WATERVILLE — When 19-year-old Kevin Hines jumped off San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge in 2000, he had one thought in his mind. “At that moment, I told myself the single greatest lie I’ve ever told,” Hines said. “Absolutely no one cares.
Was that true?” “No,” responded the crowd of well over 100 who attended a speech from Hines, now 42, on Saturday at the Waterville Opera House. Hines, one of the less than 40 people to survive a suicide attempt on the landmark bridge, delivered the keynote presentation at the Rotary District 7790 Conference. This weekend’s three-day district conference in Waterville brought together Rotary clubs from across Maine and Quebec.
It was one of several events in central Maine this weekend expected to draw thousands to the region . Rotary International is a global service organization with about 1.4 million members in more than 46,000 clubs, according to its website .
The group works on issues ranging from promoting peace and health to protecting the environment. Waterville has two clubs, the Rotary Club of Waterville and the Waterville Sunrise Rotary Club. Those who attended the district conference in Waterville had opportunities for “fellowship, learning, service and laughter,” according to a promotional video.
The focus of Hines’ speech, mental health and suicide prevention, fit in with the conference’s theme of “Hope in Action.” “You are the embodiment of hope in action,” District Gov. Tina Chapman told Hines.
