Small club. Big aspirations.
We meet Thursdays at 6:15 PM
Elks Lodge
Elks Lodge
37 4th Street
Old Town, ME 04468
United States
Old Town, ME 04468
United States
District Site
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Venue Map
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The Old Town Rotary Club is assisting the Old Town Elementary School in implementing a pilot project to place children's books on the school buses used to take students to and from OTES. The "Books on the Bus" program uses seat covers to hold the books, which children are allowed to read while on the bus. The Rotary Club provided funds for OTES to purchase six seat covers at $40 each. "Books on the Bus" started with separate programs in Topsham and Bath. Last fall, RSU 22 started developing a similar program at the Cyr Bus operation in Hampden.
The Old Town Rotary Club’s annual charity auction will be held Thursday May 2nd, 2019 from 5-9 p.m.
Proceeds will benefit the club's philanthropic projects and local organizations supported by OTR including Sarah's House, The Animal Orphanage, Maine’s Youth Fish & Game Association, and other Rotary charities.
The evening will start with a dinner from 5 to 6 p.m. The live auction will begin at 6:30 p.m. and end by 8:30 p.m. In addition to the live auction, there will be a silent auction, a variety of door prizes, and a bingo-type
card game.
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The Old Town Rotary Club and members gave $1,028 to the annual Maine Day Meal Pack-Out, which equals 4,000+ meals! Campus and community volunteers pack as many meals as they can that are then donated to local food banks, community organizations, that feed hungry, schools, etc. The goal of the event is to contribute as many meals as possible to Maine’s food-insecure community while raising awareness about food insecurity and promoting volunteerism. This year the Meal Pack-Out will be held on May 1st at the Memorial Gym starting at 9 am. We hope to see you there!
Pictured above from L to R: Lisa Gallant (Rotarian and President-Elect), Sarah Marcotte (student), Dr. Melissa Ladenheim, Emma Hutchinson (student), Becca Wollstadt (Rotary friend), Pat Cummings (Rotarian)
Welcome to our newest corporate members, the Old Town/Orono YMCA! Accepting the New Corporate/Organization Membership package is Deb Boyd, Executive Director, along with Shawn Fournier, one of the YMCA's alternates. Presenting is the club's President - DJ Whitmore, and Foundation Chair - Ben Smith.
What is a corporate member you may be thinking??? Corporate/organization members are companies that want to be involved in Rotary, but not one employee necessarily has all the time they would like to commit to a service organization. The Corporate/Organization Membership allows companies to become involved with one active member and up to three alternate members. The active member becomes an actual Rotarian (with all rights and privileges as other active members), while the alternates do not hold voting rights, but are welcome to participate in all other activities of the club. If the active member is unable to attend a meeting, an alternate can step in, and so forth. All corporate members are welcome at any meeting/event/fundraiser at any time.
Christmas Party!
Children of all ages enjoyed the Old Town Rotary Club's annual Christmas Party at the Elks Lodge on Thursday, December 13. Santa and Mrs. Claus distributed presents to children of Rotarians and friends of Rotary.
A special treat was gingerbread cookies supplied by LaBree's Bakery, which were decorated with lots of frosting in holiday colors.
Stocking Stuffers
The week before the Christmas party, Rotarians and friends spent Thursday evening stuffing Christmas stockings to be distributed to students at Old Town Elementary School. There were tables full of mittens, books, toys, and other gifts, and each Rotarian stuffed them into three to five stockings.
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On Friday, President DJ (center) delivered the stockings to Old Town Elementary School, where they were accepted by Principal Jeanna Tuell (left).
Keri Denis and Don Sturgeon sample all four entries in the club's Chili Cook-Off.
Linda Bryant wins Old Town Rotary Chili Cook-Off by 1 vote margin
Linda Bryant won the club's Chili Cook-Off by a single vote at the October 4th meeting. Rotarians were invited to prepare a batch of their favorite chile recipe, and club members received a cup from each of the four crock pots. After sampling the four entries, club members cast their ballots and were able to take seconds of their favorite chili (and their second or third favorites as well).
In addition to Linda, chili crock pots were entered by Tamara Saarinen, Deanie Greenleaf, and DJ Whitmore.
Linda's chili received one more vote than Tamara's chili, which was made with chicken and chicken sausage.
In addition to receiving bragging rights, Linda was allowed to donate the proceeds to her preferred charity, was was the club's "Birthday Bags" project. The cook-off proceeds totaled $226, which was augmented by $223 that was donated by club members to help fill the Birthday Bags.
Scooping free ice cream Friday night at Riverfest.
Old Town Rotarians participated in the city's Riverfest celebration September 28 and 29 with several different activities. First, on Friday night (Sept. 28), club members scooped free ice cream into several hundred cones for Riverfest participants. Second, on Saturday morning, a team of Rotarians marched in the parade and tossed candy to children along Stillwater Avenue and Main Street. Third, after the parade, club members served chicken barbecue, selling out early in the afternoon. Linda Bryant organized the chicken barbecue with the assistance of a crew that gathered at the Bryant homestead Friday night to parboil the chicken.
Free Ice Cream on Friday night
Chicken Barbecue on Saturday
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Rotarians and friends watch at Maine overpowers UNH, 35-7, at Alfond Stadium
President Elect Lisa Gallant with Ray Ruby of the Maine Cancer Foundation, who spoke to the club on August 16 on Reducing the Impact of Cancer in Maine
From left: Past President Doug, Linda and Buggsy Bryant, Mischelle Adams, Steve Russell, Ben Smith, Robin Merchant, and President DJ.
Five Old Town Rotarians have been recognized as Paul Harris Fellows. They were presented with their Paul Harris pins and medallions at the club's Thursday night meeting on July 26. The Paul Harris Fellows are Mischelle Adams, club treasurer; Steve Russell, House committee chair; Robin Merchant, Assistant District Governor; and Linda and Buggsy Bryant--two club members who don't hold a formal office but get lots of different things done. The fellows were nominated by Past President Doug Marchio. Assisting in the presentation were President DJ Whitmore and Foundation Chair Ben Smith.
Tess Greene, commercial lender, Penobscot County Federal Credit Union, talks about her banking and personal history.
Old Town Rotarians enjoy dinner, camaraderie at Sarah's House
CHECK PRESENTATION--After dinner, the club presented a check for $13,500 to Delores Landry, Executive Director of Sarah's House. From left, Old Town Rotary Club President Doug Marchio, Sarah's House Campaign Chair Judy Collier, Delores, and Rev. James Haddix, President of the Board of Directors for Sarah's House. In the foreground is Ian Whitmore, son of incoming President DJ Whitmore, who brought in a sack full of money (about $50) that he requested in lieu of birthday presents so he could donate it to Sarah's House.
Old Town Rotarians cook hot dogs, serve lunch to veterans and others celebrating Memorial Day
The Rotary cooking/serving crew--Jane and Chuck Veeder, Corina Larsen, Steve Russell, Steve Johnston, Tamara Saarinen, Izzy Larsen, and Josh Hamilton. Not present for photo: Lisa Gallant and her sister Terri and Frank Greenleaf. Photo by Dave Wollstadt.
