Opening Ceremonies: President Tracy Shaffer called the meeting to order. The invocation was given by Charlene Churchill and we said the Pledge of Allegiance. The greeter was Marc Rich.
Guests: John Shoppe, Denise Hamlin from KidsPeace, Caroline Swertka, and our two speakers, Melissa Huston an Ethan Minton.
Club Anniversaries: Laurie Fogelman – Nov 16, 2004
Birthdays: Larry Barnes – Nov 13, Cindy Shoppe – Nov 18
Door Prizes: Scott Kimball won a road atlas, a Bar Harbor Bank and trust calendar went to one of our speakers, Jodie Cushing took home a mug with a chocolate bar bouquet, 2 2019 calendars went to Marc Rich, and two insulated bags and some post its from the Good Shepard Food Bank went to Clyde Cushing.
50/50: $13 went to Tony Bouchard who was happy to donate it back for the cause. Happy Dollars this quarter will go to the Ellsworth Free Medical Clinic.
Happy Dollars: Dan Hurley is back from Georgia but was happier with the weather down there; Laurie Fogelman is happy to be seeing her grandchildren in Cincinnati; Marshall Smith is glad that his daughter, Jenni Casale, is an observer at the Florida election recount; Fred Beyer was happy to tell a joke; and Scott Kimball was happy for the fun we had at the Food Drive. Several members were happy to give for the cause.
Rotary Business:
- Clyde Cushing thanked everyone who helped with the Food Drive for Loaves and Fishes on Saturday. We were able to collect 111 Hannaford boxes, 6 other large boxes of food and items on the pantry’s wish list and $1,328 in cash donations.
- Signups were circulated for the Gifting Experience and staffing the Food Pantry in December. Volunteers are also needed as servers at the Poinsettia Ball on December 1. Anyone interested in helping should contact JoAnn Brown.
- We passed around the weather closing contest chart and the Movember signup.
- Election of next year’s club officers will be held on November 27 and election of the club’s Foundation Directors on December 4.
- Carl Lusby reminded members about the Rotary Leadership Institute on November 17 in Lewiston and asked attendees to set up car pools.
- Tracy spoke about the EACC Business After Hours event where we had a booth and several members volunteered. We made some good contacts at the event.
- She asked that any club member who is interested in attending the 2019 Leadership Hancock County program speak with her. The club may sponsor a member for this program if there is interest. The Family Membership proposal will be sent out to the membership soon for consideration.
Program: Melissa Huston and Ethan Minton from the Good Shepard Food Bank spoke to us about the mission, history, and current status of the organization. The organization started as a local food pantry in the Lewiston-Auburn area. It is now focused on logistics: obtaining food and distributing it to local food pantries throughout the state.
Their mission is to eradicate hunger in Maine by 2025. Currently, they estimate that 200,000 people or 14% of the total population of the state is food insecure. This includes 1 in every 5 children.
They have completed a new strategic plan to provide a rural model for the Feeding America program. They are focusing on partnerships, types of food that are nutritious, new distribution models such as backpack programs and summer lunch, and nutrition education.
The organization is currently in a capital campaign to fund their new distribution center in Hampden that serves northern Maine.
Respectfully submitted,
Charlene Churchill
