Matt Buttrick, Ogunquit’s new town manager, joined us on Zoom as Heath’s guest. Matt is interested in joining Rotary!

 

In happy dollars, Dr. Joe expressed the joy he feels as a Rotarian by contributing to The Rotary Foundation and to Polio Plus. Brenda’s grandson Tyrell celebrated his 18^th birthday yesterday. Melanie was happy that “we won’t get a foot of snow on Friday!” Elizabeth Ford’s family is on the recovery path from Covid infections. You’ll see that Pete was in especially good form.

 

Today's the 12th day of Christmas!
   D' ya hear those drummers drummin'?
What say we give 'em all a drink,
   Then take to CLYNK those bags forthcomin'!
 

$883.80 in the account, a $50.00 increase in a month!

 

Elizabeth Ford forwarded a report from George on the Afghan refuge family resettlement project. Donations totaling $10,000 have come in already with another $1,500 to come from Portsmouth Rotary. Rent for half of the first year is already covered. There is a need for a bunk bed among other things. George also told Elizabeth about a U.S. armed service veteran of the Afghan war who is donating the use for a year of a condo apartment in Exeter to an Afghan refuge who was the serviceman’s interpreter. Such remarkable generosity!

 

Our Day of Warming at the senior center will be on Saturday, February 12. Brenda and Naomme are co-chairing the effort with veteran advice from Erin. In a conversation with Rita Sevigny, the WOCAM director, Brenda was particularly struck by Rita’s saying that “loneliness is real” and the center is determined to remain open and accessible to seniors.

 

Brenda spoke to us about The Rotary Foundation which she refers to as the lifeline of our organization. It began with a donation of $26.50 at the 1917 Rotary convention when Arch Klumpf proposed an endowment “for the purpose of doing good in the world.” Brenda told us that she joined Rotary in 1989 largely because of its work to eradicate polio, a disease that claimed the life of Brenda’s 5-year-old childhood friend. She rose to the upper echelons of the organization serving as one of 17 Rotary Foundation Trustees, including chairing the group in the 2018-19 year. With an emphasis on stewardship, the Foundation strives to ensure that its funds are managed with integrity. One-half of donations to the Foundation go to the World Fund which supports large international projects. The other half is returned to districts and clubs for local projects like our recent Canines for Clean Water project. Brenda closed with a request that each of us consider donating at least $100 each year to the Foundation.

 

One bit of news from the board of directors - by way of an email vote, the board approved donating $200 to Tennessee and Kentucky Tornado Relief through Rotary Districts 6760 and 6170. Erin sent those checks last week.

 

The board will meet Wednesday, January 12, at 5:00 on Zoom. All members are welcome.

 

The club will meet on Zoom again at noon on Thursday, January 20.

 

Enjoy the picturesque snowfall!

 

Ed Seppa