Dr. Jean Rigaud Antoine speaks at our February 25 meeting
President Jen Hogan presided over the meeting today. She opened the meeting with The Pledge of Allegiance and the singing of God Bless America. Jason LaPlante gave the invocation before lunch.
CLUB SERVICE:
Adam Dow welcomed are many visitors and guests, include Mayor Larry Gilbert, Rotarian David Wall from the Auburn-Lewiston Rotary Breakfast Club as well as numerous guests.
Claire Durgin won today’s 50/50 Drawing!
Happy Dollars: Several Rotarians including Claire Durgin, Alan Hahnel and Ed Plourde (something to do with Ed’s brightly colored shirt!)
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Shawn Wright welcomed Janet Gibson from Cuddles for Kids program at CMMC. Janet was here to collect all the cuddly soft stuffed animals we collected from their program. Shawn said that the Health Club and Spa had also collected stuff animals for this project.
Shawn mentioned our upcoming comedy show on March 18. Be sure to sell plenty of tickets and get the word out so we can have a successful event and support the End Polio Campaign and have enough funds to begin our international project in Haiti.
PROGRAM:
President-Elect Stephanie Gelinas introduced our very special speaker today and the reason for so many guests in attendance. Dr. Jean Rigaud Antoine, President of the Evangelical Alliance of Haiti was here to speak of the work his in doing in Haiti after the earthquake last year. Before Dr. Antoine began his special presentation, Mayor Larry Gilbert gave him a special welcome and presented him with a lapel pin of our “All-American City.”
Dr. Antoine studied extensively earning degrees in Theology and Civil Engineering. He is the Senior Pastor and founder of the Bethlehem Evangelical Baptist Church, the Director and Founder of a school for Pre-K through Grade 13 and also the Director and Founder of Kingdom of Kids Orphanage in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, which is currently home to 81 orphans. Dr. Antoine works tirelessly for the people and especially the children of Haiti. He has been adding on to the current Kingdom of Kids home where the children live.
Dr. Antoine shared his vision for the new community of Jerusalem. After the earthquake, people had to move away from the ruble and devastation and moved toward the rural hills of Jerusalem where they set up tents. Dr. Antoine has the vision to develop four plots of land in Jerusalem. He has already staked out the land for a school, hospital, church and orphanage. He has a cement block-making machine and employs as many as possible to make the blocks for the new buildings. Dr. Antoine has the vision and the skills to oversee such a massive project but not the funds. He goes on faith and trust in God that the money will come. He estimates the cost of the elementary school alone at $280,000USD. The school also needs a food program as most children do not get food at home. Dr. Antoine said that there are iron gates around his orphanage to keep the extra hungry kids out as there is not enough food to feed them all. The children gather around the orphanage gates when they smell the aroma of food. Dr. Antoine’s heart is much bigger than his wallet. His school is large enough to host 2500 children but he currently has only 100 students as he cannot afford to pay for more teachers and supplies. Much of his funds come from Americans who sponsor a child for $25 per month. This small donation buys food, books and an education for the child.
Dr. Antoine answered our many questions and hopefully we can look forward to working an international project with Haiti and Dr. Antoine.
President Jen thanked Dr. Antoine for his presentation and offered him a Rotary mug as a a token of the club’s appreciation.