PARIS – Ron Messore, new executive director of the Progress Center in Norway, was the guest speaker at the June 16 Rotary Club meeting.

The center is a nonprofit organization for individuals with disabilities and mental illness. It was started in 1976 as a program of the Maine Bureau of Mental Illness and in 1980 it became its own corporation.

The center has a 10-member board and provides in-home support for adults and children as well as serving as a sponsor of the Maine Special Olympics.

Frank Brittan, volunteer, also provided insight about his involvement with that event.

“It is really something to see the look on the faces of the participants after they have completed a sporting event. All eyes are on them and they are so happy to get their medals and applause. It is their day!,” he said.

Messore thanked the Oxford Hills Rotary Club for its support. Contributions to the Progress Center from the Rotary Club have exceeded $2,000 this year.

The club meets every Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. at the First Congregational Church in South Paris. If interested in attending a meeting, contact President Jack Richardson at 743-5237.