Happy Valentine's Day.
This week we are continuing our “Meet the Family” series with one of Chip Griffin’s favorite daughters, Betsy Griffin. Betsy graduated from Bowdoin College and is now working for the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston in operations, managing all the permanent collection displays and gallery renovations. She is going to walk us through a recent renovation from start to finish, all with the magic of Zoom. Wow! I don’t know about you, but I can hardly wait. Behind the scenes at the MFA, learn the secrets of one of my favorite places.
We are also going to have a short presentation by Kaitlyn Walker-Spencer. She is a junior at Camden Hills Regional High School. She is doing a research project about inclusivity in Rotary Clubs in Maine. She will briefly present her project, then give us a link to fill out a survey. It’s always fun to meet young people interested in Rotary. This week we are meeting two of them.
Big News!!! We are transitioning out of the Club Wizard Platform into the Club Runner platform for our website. Thanks to the hard work of Vic Taylor, Brian McGrath, Jim Herbold and other members on March 4th we will be 100% on Club Runner. Instead of “Meet the Family” on March 4th we will “Meet Club Runner” and have a tutorial about our new website.
Chip Griffin, Betsy’s favorite father, wrote a wonderful article about the Rotary Barn that was published in the Boothbay Register this week. Thank you, Chip. And a big thank you to all the members of the Public Relations Committee led by Alice Mutch. Our community is so much more aware of the positive impact of our Rotary club even in these Pandemic times. All the articles and pictures have given a voice for all the work and fun of our amazing club.
This week I will receive my second Covid-19 vaccine. I feel so fortunate. Hopefully the vaccine will be the start of the end of this pandemic and we will be meeting in the clubhouse again. As all Rotarians know, Rotary has been working to eradicate another disease, Polio, for more than 40 years. As a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative we’ve reduced polio cases by 99.9% since our first project to vaccinate children in the Philippines in 1979. Today, Polio is only endemic in Afghanistan and Pakistan. But it’s crucial to continue our work and keep all countries Polio free.
So, let’s Play It Forward. Get a shot - Give a shot. Once you get vaccinated pay it forward by immunizing others against Polio. All it takes is a donation to Polio Plus. I know we would all pay a lot of money to get vaccinated against Covid 19, but we don’t have to pay a dime. So what better way to show our appreciation than to help eradicate another terrible disease in our lifetime. Just write Polio Plus on the memo line of your check to the BBH Rotary Foundation.
The World Understanding and Peace Dinner is being held virtually this year on Tuesday February 23rd, from 6:30 to 7:45. Along with two dynamic speakers, you will have a chance to hear the Pihcinta Multicultural Chorus. Hearing these young singers from around the world will lift your spirits and open your hearts.
Oh, don’t forget your dues are due. Even though we are not meeting in the clubhouse, we’re still heating it (barely) and have other expenses. The club account is running about break even because of your dues. Thank you.
Hope to see you Thursday, stay well.. Irene
Marty Immunizing against Polio in Chad
