This THURSDAY: "Bridge The Gap to End Polio" Casco Bay Bridge Walk, followed by "PInts For Polio" Social at Foulmouthed Brewery, So. Portland
Reminder... Thursday October 19th, we're celebrating World Polio Day and raising awareness to end polio with a walk across the Casco Bay Bridge, followed by a "Pints for Polio" event at Foulmouthed Brewing, 15 Ocean Street, South Portland.
We will park and meet at 3:45 PM at the Shaw’s Market parking lot (180 Waterman Drive, South Portland). At 4 PM our group will walk the bridge. Estimating on the early side of 5 PM, we'll end up at Foulmouthed Brewing at 15 Ocean Street, South Portland for a “Pints for Polio” social event. A big thank you to Foulmouthed who will chip in $1 for every pint sold. Cheers!
Some members may walk the entire
bridge. Others may walk half-way,
exiting the bridge at the pedestrian ramp to Thomas Knight Park. From there, it's a short walk to Foulmouthed Brewing.
Or, you might prefer to skip the Walk and meet us directly at Foulmouthed Brewing. They open at 4 PM....save us a seat!
Bring your friends and family, co-workers, neighbors!
P.S. If you didn't have a chance to pick-up your tee-shirt, no worries - Patty will have them with her. Feel free to pick-up your tee-shirt ahead of time, just email Patty Byers to arrange.
Bits and Pieces | by Tom Talbott
President Dick Hall welcomed all to the Italian Heritage Center, inviting Ben Lowry to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Dick followed by leading us in reading aloud the Rotary Four Way Test. Dave Patterson introduced 3 guests and 1 visiting Rotarian.
PACK 'EM UP: Monday, October 23rd will be your last opportunity to contribute to our Recovery Task Force's 3rd Annual Backpack Program! Bruce Moore reminded us to please help us fill backpacks with toiletries and other personal items for people beginning their recovery journey from Substance Use Disorder. Click here - 'SignUpGenius' to see the list of items needed. We also welcome cash donations which will be used for Hannaford gift cards and metro passes. If you have questions about using 'SignUpGenius', please email Jan Chapman. Part Two - We plan to fill the packs at the Portland Recovery Community Center at 10 am on Saturday, October 28th. The address is 102 Bishop Street in Portland. We'll need some help, so join in!
CARD DROP: With Dave Patterson
in control of the raffle proceedings, our guest speaker pulled Bowen Depke's name from the masses, giving Bo his potential for fame and riches. $330 on the line, but Bowen was unable to grab the brass ring, and took his seat, empty handed.
Keep trying folks, the deck is shrinking, and the Queen of Hearts is
going to surface soon.
BRIDGING THE GAP: Patty Byers gave an enthusiastic reminder of the aforementioned walk across the Casco Bay Bridge this Thursday, followed by the social at Foulmouthed Brewery. Scroll back up for all the details!
POLIO PLUS SOCIETY: Which brings us to a special moment of recognition for the members of the Polio Plus Society, presided over by Patty Byers. These Rotarians have committed to donate $100 each year and pledge to do so until polio has been fully eradicated and the world is certified polio-free. We are ever so close, next year might be the year! However, to be fully certified by the World Health Organization, there can be no cases for 3 consecutive years, so we're looking at four years before the Polio Plus Society is "off the hook"! At the meeting, Leslie Clark was announced as the newest Society member - thank you Leslie! In our Society photo we have, L-R Patty Byers, Bruce Moore, Leslie Clark, Bill Blount, Jon Young, Jim Willey, Dick Hall, and Jan Chapman. (Missing Dave Small) Salute!
ECO-MAINE: Ellen Niewoehner announced that Based on popular demand, another tour of the Ecomaine facility has been schedule for Thursday, November 9th at 1 PM. It roughly takes 2 hours including an orientation. Guests over 12 years old are also welcome to join the tour. Right now we have 9 people tentatively signed up – we need to give Ecomaine a final count by 10/30 so they can schedule the appropriate number of tour guides. Let Ellen know if you are interested in seeing how your trash and recyclables are handled, it’s fascinating!
THANKSGIVING DINNER: Nannette Ranger-Duncanson spoke from the floor with two messages. First, Volunteers are needed for our annual Thanksgiving Meal at St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen. There are 3 shfts available for our Wednesday, November 22nd event. Prep and Cook (8-10am), Set-Up and Serve (10am-12:30pm with mealtime from 11am-12:30pm), and Clean-Up (12-2pm) Sign-Up sheets will be on tables at our Friday Meetings on October 27th, November 3rd and November 17th. Or, please email Nannette for your desired shift.
SWAG TIME: Second announcement from Nannette – Rotary Swag! With help from Paul Gore, we are offering a wide selection of special-order Rotary apparel to our members! Samples and order forms will be available before and after the meetings on October 27th and November 3rd. Look your best!
TAKE TWO NOTES: Amy Chipman let us know that we have a volunteer opportunity working in Cultivating Community's Boyd Street Community Gardenon Wednesday, November 8th from 1:00 to 4:00. The garden is located at 58 Boyd Street in Portland.This will be a "putting the garden to bed" work party. We will be measuring out the plots, doing work on the paths, clearing out abandoned garden plots, and doing maintenance work in the orchard. It will be a rain or shine day in the garden and they will provide gloves, tools and team leaders to coordinate.
AUTHOR, AUTHOR: Liz Fagan gave word that on Monday, Oct 23rd, Debbie Burke, founder of Centro de Protesis, who will be our speaker for our Oct 27th meeting, will be having a book launch and signing in Portsmouth. If this is out of range, be sure to attend our meeting. Centro de Protesis is all about transforming the lives of amputees and people with special needs.
Last Week's Program: Victor Tom "Where the Wind Was - The Innovative Intersection of Technology and Sports" | by David Patterson
In a delightful melding of technological prowess and captivating storytelling, our last meeting was illuminated by the remarkable insights of Dr. Victor Tom. A third-generation Rotarian and a beacon of innovation and service, Dr. Tom captivated us with tales from his extraordinary journey at the intersection of advanced defense technology and the exciting world of sports.
A proud alumnus of MIT with formidable credentials in electrical engineering and computer science, Dr. Tom’s career epitomizes the transformative power of technology. One of the many remarkable tales from his trove of experiences included a revolutionary contribution to the 1992 America’s Cup Race. Dr. Tom’s cutting-edge imaging technology, mounted on the US team's mast, detected wind directions, catapulting the team to a triumphant victory. Such was the impact of his technological ingenuity that it was later banned.
In a brilliant competition and innovation, Dr. Tom also recounted his engagement with Questec, a partnership that revolutionized Major League Baseball (MLB). The capabilities of his tracking technology shone brilliantly, outmatching existing systems and pioneering an advanced pitch-tracking platform. This groundbreaking innovation burgeoned into a collaboration with MLB, enhancing the precision, fairness, and excitement of the game. Dr. Tom’s contribution didn’t stop at technology for technology’s sake; it weaved itself into the fabric of the sport, creating memorable interactions, like the dramatic episode involving the renowned player Curt Schilling, who destroyed a camera after being struck out.
Navigating through turbulent waters marked by the dot-com bust, Dr. Tom was able to find a new and better solution in how his business went to market. His collaboration with MLB evolved, culminating in a refined system that was more accurate and precise. That system was later installed in every MLB stadium.
But Dr. Tom's journey isn’t merely about technological triumphs. His Rotary experiences echo a profound commitment to humanitarian causes. From spearheading educational initiatives in Kenya to cultivating the talents of our youth, his service reflects the embodiment of Rotary’s values.
In the confluence of technology and the spirit of service, Dr. Tom’s presentation was a beautiful and entertaining tapestry of stories that captivated our imagination and inspired our spirits. His tales weren’t just accounts of success; they were poignant narratives of determination, innovation, and a commitment to excellence and service.
Second Notice: Mark Shinners of Scarborough, Maine has been sponsored for membership by Nannette Ranger-Duncanson. Mark is the owner of Boston Harbor Trading Company located in Scarborough. After this publication, his application will be voted on by the Board of Directors.
Speaker Schedule
October 27 - Graviel Nuel Jacobo - Dominican Republic - Centro de Protesis
November 3 - William Hardwood "Presenting Both Sides of the Utility
Takeover Debate
November 10 - No Meeting "Happy Veterans Day!"
November 17- Martha Bentley, former ME Economic Development "Helping
Small Businesses Start Operations"
Club Executives President Dick Hall President Elect Patty Byers Vice President John Thompson TreasurerDick Hall Secretary Tom Nickerson Board of Directors Bruce Jones,
Ben Millick, Quinn Slayton, Zachary Newell,
David Ertz, Maggie McGauley Sergeant-At-ArmsJake Bourdeau
The Windjammer is published online by
The Rotary Club of Portland, Maine.
Contributing Editors Jake Bourdeau, Erik Jorgensen,
Julie L’Heureux, Ben Lowry,
Zach Newell, Bruce Moore,
Tom Nickerson, Dave Patterson,
Tom Talbott, Laura Young
Program Chair Doreen Rockstrom Managing Editor Tom Talbott
PACK 'EM UP: Monday, October 23rd will be your last opportunity to contribute to our Recovery Task Force's 3rd Annual Backpack Program! Bruce Moore reminded us to please help us fill backpacks with toiletries and other personal items for people beginning their recovery journey from Substance Use Disorder. Click here - 
CARD DROP: With Dave Patterson
orientation. Guests over 12 years old are also welcome to join the tour. Right now we have 9 people tentatively signed up – we need to give Ecomaine a final count by 10/30 so they can schedule the appropriate number of tour guides. Let Ellen know if you are interested in seeing how your trash and recyclables are handled, it’s fascinating!
THANKSGIVING DINNER: Nannette Ranger-Duncanson spoke from the floor with two messages. First, Volunteers are needed for our annual Thanksgiving Meal at St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen. There are 3 shfts available for our Wednesday, November 22nd event. Prep and Cook (8-10am), Set-Up and Serve (10am-12:30pm with mealtime from 11am-12:30pm), and Clean-Up (12-2pm) Sign-Up sheets will be on tables at our Friday Meetings on October 27th, November 3rd and November 17th. Or, please email 
AUTHOR, AUTHOR: Liz Fagan gave word that on Monday, Oct 23rd, Debbie Burke, founder of Centro de Protesis, who will be our speaker for our Oct 27th meeting, will be having a book launch and signing in Portsmouth. If this is out of range, be sure to attend our meeting. Centro de Protesis is all about transforming the lives of amputees and people with special needs.
A proud alumnus of MIT with formidable credentials in electrical engineering and computer science, Dr. Tom’s career epitomizes the transformative power of technology. One of the many remarkable tales from his trove of experiences included a revolutionary contribution to the 1992 America’s Cup Race. Dr. Tom’s cutting-edge imaging technology, mounted on the US team's mast, detected wind directions, catapulting the team to a triumphant victory. Such was the impact of his technological ingenuity that it was later banned.
Navigating through turbulent waters marked by the dot-com bust, Dr. Tom was able to find a new and better solution in how his business went to market. His collaboration with MLB evolved, culminating in a refined system that was more accurate and precise. That system was later installed in every MLB stadium.
Second Notice: Mark Shinners of Scarborough, Maine has been sponsored for membership by Nannette Ranger-Duncanson. Mark is the owner of Boston Harbor Trading Company located in Scarborough. After this publication, his application will be voted on by the Board of Directors..png)
