Chef Kim Mills was at his post early, as always, in the kitchen and outside tending the grill. He was ably assisted by steward, Marty Peak Helman, and waiters, Ann Demeranville and Bob Jacobson.

Steve Demeranville was greeter, invocator with the scientific observation that those who help others are happiest and healthiest, and co-starred for the program later.

We were lifted up by our guests: Ted Packard, who is teaching in the Canary Islands but has kept a house here and returns here annually (he recalled the old Turpentine Club before Rotary in the basement at Grover's Hardware next to the turpentine); his son, Marcus Packard, who lives in Spain and Boothbay Harbor and will be a Rotarian someday with his huge heart and commitment to help others; and Sam Morris, husband of Connie Jones, who helps us in many Rotarian endeavors.

After Doug Harley and Robin Reed, sitting side by side, colluded in garnering all the 50-50 winnings, Sergeant-at-Arms Bob Pike extracted dollars from many for not knowing the name of our district governor or the name of our recent Sturgeon Moon. Our president and treasurer got nipped, not voluntarily, for leaving early. Stephanie Blecharczyk and all the rest of us were grateful for her presence again.

Vice president and program chairman Jonathan Tindal introduced Steve and Ann Demeranville, quipping he had bought this month’s National Geographic and was still looking for Steve’s photo.

Steve Demeranville, who has published his award-winning photography nine times in National Geographic, captured 7,000 photos on this trip while his wife, Ann, snapped 2,000 exquisite photos. They presented for a fast-paced 50 minutes a dazzling array of colorful and lively photographs from their trip to Ethiopia this past October to an enraptured audience, often tough on its own members.

Ethiopia is unique; it is one of the few places in Africa located on the west part of the Horn of Africa and never colonized by Europeans. They focused on the remote southwest corner and visited five of the 20 tribes in that area and described how the Ethiopians are at risk for ecological transformations resulting from floods and hydro-power dams that will disrupt their goats, cows, and subsistence farming, threatening their culture and survival.

Their group was sensitized to meeting first with local elders and ensuring permission before taking most photos. Memorable photos included a young girl carrying an incredibly large load of hay and missing school to do so for her family survival; huts sinking over time due to termites; huge lip plates ornamenting the faces of women; happy family with husband flanked with wife #1 and #2 and grandson; bull-jumping ceremony with 15-year-old boys transitioning from boyhood to manhood; many thin legs and big feet symbolizing their mode of transportation; a Rotary Boeing Global water project sign; and finally Steve’s “Norman Rockwell’s Anthem,” a line of smiling kids amidst lots of movement having a great time in a rural grassy area with an incredible backdrop of fields folding into clouds. Treat yourself to more of Steve’s photos — just search online for “Steve Demeranville photo.”

Join us on Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. for appetizers and drinks followed at 6:30 p.m. with a program featuring Hometown Heroes, an event sparked by 9/11 nationally and by Rotarians Bob and Gloria Walter locally in 2002 to honor annually our hometown heroes. Daren and Deb Graves, who have led the effort over the last decade, will be helped by Rotarians bringing appetizers. Daren expects 70-90 attendees who will enjoy not only appetizers with beer and wine and soft drinks but also a hearty dinner cooked by Chef Kim Mills. The highlight will feature Rep. Stephanie Hawke, Lifetime Service Award recipient Laura Honey, LifeFlight speakers, recognitions and awards.