Erik K. Hayward is Vice President at Libra Foundation, a major private philanthropic grant-making institution headquartered in Maine whose grants exceed $175 million. Mr. Hayward started at Libra Foundation as a Financial Assistant in 2004. His primary responsibilities include financial and managerial oversight of the Foundation's investment in Pineland Farms, a diverse business and agricultural campus in New Gloucester, Maine. Pineland Farms consists of 5,000 acres devoted to extensive agricultural operations, including 300 acres of vegetable and berry production, an award-winning dairy herd, a world-class equestrian center, and several hundred acres of forage crops.
Erik serves as a Director of Pineland Farms Potato Company, Inc., an innovative company with annual sales of $45 million, supplying Maine-grown refrigerated mashed and cut potatoes to an extensive national customer list. In addition to potatoes, the company produces 850,000 pounds of award-winning cheese, making it the largest producer of cheese in Maine.
He is President and Treasurer of Libra Future Fund, which awards grants to Maine-based business startups. He co-directs the 'Summer in Maine' internship program, which gathers over two hundred undergraduate interns annually from various Maine employers and recruits them to Maine with numerous social and professional opportunities. Mr. Hayward is a Trustee and Vice Chairman of The Park Danforth, a nonprofit senior living facility located in Portland, Maine, and he serves as a Trustee and Treasurer of the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath, Maine.
Erik graduated in 2004 with a B.A. in economics from Yale University where he was a four-year member of the Yale Varsity Sailing Team. He is currently a candidate for the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, having passed the Level I exam in December 2013 and the Level II exam in June 2014.
He serves as the Yale Alumni Schools Committee Director for Southern Maine, coordinating candidate interviews on behalf of the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Since 2006 he has been a member of the Portland Yacht Club, where he serves on the Finance Committee and is an active competitor in the J24 racing fleet.
Erik is married to Carrie A. Duley and resides in Falmouth, Maine.
(Photo: Rusty Atwood, Herb Adams and Erik Jorgensen)
Rusty Atwood introduced a “premier historian” and a man known to many in the club and the city: a noted Portland and Maine historian, Herb Adams. As noted in the Windjammer, Herb has served our community and state with terms on the Portland School Committee, Portland Friends of the Parks Commission, the Parkside Neighborhood Association, and the Maine House of Representatives.
Herb started his presentation with a quote from Henry Ford: “History is more or less bunk.”
Well, bunk or not, Herb then presented in vivid detail many interesting facts about Portland in 1915 – 100 years ago.
He started with a description of a political cartoon in the Eastern Argus, one of two Portland newspapers, that showed on the top half: Europe in the misery of war, while on the bottom half were happy couples in America, smiling brightly. By a quirk in the calendar, 1915 had 53 Fridays, Woodrow Wilson was President, and all eyes were on the “Great War” in Europe. Although the U.S. was a neutral nation, the local papers reported the sinking of the British battleship Formidible at the beginning of the year, and noted the new horror of “air bombs.”
Locally, the city of Portland boasted 8 theatres with one – the Greeley Theatre – actually showing moving pictures. (It was so unique that it caused traffic jams out in the street.)
We were enthralled with the story about the first act of an armed invader on U.S. soil since the War of 1812. February 1915 marks the Vanceboro International Bridge bombing by Werner Horn, a German reserve army lieutenant. This was the bridge that spanned the St. Croix River between New Brunswick, Canada and Vanceboro, Maine. Horn carried a suitcase of dynamite from New York by train, eventually transferring to the Maine Central Railroad in Portland and on to Vanceboro. The explosion blew out a lot of windows but caused relatively minor damage to the bridge and Horn was quickly captured. Maine had no laws against blowing up bridges, but Horn was convicted of transporting explosives on a train.
Other topics covered by Herb included: streetcar conductors in Portland getting a 25-cent raise; winter so cold the harbor froze; few autos and most were steam powered; Buffalo Bill and his traveling show; the Expo was built and dedicated; rodeos riding down Commercial Street driving cattle to ships; the B&M factory opened (beans and sardines); and the Legislature almost giving women the right to vote.
It was a thoroughly-enjoyed presentation by an artful historian. As we as a club get ready to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Portland Rotary, it’s fascinating to reflect on the changes over the last century.
President Bowen Depke opened the meeting with a tribute to William Leavitt, 87, who was our club’s longest serving Rotarian, who died on July 20, 2015 in Portland. He was an alumni of Maine Maritime Academy and was a U.S. Navy veteran having served as an officer aboard the USS Eldorado for two years in California, during the Korean Conflict. He had been a member of Portland Rotary since 1955, and was recently awarded the status of "Honorary" member. The gathering to celebrate Bill's life will be held at Ocean View, 20 Blueberry Road, Falmouth, on August 12, from 2-4 pm. Please advise Alison Leavitt, if you plan to attend at: aleavitt@wssa.com
When Bill joined the Rotary Club of Portland in 1955, it was the same year that Rosa Parks made American history beginning the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Another development in 1955 was the introduction of Coca-Cola sold in a can, because the drink was previously only available for purchase in bottles.
President Bowen announced how Nigeria marked its first full year with no new polio cases, with many International Rotarians involved in this achievement.
Mark Stimson helped to lead a sing-a-long of a 1915 Irving Belin classic, “Let Me Play a Simple Melody,” from a 1914 musical “Watch Your Step.” Although Rotarians were somewhat unfamiliar with the song’s tune and lyrics, the chorus responded to the spirit of the tribute to our club’s Centennial history.
July Birthdays were announced with song!
Mike Fortunato presented a bit of our club history with a review of club minutes written in 1917-18. At that time, the interests of the club members were focused on the growing European “Great War” and America’s involvement. Also, the Portland Rotary members in 1917-18 were impacted by the Great Influenza pandemic, even taking a leave of meetings for a month while the epidemic peaked.
Justin Lamontagne won the chance to draw the Queen of Hearts in our weekly raffle, but he came away with a torn card, rather than the jackpot.
President Bowen asked service volunteers to stand and be recognized. He thanked those who participated in feeding minds and bodies, volunteered at Preble Street Soup Kitchen, worked at Long Creek Youth Center, and those who volunteered to donate books for kids.
(Photo: Janelle LoSciuto and Julie L'Heureux - books for kids)
A service opportunity coming up is for volunteers to help on August 20, at the Boys and Girls Club Steak and Burgers Dinner, on Thursday, August 20thfrom 5:00 – 7:30 p.m. at USM’s Sullivan Gym Complex. Check with Past President Kris Rosado for more information: kris.rosado@morganstanley.com
(Photo: Jenni Nguyen and Joliet Morrill)
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) scholars Jenni Nguyen and Joliet Morrill spoke to the club about their experience at the June program held at Camp William Hinds, in Raymond. RYLA is Rotary's youth leadership training program. RYLA emphasizes leadership, citizenship, personal growth and service. Jenni is a Portland High School student. She said her four days at RYLA taught her about leadership. She made life-long friends and was honored to have had the privilege of participating. Two-thirds of the students who attended RYLA this year were from Portland. “It was an amazing experience”, said Joliet.
Invocator:Tom Nickerson Program Reporter: Dick Hall Bits & Pieces Reporter: Bob Martin Registration/Greeter: Larry Gross Sell Meal Tickets: Dick Giles Raffle: Troy Malbon Badge Box: Nan Heald Collect Meal Tickets: Esther Hickman Song Leader: Meredith Small Pianist: Russ Burleigh Sgt-at-Arms (Early): Charlie Frair Sgt-at-Arms (Late): Ralph Hendrix
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 Megan Devlin Italian Heritage Center Charlie Frair
Maxwell Chikuta Maine Medical Center Bruce Moore
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.
Erik K. Hayward is Vice President at Libra Foundation, a major private philanthropic grant-making institution headquartered in Maine whose grants exceed $175 million. Mr. Hayward started at Libra Foundation as a Financial Assistant in 2004. His primary responsibilities include financial and managerial oversight of the Foundation's investment in Pineland Farms, a diverse business and agricultural campus in New Gloucester, Maine. Pineland Farms consists of 5,000 acres devoted to extensive agricultural operations, including 300 acres of vegetable and berry production, an award-winning dairy herd, a world-class equestrian center, and several hundred acres of forage crops.
Mike Fortunato presented a bit of our club history with a review of club minutes written in 1917-18. At that time, the interests of the club members were focused on the growing European “Great War” and America’s involvement. Also, the Portland Rotary members in 1917-18 were impacted by the Great Influenza pandemic, even taking a leave of meetings for a month while the epidemic peaked.
President Bowen 
