Vice-President Justin Lamontagne (Year 2026/2027) called the meeting to order Friday.  Dan Fahey lead us in the pledge of allegiance.  

 

Paul Tully gave the invocation discussing a mix of friendships, Winston Churchill, George Shaw, Nobel Prizes, and Bob Dylan. We all enjoyed some chuckles to kick off the meeting.

 

GOT SNACKS, WILL DONATE: Justin Lamontagne purchased and dropped of $150 worth of snacks for the VA on Rotary’s behalf. The folks at the VA were so appreciative for the snacks, and that was nice for Justin to see. If you ever are interested helping with effort, connect with Zack Newell for the opportunity and some brief instruction. The club reimburses you for the purchase of snacks. Pictured below is Justin on the right with Carlo Giraulo of the VA.

 

RECOVERY TASK FORCE GRANT: Jan Chapman updated us on the district branch and recovery task force. We received a district grant last July, and much of the funds have been used to host yoga classes for people in recovery. Primarily women participating so far, and they’re trying to get more men involved.  The Club has been partnering with Sea Change Yoga which is a nonprofit yoga organization here in Portland.

Jan then put her meeting day hat on for a minute, and she reminded us that if you use Venmo to pay for meals to also RSVP with Tom Nickerson as there has been some confusion lately on this topic. The RSVP will help.

 

FLAGS FOR HEROES AND MAINE MALL: Charlie Frair spoke about the Flag for Heroes event, and the behind-the-scenes planning. The dates for the Sea Dog lunch meeting on July 11th, and that 75 Rotarians will be carrying 150 flags this year around the infield prior to the Sea Dogs game on Sunday July 13th. Get your tickets now online at www.flagsforheroesmaine.com The flags will be presented at the Maine Mall following the game starting on July 14th and ending on July 28th.

 

Charlie and Paul Tully also hosted Jayla Sawyer from the Maine Mall at the meeting Friday. Jayla is a Property Management associate, focused on event planning and social media, and is helping with the Flags for Heroes event. Jayla shared that one of her heroes is her boss, Terry. Jayla said that Terry is great at giving constructive criticism, and that she has learned a ton from her input since working there.   Photo: Charlie, Jayla, and Paul

 

MARCH SOCIAL BELLEFLOWER BREWING: Jake Bourdeau announced we will be hosting our March Social at Belleflower Brewing in Portland’s Bayside across from CycleMania, Thursday March 20, 5:30P-7p. Belleflower is family-owned business and serves various styles of beer, and other drinks including non-alcoholic options. Belleflower typically hosts a food truck each evening, and food inside the tap room during the winter months.

 

SKATE DATE AT CROSS ARENA: Jake also informed us to plan for a Friday April 4th Social for friends and family of all ages. We’ll gather at the Cross Arena for a free skate/pond hockey fun on the big ice under the jumbotron from 4:15p-5:15p. Bring your skates – they do not rent. Bring a stick or you ask Jake if you need a loaner for hockey. After that, we’ll have happy hour (probably at Aura) and then return for the 7:30p Mariners game. The skating session and game tickers will cost approx. $25-$35, and game-only tix will range $19-$25. Those prices depend on the number of RSVP’s. Please email Jake Bourdeau,  or text him at 207-232-9482 no later than Sunday March 23^rd so he can coordinate the ticket purchase and pricing. Food and Beverages We are doing this in conjunction with the South Portland Rotary. Photo from last year's skate - one of the best times of the year!

 

MAY SOCIAL BACK COVE RUN/WALK: Justin let us know the May social is in the works, and the plan is for a May 18th run/walk around the Back Bay trail in our Rotary swag. This idea was initiated by Zach Newell and has been tossed around as a potential fundraiser. However, nothing on the fundraising front has been finalized, and it may turn out to be a social this year.

 

HAPPY: After talking about the May Social plans, several Rotarians kicked in some happy dollars to the cans.

 

DISTRICT LEARNING ASSEMBLY: President Patty wanted Justin to note that April 5th, a Saturday, is the district learning assembly at Westbrook High School. The Club will pay for us to go to the assembly if you are interested.  There will be information and programs for all Rotarians, but really specializing on the various chair positions. It will be really informational, and so if anybody is interested in these types of roles, or some extra education, please sign-up in advance.

Introduced by Doreen Rockstrom, Jennifer Burns, the Director of Head Start for Cumberland County, outlined the program's mission, structure, and impact. She framed her presentation around the theme of "seeing it through," emphasizing the long-term commitment Head Start makes to children and families. Head Start is a federally funded program operating out of the Opportunity Alliance, focusing on early childhood education and family support for low-income families.

 

Head Start serves children from birth to age 5, with Early Head Start for ages 0-2 and Head Start for ages 3-5. The program provides comprehensive learning, including education, health, wellness, and social-emotional development. It also offers wraparound childcare in some classrooms.

 

A key aspect of Head Start is the parent program, which connects parents with family advocates to help them set personal goals related to housing, employment, and education. Parents are considered the child's most important teacher, and the program emphasizes consistent reinforcement of positive behaviors at home and school. A Policy Council made up of parents provides oversight for the federal grant.

 

Head Start teachers are highly qualified, with many holding master's degrees in education, some in special ed, and some related fields The program maintains a high teacher-to-child ratio. Studies show that Head Start participants are 10% more likely to graduate from high school. The program provides services that families would otherwise be unable to access, leading to long-term economic and social benefits.

 

Head Start is primarily funded by a federal grant, with some state funding. The program partners with local childcare agencies and is exploring ways to maximize resources through community partnerships. Head Start faces challenges related to teacher recruitment and retention, and relies on a mix of owned and rented facilities. There are waitlists for enrollment due to staffing shortages.

 

The Cumberland County program serves 112 students with a budget of $5.7 million, which equates to approximately $20,000 per student, and there is a waitlist. Head Start is exploring partnerships to expand services and address the childcare needs of both low-income and paying families.

Photo: Justin Lamontagne, Doreen Rockstrom, and Jennifer Burns

March 20 -  Club Social - Belleflower Brewing, 66 Cove St.  5:30pm-7pm

March 21- No Meeting

March 28- Mike McGovern - Polio Plus and Vaccines' Future

April 4 - Maine Mariners / Skating Night - 3:55pm. Open Skate/ Pond Hockey 4:15-5:15, 5:30 Happy Hour at Aura  7:30 Mariners Game!

April 11 - Major Ralph Gamache - Maine Civil Air Patrol