At the first Club Assembly of 2011-2012, Club President Stepahnie Gelinas set the stage for what will be a fantastic and energetic year! President Stephanie asked all Rotarians to Reach Within to Embrace Humanity .She asked all Rotarians to search first within themselves, to understand that all of us, everywhere, have the same dreams, the same hopes, the same aspirations, and similar dilemmas. When we understand, and truly feel, that others’ needs are the same as our own, we begin to understand how important our work is. She asked us to keep this in mind as we moved forward into the new Rotary year.
President Stephanie also asked each Committee Chair from the board to share their plans and goals for the ensuing year:
Programming - Vice-President Adam Dow encouraged all Rotarians to share their ideas and suggestions on upcoming speakers for the year. As he begins to scheudle speakers he will be looking to provide entertainment, education and value to each of our meetings.
Club Service - Mac McPeake announced that new member Rob Westhoven will be joining him to assist the club with Club Service. Their goal is to ensure all meetings are in order and that all members and visitors feel welcome when they attend meetings. Oh...and watch our for fines.....Mac is back and LOVES to fine Rotarians (hey, it's all in good fun!)
Community Service - Community Service Chairs Christine Wilson and Celeste Yakawonis have planned out service projects for the entire year. More details will be released as the year progresses. Here is a run down of the projects and/or organziations that we will be working with:
- July 2011 - Book Reach
Book Reach is an organization made up of over 40 volunteers who commit a minimum of 1 hour per week to read to children at over a hundred day cares in the Lewiston-Auburn area. Research and statistics show that children who are read to starting at a very young age generally excel and perform better when they enter school. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) "strongly recommends reading to children every day, starting after they are first born," because "reading stimulates the development of the brain, language and a closer emotional relationship with a child."
The Lewiston-Auburn Rotary Club would like to encourage all of its members to stand behind the effort and donate an hour of their time every week to read to children. Interested Rotarians should contact fellow Rotarian Mac McPeake: mtpeake@comcast.net
For more information on Book Reach, click here.
- August 2011 - Back-to-School
- September 2011 - New Beginnings
- October 2011 - Haiti!
- November 2011 - Veteran's Day Project
- December 2011 - Good Shepherd Food Bank
- January 2012 - Trinity Jubilee Center
- February 2012 - Worold Understanding "Narrowing the Need"
- March 2012 - Polio Plus
- April 2012 - Autism Awareness
- May 2012 - Unwed Mothers/Hope House
- June 2012 - Celebration of our "Service Above Self"
Ways and Means - Ways and Means will continue strong with the same Co-Chairs as this past year, John Belisle and Phil Nadeau. Many of the same fundraisers will be continued including the Balloon Festival, selling of Poinsettias, selling of Spring Flowers, a Comedy Night and the Annual Auction. There will also be some changes this year: We will no longer be selling Christmas Trees.
International Service - International Service Chairs Jason LaPlante and Sylvia Plourde will lead the way as our Club embraces an International Service project in Haiti. The LA Rotary Club will be forming a mission work team to visit the Kingdom of Kids Orphanage in Port au Prince, Haiti. To prepare for this mission trip we will be doing a joint fundraiser with the Auburn Rotary Club and applying for a District Simplified Grant.
Foundation - Peter Kowalski and Dennis Barriault will continue their work as Foundation Co-Chairs. As the 2011-2012 year begins they urge all Rotarians to continue their good work in making their EREY committment of a $100 every year to the foundation and supporting Polio Plus.
Public Relations - Our Club has many great secrets. We do many great things in a very quiet way. Our goal this year is to tell everyome what we're doing....not to boast and get attention but with the goal of capturing others attention who may want to join us and provide service to their community as well.
There are big plans for the 2011-2012 year but together WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!