A memorable cruise into 100 years!
Portland Rotarians launched the club’s Centennial year of “Service Above Self” by hosting the District 7780 club partners on a July 9 evening ferry cruise aboard the Bay Mist to visit Casco Bay’s beautiful Jewell Island. President Bowen Depke led a program tribute to the late Past District Governor Robert Patten, 91, who died on February 21, 2015, a dedicated patron of Jewell Island. In fact, Bob helped lead a Rotarian clean-up of the beautiful Jewell Island.
Bob's wife, Stella Patten, and her daughter, Dr. Deborah Patten, joined the Rotarians on the Bay Mist cruise.
(Photo: Dr. Deborah Patten and Stella Patten)
Jewell Island is located on the outer fringes of Casco Bay. The island offers a sheltered anchorage for boaters of vessels of all sizes. Its one mile long with 221 acres, including several trails leading to sandy beaches, craggy bluffs and remnants of World War I and World War II fortifications. Jewell Island is managed in a partnership between the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands and the Maine Island Trail Association (MITA).
President Bowen gave an overview of how Bob Patten and Dr. Longley of the Brunswick Rotary Club organized the clean up Jewel Island and the building of privies and grooming trails for the visitors.
“Bob Patten was enthusiastic about the possibilities of a Rotary District visit to Jewell Island,” explained President Bowen. “I first heard about the Jewell Island clean-up project from Bob Patten. He wanted to celebrate it in some meaningful way. As such, near the end of January, Jim Willey drove him to Harold Crabill’s office and we discussed the possibilities.” The July 9 cruise was the direct result, again of PDG Bob’s love of Casco Bay and Maine Island Trail Association.
Although the Jewell Island clean-up was a District-wide project, it was the Rotary Clubs of Brunswick, Oxford Hills, South Portland-Cape Elizabeth, and Portland together that largely led the way. These clubs, and others, joined Portland Rotary for the Jewell Island cruise. Participants acknowledged were PDG George Rice from Oxford Hills, Past President of Portland Rotary, John Tewhey and President-elect of Brunswick, David Taft.
Presenters who described Jewell Island included Doug Welch, Executive Director of MITA, who spoke about the island’s history and how it fits into MITA.
Enthusiastic stories about the Jewell Island clean-up project were shared by PP John Tewhey. Karen Stimpson, who was ED of MITA before the time the project began, spoke about Bob Patten’s passion for the clean-up projects with humorous anecdotes. PDG George Rice who was President of Oxford Hills RC gave his recollections of the project. Meriel Longley, daughter of Dr. Longley, spoke about her perspective of her dad, Zachary, and the Jewell Island project when she was a 6-year old.
Two great organizations came together in a wonderful work project that is enjoyed by thousands of Jewell Island visitors every year. President Bowen thanked Peter Ingram and Harold Crabill for their help organizing the cruise, thanked District Governor Sheila Rollins for attending, and everyone who contributed to the successful Thursday evening celebration.
(Photo: President Bowen, Jan Chapman and Dr. Roger Fagan)
