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Cinco de Mayo!

The Rotary Club celebrated the holiday with ersatz Latino appetizers and what we do best: fellowship and laughter. It was a youthful crowd. Not only were our young(er) members out in force, but the rest of us proved equally juvenile in attitude and spirit.

Club Business

President Jeff broke up the festivities with what he called a “brief interruption” to get some Rotary business accomplished. He started by recognizing visitors (some of whom will cease being visitors in the very near future and become full members). Introduced or reintroduced to the crowd were Rich and Charlotte Jameson of Newagen, and Paul Jarkowitz, a long-time connection of Chip Griffin. Not a visitor but recently returned was Margi Spratt – it is good to have her back.

Welcome Rick Chaplin

Then it was on to the even better stuff: We welcomed Rick Chaplin to our ranks, sponsored by his partner, Judi White. Welcome to Rotary, Rick! We look forward to your continued involvement.

Bob Pike Update

Judy deGraw provided an update on Bob Pike, our beloved club curmudgeon. After several weeks and several surgeries at Miles and Maine Med, he is rallying and convalescing. Jeff even shared a picture of Bob smiling from his hospital room. We all look forward to having Bob back with us.

RYLA and HS Scholarships

IJ Pinkham and Ingrid Merrill brought us up to date on our annual High School scholarships, which Ingrid will present to the graduating seniors at awards night. For the sophomores, the great news is that the RYLA program is being reborn for the first time post-pandemic. The Board approved funds for five sophomores (rising juniors) to attend; Ingrid took advantage of District funds to invite a sixth student, and this editor suspects that if another student expresses appropriate interest the Board will be able to scratch together the necessary dollars. All-in-all, RYLA is a great, camp-based leadership program – feedback suggests that the kids love it and grow a lot through it - and it’s terrific that BRHS will be so well represented.

Eddy School Gardens

Ingrid also spoke of the raised garden at Edgecomb Eddy, which is coming along nicely. There are 34 kids in the school’s garden club, and they, the teachers, and Botanical Gardens volunteers are putting in the sweat equity to make this garden – now in its third year – a success. All this is in addition to the raised beds that we organized in association with the Y – and which have now been moved to Camp K while the in-town Y is undergoing renovations.

Club Operations

And, of course, barn sales continue every Saturday, 8:30 to 11:00 am, rain or shine. People are needed to collect, haul, sort, refurbish and sell. Don’t be shy – we need you! We also need the People Power to staff our meetings – greet, waiter, scribe, 50/50, et cetera. Sign up with Jim Herbold. We can’t do it without you!