Don’t Miss: Justin Lamontagne reminded everyone not to miss this Sunday's Epic Day of Service and Social at Back Cove. Justin Lamontagne described the event will start at 10am at his house to pick up trash around Portland’s Baxter Boulevard. He’ll have a food truck on premises from 10 AM- 12 noon. All members are invited and encouraged to engage in this community service, with a dose of great fellowship!
NOTE: While Justin's address is922 Baxter Boulevard - TheBoulevard is CLOSED! You get to hishouse from the backside-
5 Front Street, Portland. Set your GPS correctly!
BITS AND PIECES | by Bruce Moore
NEW MEMBERS IN CHARGE!
This was our annual meeting where the members who joined our club in the past year run the meeting! Therefore - New member Katharine Wall called the meeting to order. new member Keith Jache led us in the pledge.
WELCOME: Niki Merrill introduced the guests: Ian Nagle-guest of Nannette Ranger-Duncanson and visiting Rotarian Paul Mohs of Amherst,MA.
FASHION! Dick Hall, looking good in his new Rotary shirt, having just returned from his distinguished trip to the Philippines serving as a member of the International Nominating Committee. Their job was to produce a nomination for the next RI President. Dick recited the prayer that was read each day at the convention. He then shared a video with people singing the Rotary International Hymn. Rotary Hymn by George Canseco. That was a first for most of us! Dick went on to describe that some days the temps reached 125 degrees, and a low of 85!
MEMBERSHIP DRIVE! Niki Merrill announced that June is "Bring A Guest To Rotary" month. Everyone who brings a guest will eligible to win a prize! More details to follow. It truly is a gift to give someone the introduction and opportunity to join Rotary, so let's do our best to invite those around us!
RAFFLE LIVES ON: Bill Milliken ran the raffle. Julana L’Heureux had her chance to win the $521 but her fingers were not fast enough to catch up to the winning card, the Queen of Hearts.
ROTARY FOUNDATIONS / CIRCLE OF FIVE –6 Paul Harris Fellow Awards were announced on Friday, all participants in a "Circle of Five". President Patty read the names of the five members from each group, and Dick Hall drew the names of the winners. The winners of Paul Harris Fellows were: Tricia Toms (1st), Gervin Kah (2nd), Tom Saturley (4th), Brian Nickerson (5th), Mike Fortunato (7th), Roxane Cole (9th). Thank you all for your continuing contributions to the Rotary Foundation! Several recipients were unable to attend, but know that you all received a standing ovation!
DISTRICT CONFERENCE: John Thompson reminded us about the exciting district conference coming up on May 31st in Kennebunk. If you want to go, please register early as there are no walk-ins.
DUES NOTICE: John Thompson announced that the Board has voted to increase the dues to cover increasing costs, however the increases are minimal. Starting July 1, the annual dues will be:
Regular Members: $260 (an increase of $10) Satellite Club Members: $190 (an increase of $5) Under Forty Members: $190 (an increase of $5) These modest increases will help us continue supporting the work of Rotary locally and globally, while keeping our club strong and active. Annual invoices will be sent on May 15, 2025.
RECOVERY TASK FORCE: Jan Chapman gave an update on the District Grant program to provide yoga classes to people in recovery homes. Sea Change Yoga has been offering the classes; one for women in recovery and one for men in recovery. She also said that plans are underway to offer free Mental Health First Aid Training Classes this summer.
HAPPY DOLLARS: Joe Minard asked “ What are we Happy For? There were many happy Rotarians, for many reasons!
FOUR WAY: New Member Penny Harris led us in the 4 Way Test!
LAST WEEK'S SPEAKER: New Members Rule!
| By Jake Bourdeau
It was time to meet up-close and personal, new members of our club who joined in the past year. MC pro Kathrine Wall hosted the new member’s meeting with Interesting Facts on Friday, and the following new members each shared their personal background and interests with us.
Scott Gorneau
Earned a BS & MS in Biological-Agricultural Engineering, University of Nebraska
He is an accomplished long-distance runner in Maine
He has harvested a Maine Bull Moose by winning the lottery.
Says ” My photos represent a legacy my wife and I have created. It is not about an individual accomplishment or achievement. We would rather focus on the hard work and dedication to bringing beautiful humans into this world who hopefully make a positive impact in this world.” Well said Scott.
Keith Jache
When asked about a favorite Hobby, Keith really enjoys working with and especially with resin.
He also enjoys repurposing old furniture.
“I'm an extrovert, I love people, and I love doing things!”
Keith will be making Harry Potter centric wooden gifts for his son’s upcoming wedding
Penny Harris
Penny, born a Mainer, has shown diversity in life: ‘From the potato fields of Aroostook, to joining the National League of Women Voters, and fighting for the Equal Rights Amendment”
Penny started the Majorette’s Club in her Maine high school, and went on to earn a degree in Social Work.
Penny enjoyed a stint as a fundraiser for the Public Broadcasting System, and shared her unique philosophy on fund raising with the club.
Joe Minard
Joe’s first job was at the Boys & Girls Club, and he’s been committed to supporting youth and families ever since.
Joe currently runs Gary’s House in Portland which provides families support and a home away from home during medical emergencies.
Joe coaches the Scarborough High School Track and Field Team, and he stays active in his community through work with organizations such as the American Heart Association and Spurwink.
He loves the Indianapolis Colts (even in the down years)
Michael Ross
After graduating from college, Mike moved to Montana and served two years as an AmeriCorps member – eventually leading a team of 28 AmeriCorps volunteers working on low-income asset development programs, domestic violence preventions efforts, and access to justice issues for low-income Montanans.
Rotary is a natural fit for him given the breadth of the community work being done locally, regionally, and internationally.
Mike lives in a full house with kids, dogs, cats, and his wife Taylor.
Mike is proud to have competed in a half ironman, and is training for the next one in Augusta, when he finds some spare time.
Bev Uhlenhake
Bev shared that she co-led a Global Grant Water Project in Puerto Rico in 2017-2018 and then finally visited the project in 2022.
She worked with the Rotary Club of Ponce, PR on the south side of the island to install solar-powered water filtration systems in two mountain community centers.
The communities lost power during the hurricanes for more than a month, their roads washed out, and this led to a lack of clean water. The Rotary Club of Bangor worked on the project while they celebrated their centennial year.
Katharine Wall
Katherine was an obvious professional M.C. in a previous life.
For a Rotary project for the Daughters of American Revolution, Katherine and Jerry, her husband, cleaned a veterans cemetery scrubbing gravestones.
“Walk like an Egyptian !, (She loves to travel with Jerry)
Dive like a mermaid ! (She likes to Scuba Dive)
Quilt like an expert! (Presentation quality quilts)
Work and play like a Rotarian” (She and Jerry are long time Rotarians)
Jerry Wall
Jerry was in the Navy long enough to work up the ranks and retire. Now Jerry volunteers for the Civil Air Patrol.
Jerry started scuba diving over 60 years ago and remembers starting without any training.
He and Kathrine were married within 6 weeks of their first meeting they have been married for 60 years this year!
Jerry has been a Rotarian for 41 years.
Jerry was president of a Rotary club that had about 200 members, a district governor, a district foundation chair.
Photo: Penny, Joe, Keith, Scott, Katherine and Jerry!
Following the Interesting facts about the new members, Kathrine then lead the Club in some rounds of Guess Who. The Guess Who part of the meeting was setup to have our more seasoned Club members guess which member fit the description on the note card.
Starting things off, Kathrine Wall told us about her time living in Japan as a child, and learning to ride horses, who apparently would not jump.
This led to Ellen Niewoehner sharing that she is a life long equestrian, and can remember each of the many times she has been thrown or fallen off her horse. The first time she fell, her mother saw it happen and has not watched her ride since.
Niki Merrill shared that she is in a rap video with her rapper friend Cameron. Cameron is a rapper who has focused on recovery topics in his music.
Jan Chapman shared that she is related to Johnny Appleseed, and lived in the oldest house in Damariscotta next to the historic Chapman Hall house.
Following Jan, Bruce Moore shared that both his father and mother were Marines who served in World War II, and they met while in the military.
Laura Young shared that she was able to meet Nelsen Madella while working for George Mitchel.
Dave Small is apparently an accomplished barefoot water skier going over 40 mph behind a boat without skis for over 5 minutes. He also has a rare hole-in-one at the Portland Country Club.
Next, we learned about a Rotarian who skydived 9 times until he had to pull an emergency chute on his 9th attempt and managed to survive the landing. Glad you survived Mr. Lamontagne!
NEW MEMBER APPLICATION:
Second Notification: Ian Nagle has applied for membership and is being sponsored by Patty Byers. Ian is a legacy applicant, is the Director of Finance for the Maine Mariners, lives in Scarborough and has previously volunteered with the Maine Island Trail Association and Casco Bay Storm Drain Stenciling. He enjoys sports, exercise and reading and is looking forward to growing, developing and giving back to the Portland area. Following this meeting the application will be voted upon by the Board.
Speaker Schedule
May 23 - No Meeting - Memorial Day Weekend
May 30 - Joshua Brister - Maine Black Chamber of Commerce
June 6 - Club Assembly Meeting
June 13- Changing of the Guard - President Patty Byers, Year In Review
June 19- (Thursday) Club Social - Potluck at Roger & Liz Fagan's Home
June 20 No Meeting
June 27 - David Peckhem - S.E.E.D. Students Empowered to End Dependency
July 4 - No Meeting Happy 4th of July Weekend
July 11 - Annual Picnic Lunch at Hadlock Field/ Portland Sea Dogs
July 13- (Sunday) Flags For Heroes Event - Hadlock Field
July 18- Meeting at Maine Mall - Flags For Heroes Celebration
July 25th - Our New President - John Thompson
Club Executives
President Patty Byers President Elect John Thompson Vice President Justin Lamontagne TreasurerDick Hall Secretary Tom Nickerson Board of Directors Dick Hall,
Don’t Miss: Justin Lamontagne reminded everyone not to miss this Sunday's Epic Day of Service and Social at Back Cove.
NEW MEMBERS IN CHARGE! 
FASHION! Dick Hall, looking good in his new Rotary shirt, having just returned from his distinguished trip to the Philippines serving as a member of the International Nominating Committee. Their job was to produce a nomination for the next RI President. Dick recited the prayer that was read each day at the convention. He then shared a video with people singing the Rotary International Hymn. 
RAFFLE LIVES ON: Bill Milliken ran the raffle. Julana L’Heureux had her chance to win the $521 but her fingers were not fast enough to catch up to the winning card, the Queen of Hearts.
DISTRICT CONFERENCE: John Thompson reminded us about the exciting district conference coming up on May 31st in Kennebunk. If you want to go, please register early as there are no walk-ins.
RECOVERY TASK FORCE: Jan Chapman gave an update on the District Grant program to provide yoga classes to people in recovery homes. Sea Change Yoga has been offering the classes; one for women in recovery and one for men in recovery. She also said that plans are underway to offer free Mental Health First Aid Training Classes this summer.
NEW MEMBER APPLICATION: .png)
