THIS WEEK'S SPEAKER: Emily Davis, Recovery Friendly Workplaces
Emily Davis is the Director & Statewide Business Advisor for Recovery Friendly Workplaces (RFW) Maine, where she uses her unique background to bridge the gap between corporate operations and recovery advocacy. Emily brings over 15 years of leadership and operational experience to her role. Her diverse professional journey ranges from executing corporate inventory and e-commerce strategy for DKNY in New York City to co-founding and scaling four vertically connected businesses right here in Maine. Prior to leading RFW Maine, she served as the Program Manager for the Portland Recovery Community Center (PRCC). At RFW Maine, Emily works directly with employers to show them that creating a recovery-friendly workplace culture isn't just a compassionate community gesture—it is a strategic business advantage that drives workforce retention and productivity. A Maine local residing in the Midcoast, Emily spends her free time exploring the Maine woods and volunteering at the Owls Head Transportation Museum.
BITS AND PIECES |By Larry Gross
Co-President Bowen opened the meeting and called on Kirk Duffy, to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Larry Gross offered the thought for the day, a meditation from an ancient Chinese Zen Master to “Live life deeply”. Bowen welcomed our snowbird friends Mike Fortunato and Kirk Duffy and then called on members to introduce their guests. Erik Greven introduced his spouse Suzanne, and Kathryn Nagle, introduced Jared Holmes. Ian Nagle worked the raffle, alas Bruce Jones missed the Queen. Photo Bo.
YOUTH SERVICE AWARD: Bob Clark introduced Deering High School (DHS) counselor Laurie Medeiros who presented Rocco Ciccomancini, the DHS honoree for the Youth Service Award. Rocco was recognized by DHS faculty for his leadership skills, for his efforts to support and inspire his classmates and other DHS students, and his dedication to service within the school and community. Rocco will attend Williams College next year. He selected Boston Children’s Hospital to receive a Club-designated $100 donation in honor of his sister Nicola. His proud parents, Suzanne and Tomasso, and sister Nicola joined us for the ceremony.
EPIC THANKS: Jan Chapman and Niki Merrill expressed their appreciation for the 20+ Club members and supporters from the Portland Recovery Center who helped in the Bayside cleanup effort last month. Special recognition was given to several Club members for contributions to the success of the day: Tom Talbott; Justin LaMontagne, Steve Hall, Doreen Rockstrom, and especially Tom Ranello, who had to find a last minute replacement for the Salvation Army food truck that was called away to assist with the massive Robbins Lumber fire in Searsmont the day before.
HEARING CLINIC RECEIVES GLOBAL GRANT: Roger Fagan gave an update on the Club’s efforts to build a Rotary Hearing Clinic in the Dominican Republic. The Evanston (Il) Rotary Club saw the recent coverage of Roger and Liz’s work in the DR featured in The Rotarian magazine and reached out to ask if they could assist with a Global Grant application. Roger announced that thanks to those efforts, Rotary International approved a $120,000 Global Grant last week! The grant will provide new equipment for newborns and young children and will complete the clinic which has a waiting list of 1,300 patients from across the DR. A great example of what can happen when Rotarians “Unite for Good”.
FLAGS FOR HEROES! Katharine Wall announced that 35% of Club members have committed to support the Flags for Heroes “100 Percent” campaign in one of five ways. She urged us to use the table sign-up sheets or website to enroll. The upcoming Portland Seadogs game on Sunday, July 5th is a wonderful way to bring friends and family together for Service (flagbearers) and Fun (stay for the game!) We’re creating experiences, we’re making memories. Honoring heroes is a powerful and emotional journey that was meant to be shared.
CLUB GRANTS AWARDED: Bowen announced that the Board has awarded $14,000 of Club funds to support local nonprofits that serve veterans, kids, and immigrant asylum seekers. Recipients include Vet to Vet ($2500), Hope Acts ($5000), the Boys and Girls Club of Southern Maine (42500), SideXSide ($3600) as well as $525 for Rotary Readers banners.
EASTERN PROM CLUB SOCIAL- June 18thJake Bourdeau is organizing a social event near the food trucks on the Eastern Prom for Thursday June 18th beginning at 5:30. Jake noted that dogs are welcome in that part of the Prom and invited those of us with canine friends to bring them along. Photo Jake B.
FOUNDATION GOALS – WE MADE IT! Jerry Wall reported that the Club has exceeded its Rotary Foundation goals for the year - $18,000 for the Foundation, and $3500 for Polio. Great job Jerry, engaging and motivating our charitable commitments to the Foundation! Thanks for all who stepped up to support one of the world’s strongest and most respected charitable funds!
DUE DATE DUES: Dick Hall reminded us of the June 30th deadline for paying Club dues so that the Club can report (and pay for) an accurate census to Rotary International. Photo: Dick Hall
CRUTCHES:Dennis Robillard, District Chair of Crutches 4 Africa, invites Rotarians to help load the District’s 15th 40-foot container on June 13th, at 9 am at 128 Saco Ave, Old Orchard Beach. Questions can be directed to Dennis at 207-468-0443 or risc@maine.rr.com.
LAST WEEK'S SPEAKER: David Turin, Restaurateur
|by Jake Bourdeau
David Turinwas the speaker at the meeting on Friday. Davidis a long -time chef and owner of David’s Restaurant and David’s Opus Ten in Portland, and David’s 388 restaurant in South Portland. David is respected industry leader and has won many awards and accolades in his time as a chef, business owner, and mentor.
David started by anecdotally talking about his journey as a chef starting at age 13 when he chose the career, through his time at Cornell studying hotel and restaurant management. He then expanded with his adventures in France and the Caribbean as head chef or captain of a sailboat. Once he arrived back on the mainland, he opened a successful French restaurant in Plymouth, MA and went on to win accolades from the Boston Globe’s food writer at the time.
After owning the French restaurant for a handful of years, David became the executive chef of the Day Tower of Boston, which at the time was the 13th largest dollar value restaurant in the country and it was privately owned. Moving on from there, he has owned eleven other restaurants.
One of his personal goals, and possibly leading to his success, is to be of service, be of value, and be helpful. As a mentor, David recommends being active in the community. From a business perspective, if you put time into your community, then your community will return the favor.
For those who ask how he has stayed in business all these years, he says that his team cooks the food that their customers want to eat, but not necessarily the food that they want to cook as a chef. Some chefs have a problem cooking for their clients instead of the other way around.
David later talked about the summer surf camp he started that runs out of Scarborough Beach. Part of the camp’s goal is to bring disadvantaged kids from Portland and the surrounding area to give surfing a try.
David remarked on some of his memorable highlights as a chef and business owner which included: maintaining a long-term staff with natural turnover, cooking for the Bush family on numerous occasions, cooking in the James Beard kitchen with some of his selected sous chefs, and taking a leading role in student vocational learning to include leading teams of students to national cooking events. Photo- David and Bowen
Who are Paul Harris Fellows (PHF)? This designation is for individuals who contribute (or who have cash or points contributions made in their name of $1,000 or more) to a TRF program. A pin is provided for the initial donation, and each subsequent addition of $1,000 is recognized by a unique pin that adds a jewel for each level (+1 - +8). These accumulate to $9,000.
Speaker Schedule
June 18 - Club Social at the Eastern Prom Food Trucks, 5:30pm
June 19 - No Meeting
June 26 - Portland Rotary Year in Review with Bowen Depke
July 3- No Meeting, Happy 4th of July
July 5- Portland Sea Dogs, Flags For Heroes Field Presentation
July 10 - Justin Lamontagne, Our New President - Plans For The Year
July 17- Road Trip, Lunch at Hadlock Field
July 24- Matthew Saxton, Shelter Box
July 30 - Club Social
July 31- No Meeting
Club Executives
Co-Presidents Bowen Depke, Laura Young President Elect Justin Lamontagne Vice President Jake Bourdeau Treasurer Dick Hall Secretary Niki Merrill Board of Directors Dick Hall, Patty Byers,
Art Howe, Niki Merrill, Bill Milliken,
Bruce Moore
Sergeant-At-Arms Zach Newell
The Windjammer
is published online by
The Rotary Club of Portland, Maine.
mily Davis is the Director & Statewide Business Advisor for Recovery Friendly Workplaces (RFW) Maine, where she uses her unique background to bridge the gap between corporate operations and recovery advocacy. Emily brings over 15 years of leadership and operational experience to her role. Her diverse professional journey ranges from executing corporate inventory and e-commerce strategy for DKNY in New York City to co-founding and scaling four vertically connected businesses right here in Maine. Prior to leading RFW Maine, she served as the Program Manager for the Portland Recovery Community Center (PRCC). At RFW Maine, Emily works directly with employers to show them that creating a recovery-friendly workplace culture isn't just a compassionate community gesture—it is a strategic business advantage that drives workforce retention and productivity. A Maine local residing in the Midcoast, Emily spends her free time exploring the Maine woods and volunteering at the Owls Head Transportation Museum.
HEARING CLINIC RECEIVES GLOBAL GRANT: Roger Fagan gave an update on the Club’s efforts to build a Rotary Hearing Clinic in the Dominican Republic. The Evanston (Il) Rotary Club saw the recent coverage of Roger and Liz’s work in the DR featured in The Rotarian magazine and reached out to ask if they could assist with a Global Grant application. Roger announced that thanks to those efforts, Rotary International approved a $120,000 Global Grant last week! The grant will provide new equipment for newborns and young children and will complete the clinic which has a waiting list of 1,300 patients from across the DR. A great example of what can happen when Rotarians “Unite for Good”.
EASTERN PROM CLUB SOCIAL- June 18th Jake Bourdeau is organizing a social event near the food trucks on the Eastern Prom for Thursday June 18th beginning at 5:30. Jake noted that dogs are welcome in that part of the Prom and invited those of us with canine friends to bring them along. Photo Jake B.
Who are Paul Harris Fellows (PHF)? This designation is for individuals who contribute (or who have cash or points contributions made in their name of $1,000 or more) to a TRF program. A pin is provided for the initial donation, and each subsequent addition of $1,000 is recognized by a unique pin that adds a jewel for each level (+1 - +8). These accumulate to $9,000.