George A. Smith of Mount Vernon has done a lot of things in his life, from writing comprehensive plans for rural Maine towns to managing statewide referendum campaigns. He served as executive director of the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine (SAM) for 18 years, growing the membership from 4,000 to 14,000 and making it one of the state’s most influential organizations.
George left SAM at the end of 2010 to write full-time. He writes an outdoor news blog posted on his website and the website of the Bangor Daily News, cited by the Maine Press Association in 2014 as the state’s best sports blog. He has written a weekly editorial column published in the Kennebec Journal and Waterville Morning Sentinel for 25 years, columns for The Maine Sportsman magazine since 1977, and special columns for the newsletters of various Maine organizations and magazines.
In 2014 Islandport Press in Yarmouth published A Life Lived Outdoors, a book of George’s favorite columns about home, camp, family, faith, travel, hunting, fishing, and other outdoor activities. In May of this year, Down East Books published a book that George wrote about Maine Sporting Camps. You can access much of George’s writing on his website: georgesmithmaine.com.
George and his wife Linda, a recently retired first grade teacher, have written a weekly travel column for the Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel for 5 years, focused on Maine inns, restaurants, events and activities. Sometime soon, Islandport Press will publish George and Linda’s Maine travel book featuring their favorite inns and restaurants.
For 13 years, George hosted, with his friend Harry Vanderweide, a unique television talk show called "Wildfire," focused on hunting, fishing, conservation and environmental issues. "Wildfire" returned to the air this year, co-hosted by James Cote and George.
Smith was part of the management team that successfully defended Maine’s moose hunt in a 1983 referendum, and managed a successful campaign in 1992 that placed the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife in the Maine Constitution and protected its revenues. He also led a successful campaign in 2004 to defeat an animal rights referendum that sought to end Maine’s bear hunt. He also worked on many political campaigns and served on the staff of Congressman David Emery for 8 years.
Among his many ideas, Smith conceived the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund, funded by an instant lottery game that has provided over $18 million for wildlife conservation and outdoor recreation programs in Maine.
George served 5 years on the Winthrop Town Council, three terms as Mount Vernon Selectman, one term as Kennebec County Commissioner, seven years on the Mount Vernon Planning Board, and 36 years as a Trustee of the Dr. Shaw Memorial Library.
He is a Winthrop, Maine native, a graduate of the University of Maine, and has lived in Mount Vernon for 37 years. He and his wife, Linda, have three children and three grandchildren.
(Photo: Caroline Koelker and Maestro Stephen Lord representing PORTopera and President Laura Young)
Russ Burleigh, who was there at the genesis of PORTopera, introduced our guests today: PORT’s managing director Caroline Koelker, who was joined by Maestro Stephen Lord, the company’s conductor, to discuss our own grand opera company’s activities in greater Portland this summer. PORTopera has just completed three performances of Carlo Menotti’s 'The Medium,' and will be mounting this year’s mainstage performance, of Bizet’s 'Carmen,' at Merrill Auditorium later this week.
Mr. Lord talked about why opera matters and how it’s done. He recounted the story of his family’s first stereo from 1958. He told us how Enrico Caruso’s scratchy voice “grabbed him viscerally,” and how he’s been grabbed ever since. Today’s Grammy winners, he suggested, have failed to match the “physicality” of opera, which he described as “a metaphor for the world; one where disbelief is suspended.” He challenged us, as parents and grandparents, to play “good music” for our children.
He spoke of the thrill of conducting, being “inside the stereo speaker,” a place that allows you to connect with the inspiration of the composer. He noted that it’s the only place where “a guy can dance and sweat with the oldies and still be moved to tears.” He spoke of the role of solitude in his work, and of the rigors of life on the road.
He commented on the artistic challenges particular to his art form. When they are doing live unamplified music, he noted, performers need to be extraordinary. He pointed out that “97% of opera singers are unemployed on any given day” and that in many cases a director is choosing just 30 out of 1500 applicants for a role, so it is a difficult job involving lots of travel, long hours and unpredictable compensation. Most opera singers now have to go to Europe to find steady work, he said.
He pointed out that opera brings management challenges equal to its artistic ones. Ticket sales barely provide a third of the cost of an opera production – the rest comes through contributions, grants, etc. He also noted the rare nature of the Merrill Auditorium as a top notch acoustical experience. That it is owned by the city is even more unusual, and he commended Portland for investing in it.
We’re grateful that PORTopera has such capable artistic and managerial direction, and that the company is willing to assume these risks, as it has each summer for the past two decades. Their production of “Carmen” still has some tickets available, and will be occurring on Wednesday and Friday. Tickets start at around $40. For more information/tickets, go to: www.portopera.org/
Last Friday, July 22nd, 54 Portland Rotarians, 1 guest and 2 visiting Rotarians celebrated summer in Maine by attending a Portland Rotary Meeting at The Holiday Inn By-the-Bay.Bruce Jones, as a last-minute replacement, filled in admirably with a meaningful invocation. Alex St. Hilaire led the pledge of allegiance, and Russ Burleigh tickled the ivories for our spirited rendition of “God Bless America.” Leisa Collins ran the raffle and Chris Thomas’ name was called. Alas, the Queen of Hearts remained elusive, so the pot, at $510 last week, will continue to grow.
The Club offered its version of “Rotary My Rotary” for our weekly song. We may need some lessons from Kathy Grammer, if we are going to continue with our lyrical efforts. First Vice-President Don Zillman took the podium to give his unique view of the political parties as the nominating conventions take place. Don wondered aloud whether the Republicans and Democrats could adhere to our “Four-Way Test,” with the obvious answer that they most likely could not. As the summer heats up and the eyes of the nation turn to Trump and Clinton, we should be proud to live our business and personal lives each day with these questions in mind:
1) Is it the truth?
2) Is it fair to all concerned?
3) Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
4) Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
Speaking of the conventions, our own Eric Lusk was a delegate from Maine at the recently completed Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Mike Fortunato is spearheading our club’s efforts at Longcreek Youth Development Center, where we will have about eight Portland Rotarians volunteering on Tuesday for a summer party featuring banana splits, outdoor games and mentoring.
Both Don Lowry and Bill Blount are recovering from major surgeries....Don with a shoulder and Bill with both knees. Our Club’s heartfelt best wishes go out to both of these fellows. While Don was not able to make our meeting, Bill was sporting a very fashionable post-surgery beard at our Friday meeting. President Laura, in thanking 1st quarter Program Chair Dave Putnam, as well as overall Program Chair Rusty Atwood, said, “the key to happiness is gratitude.” Thanks for all of your efforts! Amy Chipman took the podium and asked Gus Karlsen to join her for his EIGHTH Paul Harris Fellow! Thanks for your support, Gus! PP Kris Rosado will be hosting a de-briefing session for our recently completed 'Maine Outdoor Challenge' in the comfort of a luxury suite at Hadlock Field on Wednesday. The event, our major fundraiser for the year, continues to grow by leaps and bounds with the help of so many wonderful Rotary volunteers. We look forward to an even bigger and more successful event next spring. Thanks, Kris, for leading us!
Invocation: Tom Nickerson Program Reporter: Tom Talbott Bits & Pieces Reporter: Dick Hall Registration/Greeter: Larry Gross Sell Meal Tickets: Loretta Rowe Raffle: Adam Shepherd Badge Box: Patty Erickson Collect Meal Tickets: David Clough Song Leader: ? Pianist: Russ Burleigh Sgt-at-Arms (Early): Matt Tassey Sgt-at-Arms (Late): Dave Putnam
As we receive applications for prospective members to join our Portland Rotary Club, the names of the applicants will be included in our Windjammer. Any information and/or comments you would like to share will be handled confidentially. Please contact Loretta Rowe: lrowe@maine.rr.com. Your input will be appreciated.
PROSPECT BUSINESS (Sponsor) Danielle Conway Dean & Professor of Law, USM (Bowen Depke)
The following is a list of projects happening within our club that you have an opportunity to volunteer and help with. If you know of other opportunities, please contact Loretta: lrowe@maine.rr.com
When
Project Who to Contact
CHE Food/Reading Tuesdays and Thursdays
N. Deering Gardens(11:15-12:15)
Janelle LoSciuto
Soup kitchen4th Wednesday ea month
Preble Street (4-6:30)
Erik Greven
Cedar Unit Tuesday, July 26
Games Night Mike Fortunato
George A. Smith of Mount Vernon has done a lot of things in his life, from writing comprehensive plans for rural Maine towns to managing statewide referendum campaigns. He served as executive director of the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine (SAM) for 18 years, growing the membership from 4,000 to 14,000 and making it one of the state’s most influential organizations.
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First Vice-President Don Zillman took the podium to give his unique view of the political parties as the nominating conventions take place. Don wondered aloud whether the Republicans and Democrats could adhere to our “Four-Way Test,” with the obvious answer that they most likely could not. As the summer heats up and the eyes of the nation turn to Trump and Clinton, we should be proud to live our business and personal lives each day with these questions in mind: