Friday's meeting our York Rotary Family GREW!
Welcome Drew Fortin and Linda Bruce.
Drew is an all-new member, while Linda is a transferring member from Westport Sunrise (Westport, CT)
We are SO HAPPY to have you!
Friday, June 3, 2022 York Rotary Club's meeting included the May "Car with a Cause" Early Bird Drawing. Congratulations to S. Dauton of Milford, MA! You just WON $250.00, plus your ticket goes BACK into the bin, and you could win future early bird drawings and/or you could win the car! Have you bought YOUR ticket yet? If now, what are you waiting for? Visit the "Car with a Cause" website at https://carwithacause.org/ and purchase a ticket online today!
So much FUN this morning at the York Maine Rotary Club regular meeting!
First we were introduced to the York Middle School Interact club students, who updated us on their fundraising efforts for both the Purple Pinky Project and for fundraising for Ukraine. At the conclusion of this presentation, York Rotary presented the YMS Club with a "BIG CHECK" in the amount of $988.00 to assist in their efforts.
Next, we were introduced to the 2022 York Rotary Club Scholarship recipients Elly and Evah, who both made a brief presentation on where they will be going after high school and the major's that they plan to pursue.
And then last, but certainly not least we had the pleasure of an update by 2020 Scholarship winner Sophia Newton, who brought us up to date with all the FUN things she has going on in her life while attending the University of Michigan, and what her future plans might be.
WONDERFUL MEETING!
Yesterday's meeting included an update by York's Climate Action Plan Co-Chair Gerry Runte, shown above with York Rotary President Susan Gross. Mr. Runte updated York Rotary on the February 2022 York Climate Action Plan Report, This report is now going to the Town of York Voters at the May 21, 2022 Budget Referendum where Article 70 states:
Article Seventy
Shall the Town vote to adopt the York Climate Action Plan, as was considered at a Public Hearing on February 28, 2022, to be a non-binding set of recommendations for future policies and actions designed to prepare the Town for climate change vulnerabilities and reduce emissions?
To review a Summary of this February 2022 Report, please click the below link:
Yesterday, we had the pleasure of having Chloe of the York High School Debate team attend our regular meeting. At the meeting she gave a speech that she intends to give at the upcoming National Debate Competition happening in Washington, DC. She is the only York High School student who will be attending this competition, and by the way, she is a freshman! This young lady is GOING PLACES!
We are pleased to support her in this opportunity with a $500.00 donation towards travel expenses.
Yesterday, we had the pleasure of presenting the 2022 Sharing & Caring Grant to this year's recipient "Kids Free to Grow". Kids Free to Grow is the Child Abuse Prevention Council for York and Cumberland Counties. Their mission is to prevent child abuse and neglect by empowering children and families in York and Cumberland Counties. Shown in the above photo from left to right are; York Rotary President, Susan Gross, Kids Free to Grow Director, Patrice Leary-Forrey, Kids Free to Grow Community Educator of York County, Amy Michaels, and York Rotary Sharing & Caring Committee members Gail Anderson-Morse and Larry Richburg.
To learn more about this deserving organization, please visit their website at https://kidsfreetogrow.org/
Great presentation from Donna Bakke of the organization "York Connects" this morning. York Connects is a group of local citizens who want to make sure that the public is educated on Cell Phone Towers, specifically 5G and what the science is saying about the safety of cellular towers. Their message is to educate yourself on the safety and then to VOTE YES on #68 to pause and plan for improved connectivity in York. To learn more about this group, please visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/yorkconnects
Wayne Martin, the Chairman of the York Town Hall Building Committee made a wonderful presentation this morning at our April 1, 2022 meeting. There is a TON of work going into making this project a reality. To learn more about this exciting project please click this link
Thanks Wayne for an informative, interesting presentation!
Exciting day yesterday at the York Maine Rotary Club's March Club Assembly! We welcomed 2 new members, Cindy Lindley and Heather Campbell. Cindy, originally from California relocated to Maine last year, and is the Branch Manager at Key Bank in Kittery. Heather Campbell is a life-long York resident and has been involved in a variety of local organizations. She is currently the Director of White Pine Programs here in Cape Neddick.
WELCOME!
On March 14, 2022 York Rotary showed it's support to the local organization known as "Heart to Heart" by making a $2,500 donation to help them do what they do best; to provide services to People with Age in our Communities. To learn more about this amazing, local, non-profit organization please visit their website at https://hearttoheartagelesslove.org/about
We had a very timely presentation from 13-year-old, (almost 14-year-old) Marshall who lives in York, Maine. Marshall is raising funds to travel abroad to do volunteer work for 2-weeks this summer in Costa Rica. He was extremely well spoken and explained that he is working with an organization called Global Leadership Adventures to develop his leadership skills, gain experience in contributing to their community and to become more cultured. He was also excited to become more fluent in Spanish. To help this future community leader to reach his fundraising goals, please visit the following website at https://enroll.experiencegla.com/contribute/MzkxMzA/
Today's speaker was Lisa Robertson, the director of York Adult Education. She made an interesting presentation of all the wonderful programs they provide to the Community. Due to COVD, they have created several online courses, which allow students to attend classes from wherever they are.
Adult education programs offer courses in 5 major categories:
Business & Skills Training courses help prepare Maine citizens by providing the modern skills training necessary for new careers, promotions, and other career advancement.
College Transitions courses assist people of all ages wishing to make the transition into college-level courses.
GED & High School Completion courses help people complete their high school education.
Literacy courses give people the guidance, support, and training necessary to improve their literacy skills and the literacy skills of their family.
Personal enrichment courses include lessons in skills such as cooking and musical instruments, and also include a variety of unique and fun experiences including travel.
To learn more about this local organization, please visit their website at https://york.maineadulted.org/
SO MUCH FUN last Wednesday night, March 16, 2022 at Wiggly Bridge Distillery here on Route 1 in York, ME where we held our drawing for our "Vacation with a Cause". Great food and company. Congratulations to lucky ticket # 283~ They WON the fabulous vacation package to Costa Rica!
50% of the funds to support Ukraine emergency humanitarian assistance- Thank you for your support!
Great in-person and ZOOM meeting Friday, March 11, 2022 morning! Members of the York High School Interact Club (Avery, Evah, Reese, Sage and Elly) attended our meeting and made a presentation on their work with KIVA. KIVA is an international nonprofit, with a mission to expand financial access to help underserved communities thrive. Their site allows people to lend money with 0% interest via the Internet to low-income entrepreneurs and students on 83 countries. Examples of individuals who are looking for a loan on KIVA:
~Students who need help paying tuition
~women starting businesses
~farmers investing in equipment
~families who need emergency care
York High School Interact Club began their KIVA Project in 2015 when the Rotary Club, in recognition of Jud Knox's service as President, donated $400 to the Interact Club. This was then followed by another $200 donation in 2018 from the club in recognition of Holly Sargent's service as President.
YHS Interact Club found that KIVA was a platform where they could easily make a difference in communities all around the world, It also allows Interact Students to learn about the hardships people are facing in other countries and teaches them that they can have an impact, from hundreds of miles away. To learn more about KIVA please visit their website at https://www.kiva.org/
Michael Fischer, President of York County Community College, located right down the road in Wells, Maine made a great presentation this morning. He told us that the role of the community college is to make sure that the community has a strong workforce. The average age of a typical student right now is 28-29 years old. Their goal is to make sure that they have programs which allow students to transfer into the workforce immediately or they can transfer very easily to a 4-year college. York County Community College has been designated as a military friendly school for the 2021-2022 academic year. To learn more about this local gem, please visit their website at https://www.yccc.edu/
Friday, February 18, 2022 we had the treat of a presentation by our own Jud Knox, who is the Team Leader for the Rotary District 7780 Indigenous Focus - North America Project. Jud told us about 3 projects this group is interesting in moving forward with in 2022. Those projects included
- Funding WaYS ~ Wabanaki Youth in Science (WaYS) Program. The Native American Tuition Waiver and Scholarship Program, and information about University of Maine programs that promote, support, and provide educational opportunities for and about Wabanaki peoples across the State of Maine and beyond.
- Medicine Wheel Healing Garden ~ Partnership with the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians to develop a Medicinal Garden.
- Education of Rotarians ~ The International team has spent the last year doing their homework. Beginning in October 2021, they started meeting with various clubs to educate them of this project and how they can help.
To learn more about this exciting, ongoing project, please contact Jud Knox at jknox0055@gmail.com
FUN night with the Friends of York Dog Park Board of Directors on our last Thursday, February 10th evening meeting. After a cute presentation there was a great question and answer session.
To learn more about this new community project please visit their website at http://friendsofyorkdogpark.org
This morning we met Amy Bergeron, who is a recruitment specialist for A Family for ME. A Family for ME is a partnership between the Department of Health and Human Services and Spurwink Services, with the focus of raising awareness of the urgent need and finding Maine families who are willing and able to parent children in foster care. Did you know that currently there are just over 2,200 children in out-of-home care in Maine? Of the 2,200 children, there are approximately 500 children who will need a forever family? To learn more about this important organization, please visit their website at
This morning we had the pleasure of having Sudie Blanchard, who is co-organizing the volunteer efforts through the Ascentria Care Alliance, a social services organization that is working to resettle Afghan refugees in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. This past weekend, she assisted in helping a family of six Afghan refugees resettling in Portsmouth. The family is now settled into a home in Portsmouth, and the group expects that there will be a good 9-month adjustment period before they can be on their own. Therefore they have set a goal to raise $25,000 towards this effort. To help with a financial donation, please visit their fundraising website at https://secure.givelively.org/teams/ascentria-care-alliance/help-afghan-families/team-seacoast-nst
Friday's ZOOM meeting included a great presentation by our own Greg Kaknes. Greg along with his friends Roberto Rodriguez and Janie Mangus spoke about the Punta Islita School in Costa Rica, and their Foundation for the Aid of the Environment, Arts, Culture and Youth. To support their efforts and to learn more about this organization, please follow this link to our Vacation with a Cause website at
January 7, 2022
WOW is all I can say about the presentation made by Whitney Blethen and her organization "Seacoast Fridge", located at the Kittery Community Center in Kittery Maine at yesterday's York Maine Rotary Club's ZOOM meeting. Neighbors helping neighbors, and Community helping Community. This is a TRUE success story. To learn more about this amazing organization please checkout their facebook page https://www.facebook.com/seacoastfridge/
Yesterday's meeting included a visit from Jeremy D'Entremont and David Waldrip from the organization Friends of Flying Santa. They told us about the long, interesting history of this organization from it's start in 1929 to the current day where they continue the annual Christmas helicopter flights and carry on the gesture of gratitude to the families of the US Coast Guard. To learn more about this amazing, historic organization, please visit their website at https://flyingsanta.org/index.html
It was probably the coldest morning of the season, but it didn't deter the turnout for the 2021 Turkey Trot event today!
End result was over 300 participants in the race, and tons of spectators and volunteers!
Thank you to ALL~ It was an AMAZING EVENT!
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Service Above Self
P.O. Box 806 (mailing)
York, ME 03909
United States of America