THIS WEEK'S SOCIAL EVENT: Maine Celtics! This Thursday Feb 13th, Portland Rotarians are headed to the Portland Expo to take in a Maine Celtics Basketball game vs. the Long Island Nets. As announced, tickets were purchased in advance to those who RSVP'd. The game is sold out, so unfortunately we could not add in additional requests. However with the response, there will be a next time! 30 tickets sold this time around :)
BITS AND PIECES | By Larry Gross
President Patty Byers welcomed 32 Rotarians to our meeting last Friday. Penny Harris opened the meeting by leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Bruce Jones delivered a humorous Thought for the Day” about a talented dog offered for sale at a discount. Niki (Curtis) Merrill had no guests to introduce but used the occasion to encourage us to invite guests to join them for meetings (and membership!).
Patty Byers recognized February birthdays and Rotary anniversaries, putting in a special Happy Birthday congratulations for Rotary International, which turns 120 years young on February 23rd!
RAFFLE ROLLS: Bill Milliken ably managed the raffle, where Paul Tully drew the right suit – hearts - but wrong card. Our $380 raffle jackpot grows!
SWAG – ACT NOW! Celebrating Service Above Self, Patty modeled some new Rotary swag: Neon yellow “Rotarians at Work” hoodies for those early Spring and Fall community service projects. Available through Patty at special Club pricing. But act now - February 13th is the last day to place your order. Rotarians at Work, Full-zip Hooded Fleece Sweatshirt.
Adult sizes: S - XL for $30, XXL - 4 XL for $34. If you do not want a hoodie, you can opt for a crewneck pullover sweatshirt with no zipper. Patty noted, “Consider it a wearable hug while you do good work in the world.” You can order or ask questions by emailing Patty by clicking HERE!
FLAGS AHEAD: Tom Talbott asked: “Who’s your Hero?” and reminded us to reserve July 13th for the Portland Seadogs pregame Flags celebration. He noted that shortly we will have online capabilities for the various volunteer aspects of executing the event - our largest fundraising project of the year. In turn, Dick Hall showcased the “Flags” video produced to highlight our fundraiser. Check our Flags website: flagsforhereosmaine.com
Tom was happy to report that this Thursday’s Rotary Social event at the Maine Celtics is helping to build a relationship between Portland Rotary and the Maine Celtics to sponsor a future “Flags for Heroes” halftime ceremony.
PREPARATION 3H: Roger Fagan reported that the 2025 “Three H” (Hearing, Hands and H2O) Project team leaves in nine weeks for the Dominican Republic. He asked Club members to help the team by placing Rotary-branded collection boxes for used hearing aids at suitable locations. So far, 32 sets of hearing aids have been collected. (Photo)
COMMUNITY SERVICE UPDATE: Zach Newell reported on several active Community Service Committee led projects: The Locker Project backpack stuffing project is fully staffed with Club volunteers for Feb12th, thanks! A tour of Partner for World Health has been scheduled for noon on Wednesday, February 19Th. Meet at the Partners for World Health building at 40 Walch Drive to join the tour. Zach added that several playground map painting projects are in the works. Given the growth of new Mainers among the school-age population, we are looking to introduce a world map to the project. Stay tuned!
SOAP FOR A CAUSE: Patty put in a plug for Mike Robinson’s project to collect toiletries and personal care items for area adult shelters. If you stay in a hotel, pick up those mini amenities – shampoo, conditioner, body wash, skin lotion, a bar of soap. Patty noted she was offered complementary toothbrushes and toothpaste at her dentist appointment, and said “I’ll take ‘em”, for a good cause. Who benefits? Woman’s shelters in Portland like Florence House or Through These Doors both assist women who are homeless or at risk and need a safe place. Make a big difference in a small way. Bring in your items and let's fill that bucket many times over!
HAPPY: We had a quick round of Happy Dollars before Bill Blount introduced our guest speaker.
LAST WEEK'S SPEAKER: Michael Shaughnessy -
Friends of the Presumpscot River, “What Flows Below Still Waters” | by Zach Newell
We welcomed Michael Shaughnessy, founding member and current President of the Friends of the Presumpscot River.In his presentation, Michael discussed how for over 25 years, the Friends of the Presumpscot River have been dedicated to revitalizing and safeguarding this important waterway. Their hard work has led to cleaner water, the return of migratory fish, and greater community appreciation for the river's recreational and economic value.
The Presumpscot River, though just 25 miles long, flows from Sebago Lake to Casco Bay, dropping over 270 feet through several towns. Despite its relatively short length, the Presumpscot's impact is significant, as it's the largest freshwater source flowing into Casco Bay, draining a 648-square-mile watershed.
The Presumpscot River has seen remarkable changes over the past 50 years. Since the 1970s, the Clean Water Act has mandated wastewater treatment, dramatically improving water quality. Subsequent restoration efforts have included restoring flows to the Eel Weir bypass for trout and salmon, the closure of the Westbrook pulp mill, the removal of the Smelt Hill Dam, and the installation of fish passage at the Cumberland Mills Dam. Furthermore, an agreement is now in place to remove the Saccarappa Dam and provide fish passage, marking another significant step in the river's revitalization.
The Presumpscot River we see today is a far cry from its natural state. Instead of a vibrant river with numerous falls and rapids, it's been transformed into a chain of stagnant pools by a century of dams. It's time to reconsider our relationship with this river and how we utilize it. With the unfortunate distinction of being one of the most heavily dammed rivers in the country, thanks to structures built over 110 years ago, the Presumpscot deserves better. And in return, a restored river could offer us so much more than it currently can.
Michael explains via his presentation that The Friends of the Presumpscot River has been a tireless advocate for the river's restoration. Michael ended his presentation by showing a nice, short video titled”Presumpscot Summer 2024.”
February 21 - Julie Poulin, Animal Rescue League Greater Portland
February 28- George Pullen, Commodity Futures "Space Economy"
March 7- Jennifer Burns - Headstart in Portland
March 14- Megan Walton -Southern Maine Agency on Aging
March 20 - Thursday Night Social
March 21- No Meeting
March 28- Mike McGovern - Polio Plus and Vaccines
Club Executives
President Patty Byers President Elect John Thompson Vice President Justin Lamontagne TreasurerDick Hall Secretary Tom Nickerson Board of Directors Dick Hall,
THIS WEEK'S SOCIAL EVENT: Maine Celtics! 
to reserve July 13th for the Portland Seadogs pregame Flags celebration. He noted that shortly we will have online capabilities for the various volunteer aspects of executing the event - our largest fundraising project of the year. In turn, Dick Hall showcased the “Flags” video produced to highlight our fundraiser. Check our Flags website: 
PREPARATION 3H: Roger Fagan reported that the 2025 “Three H” (Hearing, Hands and H2O) Project team leaves in nine weeks for the Dominican Republic. He asked Club members to help the team by placing Rotary-branded collection boxes for used hearing aids at suitable locations. So far, 32 sets of hearing aids have been collected. (Photo)
SOAP FOR A CAUSE: Patty put in a plug for Mike Robinson’s project to collect toiletries and personal care items for area adult shelters. If you stay in a hotel, pick up those mini amenities – shampoo, conditioner, body wash, skin lotion, a bar of soap. Patty noted she was offered complementary toothbrushes and toothpaste at her dentist appointment, and said “I’ll take ‘em”, for a good cause. Who benefits? Woman’s shelters in Portland like Florence House or Through These Doors both assist women who are homeless or at risk and need a safe place. Make a big difference in a small way. Bring in your items and let's fill that bucket many times over!
The Presumpscot River, though just 25 miles long, flows from Sebago Lake to Casco Bay, dropping over 270 feet through several towns. Despite its relatively short length, the Presumpscot's impact is significant, as it's the largest freshwater source flowing into Casco Bay, draining a 648-square-mile watershed.
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