Portland Rotary Windjammer May 6, 2026 (May 05, 2026)

This Friday's Meeting - Peter Cole, Maine Rail Group

This week we welcome Peter Cole, President, Maine Rail Group. MRG, Inc. is an independent all-volunteer group (501c(3), that promotes awareness of railroads' contributions to Maine's economy and their important role in moving passengers and freight. MRG works with citizens and legislators to encourage the extension of passenger train service to Bangor so that 90% of Maine's population can be within 1 hour of train service connecting Maine together. They work with environmentally focused groups to preserve rail corridors, encouraging rail with trail to ensure the future use of the corridors for passenger service. This leads to economic growth, affordable development without sprawl, open land, and climate friendly transportation options.

Peter grew up in the greater Philadelphia area and learned what a wonderful thing it was to be able to travel without driving, but rather relaxing and riding the commuter trains and subways. Somehow, he ended up in Los Angeles for college, and realized that a car-centric region is a dysfunctional region. He majored in Urban and Regional Economics, and while not using that in his professional career, he maintained his love of mass transit, and stayed active in rail groups while Los Angeles slowly obtained rail transit. Retiring to Maine to return to his family home, he saw the beauty of Maine and did not want to see it destroyed by the sprawl that defines Los Angeles.

BITS AND PIECES |By Larry Gross

Co-President Laura Young opened our May Day meeting and called on Tom Nickerson to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Bruce Jones then presented the Thought for the Day, an Ode to Spring in Maine:Mud Season.

GUESTS:We had seven guests among the almost forty attending including visiting Falmouth Rotarians Roger Berube and Anne Sarazin, singer/songwriter Don Campbell, and the Youth Service Award honoree and her family. All enjoyed the make-your-own salad fixings on the lunch table.Seen in the crowd were snowbirds Dave Putnam and Joe Gray, returned and refreshed from their Southern winter respites. Welcome back!

NEW MEMBER! Co-President Laura called up Paul Tully to introduce our newest Club member, Marla Keefe. Marla will be familiar to members as a regular and active volunteer with Paul at many Portland Rotary service projects and social gatherings, particularly “Flags for Heroes”.Marla is retired after three decades in local telecommunications roles. She is also an active runner, having completed six marathons and regularly competes in 5 and 10k races.Welcome, Marla! So happy to have you join us! Photo:Paul Tully officially introduced Marla, joined by guest speaker Amber Caron (center) . Paul and Marla were part of Wreaths convoy that traveled from Maine to Arlington National Cemetary this past winter.

CARDS – RAFFLE & ANNIVERSARIES: Penny Harris ran the raffle, where Bill Milliken kindly drew the six of diamonds to further fatten the pot for next week. Co-President Laura recognized Club members celebrating birthdays and Rotary anniversaries in May.Bill Blount took the anniversary honors celebrating 38 years as a Rotarian.

EVERYONE COUNTS! Katherine Wall came forward to introduce the “Heroes 100% Initiative”, where every Portland Rotarian will have the opportunity to participate in the Club’s most important and visible charitable project. Club members are being asked to join at least one of five roles: serving on a planning committee, sponsorship or solicitation team, or working in a Flag for Heroes event by July 21, 2026. Katherine unveiled a newly designed Rotary wheel tracking graphic for the campaign, sign-up sheets for upcoming events, and a QR code to get more information.We welcome your time, treasure and/or talent to keep Flags momentum successful!

YOUTH SERVICE AWARD: Ellen Niewoehner introduced Asra Ahmed, from Waynflete School to present the school’s nominee for the Portland Rotary Youth Service Award, Rodas Kehasay.Rodas is a 1^st generation Black American senior who has been an outstanding leader and role model at Waynflete. She was recognized by the school for “hard work, resilience, and always giving back” as she dedicated herself to creating a supportive network for her peers and fellow minority students to be “seen, heard, and valued”. Rodas will be attending Barnard College next fall. Ellen presented Rodas with the Club’s $1,000 check to help with college expenses. Photo: Ellen with the Ahmed family, with Asra and Rodas on the right.

DISTRICT CELEBRATION, IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY!

So much of Rotary is simply about friendship. Sharing with old friends, making new ones. It's also about sharing with your significant other and family. This event is all of the above!

May 29-31^st in Bridgton - Come for some or come for all! Every bit of it is meant just to relax and enjoy, with all kinds of things to do.

Friday 5:30pm-7:3opm - Rufus Porter Wine & Cheese Social

Saturday: 8a-12n -Service Projects: Boardwalk Removal, Trail Cleanup

Saturday Noon - Box Lunch, Speaker Colin Holme, Ex.Dir Lakes Enviro

Saturday Afternoon - 3 different museum tours, Cornhole Tourney, Chairlift

Rides up Pleasant Mountain, Live Music, and more!

Saturday Evening - Social at Pleasant Mt, Buffet Dinner,Cash Bar

Sunday Morning - 10am Songo River Princess Cruise. (Limited Space)

For more info, including overnight accommodations, click here!

CAMP SEBAGO CLEANUP: THIS SATURDAY!

SALVATION ARMY CAMP SEBAGO - Saturday May 9th, 9am. Help the Salvation Army clean up Camp Sebago and set up for incoming summer campers. We start at 9:00 AM -stay as long as like. Lunch is served for those who are still in at noon. Bring extra tools if you can — shears, rakes, clippers, even a tarp to haul brush and debris. Email Jim and Barbara Willey and let them know - it will help with the lunch head count.Bring the family — all are welcome to help. The more hands, the better! Address: 360 Barker Road, Standish.

IT’S GOING TO BE EPIC: SATURDAY MAY 16TH!

DISTRICT WIDE Rotary EPIC DAY OF SERVICE In that spirit, Tom Ranello, spoke to invite Club members to join in an upcoming “Epic Day of Service” on Saturday, May 16^th from 9 to 11:30 AM conducting a cleanup project in Portland’s Bayside neighborhood with the Portland Recovery Community Center.We will gather at the Salvation Army parking lot at 88 Preble Street to receive supplies and instructions.Coffee and donuts will be served.

FIDDLE ABOUT! Our own vocalist and fiddler Amy Chipman reminds everyone that the full-scale New England Fiddlers Ensemble show is scheduled for June 7 at the Westbrook Performing Arts Center, 471 Stroudwater Street, from 2pm-4pm. Click Here For Tickets for what promises to be a great show for all ages! Purchase in advance and save!

LAST WEEK'S MEETING: Amber Caron, Wreaths Across America | by Tom Nickerson

Last Friday, members and guests were treated to a presentation by Amber Caron, Director of Communications for Wreaths Across America, and a musical performance by Don Campbell celebrating the work of the program. Amber shared the story of how a small Maine company created a national movement that provides 265,000 wreaths to Arlington Ceremony and more than 3 million wreaths to cemeteries across all 50 states and US territories. Many Portland Rotarians participate in this event annually.

Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization rooted in a story that began long before it was formally established. Morrill Worcester, owner of Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington, Maine, was a 12-year-old paperboy when he won a trip to Washington, D.C., where a visit to Arlington National Cemetery left a lasting impression on him. Decades later, in 1992, after finding his company had a surplus of 5,000 holiday wreaths at the end of the season, he placed them on the graves in one of the older, less-visited sections of Arlington National Cemetery — and what began as a quiet, annual act of gratitude continued for years until a photo of wreath-covered headstones in the snow circulated online in 2005, drawing national attention.

Photo: Don Campbell, Amber Caron, Paul Tully!

In 2007, the Worcester family, along with Veterans organizations and other supporters, formally established Wreaths Across America as a nonprofit to expand the effort and help communities across the country do the same, anchoring the organization around a simple three-part mission: Remember, Honor, Teach. Today, each December on National Wreaths Across America Day, that mission is carried out through wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington and at over 5,200 additional locations in all 50 states, supported by more than three million volunteers — a third of whom are children. Beyond the annual December ceremonies, the organization runs year-round programs including youth education curricula, a traveling mobile museum exhibit, veteran outreach partnerships, and Wreaths Across America Radio, all to ensure that the sacrifices of the nation's veterans are never forgotten.

After Amber’s talk, Don Campbell performed his song “Snow at Arlington” that describes the deep meaning of the sacrifice of those who served, and the importance of remembering and honoring that service. Don’s performance was an uplifting, emotional closing to a fine presentation.