Three Rivers Kiwanis

Three Rivers Kiwanis, Milo-Brownville  

November 26, 2008 

Regular Meeting 

            There were 15 members in attendance at the regular morning meeting at Sandee’s Restaurant.  Jim Macomber’s daughter, Virginia, was a visitor.  Doc Sherman was present from the Dover-Foxcroft club.

            Eben DeWitt led us in the Pledge of Allegiance and Edwin Treworgy offered the morning prayer.  Frank Cochrane provided a Thought for the Day.

            The Lt. Governor’s official visit to the Orono/Oldtown club has been moved forward to December 16^th.  We received a thank you from Dina Casey from the Ronald McDonald House for the opportunity to speak and Cynthia Scott sent a list of goods needed to open the new Pine Tree Hospice offices in Dover-Foxcroft.

            Eben and Joanne DeWitt will celebrate their 51^st anniversary on the 27^th and Edwin and Ethelyn Treworgy will celebrate 22 years on the 29^th.  George and Jan Barton attended the Dover-Foxcroft meeting and attended the Samoset conference on the 22^nd.  There are no inter-clubs planned over the next couple of weeks.

            We had eleven Happy/Sad dollars-happy for Thanksgiving; missing friends; sad some are leaving for Florida, but will return; 51 years of marriage; successful event in Brownville with firefighters, Citizen of the Year awards.

            George reported on an inspiring conference at the Samoset and will bring information to the next board meeting on a Bringing Up Grades-BUG- project opportunity.  Key Club will provide the program for the December 3^rd meeting and December 4^th is the next board meeting.

            Committee Reports-Bonnie Hurley has collected information for 160 children in the community for the Secret Santa program and will be scheduling shopping trips over the next couple of weeks.  Laurel Harris reported over $2000.00 so far for the 50/50 raffle.  The drawing will be on November 29^th.  Ethelyn Treworgy is overseeing food for the Jamboree and Cathy Graves is collecting food items for sale at the event.  Jan will make another pot of chili for the event.  Frank Cochran will help set up chairs for the event.  JMG students are available for events such as this by contacting Carl Wilson at the High School.  We will need a Kiwanis volunteer to attend the Terrific Kids program after December 9^th.  Heidi reported that the preschool RIF distributions will be the week of December 1^st. Readers will visit the Milo Day Care and Little Peoples Nursery on Monday December 1^st and later in the week will visit the Milo Head Start program.  Jan, Cathy, and Heidi will be readers and distribute books.

            Our speakers today are George Peterson and Tom Sands from the Charleston Correctional Restitution Program. It costs approximately $36,000.00 a year to keep one person incarcerated at Charleston.  Restitution crews are able to provide labor for community projects for non-profit organizations.  $3,862,959.00 dollars worth of man hours have been given back to surrounding communities by the 25 work crews this year.  Some of the projects include the new ramp at the Milo Town Office, Dover recycling, Newport Cultural Center, Dexter Town Hall, Charleston Cemetery, Somerset garage, snow removal, and the Exeter Masonic Lodge to just name a few.  There is also a firefighting crew that has logged over 1900 hours on firefighting this year who gave their all when fighting fires.

            Recidivism rates in Maine are high.  Some of the goals of the Restitution Program are to help offenders build skills, give something back to the community, enhance self-esteem, and hopefully re-enter society successfully and not return to the prison system once released.  Within the work crews there are many inmates who give their all, work to build skills, and “Do it Again” if it isn’t right the first time.  Sam Bradeen is responsible for setting up the work crews and can be contacted by non-profit programs to request assistance on projects by calling 285-0857.

            We would like to thank our speakers today for presenting this morning to our club.  Members also expressed their gratitude to see our community benefit from the work crews craftsmanship on the Town Hall ramp.

            Meeting adjourned.

            Respectfully Submitted,

            Heidi Finson, Secretary