THIS WEEK'S SPEAKER: George Pullen "Commodity Futures, Space Economy"
George Pullen is a seasoned economist with over 20 years of experience in strategic problem-solving across various industries. He currently serves as Chief Economist at Milky Way Economy (MWE), a think tank focused on the space economy, and teaches at the University of New Hampshire Law School. He is a frequent guest lecturer at the Eisenhower War College and presents regularly at conferences and media outlets on alternative market economics.
Mr. Pullen’s expertise spans finance, blockchain, AI/ML, energy, derivatives, risk modeling, and defense innovation. As Senior Economist at the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission for the past decade, he has refined his economic philosophies. He also co-hosts The Space Channel’s Space Economy Show, which has over two million viewers.
An alumnus of UMaine and Johns Hopkins, Mr. Pullen holds an MSc in Economics, is a certified risk professional, and holds a charter with the International Institute of Forecasters. He has authored or co-authored five books on technology, alternative finance, and space, and serves as an investor, board member, and advisor for deep tech and space businesses.
BITS AND PIECES | By Laura Young
President Patty started the meeting and called on Peter Goffin to lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
Larry Gross began the message of the day with the quote “may you live in interesting times", an ancient Chinese curse/blessing invented by the British foreign service in the 1930s. He noted a story in the Rotary Magazine regarding the relationship between USAID and the Rotary Foundation that has been active since 2009. Currently that program is on hold, and it will be very interesting to see how this plays out on the world stage.
After lunch, President Patty thanked server Barbara, David Patterson for covering the registration table and Jerry Wall as the greeter.
NOT THIS WEEK: Dan Fahey led the $377 raffle which gave Ellen Niewoehner the opportunity to pick. Alas, she picked the two of clubs so the pot grows.
MEMORY TEST: Patty asked all attending past presidents and past district governors to share the Rotary theme during their leadership years. Most of us were grateful for Patty’s sheet of themes as assistance for this exercise! She shared that the next Rotary theme, which begins on July 1st, will be “United for Good.” Patty shared the “care packet” she created for President Elect John Thompson who will be leaving for PELS (formerly called PETS) soon. He will report his learnings when he returns.
FAMILY FELLOWSHIPS: Dick Hall, Past District Governor and Assistant Chair of the Rotary Foundation started off with a few words from our Foundation Chair Gervin Kah who was unable to make the meeting, and then treated us to a special presentation. Dick was proud to announce that the Donnellons - Mary Pat and Tim, are our newest recipients of the Paul Harris Fellowship Award. Mary Pat and Tim joined our club in June 2023, moving up from South Carolina. Thank you both for your generous contributions to Rotary. Standing ovation! Here's Mary Pat, Tim, and Dick.
TAKING THE TOUR: Zach Newell thanked those who took a tour of the Partners for World Health warehouse on February 19th. Additional options for volunteering will be coming soon. Zach also announced that Bill Milliken and Bob Clark are looking into the logistics for Portland Rotary to create world maps at the request of Lyseth and East End Schools. Pictured here, Portland Rotarians at the PFWH warehouse.
MORE COMMUNITY SERVICES: Amy Chipman also updated the club that 7 Portland Rotarians met on February 12th to pack bags in “record time” and said there are potential future service projects coming for the Locker Project. Following Amy, Mike Robinson thanked those who are bringing in small toiletries and soaps. These will be donated to Florence House and other women’s shelters. The donation bucket will be at the registration table at future meetings. Photo: Mic hand off from Amy to Mike!
INTERNATIONAL SERVICES: Roger Fagan announced that 15 years ago he and Liz introduced to Portland Rotary the LN4, a one-size fits all prosthetic hand that they discovered in Santo Domingo. At the time, John Curran stepped up and agreed to take on the job of serving patients with missing hands at Good Samaritan. The program grew until it became its own nonprofit organization and is currently constructing a rehabilitation center in La Romana Centro DeProtesis. Roger said, 15 years ago they also met Graviel, a 12-year-old boy who lost his leg due to a train accident. Graviel is now married with kids and is the director and CEO of Centro DeProtesis. Graviel contacted Roger this week explaining that a lifelong friend of his has a 10-year-old son who lost his hearing and needs hearing aids to attend school. His family also could not afford the fee. Graviel was relieved to hear that Rotary will have a hearing clinic in April and will bring hearing aids for him at no cost. Roger said he leaves for the Dominican Republic in 8 weeks so asked Rotarians to check the boxes they have placed around town and bring any donated hearing aids into a future meeting.
FLYING HIGH: Charlie Frair spoke about Flags for Heroes and directed Rotarians to the new brochure, designed by Tom Talbott, on the tables. He encouraged Rotarians to put three dates on their calendars:
• July 11, 11:45-1:30 pm Rotary meeting/program at Hadlock Field (friends and guests welcome)
• July 13, SeaDogs/Hadlock Field - 175 heroes flags are displayed on the infield before the game. Please get your tickets now at www.flagsforheroesmaine.com
• July 18, Rotary meeting at Maine Mall with Flag Ceremonial Event
After Charlie spoke, Bill Milliken shared the story about his 88-year-old dad who is his hero. Photo: Charlie and Bill
KOOL-AID MAN: President Patty mentioned that her own PELS (President-Elect Learning Seminar) training was an intense experience - like drinking kool-aid from a fire hose. Since President-elect John Thompson's PELS is next week, Patty got him a little something to help capture the kool-aid, without spilling a drop. John was not at the meeting, but stopped over to Patty's home over the weekend and picked up his pitcher before heading to the event. Happy Face!
LAST WEEK'S SPEAKER: Julie Poulin, Animal Refuge League Greater Portland | By Dave Patterson
At our latest Rotary Club meeting, we had the pleasure of welcoming Julie Poulin, Director of Development at the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland (ARLGP). Julie, a seasoned fundraising professional with over 30 years of experience, spoke passionately about the organization’s mission, its impact on the community, and the challenges it faces in ensuring the welfare of animals in need.
A LEGACY OF COMPASSION: Founded in 1911 by Governor Percival Baxter, ARLGP has grown from its original location on India Street to a state-of-the-art 25,000-square-foot facility in Stroudwater. The shelter, designed to provide a safe and nurturing environment for animals, features separate spaces for cats and dogs, outdoor play areas, and a welcoming adoption center. The organization remains dedicated to rehoming abandoned, stray, and surrendered pets, ensuring they receive the care they need before finding their forever homes.
BEYOND THE SHELTER: COMMUNITY PROGRAMS & EDUCATION: ARLGP is more than just a shelter—it is a vital community resource. Julie highlighted several key programs, including:
Behavior & Training Program: Providing pet owners with guidance on animal behavior, socialization, and training.
Pet Food Pantry: Supporting pet owners facing financial hardship by supplying food and other pet necessities.
Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Clinics: Offered twice a month to help control the pet population and provide affordable care to the community.
Humane Education: Engaging youth through camps and school programs to instill compassion and responsible pet ownership.
SAVING LIVES ONE ANIMAL AT A TIME: As a life-saving organization, ARLGP takes in animals from across Maine and beyond, particularly in cases of neglect, natural disasters, or overcrowded shelters. The IDEXX Safety Net Program plays a crucial role in facilitating these rescues, allowing ARLGP to transport animals from states like Texas and Florida and provide them with the care they deserve. Julie shared inspiring stories of large-scale rescues, including a recent effort that saved 135 dogs from a puppy mill, with 59 of them finding refuge at ARLGP.
THE GROWING CHALLENGE OF VETERINARY CARE COSTS: One of the most pressing issues ARLGP faces is the rising cost of veterinary care. Julie noted that corporate acquisitions of veterinary clinics have led to inflated prices, making it difficult for many pet owners to afford care. This economic strain has led to an increase in pet surrenders. In response, ARLGP is working toward opening an affordable full-service veterinary clinic by early next year, aiming to keep pets with their families and out of shelters.
HOW YOU CAN HELP: Julie emphasized that ARLGP relies entirely on private funding to continue its work. Community members can support the organization in several ways:
Adopt or Foster: Providing a loving home for animals in need.
Volunteer: Assisting with daily shelter operations, dog walking, and socialization.
Donate: Contributing to fundraising initiatives or joining the monthly giving program.
Legacy Giving: Making a lasting impact through bequests and donations to the Legacy Walkway.
FINAL THOUGHTS: ARLGP’s impact extends far beyond its walls, fostering a community where animals are valued and protected. Julie’s presentation underscored the importance of supporting organizations that work to ensure the well-being of our four-legged friends. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Julie for her dedication and for sharing the remarkable work being done at ARLGP.
For more information on how to get involved, visit arlgp.org.
Penny Harris, Julie Poulin, and President Patty
Speaker Schedule
March 7- Jennifer Burns - Headstart in Portland
March 14- Megan Walton -Southern Maine Agency on Aging
March 20 - Thursday Night Social
March 21- No Meeting
March 28- Mike McGovern - Polio Plus and Vaccines' Future
April 11 - Major Ralph Gamache - Maine Civil Air Patrol
April 18 - Giovanna Gray Lockhart & Bryan Matluck - Frances Perkins Center
April 25 - Regine Whittlesey - L'Alliance Francaise
Club Executives
President Patty Byers President Elect John Thompson Vice President Justin Lamontagne TreasurerDick Hall Secretary Tom Nickerson Board of Directors Dick Hall,
MEMORY TEST: Patty asked all attending past presidents and past district governors to share the Rotary theme during their leadership years. Most of us were grateful for Patty’s sheet of themes as assistance for this exercise! She shared that the next Rotary theme, which begins on July 1st, will be “United for Good.” Patty shared the “care packet” she created for President Elect John Thompson who will be leaving for PELS (formerly called PETS) soon. He will report his learnings when he returns.
MORE COMMUNITY SERVICES: Amy Chipman also updated the club that 7 Portland Rotarians met on February 12th to pack bags in “record time” and said there are potential future service projects coming for the Locker Project. Following Amy, Mike Robinson thanked those who are bringing in small toiletries and soaps. These will be donated to Florence House and other women’s shelters. The donation bucket will be at the registration table at future meetings. Photo: Mic hand off from Amy to Mike!
INTERNATIONAL SERVICES: Roger Fagan announced that 15 years ago he and Liz introduced to Portland Rotary the LN4, a one-size fits all prosthetic hand that they discovered in Santo Domingo. At the time, John Curran stepped up and agreed to take on the job of serving patients with missing hands at Good Samaritan. The program grew until it became its own nonprofit organization and is currently constructing a rehabilitation center in La Romana Centro DeProtesis. Roger said, 15 years ago they also met Graviel, a 12-year-old boy who lost his leg due to a train accident. Graviel is now married with kids and is the director and CEO of Centro DeProtesis. Graviel contacted Roger this week explaining that a lifelong friend of his has a 10-year-old son who lost his hearing and needs hearing aids to attend school. His family also could not afford the fee. Graviel was relieved to hear that Rotary will have a hearing clinic in April and will bring hearing aids for him at no cost. Roger said he leaves for the Dominican Republic in 8 weeks so asked Rotarians to check the boxes they have placed around town and bring any donated hearing aids into a future meeting.
At our latest Rotary Club meeting, we had the pleasure of welcoming Julie Poulin, Director of Development at the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland (ARLGP). Julie, a seasoned fundraising professional with over 30 years of experience, spoke passionately about the organization’s mission, its impact on the community, and the challenges it faces in ensuring the welfare of animals in need.
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