Officers 2008-2009 President:  Helga Thurston 515-6844 helga.thurston@pariscaperealty.com President Elect:  Tina Croteau tcroteau@norwaysavingsbank.com Secretary: Diana J. McLaughlin (w) 743-1562 x312 mclaughlind@wmhcc.org Treasurer: Mary Ann Brown (h) 674-2962 brownmab@megalink.net Asst. Treasurer:  Karen Danforth (w) 743-8168 (h) 743-6930 kdanforth@northeastbank.com Past President: Kathy Laplante (h) 583-2978 ray-kathy@myfairpoint.net Meeting Places & Times 1st  Thursday - Noon South Paris Congregational 2nd Thursday - Noon Norway Congregational 3rd Thursday - 7:30am Harper Conference Ctr @ SMH 4th Thursday - Noon Oxford Advent Christian Church 5th Thursday – TBA Directors 2008-2009 1 year: Arnold Weeks Maureen Howard 2 year: MaryAnna Palmer Phil Corneliusen 3 year: Chris Longley Tony Butterall Website www.npkiwanis.org

KEY CLUB:  Ed reported that they had their first meeting.  They are working with the Rowe School PTO to help with their haunted house for Halloween.  They also plan to have 19 members attend a mock disaster drill on 9/27.  Phin and Ed will be their as our advisors.
BUILDERS CLUB: Buddy reported they had their first meeting and four members attended.  There are potentially 4 or 5 more looking to join.
 
HAPPY/SAD $$:  Bob, Happy $ for Red Sox victory in 9th inning last night; Happy $ for parking cars at the fair but he is very sore…..but at least walking today; Maureen, thank you $ for mentors in the community for kids and Sarah is going above and beyond with hers; Maryann, Happy $ she could also walk today after parking cars at the fair and a very happy $ for the fair doing a race for Ray.  She has over 40 people planning on attending and joining her at the finish line with the winner of that race!  Kathy, Happy $ for granddaughter that just started nursery school!  Tina, Happy $ for everyone who parked cars and one for Jordan who one his football game last week.  Keep the good thoughts as he has another one today.  Buddy, Happy $ for 14yr old grandson who after joining the local golf team and with encouragement from others has made a huge turnaround in his life.  Jane, Happy $ for completing the video on “Beth’s House” which is to be sent to Extreme Home Makeovers and others for support.  What should have been an easy project turned out to be something much more! Herb, Happy $ for listening to all the Kiwanians who feet hurt and now knows he’s not the only one!  Don, thank you $ for those who have supported Cody in his efforts to sell popcorn.  Bill H, $ for his table who has attracted a disproportionate amount of elder statesmen…Did stay up for Red Sox but not the Patriots game!  Sad $ for Chamber Executive Director announcing the “1st Annual Golf Ball Drop”…pet peeve of his.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Oxford County Fair Parking:  Thanks to all those who participated:  Sarah, Becky, Herb, Tina R., Cindy, Bob, Tina C., Maureen, Maryann, Kathy and Diana.  We raised $500 for this project.
Annual Banquet – The Annual Banquet is being held at the Four Seasons Function Center on Thursday, September 24th at 5:00 pm.  There will be no lunch meeting that day.  The price is $20/pp
Inter-clubs – Our first inter-club for the upcoming year will be at the Sanford Club on September 30th at 6:00 pm.  They will be leaving at 4:00 pm.  We need two more for the Portland interclub on October 13th.
Logo Wear – Becky reminded us of the opportunity to purchase Kiwanis Logo Wear thru Perfect Stitch.  Need to sign-up by September 24th, payment due when items picked up.
“Shout Out” – Sarah noted that the New District Kiwanis clubs are having a “Shout Out” on-line on October 1st @ 8pm.  All invited to attend!

SPEAKER/PROGRAM

Helga introduced Barbara Murphy who spoke on the Guatemala Project. Barbara oversees the Master Gardner Program through the Cooperative Education Extension Program.  Every Thursday they give out produce to those who cannot afford it.  They used to have 20-25 people looking for donations but that has increased to 50-100 now.
A few of the Master Gardner’s and herself went to Guatemala with others from York, Maine to help teach people to grow food and sustain themselves  Guatemala is the second most poor country in that region.  While it is an extremely beautiful country there are huge excavation projects building roads that go nowhere and have no plans ahead of them.  It is a country preparing for growth and expansion but it has yet to come.  This country depends heavily on American and European companies for support.  Americana is everywhere…she had better internet and cell phone service there then she does in Oxford Hills.
Their group worked on several projects while they were there including teaching the Mayan people how to build and maintain a garden, fence it in and also fence in their chickens.  They eat mainly tortillas made of corn (3x per day 7 days a week).  There is not fruit, vegetables or protein in their diets.  
The land is very difficult to use as it has a very high clay content and is hard packed.  Plus it has little to no nutrients in the soil.  They had to build drains around the garden for when it does rain they get 3-4 inches at a time.  They had to learn to cover the ground with leaves to hold in the nutrients, etc.  They also taught them how to fertilize the soil with recycled ashes.  Of course, they had to teach them what to include in the burning (no batteries, etc.).  Children carried the water in buckets each day to help the gardens grow.
They had great success in that of the eight gardens they planted they had a 50% success rate.  These people were very grateful for what they did.  She thanked us for our recent donation to help make this trip possible and reminded us that we do make a difference with our work!
                                                
Speaker Schedules:

09/24/09:  Annual Dinner Banquet (Evening Meeting)
10/01/09:  Becky Toothaker – Kurt Garascia, Asst Vice President Asset Management Group
10/08/09:  Pat Tuttle