It’s May, Hooray! The daffodils are blooming, the birds are singing. And, the customers are lining up at the Big Gray Rotary Barn every Saturday morning before we open at 8:30. The word is out! We might not be holding our annual Auction, but this is even better. Every Saturday from 8:30 to 11 the Rotary Barn is open and selling furniture, household goods, collectibles, tools and even boats. Right now we’re running a special on beautiful used doors, complete with screens. They won’t last long, come visit soon. We’re accepting donations too. Call Deb at 207-350-3880 to arrange drop off or a pick up by one of our hard working, friendly and amazing pick up teams.

The only thing missing at the Barn on Saturday morning is you! We’d love to see our fellow Rotarians there. It’s a great time to visit, there’s furniture to load into trucks, but lots of other jobs that don’t require heavy lifting. It’s so much fun. Remember how exhausted we all were after the Auction, well this is not like that! Come volunteer, who knows you might find the perfect treasure too. Of course, there is no treasure better than being a Rotarian.

The bike lending program is up and running (pedaling). The Bike Barn was also open Saturday. I don’t know the actual count, but I do know they lent more bikes Saturday than all of last summer. Seth and Rick are planning a bike tune-up day this Saturday, May 7, between 9-11 a.m. Everyone is invited, no mechanical skill needed. There’s a lot of different chores needed to make the bikes ready for summer.

Save the date: Thursday, May 20 at 5:30 p.m. We will be meeting again at the Railway Village. Bring your own food, drinks, chairs, etc. Will be wonderful to see you all again. Thank you Railway Village for hosting us again.

Join us this Thursday via Zoom. No speaker, except us. There is always so much to share. We have a lot going on, even in these times. It was great to meet Jim Herbold last week. He shared stories about his very interesting career in Internet technology and his experience in Rotary in many of the places he lived. He was born in Montana and lived and worked in different states and even in England, where he learned how to drink warm beer. He said Rotary has been a great way to make friends and become involved in the new local community. Ask him about the Eugene, Oregon Rotary Clubs duck races that raised around $7,000,000. Thanks to Jim our clubhouse will soon have Internet access, we’re joining the 21st Century.

Food For Thought is looking for a few more drivers for Friday deliveries of food to local students who may be food insecure over the weekend. This is a once a month commitment on Friday. Pick-up is at St. Andrews Urgent Care, load your car with packed bags, deliver it to the student's homes and leave it at the front door. Contact Karen Salatino at Food for Thought - 207-350-1420.

The Mock Interview project is being held again this year, on Zoom of course. Tentative date is May 17 and 18. Contact Jeff Long if you’re interested in participating.

People Helping People also needs volunteers. It is a program run by the Community Center to help seniors living alone stay in their homes longer. Volunteers provide rides for essential errands. Often, people bond, and you make a new friend. It's very satisfying and rewarding and doesn't take more than an hour or two every week or every couple of weeks, or even once a month--your choice. People willing to volunteer should call Rachel Tibbetts at 207 841 7748.

Have a good week. Hope to see you at the Rotary Barn Saturday morning.