It has been brought to our attention that USM President Glenn Cummings was misquoted during his presentation to our Club on 5/20/16 and has requested a correction:
“We know that 46 percent of students who’ve graduated from the community colleges are not proficient in math or reading.” It should have read "who've graduated from high schools," not community colleges.
Please accept our apologies for any misunderstandings.
This week our Club will have an historic group photograph taken on the front steps at Portland City Hall. If it rains, the photo will be taken inside the front entry. We'd like to see as many of our members turn out for this historic photo opportunity.
YOU can leave your mark in the Rotary record books and YOUR face will go down in history!
At our Friday meeting, our club was once again honored to have as our speaker Earle Shettleworth, the one and only Maine State Historian. Earle, as always, entranced his audience, this time with the story of the Great Portland Fire of 1866, at the time the most devastating urban conflagration in United States history. Earle felt the timing was right to speak on this topic, as the 150-year anniversary of this disaster quickly approaches on July 4th and 5th, with media coverage expected in The Portland Press Herald, as well as at least one of the local television outlets. Also, look for an exhibition at The Maine Historical Society beginning in June and running into July.
For Portland, previously known as Falmouth Neck, there was already a long history of devastation followed by rebuilding, with the city being destroyed in 1675 and 1690 by fires and then again in 1775, when an angry British naval captain named Henry Mowatt attacked and plundered the city after being briefly held captive the previous year.
On the afternoon of July 4th, 1866, with the city’s residents celebrating the nation’s birthday, a small fire broke out at a boat shop near the rail lines off Commercial Street. Whether from a firecracker or, more likely, a spark from a passing freight car, the fire spread quickly during the afternoon and early evening, with a strong wind fanning the flames. Because of the city’s reliance on water from Portland Harbor to douse flames, a low tide proved very unlucky as the fire tore through the Old Port and up toward the city center near where our current city hall now sits. With mostly wooden structures tightly built in the city’s center, there was no shortage of fuel as the 4th turned to the 5th, with the city losing one-third of its buildings and 12,000 Portlanders were left homeless.
On the morning of July 5th, residents arose to the charred ruins of their beloved Forest City. Earle showed us photos from various angles, with the ravaged city still smoldering, the six-year old city hall gutted, the Old Port area leveled. The photos were eerily reminiscent of those we have seen from Nagasaki and Hiroshima, with block after block of nothing but stone chimneys remaining upright.
Within 24 hours, the US Army was setting up a “tent city” on the common land at the base of Munjoy Hill. 1500 tents were erected to house those who had lost everything. A food pantry opened at the old city hall and was inundated within hours. Harper’s Weekly, the nation’s largest magazine, published a story on the tragedy.
And, as Portland had done three times before, she rose from the ashes and once again earned the city motto of “Resurgam,” which translates to “I will rise again.” City Hall was built using the still-standing brick façade, Lincoln Park was built as a “fire break” for any future infernos. The Custom House and a new post office went up....and, perhaps most importantly, zoning changes were quickly enacted to allay some of the fears of Portlanders as they moved quickly back into the Old Port. Within ten years, the city looked anew, anchored by the grand Falmouth Hotel, which was built by local realtor J.B. Brown to entice others to move forward without trepidation, a strategy that proved quite successful. Many of the beautiful buildings of Portland sprung up in the wake of the Great Fire of 1866.
With the 150th anniversary of the fire quickly approaching, we can look back, with the help of one of Maine’s gems, Earle Shettleworth, and appreciate all that has gone into making Portland one our country’s most beloved little cities.
President Bowen opened the meeting by welcoming 60 members and 6 guests in the Casco Bay Hall of the Holiday Inn By-the-Bay.
Juliana L’Heureux presented our invocation, quoting from President Dwight Eisenhower’s speech designating May 30, 1954 as a U.S. holiday: A proclamation for peace and a call for amity between nations.
Dave Putnam led us in the Pledge of Allegiance, then we sang the National Anthem with Kathy Grammer playing the piano.
Jim Willey promised that the history moment being presented at today's meeting was to share the good and bad. Jim reminded us that from Portland Rotary’s beginning in 1915 to 1987, membership was restricted to only males. Even in this day and age, some Rotary clubs on this earth still restrict their members to males only. Jim apologized for his several years of biased membership before 1987, when the first woman to be admitted to our club was Jane Schurz.
Then the second and third women to join our club, Judy Cavalero ('87) and Loretta Rowe ('88) followed shortly after. As women were allowed to join, two Rotarians actually quit. It is undeniable that our club is immeasurably blessed with the contributions of our diverse female members. Loretta Rowe, who was our first woman president of Portland Rotary (1998-99), gave a warm presentation and admitted that Rotary has been a positive turning point in her life and the members became like a second family.
The weekly raffle, which was up to $285, was led by Jim Willey. Katie Brown was chosen, but she picked the three of diamonds. Her charity did better (The Locker Project) receiving a $500 donation from Rotary’s Charitable Fund.
(Photo: Jennifer Burns and member, Lili Brown)
The giving continued as Jennifer Burns, Director of Education accepted a $5000 check for the United Way of Greater Portland, to be used in making a video to help teach parents how to actively read to their children and offer encouragement for them to continue reading on their own. Another $877 check was presented to Feeding Bodies and Minds, an initiative of our CHE program. Long Creek Youth Center was not left out and Jim Willey accepted a $5000 check on their behalf of the former Long Creek residents to assist with their transition back into the communities.
Mike Fortunato encouraged members to register online by Friday afternoon (5/27), as to whether they will attend our Club's group photograph session next Friday, June 3, 2015 on the steps of City Hall. Mike also made an appeal for members to attend the lobster bake on Wednesday, June 8, which concludes the Maine Outdoor Challenge. You can contact Loretta Rowe to signup for this event: lrowe@maine.rr.com or 883-5432.
Our Foundation Chairperson-extraordinnaire, Amy Chipman came up to the podium requesting that Dick Giles join her. Dick awarded George Crockett with a Paul Harris Fellow and in turn, Amy awarded Dick with his fifth PHF.
(Photo: Kevin Stilphen, Caleb Southwick and Dave Putnam.)
Dave Putnam introduced PATHS Student Director, Kevin Stilphen, who introduced the Club to our newest Youth Service Award recipient, Caleb Southwick. Caleb received a scholarship award to further his education and a check to go to his charity of choice - West Buxton Baptist Church.
Our Rotary District is looking for help to host the inbound Argentinean District Vocational Training Team. This Group Study Exchange Team (GSE) of four (2 men, 2 women) will be coming to our area on Monday and Tuesday, June 6 and 7.
They are looking for 4 host families to house the team members overnight on Monday, plus volunteer to chauffeur the team members around for those two days, and to provide breakfast, lunch & dinner for the two days.
The GSE between District 7780 and Argentina will focus on collegial sharing between the mental health professionals of the outbound team and inbound team, as well as interfacing with other mental health professionals (particularly Rotarians) in each country. A particular emphasis will be on youth/adolescent mental health. The teams will visit a representative sampling of mental health/social service agencies in each country.
If you can volunteer or want additional information, please contact Assistant Governor Ann Schieber at: annschieber@gmail.com or at: 603-770-2744
Invocation:Russ Burleigh Program Reporter: Bob Martin Bits & Pieces Reporter: Tom Talbott Registration/Greeter: tbd Sell Meal Tickets: Loretta Rowe Raffle: Quincy Hentzel Badge Box: None Collect Meal Tickets: None Rotary Moment in History: John Curran Song Leader: Amy Chipman Pianist: None Sgt-at-Arms (Early): Dave Putnam Sgt-at-Arms (Late): Mac Collins
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 Loretta Rowe: lrowe@maine.rr.com. Your input will be appreciated.
PROSPECT BUSINESS (Sponsor) Chris Thomas Fidelity Investments (John Marr)
At our Friday meeting, our club was once again honored to have as our speaker Earle Shettleworth, the one and only Maine State Historian. Earle, as always, entranced his audience, this time with the story of the Great Portland Fire of 1866, at the time the most devastating urban conflagration in United States history. Earle felt the timing was right to speak on this topic, as the 150-year anniversary of this disaster quickly approaches on July 4th and 5th, with media coverage expected in The Portland Press Herald, as well as at least one of the local television outlets. Also, look for an exhibition at The Maine Historical Society beginning in June and running into July.
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