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.

Houlton Little League – Rotary Champs!

At a recent meeting of the Houlton Rotary Club, Rotarian Moose Karnes presented the club with the Rotary Little League 9-10 year-old trophy for the year 2010. This is the first time that Moose has been a coach for Little League since he played in the league, it is the first time that the team went 16-0, and it is the first year on the new Rotary field. Moose was on the Rotary team that won back in 1956 & 1957. Several Rotarians have played on the Rotary team.

Darryl "Scott" White and Moose Karnes

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

Time to Harvest!

Rotarian, Dale Flewelling, has started a fantastic project to help feed our area’s hungry, especially the elderly in our community with locally raised vegetables!  His idea was this: let’s use land that isn’t being used and grow food for those who need to be fed!  We’ve got ample land in Northern Maine and we have many people who are hungry and can’t afford fresh vegetables.

Brilliant!

This year Dale and his group, Friends of Aroostook, have planted close to 2 acres of land to support our hungry neighbors and the gardens are BOOMING!!  Take a look at these pictures:

So, it’s time to harvest and we need pickers!  This Saturday, July 17th we will be picking from 9am to 5pm at the Linneus  garden which is located just after you pass the Ruth Road and just before you get to Grammy’s Country Kitchen.  You’ll know it’s the field because there is a HUGE Friends of Aroostook sign in front of the field.

• What are we picking? – Peas and Beans!
  What do I bring? -  A container to collect what you pick (Tupperware box, basket, plastic dish pan, etc)
• Who Can Pick? Anyone including kids!
• Will someone be there to show us what to do? YES! Dale will be there all day!
• Can we take some home with us? YES, please do!
• How long should I plan for? How about an hour!  Stay longer if you would like!
• Where are we picking? The Linneus field which is on the Bangor Rd. just past the Ruth Rd. and right before you get to Grammy’s Country Kitchen!

Youth Exchange 2010

On June 14^th, Houlton Rotary welcomed Lise-Lotta Hagqvist, an exchange student from Kangasala, Finland.  Lise-Lotta will be residing with Chelsi Murray, a senior at Houlton High School, for the next four weeks, experiencing our culture and traveling the country.  In July, Houlton Rotary will fund Chelsi Murray’s trip back to Finland with Lise-Lotta where Chelsi will enjoy a four-week exchange. Each year, Houlton Rotary funds exchange trips for up to three area students.  In the photo (left to right), Chelsi Murray, Lise Lotta Hagqvist, John Tribou, Rotary President, and Dana Delano, Youth Exchange Officer.

New Members

On Monday May 3rd, the Houlton Rotary welcomed three new members to The Houlton Rotary. In the picture from left to right are Mike Clark,Rotarian with new member Donald Ellis, Torrey Sylvester, Rotarian with new member Patrick Gordon, John Tribou, Rotary President and Kathie Smith with Rhonda Tower, Houlton Rotarian.

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.