Rotarians get update on Stepping Stones expansion

    On Monday, Feb. 8, the Houlton Rotary Club hosted Susan York and Barbara Kelly from Stepping Stones.  Susan shared Stepping Stones story in Houlton and their expansion across the state.  This expansion has led Stepping Stones to become the largest provider of infant mental health services in Maine.
    Stepping Stones provides a home for single mothers and fathers to raise their infant children in a safe and healthy environment.  Stepping Stones are always working on fundraisers to help run their facilities. They will be the recipient of the Community Box at Shop N Save for the month of March, Staff will also have raffle tickets available for two Easter baskets with the winners drawn on April 1, and will be hosting a bottle drive in February and March with the proceeds going to Step Up! shelter services.
Contributed photo
ROTARY GUEST — Susan York and Barbara Kelly of Stepping Stones were guests of Rotary on Feb. 8. In the picture from left, are: John Tribou, Houlton Rotary president; Barbara Kelly, quality assurance for Stepping Stones; Susan York, child care specialist for Stepping Stones; and Steve Nelson, Houlton Rotarian and host.
    For more information about Stepping Stones, contact Susan York susany@step-stones4youth.org or visit their website at www.stepstones-4youth.org.
Cummings begins District Governor Nominee duties
    Leigh Cummings, Jr., and his wife, Sandy, traveled to St. Stephen, New Brunswick Jan. 22 to speak to the St. Stephen-Milltown Rotary Club as the group celebrated its 90 years of service to their community. For the past nine decades, the Rotary Club has been instrumental in many areas of the community with projects and in providing financial support to many organizations and causes.
    This was Leigh’s first official task for the Rotary District in his new capacity as District Governor Nominee. He congratulated the club for being the second formed Club in the current Rotary District 7810. (The third was Houlton, two months later.)  He read a letter from the February 1920 Rotarian magazine written by then St. Stephen-Milltown Secretary, John A. Flewelling in which Flewelling expressed his enthusiasm for Rotary, an enthusiasm still very much evident today.
    Cummings filled the shoes of District Governor Gordon Dempsey on this particular evening, as the Governor had to be at a more formal gathering of Rotarians in Moncton.  Having been given the choice of speaking at the formal gathering in Moncton or speaking to the St. Stephen-Milltown Club at a fun-filled evening celebrating a birthday at the Ganong Chocolate Factory, Leigh was quick in making his choice.
    Cummings will attend many such celebrations and meetings during the next few years.  He will be in training until June 30, 2011, at which time he then becomes District Governor for Rotary District 7810.  The Houlton Rotary Club is very proud to again have a District Governor in its ranks.
Photo courtesy of Deb Clark
HONORED GUESTS — Discussing district-wide plans during a recent Houlton Rotary Club meeting were, from left: Past District Governor Michael Clark, District Governor Nominee Leigh Cummings and Past District Governor Rick Rogers from the St. Stephen-Milltown Club.