At this Friday’s Club Assembly, Portland Rotarians and their guests will receive an update on the progress made on the club’s strategic plan following last year’s visioning session. President Laura and Committee Chairs will present their current initiatives including the following:
• Literacy Public Service Announcement video the Youth Services Committee funded through the United Way of Greater Portland
• CHE projects in the Youth Services area
• Special outreach efforts to diversify the club
• Increased public relations focus
• Special campaigns for Portland Rotary’s charitable endowment fund and 100th anniversary of Rotary Foundation
This is a great opportunity to bring guests to learn more about Portland Rotary!
Dave Putnam had the privilege of introducing one of the most unpretentious and realistic speakers our club has had the learning opportunity to hear from, Margo Walsh, founder and principal of MaineWorks. (Photo: Dave Putnam, Margo Walsh, and 1st VP Don Zillman.)
Margo began her presentation with an apology for her casual attire. However, her attire, in reality, was what is often referred to as work clothes. When you start your day at 4:30 in the morning in order to get one of your clients to a construction site, one’s apparel is inconsequential and most appropriate. No sooner did Margo get the client to work and she had to turn around and get back to the 7/11 parking lot in Portland to transport other clients to jobs.
MaineWorks is a job placement, temp-to-hire firm. The distinction MaineWorks has in the business community is their clients. They concentrate on the placement of convicted felons. Margo realized the need to find a place for this very willing work force. It should come as no surprise that people who come from incarceration into an unwilling, uncaring and unknowing community frequently return to a life of crime, in order to have the money to survive. It is estimated that about 65 to 75 percent of convicts return to court within the first 3 months following release. While we, as a society, accept the credibility of that old bromide “idle hands are the devil's workshop,” we do little to find a remunerative alternative.
Margo had a great job with Goldman Sachs, as a recruiter, prior to her realization of need and combining it with her talents to create a “for-profit” company serving a neglected population. Any person following current events would agree that we have somewhat of a perfect storm and “house on fire” situation with the drug epidemic that is rampant. In proof of that point is the profile of the client she was serving that morning. When the son of the Chief of Police of a remote Maine town becomes a heroin addict driven to crime to support a habit, you have all the proof you need. Overcoming the pain and prejudice of drug addiction requires a type of special assistance that few rehab programs realistically provide. It’s not enough to tell this needy group that they need to find a job in order to avoid the pull of narcotics. Advice is simple but making It come to fruition is much more difficult, when you combine drugs and the stigma of being labeled a felon. Margo realized that this group, typically between the ages of 19-25, is very willing to work and that contractors are often in need of common laborers. She identified a group of open-minded contractors willing to give a second chance to convicts and has made MaineWorks an award-winning success story.
MaineWorks is providing a service to businesses, felons, addicts and society and not getting any public funding, nor asking for any. MaineWorks has taken a mutual need and determined effort and proven that second chances are worth taking. The clientele may be unusual, but the business model is rather traditional....they provide employees to needful employers. While it may be traditional, it's not easy to convince many employers to take a chance on these troubled souls. She reduces the fear that many employers have by vetting every employee and having them prove their sincerity by taking on certain menial tasks at MaineWorks or doing volunteer work.
Margo and MaineWorks has taken on an enormous challenge that is growing larger every day, and approaches it with the simplicity of the AA/NA credo of "one step at a time" and "every day is a new day and new challenge." She knows it's never going to be easy, but it's always going to be necessary......so she has taken it on with an open-minded, unvarnished determination.
First Vice President Don Zillman was at the helm on Friday, adroitly steering the Rotary Ship for our meeting, as President Laura was on business in Aroostook County.
In an invocation cum remembrance on the 15th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks, Russ Burleigh told the touching story of Welles Crowther, who escaped the burning South tower and then made several trips back into the structure to guide others to safety, before perishing in its collapse. Nobody knows for certain how many lives he saved, but estimates suggest it could have been upwards of twenty. Identified for the red bandana he always carried with him and which he used as a dust mask during the disaster, his heroism has become the subject of a book.
(Photo: Matt Tassey and Erik Jorgensen.)
The weekly raffle was led by Matt Tassey, who became embarrassed when the speaker drew his name from the pot to try and pull the right card from the remaining cards in the deck. Erik Jorgensen came to his rescue to fan out the cards, so he could try to find that Queen of Hearts. Much to the joy of the audience (investors), he did not find the right one.....and so, the pot continues to grow larger.
The singing was led by Gracie Johnston, with Russ Burleigh accompanying on the keyboard. We may need some practice, but we have a good time singing.
September birthdays include Austin Harris, Joe Gray, Don Mackenzie, Liz Fagan, Gus Karlsen, Kris Rosado, and Meredith Small. Almost all of them were, apparently, out celebrating their big days and not at the meeting: only Meredith was among us.
Jim Willey reported on the development of a much-needed Long Creek Youth Center transition center being formed with help from Portland Rotary, to provide critical work experience and other transition services for former Long Creek residents. It will likely be in Westbrook.
We were happy to hear that Justin Lamontagne has been made a partner at his firm, NAI, the Dunham Group. Congratulations!
John Marr provided a Rotary Minute on his own origins as a Rotarian – how, in the absence of an invitation to join Rotary, “talked himself into the club,” which for him has been about inspiration. John said that Rotary’s purpose for its members is “to give, to know how to give, and to have friends to do it with.”
Charlie Frair spoke about the Veterans’ lunch, which he is spearheading along with Paul Tully and an active committee. Coming up in 9 weeks, the lunch has been conceived as a long-term program to annually honor Veterans on the day before Veterans’ Day. The first and last purpose of the event is to “honor, appreciate, acknowledge and thank veterans for their service.” The committee team has established ambitious goals for the program over the coming five years, which were outlined on a handout. The hope is to make this a premiere event in the city, and Charlie asked all members to help recruit veterans, who are invited to attend the lunch as our guests.
Sylvie Montello of the Portland School Department spoke briefly about the “Starting Strong Reading Partners” program, to get kids “reading to learn, rather than learning to read.”. The school department is looking for volunteers who wish to work with kids at one of Portland’s elementary schools. Last year the program was piloted at Ocean Avenue with great results. Four or five volunteers are needed each day, and “the only thing you need to bring is a smile, positive attitude, and patience.” If you think you might be interested, contact her at montes@portlandschools.org or at 874-8175.
Last, though certainly not least, Russell Voss introduced new member Andrew Cook, a Westbrook-based lender with Peoples’ United bank. Welcome, Andrew!
(Photo: Andrew Cook, 1st VP Don Zillman and Russell Voss.)
Oh wait...one more thing....you never know WHAT you will find on the floor at a Rotary meeting. Babies....they just make you want to get down and crawl with them! Was this game "Follow the (future) Leader"? You go, Luca!
(Photo: Future leader - Luca LoSciuto-Bates and Past President Bowen Depke.)
The International Service Committee's 3-H (Hearing, Hands and H2O) Project Team will be traveling to the Dominican Republic (DR) early in 2017.
(Photo: Dick Giles demonstrating a portable solar light.)
The team wants to bring collapsible portable solar lights to the inhabitants of the Batays, located some 15-20 miles outside of the city, where night darkness is intense. Access to electricity is very limited and without light, the safety of the inhabitants is an issue. The team would like to take 70-100 lights with them on their upcoming trip and are looking for volunteer donations of $15 per light to help fund this important project.
For further information or if you would like to help, please contact Loretta Rowe:lrowe@maine.rr.com or 883-5432. You may bring your cash/check to Loretta at a meeting or mail your check to: Portland Rotary, P.O. Box 1755, Portland, ME 04104. Please make your check payable to Portland Rotary Charitable Account. Make a memo note on the check: for DR solar lights.
If you would like to mark your calendars,
we are at the following locations through
September 2016:
2016: Sep 16 - Clarion Hotel Sep 23 - Boys & Girls Club of Southern Maine
Sep 30 - Clarion Hotel
Oct 7 - Holiday Inn By-the-Bay
Oct 14 - Holiday Inn By-the-Bay Oct 21 - Clarion Hotel
Oct 28 - Holiday Inn By-the-Bay
Nov 4 - Clarion Hotel
Nov 11 - Holiday Inn By-the-Bay Nov 18 - Holiday Inn By-the-Bay
Nov 25 - No Meeting - Happy Thanksgiving!
Dec 2 - Holiday Inn By-the-Bay
Dec 9 - Holiday Inn By-the-Bay Dec 16 - Holiday Inn By-the-Bay
Dec 23 - Holiday Inn By-the-Bay
Dec 30 - No Meeting - Happy New Year!
BlueBOLD dates are scheduled Board meeting days.
Any questions, please contact Loretta at: lrowe@maine.rr.com
The following is a list of projects happening within our club that you have an opportunity to volunteer and help with. If you know of other opportunities, please contact Loretta: lrowe@maine.rr.com
When
Project Who to Contact
Soup kitchen 4th Wednesday ea month
Preble Street (4-6:30 p.m.)
Erik Greven
Cedar Unit Dates & Times, contact
Games Night Jim Willey
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Charlie Frair spoke about the Veterans’ lunch, which he is spearheading along with Paul Tully and an active committee. Coming up in 9 weeks, the lunch has been conceived as a long-term program to annually honor Veterans on the day before Veterans’ Day. The first and last purpose of the event is to “honor, appreciate, acknowledge and thank veterans for their service.” The committee team has established ambitious goals for the program over the coming five years, which were outlined on a handout. The hope is to make this a premiere event in the city, and Charlie asked all members to help recruit veterans, who are invited to attend the lunch as our guests..JPG)
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