November 18th meeting

11/18/2015

Quote: “Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday”  ~ Don Marquis, Humorist, Journalist and Author.

            “You may delay, but time will not” ~ Ben Franklin

Greeter:  Turner.  Nest week, Jen

 

Guest Intros:  Timberly Hund, architect, potential new member. Gina Pattison, BMH. Richard Davis, Windham Heat Fund.

 

Student Rotarian Report: Emily and Molly reported on projects in the school including their Project Feed the Thousands.

 

~  Richard Davis gave a brief history of the Windham County Heat Fund. They have a goal of raising 50K for fuel assistance this year to serve about 100 households. We presented Richard with a check for $1,500 to go to the fund.

~  Gina Pattison from BMH joined us to accept a check for $750 that we raised from the Touch a Truck event.

~  Jen went over the schedule for the overflow shelter dinner that we will be providing this evening. We will be serving between 5:00 and 7:00pm at the Baptist Church so be sure all food and servers are there.

A big thanks to Sadie, Jen, and Stephanie for their work on the garden. You all keep us looking good in the community.

Dinner Rafle should be going strong right now. Keep selling tickets. Go to the noon club and sell there if you still have books to sell.

Booie went over the Secret Santa process again.  They are NOT a 501-c3, so you take your own risk in claiming a charitable deduction for your gift to this great program.

The “Feed the Thousands” food drive is under way. Three pick locations, Hannafords, the Coop and Price Chopper. You may need to ask Hannaford’s where the pick ups are as they may be in a back room.

Kevin has nailed down a date for the “Nothing but Net” event this spring. It will be Saturday, March 12^th, 2016. All members should plan on being on-board with one of the many activities that make this a great fundraiser.

Birthdays – None. Too bad. No song.

Caads – Richard Birkfield, our guest from Food Connect, won the prize with a 5 of Spades. Sign him up for membership!

 

Richard Berkfield from Food Connect has returned for his second presentation to the club. Richard reviewed the history of Food Connect (previously known as “Post-Oil Solutions”).

He played the video “Universal School Meals”. 1 in 4 kids in school are hungry and have food insecurity. 60% of kids eligible for free meals do not access them. USM looks to eliminate the divide between kids who can afford food and kids who need subsidized food by having all school lunch available at no cost.  Eliminating the administrative cost of the subsidized food program would pay for the non-subsidized food.

Food Connect also has the Farm-to-School program where they delivered over $200K in fresh food produce.

Food Connect also runs the School Harvest Farm where students come to learn and practice how to grow and harvest fresh produce.

 

In addition, F-C has a food buying club where people can purchase farm-raised produce and pick up at 6 local schools.