THIS WEEK'S SPEAKER: Emma Bodwell, Rotary District Governor, 7780.
This week we welcome Emma Bodwell, Rotary District Governor 7780 '25-'26, as our speaker. Emma is a member of the Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary and has been a Rotarian since 1998. She’s served as Club Treasurer, Club International Chair, and Club President — twice.
Rotary has always been a passion for Emma, especially international service. She’s had the honor of traveling to the Dominican Republic three times, twice with the LRHS Interact Club. She also led a team to Colombia in 2020 for the International Outreach mission and has returned three times for the Project Fairs. Emma has been instrumental in helping her club secure two approved Global Grants: one for the Human Milk Bank in India and another for Aquaponics in Colombia.
Emma is an EREY, Sustaining Member, Multiple Paul Harris Fellow, and a member of both the Paul Harris Society and Bequest Society. She spent the last 7 years as our District International Service Chair, which during her tenure the International Café was established.
BITS AND PIECES: By Jake Bourdeau
This year marks the 110th anniversary of the Portland Rotary Club and the first time in history the club is led by co-Presidents: Bowen Depke and Laura Young.Bo and Laura were nominated by the Board to take the place of President John Thompson who chose to pursue a business opportunity in New Jersey. Following their own introduction and a chuckle worthy word volley, Bowen asked Paul Gore to lead the Club in the Pledge of allegiance.
Tom Talbott tied the Rotary missionto the start of the football season, urging members to see themselves as team players: offense and defense (volunteers), special teams (committees), and fans (supporters). Rotary’s simple playbook, Service Above Self, drives a scoreboard measured in real impact - backpacks filled, trees planted, meals served, boots distributed, hearing aids fitted, and parks cleaned. Everyone is invited to “take the ball and run", and no one ever has to sit on the bench.
GUESTS: Penny Harris (photo) welcomed Allison Wall - Daughter of Catherine and Jerry Wall, Frank Senick, guest of Mike Fortunato, and Misaki Cato visiting with the Newell family, from Yezu, Japan. Misaki was a host sister to Zach Newell’s daughter in Japan.
PINNED: A ceremonial moment followed, where past president Patty Byers gave Laura and Bowen a symbolic gift: a “Club President Pin,” referred to as part of their “Dress for Success.” The presentation was casual and humorous, with additional jokes about jean jackets and vintage clothing, keeping the tone celebratory and light.
IN MEMORIAM – MARK STIMSON: The tone shifted to a heartfelt remembrance of Mark Stimson, a long-time, deeply respected Rotarian who recently passed away at the age of 99 years and 4 months. Tom Ranello (Photo) let us know that Mark was known for his unwavering dedication to service, contributing to numerous local organizations including the Boys & Girls Club, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Preble Street, and St. Vincent de Paul. Mark was described as a sincere, honest, active, and humble man who truly lived the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self.” He served as club president in 1970-1980.His passing is a significant loss for the community.
Mark Stimson ObituaryIf you would like to send a note to Mark's wife, Connie Stimson, please email Tom Ranello for the address. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations may be made to a charity of your choice in Mark’s memory.
LOBSTER MANIA: Bill Millikin is leading the charge, and announced that lobster raffle ticket sales is underway. We need your help, yes we do! Members are encouraged to sign up for shifts, and many have already done so as the schedule was passed around. While this is the second year for the fundraiser, the goal is to avoid a "sophomore slump." Rotarians are invited to join their fellow members outdoors by the docks and help with raffle ticket sales.
Bill is going to be out of town between Sept 18 and Oct 1, so he is looking for someone who can oversee operations during that time frame, so if you can take the reins in that stretch, reach out to him! Bill's Email Address
NO JOKE RAFFLE: Guest Frank Senick was picked to pull the card, but to the club’s surprise, Frank pulled a Joker out of the deck. The club offered him a second try to pull the Queen of Hearts. Came close with the King of Hearts, but left the Queen to fend for herself until the next meeting.
CLUB CENTENNIAL AND SERVICE CALL: Bowen Depke reminded us that as members, we all need to do our best to help support our events, be that with Time, Talent, or Treasure. As a quick example, he thanked Bruce Jones and Bev Uhlenhake for stepping up as membership chairs.
INTERNATIONAL MEETING INFO: Roger Fagan (photo) noted that for those wondering about the international service activities should attend the upcoming committee meeting on September 12th. The meeting is open to all members.
COMMUNITY INITIATIVES: Bowen started by thanking Zach Newell for leading the VA snack delivery program.
Immediately following our club meeting, Rotarians assembled in the back section to stuff backpacks with assorted school and personal supplies. This project was spearheaded by Amy Chipman. The next step is to take the backpacks and meet at the Boys and Girls Club Portland, and in a partnership with Lamey Wellahan, distribute the backpacks and sneakers to the kids who participate in the program. This will take place on Tuesday Sept 9th, 4pm.
SOCIAL PLAN: Jake Bourdeau (In Boot) is getting the word out about our September Thursday Night Social, which will be at the Orange Bike Brewery, 31 Diamond Street, Portland. This is in the Bayside area behind Coffee By Design. Set your calendar for Thursday, Sept 18, 530pm and enjoy their award winning gluten free beer (with NA options), the cool outdoors under their tent, and some live bluegrass music. Food is available right next door at “Bite”. We hope you can make it!
TENNIS MATCH UP: Bill Blount let us know that the Portland Rotary Tennis League begins Monday September 8th at 5:30 PM at Apex. The team schedules were sent out to the participants.
HAPPY DOLLARS: Members shared personal celebrations including: The 60th wedding anniversary for Katherine and Jerry Wall, Bill Milliken selling a business and another sale in progress, and Dave Ertz’s first grandchild, born Aug. 30TH- Dylan James Ertz.
Last Week's Speaker: Maine Maritime Museum Charts a New Course Under Director Chris Timm | by Zach Newell
The Maine Maritime Museum is navigating a new direction, embracing themes of inclusivity and environmentalism while honoring its shipbuilding legacy under the leadership of Executive Director Chris Timm. Introduced by Jack Carr, we learned that Timm took the helm in 2022 after joining the museum in 2016, and set about broadening the museum's mission to engage a wider, more diverse audience.
Timm, originally from Wisconsin with a background in classical and Byzantine archaeology, brings a unique perspective to maritime history. He is focusing on making the museum's extensive collections—including over 20,000 artifacts and 475 paintings—more accessible and relevant to contemporary issues.
From Ancient History to Modern Maritime: Timm's academic journey from ancient archaeology to maritime history has influenced his leadership. He believes in viewing the world through a child’s lens, a perspective shaped by his own two children, ages 5 and 8. This approach is evident in recent initiatives aimed at younger visitors, such as the museum's partnership with children's book author Chris Van Dusen and the creation of the puppet character, 'Splash' the friendly sea monster. The museum has also implemented creative partnerships to attract new audiences. A collaboration with Flight Deck Brewing has introduced "beer and pizza" nights on Fridays, which, among other initiatives, have successfully brought families out and helped triple the number of children visiting the museum and transformed it into a community hub.
Preserving the Past, Engaging the Future: The museum is located at the historic Percy & Small Shipyard, the site where the longest wooden vessel ever built was launched. Its core exhibits explore Maine's lighthouses and feature a vast collection of maritime artifacts and archival materials, making it a critical resource for researchers. Timm highlighted the museum's hands-on approach to learning, with plans to introduce more visual and interactive exhibits, such as allowing visitors to use an auger to drill a hole in a replica ship. This strategy brings the legacy of Maine's shipbuilding giants to life for a new generation. The museum also offers popular Kennebec River boat tours, providing schoolchildren with their first experience on the water.
A Legacy of Preservation: The museum's origins trace back to historian Mark Hennessy, who began a history of Bath's shipbuilding industry with the Sewall family. After Hennessy's passing, William Baker completed his work, leading to the establishment of the Marine Research Society of Bath in 1962, which later became the Maine Maritime Museum. Timm is committed to building upon this foundation, ensuring the museum remains a vital cultural institution that both preserves the past and addresses the challenges and stories of the present and future. Bowen, Laura, Chris Timm, and Jack Carr.
Speaker Schedule
September 18 - Thursday Night Social at Orange Bike Brewing 5:30pm
September 19 - No Meeting
September 26 - Bonita Thompkins - Center for Entrepreneurial Studies
October 3- Maya Newell - Student Exchange Experience in Japan
October 10- Dr. Jacqueline Edmondson, President, Univ. Southern Maine
October 16- Thursday Night Social : End Polio Now Bridge Walk
October 17- No Meeting
October 24 - Jean Flahive, Maine Author, Historical Fiction
October 31 - Paul Bradbury. Director, Portland International Jetport
November 7 - Amy Angelo and Alice Evans, ME. Chapter Alzheimer's Assoc.
Club Executives
Co-Presidents Bowen Depke, Laura Young President Elect Justin Lamontagne Vice President Jake Bourdeau TreasurerDick Hall Secretary Juliana L'Heureux Board of Directors Dick Hall, Patty Byers,
Art Howe, Niki Merrill, Bill Milliken, Bruce Moore
Sergeant-At-ArmsZach Newell
The Windjammer is published online by
The Rotary Club of Portland, Maine.
This week we welcome Emma Bodwell, Rotary District Governor 7780 '25-'26, as our speaker. Emma is a member of the Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary and has been a Rotarian since 1998. She’s served as Club Treasurer, Club International Chair, and Club President — twice.
IN MEMORIAM – MARK STIMSON: The tone shifted to a heartfelt remembrance of Mark Stimson, a long-time, deeply respected Rotarian who recently passed away at the age of 99 years and 4 months. Tom Ranello 
He served as club president in 1970-1980.His passing is a significant loss for the community.
LOBSTER MANIA: Bill Millikin is leading the charge, and announced that lobster raffle ticket sales is underway. We need your help, yes we do! Members are encouraged to sign up for shifts, and many have already done so as the schedule was passed around. While this is the second year for the fundraiser, the goal is to avoid a "sophomore slump." Rotarians are invited to join their fellow members outdoors by the docks and help with raffle ticket sales.
INTERNATIONAL MEETING INFO: Roger Fagan 
SOCIAL PLAN: Jake Bourdeau (In Boot) is getting the word out about our September Thursday Night Social, which will be at the Orange Bike Brewery, 31 Diamond Street, Portland. This is in the Bayside area behind Coffee By Design. Set your calendar for Thursday, Sept 18, 530pm and enjoy their award winning gluten free beer (with NA options), the cool outdoors under their tent, and some live bluegrass music. Food is available right next door at “Bite”. We hope you can make it!
Timm, originally from Wisconsin with a background in classical and Byzantine archaeology, brings a unique perspective to maritime history. He is focusing on making the museum's extensive collections—including over 20,000 artifacts and 475 paintings—more accessible and relevant to contemporary issues.