04/08/16 Bits & Pieces
President Bowen welcomed 59 members and 9 guests to our meeting last Friday. Alan Nye provided a "be kind to your fellow persons" invocation. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and we sang a patriotic song.
We recognized our members having birthdays in April. Mark Stimson was congratulated on his milestone birthday of 90-years young.
(Photo: Mark and Connie Stimson.)
Other special April birthdays of note were: John Houghton at 84 years on April 10th; Harry Sawyer at 83 years on April 13th; and Bob Traill at 94 years on April 24th. Happy Birthday to all!
Jim Willey presented a history moment from the 1969-70 era, compiled by Erik Jorgensen, who was caught up in the final days of the legislative session. Jim took us back to an uneasy period in the country, a time beset with street violence, protest and war. Despite real accomplishments like landing men on the moon, this year marked an unsettled time in US history – the country was stuck in Vietnam; Charles Manson was murdering people, the Chicago Eight went on trial and people were still marching in the streets. The Club’s speakers touched on many subjects that reflected the current national mood. Clearly the club was trying to make sense of what must have seemed like puzzling and upsetting social upheavals during this period. We heard from Judge Edward Thaxter Gignoux (after whom our Federal courthouse was later named) speaking about courts, immigrants’ rights, and the “unwarranted dissidence” rampant across the country. A group of Boston college students spoke to the club about the science behind drugs and addiction (this was one of three programs about drugs and delinquency that year – one speaker noted there were 49 heroin addicts in Maine, and was very worried about marijuana); the regional director of the FBI spoke to the club about “anarchy masquerading as peaceful demonstrations"; and we heard from Graham Watt, city manager of Dayton Ohio, who spoke about the wealth divide in the country, social justice and the plight of America’s urban areas.
Rotary notes that year showed that the Club had around 220 members, and that the price of lunch was increasing to $2.75 including tip, something that suggested that Rotarians then were as concerned as they are now about how to keep costs affordable. Records showed that the Club contributed to a number of local causes that year, from the YMCA to the Catherine Morrell Day Nursery; and familiar names were showing up on our programs: Don Lowry made an initial appearance having provided a classification talk, and Mark Stimson was elected Second Vice president.
Our club presented a Youth Service Award to Hibo Abdi, a student at Waynflete School. Representing Waynflete and introducing Hibo to us was the Dean of Student Affairs, Lydia Maier. Hibo's mom, Ardo Amir, proudly watched her daughter receive the award.(Photo: Lydia Maier, Ardo Amir, Hibo Abdi, Ellen Niewoehner, and President Bowen Depke.)
Erik Greven ran the weekly raffle and asked our speaker to pick a raffle ticket from the can for a potential shot at $1,344. Though she tried, Kathy Grammer could not find the Queen of Hearts as it continued to hide in the deck.
(Photo: Kathy Grammer and Erik Greven.)
A highlight for our club (and most Rotary clubs) is bringing in a new member. This week Matthew (Matt) Wolcott was introduced to the club as our 19th newest member this Rotary year. Matt is with Safe Passage as their U.S. Director. Please be sure to welcome him over the coming meetings. Welcome, Matt!
(Photo: President Bowen and Matt Wolcott.)
President Bowen announced that:
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Erik Greven and David Small, part of the International Service 3-H Team gave a report on their recently-returned trip to the Dominican Republic. They recounted how they were amazed that in the midst of squalid conditions, the indigenous people seemed friendly and smiled a lot. Both told of stories about working on the water filters in the bateys, helping process patients for 125 hearing aids and observed the fitting of many recipients with the helping hand and/or measuring for the full prosthetic that will be made in Yarmouth in the coming weeks. They encouraged others to get involved in future trips, because it makes you appreciate all that we have here in America, as well as provide tremendous gratification of immediately improving the quality of life for scores of families. It has been a life-changing experience for both Erik and David.
Our Rotary District is looking for help to host the inbound Argentinean District Vocational Training Team. This Group Study Exchange Team (GSE) of four (2 men, 2 women) will be coming to our area on Monday and Tuesday, June 6th and 7th.
They are looking for 2-4 host families to house the team members overnight on Monday, plus volunteer(s) to chauffeur the team members around for those two days, and to provide breakfast, lunch & dinner.
The GSE between District 7780 and Argentina will focus on collegial sharing between the mental health professionals of the outbound team and inbound team, as well as interfacing with other mental health professionals (particularly Rotarians) in each country. A particular emphasis will be on youth/adolescent mental health. The teams will visit a representative sampling of mental health/social service agencies in each country.
If you can volunteer or want additional information, please contact Ann Schieber at: annschieber@hotmail.com
or at: 603-770-2744
Erik Greven and David Small, part of the International Service 3-H Team gave a report on their recently-returned trip to the Dominican Republic. They recounted how they were amazed that in the midst of squalid conditions, the indigenous people seemed friendly and smiled a lot. Both told of stories about working on the water filters in the bateys, helping process patients for 125 hearing aids and observed the fitting of many recipients with the helping hand and/or measuring for the full prosthetic that will be made in Yarmouth in the coming weeks. They encouraged others to get involved in future trips, because it makes you appreciate all that we have here in America, as well as provide tremendous gratification of immediately improving the quality of life for scores of families. It has been a life-changing experience for both Erik and David.President Bowen reported on the trip some of our members made to the Boston Rotary Club on April 6th. (See separate article.)
Alex St. Hilaire (photo) asked the club for volunteers to help with acquiring raffle items for the upcoming 'Maine Outdoor Challenge.' There will be a BBQ on the third afternoon of the event, where merchandise will be raffled. He is looking for people who would like to take part in a 'blitz' happening on one day where the volunteers would canvas certain areas of the Portland commercial shopping district in order to solicit items for this occasion/event. For more information and to volunteer, contact Alex at: alex.st.hilaire@td.com.
President Bowen reminded us of our upcoming "All Member Social" on Wednesday, April 13th. EVERYONE is invited! New members, seasoned members and Past Presidents. Please let us know you are coming (so we know how much food to order) by going to the club website: portlandrotary.org and clicking the event name at the right, which will take you directly to the register page......OR you can click HERE and it will take you to the site. We hope to see you there!