4/17/15 BITS & PIECES
President Kris opened the meeting welcoming a full house of 56 members, 2 visiting Rotary dignitaries, District Governor Lawrence Furbish and Past District Governor Peter Johnson along with 8 guests.
Carl Spang gave us our invocation and we pledged to the flag and sang a patriotic song.
President Kris told us how Carl had agreed to pick up a shotgun in NH, which we were getting at a good price for the Maine Outdoor Challenge (MOC) event. Carl made a decision to pay the $500 cost and donate the shotgun to the auction. Thank you, Carl, for your generous act of kindness.
Leonard Scott ran the weekly raffle that was up to $989 in the pot, having our Youth Service Award recipient, Sharon Machuta, pull a member's name out of the raffle bucket. Ron Bennett won the draw, but he didn't have any luck pulling the Queen of Hearts, as Ron drew the King of Diamonds.
(Photo: Leonard Scott and YSA recipient, Sharon Machuta.)
Ben Lowry gave us a very moving Rotary moment. Twenty years ago, in April 1995, Ben was starting out as an attorney in his father, Don Lowry's firm, he was playing baseball, had moved back from Boston, and his brother was home from Germany. Don Lowry was due to start his presidency of the Portland Rotary Club in July and he advised Ben that it was time for him to join the club. Life was good. Then on Memorial Day of the following month, Ben’s older brother’s jet plane crashed on take-off and he was killed. In an instant, life went from very good to very bad. Ben told us he was lost. New job – new town – and a family in despair. Don decided to still continue as the club's president and Ben to still join Rotary. Ben jumped in with both feet. Over time, he became chair of several committees and eventually became president of our club in 2007. Rotary was a savior for Ben in 1995, and Rotary continues to be a major focus of his life. When he conducts business, plays tennis, travels, plays poker and many other things, he does it with Rotarians. For Ben, Rotary is business, social and family. He told us that it has always been an amazing experience.
Rusty Atwood, on Tuesday April 7, made up a meeting in Indianapolis, IN. Rusty said it was his first Rotary makeup. The program that day was about preparing 12,096 meals for a food pantry. The location was the Scottish Rite Cathedral, a historic building designed by architect George F. Schreiber, located in downtown Indianapolis. Rusty was visiting to watch the basketball games. Duke won and saved Rusty’s bracket, so as a token he donated funds to the Rotary Foundation in name of Don Zillman,a Wisconsin alumnus.
Steve Stromsky, Community Service chair, still needs four more volunteers for the soup kitchen next Wednesday, April 22nd. Contact him if you can help out: stevan_j_stromsky@keybank.com
Emily McEntee reminded us all that we are only 2 weeks away from our in-club auction, May Madness, being held on Friday May 1st at our meeting. If you have any item(s) you would like to donate, please contact Loretta, Ellen or her. Please bring items to a Rotary meeting, but be sure to contact one of these three ladies with your intention, so we can get it written up and prepared ahead of time for the auction. All proceeds will go towards the operation of our club. We will also need some extra hands to volunteer on the day of the auction, so if you can and want to help us, please see Ellen.
Rotarian in the News - The American Bar Association will present its Grassroots Advocacy Award on Wednesday in Washington, D.C., to Nan Heald, Executive Director of Pine Tree Legal Assistance for her leadership and initiatives addressing the unmet legal needs of active-duty military members, veterans, their families, and caregivers.
Committee selections – Be sure to tell Club Secretary, Loretta which committee you would like to be assigned to help in the coming year. If you do not give your preferences, President-elect Bowen may assign you to a committee(s) which needs help.
Jim Willey told us about the Salvation Army's "Champions for Kids" benefit dinner on Thursday, May 5th at 5:30 p.m. The speaker is Dr. Marcello Coradini and his topic is “The Search for Extraterrestrial Life." Tickets are $45 to attend or to sponsor a kid who has shown an interest in science. Portland Rotary funded a playroom for homeless infants, toddlers, and mothers at the Salvation Army that provides a safe place where infants and kids can go to play and get snacks. For more information, contact Jim at: jimandbarbarawilley@gmail.com
Mike Fortunato is looking for volunteers April 25 and 26 to sell raffle tickets at the Scarborough Rod and Gun event. He needs volunteers for both Saturday and Sunday. Also, if you are willing to solicit donations in the Old Port for the Maine Outdoor Challenge, contact Mike: michael.k.fortunato@gmail.com
Janelle LoSciuto seems to have babies at the center of her life now. She told us about the Greater Portland March for Babies and needing volunteers to help on Sunday May 3rd. If you can help and want more information, please contact her: jlosciuto@marchofdimes.org
Jan Chapman introduced our Youth Service Award recipient from Catherine McCauley School, Sharon Machuta. Sharon was born in the Congo; has 150 hours of volunteer time at Maine Medical; and provides numerous hours of service to Catherine McCauley. Sharon thanked Rotary, her parents and the school. She has chosen the Opportunity Alliance to receive the $100 donation that the club will send in her name.