Our own past president Bruce Harris is a busy man.  There’s his law practice at Griffin & Harris, his volunteer work, and oh, yes! The six children he and Medea are raising. He is, in his own words, a “great populator of Boothbay Region schools.” 

When his eldest, Lilley, was in eighth grade, the family went high school shopping.  Because they live in Southport, Lincoln Academy was an option, and Bruce and Medea were very excited by both the physical plant and the academic choices the school provides. But Lilley thought otherwise - she wanted to be part of the Boothbay community - and for her that meant selecting BRHS. 

So the family decision was made, and Bruce immediately started learning more about BRHS, and as he said, “if you ask enough questions, pretty soon you are asked to be on the board.”  In this case, the board of Education Boothbay. 

Education Boothbay is a non-profit designed to promote our local schools in the Boothbay Region, and to raise money and fill educational needs that fall out of the budget.  The organization is probably best known for getting the lights on Sherman Field, but that was only the start. Over the years, Education Boothbay has done much more, usually without fanfare, and including some items that may sound frivolous, but which are necessary to offer our kids a well-rounded education. Case in point: a tuba.  “Do you know how much a tuba costs?” Bruce asked rhetorically.  “But we need one if we are to have a band program.”  

The specific areas that Education Boothbay supports are: 

Place-based learning. For older kids, this means internships with local businesses and organizations.  For the younger kids, it means both bringing in specialists including scientists from Bigelow and our own Robin Reed, master electrician, and Vicki Haugen, RN, to speak with the kids and also field trips to get them out into the community. 

Arts education. Hence the tuba, an electric piano, and so much more.  

STEM fundraising and support at BRHS. Bruce mentioned in particular a donor who gave a 3D printer to the program.  That $10,000 piece of equipment later made it possible for two students - including one of the Harris offspring - to develop a science project that went on to win first place at the Maine State Science Fair. 

The next big project is to establish a place-based learning themed play area at the elementary school. 

Bruce is passionate about our schools.  He emphasized that we may only have around 160 students in the high school, yet because of fabulous staff, Education Boothbay and yes, financial support from donors including this Rotary Club, we provide our kids with opportunities that some of our larger competitors can only dream of.  “And the kids want to give back,” Bruce said, pointing out that the Interact Club (the HS level Rotary youth organization) boasts a cool 40 members - one-quarter of the school. “They loved being here at the Clubhouse last Veterans Day,” he said.  (This correspondent can corroborate his statement - the kids were singing and dancing to “Hamilton” in the kitchen during cleanup.) And Bruce made a pitch that we all support Interact when they return in the spring for the annual fundraising Spaghetti Dinner. You heard it here first. 

PS:  Not only was BRHS a great fit for Lilley, the next three Harris children, Graham, Emerson, and Sarah are now or soon will be graduates of the school, and the last two, Ford and Aggie, are coming up right behind. Go Seahawks!  Lilley’s choice of BRHS proved both prescient - and lifechanging.  

This was our first Rotary meeting after the holiday hiatus.  We welcomed newcomers Loretta and Bob, and hope we see more of them.  Dinner was a joint procurement effort:  Kim at Eventide participated, as did House of Pizza, and dessert was courtesy of Irene Fowle and the Girl Scouts who sold frozen pies last November.  We had been hoarding the treasure ever since.

Speaking of which:  Next week we will hear from Pauline Dion of the Boothbay Sea and Science Center.  We will also be trying out a new chef - and you know how much overachievement there is when someone is in a job interview, so I think I can safely prophesy a great meal.  That said, the job opportunity is still open: If you or someone you know is interested in a Thursday evening cheffing gig, get in touch with Brian McGrath, who is overseeing the possibilities. 

Happy dollars were expressed for everything from the Polar Plunge (which netted some cool income for the Swim Team) to Christmas guests and Holiday experiences, to snow days that extended the Christmas holidays.   Laurie promised a Barn cleanup day in the near future which, she suggested, would lead to more snow days.  At least, that’s the way it turned out last year.   

All-in-all, a great time, a great turnout, and always fun to be part of the action.  And you can be part of it too! Speak to any Rotarian, or just show up on a Thursday evening for fun, fellowship and a speaker and dinner at 66 Montgomery Avenue, BBH.  The joint is jumping at 6 p.m.; dinner is served and we get down to business (if you can call it that) at 6:30, and we are outta there and on our way home by 8 p.m.  Join us and help give back to our beloved community.  You’ll be glad you did.