04/28/17 Bits & Pieces

With President Laura Young back at the helm, she welcomed 59 members, 2 honorary members, 1 visiting Rotarian and 4 guests. Charle Frair read an E.E. Cummings poem of prayer entitled “I Thank You God For Most This Amazing.” Bruce Moore led us in the Pledge, and Russ Burleigh kept us in tune with “God Bless America.”   

Laura then thanked the multitude of members who contributed their effort towards making the day’s meeting possible.

(Photo L-R: 3-H team headed to the DR - Jan Chapman, Bruce Moore, Dave Small, Bill Blount, Dick Hall, Drs. Liz and Roger Fagan.)

Portland Rotarians are out in force again serving our community and around the world. This past week a Rotary team worked at Preble Street Resource Center serving dinner – next week 10 Rotarians head to Deering HS to provide students with interview prep – on Saturday (April 29) 10 Rotarians head down to the Dominican Republic with Drs. Roger and Liz Fagan for more humanitarian work. More on that later!

Our thoughts and prayers for Justin Lamontagne and family. Justin’s wife, Marycelina had surgery for breast cancer, and we wish her a speed recovery. Lili Brown’s husband just had surgery for Parkinson’s, so reach out to them both with your support.

Terri St. Angelo took the podium for a “Rotary Moment.” Terri started out by asking us "Have you ever felt yourself wandering, asking whether what you’re doing is making an impact – is there something more?" Terri said she was involved – PTO, school boards, ‘Tri For a Cure’ – but felt something missing. That would soon change, after an invitation from Linda Varrell to come to lunch at Rotary, which brought Terri to the club. Governor LePage spoke that day to a large audience. We recited the Pledge, we sang a song.  “All good,” thought Terri. Then a request went out for volunteers for our Veterans Day Appreciation Lunch. Though she was not a member yet, she volunteered. Arriving at the event, knowing barely a soul, she was asked to welcome the arriving vets and guests with a big smile. Turns out she knew more people than she imagined, and when told by many “hope you come back,” that was the moment she knew she wanted to be a part of us. She said she now recognizes that being a part of Rotary is to be a part of something much bigger. She then asked us all to take a moment, look around at the people seated at the table with us, and give them a big smile. Thank you, Terri!

Aforementioned Dr. Roger Fagan provided more details on the upcoming Dominican Republic trip. 18 people, hailing from ME, Alaska, Oregon, S. Carolina and Florida will be working out of the 3H Good Samaritan Hospital. Project goals include 140 new and improved water filtration systems, 200 hearing aids, prosthetic hands, and solar powered lighting. They have no hurricane to deal with this trip! We wish you all safe travels!

Mike Fortunato updated us on the “Maine Outdoor Challenge.” This is our #1 fundraiser, and the majority of the money we are able to donate to organizations and programs during the year stems from the success of this event. We have 31 teams so far, and the goal is 45. Are you looking for a team to be on? We’ll get you matched up on a team. Also – tickets for the Lobster Bake are now on sale -  $32 Lobster, $28 Steak, and $26 Chicken - and you can get them starting this Friday – available from Loretta Rowe at our regular meetings over the next four weeks - and at: lrowe@maine.rr.com. Rotarians get these special rates, so be sure to contact Loretta with your request. If you go online to purchase your tickets, the rates will be different. Please make your check payable to the "Boys and Girls Club." Volunteers are needed for the days of the event and sign-up sheets will be on the tables starting Friday, May 5th!  

With the weekly raffle being up to $2,050, Charlie Frair shuffled the deck of 7 cards, as John Houghton was called upon to find the Queen of Hearts. With hearts racing – breaths held – there was no payoff. Odds of winning improve next week! 

(Photo L-R: President Laura Young, Jan Chapman, Emma Spies and Kathryn Barr.)

Jan Chapman, introduced Catherine Barr from Maine Girls Academy (formerly Kathryn McAuley High School), who in turn introduced Emma Spies, class of 2017, as our newest Youth Service Award recipient. Describing Emma as quiet but enthusiastic, she told us of Emma’s engagement at the age of 10 with ‘Angel Flight,’ a non-profit group that provides plane rides for children and adults who need hospitalization for cancer and debilitating chronic diseases. Since that time, Emma’s lemonade stand has earned $15,000 for the program. Addressing the Rotarians, Emma said that “service is something you live,” and thanked us for the $1,000 donation for her future schooling, plus the additional $100 donation to ‘Angel Flight.’ 

(Photo L-R: Dave Small, Amy Chipman and Loretta Rowe.)

Amy Chipman reminded us that for each dollar we donate to the Rotary Foundation, 50% comes back to us in district grants after 3 years. It can add up – nearly $103,000 is coming back into our District this Rotary year. Right in sync, Amy called upon Loretta Rowe and David Small to award them with Paul Harris Fellow Recognition Awards. This is Loretta’s 5th, David’s 2nd, each award representing $1,000 in contributions to the Foundation.  

(Photo L-R: Abdullahi Ali, Andreea Paine and President Laura Young.)

Andreea Paine welcomed new member Abdullahi Ali, currently the founder and CEO for Gateway Community Services. Abdullahi was born in Somalia, raised in Kenya, and resettled in Maine in 2009. He studied at SMCC, USM, and earned a Masters In Science and Justice Studies from So. NH University. He currently lives in Portland, and is an avid soccer player. Welcome, Abdullahi!