West Bay Rotary - Camden, Maine

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Camden, ME
West Bay Rotary - Camden, Maine

We meet on Thursday Mornings at 7:30 am at the Congregational Church in Camden. The meeting starts at 7:30am but many show up early for fellowship.

West Bay Rotary's Mission: "The Rotary Club of West Bay (Camden) is a community leader that effects positive changes through service - locally and internationally." Rotary International's Mission and Vision: "We provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through our fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders. Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change — across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves." Club Meetings:
Every Thursday, starting at 7:30am
Camden Congregational Church
55 Elm Street, Camden, ME

10/22/2026

What a fascinating morning at West Bay Rotary!

Our guest speaker, Julia Olivias, introduced us to the incredible world of falconry and shared what it takes to train, care for, and work with birds of prey.

But the real star of the morning was Gracie, Julia’s beautiful red-tailed hawk! Gracie certainly captured everyone’s attention and gave us an up-close look at one of nature’s most impressive hunters.

A big thank-you to Julia for sharing her knowledge, passion, and feathered companion with us. Not every Rotary meeting comes with a hawk!

10/21/2026

According to the World Health Organization, nearly 1 in seven people worldwide -- 1.2 billion people -- are living with a mental health crisis.

We want to smash the stigma around mental illness and have partnered with the Yellow Tulip Project to plan bulbs to raise awareness for this important issue. For more about this effort, please visit www.theyellowtulipproject.

If you or someone you love is facing a mental health crisis, call 988 or reach out to someone you trust. We see you and care about you.

09/28/2026

📢 Last call! West Bay Rotary's Fall grant applications are due October 1st.

If your nonprofit is working to strengthen education, health, the environment, or economic opportunity here in Knox County and Lincolnville, we'd love to consider your project for a grant up to $1,500.

Don't let the deadline slip by — applications and full details are ready and waiting for you.

👉 Apply now: www.WestBayRotaryOfMaine.org (click the Charitable Foundation grant application link)

West Bay Rotary has been putting "service above self" into action in the Midcoast for 40 years — and it's local organizations like yours that make that possible.

09/24/2026

A fascinating look back at Maine history at this week’s West Bay Rotary meeting!

Rodney Lynch and Jamie Ward joined us to share stories about the Revolutionary War and the battles that took place right here in Maine. It was a great reminder of just how much history surrounds us—and how much there still is to learn about the people and events that shaped our town, our state and our country.

Thank you, Rodney and Jamie, for a terrific presentation!

09/22/2026

⏳ Still time to apply — but don't wait too long!

West Bay Rotary's Fall grant cycle is open through October 1st. We award up to $1,500 to local nonprofits doing meaningful work in Knox County and Lincolnville.

A few things to know before you apply:
✅ Grants can support general operations, a specific program, or a defined project
✅ Projects should be completed within 12 months of receiving funds
✅ The review process is competitive, so a clear, specific application stands out
✅ Grant recipients are invited to share a brief presentation with our members

Know a nonprofit that should apply? Tag them below or pass this along.

👉 Application details: www.WestBayRotaryOfMaine.org

09/14/2026

West Bay Rotary is now accepting Fall grant applications! 🎉

Twice a year, our Charitable Foundation awards grants up to $1,500 to nonprofits and charities working to improve lives right here in Knox County and Lincolnville — supporting general operations, specific programs, or defined projects.

We fund work in seven focus areas: Basic Education & Literacy, Maternal & Child Health, Peace & Conflict Prevention, Disease Prevention & Treatment, Water, Sanitation & Hygiene, Community & Economic Development, and the Environment.

If your organization is doing good work in the Midcoast, we want to hear from you. Applications close October 1st, with grants awarded January 1st.

👉 Learn more and apply: www.WestBayRotaryOfMaine.org (click the Charitable Foundation grant application link)

09/10/2026

This morning we heard from our newest member, Jake Schrum, give his classification talk.

07/13/2026

West Bay Rotary of Camden has awarded $17,000 in spring grants to 12 non-profit organizations serving the underserved, promoting the rights of those in the margins, advocating for care and appreciation of the environment, promoting physical health and well-being, providing shelter for victims of domestic violence, and advancing literacy and education. The grants follow an intensive three-month process of application, evaluation, discussion, and careful collaboration by the West Bay Rotary Grants Committee.
In presenting the well-deserved grants before a packed breakfast meeting last Thursday, Club President Deb Hitchings noted, “The quality, stature, and number of applications this year was remarkably high, reflecting a heightened interest and intense competition for the West Bay Rotary grants. We all work hard year-round to raise funds for our grants program, and we’re extremely proud to be able to support such a diverse and impactful group of grantees.”

The following organizations received grants from West Bay Rotary:

• Area Interfaith Outreach: Supporting a full rollout of its Summer Weekend Meals Program, program to deliver fresh food to homes during the summer break in the school year.

• Camden Public Library: To promote literacy by providing free copies of "The Reading Brain in a Digital World" to every teacher, school leader, and reading support staff in the 5 Towns School District.

• Lincolnville Community Library: Supporting its Summer Reading Program, "Plant a Seed: Read."

• Meals on Wheels (MCH): Delivering warm, at-home meals five days a week to vulnerable individuals in Knox County.

• Merryspring Nature Center: Supporting a program that offers more than 1300 young children free environmental education in a 66-acre park with meadows, woods, gardens, and workshops.

• Midcoast Recovery Coalition: To support 40-60 individuals annually in need of recovery housing and wrap-around support services.

• New Hope Midcoast: To provide emergency housing for victims of domestic abuse in Knox County and Lincolnville.

• Pen Bay YMCA-Lily Pond Infant Care: To provide year-round, extended day care for 25 infants and their parents in Knox County.

• Trekkers: Supporting 11th grade students who otherwise couldn’t afford to be enrolled in its supportive deliberately-structured mentoring program, Aspirations.

• Waldo County Woodshed: From its Warren location, to provide free firewood to people in need with a focus on economically-challenged households that heat primarily or solely with wood.

• Wayfinder Schools: Supporting misplaced students or students who need a second chance at a high school graduation in Knox County.

• Window Dressers: To provide insulating window inserts to low-income families in Knox County at no or low cost.

About West Bay Rotary

For 40 years, West Bay Rotary has been dedicated to supporting local nonprofits through service, collaboration, and philanthropy. To learn more about its initiatives and how you can get involved, visit www.WestBayRotaryOfMaine.org or come to a weekly meetings, Thursdays at 7:30 a.m. in the Community Room at the First Congregational Church in Camden. All are welcome.

07/02/2026

It’s a new Rotary year and President Deb kicks it off in style. Evan Thomas did his classification talk, Laura Evans shared a mindful moment, Chris Gallagher wrapped it all up as Sargent arms. And the President Deb is doing something new this year- as we’re closing every meeting we will be reciting the four-way test.

06/29/2026

❤️ The tournament may be over, but the impact continues.

Because of your support of Swing into Summer, West Bay Rotary will continue investing in programs that strengthen our communities and improve lives throughout Midcoast Maine.

Thank you for being part of the Rotary story.

Address

Camden, ME

Website

http://www.westbayrotaryofmaine.org/

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