7/12/2010 Club Assembly: President Seth Sherwood

Sergeant at Arms

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Lisa Simm served as our Sergeant of Arms today. Thanks, Lisa!!!!!

Greeter

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Mary-Anne Beal was our Greeter today. Thanks, Mary-Anne!!

50/50 Tickets

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Duane Wheeler sold $123 for the 50/50 raffle today and Matt Clark was the winner of $61.50. Matt will sell tickets again on July 12th. Charlie Gaunce won 10 free tickets for next week's meeting's 50/50 drawing.

World Service Cup

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The beneficiary of donations for this month's World Service Cup is still being determined.

Fined for pictures in the Paper

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Duane Wheeler was fined $5 for his pictures in the paper this week.

Cell Phones

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A $10.00 fee for cell phone ringing continues for the 2009-2010 Club year. No fines assessed today.

On Leave

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Joan Phillips-Sandy

Paul LePage

Dan Bickford

Sharon Corwin

Ally Karter

Deb Schmid

Visiting Rotarians and Guests

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John Dalton introduced Shannon Coro, the new Administrator at Lakewood Continuing Care Center.

Seth Sherwood introduced his wife Tammy.

Don Plourde introduced Pete Clark from the Seminole County (FL) Rotary Club.

Suzanne Uhl-Melanson introduced George Gosselin from the Gardiner Rotary Club.

Nikki Desjardins introduced Nicole Raymond from Hewins Travel.

What can you do?

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* Tell Board Members what you are passionate about for community projects

* Tell the program committee about interesting speakers/topics you would like to listen to

* Be involved, join a committee

* Be active

* Be positive

Happy Dollars

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Seth shared that he is very happy on his first meeting as President of our Club. He also noted that their dog got sprayed by a skunk over the week end and that he would be most appreciative of any secret remedies for abating the smell.

Matt Clark reported that Wally Buschmann became a grandfather last week. Congrats, Wally!! Matt was also happy that he won the 50/50 this week.

Lisa Hallee was very happy about the success of the PFBF half marathon that occurred his week end on behalf of the Alfond Cancer Center.

Barbara Haines reported that her daughter Erica had a baby last week making her a first-time grandmother ......... Congratulations Barbara!!!

Mark Ford was happy about the successful computer software upgrade that Day's went through recently.

Steve Kelleher shared that his son Tom and Natasha Knight are producing a two person musical, The Last Five Years at the Studio Theater in the Sterns Center the first 2 weekends in August. He thanked Diane Bryan for her mentoring them through the process.

Paula Mitchell offered Seth her guaranteed solution for getting rid of skunk odor.

Sarah Sugden had a couple of Happy Dollars ...... 1) She is very happy for Seth as he takes on the challenges of the year ahead and 2) she just spent a great week with her in-laws in New Jersey and did quite a bit of bowling.

Nikki Desjardins was very happy about the new Altima Hybrid that she just got last week.

Glenn Leavitt had a couple of Happy Dollars for 1) his son got married on Friday and his son's daughter was the flower girl; 2) his other son's family ids expecting twins. Congratulations, Glenn!

Mary-Anne Beal was very happy about going to the Children's Bookseller this week and for MIFF!

Gary Hammond shared that he and Martha are heading to the Virgin Islands for Don and Debbie Duplessis' daughter's wedding.

Announcements

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Seth shared that the Committee sign up sheets are on the tables and requested club members to sign up for one that interests them for the upcoming year.

Seth also shared the convention banner that he got when he was in Montreal.

There will be a brief Board meeting after we adjourn.

Erica Humphrey shared that we will be having a 17 year old exchange student here for the next year. The student will be arriving at the end of August and the committee is looking for a counselor to assist by being available to meet with the student informally on a monthly basis as a check in to make sure everything is going well and help resolve any issues that may come up from time to time. In discussion, it was noted that the school system the student will be attending may influence who volunteers as a counselor.

Cathy reminded members who have not paid their dues that these need to be take care of.

Upcoming speaker schedule:

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July 19, 2010 Candace Hill "Community Dental Health Center"

July 26, 2010 Don Kniseley "Homelessness in Maine"

August 2, 2010 District Governor "District Project"

Waterville Rotary Club Web Site

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http://www.clubrunner.ca/waterville

Today's Program: Club Assembly: Setting the Stage for the Upcoming Year (Seth Sherwood, President)

President Seth Sherman was today's speaker. He was born in Augusta, attended the University of Southern Maine and is employed by TD Bank on Maine Street. He lives in Augusta with his wife and three children.

When first invited to become a Rotarian he hesitated. He found singing, happy dollars etc a little strange. But once he got to know us he became one of us. About 5 year later he was asked by then President Elect Ally Karter to consider becoming Club President. He remembers Chris Gaunce telling him that you won't fail ---- we won't let you. So his answer was "yes".

As President Seth realizes you need to have compelling projects and a strong board of directors to be successful. He hopes to have the former but knows he has the latter.

The 2010-2011 Board of Directors are as followings:

President-Elect: Don Plourde

Vice President/Membership: Suzanne Uhl-Melanson

Past President: Sarah Sugden

Charitable Treasurer: Allan Rancourt

Operational Treasurer: Don Borman

Secretary: Cathy Langlais

Assistant Secretary: Steve Kelleher

Club Administration: Ann Beverage

Fundraising: Bob Barton

Vocational Service: Erica Humphrey

Foundation: Jim Nicholson

Public Relations: Nancy Gallagher

International Service: Lou Smith

Community Service: Tina Chapman

His theme issues for the year are homelessness and hunger. Statistics show Maine's population is smaller than other states on total numbers, but it's not far below the national rate as a percentage of the overall population. The Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter is full virtually every night and pays about $35,000 per year to house the overflow.

According to the Good Shepherd Food Bank, over 13% of the population of Maine experiences food insecurity. Maine ranks ninth in the nation for food insecurity and has the highest food insecurity ranking in any state in New England.

Here are a few ideas Seth would like to see in the coming months:

Working with the Homeless Shelter which is moving toward building a new facility, organizing a large food drive, projects relating to food security and clean water, working to reinvigorate Rotaract, a goal to raise about $7,000.00 for the Rotary Foundation, Maine gubernatorial candidates scheduled to speak, growing membership, improve attendance at meetings, raise the club's profile in the community, and continue our three fundraisers (golf tournament, radio auction and spring fling).

He knows we are all part of an amazing organization. So to make these things happen it has to be done together. I can't do anything ---- we have to do it. Together we can accomplish great things in 2010-2011.