
Yesterday's meeting introduced us to this months York Middle School's Student of the Month, Issac. Issac's teacher Brit Rowe explained why he was selected as this month's student of the month- indicating his quiet, under the radar way of making people feel good about themselves is his super power! Due to Issac's love of music, he selected the organization "Save the Music Foundation" to donate his award to.
Thank you Issac for being an excellent role model for others to follow! We are proud of you!
Did you know 7.8 million children live in a household headed by a grandparent or other relative?
Yesterday's speaker was Denyse Richter of Step Up Parents. What is Step Up Parents? Step Up Parents was formed to provide financial assistance to kinship caregivers in New Hampshire (soon southern Maine also) who have stepped up to raise the children of parents struggling with substance use disorder.
To learn more about this important and unique organization, please visit their website at https://stepupparents.org/



Congratulations
lucky ticket #245. Our winner is from Cape Neddick Maine!You’ve WON our Vacation with a Cause trip to Costa Rica!!
Thank you once again to Wiggly Bridge Distillery for hosting our event!
Best lemon drop martini around!!

This morning's speakers included Matt Wellington and Anne Donnelly from Tobacco-Free Maine Works. Their goal? To reduce youth tobacco use to help break the cycle of addiction and disease in our communities and promote a healthy workforce for the future. Want to learn how you can help them? Visit their website at https://tobaccofreemaineworks.org/



At today's meeting we welcomed Peter Murray, Director, and Nick Darby Special Events Coordinator of York Parks & Recreation. Nick assisted us in drawing our final Vacation with a Cause Early Bird winner, (Ticket # 179 WON $200!), and afterwards he and Peter shared with the club the new and improved plan for the 2023 Four on the 4th Road Race and other FUN things that are happening this season. To learn more please visit their website at https://www.yorkparksandrec.org/

Today's meeting included a presentation by Jess Maurer who is the Executive Director for the Maine Council on Aging. The MCOA is a broad, multidisciplinary network of 130+ organizations, businesses, municipalities and older community members working to ensure we can all live healthy, engaged and secure lives with choices and opportunities as we age at home and in community settings. We are changing the conversation about growing old in Maine. Join us as we re-imagine our communities, workplaces and systems of care so older Mainers can thrive!
To learn more about this important organization please visit their website at https://mainecouncilonaging.org

Today's meeting included a presentation from Amelia Nadilo, Executive Director for the York Land Trust. The York Land Trust is a nonprofit organization led by a dedicated group of community members working to conserve and protect York’s natural resources and cultural heritage. York Land Trust stewards more than 3,100 acres of treasured, community lands, including Public Access Preserves, Limited Access Preserves and Conservation Easements on privately owned lands.
To learn more about this amazing local organization, please visit their website at https://yorklandtrust.org/

Great time last night at Wiggly Bridge Distillery during our member meetup! PLUS we welcomed our newest member Dinon Hughes! Looking GREAT team!!



Busy Friday morning! Today we had Hannah Gennaro, who is a York Rotary Scholarship recipient. She is about to graduate from college and is now researching Graduate Schools. We also welcomed York Middle School’s Student of the Month for December, Ella K. who attend with her family and teachers. Ella has chosen Great Bay Skating Club’s Scholarship Program as her non profit of choice to donate her award to. Two amazing young people who prove our future is in GREAT hands! Lastly our guest speaker was Patricia Martine, Executive Director for York Housing Authority. We learned about how important this organization is to our community. Thank you ALL!


At our first meeting of 2023, we drew the December 2022 Vacation with a Cause Early Bird Winner- Lucky ticket # 231 has won $200! Congratulations!
If you'd like a chance to win the NEXT early bird drawing, or a chance to win the vacation or BOTH, please visit our website at https://vacationwithacause.org/

This morning's speaker was Nick Adams. Mr. Adams made an interesting presentation regarding his organization You Travel & Teach. You Travel & Teach is a small, international exchange company offering a six-week immersive English teaching experience in Italy. Their annual summer program is perfect for aspiring teachers, Italian language enthusiasts, and those who are curious about the world. They offer scholarship opportunities for those individuals who might not otherwise be able to participate in this amazing opportunity. To learn more about this organization, please visit their website at https://www.youtravelandteach.com/

Community Suppers are BACK! And on Tuesday, December 20th it was York Rotary's turn!
Meal planning by Darcy included Swedish Meatballs, Buttered Noodles, fresh green beans and carrots and Gingerbread for dessert.
Fun was had by ALL!



Friday, December 16th was special for many reasons. First it was a the day that York Rotarians brought in their gifts for our "Spread the Joy" family.
We filled up Jud's sleigh! Thank you Jud for helping York Rotarians feel the true spirit of the holidays!
THEN....

We had our annual visit from the York High School Chamber singers- with their spectacular director, Rob Westerberg.
This was our last meeting for 2022~ and it was WONDERFUL!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!

This morning's meeting included the un-veiling of our "test" Mosaic Project! Brad Countryman brought this amazing fundraising idea to the club - and York Rotarians stepped up! Rotarians purchased a "tile" and did a little artwork. Those tiles were re-assembled by the artist and the result was reveled today! We are EXCITED! What a FUN project!
Keep your eyes open for a future, larger fundraiser.
Thank you Brad!

Student of the Month ALERT! This morning we had the pleasure of meeting Eloise from the York Middle School who was selected as Student of the Month. Eloise has selected JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) as her non-profit charity to donate her $100 award. Way to GO Eloise! To learn more about her chosen non-profit, please visit their website at https://www.jdrf.org/


York Rotarians at it again! Todays adventure included Thanksgiving preparation shopping for York County Shelter Program- $750 worth of groceries should help quite a bit! Neighbors helping neighbors! Looking GREAT ladies!!

At the November 11, 2022 regular York Rotary Meeting, Jess and Matthew from Friends Forever International visited and made a wonderful presentation. Friends Forever International is an independent 501(c)3 nonprofit organization which believes we can all help build a better world by empowering our most underutilized asset: youth. They spoke of their RECIPE for success. To learn more about this amazing organization home-based in our backyard- Durham NH, please visit their website at https://www.ff.international/

At the November 4, 2022 meeting we had the pleasure of welcoming speaker Amy Miller of the organization Life & Hope Haiti. She spoke about all the wonderful progress the are making! Today she spoke of a need for a battery for solar panels- and immediately York Rotary Members stepped up! Keep up the good work!! Want to help? Please visit their website at https://lifeandhopehaiti.org/


Yesterday, October 15, 2022 was the 37th Annual York Harvestfest at York Beach. At 3:30 the York Maine Rotary Car with a Cause 2022 car winner was drawn. Congratulations lucky ticket #447- K. Beauchemin or Middletown, CT!

Michelle Sampson, Executive Director of the York Public Library was our guest speaker today. She updated the members of all the wonder things that they are doing to support the community, and she mentioned what they have been doing to celebrate 100 years. They had an online auction in June; they held a 100th Birthday Party July 15the and they are holding a Roaring 20's Gala on November 3, 2022 at Clay Hill Farm. To learn more about these events, and ALL the wonderful things our local public library does for the community, please visit their website at https://yorkpubliclibrary.org/
Service Above Self
P.O. Box 806 (mailing)
York, ME 03909
United States of America