Rotarians hear update from RC&D

    The Presque Isle Rotary Club held its regular weekly meeting Jan. 8 at the Northeastland Hotel. President Sharon Campbell presided over the session.
    This week’s speaker was Skip Babineau of the St. John Aroostook RC &D (Resource, Conservation and Development). They provide technical assistance to many great efforts in Aroostook County for soil, forestry, wildlife conservation problems like the retention pond at the Northern Maine Veterans Cemetery, the runoff at the Houlton Golf Course, a public boat landing in Frenchville, GIS and GPS technology trainings at UMPI and also the annual Environthon for area high schools where they compete for placement in state and national levels. A program under USDA, St. John RC&D does not receive funding for these projects.
    “It is all grassroots efforts on the part of the Council and they do an amazing amount of work to make sure natural resources are protected for generations to come,” said Campbell.
    Babineau encouraged members to contact his office at 764-4126 ext. 5 with ideas for future public improvement projects.
    “Mystery Rotarian” this week was Brian Hamel and his favorite charity — the Presque Isle Congregational Church — will have $50 sent in his name from the PI Rotary. New members since July 2006 include Jason Parent, Andrew Peabody, Randy Wilcox, and Don Zilman.
    Campbell thanked public relations committee members Susan Grove-Markwood, Jason Parent and Mark Putnam, who worked on a publicity grant from Rotary International and they were successful for $2,300 to conduct an awareness campaign for Rotary in 2007.
    The scholarship committee has had some changes as Frank Bemis’ term expired Dec. 31, 2006. Joe LaLland will take over as chair and Tim Roix will move to vice chair.
    Jane Towle, who served on that committee, is being replaced by Curt Paterson who has agreed to fulfill her commitment. Towle needs to move off committees in order for her to move into her new role as second vice president for the club next year.
    The fund has grown from an initial investment in 2000 of $60,000 to over $139,000 as of June 2006! “Thanks to Frank for his leadership from the beginning,” Campbell said. The board will vote on a committee vacancy on Jan. 22.
    Meetings will resume downstairs starting with the meeting of Jan. 22nd. The handicap accessibility issue can be accommodated with appropriate signs and direction for larger downstairs function room. There was no meeting Monday in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day.