​Kaighn Smith, Jr. leads Drummond Woodsum’s nationwide Indian Law Practice Group. He has represented Indian nations and their enterprises for over 25 years and has gained a national reputation for his work. A litigator, his cases focus on jurisdiction and sovereignty disputes, labor and employment relations, complex transactional disputes, environmental matters, and fishing and water rights. He represents clients in the federal, tribal, and state courts and before federal administrative agencies across the country. In 2011, he published the leading treatise, Labor and Employment Law in Indian Country, with the Native American Rights Fund. Since 2012, he has served as associate reporter (with Professors Matthew L.M. Fletcher and Wenona Singel) on the Restatement of American Indian Law for the American Law Institute. He is listed in 'Best Lawyers in America' for the category of Native American Law.
Kaighn clerked for Judge Frank M. Coffin at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and for Justice Louis Scolnik at the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. He has served as Adjunct Professor of American Indian Law at the University of Maine School of Law.
If you ever want to be inspired by our Club, and enthusiastic about its purpose, then don’t miss a Club Assembly like the one held at last Friday’s meeting. Six committee chairs brought us up-to-date with their plans and objectives for the year.
Assistant Governor Tony Wagner outlined the purpose and benefits of the Visioning Workshop II and introduced our own member, Adam Shepherd, who will facilitate the session. “We strive for consensus, consistency, and continuity,” Wagner said. “This helps us develop an action plan for a club that responds to its needs.” He encouraged everyone to complete the Survey Monkey questionnaire that will form the baseline data for the session. The workshop will be held at The Clarion Hotel from 5-9 p.m. of November 5. If you have not been asked to participate, but desire to, please contact Loretta Rowe at lrowe@maine.rr.com. Seating is limited.
Peter Ingram presented the plans of the Fund-Raising and Special Events Committee. This group finds the funds to support the club’s service objectives, as well as providing great opportunities for fun and fellowship. The largest activity is the Maine Outdoor Challenge, which last year raised over $51,000. “It’s our centennial year, so our goal for the Outdoor Challenge is $100,000,” Peter shared. “If every member enlisted one team, we’d hit that goal.” Peter also discussed the Andrews Square Monument project that will be a feature of a Special Veteran’s Day activity being coordinated by Peter Goffin and Mike Fortunato. The committee is looking for sponsors to help provide a breakfast for 250 Veterans and families, and to repair the monument in honor of Harold Andrews, the first soldier from Maine killed in combat in World War I. A 'Holiday Wine Tasting,' 'Valentine’s Day Sweetheart Auction,' spring event at Allagash Brewery, and an event for a commemorative monument to Portland Rotary round out the year.
First VP Laura Young brought us news from the Youth Services Committee. Laura was filling in for Janelle LoSciuto who was absent due to the arrival of her own youth member, Luca Bates. (Congratulations!) Laura reminded us of the great success of our summer 'Feeding Bodies and Minds' project, which served 116 kids and delivered 350 books. She shared pictures the kids drew for us. Youth Services also sponsors the Long Creek Youth Center volunteer nights on the third Tuesday of every month; book donations to the Boys and Girls Club; the Youth Service Awards; the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards for Camp Hines; and, the Interact Club at Baxter Academy.
John Curran demonstrated the club’s reach with news from the International Services Committee about the fundraiser at Brunswick Landing in support of a hospital in the Dominican Republic in collaboration with the Brunswick Rotary Club; the work to support the "Gift of Life" program in assisting families here from other countries for pediatric care at Maine Med; and the "Crutches for Africa" project that will send its fifth container this year. The group is specifically looking for wheelchairs. John also discussed the club’s signature program, the '3H Project,' which will send 19 people to the Dominican Republic from March 12-19, 2016, under the leadership of Dr. Roger Fagan. Other participants are from Alaska, Georgia, and Florida. This year there will be a second audiologist, doubling the team’s capacity, and a plan to train nurses. Dick Giles will lead the installation of 100 water filters, and the group hopes to adopt a specific batey to provide for complete coverage.
Dave Seddon shared the work of the Childhood Hunger group and its involvement with "Full Plates, Full Potential" to help address the growing issue of hunger in Portland public schools. They are working to increase registered participation so that more funds can be released.
Erik Greven continued the discussion of hunger in his report on Community Service, pointing out that Maine ranks 12th in the nation for food insecurity. He challenged more members to become involved with the Preble Street Resource Center feeding project where Portland Rotarians and friends volunteer on the 4th Wednesday of each month at their soup kitchen.
Finally, Tom Nickerson shared the work of the Vocational Services Committee, particularly on a new project to build a speakers bureau of Rotarians who can help mentor students with talks on “How I Built My Career.” He will provide a form at future meetings to recruit volunteers.
President Bowen closed the meeting by saying, “The Club is giving you an opportunity to give back. If you aren’t involved with these activities, why are you in Rotary?”
President Bowen called the meeting to order at the Italian Heritage Center where 50 Rotarians with 5 guests were in attendance for the Club Assembly. Bruce Jones researched his invocation reading a poem, possibly a song written by John Calvin Stevens, a charter member of our club. His circa 1917 poem “October Toast” had a pertinent refrain “True service profits most.” We pledged to our country flag, then Russ Burleigh led us in the patriotic song.
President Bowen reconvened the meeting after lunch and we celebrated October birthdays by singing 'Happy Birthday,' with no fear of copyright infringement, to 14 of our club’s members.
Bowen called upon Bob Traill, who delighted us with a slice of Rotary history covering 1932-34: Prohibition was abolished and President Roosevelt’s 'New Deal' was in full swing. Bob was age 11 during those years and told a personal story of a fondly-remembered neighbor, Mr. McElroy, who lost his car and his home in Bob’s home state of Rhode Island during the Great Depression. The members back then were not depressed, forming a loving bond with their club, noting in May of 1934 that they had their first month of perfect attendance in the club’s less-than-20-year existence. One member did seek improvement over his perception of the “hackneyed programs” for which he sought a “New Deal.”
Katie Brown conducted the raffle, with Loretta Rowe's name being drawn to try and find the Queen of Hearts in the ever-dwindling deck of cards, but she drew the 2 of Diamonds. The pot thickens for next week.
Don Lowry announced the mentoring at the Long Creek Youth Center, where several members provided support to 14 youths at the facility.
Two new members were introduced to the members of Portland Rotary Club:
John Marr introduced Ben Delcourt, Underwriter at Maine Employers Mutual.
President Bowen introduced us to Linda Varrell of Broad Reach Public Relations.
Team Harry
Don Lowry told us of "Team Harry" (photo above)....the 20-30 friends and family who walked to raise money for Alzheimer's Disease in Harry Sawyer's name. There were about 1000 walkers at the event and a sum of close to $300,000 was raised.
If you would like to mark your calendars,
we are at the following locations through 2015:
Oct 16 - Maine Medical Ctr Research Lab Oct 23 - Holiday Inn By-the-Bay
Oct 30 - The Clarion Hotel
Nov 6 - Long Creek Youth Center
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 Ty-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
The meeting minutes of the Portland Rotary Club's Board of Directors are posted on our website the month following their approval. From the "Home Page," click on the "Board Meeting Minutes" in the listing at the left.
​Kaighn Smith, Jr. leads Drummond Woodsum’s nationwide Indian Law Practice Group. He has represented Indian nations and their enterprises for over 25 years and has gained a national reputation for his work. A litigator, his cases focus on jurisdiction and sovereignty disputes, labor and employment relations, complex transactional disputes, environmental matters, and fishing and water rights. He represents clients in the federal, tribal, and state courts and before federal administrative agencies across the country. In 2011, he published the leading treatise, Labor and Employment Law in Indian Country, with the Native American Rights Fund. Since 2012, he has served as associate reporter (with Professors Matthew L.M. Fletcher and Wenona Singel) on the Restatement of American Indian Law for the American Law Institute. He is listed in 'Best Lawyers in America' for the category of Native American Law..JPG)
Peter Ingram presented the plans of the Fund-Raising and Special Events Committee. This group finds the funds to support the club’s service objectives, as well as providing great opportunities for fun and fellowship. The largest activity is the Maine Outdoor Challenge, which last year raised over $51,000. “It’s our centennial year, so our goal for the Outdoor Challenge is $100,000,” Peter shared. “If every member enlisted one team, we’d hit that goal.” Peter also discussed the Andrews Square Monument project that will be a feature of a Special Veteran’s Day activity being coordinated by Peter Goffin and Mike Fortunato. The committee is looking for sponsors to help provide a breakfast for 250 Veterans and families, and to repair the monument in honor of Harold Andrews, the first soldier from Maine killed in combat in World War I. A 'Holiday Wine Tasting,' 'Valentine’s Day Sweetheart Auction,' spring event at Allagash Brewery, and an event for a commemorative monument to Portland Rotary round out the year..JPG)
First VP Laura Young brought us news from the Youth Services Committee. Laura was filling in for Janelle LoSciuto who was absent due to the arrival of her own youth member, Luca Bates. (Congratulations!) Laura reminded us of the great success of our summer 'Feeding Bodies and Minds' project, which served 116 kids and delivered 350 books. She shared pictures the kids drew for us. Youth Services also sponsors the Long Creek Youth Center volunteer nights on the third Tuesday of every month; book donations to the Boys and Girls Club; the Youth Service Awards; the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards for Camp Hines; and, the Interact Club at Baxter Academy.
John Curran demonstrated the club’s reach with news from the International Services Committee about the fundraiser at Brunswick Landing in support of a hospital in the Dominican Republic in collaboration with the Brunswick Rotary Club; the work to support the "Gift of Life" program in assisting families here from other countries for pediatric care at Maine Med; and the "Crutches for Africa" project that will send its fifth container this year. The group is specifically looking for wheelchairs. John also discussed the club’s signature program, the '3H Project,' which will send 19 people to the Dominican Republic from March 12-19, 2016, under the leadership of Dr. Roger Fagan. Other participants are from Alaska, Georgia, and Florida. This year there will be a second audiologist, doubling the team’s capacity, and a plan to train nurses. Dick Giles will lead the installation of 100 water filters, and the group hopes to adopt a specific batey to provide for complete coverage.
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