One of the great things about Rotary is that when you walk in the door, you’re among friends who share your dreams. That’s the summation of Carolyn Johnson, governor of our Rotary District which comprises southern Maine and coastal New Hampshire.

Carolyn pointed out that Rotarians come together in fellowship, friendship, and to share stories. In fact, she believes that we connect to one another through the stories and history we share with one another. Among the most important stories we can share, she says, are those that are exemplify how Rotary allows us to make a difference in our world.

Carolyn’s comments came during her visit to our Club last week. She asked us all to think about a time when Rotary allowed us to do something we couldn’t have done otherwise — something that turned out to be very meaningful to us.

Rotary’s emblem (which we refer to as a wheel) is really a gear, and Carolyn pointed out that gears don’t move anything until they mesh with another. Similarly, she said, Rotary doesn’t work until Rotarians are engaged with their neighbors, both locally and around the world. Carolyn cited the ways that our club is engaged locally, highlighting:

Support of the Food Pantry, Student Aid Fund, home heating oil assistance

Hometown Heroes, Veteran’s Appreciation Day, BRHS Senior Night

Bicycles for seasonal workers

Engagement with the schools, and much more

And beyond the region, our club is helping to make the world a better place by support of:

Camp Sunshine

Safe Passage and the Guatemala Literacy Project

Friends Forever

Rotaplast and Shelterbox, and so much more

Not all these Rotary projects touch everyone, she cautioned, but everyone can find their “niche” in at least one of them.

In summation, Carolyn urged each of us to use our stories to connect with one another and share the power of Rotary. “Think about the lives you have changed when you have put on your Rotary pin,” she urged. “How has Rotary changed your life? What have you been able to accomplish through Rotary.”

We will staff the Boosters refreshment stand at the high school on October 25, the last home game of this year’s football season. That will give the players’ parents time to enjoy the game and see their kids in action. Craig Tukey already has a lineup of volunteers who know just how much fun the evening can be, but there’s always room for one more. Sign up with Craig.

Our Veterans Appreciation night will be Thursday, Nov. 7. Rev. Bob Zimmerli will be the keynote speaker, and the event will be held at the American Legion Hall (note change in venue). Postcards inviting previous attendees are in the mail; please be sure to invite veterans, active duty personnel, and blue star families of those currently serving. Reservations are necessary so that we know how many guests to plan for. Sign-ups for waiter duty will come in due course.

Helping to pay for our service projects is our citrus fruit sale, now underway. Orders are due October 31 to Andy Hamblett, and the fruit will be in prior to Thanksgiving.

President Jen shared the results of our ballot, and by 59 percent of those voting, we have decided to build a new clubhouse. A finance committee has been established to keep us on keep expenses on track, and it is getting down to work right away.

It’s apparently financially positive to be a waiter: This past week both raffle tickets were won by waitstaff: Jim Botti and I.J. Pinkham. Happy/sad dollars were donated this week for various athletic contests, for our guests, and also for President Jen’s leadership through the clubhouse decision-making process.

The meeting of October 17 will again be at The Gallery on Route 97. Dan Wyman will speak on the Affordable Care Act and how it will impact us here in Maine; the greeter that night is Mike Thompson and Connie Jones and Judy DeGraw will be waiters.