It was one of those feel-good meetings when we do what Rotarians do best: give back. The goal of the night was to create 200 Holiday kids Goodie Bags for distribution by the Food Pantry and Food for Thought. We also put together eight Welcome Home bags for veterans moving into VETS (Veterans Emergency Temporary Shelter) trailers. It ain’t much, but at least it’s a start, and a way to let them know they haven’t been forgotten.

Of course, it takes a lot of organization to pull together the items to fill the bags, and major thanks go to both Judi White and Irene Fowle for all their purchasing and organizing. The results were worth it at the end of the night when their cars were filled with tinsel and wrapping paper and the bags were on their way to spread some holiday cheer.

And that’s not all the giving: President Laurie Zimmerli started off the meeting with the announcement that at its last meeting, the board of directors had voted $12,000 to various charities. Included in our giving is financial support for Rebuilding Together, Life Flight, Camp Capella, Boothbay Sea and Science Center, the Twin Villages Food Bank, and Sweetser. Many of these organizations have spoken of their work and services in recent weeks; others we hope to hear from soon.

And further afield: We also are providing financial support for Partners for World Health, which redeploys gently used medical supplies and equipment to developing nations, and a Rotary Global Grant that will help support an elementary school in Santa Cruz, Guatemala, and organized by the Freeport Rotary Club. We also are supporting the Shelter Box appeal for Hurricane Mellissa response.

There’s more: Judi reported that she has spoken to local caterers and restaurants about providing nutritious soups for the Community Fridge on an ongoing basis. Pinkham’s Gourmet Market was the first to step up and is leading the way by refusing to charge us for our efforts. Thank you so much, Pinkham's! We love you. Judi is also organizing with Ralph Smith (Mine Oyster and Boathouse Bistro), the East Boothbay  General Store, and Southport General Store to provide soup in the near future. Pinkham’s is leading the way by refusing to charge us for their efforts. Thank you so much, Pinkham’s! We love you.

All this outgo is only possible because of the business we engender at the Rotary Barn. We will remain open Saturdays through Dec. 13 (weather permitting) but by the time you read this, pickups will be over for the season. You can still drop off items at the Barn (66 Montgomery Road, Boothbay Harbor) during our open hours of 8:30 - 11 on Saturday mornings; otherwise, wait until spring – we will reopen the first Saturday in April, again, weather permitting. After all, you don’t want to be schlepping donations if the driveway is icy any more than we do! Even so: Saturdays are a great time to come and shop. Foster Stroup announced that the Girl Scouts will be on hand this Saturday with baked goods including holiday pies straight from the freezer to be ready for your table.

It's worth noting that Linda Clapp, Jeff Long and Judy deGraw visited Billy Dodge in his new apartment at Edgecomb Green. They report that in his new surroundings he’s the unofficial greeter and social butterfly that we know him to be at his best. He’s got a lovely room filled with his Red Sox paraphernalia, and of course he just recently celebrated his birthday … and claims to now be in his 40s. At least.

At the meeting, Melody Rees did her debut stint at 50/50, and did so admirably, collecting happy dollars for the previous week’s Veterans Appreciation Night, the Barn pickup crews, and just life in general. Various volunteers jumped in to help with waitering and cleanup, but come on, guys; let’s sign up in advance on People Power; we shouldn’t rely on the same ready volunteers.

Next Thursday, the Clubhouse is dark as we all recover from an over-indulgence of tryptophan. We’ll be meeting on Dec. 4 and 11 as usual; note again that Dec. 13 is the last morning the Rotary barn will be open.

On Dec. 18 we will have our annual Rotary Christmas party; Ivan will be off so please bring an appetizer or dessert to share. We’ll have a Yankee swap with an upper limit of $20 (just think how far that will go in the Barn!) and Rotarians are invited to bring family and friends and to wear a Christmas sweater (ugly or otherwise) and/or Christmas bling. Just come! It’s always a great time.