50/50

Chip Hall

Announcements

Margaret Chigas, made the following announcements:

• The District Assembly meeting will be held on April 10, and she will be in touch with those individuals that she would like to attend this week.
• Applications for new members are at the welcoming table every week
• Dennis Hardy and Billy Hobbs will meet after this morning's meeting to work on Charter night plans.

Dates to Remember

• April 30 - Charter Night  
• May 13 - Auction
• June 19 - Strawberry Festival
• July 31  - Chicken BBQ
• Sept 13 - Golf Tournament

Last week's Speaker

Les Otten, Candidate for Governor

Les, a Bethel native and businessman, spoke of fixing many of Maine's problems without it costing more money. He highlighted several key areas:

•  Job Creation - that because we are not attracting people to work in Maine, we're running out of tax revenue to pay for all the social programs. We have to make Maine more "job friendly."
• Cost of Insurance - Cost for insurance in New Hampshire - $220. Cost for same insurance in Maine - $752.
• Cost of Energy - Maine pays more than any other state.
• Rules and Regulations - Exorbitant amount of time and energy currently has to be expended to deal with all the state's regulations.
• Education - He spoke of the fact that school administrators are without the power to fire poor teachers because of the tenure rules in this state and that Maine's $11,500/strudent is the highest but not producing better educated students.
• Inheritance tax - Older Mainers, who would like to stay in Maine when they retire, cannot because of the high inheritance tax.

Les told us a moving story of his family history in Germany - of his grandfather, a successful steel entrepreneur, refusing to make munitions for the Nazi government, and being jailed. He escaped Germany and eventually came to the U.S. Les said he learned two very important principals from his father and grandfather: (1) When you're down, get up, and (2) Always do what is right.

Les reviewed Maine's rich industry history that has dwindled: Lumber, paper, fishing, boat building, etc. He said that our No. 1 export cannot be our children, that he wants to lead a team like the Red Sox, who went from "lovable losers to world champions," and that he wants to do the logical things to make Maine prosperous again. Les said, "Maine is broke and Augusta is broken," and we have to get back to basics to turn it around. He then took questions from the audience.

Thought for the Week

I have never been especially impressed by the heroics of people who are convinced they are about to change the world. I am more awed by those who struggle to make one small difference after another.

Ellen Goodman
American journalist (1941 - )

 Wells Rotary Closing Notification Policy:

If Wells schools are closed there will be no meeting.  Information can be found by checking channel 6 or going to www.WCSH6.com.  Click on "closings & delays."  The listing will be shown as "Wells-Ogunquit CSD 18."
 

Make Up Opportunities

Bath	Tuesday	12:00 PM	The Holiday Inn, Bath
Bath Sunrise	Friday	7:00 AM	Mae's Cafe, 160 Center St. Bath
Bethel	Tuesday	7:30 AM	The Bethel Inn
Biddeford-Saco	Wednesday	12:15 PM	Captain's Galley, Old Orchard Beach
Boothbay Harbor	Thursday	6:30 PM	Rotary Club House, 58 Townsend Ave.
Breakwater Daybreak	Wednesday	7:15 AM	McKernan Center, SMCC
Bridgton-Lake Region	Thursday	7:30 AM	Bridgton Alliance Church
Brunswick	Monday	12:00 PM	The Atrium Restaurant, Cook's Corner
Brunswick Coastal	Wednesday	6:00 PM	China Rose Restaurant, Bath Road
Casco Bay Sunrise	Thursday	7:15 AM	Cumberland Club, High St., Portland
Damariscotta-Newcastle	Tuesday	7:15 AM	Congregational Church
Dover	Wednesday	12:15 PM	Chop Shop
Durham-Great Bay	Wednesday	7:30 AM	Three Chimney's Inn, 17 Market Street
Exeter	Monday	12:15 PM	The Exeter Inn, Front St
Falmouth	Monday	4:15 PM	Portland Country Club
Freeport	Wednesday	7:15 AM	The Harraseeket Inn, Main Street
Fryeburg Area	Tuesday	7:30 AM	St. Eliz-Ann Seton Cath. Ch., Rt. 5
Hampton	Tuesday	7:30 AM	Ashworth By The Sea, Ocean Boulevard
Kennebunk	Thursday	12:15 PM	Holy Cross Lutheran Church
Kennebunk Portside	Tuesday	7:15 AM	Community House, Temple St. K'port
Kittery	Tuesday	7:30 AM	Robert's Maine Grill and Market.
Newburyport	Tuesday	12:15 PM	Glenn's, Merrimack Street
Ogunquit	Wednesday	12:00 PM	Old village Inn, Rt 1
Oxford Hills	Wednesday	7:30 AM	First Congregational Church, S. Paris
Portland	Friday	12:15 PM	The Portland Club, State Street
Portsmouth	Thursday	12:15 PM	Red Hook Brewery at Pease
Portsmouth Sunrise	Thursday	7:30 AM	Portsmouth Gas Light Co Restaurant
Rochester	Monday	12:00 PM	Rochester Country Club
Rumford	Monday	12:00 PM	The Boiler Room, Harris Hotel
Saco Bay	Thursday	7:30 AM	Captain's Galley, Old Orchard Beach
Sanford-Springvale	Thursday	7:30 AM	Knights of Columbus Hall, 47 High St.Sanford
Scarborough	Tuesday	6:50 AM	Scarborough Downs Winner's Circle
Sebago Lake	Thursday	12:15 PM	Charlie Beiggs, Rt. 302
Somersworth	Tuesday	7:15 AM	Gateway II Restaurant
South Berwick	Thursday	7:15 AM	The Lodge at Spring Hill
So. Portland-Cape Eliz.	Wednesday	6:15 PM	Purpoodock Club, 300 Spurwink Ave., C.E.
Topsham Expresso	Monday	7:15 AM	The Highlands
Westbrook-Gorham	Tuesday	11:30 AM	Westbrook Regional Vocational Center
Yarmouth  First/Third	Thursday	7:00 AM	Downeast Village Restaurant, Rt. 1
Yarmouth Second/Fourth	Thursday	5:00 PM	Downeast Village Restaurant, Rt. 1
York	Friday	7:30 AM	York Harbor Inn, Rt. 1A