08/12/16 Bits & Pieces

Posted by John Marr
 
“Madam President” has a great sound to it, noted Tom Nickerson as he prepared to give us his usual heartfelt and self-produced invocation of thanks. Tom noted the many wonderful things that make up our daily being that are, but shouldn't, be taken for granted. 
 
It’s always nice to have visitors join us at our club meetings.....two visiting Rotarians....one being from Baton Rouge, Louisiana and one from Savannah, GA.. Along with our welcome, we will also extend our prayers and best wishes to LA neighbors who are experiencing horrendous floods and will need all the help they can get as they are recognized as a disaster area. We also enjoyed the company of several visiting guests and we hope they will consider becoming part of the Rotary Club of Portland.
 
The weekly raffle was up to $588. With Ellen Niewoehner conducting the draw, our speaker pulled one of our guest's names from the pot...Susan East Nelson, but she could not find the Queen of Hearts, allowing the pot to keep growing. 
 
 
(Photo: Don Lowry, Gracie Johnston, and Megan Devlin.)
 
The miracles of modern medicine are often touted and our clubmates are proving how powerful the medicine is. Bill Blount was showing a bit of an altered gate as he is on the course of recovery from having both of his knees replaced. The indomitable Gracie Johnston is involved with a vigorous regimen of physical therapy to rehabilitate her shoulder injury and repair. Soon to join her in the course of PT is one of our newer members, Megan Devlin, who suffered a serious fracture falling from her bicycle. And, on the subject of bike accidents, we immediately recall that our new club Secretary Kathy Grammer is having a difficult time of recovering from her fractured wrist, which keeps her missing from action. Our well wishes go out to our strong, but troubled, friends as they work to recover.
 
When you think about the greatness of our club, in this writer’s opinion, the generous giving and community outreach is the nucleus of our well-deserved pride. Over summers past Gus Karlsen has been instrumental in enticing club members to contribute to the underwriting of a boat or two (or even three) in the MS Regatta which is upcoming on August 20th. Our past underwriting has brought riches to the cause and recognition to the club. However, we have not achieved the levels of years past, so Gus encouraged us to dig deep to send the scourge of Multiple Sclerosis to the briny bottom. A number of hands went up to contribute and help the club regain past prominence in the battle of the sail boats, tug boats and even lobster boats! If you want to help us make a big splash, reach out to Gus, Loretta or President Laura. We are looking for $50 but will take any donation to help the cause. (SEE SEPARATE ARTICLE IN THIS ISSUE)
 
 
President Laura asked that the many who have assisted with the CHE, Reading and Feeding Program, to stand and be recognized as the summer program comes to a conclusion, at the end of this week. The group has been meeting with the kids at the Deering Gardens Housing Community to give them both food and intellectual nutrition while away from school on summer vacation. The feedback from the kids and the community coordinators at Deering Gardens has been overwhelmingly favorable.

The club should be proud of this program and remember that it is but one facet of our multi-pronged outreach effort which includes mentoring at Portland High School (thanks, Glenn Nerbak) and at the Long Creek Youth Development Center (thanks, Jim Willey), as well as our RYLA, Youth Service Awards, and Vocational assistance programs. Too often we forget just how many programs our club is able to assist here in our backyard, and let’s not forget that the 'Maine Outdoor Challenge' gives thousands to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southern Maine (thanks, Commander Kris Rosado).
 
Fortunately, the Club has found the time to bring back the so called “Rotary Minute” which now is called a "moment," to improve accuracy of duration and adequacy of heraldry. The moment this week was magnificently used by Justin Lamontagne to relate to us how the 'Four-Way Test' has helped him to answer some of the “WHY” questions from his young family. When he is confronted with the confounding ethical and moral dilemma questions that young and inquiring minds invariably will come up with, he is able to find refuge and relief by citing the simple sagacity of our 4-Way Test. Thank you, Justin, for reminding us of the tool that is at our ready.
 
 
President Laura recently had the opportunity to visit the granite fort (Fort Gorges) that sits in the midst of our harbor and was fascinated with the history and experience. In the course of her visit, she found out that next year the Fort is going to be worked on. Being as resourceful as she is, she asked if a visit could be made this summer, before the construction limits access. There were two dates open, late August or early September, so she polled to see how many would be interested and when. The preferred date was late August 25th, so she is putting together the specifics and will bring the details and those interested and available will be able to go out and visit. (SEE SEPARATE ARTICLE IN THIS ISSUE)