Close to forty Rotarians and guests were in attendance as Co-President Laura Young opened the meeting. Erik Greven led us in the Pledge. Bruce Jones, channeling Ralph Waldo Emerson, urged Portland Rotarians “to leave the world a bit better”. Jerry Wall introduced our two guests, and Jake Bourdeau deftly managed the raffle where Paul Gore’s quest for the $302 prize was thwarted. The Queen of Hearts lives for another day!
A ROTARY MINUTE: In new member Kathryn Nagle’s "Rotary Moment", we learned what Rotary legacy looks like. Kathryn is a fifth generation Rotarian who, with her brother (and Portland Rotarian) Ian, learned “Service Above Self” from an early age, accompanying her dad annually on many local Rotary projects. Kathryn said “service” motivates her life and is reflected in her vocation as a teacher, first internationally, and now in Portland.
DISTRICT HOLIDAY PARTY: Sunday Dec 7, 12n-3pm at the Freeport Inn. All Rotarians, families, friends and prospective members welcome — free to attend!* An afternoon of holiday cheer, fellowship, and hands-on service.
We'll be signing holiday cards and
assembling warming kits (hats, gloves, socks, hand warmers, toiletries). It’s Rotary at its warmest. Come for an hour - or stay for whole time - the more the merrier! *In lieu of fee - we are collecting items for warming packets to be distributed AND/OR monetary donations to help cover the costs of these packets. Please visit the event on our district calendar for specific info and to Register!
AND THE NOMINEE IS: Co-President Laura announced that past President Tom Talbott has agreed to be nominated by our Club to serve as a future District Governor for Rotary District 7780. Laura read the official motion needed for the Club to endorse Tom’s nomination. The motion was quickly seconded and passed with unanimous consent to a standing ovation. Thank you, Tom, for your deep commitment to Rotary!
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC GRANT NEWS: David Small stepped up to give an update on our District grant request for support of the solar light project in the Dominican Republic. But first he took the opportunity to share a Thanksgiving poem in honor our Club’s long partnership preparing and serving full course turkey dinners for low-income Portland residents at the St Vincent DePaul soup kitchen. Dave concluded with the line, “May our Thanksgiving dinner stay off of our thighs”.
On a more serious note, Dave reported that our District grant request was underfunded slightly due to many other worthy competing applications. He asked if any Club members would pledge $25 to purchase lights and help reduce our shortfall. Twenty-one hands quickly were raised, closing the gap on the spot. Most inspiring!
RECOVERY TASK NEWS/ BACKPACK PROGRAM: Jan Chapman reported that the campaign to fill backpacks for unhoused community members in recovery is still accepting donations of personal care items through December 7th. Bring items to the next meeting or reach out to Jan Chapman or Niki Merrill. There will be a Club service project on Saturday, December 13th , 10am, at the Portland Recovery Community Center to fill backpacks, so mark your calendars and lend a hand. Click Here For Our ITEM SIGN UP SHEET.
WHO'S HAPPY: Laura launched an enthusiastic round of Happy Dollars. Dick Hall, as member of the District 7780 Nominating Committee, was delighted to recognize Tom Talbott nomination. Peter Goffin reported that his daughter has reached the base camp of Mt Everest in Nepal. Jack Carr was happy to be seated with a future District Governor. Tom Talbott expressed his thanks for the Club’s endorsement of his nomination. Dave Small was happy to celebrate a rite of passage: son Eli will be hosting Thanksgiving dinner. The drumstick has been passed!
CLUB ASSEMBLY: Be sure to attend our very important Club Assembly which will be the focus of our Friday December 5th club meeting. It’s a chance to exchange ideas, and help shape our direction as a club. Come for the discussion, stay for the fellowship!
Last Week's Speaker: Fred Horch, "Sustainable Practices" | by Bruce Moore
Doreen Rockstrom introduced Brunswick Rotarians Fred Horch and colleague Peggy Siegel joined us to introduce their partnership, Sustainable Practices, and to share practical ways Rotarians can help advance Rotary’s 7th Area of Focus: Protecting the Environment. Their work centers on empowering everyday “sustainability practitioners” by making environmental knowledge accessible and actionable. In addition to giving talks, their organization publishes guides, offers seminars, and provides online tools to help individuals understand their environmental footprint.
Fred opened with an interactive sustainability quiz and a bookmark for note-taking, emphasizing that effective action begins with understanding. “Knowledge is our power,” he said, noting that many environmental decisions—from diet and water use to transportation and waste—are influenced by habits we rarely question.
Rotary added Protecting the Environment as its newest cause in 2020, during Fred’s year as club president. This addition encourages clubs worldwide to:
Develop innovative environmental solutions
Support sustainable local projects
Strengthen ecosystems through education and community action
Fred stressed that Rotarians are uniquely positioned to model positive behavior, since studies show people are most likely to act when they see others making environmentally responsible choices.
Fred introduced the concept of the “ethical earthshare”—about the size of one soccer field per person if the planet were divided evenly. With the population projected to reach 10 billion by 2060, each person’s earthshare continues to shrink. He reminded us that 71% of the planet is ocean, and much of the remaining land is uninhabitable, making sustainable use of the land we have even more crucial.
To help simplify sustainability, Sustainable Practices organizes environmental decision-making into seven pathways: Community, Food, Energy, Movement, Goods, Habitat, and Recreation. Every daily action falls somewhere within these pathways.
Fred walked members through seven research-based questions, revealing several eye-opening facts:
Community behavior is the strongest motivator for environmental action.
A plant-based diet can feed substantially more people per acre than animal-based diets due to biological energy loss in raising livestock.
Toilets account for the largest share of indoor household water use.
The most energy-efficient transportation method is the bicycle, measured in joules per meter.
Heat-pump water heaters dramatically outperform unplugging electronics or upgrading refrigerators in energy savings.
Composting reduces landfill volume more than recycling plastic, metal, glass, or cardboard.
Allowing part of a yard to grow “wild” supports biodiversity more effectively than lawn fertilizers or mowing changes.
A few members scored impressively high—and one earned a complimentary sustainability book.
Fred and Peggy shared suspra.com, a free tool that helps individuals calculate their personal sustainability score and identify simple behavior changes. They also invited members to the upcoming Earth Day Festival in Brunswick, held the first Saturday after Earth Day (April 25), from 10 AM to 3 PM at Brunswick Elementary School—rain or shine. The event will offer hands-on learning, family activities, and opportunities for local organizations to participate as sponsors.
Fred closed with a reminder that every Rotarian can take one step toward sustainability, and each visible act of leadership inspires others to follow. Co-Prez Laura Young let Fred know that in honor of his speaking to the club, we are purchasing another book that will be given to an elementary school student. Photo- Doreen, Fred, Peggy, and Laura.
Speaker Schedule
December 5 - Important Club Assembly
December 11 - Thursday Night Social
December 12 - No Meeting
December 19 - Gary Wittner /USM- Jazz Guitar Cabaret" holiday music!
December 26 - No Meeting
January 2 - No Meeting
Club Executives
Co-Presidents Bowen Depke, Laura Young President Elect Justin Lamontagne Vice President Jake Bourdeau TreasurerDick Hall Secretary Juliana L'Heureux Board of Directors Dick Hall, Patty Byers,
Art Howe, Niki Merrill, Bill Milliken, Bruce Moore
Sergeant-At-ArmsZach Newell
The Windjammer is published online by
The Rotary Club of Portland, Maine.
A ROTARY MINUTE: In new member Kathryn Nagle’s "Rotary Moment", we learned what Rotary legacy looks like. Kathryn is a fifth generation Rotarian who, with her brother (and Portland Rotarian) Ian, learned “Service Above Self” from an early age, accompanying her dad annually on many local Rotary projects. Kathryn said “service” motivates her life and is reflected in her vocation as a teacher, first internationally, and now in Portland.
free to attend!* An afternoon of holiday cheer, fellowship, and hands-on service.
AND THE NOMINEE IS: Co-President Laura announced that past President Tom Talbott has agreed to be nominated by our Club to serve as a future District Governor for Rotary District 7780. Laura read the official motion needed for the Club to endorse Tom’s nomination. The motion was quickly seconded and passed with unanimous consent to a standing ovation. Thank you, Tom, for your deep commitment to Rotary!
request for support of the solar light project in the Dominican Republic. But first he took the opportunity to share a Thanksgiving poem in honor our Club’s long partnership preparing and serving full course turkey dinners for low-income Portland residents at the St Vincent DePaul soup kitchen. Dave concluded with the line, “May our Thanksgiving dinner stay off of our thighs”. 
RECOVERY TASK NEWS/ BACKPACK PROGRAM: Jan Chapman reported that the campaign to fill backpacks for unhoused community members in recovery is still accepting donations of personal care items through December 7th. Bring items to the next meeting or reach out to 