In 1919 Portland Rotary donated $3,500 to create a monument and flagpole paying tribute to Harold Andrews, the first soldier killed in WWI from Maine. The monument is in Andrews Square, right next to the Butler School on Pine Street in the West End. We have been working with the Harold Andrews American Legion Post and the City of Portland to have it refurbished in time for this Veterans' Day. It looks great!
This Wednesday, November 11th is Veterans' Day and we have a special Rotary breakfast meeting planned for members, guests and veterans. After the breakfast program, we will walk/ride up to re-dedicate the monument and then on to the parade at 10:30 a.m.
Our last meeting was hosted by the staff and students at the Long Creek Youth Development Center (LCYDC). The LCYDC fits comfortably within the scope of our clubs CHE initiative. In fact, long before we decided to concentrate our vision with CHE, we had developed a working relationship with the LCYDC with a mentoring effort pioneered by Jim Willey, Peggy Wescott and John Houghton, as well as others. Consequently, bringing the club’s Friday meeting within the secure walls of the facility was a wonderful way to fill one of the meeting gaps with our home base at the HIBTB.
We were treated to an excellent lunch prepared and presented by the students involved with the culinary program that the school, within the Youth Center, has recently developed. The good news stories coming out of Long Creek these days are a dramatic departure from the tortured history that plagued the institution in decades past and took up too much space in the local news. The good news stories were told by two-time Paul Harris Fellow recipient Emmy Brown, who heads up the volunteer programs for the LCYDC, along with Scott Janosek, who is the lead correctional officer for the Cedar Unit, which deals with the most challenging youth within the system. The Cedar Unit is also the unit that our club has adopted for our monthly visits to show the kids that there are people out there who know they are there, care about them and want to make sure they don’t feel forgotten. Much of that outreach has been spearheaded by Jim Willey, who is the Current President of the Friends of Long Creek.
Emmy Brown commenced the formalities by sharing a bit of history of the correctional facility which goes back to 1853 when the “castle on the Brick Hill” was created to detain troubled youth. In those times the facility was limited in focus and the rehabilitation efforts currently embraced were inconceivable. The budget back then was around $34,000 to deal with about 170 kids, age 8 to 16. Some of the kids were indentured to local farmers. When Emmy came to Long Creek in 1995 the population had grown to about 365 residents who were detained in the jail. Since then the jail has been transformed and transcended into a facility to rehabilitate and educate troubled youth who have been sentenced by the courts. Almost all of the current residents have had multiple run-ins with the law and incarceration is essentially a last resort. The LCYDC deals with both male and female residents and the current population is about 100 with an average stay of around 15 months.
Emmy’s presentation was followed up by Scott Janosek, who profoundly thanked the Club and our volunteers who have made a significant improvement to the lives of the kids. The efforts of the Friends of Long Creek, along with the Club volunteers has helped to develop the two new programs providing culinary training, as well as a Transition Program to help the residents move on and have a positive return into our community. Along with those programs we have also helped to facilitate a music training program. The effectiveness of these programs were proven with the introduction of RayAnne who was part of the team who prepared and served the lunch we enjoyed. RayAnne told us how much better she feels about herself since taking part in the culinary arts program and feels that when she is released she has a good chance of getting a job or maybe even opening a restaurant. As if that wasn’t enough pleasant music to our ears, we next heard from Devon who has benefited from the music program and learned to play the viola, which is a larger violin. He has lessons every few weeks and is able to practice often as he gets proficient with his new instrument. Devon shined for us by performing the classic first piece of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.”
The meeting concluded with tours of the facility for those who have not had the opportunity of seeing how what was once thought of as a jail, has now become an institution of learning.
Those who took the tours were amazed at the upbeat attitudes of the residents at the facility and their commitment to bettering themselves in order to return to society with the education they have learned from the LCYDC.
Our Rotary meeting rotated to the Long Creek Youth Development Center, where President Bowen called the meeting to order. 39 Rotarians and 3 guests enjoyed a fine lunch provided by the culinary arts students. John Marr led us in the Pledge to our flag and Bill Blount set the tone for the patriotic song. Juliana L’Heureux gave the invocation, remembering Armistice Day and Mainer Napoleon Morin, who gave the last full measure of his devoted young life in France in 1918.
After lunch, President Bowen reconvened the meeting by introducing visiting Rotarians and guests, then called upon Dave Smith, who recounted highlights from our Club during the years 1938-1939. Those years were marked by growing turbulence in Europe and in the East, and in the States, there was a deadly 1938 hurricane that took the lives of 300 New Yorkers. Torpor inducing might be a description of the meeting programs as Dave explained that, while our Club’s membership was increasing, attendance suffered from the perceived lack of interesting topics.
We then took a moment to enjoy a delicious seasonal dessert of pumpkin whoopie pies and apple crisp, again prepared by the students of the culinary arts department of LCYDC.
Jean Murachanian ran the raffle and Greg Hansel’s name was pulled to draw a card for the chance to win $733, but alas the elusive Queen of Hearts escaped Greg’s grasp.
President Bowen reported that our member, Gene Story, has lung cancer. Jim Willey informed us that he has visited with him, stating that Gene is grateful for visitations by close friends, but tires easily. Please call his wife, Ruth to see if Gene is up for a visit before stopping by.
President Bowen recognized Bruce Moore, Jan Chapman and John Marr for bringing in new members. Bowen also told us that the Portsmouth Club exceeds us in new members, for the moment (we hope). Our attention remained on Jan Chapman, who announced that volunteers are needed on the November 21st date in Biddeford for packing a container headed to the "Crutches4Africa" project. For more details, please contact Jan at: chapmoore@myfairpoint.net.
President Bowen told us of our Deering High School Interact Club's plans to send a delegation to the UN. President Bowen also reported that the Club Visioning Workshop II held on November 5th was well attended. The results are being compiled and will be presented at the Club Assembly in January. We are also looking for everyone's input as to where you see the Club going in the next five years.
November being Rotary's Foundation Month, Amy Chipman announced that we have two new sustaining members and five 'Circles of Five.' Amy encouraged us to make this a banner year for our Club’s support of the Foundation. With Amy’s cheerleading leadership style, we are already the envy of District 7780.
Erik Greven, Chair of our Community Service Committee, announced he is seeking volunteers for our annual Wednesday-before-Thanksgiving provision of dinner at St. Vincent DePaul’s Soup Kitchen on Nov. 25th, pointing out the sign-up sheets on the tables. For further information and to sign up directly with Erik for the different times volunteers are needed, contact him at: egrev95@aol.com.
Peter Goffin announced our next regular weekly meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn By-the-Bay for breakfast, 7:00 a.m., on Wednesday, Nov. 11th, Veterans' Day. We will be hosting Veterans who want to dine with us and then walk (or drive) up to Andrews Square to re-dedicate the monument in honor of the first Mainer who died in World War I, Harold Andrews.
Invocation:Special Invocator Program Reporter: Tom Talbott Bits & Pieces Reporter: Tom Talbott Registration/Greeter: Megan Devlin Sell Meal Tickets: Loretta Rowe Raffle: None Badge Box: None Collect Meal Tickets: None Rotary Moment in History: Tom Nickerson Song Leader: Kathy Grammer Pianist: Russ Burleigh Sgt-at-Arms (Early): Bill Ross Sgt-at-Arms (Late): Tom Sukley
If you would like to mark your calendars,
we are at the following locations through 2015:
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
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 the Club Secretary (Loretta Rowe: lrowe@maine.rr.com). Your input will be appreciated.
PROSPECT BUSINESS SPONSOR(S) Lili Brown Brown & Shepherd Laura Young Consulting
Courtney Bell HCA Healthcare/ Kathy Grammer
Parallon Supply Chain
