Houlton Rotary

Rotarians Learn About Excellence in Education

Excellence in education…..Where are we? How do we get to it? What does it mean for Maine and its future?

These are the questions being asked and Yellow brought the answers to members of the Houlton Rotary Club at one of their recent meetings. Yellow is Vice President and Chief Strategic Officer at Bangor Saving Bank. He was born and raised in Saint Albans and is a product of Maine public schools. He is a graduate of Harvard Law School and is one of only three individuals ever selected to deliver both the undergraduate and graduate addresses at Harvard Commencement. From 1999 to 2003, Yellow served as Director of Special Projects and External Affairs for the Maine Department of Education. He is active in a number of volunteer and public service efforts, including chairing the Maine Coalition for Excellence in Education.

Yellow stressed that education is our future…..for jobs and for life. We need to refocus and set the bar higher, providing an excellent education for everyone no matter of economic status. Presently, Maine has a lower proportion of degree holders in its workforce than any New England state, and that is the chief reason why we have the lowest incomes in the region. Quality education means jobs. Mainers need to get education back on the radar as an important issue. In Maine today, we have pockets of excellence. Communities need to find out why these pockets are doing better, set up models and work with educators. Communities need to stay positive saying that it can be done by engaging everyone—educators, parents, organizations, etc.—on a common issue. Measurable goals need to be set and everyone needs to be held accountable in achieving the goals. Time is our ally…..changes will not be made overnight. We will be working through the next decade to achieve the goals. He challenges everyone to get involved and together, Mainers can remodel our educational system. A successful educational system can prepare Maine’s economy for future challenges by giving every Mainer the knowledge and skills they need for college, career, citizenship and life.

Pictured left to right:

Chris Nickerson, Rotarian; Yellow Light Breen, guest speaker; Darryl Scott White, Rotary Club President.

Soap Box Derby

With the Northern Maine Soap Box Derby being the major recipient of the Rotary auction money this year, Andy Mooers and Andy Sloat spoke to the Rotarians at a recent meeting of the Club.

The first derby in Houlton was held in 1996 on Drake’s Hill. Much work was done to set up the hill for racing, all with the local neighborhood cheering them on. After much brainstorming, planning and fund raising, the Wayne Miller Memorial Derby Hill was opened in 1999 in Community Park. By then, the Houlton derby had grown to be the biggest derby in the country and held that designation from 1997 to 2001.

Many people and organizations have contributed countless man hours and dollars to make it what it is today. The Houlton Rotary Club has been a contributor since day one. During any given derby, there are over 50 volunteers working with the kids and on their cars. Many of the volunteers today were racers when they were youngsters. The emphasis of the derby is having fun and learning the whole process….from the kids getting donations to fund their car, constructing their car, and all the other things involved before they finally get to make that first run down the hill. Both speakers agreed that the best part of the whole process is seeing the grins on the faces of the racers when they make that first run!

The major proceeds from the Rotary auction this year will go to the Soap Box Derby committee to help construct a building on the hill. This will provide a much-needed space for storage of equipment and will protect the racers and their cars from the sun and rain during the actual races.

Pictured left to right:

Andy Mooers, Darryl “Scott” White, Andy Sloat

Meduxnekeag Watershed

Cara O’Donnell, water resource specialist for the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, recently spoke to the Houlton Rotary Club. She earned her Bachelors of Science degree in Watershed Science from Colorado State University and has been with the Maliseets since 2003. The Maliseets name, Metahksonikewiyik, means “People of the Meduxnekeag River”.

The program to help protect the watershed started in 1995. The Maliseets use the Meduxnekeag for medicine, fishing, trapping, use the trees along the river for baskets, among many other things. They use the river to pass their culture down to future generations. They protect the river for the Tribe and for the community. The watershed covers 500 square miles of rivers, lakes, streams and brooks. It starts at Drews Lake, runs through Houlton to the Canadian border and down the St. John River to the Bay of Fundy.

There is watershed everywhere. No matter where we are, our actions affect the watershed…..we should be aware of everything we do. We should live gently on the earth and consider the generations to come.

Pictured left to right:

Jim Brown, Rotarian; Isaac St. John, assistant to speaker; Cara O’Donnell, speaker; Darryl “Scott ” White, Rotary Club President

Rick Rogers – The Rotary Foundation

On Monday the 26th of April, Houlton Rotary hosted Rick Rogers, Past District Governor. Rick spoke about Rotary International, the Rotary Foundation and our efforts to eradicate polio. Rotary has joined forces around the world to eradicate polio. Rotary’s accomplishments with their polio efforts have gained the support of Bill Gates and a challenge has been put forth by the Gates Foundation that if Rotary can raise 200 million dollars to eradicate polio by 2012 then the Gates Foundation will grant 350 million for a total of over a half billion dollars to eradicate polio worldwide. This is a challenge Rotary has graciously accepted and is working diligently to achieve, with great success, to date their has been $112 million raised world wide.

At the end of his presentation Rick awarded the Houlton Rotary Club with the Following:

The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International is please to present THE ROTARY CLUB OF HOULTON a certificate of appreciation for its financial support pf Rotary’s US200 Million Challenge. Together, we will fulfill our promise to the children of the world and eradicate polio.

Signed by President Rotary International:

O.K. LEE

In the pic is John Tribou, Houlton Rotary President being presented with Houlton’s certificate of appreciation with our efforts to help eradicate polio, by Rick Rogers,Past District Governor.

Rick Duncan and Neighbors First

Rick Duncan of Presque Isle was the guest speaker at Houlton Rotary Club on March 22. Rick discussed his volunteer missionary trip last fall to Guatemala as part of Neighbors First, Inc (NFI), which is dedicated to a hands-on-ministry of construction help for people in need. During this trip a team of eight men from NFI helped construct a home for pastor Oscar in the village of Tablitas. This was Rick’s 4th volunteer missionary trip to Guatemala and 6th volunteer project for NFI.

Pictured Left to Right: John Tribou, Rick Duncan, Vicki Smith

Shriners at Houlton Rotary

On Monday, March 8th the Houlton Rotary Club hosted Craig Clifford of the Anah Temple Shriners. Craig spoke about the Shriners International fraternity and how they base themselves around fun, fellowship and the Masonic principles of brotherly love, relief and truth. Shriners International supports Shriners Hospitals for Children. They currently have 22 hospitals dedicated to helping children up to the age of 18 with burns, orthopedic conditions, spinal cord injuries and cleft lip. These services are all provided at no cost to the families. If you would like information about the Shriners Hospitals please see their website http://www.shrinershq.org/Shrine/

In the picture from L to R: Tony Bowers, Rotarian, Christian Putnam, Host and Rotarian, Craig Clifford, Public Relations for Shriners and John Tribou, Houlton Rotary President.

Captain Irma Pearl – Houlton Salvation Army

On Monday March1st the Houlton Rotary Club hosted Captain Irma Pearl of the Houlton Salvation Army. Captain Pearl spoke about the history of the Salvation Army in Houlton and the many ways they help local individuals and families finding the programs and resources they need to provide for themselves and their families. Captain Pearl also invited all to stop into the new Salvation Army store and how we can all make donations to the store to help our local community and they hope to have room in the near future to donate furniture.

In the pic from left to right: John Tribou, Houlton Rotary President, Captain Irma Pearl, Speaker and Captain Steve Pearl, Rotarian and host of speaker.

Mark Sperrey – Houlton School of Martial Arts

On Monday February 22nd the Houlton Rotary Club hosted Mark Sperrey from the Houlton School of Martial Arts. Mark shared with Rotarians what his martial arts courses entail and how his courses are appropriate for children 7 years of age to seniors. Mark also emphasized that his courses are appropriate for individuals no matter what your physical condition is, just come with a good attitude.

In the picture: John Tribou, Houlton Rotary President, Mark Sperrey, Instructor at Houlton School of Martial Arts and Chris Nickerson, Rotarian host.

Stepping Stones

On Monday the 8th of February the Houlton Rotary Club hosted Susan York and Barbara Kelly from Stepping Stones. Susan shared Stepping Stones story in Houlton and their expansion across the state. This expansion has led Stepping Stones to become the largest provider of infant mental health services in Maine. Stepping Stones provides a home for single mothers and fathers to raise their infant children in a safe and healthy environment. Stepping Stones are always working on fundraisers to help run their facilities. They will be the recipient of the Community Box at Shop N Save for the month of March, Staff will also have raffle tickets available for 2 Easter Baskets with the winners drawn on April 1st, and will be hosting a bottle drive in February and March with the proceeds going to Step Up! shelter services. If you have any questions about Stepping Stones please contact Susan York susany@stepstones4youth.org or visit their website at www.stepstones4youth.org.

In the picture from left to right: John Tribou, Houlton Rotary President, Barbara Kelly, Quality Assurance for Stepping Stones, Susan York, Child Care Specialist for Stepping Stones and Steve Nelson, Houlton Rotarian and host.

John Egan and Tom Donahue of Coastal Enterprises

John Egan speaks to Rotary about Market Apartments in Downtown Houlton.

President John Tribou, John Egan, Tom Donahue and Marguerite Lawler