Contributed photo/Michael Clark
BINGO BENEFACTORS — The Houlton Rotary Club will hold its annual Bingo night on April 9. The event raises money for the club’s Youth Exchange Program, which sends students to foreign countries. Participants in that program include, from left, Hannah Jacobs, Emily Mooers, Sarah Abbotoni, Keegan Fitzpatrick and Dana Delano, Rotary Youth Exchange Officer.
by Nancy Ketch
Houlton Rotarian
HOULTON — The Houlton Rotary Club will present their 7th Annual Community Bingo Night on Thursday, April 9, at 6:30 p.m. at St. Anthony’s Hall. The Bingo Night event was started as the major fundraiser for the club’s Youth Exchange Program, which sends at least two students to foreign countries on a cultural exchange for several weeks.
The Youth Exchange Program was established by the Houlton Club in 2003. The objective of the program is to advance the knowledge and world understanding of the participating students. In addition to local students traveling abroad, the program includes a reciprocal visit by a student from their host family. About 25 local students have benefited from the youth exchange program since its inception and the club is committed to seeing the program continue. The Bingo Night fundraising event helps to ensure that.
The two 2014 youth exchange students visited the Houlton club recently to tell about their experiences with the program. Sarah Abbotoni and Emily Mooers participated in the International Youth Exchange last summer. They shared some slides and stories with the Rotarians and thanked the members for the opportunity for such an experience.
Abbotoni is a recent graduate of Houlton High School and is now a student at the University of Maine. She experienced her exchange in Biella, Italy, a community in the northern mountain region.
“I had a wonderful time with my host sister, Carola and her family. We explored many areas of Italy, from the beautiful mountains to the warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea”, stated Abbotoni. “The food, the culture and the people were unforgettable!”
Abbotoni visited the famous cities of Milan, Pisa and Rome. She loved the historical architecture, including the Vatican, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the famous Roman Coliseum. Carola enjoyed Maine lobster, toasting marshmallows and attending a Boston Red Sox game. Abbotoni was so moved by the experience, she is taking Italian language courses at college. She is the daughter of Daryl and Heidi Abbotoni.
Mooers is the daughter of David and Nancy Mooers. She is currently a senior at Houlton High School and experienced her exchange in Sinabelkirchen, Austria, a small town south of Vienna.
“I truly enjoyed my exchange sister Mady and her family”, stated Mooers. “Austria is so beautiful and rich with history and culture. I saw amazing castles, churches and even a clock museum.”
Although the food was very different than what is here in Maine, she tried it all and reported the ice cream was “awesome.”
“We also took a trip to Venice, Italy, which was very exciting to visit personally!” Mooers said. “Mady was excited to visit New York City only to find it to be ‘overrated,’ but enjoyed Boston and Harvard University’s campus. She also loved Maine and had a blast waterskiing on Drew’s Lake.”
Houlton Rotary’s Youth Exchange Officer Dana Delano states, “Sarah and Emily have been wonderful ambassadors of the Rotary Club, our community and Houlton High School. We hope this experience has broadened their knowledge and interest in different cultures. They have each certainly made a new lifelong friend.”
The Houlton Rotary Club has selected Keegan Fitzpatrick and Hannah Jacobs as their 2015 Youth Exchange students. Fitzpatrick is a senior at Houlton High School and is the son of Brady Fitzpatrick and Jessica Fitzpatrick. Jacobs is a sophomore at Houlton High School and is the daughter of Dan and Stephanie Jacobs. Jacobs will visit Italy, while Fitzpatrick’s destination has not yet been confirmed. It could possibly be the Netherlands.
For over 75 years, students and host families have broadened their horizons through Rotary Youth Exchange. More than 80 countries and over 8,000 students each year participate in the program, which is administered at the regional level by Rotary districts and at the local level by Rotary Clubs.
“The Houlton Rotary Club is proud to be able to provide these life-changing experiences to the youth of our area,” said Houlton Rotary President Amy Hocking. “We hope the public will come out to support Rotary’s Bingo Night to help fulfill the dreams of more local students.”
The doors will open for Community Bingo Night at 5:30 p.m. Early Bird games being at 6:30 p.m., with regular games starting at 7 p.m. More than $1,000 in cash prizes will be given out during the evening, which includes a $400 Blackout game and a Winner Take All Game. The event is open to ages 16 and older. There will also be a chance to win a $50 Andy’s IGA Gift Card for those who bring an item for the Houlton Humane Society. Further details on the event are available on the club’s website houltonrotary.org and on Facebook.
