THIS WEEK'S SPEAKER: Kathryn Sargent, Executive Director, The Locker Project
Kathryn is executive director of the Locker Project, a South Portland-based nonprofit that operates school- and community-based take-home food programs for children and families in Cumberland County. She worked as an academic editor for more than 25 years before moving to Maine and taking on her current role. Kathryn holds a B.A. in economics and religion from Bowdoin College, an M.A. in ethics from the University of Virginia, and a graduate certificate in applied research and evaluation methods from the Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine.
Founded in Portland in 2014, the Locker Project relies on foundation grants and contributions from local businesses and community members to provide food-insecure children and families with reliable access to nourishing food. Unlike school meal programs, the Locker Project provides fresh produce and meal items for the whole family. Unlike traditional food pantries, the Locker Project partners with schools and other local agencies to make food available at dozens of locations. This year, program partners will facilitate the distribution of more than 600,000 pounds of nutritious food in Greater Portland and beyond. Community members interested in supporting this work can find more information or make a donation at www.mainelockerproject.org.
BITS AND PIECES | by Erik Jorgensen
Clouds were rolling in for the weekly weekend rainstorm (reputedly the 11th in a row) as John Thompson took the gavel and expertly led this week’s meeting the absence of President Patty.
Paul Tully provided an historical overview of Memorial Day, from its Civil War roots, through its early days as “Decoration Day” to its status today as a major national holiday where the fallen from all wars are recognized.
QUEEN STILL MISSING: Roger Fagan stepped up to the deck, and with great anticipation …drew the 10 of spades. The raffle pot grows, and the Queen of Hearts continues to elude us.
STUDENT OF MONTH AWARD: Dave Putnam introduced our student of the month, Hannah Josephs from PATHS. Hannah is studying early childhood education – and has a reputation as an expert at “the detective work of learning about kids”. She’s a leader in the classroom and is also involved in 4H. She’s headed to USM this fall, and was joined at Rotary by her mom, Ellen. Fun fact: Hannah has a sister who preceded her in receiving this honor.
ITALIAN TRADE: The “Rotary Conclave”: Bruce Jones reported that he is back from Italy, where he joined Mike Fortunato and Larry Gross in the Tuscan city of Lucca. There, the club meets at night, and everyone dresses up for what we would consider to be an old-style Rotary meeting (but with a four-course meal). It was a great trip and included several expeditions to other cities, including Rome. The smoke was white! The extra highlight was to trade club flags, so look for our new Lucca flag.
FLAGS GEARING UP: Charlie Frair spoke about progress on Flags for Heroes. Heroes are needed! The festivities of the actual event will start on July 11th at with our annual Rotary meeting at Hadlock Field, followed by the official Heroes ball game on Sunday the 13th. The following Friday July 18th, we will meet at the Maine Mall for our Flags dedication ceremony. Remember: Tickets are needed for the ball game (which is expected to sell out) and the hero flag sponsorships need to be signed up by July 4th. In the meantime, nominate your hero and share the gift of recognition. Sponsorships and Sea Dogs tickets can be found at here on our website.
Following Charlie's update Bev Uhlenhake shared memories of the hero in her life, a very accomplished gentleman who she worked with. A doctor, who was very involved in countless Boards and community projects, and what stood out was that he didn't just show up, he showed up to work. It was a lasting impression, and though he passed away, she is honoring him as a hero in her life. Well said Bev.
WATER, WATER: Dave Small reported on an application to Rotary International for a grant to support more water filters in the DR. The proposal was deemed complete by RI and has been submitted.
HAPPY DOLLARS: Jack Carr offered a paean to the joys of successfully restarting motors after winter. In his case, five stored motors, ranging from a lawnmower to a boat, started without any trouble. Cheers!
PURPLE BAGGERS: Thank you Amy Chipman for organizing this volunteer opportunity with our good friends at the Locker Project and to Mike Ross, Ellen Niewoehner, Doug Packard, Patty Byers, Bruce Moore, Jan Chapman, and Liz Fagan and Lucy for a fun afternoon of service, fellowship, and lots of laughter! The 300 bags were filled with non-perishable pantry staples and snacks for distribution at their warehouse in South Portland.
THE DUES WE PAY: Annual Club Dues are due June 1. You are asked to pay promptly. If you did not get an invoice, please see Dick Hall.
The dues rate for Portland Rotary was approved by the Board of Directors and announced by Patty Byers on May 9, 2025
Regular Members: $260 (an increase of $10)
Satellite Club Members: $190 (an increase of $5)
Under Forty Members: $190 (an increase of $5)
Below you can see how the dues are dispersed. The row "Dues Invoice" is what members pay, followed by four rows that show where the money goes.
For example, Regular Members pay $260, with $44 going to the District, $4 to NE President Elect Leadership, $108.75 for Rotary International, and $103.25 for Club operating costs.
LAST WEEK'S SPEAKER: Joshua Brister, Maine Black Chamber of Commerce | By David Patterson
We were honored to welcome Joshua Brister as our featured speaker this past Friday. A Navy veteran, community builder, and Baton Rouge native now living in Maine, Josh leads the Maine Black Chamber of Commerce (MBCC), a dynamic organization advocating for the growth and sustainability of minority- and veteran-owned businesses across the state.
Josh’s remarks were inspiring, candid, and energizing. He began by acknowledging his fellow veterans and the sacrifices of those who came before him, then moved quickly to share the mission and urgent work of the MBCC. Founded just four years ago, the Chamber already supports a diverse network of business owners across Maine, from traditional family-run companies to immigrant-led startups.
A major focus of Josh’s talk was the recent shuttering of the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)—a federal office founded in 1969 to support minority-owned, veteran-owned, and women-owned businesses with access to contracts, capital, and certification. Josh described the loss of MBDA funding as a blow to economic equity, especially in rural states like Maine where small businesses are the economic backbone.
In a compelling moment of audience engagement, Josh asked members to hold up their phones and see how many Black-owned businesses they had contact with. “If we don’t know these businesses,” he said, “how can we support them?”
Josh explained that the Chamber is not just advocating for Black businesses, but for fairness, innovation, and economic resilience statewide. In fact, many government contracts now require the inclusion of certified disadvantaged businesses—without them, local businesses risk missing out on significant opportunities.
His call to action was clear:
Tell two people what you learned about the MBDA and the Maine Black Chamber of Commerce.
Contact your legislators to restore funding and authority to the MBDA.
Support the Chamber, whether through membership, partnership, or donation.
June 13- Changing of the Guard - President Patty Byers, Year In Review
June 19- (Thursday) Club Social - Potluck at Roger & Liz Fagan's Home
June 20 No Meeting
June 27 - David Peckhem - S.E.E.D. Students Empowered to End Dependency
July 4 - No Meeting Happy 4th of July Weekend
July 11 - Annual Picnic Lunch at Hadlock Field/ Portland Sea Dogs
July 13- (Sunday) Flags For Heroes Event - Hadlock Field
July 18- Meeting at Maine Mall - Flags For Heroes Celebration
July 25th - Our New President - John Thompson
Club Executives
President Patty Byers President Elect John Thompson Vice President Justin Lamontagne TreasurerDick Hall Secretary Tom Nickerson Board of Directors Dick Hall,
Kathryn is executive director of the 
Clouds were rolling in for the weekly weekend rainstorm (reputedly the 11th in a row) as John Thompson took the gavel and expertly led this week’s meeting the absence of President Patty.
ITALIAN TRADE: The “Rotary Conclave”: Bruce Jones reported that he is back from Italy, where he joined Mike Fortunato and Larry Gross in the Tuscan city of Lucca. There, the club meets at night, and everyone dresses up for what we would consider to be an old-style Rotary meeting (but with a four-course meal). It was a great trip and included several expeditions to other cities, including Rome. The smoke was white! The extra highlight was to trade club flags, so look for our new Lucca flag.
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