We have two new Rotarians, can you spot them? (Hint: See article below.) 

Come out and join us so that we can fill in the picture's open spce, and do more good in the community. 

 

The club recently invited Fort Fairfield Middle/High School National Honor Society (NHS) members to attend its annual Middle/High School Christmas/New Year’s program. During the program Laura Woodman, club President, (center) and NHS member Kaley Norsworthy were presented a $250 check to support the club’s many activities by Carl Young, President. 

Ginny Joles (right) presents Macenzi and Veronica's induction citation as Floyd Rockholt, District 7810, Area 1, Assistant Governor looks on

The club recently inducted new Rotarians Macenzi Charette and Veronica Plourde during its annual Christmas/New Year’s meeting held at the Fort Fairfield Middle/High School. Ginny Joles, District 7810 Governor presented the induction citation and Floyd Rockholt, District 7810, Area 1, Assistant Governor assisted during Macenzi and Veronica’s Rotary International pinning ceremony. Middle/High School choral group members and National Honor Society members in attendance were invited to join club members to witness the ceremonies. 

left photo - Macenzi (left) and Veronica, happy to join friends and neighbors as Rotarians 

right photo - Floyd assists Macenzi and Veronica during their Rotary International pinning ceremonies

Elementary School Principal Sue Parks accepts "Happy Dollars" from Carl Young, President

The club recently held its annual Christmas/New Year’s seasonal meeting at the Fort Fairfield Middle High School. Once again Rotarians were very “happy” at this meeting. $350 was raised during “Happy Dollars” and donated to the school to purchase warm winter clothing for youngsters who might not otherwise have mittens, caps, gloves or the like. School staff Rotarians are very much aware of needs and administer the program for the club. During the meeting a Middle/High School choral group provided seasonal selections and invited club members to join in for several songs. The school’s cafeteria staff provided an excellent breakfast and the Baking-4-A-Living class provided their “world famous” cinnamon sticky buns.

Choral group prepares to present seasonal music 

Rotarians enjoy 

The club has kicked off its annual Rotary Spirit Student Award program with the Fort Fairfield High School. The program, in its sixth year, recognizes on a quarterly basis students who exemplify the Rotary spirit in their school and off-campus lives. Students are nominated for the award by the school’s faculty on the basis of academic, citizenship, and personal development with a girl and boy recipient selected by the club’s spirit committee from among the nominees. Abby Young and Colin Goshorn are the September/October 2016 quarter recipients. 

Abby with parents, sister, and Tracy Copeland, RSSA Program Chair 

Colin with parents, grandparents, and Tracy 

The Fort Fairfield Rotary Club coordinating with other local service organizations hosted the 32nd annual Seniors/Community Thanksgiving Day dinner at the VFW Hall. With the FFHS Baking-4-A-Living class preparing the turkeys, Rotarians together with community volunteers and those from the Knights of Columbus, Frontier Fish and Game Club, FFHS Lady Tigers basketball team, and others, prepared and distributed over 115 dinners to home-bound citizens, and approximately 100 were served to those who came out to the VFW Hall to enjoy fellowship and the dinner. Hoping that everyone enjoyed a happy Thanksgiving Day. 

"Bashful" cooks? 

Another "bashful"? 

Volunteers box pies for homebound deliveries

Servers are ready 

Assembly line prepares boxed meals 

Dinners boxed 

Lady Tigers ready to serve 

Don't they look like winners

WAGM-TV Joey Prechtel interviews "talkative Lady" 

Pam Kinsey provides seasonal music 

Ginny Joles, Governor, District 7810 visited recently. Ginny congratulated the club concerning the various service projects in which it is involved and offered encouragement on future projects. Ginny also spoke concerning recent Rotary International guidelines changes that effect club operations. Working collaboratively with other clubs throughout the district was stressed in that many clubs share like-minded goals. 

Ginny takes a question from the floor 

(from left to right) Rotarians Effie Murchie, Macenzi Charette, Wayne Troicke, Veronica Plourde, Larry Plant, Ginny Joles, Carl Young, Kevin Murchie

 

Here are some Cash Draw Event photos for your viewing enjoyment. There are 30+ so it might take a minute to load. 

 

 

 

 

Preparations 

Common Crossing band is ready 

All is ready 

Fort Fairfield High School National Honor Society members ready for 50/50 

Rotarians Lauren Kenneson and Carl Young at the End Polio Now Campaign Purple Pinkie Project table 

Rotarian Wayne Troicke shares conversation with Becky Young before festivities begin 

Rotarian Kerri Watson-Blaisdell and Narda Plant ready at the check-in table 

Guest supports Rotary's End Polio Now Campaign at the Purple Pinkie Project table 

Checking in 

Ready for the great steaks and chicken cordon bleu prepared by the local Lions Club 

Rotarians (in blue shirts left to right) Kerri, Wayne, Kevin and Effie Murchie, and Tracy Copeland, with Rotarian candidate Veronica Plourde ready to draw winning ticket numbers 

Rotarian Wayne Troicke (fourth from right) begins to realize that he is the Paul Harris recognition recipient as Rotarian Larry Plant reads the recognition citation 

Wayne is honored with applause from all 

Paul Harris recipient Wayne with wife Pat, flanked by Larry and Ginny Joles, Rotary District 7810, District Governor 

Ginny Joles performs Wayne's pinning ceremony as wife Pat looks on 

50/50 winner Billie Jo Sharpe is excited as Rotarian, and event emcee, Kerri validates the winning ticket number 

The Common Crossing band entertained as guests enjoyed "the sounds" and danced the evening away 

 

 

‘How do we thank you, let us count the ways…’

Paraphrasing Elizabeth Barrett Browning only begins to express the club’s appreciation, and the gratitude of those individuals who receive your support throughout the year. Everything the club does is made possible through your Cash Draw and Vidalia Onion Sales fundraisers support. This year’s 30th Annual Rotary Cash Draw 2016 fundraiser is a huge success only because supporters like you said “yes”, knowing that your support touches so many individuals here in the community, region, and around the world. Again, THANK YOU! 

 

The club recently held the Cash Draw fundraiser Early Bird drawings. The two Early Bird winning tickets are: Eric & Mary Ann Scott, and Growers Exchange. Congratulations and thank you! 

Dear Friends and Neighbors, 
How often have you wanted to reach out and help those with needs here in our community, the County, and those less fortunate around the world but you just didn’t know where to begin? Now you have the opportunity to reach out with your support of the Fort Fairfield Rotary Club’s annual primary fundraiser, our Cash Draw event.

The Cash Draw fundraiser is one of only two times during the year that the club asks for your support. No, actually the club is not asking for your support. As a club we do not have needs. Your rotary club is a group of volunteers giving their time and energies to help out where help is needed. I often have to remind myself of a couple of things: 1) People give to people, not organizations, 2) Our club does not have needs, the community has needs, 3) Clubs have solutions, and this is where your purchase of a 2016 30th Annual Cash Draw ticket can make all the difference. The club is but a conduit for you to help those less fortunate.

  

(left) Harry Hafford, Chairman, Northern Maine Veterans Cemetery Corporation (NMVCC) visited the club to brief the NMVCC mission and discuss the 2016 Special Committal Shelter Project. Once the project is completed ceremony visitors will be protected from the harsh Northern Maine weather elements. 

Following the briefing Carl Young, club president, enjoyed an informative cemetery tour and presented a check to support the shelter project. 

Project goals include: 1) Extending the present north end roof out eight feet to the curved wall. A side benefit of extending the roof is that approximately 36 additional people can be seated in the shelter, 2) Closing in the north gable end, 3) Closing the openings from the pillars to the curved wall with doors and light panels to keep the weather out, and 4) Installing sliding glass type windows on the east and west 3/4 high walls to be opened/closed as the weather conditions dictate. 

Additional information concerning the cemetery and the project may be found at:  http://www.maineveteranscemeterycaribou.org/ 

Sherry Locke, Executive Director, United Way of Aroostook accepts a support check from Carl Young, President, Fort Fairfield Rotary Club 

Sherry Locke, Executive Director, United Way of Aroostook (UWA) visited a recent meeting and spoke about the many functions and services provided by the UWA. Sherry emphasized the many partner organizations from Houlton to Fort Kent that makes it possible to provide a broad spectrum of services across The County.

Clouds gave way to clear skies and sunshine as Little Miss Fort Fairfield – Chloe White, Pre-Teen Miss Fort Fairfield – Skye Elizabeth Strid, Junior Miss Fort Fairfield – Rachel Marie Milliard, Teen Miss Fort Fairfield – Leigha Ruth Langley, and Miss Fort Fairfield – Alyssa Poitras provided a regal presence on the club’s 2016 Maine Potato Blossom Festival float.  Offering smiles and waves aplenty, the princesses enjoyed applause from the many parade spectators and recognition as many family and friends called to them along the parade route. Follow the below link for more pictures. 

 

 

 

 

 

Special thanks to Theriault Equipment for supplying tractor, driver, and a pleasant and safe ride. 

New bikes await new owners 

The Maine Potato Blossom Festival is over but memories abound, especially for the club's annual Bike Rodeo participants. During the rodeo youngsters ages 2 through 12 are given bike safety instruction by Officer Jim Cerrato, ride the riding skills course, receive a free new helmet, are eligible to win a free new bike, get to ride with police escort down Main Street, and receive a free hotdog/French fries/soda lunch. This year’s bike winners were Trey Zetterman (ages 2-5), Jack Helstrom (ages 6-8),
and Aydin St. Pierre (ages 9-12).

Special thanks to the Fort Fairfield Police and Fire Departments, Crown Ambulance Service, and Knights of Columbus for their support.

For pictures click on the following link.  

Rotarians Effie Murchie, Sue Parks, and Lauren Kenneson ready for registrations 

Practice rides on the skills course 

Registration begins 

Officer Jim provides biking safety instructions 

 

 

 

Ready to ride the skills course 

 

New bike winner Trey Zetterman (Ages 2-5) 

 

New bike winner Jack Helstrom (Ages 6-8) 

 

New bike winner Aydin St. Pierre (Ages 9-12) 

 

Officer Jim knows helmets are important 

 

The police escorted ride down Main Street begins 

 

Time for lunch 

 

 

 

The Fort Fairfield, Maine, USA and Perth-Andover, New Brunswick, Canada Rotary Clubs recently came together for their Combined Annual Meeting. The clubs have been enjoying this time of Rotarian fellowship for many years. Along with an evening meal enjoyed, each club and Rotary District 7810 Governor-Elect, Ginny Joles, presented member awards and recognitions. In addition to club Rotarians and spouses attending Rotary District 7810 Governor Elect Ginny Joles, Area 1 Assistant Governor (AG) Floyd Rockholt, and Area 1 Past AG Nancy Fletcher also attended.

Preparations are complete

All is ready 

John Larsen, Perth-Andover Rotary Club Vice President (rear), and Carl Young, Fort Fairfield Rotary Club President welcome Rotarians and guests

Rotarians and guests enjoy fellowship

Everyone enjoyed delicious supper

John prepares to present Perth-Andover Rotarian's awards

Ginny Joles presents pin to Perth-Andover's newest Rotarian

Margie Brooks, Perth-Andover past President, presents Rotarian of the Year recognition

Carl prepares to present perfect attendance pins 

Larry Plant accepts perfect attendance pin

Paul Towle accepts perfect attendance pin

Tracy Copeland accepts perfect attendance pin

Carl presents self perfect attendance pin.
Also receiving pins but not present were Effie Murchie and Wayne Troicke

Ginny Joles welcomes and reads new Rotarian citation as Shawn Newell is inducted as Fort Fairfield club's newest member

Carl affixes Rotary International wheel pin recognizing wearer as a Rotarian

Congratulations and welcome

Fort Fairfield club officers introduced. (Left to right) Paul Towle, Director, Tracy Copeland, Treasurer, Kerri Watson-Blaisdell, Secretary, Carl Young, President. Not present, Stephanie Beaulieu, Vice President, Wayne Troicke, Sargent-at-Arms, Ken Hensler, Director, Kevin Murchie, Director

Floyd Rockholt, Assistant Governor Area 1, reminds members about District Conference,
August 26-28, University of Maine at Presque Isle and other area venues.

 

The club was pleased to contribute to the recent “WELCOME TO Friendly FORT FAIRFIELD” signs refurbishment and wants to thank the Loring Job Corps students and staff for their efforts on this project. The signs welcome visitors and residents on each major highway into town. You can learn more about the Welcome Sign project by visiting the Town Website:http://www.fortfairfield.org/welcome-signs-refurbished.html 

At the Fort Fairfield High School graduation ceremonies, Class of 2016, the club was pleased to present $1000 scholarships to graduating seniors Taylor Churchill and Dalton Cassidy. In photos, Taylor and Dalton accept scholarships from club President, Carl Young.