Lori Weston began her year as Rotary President with great expectations for the year ahead. Those expectations far exceeded her greatest hopes. The Houlton International Rotary Club’s success, on any level, is due to the generosity, encouragement and support of our amazing community. The Houlton Rotary Club extends a heartfelt “thank you” for that support.
Rotarians meet each Monday for lunch and to hear guests speak on a variety of topics that are important locally, regionally and internationally. With a motto of “Service Above Self” it is through the knowledge shared that allows and motivates Rotarians to work even harder to support as many projects as possible each year.
Projects presented for Rotary support last year were exceptional and allowed the Rotary Club to have a positive impact in our communities. It was with much excitement that the Houlton Rotary Club supported the following projects: The new outdoor basketball court at the Houlton Elementary School, assistance for the construction of a greenhouse at Houlton High School, funding for the Backpacks for Kids Program, support for a digital subscription to FreedomFlix at the Cary Memorial Library, funding to help with an after school program and a Mommy and Me Program hosted by Adopt A Block, a three-year Hosting and Support Program for a computer reading series at Houlton Elementary School, assistance to Aid for Kids that provides shipping costs for thousands of items that are needed in our own community and the County, funding to help with the renovation project of Sarah’s House, a place of respite for local and County folks who travel to Brewer for treatments, and funding for a Maliseet Picture Book that will provide a manner of presentation that will keep their language alive.
On-going projects that are supported each year are: Literacy Programs, Moosestompers, Dollars for Scholars at Houlton, Hodgdon, East Grand, Southern Aroostook and the Greater Houlton Christian Academy, the Student Recognition Project and the Rotary Youth Exchange. The support of these projects is raised in large part through the yearly and historic Rotary Auction. So, simply by bidding and paying for an auction item, the public is supporting these fine projects as well.
An expeditiously growing membership has brought an influx of new Rotarians whose backgrounds are diverse and interesting. The Houlton Rotary Club is growing; the year ahead will bring exciting new things!
