Michael O’Reilly is a Senior Vice President and Southern Maine Team Lead for Commercial Banking and Business Banking at Bangor Savings Bank in Portland. Previous to his current position, he worked in Commercial Banking and handled the Bank’s largest commercial borrowers with a specialty in commercial real estate and construction lending including tax credit deals. He has been in commercial lending for 25+ years. Mike attended the University of Maine and helps with Alumni events in Southern Maine. He's a former treasurer of the National Kidney Foundation of Maine and CAFÉ (Choices Are For Everyone).
Mike currently serves as the Board President of Maine Real Estate and Development Association (MEREDA), having previously run their Membership & Marketing Committee, as well as serving on their Executive Committee. MEREDA is a nonprofit whose members banded together in 1985 to present the views of the state’s real estate industry to lawmakers in Augusta. Today, MEREDA’s more than 280 member firms are primarily from the commercial real estate industry and employ thousands of Maine citizens and drive a huge percentage of Maine’s economic activity. The organization aims to promote fair and responsible development and ownership of real estate throughout Maine. Additional information about MEREDA is available at www.mereda.org.
In addition, Mike volunteers his time with youth sports, including travel soccer, travel softball, and hockey in Scarborough.
Our host and speaker on Friday was Dr. Don St. Germain, Director and the Vice President of the Maine Medial Center Research Institute (MMCRI) which is headquartered in Scarborough Maine. Dr. St. Germain discussed the goals, mission, funding considerations, and several medical improvements that MMCRI has progressed or championed.
MMCRI supports and encourages a broad spectrum of research at the institute, ranging from basic laboratory-based research, through the translational research, which works to apply basic discoveries to medical problems. MMCRI also conducts clinical research, which studies the direct application of new drugs, devices and treatment protocols to patients, and health services research which seeks to use research methods to help improve and evaluate health care delivery programs and new technologies.
Dr. St. Germain presented the mission of MMCRI researchers as follows:
As investigators, they are driven by curiosity and a passion for improving health care to conduct world-class research, as fostered by a uniquely collaborative and collegial environment that emphasizes respect, trust and personal growth.
As educators, they are committed to mentor and help train the next generation of investigators, physicians, nurses and other health professionals.
As a community of scientists, clinicians, staff and administrators, they work together to promote an open, inclusive, diverse and supportive workplace that stresses the value of the individual while celebrating the accomplishments of the whole.
MMCRI’s four primary centers of research include the Center for Molecular Medicine, Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Center for Psychiatric Research, and Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation. Some of the advancements noted from these research centers include the new ability to grow human kidney tissue in the lab; and almost doubling the recovery success rate of stroke victims, compared to prior treatments by advancing a new method of removing blood clots from the brain.
From Dr. St. Germain’s presentation, it was clear that the staff of doctors, PhD’s, nurses, and other researchers at MMCRI mind these goals, and they are on the forefront of biomedical research and medical advancement, both in Maine and throughout our nation.
A donation to research at Maine Medical Center Research Institute (MMCRI) is an investment in healthcare innovations and new treatments that offer hope. Please see mmcri.orgfor more information.
Following the meeting, members and guests were invited to take a tour of the lab facilities.
The meeting was opened on October 16 at the Maine Medical Center Research Institute in Scarborough, ME. President Bowen welcomed 44 members and 4 guests.
With no American flag available in the meeting room and the quick thinking of our president, Bowen brought up a display of the American flag on his cell phone, which we all pledged our allegiance to.
Our weekly raffle was temporarily replaced with a 50/50 raffle instead, led by Jake Bourdeau, with the winner's name being Jerry Angier. Jerry kept $20 for gas and gave the rest to the Foundation. What a guy!
Amy Chipman presented David Smith with a Paul Harris Award.
The club presented a Youth Service Award to Maryam Adullah, a student at Portland High School.
Our history lesson was provided by Dick Hall, reporting on the year 1935-36:
The “New Deal” responds in Maine....agencies sponsored hundreds of construction projects. Maine gained 122 new schools, along with improvements in sewers, bridges, airport runways, roads, sidewalks, municipal buildings, wading pools, playgrounds and parks.
Other happenings of note during 1935-36:
• The largest fish hatchery in the world was built in Gray, Maine...being federally funded.
• A referendum raised the cost of hunting licenses from $.50 to $1.00.
• The first Warden Academy was held at Orono, ME.
• The Social Security Act passed as part of the “New Deal” and signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
• The Historic Sites Act signed into law a national policy to preserve historic sites, including National Historic Landmarks.
• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) was founded.
• The Monopoly board game was released by Parker Brothers.
• The F.B.I. is established with J. Edgar Hoover as its first director.
• Baseball Hall of Fame was established at Cooperstown, NY.
• “Gone With the Wind” is published by Margaret Mitchell.
Club meeting notes during that time stated that the attendance of members ranged from 84-123 members, averaging 97; 15 people were honored for 100% attendance; one was awarded for 13 years of perfect attendance. The club meetings included several “most interesting” talks....the “cleverest people” made presentations.
Invocation:Tom Nickerson Program Reporter: Tom Talbott Bits & Pieces Reporter: Alan Nye Registration/Greeter: Travis Parker Sell Meal Tickets: Adam Shepherd Raffle: Jake Bourdeau Badge Box: None Collect Meal Tickets: Andreea Paine Rotary Moment in History: Mike Fortunato Song Leader: Bill Blount Pianist: None Sgt-at-Arms (Early): Bruce Moore Sgt-at-Arms (Late): Jim Willey
If you would like to mark your calendars,
we are at the following locations through 2015:
Oct 30 - Texas Instruments, 5 Foden Rd., S.P.
Nov 6 - Long Creek Youth Center
Nov 11 - Special Veterans' Breakfast
Holiday Inn By-the-Bay
Nov 13 - NO MEETING Nov 20 - Holiday Inn By-the-Bay
Nov 27 - NO MEETING- Happy Thanksgiving!
Dec 4 - The Clarion Hotel
Dec 11 - The Clarion Hotel
Dec 18 - Holiday Inn By-the-Bay
Dec 25 - NO MEETING - Happy Holidays!
BOLD dates are scheduled Board meeting days.
Any questions, please contact Loretta at: lrowe@maine.rr.com
The meeting minutes of the Portland Rotary Club's Board of Directors are posted on our website the month following their approval. From the "Home Page," click on the "Board Meeting Minutes" in the listing at the left.
Michael O’Reilly is a Senior Vice President and Southern Maine Team Lead for Commercial Banking and Business Banking at Bangor Savings Bank in Portland. Previous to his current position, he worked in Commercial Banking and handled the Bank’s largest commercial borrowers with a specialty in commercial real estate and construction lending including tax credit deals. He has been in commercial lending for 25+ years. Mike attended the University of Maine and helps with Alumni events in Southern Maine. He's a former treasurer of the National Kidney Foundation of Maine and CAFÉ (Choices Are For Everyone).
Our host and speaker on Friday was Dr. Don St. Germain, Director and the Vice President of the Maine Medial Center Research Institute (MMCRI) which is headquartered in Scarborough Maine. Dr. St. Germain discussed the goals, mission, funding considerations, and several medical improvements that MMCRI has progressed or championed.
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Our history lesson was provided by Dick Hall, reporting on the year 1935-36: