Patty Byers took us on a journey of our club’s work for the past year, in an earlier-than-usual farewell address. Due to the timing of the Convention, her review is two weeks ahead of schedule, but all’s good with us!
Patty noted that it was an honor to have been the steward and fiduciary of the Portland Rotary Club this year, and thanked us for trusting her with this work, and for our support and your friendship in doing it. Together, our Club has accomplished a great deal to improve the lives of others throughout Greater Portland and in the wide, wide world.
Three major themes, gleaned from the Visioning process, guided our way.
- Growing and engaging our membership,
- Strengthening our public image in the community, and
- Raising money to do more good work in Portland and in the world.
Through our meaningful service projects, we engaged and retained members. We told our story to strengthen our image, that not only attracts new members, but instills a sense of pride in all of us. More members mean more resources, leading to our ability to raise money and do more in our community.
Big Accomplishment #1: Fundraising Levels
Flags For Heroes earned $25k, and in the process had over club members directly involved in our events at Delta Dental Field and the Maine Mall. In addition, new marketing partnerships with the Portland Media Group dramatically increased the exposure. As we are preparing for our 2025 event with higher goals, we now have WGME and WMTW promoting the program.
The Lobster Raffle, a new fundraiser, ran for 45 days in Sept and Oct, with 40+ Rotarians working our Commercial Street booth in all kinds of weather! Shout out to Larry Gross, our Golden Dealy Bopper award recipient, for the most days on the beat. Brian Nickerson right behind him.
Big Accomplishment #2: Community Service - Completing our Bayside Trail Tree project
This program began back with President Ellen Niewoehner in 2020! Great tie-in with the City of Portland, which also led to additional “Green” projects in and around Casco Bay. Led this year by Mary Pat Donnellon with Bill Milliken.
Other Community projects included: Recovery Task Force – Jan Chapman and Bruce Moore who also garnered a District Grant • Thanksgiving Dinner/ St Vincent’s for 200 people, led by Nannette Ranger-Duncanson • Salvation Army Bell Ringing - New High $6100 – Tom Ranello • Locker Project – Fighting food insecurity/ school kids – Amy Chipman • | Winter Boots – 180 Pair with Lamey Wellehan distributed – Bruce Jones and Amy • Boys and Girls Club Backpack – Zach Newell and Amy • Clynk Bags - Calling Colonel Clynk! Bill Blount • Portland VA – Snack Program – Zach Newell • Soaps & Shampoo Collection – Mike Robinson • Camp Sebago Spring Cleaning – With other clubs!
Big Accomplishment #3: Creating the Hearing Clinic
Led by Roger Fagan and Erik Greven, the International Service goal was to organize and secure funding for the Rotary Hearing Clinic in the DR. The team visited 10 other clubs, and can report that the fundraising is complete, plans in place, equipment ordered. 20 years in the making!
Additional programs: Community boxes to collect hearing aids – Roger • District Grant for Water Filters – David Small • Packing trailer with supplies for Crutches For Africa
Big Accomplishment #4: Return of Long-Term Youth Exchange
With the help of Zach Newell’s family and Jan Chapman coordinator, we welcomed Antonia from Spain. Meanwhile Zach’s daughter went to Japan.
In addition, Youth Services, chaired by Bob Clark and Dave Patterson brought – Lyseth School Reading program • Record number of RYLA students – Bill Ross • 7 Youth Service Awards given to 7 area High Schools
Big Accomplishment #5: Updating the Club Bylaws – thank you David Ertz, Dick Hall, and Roger Asch!
Big Accomplishment #6: Oue New Website - Thanks to Cort Hepler, he produced a brand-new contemporary website, that helps project our club to a bigger stage. Supporting this effort was Reid Byers' many graphic designs that were used for event banners, posters, and boxes. Great PR!
Vocational Services led by Brian Nickerson - Provided three PATH graduates with $500 each • New Mainers’s Task Force helped a number of families – Tim Donnellon • Fundraising for Lift All Boats, part of our Lobster Raffle – John Thompson.
At this point, Patty detailed the many aspects of what it takes to make the club run effectively and efficiently.
• Membership – Nannette Ranger Duncanson and Niki Curtis developed many new initiatives that engage NINE new members. We welcomed Penny Harris, Joe Minard, Keith Jache, Scott Gorneau, Katherine and Jerry Wall, Anyah White, Bev Uhlenhake and Ian Nagle.
• Program – Doreen Rockstrom leading, with Dave Putnam, John Thompson, Roxane Cole found enlightened and interesting speakers
• Foundation – Gervin Kah oversaw a campaign that exceeded out Annual Fund of $18k and PolioPlus goal of $3k.
• Communications – Tom Talbott and the reporter pool – David Patterson, Laura Young, Bruce Moore, Larry Gross, Tom Nickerson, Julia L’Heureux, Zach Newell, Jake Bourdeau, and Erik Jorgenson – give us our weekly Windjammer.
• Socials – Our monthly socials have been fellowship boosters! Thank you, Jake Bourdeau and Quinn Slayton,
• Thought of the Day – David Small at the controls, with Julie L'Heaureux, Bruce Jones, Cyrus Hagge, Larry Gross, Paul Tully, Tom Talbott, and Charlie Frair providing words of wisdom to open our meetings.
• Meeting Day – Getting everyone checked in, Jan Chapman and Bruce Nickerson. Exact change please!
• Sgt-At-Arms – Sgt J. Bourdeau, with Dan Fahey, David Ertz, Eric Lusk, Justin Lamontagne, Mac Collins, Matt Tassey and Larry Gross. Thank you to Dave Putnam and Mike Fortunato for getting us aligned with our new Club House – the Elks Lodge!
Our Board of Directors – John Thompson, Justin Lamontagne, Tom Nickerson, Dick Hall, Jake Bourdeau, David Ertz, Zach Newell, Maggie McGauley, Art Howe, Nanette Ranger-Duncanson, and Ellen Niewoehner. We are in good hands!
With incoming President John Thompson unable to attend, Patty passed along the gavel to our incoming VP Justin Lamontagne. For good measure, she gave him a rubber mallet to practice his gavel skills.
In closing, Patty noted that next year’s theme is “Unite For Good”, and the world needs Rotary more than ever.
Wonderful job Patty! Let’s get a group photo! Cheers!
Liz and Roger Fagan are inviting you to their home this Thursday night for this month's Rotary social. 13 Indian Woods Rd., Scarborough. You are welcome to bring appetizers and tasty beverages to enhance the party experience. 
GO GREEN: Mary Pat Donnellon let us know about another the tree planting volunteering opportunity for the Bayside Trail which is coming up on Friday June 20th. With no rotary meeting Friday, you can help plant nine trees along the trail in partnership with the City of Portland, their staff and a few other volunteers.
MENTAL HEALTH: Jan Chapman (dressed in a jean jacket and the red Polio Plus tee shirt in honor of Patty), announced the mental health first aid program is coming together, with training held on July 9th and 10th from 8:30 to 12:30 at the Cross Insurance board room. The mental health first aid program is an eight-hour program, so people need to plan to come to both sessions. Space is limited, so attendees should plan to attend both sessions.
READING RIGHT: Bob Clark, representing the 12 active members of the Youth Services Committee and co-chair David Patterson, gave an end of year report. He informed the group that summer reading plans and RILA Registration start in just over a week, covering 17 classroom readings each time around for K through 3rd grade. Volunteers read to approximately 375 students in total from K to third grade each time, and Rotary funds provided the ability to purchase 1,200 books along with bookplates.
FLAG MAN: Paul Tully updated the group about the Flags for Heroes project, which will take place in four weeks, Friday July 11th, at the pavilion at Delta Dental field. The Sea Dogs game with the flags presentation will be on July 13th at 12 o'clock. Check out the website to pick up your game tickets, sponsor your hero(es), and/or become a corporate sponsor. It is real easy at 
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