Opening Ceremonies:  President Clyde Cushing called the meeting to order.
 
Invocation was read by Clyde Cushing and we all said the Pledge of Allegiance.            
 
Sergeant at Arms:  Bob and Mary Thomas
 
Guests:  Michael Haulsen
 
Club Anniversaries: Patricia Quirk (10 years); Jodie Cushing (7 years); Clyde Cushing (7 years)
      
Door Prizes:  The lucky winners were: Jodie Cushing; Gene Pellerano; Matt Dexter; Carl Lusby
 
Find Romey the Rotary Gnome:  Pam Cushing located Romey and will house Romey until next week’s meeting.
 
50/50: The Lucky winner was: Clyde Cushing
 
Happy Dollars: 2nd Quarter Happy Dollars will go towards Rotary Scholarships…The following individuals gave Happy Dollars: Clyde Cushing; Gene Pellerano; Michael Haulsen
 
Rotary Business:
The February 25th Regular Rotary Meeting will be an Informational Meeting regarding Rotary Basics and be held at Saint Dunstans Church…. Great opportunity for members ( new and existing) to learn more refresh existing knowledge about all aspects of Rotary (Local / District / International) .
 
Membership Update:  JoAnn Rodick reminded everyone of the upcoming Zoom Membership meeting on Thursday, January 26th at noon.
 
Guest Speaker:  Matt Dexter, Matt is the executive director of the Christine B. Foundation (CBF). CBF is a service-providing nonprofit, supporting those facing cancer in eastern Maine.
 
The Christine B Foundation (CBF): CBF is a cancer nutrition program providing medically tailored grocery packages across the state and has helped over 1,400 Mainers receive nearly 300,000 meals during their treatment. You can become one of the 100+ volunteers within this program and learn more at www.chrisbfund.org 
 
Matt shared how CBF used a $500 Rotary Club of Ellsworth Community Grant Award in March of 2019 as seed money and developed it into current CBF program with a $400,000 operating budget and currently 100+ volunteers donating over 300 hours per week delivering a “box of soul” to cancer patients in the program.
 
Matt further explained how each patient after their diagnosis can be connected to CBF through their provider. The nutrition program begins with a meeting with a dietician and the nutrition team to develop the strong nutrition component of their standard of care program. CBF then follows through to ensure that each patient receives their grocery packages each week consisting of ½ produce; ¼ meats and proteins; and ¼ grains and miscellaneous items.
 
The program concluded by Matt sharing the many different avenues an individual can volunteer time within the program. For more information or to sign up to volunteer, go online at www.chrisbfund.org or call 207-573-9026
 
Respectfully submitted by Rotarian Carl Lusby
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