10/23/15 BITS & PIECES

Posted by John Marr 
 
With his usually efficiency, President Bowen got an energetic agenda off to a timely start by greeting 58 members and six visiting Rotarians/guests. 
He then called Bruce Jones to the podium to inspire us with a thoughtful invocation. Bruce, like so many of our invokers, avoids piety and solemnity, and focuses on colloquial themes, leaving sermons for Clerics. Bruce paralleled our “Four-Way Test” by offering up the “Triple-Filter Test” for us to ponder and embrace. With typical Socratic simplicity, we are asked before we launch any message to determine if what we have to say is true, will it do good and, in the end, will it be useful.
 
Without skipping a beat, Justin Lamontagne was asked to lead us in the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. In perfect form Kathy Grammer took to the keyboard and inspired us to sing “America The Beautiful” and our patriotic needs were satisfied.
 
 
Our club, once again, had the good fortune of District Governor Sheila Rollins as a visiting Rotarian, and she brought a guest with her......another five came with fellow Rotarians to enjoy the magnificence of Rotary and discover that there are no secrets.....just fun, friendship and information. 
 
 
One consistent bit of fun is the raffle, this week hosted by Ellen Niewoehner, offering up 690 simoleans (an archaic term, consistent with our table cards, which are fascinating). Bruce Jones got to pluck for luck, but, alas, luck was not with him and the Queen of Hearts was left to rest with her shrinking pack.
 
 
Proving that he got the message to offer bits of Portland Rotary history from a given year, our legislator-in-residence, Erik Jorgensen, masterfully presented bits from the Great Depression year of 1936-37. This was the year that technology took a great leap, voice amplification was introduced and challenges began. Board games became popular. One of the messages from our club was that attendance was in a bit of a slump and we needed to do better, proving some things never change, but we do survive. Back in those days the freshman class still did the annual skit and this hearty business group lampooned the “New Deal” of recently re-elected F.D.R. During the year the club had a live telecast from founder Paul Harris, as well as a presentation from a Civil War veteran, a baseball star and somehow or another a trick shooting exhibition. These historical moments are fascinating and singularly worth the price of admission.
 
Notice was given to the club of the upcoming Bridge Walk in Portsmouth.......we hope the healthy will attend as a show of our growing membership. Furthermore, we have the inaugural Veteran’s Day breakfast coming up on Nov. 11th.......members are encouraged to bring a veteran as a guest. We are still looking for sponsors to underwrite the cost. This meeting will take place of the regular weekly meeting. After the breakfast, we will move on to Andrews Square to commence our rededication of the commemorative memorial (additional story listed separately). Register online at our club website: portlandrotary.org  or sign up on the sheets put on the tables.
 
Please get your surveys in to help incoming president Laura Young with the visioning of our club. Last, but by no means least, President Bowen advised that our C.H.E. focus and efforts have provided over 500 meals and snacks to needy kids, plus our efforts have gotten the attention of the Maine Dept. of Education and others in government. Take a bow, club, and be reassured that our good deeds are well noted, including YouTube coverage.