June 3, 2010 Annual Meeting and Dinner

Once a year, the World Affairs Council of Maine gathers its members together to do the business of the Council.  We celebrate the successes of the past year and face the challenges we have as an organization.  New Board members are welcomed and those going off the Board are celebrated for the generous commitment of time and energy they expended on the Council's behalf. Our June 3rd Annual Meeting was no different.  First, our business meeting was held where we covered the work of the Council with Out-going President Elizabeth McLellan giving an overview of our past year.   New Board members were elected-Julie Fisher, Gino Nalli and Charles Norchi.  Current Board members who are continuing to a second term are Debra Andrews, Maureen Hurley, Desmond Guilliard, Adam Rubin, and Tim Seavey. The proposed budget for FY 2011 was presented and new officers for the year were elected:  Clifford Gilpin- President, Bradley Babson-First Vice President, Timothy Seavey-Second Vice President, Joseph Keaney-Treasurer, Desmond Guilliard-Assistant Treasurer, Lynne Houle-Secretary, Gino Nalli-Assistant Secretary, and Bill Welch-Clerk. President McLellan recognized Board members who are completing their terms-Deb Barouch and Mike Wygant.   Staff member Jennifer Crichton was recognized for her  work in the office during the transitions of this past year and Gail Witherill received the Bea Chapman Minor Award for her work as a volunteer in the office.  Clifford Gilpin, newly elected President, thanked Elizabeth McLellan for her dedication to the organization in what has been a very busy and challenging time.  Mr. Gilpin also outlined some of the new initiatives that the Council will be working on this coming year.  After the business meeting, attendees gathered for a social hour.  Following that, we heard from  Dr. Marc Hahn, Dean of University of New England's School of Osteopathic Medicine and Senior Vice President for Health Affairs.  Dr. Hahn has an extensive background in medicine and interests in a variety of areas and his presentation was entitled  "The Role of Primary Care in Global Health".   Dinner followed his presentation.  To wrap up the evening, there was a special recognition of Elizabeth McLellan for her new endeavor, Partners for World Health.  A good time was had by all as the pictures attest!