This week we will have our final club assembly for our centennial year. We will focus on our two biggest efforts. Our 5th annual Maine Outdoor Challenge (MOC) will be presented by Cyrus. As you know this event is our biggest fundraiser (outside of this year’s Centennial Gala) and provides the bulk of money for our international and local projects. In addition to being a unique, fun “competition,” there is a great lobster bake to top off the MOC and to celebrate the beginning of summer. As our club's largest fundraiser, it is imperative that all members help in some area. Whether that is finding teams, auction items, or volunteering, this is your opportunity to put service above self.
We will also hear this week about several of our service projects. How is the money we raised spent? We will largely focus on our long-term 3H project: our Dominican Republic (DR) project for Hearing, Hands and H2O. We'll hear from members of this year’s team on their most recent efforts in the DR. We'll also hear from the Community Service and Youth Service committees on where the most recent grant monies have been allocated.
Be sure to attend this week, it will be a report on the core of why you joined Portland Rotary: to give back.
Bob Martin prefaced the guest speaker introduction with an overview of the “fascinating” exhibit by R. Luke Dubois, currently at the Bowdoin College Museum of Art through September 4, 2016. Our guest speaker, Dr. Clayton Rose, President of Bowdoin College in Brunswick, is 9 months into his position. He presented a summary about the “ever evolving” challenges and complexities of leading a liberal arts college. In fact, Bowdoin College is in remarkably sound fiscal shape, a credit to the prior President Barry Mills. The college continues to have an excellent reputation among the students and faculty. There is also a strong relationship with the local Brunswick residents. Five years from today, and for the next 10-15 years, the college intends to be the pre-eminent college in the world. Dr. Rose described what is necessary to meet the goal.
The financial cost of college is high on the priorities, because it is important to help students to manage the tuition. Today, 48% of students are receiving some sort of financial assistance. Meeting this fiscal need with investments is particularly challenging, given the lower rate of return on stock market investments. Second, is the high quality of the curricula. Student/professor ratio at Bowdoin is 9/1. Moreover, it is essential for students to receive the quantitative and computational skills needed to enter the world after graduation. Infrastructure expenses to dorms are also important, as are renovations to learning spaces. Bowdoin is distinctive because it is one of the few colleges where, if a student can qualify to attend, they can finish their education with the support of financial aid and career services. In fact, career services support opportunities to expose students to experiences they can explore as future occupations.
A $10-million gift from David and Barb Roux will substantially transform the Bowdoin College environmental studies program. The Roux Center for the environment will bring scholars and students together from across the sciences, social sciences, and humanities. It will create innovative opportunities for coordination and collaboration in research, teaching, and scholarship, and enable new and enhanced engagement with those involved in teaching, research, policy, practical uses, and stewardship of the environment locally, in the region, across America, and around the world.
Dr. Rose said he and his wife Julianne are incredibly fortunate to be living in Brunswick and he is “deeply privileged” to be President of Bowdoin College.
(Photo: Jim Willey, Edie Smith, staffer in Senator Angus King's office, Clayton Rose and Julie L'Heureux.)
President Bowen welcomed 50 members, 3 visiting Rotarians and 5 guests to the meeting. Peggy Wescott gave an unapologetic invocation about blue skies when she was young, juxtaposed with her present reflection on the beauty of bright stars at night. If it sounds a little existential, it was.
Alan Nye and Kathy Grammer led us in a rousing “Star-Spangled Banner.” President Bowen then introduced visiting guests and Rotarians.
District Governor Sheila Rollins spoke about the upcoming District Conference in Bridgton on June 10-12, 2016 at the Tarry-A-While Resort. There will be speakers, plenary sessions, indoor/outdoor activities, entertainment, music and awards. Everyone is urged to attend.
Amy Chipman gave us a 'History Moment' from the years 1963-64. This was the time frame where John F. Kennedy was assassinated and his killer (conspiracy theories aside), Lee Harvey Oswald, was killed by Jack Ruby. Lyndon B. Johnson then became President. This was the time of the Civil Rights Movement with Martin Luther King. President Johnson signed the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964. Fur boots and towering hairdos (think Marge Simpson) were popular. It was arguably a unique time in music with the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Animals, the Supremes, Bob Dylan and many others all becoming popular. Beatlemania and the British Invasion had begun. A new house cost $13,000, gas was 30 cents a gallon and movies were $1.25. Portland Rotary had 226 active members and common topics for speakers centered on automation and technology.
The weekly raffle was conducted by Dick Giles, with Bill Blount graciously picking the wrong Queen – thus letting the pot of $1430 grow for the next lucky contestant.
Cyrus Hagge reminded us all that our biggest fundraiser, the Maine Outdoor Challenge (MOC), to be held on June 6-8, is approaching fast. He is seeking participation from Rotarians in the event, in selling tickets, in providing needed items for the silent auction – in short, in any capacity you wish. But the key is to participate!
President Bowen called on several members to remove their red dots from their name badges, signifying that they had been with the club for 6 months.
President Bowen welcomed Maxwell Chikuta back from his travels to Zambia. While there he visited three Rotary clubs and brought back two club banners that were given to him by the Rotary Clubs of Kwanzi and Nkana (Kitwe), respectively.
WE ARE HAVING A BBQ CRAWL AND POKER RUN RAFFLE ON MAY 21, 2016!
It is a fundraiser to support "The Maine Locker Project"
$20 Poker Run Raffle Tickets may be purchased at any location below or by clicking HERE.
Show your ticket and draw a card at each location you visit.
The More Places You Visit – The Better Your Chance to Win!
START ANYWHERE – ENJOY IN ANY ORDER!
Special $4 BBQ sampler items available at participating locations:
Salvage BBQ
Elsmere BBQ
Terlingua
Binga’s Stadium Portland
Buck’s Naked BBQ - Portland location only
Special 50/50 raffle....door prizes and final raffle results at 5:30 p.m. at Binga's Stadium, Portland
The Maine Locker Project, in partnership with the Good Shepherd Food Bank, helps ensure food security for all Maine children through local schools. The Locker Project works with schools to create programs for providing students with healthy class-time snacks and take-home food for the times they are most likely to experience hunger. For more information: mainelockerproject.org/
Our Rotary District is looking for help to host the inbound Argentinean District Vocational Training Team. This Group Study Exchange Team (GSE) of four (2 men, 2 women) will be coming to our area on Monday and Tuesday, June 6 and 7.
They are looking for 4 host families to house the team members overnight on Monday, plus volunteer(s) to chauffeur the team members around for those two days, and to provide breakfast, lunch & dinner for the two days.
The GSE between District 7780 and Argentina will focus on collegial sharing between the mental health professionals of the outbound team and inbound team, as well as interfacing with other mental health professionals (particularly Rotarians) in each country. A particular emphasis will be on youth/adolescent mental health. The teams will visit a representative sampling of mental health/social service agencies in each country.
If you can volunteer or want additional information, please contact Ann Schieber at: annschieber@hotmail.com or at: 603-770-2744
Invocation:Bruce Jones Program Reporter: Bob Martin Bits & Pieces Reporter: Bill Blount Registration/Greeter: Travis Parker Sell Meal Tickets: Loretta Rowe Raffle: Megan Devlin Badge Box: Andreea Paine Collect Meal Tickets: None Rotary Moment in History: Mike Fortunato Song Leader: Bill Blount Pianist: Russ Burleigh Sgt-at-Arms (Early): Glenn Nerbak Sgt-at-Arms (Late): Ron Bennett
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 Loretta Rowe: lrowe@maine.rr.com. Your input will be appreciated.
PROSPECT BUSINESS SPONSOR(S) Vantiel Duncan American Red Cross Laura Young
ROTARY DOUBLES TENNIS LEAGUE Winter/Spring Session 2016
Jim and Janet Barns have graciously volunteered to host the social event on Monday, May 9 at 6 pm. Past, present and future Rotary tennis players are welcome. Email Jim jbarns@maine.rr.com if you plan to attend. Check your email for duty assignments. The new contracts for 2016-2017 season have been sent out.
With one match left - first place is hotly contested. Jake’s team has been coming on strong. Team 2 can be a spoiler in next week’s match, as could team 5.
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Amy Chipman gave us a 'History Moment' from the years 1963-64. This was the time frame where John F. Kennedy was assassinated and his killer (conspiracy theories aside), Lee Harvey Oswald, was killed by Jack Ruby. Lyndon B. Johnson then became President. This was the time of the Civil Rights Movement with Martin Luther King. President Johnson signed the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964. Fur boots and towering hairdos (think Marge Simpson) were popular. It was arguably a unique time in music with the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Animals, the Supremes, Bob Dylan and many others all becoming popular. Beatlemania and the British Invasion had begun. A new house cost $13,000, gas was 30 cents a gallon and movies were $1.25. Portland Rotary had 226 active members and common topics for speakers centered on automation and technology.
