Mike Thompson called the Rotary Club meeting to order last week by mentioning how hard Tory Paxson has been working between Gardens Aglow and just-announced expansion plans at the Gardens. Or at least that’s what he should have said. 

Our guest speaker for the evening was Michael Maxim from the Community Resource Council, who told us about the good work of Food for Thought. The whole idea is to deliver healthy food and snacks to kids who face food insecurity, particularly during summer vacations and weekends when school is out. The deliveries take place every Friday, rain or shine; Michael mentioned that some of our club members help out with this work and asked for further volunteers. Right now the program services 22 families; during the summer that number can easily double. 

Referrals to the program come from the school counselors, and are vetted by the Community Navigator; the program has been ongoing for about a dozen years. Our club has been generous with financial support; the program is funded both through donations and grants and has a budget of $15,000 to $20,000 per annum. For more information, Michael recommended checking out the CRC’s website: www.crcboothbay.org, for info and to sign up. 

Thursday, Jan. 23, Lynn Thompson is coming to speak to us about what’s going on at the Harbor Theater.   

The following week, Jan. 30, we’re going to hear about the Olympic Committee, and nope, I have no idea what that is all about. Guess I’ll come and find out all about it. 

We kick off February learning about the Midcoast Literacy Program on Feb. 6, and our Fun Committee is promising Mardi Gras Trivia and, I presume, costumes and fabulous prizes on Feb. 13.   

So there’s lots going on. Volunteering for Food for Thought may speak to you, and additionally, there’s a whole lot more opportunities to serve:

The District is filling its 14th (count ‘em!) container truck of crutches and other mobility devices on Saturday, Feb 1 in Old Orchard Beach.  This is the program we learned about from Rotarian Dennis Robillard earlier this month; all volunteers are needed for the load beginning at 9 a.m. I’ve done this and it’s a whole lot of fun – check it out at 128 Saco Avenue, OOB.   

Our club will be sponsoring the community lunch at Brady’s on Monday, Feb. 17 (aka Washington’s Birthday) and Judi White is seeking volunteers to bake cookies and dessert bars and to serve.  Hours of operation at 11:15 to 12:30; see Judi for details and to sign up.

Nancy Adams is chairing our annual Teacher Appreciation event to happen March 21 and is looking for a volunteer to co-chair. This is a really feel-good event and Nancy is a dream to work with, so sounds like a plan to me.  

Our District’s Indigenous People’s Committee is having another of its Zoom virtual learning hours the following day, Saturday March 22, at 9:30 am, with a chance to learn what Rotarians are doing and beyond to collaborate with First Americans.  

The District Assembly, a chance for all next year’s club officers and directors to meet their peers and learn more about their roles, is coming up on April 6. Save the date! And the District Conference will be May 30 in Kennebunk.  

The District is planning a Day of Impact on May 17, and is asking all clubs to plan a project or join with another club for a project, with lots of PR, et cetera, on that day. Contact PDG Peggy Belanger pegb51@yahoo.com for details.  

It’s time to think about young people we might want to sponsor for RYLA, the youth leadership camp program for just-completed sophomores, as well as kids who want to go on youth exchange. Contact the District youth services chair, Phil Giordano, philtastic7780@gmail.com, for details.  

And meanwhile, back here at home, club leadership has sent out a club survey and is asking all members to fill it out electronically so that your input will be anonymous and so that the software will automatically tally the results.  We’re a volunteer organization, remember?  And as this column suggests, we’ve got lots of opportunities to put that volunteerism to work.  

Interested in hanging out with really cool people and giving back to the community? Speak to any Rotarian or just show up at one of our weekly meetings, Thursday at 6 pm., and check us out. You’ll be glad you did.