Our speaker this week will be Joy Jewett Johnson. She is a “Mainer” from Bucksport and Founder and Executive Director of 'Embrace A Vet.' Joy graduated from the University of Maine with a BA in Sociology and has worked in the social services field most of her adult life. Her affinity for our military veterans grew from being the daughter of a Navy pilot, and later, being married to a career naval officer who was on active duty for 36 years. She was fortunate to have the opportunity to work with the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, as well as other grass roots organizations providing services to military members, both at home and abroad. While living in Italy, she formed an organization titled "REACH" (Ready, Eager And Caring Hands), where military service members volunteered their time at orphanages, drug rehabilitation facilities and a halfway house for juvenile offenders.

At one time, there were 22 recorded veteran suicides per day and Maine was having one of the highest veteran populations per capita, so there was work to be done. In 2011 'Embrace A Vet' was founded. Since that time, an incredible cadre of volunteers have come forth to help achieve the mission of providing services to Maine Veterans with symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress (PTS) and/or Post Traumatic Brain Injury (PTBI) and to their families.

'Embrace A Vet' is an all-volunteer 501(c)3 organization founded in 2012 to provide direct and supportive services to Maine Veterans living with symptoms of PTS(d) and/or traumatic injury. They offer two unique programs: Residential Healing and Wellness Retreats, where they introduce participants to alternative healing modalities and the 'Paws for Peace' dog program, where they assist veterans in locating, purchasing and training suitable dogs to become full-service dogs. Currently they are developing a third program for caregivers and family members of veterans. All three of these programs are without cost to the participants. Funds are raised through public and private donations. (www.embraceavet.org)

Bob Martin (left) introduced Chris Sauer (right), President and CEO of Ocean Renewable Power Company (ORPC), who led us on a fascinating review of the world of hydrokinetic energy and its increasing importance in energy production. Chris reiterated a message we heard last week from Don Perkins from the Gulf of Maine Research Institute: “Over 75 percent of the earth’s surface is water,” he said. “Most of it is ocean, but this also includes rivers and lakes. What we are focused on is turning the energy generated by tidal flow into electricity.”

ORPC was the first company in the western hemisphere to generate electricity from tidal energy and provide it to the electric grid. This was accomplished in Cobscook Bay near Eastport, Maine.

Chris acknowledged that while the decline in the cost of fossil fuels had impacted the growth of renewable energy, there remains a significant market potential. “There are two billion people who live in islanded communities that are cut off from primary sources of electricity,” he said. “Seventy percent of these people depend upon diesel fuel to generate power.” Chris gave the example of Alaska where the cost of electricity in remote areas has become a sustainability issue. “These villages are dying,” he said. “The cost of diesel-driven electricity in remote Alaskan villages can exceed 75 cents a kilowatt.” The national average is 12 to 13 cents.

ORPC is working with the state of Alaska and the Department of Energy on a solution. They recently completed a successful test of their new RivGen Power System turbine in the village of Igiugig on the Kvichak River, 275 miles southwest of Anchorage. The prototype
delivered significant power for the local micro-grid, and coexisted with the fish habitat. ORPC expects to complete this project next year.

ORPC’s TidGen turbine in Eastport is out of the water for design changes. When it first was installed, it generated 150 kilowatts of electricity. The design changes will render the turbine capable of producing 600 kilowatts for the Eastport community....this is sufficient electricity to support 40 to 60 houses.

Chris described ORPC’s impact in stimulating the creation of other businesses in Maine, along with increasing the research and development capacity of the University of Maine. “They have worked with us from the beginning,” Chris said. “As a result of our collaboration, the university has become world renown for its expertise in ocean hydrokinetic research.”

Chris revealed that the permitting process to place a turbine in a river, or in the ocean, is extremely complex and includes requirements for constant monitoring for a wide variety of environmental impacts, including those on fish or other wildlife. “Every report back from every agency involved reveals that there has been no known environmental impact,” he said.

Chris shared a video with us, which was difficult for some to hear. For the link to the video on YouTube, go to:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=tq4EB2bBl90

For the link to that same video on the ORPC website, go to: www.orpc.co/newsevents_mediacenter.aspx?id=D5MZLiRACUs%3d

EDITORIAL NOTE: Regretfully, the first two important stories were omitted from our newsletter last week and we apologize for their omission.

One of the highlights of a Rotary club is bringing in a new member. On Friday, April 3rd, Loretta Rowe took the podium as Jim Willey's proxy to introduce our newest member, Laura Pawlendzio. Laura is the Marketing Manager/VP at People's United Bank in Portland. She currently lives in Newport, NH with her husband (Stan) of 40 years, is in the process of moving to the Portland area, has three grown children and 2.5 grandchildren (that means 2 grandchildren + 1 on the way). 

Dick Hall presented a Paul Harris Fellow award to Roxane Cole. A lead from Roxane at a Rotary meeting in the spring of 2008, almost immediately resulted in Dick’s current job and he is extremely grateful to her for recommending that he check it out. Dick noted that Roxane is a dedicated Rotarian having been a member since 1991, including being past president of the club in 1999-2000, a visionary behind Rotary Grove on the Eastern Prom, is now serving as a District 7780 Club Visioning Facilitator, and the Team Leader last fall when the Portland Sunrise Club was visioned. Roxane received a Paul Harris pin with 4 stones, showing this is her 4th PHF.

Amy Chipman​, our club Foundation Chair, then presented Dick with two pins, one as a companion to Roxane’s award and one for his 'Circle of Five' giving to the Foundation.

Foundation note: It only takes $500 to award a Paul Harris to someone special, as the club will match the $500 donation, bringing the donation to $1000.

Supporting the Rotary Foundation allows you to change lives and be:

• a part of the eradication of Polio;
• a partner in creating peace;
• a person who supports clean water and sanitation;
• a supporter of worldwide education;
• someone who believes that all babies, children and mom's should have good medical resources, micro-credit and equal rights.
• a person that is fighting Aids, Malaria, Ebola and other diseases

For more information and how you can participate in a "Circle of Five," contact Amy Chipman, Foundation Chair at: amy.chipman@rbc.com

President Kris opened our meeting last week by welcoming everyone and asking Bruce Jones to provide our invocation. To read Bruce's entire recitation on "Who's The Smartest?," please see type in blue below. We recited the pledge and Russ Burleigh played keyboard backup to our singing a patriotic song.

Charlie Frair conducted the $949 raffle. Our speaker, Chris Sauer, drew Harold Crabill's name to try and find the Queen of Hearts from the 21 remaining cards. He drew the four of Hearts. Will the pot exceed $1000 next week?

Bill Blount was called upon to be the song leader. Our pianist, Russ Burleigh, chose "Viva Le Rotary."

President Kris again welcomed the 46 club members, 1 visiting Rotarian and 2 guests; then read a thank you letter from Helen Gray-Bauer, the Youth Service Award recipient last week from Waynflete. 

Ellen Niewoehner announced what you can do to support the Spring auction, "May Madness" coming up on May 1st:

• solicit gifts....preferably new or gently-used items with a minimum $15 value, 
• ask for gift certificates from your frequented retailers,
• bring a friend to Rotary on May 1 to support our auction, 
• bid often, and 
• contact Ellen, Emily or Loretta with donated items or ideas.

Loretta Rowe took the podium to announce that a new Rotary year is fast approaching and you have a chance to select which committees you would like to help with. Completed committee preference sheets were due to be turned in today. You can still email them to Loretta ASAP (by Wednesday 4/15), if you have not done so already. You may be assigned to committees where you are needed, so please be flexible.

Please also go to the club website (portlandrotary.org) and check your personal information to be sure it's correct. The information that goes into our roster is collected from the website, so wrong information on the website means wrong information in the roster. If you need your photo taken or updated for the roster, please see Loretta or Russ.

Mike Fortunato announced that we are looking for support for the Maine Outdoor Challenge (MOC)...mainly, volunteers who would be willing to work in small groups, going door-to-door to businesses in the old port area, requesting items for our MOC auction that could help us raise $1000 in items to be auctioned. It would only take 2 hours of your time on a nice Spring walk. Please contact Mike if you can help: michael.k.fortunato@gmail.com

Who's The Smartest? (as told by Bruce Jones during his invocation)

A doctor, a lawyer, a little boy and a priest were out for a Sunday afternoon flight in a small private plane. Suddenly, the plane developed engine trouble.

In spite of the best efforts of the pilot, the plane started to go down. Finally, the pilot grabbed a parachute, yelled to the passengers that they had better jump, and bailed out.

Unfortunately, there were only three parachutes remaining.

The doctor grabbed one and said "I'm a doctor, I save lives, so I must live," and jumped out.

The lawyer then said, "I'm a lawyer and lawyers are the smartest people in the world. I deserve to live."

He also grabbed a parachute and jumped.

The priest looked at the little boy and said, "My son, I've lived a long and full life. You are young and have your whole life ahead of you. Take the last parachute and live in peace."

The little boy handed the parachute back to the priest and said, "Not to worry, Father. The 'smartest man in the world' just took off with my back pack."

Portland Rotary meeting locations for 2015 

If you would like to mark your calendars for where our meetings will be held,
we are at the following locations through June 2015:

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:

Secrets to feeling young:

First, avoid mirrors.
 
Second, do not update your Rotary roster photo. If you do, other people will more easily recognize you, but you will find it more difficult to look at.  

Third, don't think about "old" except as it may apply to people 20 years above your age.  

Fourth, practice delusion and denial until you forget what you are doing and why.

Is this another 4-Way Test?????

You can watch our recent Portland Rotary Club speakers on the Community Television Network website:

http://ctn5.org/shows/rotary-club-speakers-series

You can always find the link on the Portland Rotary Home Page!