Derek Volk is the CEO of Volk Packaging Corporation and Volk Paxit in Biddeford Maine, and is a man of many topics! He spoke briefly about his family businesses, and then spoke passionately  about a book he wrote , “Chasing The Rabbit: A Dad’s Life Raising A Son On The Spectrum”, a story about his own son, Dylan. To support the book, he and his son visited 25 of the 50 states, until the covid pandemic stopped their trek. Derek also talked about a book he just completed where he applies the lessons learned over decades of coaching his daughters’ softball teams to business management.  (Photo: Introducers Justin Lamontagne and Doreen Rockstrom flank our guest speaker, Derek Volk.)

Derek shifted to his primary topic for the day, enthusiastically talking about the Heroes Wall that he conceived and had constructed by Landry French, down at Volk Packaging, 11 Morin Street in Biddeford, Maine. The Heroes Wall honors veterans of all wars, living and deceased, with an etched/engraved tile. Each individual tile may include information such as: name, rank, years of service, war(s)fought, awards, metals, special recognitions, locations served, years lived (if passed) or anything special sponsors would like their Hero to be remembered for.

 

Each tile is 8.5” x 11” and is cemented to a 50 feet long wall that is 7 feet in height. The wall is two sided and currently honors 576 veterans with room for 124 more (Total 700). There are reserved parking spaces near the wall, so no one needs to walk far to see the memorial. Each tile costs $150, and some people donate a tile scholarship for people to honor their favorite veterans that may not have the means. There are also corporate sponsors and wall sponsors.  

 

Per their web page, “All proceeds from the VPC heroes wall are given to the Biddeford/Saco/Old Orchard Beach VFW. As of 2020, they have donated exactly $40,000 to the local VFW!” The Heroes Wall is open 24/7, 365-days a year and all are welcome to visit by day or by night. Mr. Volk closed by noting that he welcomes the day when another person or community reaches out to him about how to build a Heroes Wall. FMI Visit the Volk Website.

President Dick Hall welcomed everyone to Portland Rotary with a microphone which continued to have issues, but eventually, at least for this meeting, got sorted out. Roger Fagan led the membership in the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Bruce Jones gave the Thought of the Day with some pearls of wisdom about leadership in honor of the upcoming vote on the slate of officers for next year. Bruce shared the following lessons in leadership courtesy of the TV show Ted Lasso:

HAPPINESS: After lunch, President Dick invited members to share their happy dollars. Celebrations included former DG Claudia happy to be with us, multiple members excited about the Club’s mission trip to DR in three weeks, happiness about certain members being in attendance and in their flashy attire, and generous contributions to the Salvation Army Kettle Bell! Roxane Cole announced that Salvation Army has a 3:1 match for all gifts right now.

 

ACCOUNTING: Brian Nickerson welcomed guests to the meeting and thanked Rotarians for paying for their dinner with exact change. (Photo)

 

CLYNK: President Dick announced a celebration that a woman from Carroll Street in Portland recently asked for 120 Clynk bags to share with her neighbors to fill on behalf of Portland Rotary charities.

 

WELL SPENT: Dick announced that the $2,000 fund for matching Portland Rotarian’s $200 donations to local charities has been used up for 2023. Stay tuned to find out if this offer will continue in 2024.

HOWE NOT: Jon Young led the raffle which provided Art Howe the opportunity to not draw the Queen of Hearts. Art obliged, and the pot grows. (Photo- Art and Jon)

 

ON THE BALL: Dick thanked Bowen Depke for tracking down $2,559 from PayPal that had been sitting in a Go Fund Me account to benefit our international service trips to the Dominican Republic.

 

STUDENT AWARD: Jan Chapman led the Club’s Youth Services Award to Portland High School senior Emilia Faustino. PHS Director of Guidance Johannah Burdin spoke about Emilia’s impressive “Service Above Self” activities, including 60 hours of volunteering at Westbrook Middle School, her Boys and Girls Club of Southern Maine volunteering and work with the Restorative Justice group. She’s the oldest of 6 and an athlete with amazing school spirit. She’s involved with the Black Student Union, Model UN Club and is translating books. Her Portland Rotary donation will go to Camp Susan Curtis. Emilia, who was joined by her mother Catarina Afonso, hopes to be a lawyer. (Photo- Johannah, Catarina,Emilia and Jan.)

 

SALUTE NEW LEADERS: Bruce Jones, on behalf of the Governance Committee, announced and led the successful vote for the following slate of officers for the club year 2024-2025:

Incoming President: Patty Byers(2024-2025)

1st Vice-President:  John Thompson (2025-2026)

2^ND Vice-President: Justin Lamontagne  (2026-2027)

Secretary: Tom Nickerson

Treasurer: Dick Hall

Sgt-At-Arms: Jake Bourdeau

Directors: Nannette Rodgers- Duncanson and Art Howe (2-Yr. Term - 2024-2026)

Thank you ALL for your “Service Above Self” leadership for our Club!

 

PAUL HARRIS RECOGNITION- CHRISTINE FORCE:  Patty Byers, on behalf of the Foundation Committee, introduced the Club’s latest Paul Harris Fellow, Christine Force. Chris joined the club in 2012 and received her first award in 2019. This is her third recognition. Thank you, Chris, for improving lives around the world through your contributions to Rotary International! (Photo Patty and Christine)

 

SMALL LIGHT: David Small, on behalf of the International Services Committee, spoke about the upcoming 3H trip to DR and demonstrated an inflatable solar lantern, called the Lucy Lantern, they will distribute on their trip. The Club received a District Grant for the trip but, due to limited funds, it was $1K short of what they needed to bring enough lanterns to distribute. In true Rotary fashion, Portland Rotarians stepped up on the spot to provide cash, checks and Venmo transfers to the Portland Rotary Charitable Fund to help pay for the lanterns. Please contact Dick or David if you wish to contribute as there is still time.

 

NEW MEMBER NOTIFICATIONS: 

December 29-  No Meeting - Happy New Year!

January 5 - Carolyn Delaney, Journey Enterprises Media - Journey Magazine

January 12 - Rich Brooks, Artificial Intelligence

January 19 -   No Meeting  (Club Social This Week TBD)

January 26 -Mark Lee, Harriman Architects -$60Million Portland School Renovate

February 2 - Wiley Muller, Lift All Boats

February 9 - Michael ZIegler, Portland Conservatory of Music

February 16 - Club Visioning  - No speaker