Partner for Worldwide Humanitarian Service
Saco Maine – Another great partnership has been established to serve the world community, bringing the resources of Southern Maine Medical Center and the Rotary Club of Saco Bay together. Recently Rotary Club President, Dennis Robillard, and Southern Maine Medical Center President, Ed McGeachey, erected a collection box for unwanted crutches, canes, walkers and wheel chairs supporting the international program: Crutches-4-Africa.
Co-founder, David Talbot is a well traveled polio survivor himself and understands the need for mobility. While in Africa filming a documentary with his wife Candice, David saw the obvious need for the people of Tanzania and Kenya to have access to crutches and canes to allow people simple mobility. One particular woman, her right leg corkscrewed behind her back, inspired David to take action. The result is Crutches-4-Africa, collecting discarded crutches, canes, walkers and wheel chairs and distributing them to people in need, at no cost to the recipients. The Talbot project was featured as one of hundreds of international project in the Hall of Friendship this June at the International Rotary Conference in Birmingham, England.
Through a chance meeting in Birmingham between Dennis and David, the Rotary club president found the project a perfect club and community undertaking to drive resources that are often discarded to needy people and bring awareness to this worthy humanitarian cause. Dennis arrange for materials to be donated by local Home Depot and Lowe’s stores for his club members to design and build collection boxes. In addition, Crutches-4-Africa was the club’s designated charity of the month where club members donated over $500 to support the organization.
A quote from David Talbot on Crutches4Africa.org states “"We toil together to enable those we may not see hobbled in life by some illness, accident or act of violence. Many are hopeless. The generous donations given are the tools we use to help raise the hindered, to lift them from the dust and help them on their way." Additional boxes are will be on display at Orthopedic Associates, Portland and other high-profile locations.
To learn more about the Rotary Club of Saco Bay or the Crutches-4-Africa project, go to one of the following websites: www.sacobayrotary.org or www.crutches4africa.org
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The Rotary Club of Saco Bay is proud to announce their first two honorees for the Paul Harris 
Fellow for the new Rotary year that started on July 1st, 2009.
Highlighting the new Rotary theme “The Future of Rotary Is In Your Hands”, inductees were honored by new club President, Dennis Robillard, at the Captain’s Galley in Old Orchard Beach.
The first inductee was Nicole Robillard, the daughter of Club President Dennis, & Mary Beth Robillard. Nicole is a recent graduate from Catherine McAuley High School and received this honor from her father and mother to acknowledge her lifelong commitment to serving others. Nicole has been an avider athlete, participating in women’s field hockey and soccer; a member of the Catherine McAuley Key Club, Nicole set high academic standards and plans on attending Curry College in Milton MA for Nursing this fall. Most recently Nicole traveled to Thailand for a service based project and was profoundly affected by how grateful others could be by simple acts of kindness - learning that the language of service is universally shared.
The second Paul Harris Fellow honored was Ms. Louise Reid; recognized for her continuous 
community leadership and cited for the service and comfort she provides to those she knows around the world. As Old Orchard Beach Assistant Town Manager, Ms. Reid certainly exemplifies the humanitarian and educational objectives of the Rotary Foundation. Which, simply put, are to encourage and foster the ideal of service to others. A great woman of faith, she has served on an array of youth and community steering boards and provides an assertive voice for those in their golden years. Respectfully known as the “First Lady of Old Orchard Beach”, she has earned the respect of the citizens she serves and the 1.2 million Rotarians she represents though this recognition.
The Paul Harris Fellow was established in 1957 to honor Rotary’s founder, Paul Harris, and acknowledge contributions of US$1000 to honor others for their support of the worldwide programs sponsored by Rotary Foundation. These programs range from food, portable water and health care, to providing immunizations and shelter for millions around the world who are in need.
The Rotary Club of Saco Bay is proud to make these contributions in their name.
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