Biddeford-Saco Rotary Club

                                      Rotary District 7780 -- Club Number 6294 -- Est. 1920

President:  Julie Villemaire           

Vice President: Karen Chasse     

Secretary: Lucie Dunigan

President-Elect : Frank Dumais     

Treasurer: Dana Lane                 

Past President:  Steve Morin

FRONT DESK DUTY-     PLEASE BE AT THE CAPTAIN'S BY 11:45

09/01      Stephanie, Roland

PROGRAM                                                                      

09/01      CLUB ASSEMBLY

TACK REPORTER                                       

09/01       Helene                                              

SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS!  2- Jake; 8 - Heather Mc; 29 - Alan.   HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

PROGRAM IDEA???? PLEASE CONTACT PEGGY BEAN, PROGRAM CHAIR.  Remember it is the responsibility of every member to help get Programs for our meetings. 

WEEK IN REVIEW

Rotary Meeting Minutes August 25, 2010

President Julie Villemaire opened the meeting at 12:15.  Don Lauzier led us in the patriotic song, Brian Dallaire tried his own version of the Four-way Test and Mr. Kany provided a thoughtful prayer.   Phil Denison’s Rotary Minute described how the work of Rotary is enhanced with matching grants.  Vice President Karen Chasse introduced the visiting Rotarians: Mike Manos from Kennebunk Portside and Tom Raub from Colechester-Milton in Vermont.  She also introduced three guests: Barbara Fortier, Peggy Bean’s daughter; Jennifer James, Hydie Knuckle’s co-worker; and Bryan Daley a coworker with ---? Lucie Dunigan? Bernice Wood?    

Announcements:

Bernice Wood passed around the sign-up sheet to staff the booth at the Business Expo September 22.

Jim McAllister is still looking for volunteers for the Labor Day morning YMCA 5K Road Race. 

Helene Plourde handed out fliers for the Turtle Trek 2010 Adventure Races, a fundraiser for the Blandings Park Wildlife Sanctuary that will take place on October 16. 

Christian Doyon gave an update on the October 2, Wine Tasting Event at Jimmy the Greeks. He has booked a piano player for entertainment.  Tickets will be available next week at $25.

President Julie reminded us to look at the website as it has been updated as the club is now using the Web Runner program.

Carl Goodwin provided an update on the Saco Food Pantry, the structure is up and weather-tight, next will come the plumbing and electrical work.  Don Lauzier commended Carl and his crew on their great work.  There are photos to be posted on the website. There will be more work in the near future for everyone even those of us who are unskilled. 

There will be a board meeting next Wednesday morning at 7:45 at the Biddeford Crossing branch of the Saco-Biddeford Savings.  A reminder, please park in the upper lot to leave customer parking available near the bank.

Jim McAllister ‘s number was drawn for the 50/50 however he did not select the correct ball so the pot rolls into next week’s.

Sergeants at Arms:

Brian Dallaire tried a preemptive strike for his stumble through the 4-way test during happy dollar time, but he was later fined as well.  Joe Moreshead happily sent his youngest son off to college this week.  Don Lauzier spent some happy family time with his visiting granddaughter.  Mr. Kany is celebrating 56 years of being happily married.  Mark Tuller was happy coming from a 10-day sail along the Maine coast, where he learned a bit of history.  Hydie Knuckles is happy that even though she didn’t win, she enjoyed the competition and trip to Vegas, she’s even happier to have a new job with Camden National Bank.  Maureen St. John also put up her happy dollar for her new job with the Savings Bank of Maine.  Helene Plourde and Frank Gooding both wished happy thoughts for their sons in the military.  Fines were levied against the late arrivals with no slack given for the inclement weather. 

Program:

Roland Gagne introduced the program’s speaker, Caroline Johnson to talk about the Guatemalan Literacy Project she became a part of through her Rotary club.  Caroline is an educator by trade with a professional interest in literacy. She got involved with the Cooperative for Education (CoEd) through her local Rotary club as she was looking at literacy programs for her own school. 

Two brothers from Cincinnati Joe and Jeff Berninger founded the CoEd in 1996.  They left successful careers at Procter & Gamble and IBM to address poverty in rural Guatemala, a country they had earlier visited.  They found that many students only receive two to four years of schooling, usually without books, access to computers or other supplies.  Students spend most of their time copying from the chalkboard.  The poverty level is oppressive; a family of five will live on just four dollars a day.  They also found that many “teachers” have only a high school education at best and have no real educational training.  Although Spanish is the country’s official language, there are 27 dialects of the Indigenous Mayan people that confound the problem of educating the children and communicating with parents.

The CoEd organization set up an “educational cooperative” much like an agricultural cooperative.  Parents “rent” the texts, computers and other supplies the CoEd organization has provided to start a fund so the school may become self-supporting and able to purchase their own books and supplies within a few years.  The local people have realized the need for education and become part of the cooperative.  Students also demonstrate their desire to learn by going to school after a full day of manual labor. In addition to providing the books and computer labs, the CoEd group also has a Culture of Reading program where they provide professional development for the teachers regarding how to use the materials to become better teachers. The teachers did not readily accept these changes, but eventually even the most stubborn among them appreciated the program. 

Caroline concluded with her personal observations of “Book Day” when she arrived on the CoEd supply bus in these remote towns to deliver the materials.  She was amazed that the whole town came out for it like it was a parade.  The CoEd offers project tours of Guatemala for Rotary members in late summer and mid-winter.  See their website for more information, www.coeduc.org.       

Thanks Peg  L for taking the notes!  Excellent reporting!

Happy September 1st!  Can it be Labor Day weekend coming up already??  Where did summer go????

Helene, Ye Editor