Maine Outdoor Challenge Overall Point Winners. At press time, the complete names of the team were not available. The Varney Team won the L.L. Bean Boot Trophy: Mike Varney, Ben Delcourt, Damon Vogell, Jared Gordon, and Kendrick Ballantyne.
(Photo: Our own Ben Delcourt, on left, holding the trophy with Mike Varney.)
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL WINNERS AND TO ALL THE CHALLENGE PARTICIPANTS AND VOLUNTEERS!
SOLAR LIGHTS FOR THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC:
For more information, please contact Dick Giles at: maragiles@yahoo.com
Our scheduled speaker for June 23 was Dr. Danielle Ripich, the retiring President of the University of New England. Dr. Ripich regrets that a change in her schedule results in her not being able to speak to Portland Rotary. Dr. Jeanne Hey, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, UNE, will join us instead.
Jeanne Hey, Ph.D., Dean, College of Arts & Sciences, University of New England
Jeanne Hey earned a B.A. in international relations and Spanish from Bucknell University and an M.A. and Ph.D. in political science from the Ohio State University. Her teaching and research interests lie in the areas of international politics, comparative foreign policy, the developing world, Latin America, and small states. She was a faculty member in Miami University’s (Ohio) department of political science and program in international studies from 1992-2011, serving as the director of international studies for nine years. She also served as interim dean of Miami University’s Middletown campus in 2009-10. She lives in Saco, ME, with her husband Thomas Klak and their two sons.
Tom Rainey - Maine Center for Entrepreneurial Development (MCED)
Tom started by telling us he was casually dressed in red and orange because next week is Lobster Appreciation week, which started his casual conversation with Portland Rotary. Tom is newly arrived from Arizona, where he spent the last 10 years. He joins MCED during its 20th anniversary year. Tom has a love of working with entrepreneurs, helping them avoid critical errors. Tom landed in Portland when he and his wife, a French Canadian, wanted to get to New England to be closer to his wife’s family. Portland is a great place because Tom says that there has never been a better time to be entrepreneurs in Maine. Next week is ‘Startup and Create Week,’ with a new food festival coming to Thompson’s Point on June 22nd.
MCED is planning a 20th anniversary gala event in fall, with details to follow. The Top Gun program is a hallmark of MCED, where 144 companies have completed it, with 121 still in business and going strong. This compares with a typical 50% failure rate. These companies enjoy $25 million revenue and have secured $9 million in outside funding. 5% are food, beverage or agriculture ventures.
The Top Gun is a 15-week intensive training program that matches companies with mentors and service providers. In this process, it is critically important to get chemistry right between companies and mentors/providers. MCED is planning a new pilot program to help $1-15 million companies scale up to $20 million plus. Six companies have been targeted, and are in the assessment and roadmap phase. It is planned to use fractional executives, experienced people who work 1-2 days per week for a company to manage areas where needed to allow the companies to step up to the next level.
New federal funding has allowed Top Gun to expand from Portland to Rockland, Lewiston, and UMaine locations. The next program has 32 companies, 44 entrepreneurs, and 48 guest speakers, with significant economic diversification. The program is designed to plant seedlings and nurture them to grow. Companies are taught how to pitch their company to investors. There is a pitching competition, where 8 finalists deliver pitches to 220 people, with 2 prizes, $10K cash and $120K of Microsoft services. The Top Gun program de-risks a company in the eyes of investors.
The goal of MCED is to come alongside other strategic organizations, Coastal Enterprises (CEI), the Defense Adjustment Program for ME, the Ship Building industry and others to diversify businesses and prepare for change or growth. There are several co-working spaces popping up, such as Cloudport on Federal Street. MCED has relocated to Cloudport to be near a target rich environment. Other co-working spaces are the ThinkTank on Congress Street and the business incubator, TechSpace in Brunswick. MCED works with several partner organizations including Maine Technology (MTI), Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) and the University of Maine.
(Photo L-R: Bob Martin, Tom Rainey and President Laura Young.)
President Laura Young welcomed a full house of 70 members, 3 visiting Rotarians and 1 guest to our meeting. Tom Nickerson presented our meeting’s invocation. (Tom remarked how much he looked forward to sharing a meal with friends and to recharge in honest fellowship, particularly after another week of political pettiness and gun violence that has been prevalent in our daily news.) For the invocations, Tom chose words from President Teddy Roosevelt on putting life and duty in perspective. “Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and the true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds.” Tom added that as we gather, we recognize our diversity, and honor our unity in gratitude. Let us rejoice in fellowship.
Roger Fagan led us in the Pledge of Allegiance, and Kathy Grammer accompanied us on piano, as we sang “America The Beautiful.” Laura introduced two visiting Rotarians, one from nearby Bridgeton Lake, the other from Argentina, as well as, one visitor who joined us from Los Angeles. Laura thanked all those who were part of the meeting’s set up and implementation.
Laura reminded us that the tour of Fort Gorges set for June 24th. As of press time the seats on the boat have been sold out. If you are still interested in joining the tour on this trip, please email Laura at: lyoung@mainecf.org to be put on a waiting list in case tickets become available.
David Smith offered us a “Rotary Moment.” In a galaxy far, far away (New York City), David toiled as a lawyer, growing bald in the process. Moving to Maine, David found the Southern Maine Agency On Aging (SMAA) where he worked on Medicare Seminars. He’s still doing it! Meeting Larry Gross, (CEO of SMAA) they agreed to have David join Portland Rotary just as soon as he lost his NY accent. David recalls his first meeting – the warmth in the room. “Never underestimate the value of friendship,” says David. “Whether it is serving a meal at the soup kitchen, or the Veteran’s Day Lunch, we’re always a team. I am so proud to be a Rotarian.” David, we are very proud you’re on our team!
(Photo L-R: President Laura Young, Erik Greven, Amy Chipman, David Smith, Alan Levenson, and Charlie Frair.)
Does the Rotary Foundation know how hard Amy Chipman works on its behalf? They should! She always has good news. First, our club reached its goal of $15,000 for the RI Foundation Annual Fund (we raised $15,700). We’re a little shy on the Polio Plus Fund – at $1400 and we want to hit $2k – please “chip in” by adding your donations to the cans on the tables each week. Next, Amy introduced 4 new Paul Harris Fellows - Al Levenson, Charlie Frair, David Smith, and Erik Greven – all four receiving their 2nd PHF Award. We thank you all for your generous contributions. Amy has four more to award next week!
Kathy Grammer, President Laura, with Russ Burleigh on the keyboard, helped us raise our voices for “Home on the Range.” Beautiful!
Tiel Duncan conducted the weekly raffle, Erik Greven getting the nod to pull a card for a possible $420 payoff. Unfortunately, the King of Hearts was drawn, which pays zippo.....sorry Erik.
Back from the RI Convention in Atlanta, Laura admitted “I’ve been drinking the Kool-Aid.” (Emphasized by some real Kool-Aid at the podium!) Those who’ve been to an RI Convention know what she’s talking about. Seeing 30,000 Rotarians from 175 countries is a powerful and motivating experience....hopefully all Rotarians can attend a convention for Rotary at least once. Laura described the scenes, one marked with all attendees at the massive Plenary Session, waving brightly colored wrist bands in the air. Emphasis was placed on Polio Plus, and the attendees were told that the effort that had begun in 1984 facing 350,000 cases world-wide, was now down to 5. Five! But it will still take a tremendous effort to close the door. There needs to be 3 clear years before eradication can be considered, and that has a projected cost of 1.2 billion dollars. Bill Gates, speaking to the audience, pledged another matching grant to the $50 million pledged by the Rotary Foundation (of which, we helped). Laura also told us of another scourge on the planet – sex trafficking. The facts are mind-boggling – it goes on everywhere, including right here in Portland. Laura said (but it wasn't stated at the convention) that it seemed like this may be the next big project for Rotary International.
Laura also described some of the interesting educational sessions. For example, as a club we use the term “recruiting” new members. Better, let us instead say we want to “attract” them. Instead of “retention,” think “member engagement.”
Other ideas included some clubs forgoing a guest speaker at their weekly meeting, and instead doing a club project, such as putting “care” bags together, depending on an identified need. Overall, Rotary is looking at new ways to brand itself, from new signage, videos, and other digital programs. It was summed up well with this phrase: “Rotary joins leaders from all continents, cultures and occupations to exchange ideas and take action for communities around the world.”
The next RI Convention is in Toronto, Canada on June 23-27, 2018. Not too far away....date wise and location wise! Will you plan on going to show support of our Rotary Club and to get the powerful experience of this great organization?
Laura read us an email from Habitat For Humanity looking for some assistance at their upcoming “Old Port Half Marathon” on July 8th (see separate article in this edition). She also read a quick note from Catholic Charities thanking us for a $100 donation.
We had such a crowd at our meeting, that we had an overflow of members seated at the dessert table. (Photo L-R: Scott Blakeslee, Ron Bennett, Eric Lusk, Bill Ross, Bruce Nelson and 2nd Vice President John Curran.)
Invocation: Alan Nye Program Reporter: Bob Martin Bits & Pieces Reporter: Bill Blount Registration/Greeter: Chris Thomas Sell Meal Tickets: Jake Bourdeau Raffle: Katie Brown Badge Box: Paul Gore Collect Meal Tickets: Loretta Rowe * Song Leader: Bill Blount Pianist: Kathy Grammer Sgt-at-Arms (Setup): Bruce Moore Sgt-at-Arms (Take Down): Mike Fortunato
This is a great opportunity to sign up with a group of friends, family members, colleagues, or on your own to support Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland.This year’s race boasts a great course that runs through the heart of the Old Port district in Portland. Habitat volunteers will supply water stop support in groups of about 8 people serving water and Gatorade drink mix to runners.
All volunteers will receive an Old Port Half “Deck Hand” shirt and be invited to join the festivities and live music at the Ocean Gateway Terminal after the race. Additional volunteer perks include access to the post-race food tent and complimentary Shipyard beer.
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) DOREEN ROCKSTROM 2 ENABLE ACCESS (Erik Greven)
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Jeanne Hey, Ph.D., Dean, College of Arts & Sciences, University of New England.JPG)
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David Smith offered us a “Rotary Moment.” In a galaxy far, far away (New York City), David toiled as a lawyer, growing bald in the process. Moving to Maine, David found the Southern Maine Agency On Aging (SMAA) where he worked on Medicare Seminars. He’s still doing it! Meeting Larry Gross, (CEO of SMAA) they agreed to have David join Portland Rotary just as soon as he lost his NY accent. David recalls his first meeting – the warmth in the room. “Never underestimate the value of friendship,” says David. “Whether it is serving a meal at the soup kitchen, or the Veteran’s Day Lunch, we’re always a team. I am so proud to be a Rotarian.” David, we are very proud you’re on our team!
Volunteer at the