WE NEED YOUR HELP!Friday, February 26, we will hold our famous re-gifting/new-item auction at our Rotary meeting. This being a LEAP year, we have named it our "Leap Into Auction" event. Everyone can find something of intrinsic value to donate....minimum value of $15.00....maybe a gift certificate to your favorite restaurant....OR something you received over the holidays that just wasn't right for you, but would be cherished by someone else. Be creative!
We need to know what you will donate BEFORE the day of the auction, so we can prepare the proper paperwork......PLEASE!
For more information or to let us know what you would like to donate, please contact Loretta (lrowe@maine.rr.com). The proceeds will go towards the operating fund of our club.
THE AUCTION WILL RUN FROM 11:30 A.M. AND END SHARPLY AT 1:00 P.M. - OUT OF RESPECT FOR OUR SPEAKER/PROGRAM.Check out will not begin until the meeting ends....please don't ask to be checked out early. We will accept CASH, CHECKS and CREDIT CARDS. DO NOT pick up any items you win from the bidding tables. When you check out and pay, the item(s) will be brought to you.
On Friday, March 4, 12:00-1:30 pm Portland Rotary Club's meeting will be held at Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle Street, Portland, ME.
Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ (FOKO) will host the meeting!
The mighty Kotzschmar Organ, in its 103rd year, is a national icon and is an integral part of the cultural history of Portland. Portland’s municipal organist, Ray Cornils, assisted by FOKO docents, will give a demonstration and offer tours of the newly-renovated Kotzschmar Organ. Tours will start at 1:20 and last between 10-20 minutes to go through the organ. Yes! You can actually walk inside the windchest of the organ!
We would like to extend an invitation to all members and clubs in the District to join us. We need a head count for set up and catering. Please also advise if you will be bringing any guest(s). Please RSVP by 2/26 to Loretta Rowe: lrowe@maine.rr.com.
We hope you will join us!
Since May 15, 2012, Bill Williamson has been Maine State President for Bank of America. A native who has called Maine home for most of his life, Williamson has been with the company since joining a predecessor institution in 1981.
As state president, Williamson helps integrate Bank of America business lines throughout Maine, allowing the company to reach more individuals, families and businesses while deepening relationships with existing customers. He also oversees corporate social responsibility activities including philanthropic giving, community development lending and investing, environmental initiatives, diversity efforts, arts and culture projects, and employee volunteerism.
In addition to his responsibilities as state president, Williamson is a senior client manager in Bank of America’s Global Commercial Bank. In that capacity, he serves a diverse group of public and private companies in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.
Williamson, a Colby College alumnus, resides in Falmouth with his wife and the youngest of his three daughters. He is active in the community, having served on the boards of the Greater Portland Chamber of Commerce and the Susan Curtis Foundation. He currently serves on the board of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce.
Justin LaMontagne introduced Andrea Cianchette-Maker, an attorney at Pierce Atwood who spoke about the “Focus Maine” program, a collaborative business leadership coalition with a purpose of accelerating the creation of jobs. Focus Maine was an idea she wanted to develop to improve Maine’s economy. A team was recruited to keep the focus on private sector leadership. They looked at the intersection between global markets and Maine’s economy where higher level jobs could be attracted to the state. Although the potential for attracting new employment is optimistic, the target for Focus Maine is to create 10,000 jobs over a three-year period. Three business sectors were prioritized:
Agriculture – Maine has abundant water and available land and the potential for producing high quality food. Young farmers are coming to Maine. In fact, food processing is a profitable business. For example, Crown of Maine Organic Cooperative (COMAC) is processing root vegetables as is Pineland Farms with potatoes.
Aquaculture – A 3,200-mile coastline and plenty of cold water can support aquaculture and recruit acquaculturists to grow salmon and mollusks, because natural free-range seafood is rare. Fish protein demand is growing.
Biopharmaceuticals – a little higher risk sector, but an emerging business where mammalian rather than synthetic additives are used to make pharmaceuticals efficiently. Boston pharmaceutical companies will be recruited to support this sector, because they will be close to the manufacturing producers in Maine. Also, Maine’s good quality of life will attract pharma manufacturing professionals while providing for an easy commute to the Boston companies. There is no bio-pharma culture in Maine at this time.
A pitch program is being developed to interest more people in the initiatives supported by Focus Maine. Eventually, the leadership team will identify a capacity to identify all growth sectors. They also realize the essential need to attract and retain knowledgeable workers. Contact Andrea Ciancette-Maker at: amaker@pierceatwood.com for more information about Focus Maine.
(Photo: President Bowen presenting a certificate of appreciation to speaker, Andrea Cianchette-Maker.)
President Bowen opened the meeting in the Casco Bay Hall of the Holiday Inn By-the-Bay by welcoming 49 club members, 2 visiting Rotarians and 3 guests. Peggy Westcott presented us with an invocation, the 'Children’s Prayer.' Roxane Cole was called upon to lead us in the pledge to our flag, and Russ Burleigh accompanied us on the piano for our patriotic song, 'God Bless America.'
After partaking of our fellowship and lunch, President Bowen introduced the visiting Rotarians and guests.
President Bowen confessed that if, in presiding, he seemed a bit off kilter, we might exhibit some charity, as he just arrived back in Portland two hours earlier after sleeping the night at the Newark, NJ airport.
Leonard Scott provided us with a page-out-of-history for the years 1958-59. Ed Boulos was Portland Rotary president. We moved from the Falmouth Hotel to the Hotel LaFayette; Alaska was admitted as a state; Russia launched Sputnik; Club attendance percentage was similar to the percentage of attendance we currently have and our club ranked 37 out of 40 clubs in the district on that score.
It’s a small world after all. George Crockett was soliciting toiletries for Preble Street Resource Center and recalled his Rotary adventure with PolioPlus in Ethiopia. While there he met General Albert Chippola of Zambia, who, he learned, is also an acquaintance of our club member Maxwell Chikuta.
President Bowen announced that Erik Greven, Community Service Chair, still needed a few more volunteers for our volunteer night at Preble Street Soup Kitchen on Wednesday, Feb. 24th. Erik will be away, so please contact President Bowen if you and/or a friend can plan to help, contact Bowen at: bowen.depke@spireexpress.com or call him at 749-3728.
On March 4th our meeting will be in the Merrill Auditorium for a program and tour of the Kotzschmar Organ. If you plan to attend please email Loretta Rowe at: lrowe@maine.rr.com and tell her you will be coming and hopefully bringing a guest. (See separate article in this edition for more details.)
Ellen Niewoehner announced that our annual auction will be held at our meeting on Friday, Feb 26th, at the Clarion Hotel. We need donation items: new, gently-used and other items you might have received, but would like to "pay it forward" that might become a treasure to someone else. Please contact Loretta (lrowe@maine.rr.com) ASAP with items you would like to donate (see separate article on the auction in this edition). Please bring your donated items to the meeting BY11:30 a.m. Contact Ellen if you can volunteer to help as a "runner" at the auction.
Jerry Angier ran the weekly raffle that was up to $1163. Our speaker drew Jean Murchanian’s name, giving her a chance to try and find the Queen of Hearts in a deck of 22 cards, but she drew the six of clubs.
We know of a particular snow bird that is returning early this year. Harry Sawyer misses Maine and his Rotary friends so much, we hear from his daughter that he will return this coming week and hopes to be at Friday's meeting. Be sure to say "hi" to him
Invocation:Paul Tully Program Reporter: John Marr Bits & Pieces Reporter: Jake Bourdeau Registration/Greeter: Rusty Atwood Sell Meal Tickets: David Lee Raffle: Jan Chapman Badge Box: None Collect Meal Tickets: Nan Heald Rotary Moment in History: Dave Small/Jim Willey Song Leader: Gracie Johnston Pianist: None Sgt-at-Arms (Early): Matt Tassey Sgt-at-Arms (Late): Jim Willey
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(S)
George Carr RM Davis Laura Young
Quincy Hentzel Industrium Lamontagne/Depke
Patty Erickson Bath Savings Rob Chatfield Jennifer Frederick Bath Savings Rob Chatfield
Since May 15, 2012, Bill Williamson has been Maine State President for Bank of America. A native who has called Maine home for most of his life, Williamson has been with the company since joining a predecessor institution in 1981.
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