Remember, for our meeting this Friday you can bring a Veteran to our meeting and their meal will be free. Please let us know in advance so we can be prepared for food and seating.
This Week's Speaker: Chip Morrison "Building Bridges & Minimizing Political Division"
Building Bridges Maine, a local affiliate of Braver Angels, a national organization that seeks to heal the bitter polarization of our society and find common ground on the major issues of the day.
Chip Morrison retired from Androscoggin Bank at the end of January, 2020. He currently serves on the boards of directors for six local community organizations and does volunteer work for a few others. Prior to joining the bank, he was the interim executive director for Maine Make-A-Wish Foundation. In June of 2015, Chip retired as President of the Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce, a position he held since the fall of 1995. Before joining the Chamber, he was City Manager of Auburn and Commissioner of the state departments of Administration and Labor. He has a bachelor’s degree from Carleton College and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Michigan.
Chip is a resident of Auburn where he lives with his wife Jane. They have two grown children, Beth and Brett, who graduated from Edward Little High School, went on to college and graduate school, and who are now in successful careers in the arts and medicine.
Fundraising committee meeting 11/11 @ 11.
This Friday November 11, at Italian Heritage Center 11:00am, please join us to
discuss the Spring /Valentines Day Auction, a Spring concert in the park with the Don Campbell Band and a Spring Garden tour. Please bring your ideas and let's put the Fun back in Fundraising. Remember 11/11 @ 11.
Meeting of November 4th: Chris Woelfel - Update from the Roux Institute |by Erik Jorgenson
The question to Maine businesses back in 2019 was this: “What do you want to be hiring for in five years?” The Roux Institute is seeking to answer that as it works to build out its vision and deepen its impact on our city. Started with a $100 million gift from Dave and Barb Roux and with that gift now doubled by the Alfond Foundation, the Institute has emerged from the Pandemic as Portland’s East End educational juggernaut. (Photo - Chris, Doreen Rockstrom, Bruce Jones)
Our guest Friday was Chris Woelfel, the Head of Entrepreneurship and Venture Creation at Roux. He spoke about the Institute’s vision: to focus on Maine and establish a world-class institution to attract retain and develop talent to transform the State. A key to its work is forming enduring partnerships with Maine institutions and businesses. Woelfel pointed out that traveling between Portland and Boston is about the same as between Palo Alto and San Francisco. The Roux Institute knows this and is setting out to create additional parallels in our area, seeing Portland as a node where there will be a concentration of technology and innovation.
Roux is Maine’s second R-1 research institution (after Umaine) and in its short life has already graduated 44 masters degree students. It is currently serving 1500 students, 500 are full time in school and the other 1000 are employees of partner institutions who are undertaking specific professional development.
Woelfel noted that in 10 years, Roux believes that the largest employer in Maine is not even here today. They are already making some decisions around their scope: their current goal is for greater Portland to have the deepest density of computational medicine scientists in the world. With such a concentration of expertise, who knows what might happen?
Bits and Pieces | by Tom Nickerson
Busy Day! President Bruce opened the meeting by announcing we had 45 members and guest present and to remember the cans for Polio on the tables. Gervin Kah led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Juliana L’Heureux delivered the Inspiration of the day; highlighting the good news of the Rotary work at the Long Creek Youth Development Center. She closed by stating “I am proud to be a member of Rotary, where our members are volunteering in the “service above self” support for youth at Long Creek.” Angela Smith introduced the two vising Rotarians and 6 guests.
John Young led the raffle and Erik Greven was chosen to try for the $200 pot. He was unlucky and the pot continues to grow.
President Bruce announced that Ben Millick is a new father wished and sent congratulations to him, his wife and new son. He also shared that Liz Fagan is improving and is now home. Larry Gross is organizing meals to lend a hand to the Fagan family. Please contact Larry if you can assist.
Brian Nickerson, as chair of the Vocational Committee, announced the launch of a new $500 scholarship to assist three PATH students with post high school training or to purchase appropriate tools.
The club is looking for volunteers to help out with the St. Vincent and Paul Thanksgiving Dinner on Wednesday November 23. Sign up sheets will be on the tables, or let Amy Chipman know.
Charlie Frair announced that on Veterans Day this coming Friday, members can bring a Veteran to join us for the meeting at no cost.
Patty Byers gave a Foundation Report, reminding everyone that this evening (Nov 4th) is the District Event and she thanked the members who helped make it happen: Tom Nickerson, Jim Vicenzi, Dave Small, Dick Hall, Mike Fortunato, Charlie Frair, Jim Wiley, Zach Newell, Erik Greven, Emily Crowley, Zach Zimmerman, Bruce Jones, Brian Nickerson, and Mick Weltman. She also reported great news from our Sunrise Club: Mitch Rosengarten received his third Paul Harris Fellow recognition. Thank you and congratulations Mitch!
Patty is recruiting for two new “Giving Circle” members. For those of you who are new to our Club, the Giving Circle are pretty unique to Portland. Each Circle consists of 5 members who agree to give $200 to the Rotary Foundation each year. So that’s a total of $1,000 for each Circle each year. Initially all 5 names are put into the lottery and the winning names gets recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow. Currently we have 8 active Circles! Let's start some more!
Jim Willey introduced the Youth Service Award student. Caris Welch, a senior at Cheverus High School, is President of the Key Club and Environment Club. She volunteers 3 to 5 hours a week in addition to being a top student and athlete. She received a $1,000 award and chose the National Suicide Prevention Hotline for her choice charity. L-R Cheverus VP Kathryn Roy, Caris, and her parents Tammy and Doug.
Boot Drive Update!
Amy Chipman reported out on the Boots Drive. Over 100 boots have been donated from Lamey-Wellehan and Goodwill to date. Ellen Niewonder will reach out to the Scarborough Lamey-Wellehan. $2,600 has been raised to date to purchase new boots. Volunteers will be needed to help sort and deliver the boots.
This is a partnership with the Portland School System. The school system is looking for 175 pairs of boots to meet current needs.
We are looking for 150 boots for K through 5th grade (ages 5-11) and 25 pairs of boots for 6th through 8th grades (ages 12-14).
If you would like to donate money to the cause, click the donate button HERE. Portland Rotary will use these funds to purchase boots. If you would like to buy a pair of boots for the cause, go to Goodwill and purchase a pair and bring them to an upcoming Rotary meeting. Wish to drop off? Our friends at Lamey Wellehan Shoes will be accepting boot donations at their stores in Falmouth and Scarborough. Boots can be donated now through November 27th.
Imagine a world without polio.
With your help we can eliminate this devastating disease! Please join us.
November 11 - Bring a Veteran to our lunch, and they will be served a free meal.
November 18- Tatsiana Thomson "Everything You Want to Know About Birds"
November 25 - No Meeting. Enjoy Your Thanksgiving!
Club Executives President Bruce Jones President Elect Dick Hall Vice President Patty Byers Treasurer Dick Hall Secretary Bill Blount Board of Directors Ellen Niewoehner,
Bob Clark, John Thompson, Ben Millick,
Quinn Slayton Sergeant-At-Arms Jake Bourdeau
The Windjammer is published online by
The Rotary Club of Portland, Maine.
Contributing Editors Bill Blount, Jake Bourdeau, Dick Hall,
Erik Jorgensen, Julie L’Heureux, Ben Lowry,
Tom Nickerson, Tom Talbott, Laura Young
1st Q Program Chair:Dave Putnam Managing Editor Tom Talbott
The question to Maine businesses back in 2019 was this: “What do you want to be hiring for in five years?” The Roux Institute is seeking to answer that as it works to build out its vision and deepen its impact on our city. Started with a $100 million gift from Dave and Barb Roux and with that gift now doubled by the Alfond Foundation, the Institute has emerged from the Pandemic as Portland’s East End educational juggernaut. (Photo - Chris, Doreen Rockstrom, Bruce Jones) 
Jim Willey introduced the Youth Service Award student. Caris Welch, a senior at Cheverus High School, is President of the Key Club and Environment Club. She volunteers 3 to 5 hours a week in addition to being a top student and athlete. She received a $1,000 award and chose the National Suicide Prevention Hotline for her choice charity. L-R Cheverus VP Kathryn Roy, Caris, and her parents Tammy and Doug.
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