Dave Underhill is a media and business consultant in Portsmouth NH, Past President of the Portsmouth NH Rotary Club (2013-2014) and of the Brattleboro VT Rotary Club (District 7870, 1989-1990).
His broadcasting and publishing career started in Boston (WGBH, WBZ-TV, WCVB-TV). He and his wife Linda met while working at WBZ, and later moved to Vermont, where they owned and operated community-service radio stations WKVT AM & FM from 1983-1994. After joining the Brattleboro Rotary Club in 1984, he served on the board, as club Secretary and club President, then chaired the club’s Gateway Foundation. In 1994, he was part of a pilot team that traveled to El Salvador to develop clean-water projects.
Dave’s Rotary service was interrupted when his career took him to Tribune Company in Chicago as a senior executive in broadcasting, cable and internet publishing. He and Linda returned to New England, settling in Portsmouth in 2006; their son and daughter-in-law live in nearby Raymond NH.
Dave has chaired Portsmouth Rotary’s Interact, Finance and Foundation committees, as well as the board of directors. He is a member of Rotary’s Bequest Society and a Major Donor member of the Paul Harris Society.
In addition to his Rotary service, he does non-profit fundraising work and serves as a volunteer small-business mentor for SCORE.
Dave was born in upstate New York, and is a graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy (NH) and Boston University, with a B.S. in Broadcasting and Film. When he’s not immersed in Rotary, you may find him with his chef’s hat on, or perhaps driving golf balls into the boulders and trees of New Hampshire, Maine or Prince Edward Island.
Last Friday, Bob Martin, in introducing our speaker, Bruce Coffin, made note that 47% of all book sales in the United States are in the “mystery/crime” genre. But, one would speculate, very few of these authors had spent 30 years in police work, much less in Portland, Maine, as Mr. Coffin had done as the detective sergeant in charge of homicide and violent crimes with the Portland Police Department.
After a graduating from USM, his dreams of becoming an author dashed by a less than encouraging professor, Bruce Coffin decided to follow the lead of his mentor and uncle, who was a longtime police officer in Gorham. After a long and illustrious career in crime prevention, Bruce retired five years ago and merely dabbled in writing, working full-time in bathroom and kitchen remodeling. With his first book “shelved,” he decided to get to work hiring an agent, which he managed to do in New York City just as Harper Collins Publishing became interested in his second effort at a crime novel. Within weeks, Bruce had hit the big-time, signing a three-book deal and having a short story honored as one of the twenty “best of the year” and published in a very prestigious analogy.
Initially titled “The Reaping,” the first in the three-book series following young Portland detective John Byron was a smash hit....at one point landing the book, now re-titled “Among the Shadows,” on many best seller lists, including a run as #1 in Maine and, for a fleeting moment this past January, as the #25 bestselling book on earth. Bruce’s lifelong ambition has seemingly come to pass with plans for the next two books (at 100,000 words apiece!) set for immediate follow-up to the highly successful first effort.
Bruce offered the Portland Rotary Club a unique perspective into the world of publishing, law enforcement and following one’s dreams. We were fortunate to have him join us and wish him well as he hits “the big time” as police officer-turned-author.
(Photo L-R: President Don Zillman, Bob Martin and Bruce Robert Coffin.)
President Don Zillman opened the meeting, welcoming 48 members and 2 guests.
Peggy Westcott led us in reflection with the invocation and Kathy Grammer helped us sing our patriotic song.
Roger Asch shared the purpose of the Good Cheer Committee and requested that everyone share with the committee any news about Rotarians, or their family members, who are sick, in the hospital, or dealing with a challenge, so that we can help comfort or provide encouragement. Committee members are listed in the Club roster.
Speaking of Club rosters.....THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE THIS COMING FRIDAY AT OUR MEETING! DON'T FORGET TO PICK YOURS UP (Your name will be on the back cover).
Dick Giles shared the results of the 3H Project’s effort with solar lights and water filters. So far, the team has installed 145 water filters, sufficient to serve almost 2,000 people. Last year, the team provided 50 solar lights. This year, the 3H Project has a goal of providing 70 lights. These cost $15 each. Dick encouraged donations, and within minutes had received over $1,000 from members in attendance, including $500 from an anonymous donor. PLUS YOU CAN make a donation by contacting Loretta or Dick at a meeting....or email Dick at maragiles@yahoo.com.
Steve Mortimer, conducting the weekly raffle, tried to give away the $546 in the pot to lucky opportunist, Julie Chase, who could only find the Jack of Diamonds in the mix. The pot thickens.
Invocation: Russ Burleigh Program Reporter: Dick Hall Bits & Pieces Reporter: Julie L'Heureux Registration/Greeter: Andrew Cook Sell Meal Tickets: Tom Nickerson Raffle: Jennifer Frederick Badge Box: David Clough Collect Meal Tickets: David Clough * Song Leader: Gracie Johnston Pianist: Russ Burleigh Sgt-at-Arms (Setup): Bruce Moore Sgt-at-Arms (Take Down): Charlie Frair
Following is a list of our Club's volunteer projects. If you know of other opportunities, please contact Loretta: lrowe@maine.rr.com
When Project Who to Contact
The Locker July 24th Monday Project 12:00-1:00 pm at Reiche 2-3 volunteers Elementary Steve Phillips School email below volunteer@mainelockerproject.org
Preble Street 4th Wednesday ea month Resource Ctr 4-6:30 pm Soup Kitchen Gracie Johnston gracie.johnson@wcsh6.com
The following items are needed on an on-going basis. Please feel free to bring them to a meeting where we will collect and distribute them.
Crutches4Africa - Crutches, canes, folding walkers and wheelchairs to be shipped to Africa.
Toiletries for the Shelters - Collect those tiny bottles of toiletries you are paying for during your next hotel visit and bring them home for members of our society who find themselves staying at a shelter and in need of personal hygiene products.
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) Eileen Skinner Retired CEO (David Small) Mercy Hospital
Peter Moore Corporate Finance (Peter Goffin) Associates
Dave Underhill is a media and business consultant in Portsmouth NH, Past President of the Portsmouth NH Rotary Club (2013-2014) and of the Brattleboro VT Rotary Club (District 7870, 1989-1990). .JPG)
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Roger Asch shared the purpose of the Good Cheer Committee and requested that everyone share with the committee any news about Rotarians, or their family members, who are sick, in the hospital, or dealing with a challenge, so that we can help comfort or provide encouragement. Committee members are listed in the Club roster.
Dick Giles shared the results of the 3H Project’s effort with solar lights and water filters. So far, the team has installed 145 water filters, sufficient to serve almost 2,000 people. Last year, the team provided 50 solar lights. This year, the 3H Project has a goal of providing 70 lights. These cost $15 each. Dick encouraged donations, and within minutes had received over $1,000 from members in attendance, including $500 from an anonymous donor. PLUS YOU CAN make a donation by contacting Loretta or Dick at a meeting....or email Dick at 
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