Visiting Rotarian:  Dave Carter (Oxford Hills)

Guests:  Shirley Powell   (Bruce), Dr. Carl Francis  (Jim Mann)

Members We Missed:  Andrews, Dunham, Hart, Murphy, Tyler

As a "mini-program," Dr. Francis updated us on the Maine Mineral and Gem Museum (MMGM), now undergoing final construction at the corner of Main and Chapman Sts. in Bethel.  Carl retired as curator of the Harvard University Mineralogical Museum in 2011 and is now serving as curator of MMGM.  Plans and resulting construction of MMGM have kept expanding, and an exact opening date has not been set.  An example is the decision to put a whole new foundation and basement under the Odd Fellows building -- not in the original plans.  The MMGM exhibits will tell the complete story of mining, minerals, and gems; how minerals are formed, found, and mined; the historical and current industrial uses for minerals; and the art of cutting gems and creating jewelry.  This will be the world's most extensive collection, exhibits, and archival documents of Maine mining, minerals, and gems in one location.  It will even include out-of-this-world items, i.e., meteorites.  www.MaineMineralMuseum.org 

Rotary information:  Everyone was urged to read the great "Rotarian" article and accompanying picture of Ann Lee Hussey and her recent polio-related trip to Nigeria.

~ Walter