
May 7th Bingo @ Rochambeau club 10-1pm – LOOKING FOR SPONSORS – next week each Rotarian will get 4 tickets to sell ($20/ticket)
Thanks to Heather and Mark for volunteering to work front desk next week
Matt S donated 50% of winnings in Vegas to Red Ribbon
Each year the Biddeford-Saco Rotary Club sponsors an annual essay contest for all eighth graders in Biddeford, Saco and Old Orchard Beach schools. This year marked the 21st year they have held the contest. The theme of the essay is “What the Word Family Means to Me,” which focuses on the students’ views of the importance of family life, their understanding, and appreciation of differences that exist with other families. The best essays are selected by the school’s faculty of teachers based on the established criteria: relevance to the topic, quality of composition, creativity, and grammatical, spelling accuracy.
On April 13, the first place winners from each participating school were invited to read their essay before an assembly of Rotarians, parents, school principals and teachers. Each was awarded a Certificate of Achievement along with a $100 prize. The first place winners were: Jillian Greenleaf, Biddeford Middle School; Kaitlyn Cox, Thornton Academy Middle School, Saco; Jade Kruczek, Saco Middle School; Lizzie Owen, Loranger Middle School, Old Orchard Beach; and McKenna Picard, St. James School, Biddeford.
Congratulations to the other prize winners who received $50 or $25 prizes as well: Michael Delorge and Claudia Janelle - Biddeford Middle School; Olivia Paradis and Lindsay Labrecque
- Thornton Academy Middle School, Saco; Meghan McReynolds and Sadie Gray - Saco Middle School; Ana Pilioglos and Luke Knowles - Loranger Middle School, Old Orchard Beach; and Lydia Rue and Alison Violette - St. James School, Biddeford.
The Biddeford-Saco Rotary Club is pleased to be part of community involvement. If you would like more information on how to become involved with Rotary, please visit their website at www.biddeford-sacorotary.org.
PHOTO CAPTION: The Biddeford-Saco Rotary Club recently awarded winners for their twenty-first annual essay contest: (L-R): Lizzie Owen, Loranger Middle School, Old Orchard Beach; Jade Kruczek, Saco Middle School; Kaitlyn Cox, Thornton Academy Middle School, Saco; Jillian Greenleaf, Biddeford Middle School; and McKenna Picard, St. James School, Biddeford.
For every $1 spent on prevention, it saves $7 in treatment. To steer our community toward healthy behaviors, the Biddeford Saco Rotary Club has formed the Red Ribbon Committee to focus efforts on preventing young people from slipping into the devastating grip of drug misuse and addiction. Working in conjunction with school educators in Biddeford, Old Orchard Beach, and Saco the Rotary’s Red Ribbon Committee is hosting multiple events during Red Ribbon Awareness Week, April 25-29, with a community-wide presentation on April 26 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Thornton Academy’s Garland Auditorium. All members of the community are welcome. The event is free and TATV will livestream at www.livestream.com/tatvsac.
“Our goal is to serve as a catalyst to mobilize communities, educate youth and encourage participation in drug prevention activities” stated Red Ribbon Committee Co-Chair and Rotarian Jim Godbout. “We all recognize drug misuse is at epidemic proportions in our country. It costs our country billions of dollars each year through tax dollars, so we are all affected directly or indirectly by the growing drug problem that is ruining the lives of so many individuals. I applaud the schools for working collaboratively together and with our Rotary Club, and I invite everyone to be part of this culture change.”
The tri-community presentation on April 26 encourages individuals and families to reflect upon current trends in drug use and what the community can do to promote healthy behaviors without the influences of illegal drugs or other misused substances. A series of speakers will present about trends in drug use and effects locally, including: Bill Patterson of Coastal Healthy Communities Coalition will present on what local children and their peers reported on the Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey; Joe Hansen, a Juvenile Community Corrections Officer, will educate parents and community members on current drug use trends including what's new and what current lingo is being used; Biddeford Saco Rotary Club will speak about their desire to organize and sustain these events; Tidal Waves, a student group from York High School, will present about their initiative; and Sheriff Bill King will present powerful information pertaining to drugs in York County impacting our youth.
In addition to the community-wide presentation, each school has also planned health class curriculum and activities for their students throughout the week. At Biddeford High School, students will hear presentations by Skip Gates on opiates, York County Women’s Transition Program and Maine Inside Out Group, receive daily drug fact announcements, and engage in a “natural high” game of dodgeball with staff versus students. At Thornton Academy Middle and High School, students will hear presentations by Sergeant Peter Mador of the Drug Enforcement Agency on the effects of heroin, marijuana and THC, Kevin Welch of Day One on marijuana use, experience simulations of drunk driving, and a mock fatal accident thanks to police and fire departments from Saco, Old Orchard Beach, and Saco Police Explorers and Junior Firefighters. At Old Orchard Beach High School, students will join BHS for their opiates presentation to kick-off the week and continue with a viewing of “Point of No Return”, attend a “harm reduction” presentation by an alum who lost his sister to addiction and a school-wide speed game of jeopardy put on by the Natural Helpers followed by a check presentation from the Biddeford Saco Rotary Club.
“This has been a great partnership between the Rotary Club representing the business community and the educators of Biddeford, Old Orchard Beach and Saco,” stated Biddeford High School Principal Jeremie Sirois. “Having all three school systems working together allows us to have a larger impact with substantial results on reaching our youth and changing culture. We will continue to work together planning curriculum and presentations that can be mirrored throughout all the schools.”
These events would not be possible without the many individuals and local businesses who have contributed to the Red Ribbon Committee of the Biddeford Saco Rotary Club, especially the following major sponsors: Atlantic Comfort Systems, Biddeford Savings Bank, Blue Elephant Catering & Events, Carl Goodwin, Inc., Gorham Savings Bank and Jim Godbout Plumbing & Heating.
Students will gather for a presentation by Kevin Welch of Day One around marijuana. A Day One resident may be available to speak and a graduate student may share research on marijuana use.
10:15-11:30AM at Biddeford High School Tiger Gym
Students from Biddeford High School, Biddeford Middle School and Old Orchard Beach High School will gather for “The Opiate Effect” presentation by Skip Gates
Tuesday, April 26
9:15am and 10:15am at Biddeford High School Little Theater
Freshman and Sophomores will gather for a presentation by York County Women’s Transition Program.
10:30-11am and 11:45am-12:15pm at Old Orchard Beach High School
Students will have an opportunity to see firsthand how alcohol and other drugs affect reflexes and judgement while driving utilizing the Drunk and Distracted Driving Simulation with OOBHS School Resource Officer Lucas Porter.
6-7:45pm at Thornton Academy Garland Auditorium
Free tri-community presentation featuring a panel of speakers: Red Ribbon Committee of the Biddeford Saco Rotary Club, Coastal Healthy Communities Coalition, Juvenile Community Corrections Officer Joe Hansen, Tidal Waves York High School Student Organization and Sheriff Bill King.
Wednesday, April 27
9-11am at Thornton Academy Gymnasium and Fields next to Junior Trojan Building
Juniors and seniors will witness “Fatal Reality” - a graphic, emotional, and realistic portrayal of a fatal car accident which will involve police and fire departments from Saco, Old Orchard Beach, and Saco Police Explorers and Junior Firefighters, as well as a funeral home. TA Players will serve as the actors for the mock accident, with the exception of a parent who will portray the parent of the deceased.
1:30-2:15pm at Old Orchard Beach High School
NO MEDIA OR ROTARIANS PLEASE
Sophomores will watch “Point of No Return” film featuring the risks and outcomes to a group of teens who obtain alcohol, have a house party and then drive.
Thursday, April 28
9:15-10:25am and 12:20-1:30pm at Old Orchard Beach High School
NO MEDIA OR ROTARIANS PLEASE
Seniors will attend a program on “harm reduction” for life after high school to help students think ahead about their own values and personal decisions. A former student who lost a sibling to addiction will speak on his experience and the lessons he has learned.
9:15am and 10:15am at Biddeford High School Little Theater
Students will gather for a performance by Maine Inside Out, a group of formerly incarcerated individuals who create original theater as a catalyst for social change.
Time TBD at Biddeford High School Tiger Gym
“Natural High” game of dodgeball with staff versus students.
All Day at Thornton Academy
Students will participate in distracted driving simulator activities. Students with driver’s licenses will drive a golf cart on a course while wearing goggles to simulate impaired driving. Students without driver’s licenses can experience a simulation on a computer console.
Friday, April 29
1:30-2:15pm at Old Orchard Beach High School
All school assembly hosted by Natural Helpers in which a check will be presented by the Biddeford Saco Rotary Club to support the Day One Natural Helper program and students will participate in a game of speed jeopardy around myths and facts of marijuana.
All Day at Thornton Academy
Students will participate in distracted driving simulator activities. Students with driver’s licenses will drive a golf cart on a course while wearing goggles to simulate impaired driving. Students without driver’s licenses can experience a simulation on a computer console.
The below list of nominations were read. No nominations were heard from the floor. Paul Dechambault made a motion to accept the slate of nominations, Jeremy Ray seconded the motion and the club voted unanimous.
Peggy Bean needs more volunteers! Please remember it is up to the TACK coordinator to ensure that someone is taking the minutes each week during your assigned month. If you aren’t able to take the minutes yourself, please reach out to fellow members for volunteers. Please forward the minutes to Julie Villemaire and Brian Dallaire so they can get them posted for the rest of the members.
Invocation: Joe Bassett
PROGRAM IDEA???? PLEASE CONTACT Brian Dallaire, PROGRAM CHAIR or a member of the Program Committee. Remember it is the responsibility of every member to help get Programs for our meetings.
Energy: Saved enough energy to light 36.0 lightbulbs—24 hours a day—for a year.
Emissions: Saved the emissions equivalent of driving a car 6,817 miles.
Volume: Diverted enough containers to fill 249.3 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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