Pastor Dan McNutt and member Jim Crawford of the Boothbay Baptist Church told about their congregation's mission to help AIDS orphans and others in Uganda at the February 28 meeting.

The presentation began with a video showing the team that went to Uganda in 2007 building a residence in the AIDS orphans village. Each home provides space for eight children and a housemother.

The suffering in Uganda continues: unemployment is at 60 percent and each year 6,000 women die in childbirth. AIDS remains rampant, but even so more children under age five die from malaria than from AIDS.

The church is now undertaking a new project, in collaboration with groups from four other countries - Canada, New Zealand, Australia and England - to provide aid to the village of Kibali, where 1,000 children have been placed in homes. A total of $40,000 has been raised since last April, which went to construction of a new school for 200 children.

The school was dedicated during their most recent trip, with Dr. Feder seeing up to 300 patients a day. They stopped only when the sun set - the building does not have electricity!

The long-term goal is to continue to bring medical teams - doctors are anxious to volunteer, Crawford reported - and to build schools, clinics and orphanages, with teams making the trip every month. The people are awesome and the children most appreciative.

President Skip Kreahling opened the business meeting preceding the presentation by introducing Gary Speers of the Damariscotta-Newcastle Rotary Club, who invited members to participate in the silent auction, "Karl's Kids," a program established in memory of recently deceased member Karl Berger of their club. The program is sponsoring a ski race at Sugarloaf this weekend to benefit youth athletics in Lincoln County.

I.J. Pinkham passed around sign-up sheets for the basketball tourney March 7 and 8 at the elementary school. Jason Lorrain is assisting him, but more bodies are needed. Members are also asked to contribute baked goods, wrapped in portions to sell for 75 cents; they can be left at the school on Friday evening.

Chip Griffin reminded members of the Red Cross blood drive at the YMCA on Thursday, March 6.

President Skip reported that the food drive in connection with the district World Peace and Understanding dinner in Portland last Saturday was a huge success. Over 1,500 pounds of provisions were collected for the food pantry sponsored by the two Portland clubs.

On behalf of the members, Skip thanked Daren and Debbie Graves for representing the Club at the dinner for the benefit of the home heating oil fund where they presented a check for $2,000 as the Club's contribution.

Skip further reported that Seth Hedgcock and Dianne West have teamed up to offer a combination of a sailboat trip and a night at the Kenniston Hill Inn for the silent auction at the District Conference in May. Cy Seifert volunteered to repeat his offer of an afternoon on the water in his boat, as well.

Jim Botti reminded members that the Soup Bowl Supper at the American Legion Hall in three weeks on March 27. He passed around sign-up sheets for contributions of baked goods, salads and soups.

Deb Graves showed a sample of the new long-sleeved Club shirt for which she is accepting orders at $25 each. She also asked members to start saving their deposit beverage containers for the bottle drive in May. "Keep them in the corner of your garage and we will come to pick them up," she said.

Vic Taylor asked members to support Rebuilding Together's major fund-raiser, a wine tasting at the Opera House from 5 to 7 p.m. on March 8. Tickets can be purchased in advance at Chip Griffin's office for $25 or at the door for $30.

President Skip reported that the board has approved new member applications from Lucia Wright and Hamilton Meserve and posted.

On March 6, Carolyn Johnson, a frequent visitor to our club, will introduce us to the Guatemala Literacy Project, which provides books and pencils for the country's rural poor. Sue Kreahling and I.J. Pinkham will be waiters that night with Marty Helman and Skip Kreahling as program chairs. March housekeeping assignments are: Steward, Bob Jacobson; Innkeeper, Pat Forestell; 50/50, Daren Graves; and Sergeant-at-Arms, Cy Seifert. The board of directors will meet at 4:45 p.m. that afternoon at the Walter Foundation office, 7 Oak Street.

On March 20, Ann Lee Hussey, a member of the South Berwick club, will talk about Rotary Action Groups and both the polio survivor's syndrome and her goals for starting the Polio Survivors Action Group. Our annual Soup Bowl Supper, a joint benefit with Watershed Center for the Arts, will take place March 27 at the American Legion Hall. The April 6 meeting will feature Scout Roller Derby.