For a number of years, we have had two Rotarian volunteers helping out at the Progress Center Community Dinner every 3rd Thursday of the month. Because of changes in the format of the dinners due to COVID 19 restrictions, we have not been able to participate as we have been. However, we recently started helping out at the Progress Center Drive-by Food Pantry every Monday afternoon. The Pantry is open to the public from 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM in the parking lot at the Progress Center on Cottage Street.
As we honor our Students of the Month, we always ask if any of them still have their dictionaries we gave them back when they were in 3rd grade, and many of them still do! Unfortunately, we were not able to do our usual presentation directly to the students this year due to COVID 19 restrictions. However, we delivered dictionaries to all of the elementary schools in SAD 17 for the teachers to distribute to their students. This year, there were 212 students who will receive a dictionary. This is a project that all club members enjoy participating in but we missed handing them out directly to the students and talking to them about the dictionaries. One thing the kids always like to find is the longest word in the English language! A few years ago, we named the Dictionary Project in honor of Mary Lou Burns, a long time teacher and administrator in SAD 17 and a Rotarian for many years who was instrumental in starting this project.
The Club members were able to raise over $1100 at our recent road toll to help End Polio Now!! Thank you Oxford Hills!
Our Mission statement: The Rotary Club of Oxford Hills is a diverse group of service-oriented men and women providing hands-on and financial support within our community and beyond. We exemplify "Service Above Self" while encouraging high ethical standards, enjoying fellowship and promoting world understanding, peace and goodwill.
Remember our Membership Challenge! The board has challenged each member to propose a new member during this Rotary year. Have you proposed your member yet?? Someone invited you, now it's your turn to share Rotary!
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It's time for our annual Rotary Cheese Wheel Sales! The wheels are 2 pounds of Cabot Sharp Cheese and are $18.00 each. They come in a decorative box and make GREAT gifts! Order deadline is 11/18/20 for delivery before Thanksgiving. Or if you want them for Christmas, still order by 11/18/20 and we can store them for you. We also can ship the wheels, and will add the postage cost to your order. FMI contact Patty Rice 207-890-2332 or Paul Thornfeldt 207-592-4663. All proceeds go to help support our scholarships, May Day Play Day and 3rd grade dictionary project. Don't delay, place your order today! Thank you!
Members at a recent meeting attached labels to each of the 212 dictionaries that were donated to all 3rd graders in SAD 17. The label has a place for the student to write their name and it also honors long-time member and educator, Mary Lou Burns who was instrumental in starting this project. Some members joined us via Zoom!
We have SOLD OUT all tickets for our 2020 Curbside Lobster Fest!! Thank you so much to the Oxford Hills community for your support! If you got a ticket, we'll see you on Sat. 8/15 between 4-6 PM at OHCHS. No walk-ins this year. 🦞🦞
CURBSIDE Lobster Fest (no steak this year). Due to Covid-19 we are having to switch up our Annual Lobster Fest to drive-thru/curbside only. Tickets must be purchased in ADVANCE. Menu has been adapted to lobster, clams, chips, corn and butter. No beverages, fries or watermelon this year. Price has been reduced to $20 pp. For tickets please contact President Elect Peter Kaurup at 207-739-1148 or Dave Preble 207-743-7836.
Oxford Hills Rotary Club ‘Steps Up & Supports’ greater Oxford Hills Communities food pantries and food deliveries.
The Rotary Club of Oxford Hills has started weekly ZOOM meetings to keep members in touch with each other and discuss possible options for helping those less fortunate during the COVID 19 pandemic. Recently, the Club presented and sent out $3,109.76 in checks to five local food pantries to help with food insecurities and other needs. $1000 to 1st Congregation Church of South Paris to their minister’s discretionary fund account for area families in need; $500 to Town of Paris for area elderly families food deliveries; $500 to Oxford Hills Food Pantry program; $500 to Harrison Food Bank for fuel for their food pantry refrigeration truck; and $609.76 (part of a $25,000 Disaster Response Fund District Grant) to Daddy O’s Acts of Kindness Foundation to support their food pantry program.
Additionally, several OH Rotarians have teamed up with the Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club in delivering food baskets, weekly, to those community members that are at high-risk health conditions, who are having to self-quarantine, and need food assistance.
Our Ray Brown Memorial Dance for Special Olympics has been postponed due to the concerns and un-knowns of the Coronavirus pandemic and the requests to 'socially distance' ourselves and other. We will continue to watch and listen to the CDC and others, as this continues, and keep you informed of the possible rescheduling of this event.
Thank you for your understanding and be safe!
The Rotary Club of Oxford Hills recently held their Annual Dinner and enjoyed fellowship and meal provided by the Honey Badger of Oxford. After dinner, the Club recognized Past Presidents in attendance, and also presented the Immediate Past President, George Rice, with a Paul Harris Fellow Award for his outstanding leadership, guidance and support of the Club. George is one of the original Club Charter members, and served his 2nd term as President, the first back in 1989-90. Past Rotarians of the Year were also recognized, as well as naming the 2019 Rotarian of the Year, Peter Kaurup. Peter has only been a member of the Club for 2 years, but has been active since day one. When there is a need for someone to step up, he is one of the first to do so. He has helped with the Club’s Auction, Lobster- Steak Fest, and other activities such as the lobster for scholars, setting tents, and setting up for district events. He enjoys outdoor activities and supports our community through volunteering. The fellowship of Rotary is an important part of who he is. He has made many friends, explores his hobbies with others and volunteers regularly in our community and the Rotary district. This enhances the fellowship of our club. Congratulations to both Rotarians for their continued dedication to doing good in the world. Peter was also presented with a Paul Harris Fellow Award.
This event has been postponed due to the concerns and un-knowns of the Coronavirus pandemic and the requests to 'socially distance' ourselves and others. Join Kiwanis and Rotary for the Ray Brown Memorial Dance to benefit The Progress Center's Special Olympics team. It will be held at the American Legion Hall, 12 Church Street, South Paris. Tickets are $15 per person and can be purchased at the door, or call Rotary at 577-8476 or Kiwanis at 674-2962. Music by DJ Dennis Boyd of Sidecar Sounds.
Who wants cheese? We are in the middle of our annual Rotary Cheese Wheel fundraiser. Wheels are 2 pounds of Cabot Sharp Cheese wrapped in wax and comes in a decorative box. $18 each and the order deadline is !2/10/19 for delivery in time for Christmas. FMI contact Patty Rice 207-743-2285 or your favorite OH Rotarian! THANK YOU!!
Something new we are trying, the 3rd Wednesday of the month we will be having an EVENING meeting instead of a morning meeting. We will meet at Daddy O's Diner, 1570 Main Street, Oxford (next to Flagship Cinema). Doors open at 5:00 pm, meeting starts at 5:30 and we're done by 6:30 pm. Cost will be $11/pp and extra for 50/50 if you choose. The next few dates are: 10/16, 11/20, (But NOT 12/18 as this will be our Christmas Chorale meeting at the Church), FMI contact President Pat or any Board member.
FMI or tickets, contact Dave Preble 207.743.7836 or George Rice 207.890.3122.
Auction items include a variety of furniture, including bunk beds, oak dining room set with hutch & 6 chairs, sofas, Paris Manufacturing hutch, recliners, dressers, desks, chairs, lamps, end tables, futon, jewelry cabinet, etc. Also, sporting equipment, artwork, CD's, LP's and vinyl records, luggage, mirrors, rugs, lawn spreader, entertainment centers, baskets, wicker chairs and tables, and much more! Special thanks to Ripley & Fletcher Ford for donating a 2006 Eddie Bauer Ford Explorer, V6, Utility 4 door, 4 wheel drive, leather seats and new rocker panels!! And Special thanks to Bessey Motor Sales for donating a 2007 Saturn Ion!!
Join us this Saturday, 7/13/19 at OHCHS for our 30th Annual Charity Auction! 9:00 preview, 9:30 Box Lots, 10:00 Live Auction, 9-12 Ticket auction. Lots of GREAT items and for a great cause! All proceeds go to the Oxford Hills Community & beyond! Bid high, Bid often!! FMI contact Paul Thornfeldt 207-592-4663.
After 2 drawings from 75 tickets sold each, the Winners are as follows:
Third Prize $50 gift Card to Smedbergs for Live Lobsters won by Paul Taylor of Paris and Karen Moberg of West Paris.
Second Prize $100 Gift Card to Oxford Casino for Lobster Dinner won by Doreen Brown of South Paris and Tammy Silver of Bearfoot Realty.
First Prize Lobster Dinner for 12 catered with all the fixings won by Ron Morse of Norway and Bob Schott of Norway.
Many thanks to all who supported this fundraiser to allow Our Oxford Hills Rotary Club to award scholarships again next year!!
The Rotary Club of Oxford Hills is collecting mobility devices for Crutches 4 Africa, a non-profit organization whose mission is to collect used and surplus mobility devices, ship them to developing countries, and distribute them—free—to people with physical challenges regardless of their race, gender, tribe, age or religion. The Rotary Club is collecting crutches, canes, walkers and wheelchairs to help support this International Project. If you have any devices you no longer need, please contact Oxford Hills Rotary to make arrangements for drop-off or pickup, and help with this ongoing project. Shown here, is Rotary President George Rice preparing a load of over 100 devices donated by the OH Community. Thank you Oxford Hills! To arrange a donation, please call 207-743-2285.
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Join us this Saturday, May 11, 2018 from 9-1 at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School, 256 Main Street, South Paris for lots of fun activities! And it's FREE!!
The Rotary Club of Oxford Hills recently welcomed guest speaker, Kat Perry from the newly formed Children’s Advocacy Center located at 66 Paris Street, Norway. Their mission is to provide services to children who have experienced sexual abuse. CAC provides a venue for forensic interviews by law enforcement that were previously done in the schools, residences and other unsecure sites. They also make team decisions about investigations, treatment, management and prosecution of child sex abuse cases. The Norway office will also service Androscoggin and Franklin counties, as well as Oxford County. President George Rice presented Kat with a $500 donation on behalf of the Club, to the chapter for improvements and other assets that need to be made at the Norway location. Shown here L to R: Rotary member Patty Rice, Kat Perry, and President George Rice.
Congratulations to our 2018 Rotarian of the Year, Tally Decato!! Tally was recently honored at our 35th Anniversary Celebration held on Feb. 2, 2019 at Oxford Casino Hotel. Congratulations Tally!!
Want to get some exercise and help a great cause at the same time? Plan to join us for our 1st Annual Cornhole Tourney! Call or text Dave at 207-890-6794! A special THANK YOU to all our sponsors: Chris'Electric, Hannaford, Androscoggin Bank, 290 Main Street, Applebees, Dunkin Donuts, Norway Savings Bank, Mallard Mart, Aroma Joes, Daddy O's, Norway Brew Pub, X-Vault, Smokin Daves BBQ, Norway Lake Store, WJ Wheelers Insurance, Flagship Cinema, Ocean Breeze Tan Salon, Dead River Co., Oxford Casino, Rising Sun Café, Yianni's Pizza!!
Our Winter Weather Policy: Fellow Rotary members and friends, just a reminder that we will still have our regular weekly meeting even if they don't have school. The ladies from the church will not be there if there is no school. That means we'll have coffee and donuts or whatever you would like to bring (BYOB-bring your own breakfast). Use your own judgment, and be safe! ⛄️⛷⛸🏂
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THANK YOU, THANK YOU! On behalf of the entire Rotary Club of Oxford Hills, we say THANK YOU to all who ordered and/or sold Cabot Cheese Wheels again this year! It was a record breaking year of sales! And the proceeds will be used to help fund our Dictionary Project, May Day Play Day as well as our annual scholarships!
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The Rotary Club of Oxford Hills presents The Progress Center Special Olympics a check in the amount of $1,500 to help fund their program. The OH Rotary Club, together with the Norway-Paris Kiwanis Club held the Ray Brown Memorial Special Olympics Dance and had a friendly competition to see who could raise more funds, who could have more members attend, and who could have the most fun. The Special Olympians are the true winners. Shown from left to right: Past Rotary Club President Chris Weston, Olympians Zackary Weston, Joseph DiBenedetto, Michael Giasson, Ethel Hutchins, and Progress Center Executive Director Jennifer Putnam.
Shown here from the Rotary Club of Oxford Hills is (left) outgoing President Chris Weston passing the gavel to (right) incoming President George Rice. The Club would like to thank Chris for an outstanding job leading the club for the 2017-18 Rotary year with the theme “Rotary: Making a Difference”. Club members welcome President George, who first served the club as President in 1989-90, and now again for the 2018-19 Rotary year with the theme “Be the Inspiration”. The Club meets on Wednesday mornings from 7:30-8:30 am at the First Congregation Church in South Paris. If interested in becoming a member of our dynamic club, feel free to contact President George at 207-890-3122. FMI , follow us on FB!
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South Paris, ME 04281
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