05/12/17 Club Assembly - What's Happening at Portland Rotary
President Laura Young extended particular thanks to Club Service volunteers, including Past President Cyrus Hagge and his team who provide video coverage of meetings for broadcast on local CTN channel 5. Past President Loretta Rowe leads the reporters who write for the Club's weekly newsletter - The Windjammer - and thanks to Past President Russ Burleigh as the club photographer.
Programs. Program speakers have been fabulous with credit to the leadership of Rusty Atwood and his team, including Bob Martin, David Clough, Past President Roxane Cole, Dave Putnam and others.
Membership. During this 2016-2017 Rotary year, we brought in 17 new members, soon to be 18 and our membership now stands at 138. It was a goal to build a diversified club membership and has been an ongoing achievement with new members reflecting the diversity in the Portland community. 2017-18 Membership Co-Chairs Tom Ranello (at right) and Leisa Collins will continue with this goal in mind.
Fund Raising was reported by Past President Kris Rosado. Sponsorship donations for the “Veterans Appreciation Lunch” was successful in 2016, with $2,000 already dedicated to the November 2017 event. This annual program to recognize and host veterans is intended to be a bank-sponsored event. If every bank contributed $500 for a table, the effort would easily achieve $8,000 to support the event's costs.
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(Photo L-R MOC announcers: Travis Parker, Mike Fortunato, Jim Willey, Kris Rosado and Gracie Johnston.)
Fund raising for the 6th Annual “Maine Outdoor Challenge” (MOC) to be held on June 5-7, 2017, raises in excess of $37,000 to support the Club’s community service projects, Portland’s Boys and Girls Club and the international 3-H programs. Support for MOC is a total Club effort! Past President Jim Willey is creating an additional team he has dubbed the “Silver Foxes” and several members raised their hands to be included on it.
Travis Parker requested items for the silent auction and volunteers to help solicit more items from restaurants and local businesses. Large donation items can be held at the Boys and Girls Club and smaller items can be brought to our meetings and given to Travis - contact Travis at: travisparker@gmail.com. Two types of raffle tickets are for sale: only 300 will be sold at $20 per ticket or 6 for $100 for some major prizes to be drawn at the lobster bake; a second type of raffle ticket is offered for a $500 L.L. Bean gift certificate selling at $10 a ticket or 5 for $40. Meal tickets are also available for the lobster bake from Loretta Rowe: lrowe@maine.rr.com. Don't wait until the last minute....get your tickets NOW!
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International Service Chair, Dr. Roger Fagan reported on the 3-H hearing aid program. He hopes to receive many more donated hearing aids in addition to those contributed by distributors. Continued ongoing training of those who are providing “hands on” hearing assistance at the Dominican Republic clinics are planned via video conferencing. Jan Chapman (photo right) reported on the progress with the new 3-D prosthetic hands.
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David Small (photo left) reported on the installation of the water filters and solar lights in the Bateyes.
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Over the past year, Public Relations Chair Linda Varrell provided the assistance of an intern at her business to help with marketing, press releases and on-line posts in social media. Her successful efforts allowed the club to receive over $8,000 in valuable media through the publication of press releases covering Portland Rotary stories.
(Photo L-R: Dick Hall and Amy Chipman)
Foundation Chair Amy Chipman thanked those who contributed to the Rotary Foundation through donations, Sustaining Memberships and bequests. The Club goal for 2016-2017 was $15,000 and it should be achieved by June 30. Year-to-date Foundation contributions are $13,790, three outstanding members will contribute another $600 and 15 Sustaining Members have contributed $1,500. Annual contributions to the Rotary Foundation can be made in four ways: (a) EREY (Every Rotarian Every Year) - any level of contribution and 62 Portland Rotarians are in this group; (b) Sustaining Members - contribute $100 annually and there are 22 members in this group; (c) Circle of Five - Each member contributes $200 annually, there are currently 8 circles with 40 members and a 9th circle is being organized; and (d) the Paul Harris Society, where contributors donate $1,000 annually, there are three members in this group. Additionally, Major Donors achieve contributions to reach $10,000 and there is one member in this category. Benefactors include those who donate endowment funds - remembering Rotary as a beneficiary in their estate or when a member donates $1,000 or more to the fund outright- there are seven members in this group. A Bequest Society member Level 1, is when a member donates $10,000 or more via an estate plan and there are 2 members in this group. One Portland Rotarian is in the group of new direct or bequest contributions of $10,000. A 100th Anniversary of the Rotary Foundation was celebrated in 2017. In 2017-2018 the Foundation Chair is Past President Dick Hall, who told us next year’s goal is to raise $20,000.
(Photo L-R: Janelle LoSciuto and Lili Brown.)
Youth Services Chair Janelle LoSciuto reported that Youth Services supported 7 students for the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) program and scholarships were given to local-area school seniors. Portland High School Interact is recruiting for more members. There is $1,000 in the budget for a youth exchange program, which unfortunately did not happen this year, but the efforts continue towards a successful program in the near future. $250 has been donated to the volunteer efforts at Long Creek Youth Development Center. Lili Brown thanked everyone who participated in the Lyseth Reading program, where 13 people from the USM Law School and 13 Rotarians donated time to read to students. This program is extended into the summer at North Deering Gardens, scheduled from July 6 to August 10.
It’s been a busy, but productive, year for Portland Rotarians!