On Feb 29, 2012, Dr. Khassan Baiev,  Surgeon, Humanitarian and Author will give a presentation to Brunswick Coastal Rotary (BCR)  on Chechnya’s post war challenges to public health  in a country that is  recovering from many years of brutal civil war. BCR is collaborating with the new Grozny, Chechnya Rotary Club in the purchase of a portable ultrasound machine for Dr. Baiev's clinical work in Chechnya. The staff of the local hospital also needs operational training on modern equipment that is already installed. Interested community members are invited. Coastal Rotary meets each Wednesday, 6 PM at the Border Trust Bank, 2 Main Street in Topsham.

ROTARY Concert for Famine Relief in the Horn of Africa

• Kate Schrock

• Jud Caswell

• Ellen Tipper

• Dave Bullard and the Sound Wavez

• John Dennen 

Thank you to our sponsors: 

•  Wild Oats Bakery (Refreshments)
• Rockin'm Farm
• Daniel Stone Inn
• Summer Island Studio
• Little Dog Coffee Shop  
• Estes Lobster House
• The Music Center
• WCLZ 98.9FM
• Juice Plus+ Whole Food Nutrition
• Henry & Marty Restaurant
• Indrani's at Tontine Mall
• Wally J. Staples Builders
• Androscoggin Animal Hospital
• Slot Car Junction
• Gulf of Maine Books
• Kevin Sullivan, DMD child & adult orthodontics 
• Riley Insurance
• DeWitt Kimball Complete Home Analysis Service
• Thornton Oaks Retirement Community
• Mid-Coast Senior Health Center

BCR has a long history of writing award-winning grants from the Rotary Foundation. We have successfully partnered with Rotary clubs in South Africa, Australia, and Uganda to fund projects that have combated the effects of HIV/AIDS, provided needed supplies to a hospital, nursing college, orphan homes, community self-help centers, and community water and sanitation. The secret of our success has always been direct and personal involvement with the Rotarians in the project host country. More than half of our members have been on site during some part of our projects. BCR is now aiming to collaborate with the new Grozny, Chechnya Rotary Club. BCR is currently planning the purchase of a portable ultrasound machine for Dr. Baiev's clinical work in Chechnya (see related story on Dr. Baiev below). The staff of the local hospital also needs operational training on modern equipment that is already installed. Club President Barry Rodrigue is traveling to Chechnya next February and will be our local feet on the ground to plan these projects.

BCR is raising money for Somali Relief. This money will be sent to provide direct food aid to mitigate the effects of the current drought in the Horn of Africa. Rotary International’s Famine and Refugee Relief Fund #G10008 provides this aid directly via Rotarians in Kenya. BCR has been generously aided in this effort by contributions from the Rotary clubs of Falmouth, Brunswick, Freeport, Bath, and Boothbay Harbor.

BCR has donated $500 to provide Christmas gifts to 33 disadvantaged children in the local area. The national recession has left many local families destitute and in some case homeless. In addition there are homeless teenagers attending our local high schools and striving to maintain dignity while receiving an education. The children range in age from 6-18 years. Younger children will receive an age appropriate toy while teenagers receive gift cards to local stores.

On December 21^st Coastal and Brunswick Club Rotarians provided a dinnertime Christmas carol serenade to residents at Horizons Living, Brunswick. Good friend of BCR Joel Leek provided guitar accompaniment and helped keep us in tune. Carolers included Joel, Pat Forestell, Mary Tennet, Sally Le Blanc, Patty Biggs, Claudia Frost Mary Ellen Stypinski, and Tom Stypinski,

Coastal Rotary is now meeting at the Border Trust Bank, 2 Main Stret in Topsham, still Wednesday at 6 PM. The bank is located immediately to your left after you cross the Maine/Main Street bridge from Brunswick to Topsham.

Coastal Rotary worked a food booth at the Great State of Maine AirShow on Friday and Saturday (August 26,27) at the Brunswick Executive Airport, formally the BNAS. The Blue Angels were as fantastic as usual. FMI http://www.greatstateofmaineairshow.us/home.html

UPDATE: BCR has received a $4000 grant from the Midcoast Charitable Foundation based on the profit from the Great State of Maine Air Show. The money will be used for BCR local projects benefiting the communities of Brunswick, Topsham and Harpswell. Past President John Dennen accepted the award on behalf of the club. The Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority, which is responsible for the redevelopment of the former Brunswick Naval Air Station and putting on the Air Show, gave $25,000 to the Midcoast Charitable Foundation. The foundation distributed the money to 10 local organizations including BCR. FMI see:

http://bangordailynews.com/2011/11/21/business/air-show-benefits-10-local-organizations-with-grant-money/

District 7780 Governor Gary Speers and Judy Speers joined us at our Wednesday August 31^st club meeting. Gary spent his entire career in local Illinois law enforcement, much of it working with youth, and retired after 34 years of service.. He has conducted law enforcement training in the United Kingdom and Russia.

Governor Gary gave a short talk about our district activities and his “Moose on the Loose” challenge. He also related several anecdotes from the recent “Friends Forever” group of young Northern Irelanders. We at BCR have many fond memories of our meetings with these young people over the years. He also presented Appreciation Certificates to Sally and Tom S for our club efforts. 

BCR Past President John Dennen was honored Saturday August 6^th for his efforts over 40 years on behalf of those in South Africa affected by HIV and AIDS. The local organization  PeaceWorks presents its annual Peace Maker Award to a community member for his or her contribution to “making the world we live in more just and compassionate”  The award was presented during a ceremony at Saturday’s day-long Greater Brunswick Peace Fair on the Brunswick Mall.

For the past 4 years, Coastal Rotarians, under the tuteledge of Master Gardener Joel Leak have spruced up the Tedford Shelter properties. On Saturday May 21st Coastal Rotarians Donna, Sally, Pete, Tom, and President John installed a new stone walking path, pulled weeds and spread new mulch  at the Cumberland Street shelter. Warm sunshine and volunteer enthusiasm made the 3 hours go by quickly.

Coastal Rotary welcomed one new and one returning member at our May 18th meeting. Bob Smart, a local builder, joined after hearing about Rotary from our current President, John Dennen. Even before joining Bob helped the club by producing a flyer that we can hand out at club events. Tom Cole, a well respected local realtor, rejoined our ranks. Tom is a Paul Harris fellow, a past club President and was awarded a Rotary Individual Grant to work at the Compassionate Care Centre in South Africa.

Brunswick Coastal Rotary Club hosted the Group Study Exchange Team from Hong Kong, Macau, and Mongolia at their April 27th meeting held at the Brunswick Inn.  After dinner, the Team individually told us about themselves and their work. Team members included surgeons, nurses and a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner. As a special district of the Peoples Republic of China, Hong Kong has an excellent publically funded health care system for its population.

On  May 4, 2011, Dr. Khassan Baiev,  Surgeon, Humanitarian and Author was Coastal Rotary’s Special Guest Speaker at the Brunswick Inn. He was joined by co-authors Nicholas & Ruth Daniloff to discuss Chechnya: Post War Challenges to Public Health. Nick and Dr. Baiev discussed the challanges of working in a country that is in the process of recovering from many years of brutal civil war. Among the guest were other district Rotarians and community members. Dr. Barry H. Rodrigue was the club sponsor of this event..

Brunswick-based group marks 20 years by renewing commitment to Africa aid

Brunswick Times Record by Erica Long, Times Record Contributor

Published: Monday, February 7, 2011 2:03 PM EST

BRUNSWICK — A few days before Christmas, a woman walked into Indrani’s, an exotic import shop in the Tontine Mall. Without picking up anything from the shelves, she handed co-owner John Dennen a check. “Every Christmas I give my grandchildren a check for $20 and not once have I received a thank you,” she said. “This year, I am giving their money to children in Africa.” Full article at

http://www.timesrecord.com/articles/2011/02/07/news/doc4d50203cbf193123033600.txt

On Wednesday December 15th, Brunswick Coastal Rotary hosted a parliamentary delegation from the Chechen Republic visiting Maine. Delegates, Rotarians and friends enjoyed a buffet dinner at the Brunswick Inn, followed by three excellent speakers. Brunswick Rotary Club President Susan Chadima talked about her veterinary work with farmers in Afghanistan. BCR President John Dennen discussed our club’s projects in South Africa, Uganda and locally. District 7780 Governor Anne Lee Hussey explained Rotary’s polio eradication program’s progress in eliminating this disease including how this effort also paid dividends in fostering co-operation.  Groups at odds with each other on other issues could unite in this effort. The Chechen parliamentary delegates asked questions and expressed their interest in Rotary. Deputy Isa Nazhadievich told a story about an abandoned injured dog that showed that he understood Rotary’s mission. Being afraid of dogs he was unwilling to aid the animal as others passed it by. Finally he realized if not he, who? Once he started to help others joined in on the effort.

On Saturday December 11^th, Brunswick Coastal Rotary hosted a parliamentary delegation from the Chechen Republic visiting Maine. Rotarians John D, Barry, John W, Linda, Tom and friends showed the deputies the proper way to eat lobster while enjoying the quiet ambiance of the Brunswick Inn. BCR President and guitarist John entertained us with several original songs and poet Gary Lawless recited several poems remembering the history of the Maine sardine fishery.

Brunswick Coastal Rotarians and friends celebrated our Club’s 20th Anniversary on Friday November 19, 2010 with a dinner-dance party at the Brunswick Golf Club. Invited guests included District 7780 Governor Ann Lee Hussey, Governor-Elect Marty Peak Helman, Governor Nominee Gary Speers, Past Governor Trisha Hunter and their spouses. A dinner buffet featuring baked haddock, chicken and roasted prime rib was enjoyed after a cocktail hour. After dinner BCR President John Dennen and Governor Ann Lee Hussey made short presentations with Ann Lee presenting a Paul Harris Fellowship to our Past President Margaret Lonsdale for her dedication to Rotary’s ideals including working visits to our projects in South Africa and Uganda and on District Simplified Grants with Hospice Volunteers in Mid Coast Maine and the Merrymeeting AIDS project. The evening ended with dancing to a live band.

Sebastian Dennen traveled with his parents to the Marianhilll district of Durban, in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa where poverty and disease co-exist with a "normal" society and sees first hand what both Rotary and dedicated individuals are doing to help.