November 12, 2015 Meeting of West Bay Rotary

Terry Bregy introduced Adrienne Randall, Community Education Assistant for the Teen and Young Parent Program, Maine Families home visiting program, of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.

She has participated twice as a parent in the program, beginning when she was 18 and had her son. She also has a younger daughter. The program provides free parenting education, support and resources to Knox, Lincoln and Sagadahoc County residents. The program began in 1989. It uses the Parents as Teachers curriculum, their development program until roughly age 3 for the child. They work with about 200 families a year, and have 9 staff. Parents range in age from 18 – 48. Books for home school visits raised $9700 in 2014 to provide a new book each month during visits from staff for each child. This fosters literacy and love of literature for children in the program. Adrienne also manages an activities calendar that is shared with participating families and posted on their Facebook page.

The program is raising funds and is welcoming new volunteers for fundraising events and if you send her your email, she will provide regular updates on the program. adrienne.randall@maine.edu.

Buckets on the tables are to support the Camden Area Food Pantry.

Doug Curtis, Assistant District Governor and Rockland Rotarian, was visiting the club. He wanted to share some highlights from a recent meeting he attended about Club Runner. He recommends you update your profile regularly through the www.westbayrotaryofmaine.org site. There's an Interact event coming up at the Opera House on November 21. April 16, 2016 is the deadline for district grants for FY2017, which is after Presidents-Elect Training in March 2016. For 2017, District 7790 will receive over $56,000 for district grants. He also reminded us that November is Foundation month. Annual giving averages $69 per Rotarian in the district.

Terry Bregy encouraged members to sign up for shifts to sell Christmas Trees during the holidays.

Community Service committee meets 7:30a next Wednesday, November 18 at the Anderson Inn at Quarry Hill.

Susan Dorr is planning the holiday gathering for December 10 at the Rockland Yacht Club, 5-8p. Volunteers are needed to help set up and break down the site, and see her for details. Cost is $20 pp and BYOB.

Next week's speaker will be Tom Rodman giving his classification talk.

Next Wednesday November 18 at 4:30p at Peter Berke's office the local clubs, including Interact, will be planning for the Christmas by the Sea float for the parade.