Rotary Takes a Turn as Santa’s Elves

The Rotary Clubhouse looked more like an annex to Santa’s workshop last Thursday night.  A merry contingent of members and guests gathered to turn Holiday cheer into good works.  

We accomplished three Seasonal projects:  We filled around 120 Christmas goodie bags for kids at the Food Pantry, and another 80 for the “Food for Thought” backpack program.  Those projects were orchestrated by Irene, Judi White and Linda Clapp.  We also made and filled 21 “welcome” tote bags which will be given throughout the year to the veterans who move into the V.E.T.S trailers. We’re doing this in conjunction with Ed Harmon and Arthur Clarke, who conceived the idea and built out the trailers. The shopping totes were filled with useful items for setting up a new home including paper towels, soap, cleaning wipes, instant coffee, socks, instant soups, and shaving supplies and socks (donated by Bruce’s wife, Media.  A special “Thank You” to our own Hannaford Store who provided the tote bags, instant coffee, paper towels and toilet paper.  Another example of the generosity and kindness of this community we are so fortunate to live in.

And, new this year:  We decorated a wooden Christmas tree made by the BRHS voc-tech students, and which are being sold with all proceeds to help support the school’s STEM program. Ours is decorated with soup ladles and recipes and highlights the 3300 containers of soup that we have donated to the Food Pantry! That project has been spearheaded for us by Judi White. The tree itself was prepped with lights and nails by Eric Wilts & Jim Herbold and decorated by Vicki Haugen with bows tied by Marty Helman, and it will be displayed at Pinkham’s – thank you, Russ! We also purchased a tree for the Interact kids to decorate – can’t wait to see what they come up with!

We had about 10 minutes of a “regular” meeting – President Bruce thanked the elves, led by Irene Fowle, who decorated the clubhouse last week with holiday flair.  He introduced guests, including Rick Jameson’s wife, Charlotte (who is soon to turn in her temporary name badge for a more permanent variety), and Peter Lynch, another possible new member.   Robin Reed brought his other half, Ann, and Barbara Thornton took her first turn as Sergeant at Arms.  Happy dollars ensued when she announced that she had left her carefully prepared trivia questions at home, but I think Barbara didn’t get it, because she vowed to bring the questions (and presumably the answers) with her next week.  

There was a big (BIG) big pickup this week.  We have only two more Saturdays until the Rotary Barn closes for the season.  Lots of opportunities to do your Holiday shopping (and more!); but the final sale day of 2022 will be Saturday, December 17.

This Thursday we will hear an update on the Boothbay Region Health Center by the new Primary Care Provider/Family Nurse Practitioner, Melody Rees. She will describe the kind of care the Health Center provides and the needs they are seeing in our community.

Then, the following Thursday 12/15 is the Annual Christmas Party complete with ugliest sweater contest and the famous and hilarious “Yankee Swap”.  Bring a wrapped gift worth around $15.00 to the swap.  Then get ready for fun and laughter.  I hear the “Rotations” might be making a guest appearance too.  Amy is planning a wonderful dinner for us that night.  To make the night even more special, bring an appetizer or dessert to share.  Any favorite or easy Charistmas recipe or tradition from your family or friends.

Then, PHEW!  We are not meeting on December 22nd or December 29th.  We’ll return on Thursday January 5th, 2023.