Boothbay Harbor Rotary met again (via Zoom, of course) and outdid ourselves with birthdays and general cheer. Moreover, this technology thing is beginning to make sense – both Jim Botti and Bob Pike managed to log on with a minimum of fuss and we were both able to see and hear them. Chip Griffin joined the meeting on time and without assistance from one of his daughters – this scribe is not sure what all that was about.

The happy basket was full and overflowing, for birthdays (Tom Hagen turns 90 and Judy deGraw turns 29!); for our HS graduates; for peaceful protests; for the Gardens and Bet’s Fish Fry opening; for Visioning; for our bicycle program; for Cap’n Fish’s motel buildings coming down; for Alden Wood who is stepping up to become a club board member (tuning in virtually during the winter); and much more. Fleet Davies contributed $50 and challenged other club members to step up since our Auction will be stepped down this year; and Tom Marston spoke eloquently about how much this peninsula can teach the world about peace. Thank you, Tom!

On a sad note, Terry Hodskins Fullam, the Rotarian from Wells who started Wrap-a-Smile 19 years ago, died of heart disease last week. She left an amazing legacy – to date 26,000 quilts have been sewn and sent to children around the world undergoing Rotary-sponsored surgeries. Our own Ann Demeranville has taken over leadership of the program, and Terry’s legacy is continuing.

On Saturday morning (10 to 11:30) we are all invited to fete Bob Jacobson, who is moving from the Zimmerli Pavilion to the Gregory Wing. Joy Ward is bringing balloons; and please show up – wearing a mask – at the Gregory Wing front door (door on the left as you face the building) where Alice Mutch will have directions to Bob’s new room.

Ingrid Merrill spent last weekend finishing up the paperwork on last year’s Rotary District Grant which resulted in the Eat Well Play Well garden at Edgecomb. The financials are now wrapped up; pumpkins were planted this week. In this dry weather, watering is more important than ever, and a combination of Rotarians, parents and school staff are taking turns doing the honors. If you want to sign up, please contact Ingrid.

Meanwhile, the paperwork is being submitted for our next grant, which will support the Food Pantry. We’ll learn in mid-July if we were successful in receiving the new grant or not.

Laurie Zimmerli reported that a small group of volunteers has successfully moved the furniture out of stacked mode and into showing mode at the barn. Moreover, Debbie Graves and Irene Fowle turned their considerable talents to creating a small Flea Market section. Laurie emphasized that we are limiting the donations we are accepting to what we think we can sell, and that she has not asked for more help because one of the issues is keeping the number of people in the barn at any one time to a sizeable number. That said, if you know anyone who is interested in purchasing furniture, have them contact Laurie or Debbie – the barn is open, by appointment only, one potential buyer at a time.

Laurie also said that she has double-checked with the town and we have permission, in writing, to sell out of the barn. Although income will be considerably lower than in previous years, she is gleeful that the amount of hauling is commensurately lower. And she suggested that Rotarians could donate back to the club the money that we will all save in chiropractic bills.

Alice Mutch has agreed to work on PR next year, and is looking for volunteers to fill out her committee. If interested, get in touch with Alice.

And Ingrid is pondering the idea of updating our year 2000 cookbook, both to emphasize the issue of food insecurity and because we are all spending more time at home and in the kitchen. If interested in this project, check with Ingrid.

A general discussion ensued about the possibility of a meeting to celebrate our changeover the end of June. The idea has been floated of a tailgate party, with everyone bringing their own supper, and those who prefer to stay in their cars doing so. Discussion also ensued about where this event might happen – the parking lot at the clubhouse is scarcely large enough; options ranging from Barrett’s Park (where the parking lot is not contiguous to the gazebo) to Tory Paxson’s (where town rules about adult beverages need not apply) were considered. All is still up in the air, and good ideas should be funneled to Linda Clapp, whose committee also includes Irene as well as Monica and Tom Churchill.

Interested in Rotary and giving back to the community? A pandemic doesn’t stand in the way of our meetings or our fun. Join us! Connect with a Rotarian or go to www.boothbayharborrotary.org to learn more.