August 8, 2017 Newsletter

 
Opening Ceremonies: President Scott Kimball called the meeting to order.  Invocation by Andrea Mason and we said the Pledge of Allegiance.
 
Greeter: Domenic Efter
 
Make-ups: Lincoln and Debbie Ehrlenbach on 8/1 in Augusta and 8/8 in Winthrop
 
Guests: David Weela and Tyler Parrish as Laurie’s guests and for and with Ron King
 
Birthdays: Ralph Farrar on 8/13
 
Door Prizes: Rod Fox won wine which he auctioned off for the cause; Tracy Shaffer won it for $7; Gene Pellarano won a mouse pen; our speaker donated 2 tickets to the Blue Hill Fair which Julie Bouchard won; Arlyn Whitelaw won a highlighter and Cindy Shoppe won a cup, some stout and rootbeer.
 
Rotary Minute: Jo Cooper talked about how the pancake breakfast is a perfect Rotary minute story.
 
Vocational Minute: Laurie Fogelman talked about a Rotary moment that helped her become a better probation officer.
 
50/50: Bill Casale won the 50/50 and donated it to the cause.
 
Happy Dollars Highlights: Carl Lusby, Laurie Fogelman, Jo Cooper, Larry Johnson, Jim Vickers, Jack Frost, Clyde Cushing, Gene Pellerano, Mike Fisher, Scott Kimball and Marion and David Wells, who was so happy that the Winthrop club had just given $141 happy dollars to the Wheelchair Project, were all happy.
 
Rotary Business: 
  1. President Scott was very happy at the turnout for our Pancake Breakfast and at the hard work from so many Rotarians. The grills were put away by a little after 12, possibly a record. We netted $9,000 with 935 attendees.
  2. The Paul Harris award for Ron King, which he was too ill to accept previously, was awarded in person. Laurie Fogelman reviewed all the amazing things Ron has done in Maine and internationally which made him such a great choice for the award. President Scott gave him his medal, pin and certificate.
  3. Scott reminded all the Senator Collins will be here on August 22 and we need RSVPs soon!
  4. Another important note: all meals need to be emailed in each week to Ashley by Sunday at 3:00pm so our caterers can be prepared.
  5. On September 12th, our speaker will stay for a literacy training program after the meeting for those interested.
  6. We will need at least 6 pies for the Loaves and Fishes booth at the Blue Hill Fair on Friday, September 1st.
  7. Rotarian Al Feather is arranging a Brew Fellowship at the Atlantic Brewery soon.
 
Program/Speaker: David Nealley, publisher of Maine Seniors Magazine, acknowledged our own Jo Cooper and the wonderful work she has done to create and grow the Friends in Action Senior Center. He said that we live in a youth obsessed culture which underestimates its seniors. He said that most people don’t lose their faculties until the last year of their lives and still have lots to contribute. There is clear generational consumer behavior, with even Amazon building stores to take advantage of often older people who shop less online. Hancock County has had one of the largest influxes of seniors from away. 70% of disposable income is controlled by people 62 and over. Seniors are great volunteers. Instead of looking at the aging population as a problem, he called seniors Maine’s greatest natural resource and suggested that we need to take control of that narrative.
 
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