We had a great meeting last Friday. Leslie Trundy delivered pies from the Interact Club at Morse High School. Leslie is a guidance counselor at Morse and adviser to the Interact Club. The pies were made by the members of the Interact Club to raise money for a service project. We had a few extra pies, which we auctioned off to raise more money for the Interact Club. What a delicious way to help others!

We also inducted our two newest members, Kitty Doyle and Phyllis Wolfe. We’ll introduce them further in future articles.

Then we heard from our speaker, Jamie Dorr, president of the Bath Youth Meetinghouse and Skate Park and founder of the Midcoast Community Alliance. Jamie and her board have created a space for the young people of the Bath area. Not only does it have the largest indoor skate park in New England. It’s also a safe place to be with friends, lounge, grab a snack, use computers, and play games.

In 2016, the Bath community lost yet another young person to suicide. It was not the first time our community had experienced such tragedy among our youth. The Bath Youth Meetinghouse and Skate Park could no longer sit by and wait for it to happen again. In July 2016, its officials met with faculty from Morse High School, leaders from NAMI (National Association for Mental Illness) Maine, the Bath Recreation Department, and the Bath Area Family Y to discuss the issues facing our youth.

Next, they were joined by the Bath Police Department and Sagadahoc County Sheriff ’s Department. Also taking part are stakeholders from Mid Coast Hospital, United Way, Sweetser, and Maine Behavioral Health. Community members, church organizations, and our local school districts soon followed. Today, the group is known as The Midcoast Alliance, with more than 34 organizations and 100-plus members.

Jamie’s message was filled with successes as well as sobering thoughts. She voiced the need for continued effort to support young people in our area. In recognition of her efforts, our members awarded Jamie a Paul Harris Fellow, a significant Rotary honor. Thank you, Jamie!

Meet the Members

Gwyneth Arrison has six years in Rotary, and loves the Rotary motto: “Service Above Self.” “Rotary is a great way to engage in serving the community and connects well with ways the Bath United Methodist Church serves, which is where I am pastor. I live in Freeport with my three school-aged children and husband, who is president-elect in the Freeport Rotary.”

Jim Atherton has two years in Rotary. “I like the Sunrise Club, a great bunch of people who embody Rotary’s slogan of ‘Service Above Self.’ We raise money and give it away and have a lot of fun doing it. Also, it’s connected me with the Bath Food Pantry, where I volunteer. I live in West Bath and love to play old-time and bluegrass music on my upright bass. You can also catch me on Monday afternoons at the Bath Regional Career and Technical Center working with the Morse Robotics

Club.”

Steve Bailey has been a Rotarian for six years. “Education, youth, and community service are my interests and Rotary is all about them. I live right next door to Jim in West Bath and keep very busy as executive director of the Maine School Management Association.”

Brian Beckman has 17 years in Rotary. “I’m a retired U.S. Navy officer and a retired Navy defense contractor and currently a Maine Guide with a Coast Guard captain’s license. Having spent a virtual lifetime of service to our country, being a Rotarian is a natural extension of my belief in doing something for others and to continue doing ‘Service Above Self.’ I’m also president of the SAGE Square and Round Dance Club, with fun, fellowship, and exercise all rolled into one. Give me a call at 207-389-2568 if you would like to give it a try.”

Erika Helgerson Benson has been a Rotarian for 12 years, plus another 14 as a Rotary family member. “I love the values of Rotary, especially the ‘4-way Test,’ and use it frequently in my life. I love being a part of an international organization actively making the world a better place. Bath has always been my home. I work in the city manager’s office as executive assistant/human resources. I have been a Big Sister for years. Rotary Clubs are what the club members make them. Every club is different. We welcome visitors, volunteers, and helping hands in whatever way makes sense for that person.”

We’ll continue with the list of members in our next article from Bath Sunrise. We meet at 7 a.m. the first and third Fridays. Come a little early for coffee and conversation. While Mae’s is closed for a vacation and some spring cleaning, we will meet at Bath Savings on Front Street, Bath. We have a great line up for our next meeting, Feb. 2, with Tom Blatz from the United Way and playtime with the Patten Free Library Robotics Club. We’ll also be at Brackett’s Market the next day, Feb. 3, helping our fellow Bath Club Fill-A-Bus for the Food Pantry. Stop by to say hi and donate some food.