Amber Lambke is President of the Somerset Grist Mill, LLC and its Maine Grains label. She is also Executive Director of the Maine Grain Alliance, a nonprofit geared toward preserving grain traditions from earth to hearth.
Amber is a driving force behind Maine’s sustainable foods movement. She is also helping to bring economic vitality back to Skowhegan, Maine by reviving the region’s centuries-old artisan grain cultivating and processing industry.
In 2009, Amber and artisan brick oven baker Michael Scholz purchasedSkowhegan’s old county jail and transformed it into a gristmill, entrepreneurial hub, and community gathering space.
The new space, which began operations in 2012, is now home to the largest mill in Maine using the traditional stone milling process. Working with local farmers, the Somerset Grist Mill processes all-natural and certified organic whole grains and oats on an Austrian stone mill and sells them under the Maine Grains label to retail locations throughout the Northeast, as well as award-winning restaurants and bakeries including the Standard Baking Co. in Portland, Maine and the Gramercy Tavern in New York City.
The former jail is also home to three start-up enterprises and a 21-member, year-round farmers’ market. Amber has worked with the farmers’ market to quadruple its number of vendors and increase sales by more than 400 percent. She also helped launch “The Pickup,” a highly successful, community supported agriculture (CSA) program that supports more than 40 farmers and food producers in the Skowhegan area.
Amber is co-founder of the Kneading Conference, a Maine Grain Alliance event that attracts attendees from across the U.S. and Canada and has spawned other grain and artisan bread celebrations throughout the country. She is also active with Main Street Skowhegan, is a Skowhegan Farmers’ Market board member, chairs the Western Mountains Committee of the Maine Community Foundation, and is advisor to the Maine Academy of Natural Sciences.
Dr.Graham Shimmield, Executive Director and President of Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, Maine presented us with the company's primary global research focus.......the microbial life and bio- geochemical dynamics of the world’s ocean.
The Lab's mission is to advance society’s understanding of the interactions between ocean ecosystems, global processes, and the environment.
Phytoplankton microbes comprise many species, and are the base aquatic food source in the ocean around the world. They grow and reproduce using photosynthesis with the sun’s energy and carbon dioxide dissolved into the ocean from the atmosphere. The phytoplankton are present throughout our oceans, which make up over 70% of the earth’s surface, and they live in the top 200 feet of the ocean to a depth that sunlight can penetrate. The phytoplankton’s photosynthesis generates over half of the atmospheric oxygen that we take for granted for life on land.
As seen from space, the green swirl in the Gulf of Maine is one of the most productive zones of phytoplankton growth on earth, and is responsible for the diverse and large biomass generated here. While Bigelow’s research focus is global, Boothbay and Gulf of Maine provide a perfect location for an ocean-based research laboratory.
In addition, Bigelow maintains a national repository of oceanic microorganisms used for testing all over the world. They complete genetic mapping and conduct research on other oceanic microorganisms present at the greater ocean depths and harsh ecological conditions. Bigelow also tests Maine’s coastal food sources to verify they are fit for human consumption both in Maine, and for export around the world.
Check out the many public events this summer at Bigelow Laboratory. From conversations with scientists at Café Sci events each Tuesday beginning July 7, to public tours, to an open house featuring "Tiny Giants," don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn more about why microbes matter. For more information, go to: www.bigelow.org/news/current-news/public-events-galore-summer/
Garvey MacLean gave the invocation, starting by quoting Mark Twain, who said, "the two most important days are the day you were born and the day you find out why." Garvey’s reading helped explain the latter.
Peter Ingram led us in the Pledge, followed by President Kris leading us in "My Country Tis of Thee."
President Kris welcomed 55 members and 3 visiting guests, then announced our May-member birthdays, to which we sang Happy Birthday.
Glenn Nerbak ran the weekly raffle that was up to $1033, with Mike Reed's name being drawn to try to find the Queen of Hearts.....but he pulled the six of hearts.
Jim Willey, reporting on the historical records of the club, told us that John Marr had all four years of World War II to research and report on during our prep for our
100th anniversary. Deciding that it was probably a better idea to spread the reporting wealth to other members, Jim asked for 3 volunteers to help out......Jerry Angier will report 1942, Bob Trail will report 1943 and Bruce Moore will report on 1944. John Marr gets to keep the last year of 1945 to report.
Alex St. Hilaire, coordinator of the Interact Clubs, introduced Quinton Libsack, President of the Baxter School Interact Club, and presented him with a check for winning second place in the Rotary District competition in their submission of a video production. Unfortunately, when they tried to play the video, the audio/visual quality of the equipment was not cooperating. To see the impressive video, go to youtube: www.youtube.com
Mike Reed, with help from Amy Chipman, Foundation Chair, presented a Paul Harris to Jim Willey.
(Photo: President Kris, Jim Willey, Mike Reed and Amy Chipman)
Mike told us the award is made in honor of Jim’s commitment to 'Service Above Self,' his work at Long Creek, and always being there when Portland Rotary had a need. Amy then presented Mike Reed with his fourth Paul Harris. Mike committed to the Paul Harris Society for five years, which means he committed to $1000 per year. Amy announced that Bill Blount has committed to the Paul Harris Society for the next three years.
President Kris stated that Mike Reed has been a Maine Outdoor Challenge sponsor each year and that Jim always volunteers, adding that both men are great people.
While the meeting continued, the silent auction was in progress around us. Bidding ended at 12:45, with winning bid sheets being passed out during the rest of the meeting. After the speaker, there was a live auction with spirited bidding for some nice items. Thank you to all donors. Results of the auction will be announced at next Friday's meeting.
(Photo: Emily McEntee and Ellen Niewoehner at silent auction tables.)
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 Bill Souter Dawson Smith Purvis & Bassett Loretta Rowe
THE ROTARY DOUBLES TENNIS LEAGUE Winter/Spring 2015 Season Finale
Rotary Tennis Spring Season 2015 is in the record books. Week 5 was postponed because of a snow storm. It was played May 11 as week 19. The victors had it in the bag. Despite taking no points in the final night, congratulations are due to Jake, Bruce, Peter Ingram and Laura. The social event at Kathy Grammer's is on May 18. Past, present and future members are invited. Please contact Kathy if you're planning on attending. Final Scores are posted below:
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.
Mike Reed
