200 American Flags are now on display at the Maine Mall, each one recognizing someone's personal hero. It's a beautiful presentation. In turn, our Friday meeting this week will be at the Mall, so please join us.
Rotarians can gather in the Food Court starting at noon. You can purchase a lunch of your choice at any of the Mall eateries, there is no formal fare. At 12:25pm, all will walk down to the Rotunda for the Flags presentation. We'll have several speakers, and our keynote will be Geoff Iacuessa, President of the Portland Sea Dogs. The event is expected to last 20 minutes.
200 FLAGS FOR HEROES STRONG AT HADLOCK FIELD!
BITS AND PIECES | By Laura Young
President John Thompson welcomed everyone to his FIRST meeting as President of the Portland Rotary Club at our annual “SeaDogs Picnic” at Hadlock Field. Bill Blount led us in a spirited rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” in honor of our unique ballpark venue. We sang “Happy Birthday” to Alan Levenson, who turned 91, while the Sea Dogs staff treated us to “the best dessert in town”—Sea Dogs biscuits.
Amy Chipman led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag waving in the outfield. David Small shared the Thought of the Day, originally delivered by Rolf Schlake of the Rotary Club of Allentown, PA. At a meeting featuring a speaker from the Iron Pigs (then the Phillies' Triple-A affiliate), Schlake said:
"In this game of life, we’ve all worn different uniforms: Blue Jays in our squawking and complaining. Pirates in some of our dealings. Dodgers of responsibility. But we can get out of foul territory by becoming Mariners—charting a new course by being: Braves in our convictions, Tigers in our actions, and Royals in our ethics."
WELCOME! Rotarians Tom Talbott, Paul Tully, Alan Levenson, and Bowen Depke each introduced their guests who joined us for the meeting. Thanks for coming!
FLAGS FOR HEROES SPONSORS RECOGNIZED: Paul Tully expressed heartfelt appreciation to the sponsors of Flags for Heroes, including our Lead Sponsor- The Rowe Auto Group led by Wally and Mark Camp – Rowe Ford Westbrook and Rowe Auburn. This is their third year of participation, and we are very thankful for their support.
Corporate sponsors include, Varney Agency, Great Diamond Partners, Conroy-Tully Walker Funeral Homes, DiMillo’s on the Water and Roxane Cole Commercial Real Estate.
Additional Sponsors are the Ryan Pierce Charitable Fund, Hammond Lumber, Maine Community Bank, Northeast Bank, Volk Packaging, Rotarian Bill Milliken, WJM Auctioneers, and Tom Ranello Real Estate.
Special thanks for their in-kind contributions include the Portland Media Group, The Maine Mall, and the Portland Sea Dogs, along with Rotarians Charlie Frair, Paul Gore, Cyrus Hagge, Tom Talbott, Cort Hepler, and Paul Tully!
President John summed it up well:
“We are people of action, and it’s fun to enroll others in our activities.”
HAPPY DOLLARS! There was no raffle this week—prompting one member to joke, “No wonder PTG isn’t here.”Happy Dollars" highlights included: Dave Putnam’s recovery from heart surgery and return to driving, Brian Nickerson’s 60th wedding anniversary, Bowen Depke’s daughter Genevieve’s engagement, and the growth and success of Flags for Heroes.
FLAGS FOR HEROES UPDATE: Charlie Frair reported that “We’ve hit a home run—and we’re heading for a grand slam!” with 200 heroes honored this year. He thanked our generous sponsors—some of whom were present—who sponsored flags for educators, healthcare workers, firefighters, police officers, and veterans. It’s a diverse and inspiring group making a meaningful impact in our community.
OUR SPEAKER - COACHES CORNER WITH CHAD EPPERSON | By Larry Gross
Emma Thielen and Chad Epperson, the Director of Broadcasting for the Portland Sea Dogs and a trailblazing female play-by-play announcer in Minor League Baseball, discussed their roles with the organization and their insights into the game of baseball. They addressed various questions from the Club, including the increasing complexity of pitching, the rise of rising star Marcelo Mayer, and the importance of modern training practices.
Chad explained that today's pitchers use an expanded arsenal, including sliders, cutters, and slurves, with pitch classifications often based on spin direction and speed. He praised Mayer for his calm demeanor and impressive defensive performance at third base, despite limited experience at that position in the minors.
Chad also shared his own path to baseball, growing up playing T-ball and continuing through high school and college before joining professional baseball in 1992. He acknowledged the downside of seeing players' dreams end but emphasized the joy of seeing underdogs make it to the big leagues.
Chad expressed concern about youth sports specializing in a single sport rather than playing multiple sports seasonally as in past generations. He believes that playing different sports helps athletes develop versatility and better overall athleticism. Modern training practices involve data-rich technology, individualized recovery protocols, and targeted shoulder and elbow assessments.
On batter strategy, Chad emphasizes competing in the box and extending at-bats to increase pitch counts, although the bullpen's increased dominance diminishes the benefit of reaching it quickly. He confirmed that AAA leagues are already experimenting with challenge systems, allowing limited appeals on ball-and-strike calls.
A lighthearted question about fake-out plays brought a smile. Chad said they don’t practice trick plays but sometimes players will improvise. He ended by expressing gratitude for the fans and their support, and Emma was also thanked for her contributions and accessibility as a broadcaster. The event closed with a fun group rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” celebrating the shared joy of baseball.
JULY BIRTHDAYS and ANNIVERSARIES!
Let's celebrate our Birthdays, starting with Mark Millar July 3rd, Bill Milliken 7th, Alan Levenson 11th, Tom Nickerson 12th, Jack Carr and Bev Uhlenhake 14th, Julie L'Heureux and Mike Ross 16th, Tim Donnellon 21st, Nanette Ranger-Duncanson 23rd, Sam Chipman 25th, and Mike Reed on the 29th. Next our Anniversary wishes go to Mark Millar 48 years, Alan Levenson 46, Brian Nickerson 43, Rob Chatfield 18, Steve Stromsky 14, Alex St. Hilaire 11, and Scott Gorneau, 1!
Bravo to you all!
Speaker Schedule
July 25th - Our New President - John Thompson
August 1st - Jim Bouchard - Leadership
August 8th - Brian Bickford - Maine Golf
August 15th - No Meeting
August 22 - TBD
August 29 - TBD
September 5 - Chris Timm, Executive Director, Maine Maritime Museum
September 12 - Emma Bodwell, District Governor
September 19 - No Meeting
Club Executives
President John Thompson President Elect Justin Lamontagne Vice President Jake Bourdeau TreasurerDick Hall Secretary Juliana L'Heureux Board of Directors Dick Hall, Patty Byers,
Nannette Ranger-Duncanson, Art Howe,
Niki Merrill, Bill Milliken
Sergeant-At-ArmsZach Newell
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The Rotary Club of Portland, Maine.
President John Thompson welcomed everyone to his FIRST meeting as President of the Portland Rotary Club at our annual “SeaDogs Picnic” at Hadlock Field. Bill Blount led us in a spirited rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” in honor of our unique ballpark venue. We sang “Happy Birthday” to Alan Levenson, who turned 91, while the Sea Dogs staff treated us to “the best dessert in town”—Sea Dogs biscuits.
FLAGS FOR HEROES UPDATE: Charlie Frair reported that “We’ve hit a home run—and we’re heading for a grand slam!” with 200 heroes honored this year. He thanked our generous sponsors—some of whom were present—who sponsored flags for educators, healthcare workers, firefighters, police officers, and veterans. It’s a diverse and inspiring group making a meaningful impact in our community.
Emma Thielen and Chad Epperson, the Director of Broadcasting for the Portland Sea Dogs and a trailblazing female play-by-play announcer in Minor League Baseball, discussed their roles with the organization and their insights into the game of baseball. They addressed various questions from the Club, including the increasing complexity of pitching, the rise of rising star Marcelo Mayer, and the importance of modern training practices.
JULY BIRTHDAYS and ANNIVERSARIES!