Rotary District 7810 changes landscape of northern Maine, New Brunswick

At the start of his tenure last year, Rotary International President Kalyan Banerjee asked all Rotarians “to reach within to embrace humanity.” The best way for Rotarians from Northern Maine and New Brunswick to embrace humanity is to start in their backyards by embracing their neighbors. The determination and compassion of people from a specific region can be seen in numerous ways. For our region for Rotarians, these qualities pervade all our local projects that are changing our physical and social landscape.
Rotary is an international service organization, but reaching within one’s community to establish a solid foundation for growth certainly opens up greater opportunity to reach out to others around the world. President Banerjee understands the possibility that comes from the solidarity of one’s internal and external surroundings.
Local projects
• Florenceville provided equipment donation to the Dialysis Unit at the Upper River Valley Hospital
• Newcastle sponsored the “Be Smart, Don’t Start” drug education program for students in grades 6 to 12.
• Houlton Rotary hosted a recognition lunch for area high school students, picked over 20,000 ears of corn with Friends of Aroostook to donate to New England food pantries, and donated funds to feed, clothe, and develop our children.
• Sackville donated Smart Boards to Marshville Middle School. The Club plans to provide each classroom with one of these digital, interactive white boards.
• Limestone Rotary hosted Fun in the Snow Day. This annual event brings families together outdoors and encourages community organizations to interact with residents through recreation.
• The Sussex Rotary Club added vitality to their Coats for Kids program. The club donates winter jackets to area children in need.
• Bathurst Rotary continued to develop literacy projects throughout the region. Rotarians partnered with other groups to target children and families needing literacy assistance. They conducted readings in the community and handed out books free of charge.
• The Rotary Club of Chatham teamed up with the Newcastle Club to host the 1stAnnual Dragon Boat Race. Nearly 7,000 people attended this family-oriented event on the Miramichi River.
• St. Stephen-Milltown Rotary worked with the area Kiwanis Club on radio bingo. Radio bingo encourages fellowship in the community, along with raising funds to support the Charlotte County Boys and Girls Club.
• Fredericton North Rotary supported the local food bank and blood services back. The Club also revived pond hockey to encourage recreation in the community among youth and adults.
• Dalhousie Rotary made a significant contribution to the local Restigouche County SPCA, which is in the process of building a new animal shelter.
• Rothesay-Kings Rotary supported the School Breakfast Program in three local elementary and middle schools in the Kennebecasis Valley.
• Hampton Rotary Club provided bicycle helmets to children in area schools.
• The Fredericton Club supports Camp Rotary, a residential summer camp for persons with disabilities located at Grand Lake, N.B. Dieppe Rotary Club worked with the Arts and Culture Centre to carry out projects.
• Fort Fairfield Rotary added beauty to Main Street with scenic and historic banners.
• Machias Rotary Club hosted the Wild Blueberry Festival Pancake Breakfast.
• Presque Isle Rotary used proceeds from their annual TV auction to fund numerous projects throughout the community.
• Woodstock Rotary supported the modernization of the Carleton Civic Center.
• The Rotary Club of Shediac supported the expansion project for Parc Pascal-Poirie.
• Gagetown Rotarians continue to work tirelessly to promote literacy.
• Grand Manan Rotary Club continues to serve as the engine behind Rotaryfest. For over 30 years, the club has created a long weekend of activities enjoyed by locals and many tourists who visit the area.
• Dieppe Rotary Club partnered with the Dieppe Arts and Culture Centre, School District No. 1, and the city of Dieppe on arts activities for students and residents.