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Meeting Update as of July 1, 2023

We have returned to in person meetings beginning July 1st.. Occasionally the speaker of the day presenting to the Club will do so via Zoom, and in those cases a Hybrid Meeting will be arranged. The speaker list below will identify hybrid meetings.

For an invitation to join the meeting by Zoom, please let George Szok know your desire at gszoksbox@gmail.com .
John Eliassen
President 2023-2024

ROTARY VETERAN OF THE YEAR – MILTON MCKEEN OF BRIDGTON

Picture #1: Milt McKeen of Bridgton arriving in DC for Honor Flight with a local greeter.

Picture #2: Milt McKeen in front of the Korean War Monument in DC during his Honor Flight.

In Rotary Year 2021-22, the Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club chose to fund an Honor Flight experience for a worthy veteran from the Lake Region. Milton McKeen was chosen and the Flight in May of 2022 became a major highlight in the veteran’s life.

Milt, as he is called by his friends, was spotlighted in the Bridgton Community Center newsletter in October 2023. A lifelong resident of Bridgton, Milt was a Sergeant in the U.S. Army during the Korean War where he received numerous awards. When interviewed for this article, Milt proudly read the awards from his DD214 papers. They included the Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars, the United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and a Meritorious Unit Commendation.

ROTARY CLUBS PROMOTES POLIO AWARENESS

The Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club joined with the Fryeburg Area Club for two Polio Events this year. The first, Pints for Polio, was held at the Saco River Brewing Company in Fryeburg on October 18. On World Polio Day, October 24, members from the two Clubs walked from Stella’s on the Square to the Queen’s Head Pub in Bridgton, where they enjoyed a delicious lunch. Participating were Rotarians from both clubs and friends of Rotary. The purpose of the walk was to bring awareness about the continued existence of polio in the world and the need for each child to be vaccinated against this debilitating disease.

Rotarians Updated on Childhood Literacy

Hillary Wilcoxen of Team Long Run Speaks at Rotary Meeting

What’s the best way to help kids who may need us the most? Hilary & Chuck Wilcoxen of Team Long Run shared some of their answers to that critical question at the Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club meeting on Thursday, September 28. Team Long Run develops and delivers programs that support a child’s progress by linking learning, early literacy, and active play. They work exclusively in communities with schools and families that are often facing long odds, partnering with some of the most dynamic agencies and philanthropies that share their commitment to helping these children rewrite their futures.

For years, Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club has focused on dictionary distribution to third graders as its primary Literacy Project. During the past year our literacy work has expanded under the leadership of Rotarian Joanne Cohn who is also active with the Bridgton Public Library. Club members are installing Little Free Libraries in the towns of Bridgton, Denmark, Sweden and Waterford. And, this past spring and summer, the club began a literacy project with the local Head Start inspired by Team Long Run. Rotary and the Bridgton Congregational Church contributed books that the children could take home over the summer to keep up their interest in reading. At the same time 30 new books were provided to help establish a classroom library at Head Start. The plan is to also provide the children with their own copies of books that are read as part of their curriculum. Bridgton Books has given a discount on all the books.

Debbie McBride, Rotary's partner with the Congregational Church, attended this week’s meeting along with friends of the Bridgton Library.

Rotarians want to thank Chuck & Hilary for the incredible work they are doing and for their partnership with Rotary! For more information about the organization, visit https://www.teamlongrun.org/.

Golf Social August 31st.

Every 5th Thurs (there are usually 4 each year), the Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club hosts a social event. This month we are hosting a "shot" social at the Mountain Range in Bridgton. Come join us, hit a few balls, have a soft drink or a beer and a snack. Balls and snacks on us, cash bar.

Thursday, August 31, 2023, 5-7 p.m.

Mountain Range Golf

146 Harrison Rd, Bridgton

The event is Free to All, but an RSVP would be helpful for planning purposes.

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