Julie Mulkern, Executive Director – Julie grew up in Penobscot County where snow was plentiful and outdoor play was the norm. Her favorite winter memories include bombing down a hill with her sister and cousins on a toboggan. Julie has dedicated her entire career to creating and growing programs that promote the health and well-being of Maine families. Julie joined WinterKids in 2008 as the Development Director, and became the Executive Director in 2011. Before working for WinterKids, Julie was Manager of Development & Volunteer Resources at Spring Harbor Hospital, a psychiatric facility in the MaineHealth system. She has also developed volunteer and philanthropy programs for Community Counseling Center, Case Management for Youth, and the American Cancer Society. Julie holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Bates College and has certifications in philanthropy from the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy & the University of Wisconsin Madison. She is currently President of the Board of Directors for the Maine Public Health Association and serves on the Great Maine Outdoor Weekend Committee and the Maine CDC Physical Activity & Nutrition Workgroup. She is an alumna of the Upsilon Class of the Institute for Civic Leadership. Julie was born and raised in northern Maine, and now lives in Gorham with her husband, Ric and winter kids, Johnny and Ben. They enjoy all the Maine outdoors has to offer, in all seasons!
After our very successful Veteran’s Day luncheon last November, our club was left with an unexpected surplus of just over $3000. So, event organizers Charlie Frair and Paul Tully put on their thinking caps, hoping to meaningfully distribute these funds. The first $1000 was given to the Veteran’s Adaptive Sports and Training Program but, with the excess $2000 still in play, our group was given a unique and very difficult challenge on Friday. We heard from five Portland Rotarians, who advocated for five veteran’s causes, and we then took a vote to see which two groups would receive a check for $1000 apiece.
With Charlie Frair holding a stopwatch set to go off at exactly five minutes, we first heard from Roxane Cole, who was flagged to give an impassioned plea for the Betsy Ann Ross House of Hope, a gorgeous home in Augusta that has been established to house homeless veteran women and their children. Founded by Martha Everatt St. Pierre in 2014, this facility currently houses five female veterans and their two children, allowing these women to gain the dignity they deserve after living on the streets or in shelters. With thirty states providing this type of aid to female veterans, this is the first of its kind in Maine.
Next up we heard about the Healing Through Horses program from new member Annie Messinger (thanks, Annie, for taking the reigns!). This equine therapy program out of New Gloucester serves 80 veterans, with approximately 45 from Greater Portland. Through psychotherapy and hands-on interactions with horses that have been donated for the cause, many vets get through the six-week program with a greater confidence and understanding of the benefits of working with these regal animals, one of which is a 1200-pound Clydesdale names Sierra. In any kind of weather, founders Sandy Fletcher and Michael Fralic are open to giving back to many of the veterans within Maine who have struggled upon their return from duty.
Mike Robinson, another fairly new member who was able to unleash his inhibitions, spoke passionately about K-9’s on the Front Line, a Portland-based canine therapy program that rescues dogs, often days from euthanasia, and pairs them with returning veterans. Funded by grants and donations such as from our club, this sixteen-week program has worked wonders for many with PTSD and/or traumatic brain injuries. With the help and guidance from the Portland Police Department, this $60,000 training is cut back to just $4500, with no cost to the veteran, who is given a new lease on life, sometimes allowing a housebound veteran to regain the strength to re-enter the community.
Bob Traill, a self-proclaimed “Man of Ten Thousand Words”, was able to resist the urge to pontificate for Honor Flight Maine, instead showing us a very powerful and moving video on this program which sends WWII veterans to Washington DC to visit the various memorials set up on The Mall. As the nation loses 640 WWII veterans per day, it will be just 5-7 years before all these heroes are gone, and it would truly be a gift to send as many as we are able to see these historic and moving monuments to the service men and woman who literally saved the world.
Joe Reagan, also a new member who hopped to the podium with great enthusiasm, not only spoke for Easter Seals and Veterans Count, but thanked us all, as a full-time employee and a veteran of the Middle East conflagrations, for all that we are doing to help those Maine veterans in need. Working with the families of 125,000 veterans in Maine today, Joe and his co-workers provide support on many, many levels: food, housing, rental assistance, mental health, and utilities. With 20 veterans per day committing suicide, Joe told a very personal story of losing a beloved friend, Sgt. Mac, who took his own life a year after returning home from Afghanistan. With Veterans Count and the backing of the venerable Easter Seals, Joe and his fellow vets are hoping to help so many very deserving families with any funding they can garner from Portland Rotary or any source.
It was truly an inspiring meeting and one in which we not only learned so much about the ongoing needs of veterans within Maine, but a meeting in which each and every Rotarian in attendance was given the power to expedite change.
Many thanks to Charlie Frair and Paul Tully for their ongoing efforts for our proud Maine veterans.
Opening the meeting at the Holiday Inn by the Bay: President Don Zillman called on David Small to lead the invocation, titled, “Bonds of Rotary Between Us”, a reflection from Chris Offer, the Past District Governor of 5040, Province of British Columbia.
“Let us take a moment to remember all the religions represented in the Rotary family throughout the world. Let us also recall that when we were invited to join our Rotary clubs, we were not asked, “Are you a Christian, a Hindu, a Muslim, a Jew, a Buddhist, or a Sikh?” We were not asked because all religions are welcome in the Rotary family. Please join me in a moment of reflection and thanks. With our friends beside us, and no person beneath us, with the bonds of Rotary between us, and our worries behind us, with our goals before us, and no task beyond us, with a thirst for knowledge, and a dream of a Polio-free world, we are thankful for our Rotary friends and the time we are about to share.”
Elise Hodgdon expressed thanks from Loretta Rowe for the ongoing support she is receiving from Rotarians.
Jim Willey read a letter from Caroline Raymond, the Superintendent of Long Creek Youth Development Center in Portland. She thanked Rotary for inviting her to speak at our March16, 2018 meeting and acknowledged how she enjoyed the club’s singing tradition.
Rotarians who ski are invited to meet up with Bill Blount on Thursday March 29, to travel to Sunday River. Connect with Bill for more information ~ wblount1@gmail.com.
Megan Peabody announced the April 7, District Assembly “New Generations Conference”, on April 7, 2018 at York County Community College. You may register on the home page at this website, rotary7780.org. One topic to be discussed is the consideration to bring back the Rotary Youth Exchange.
In the raffle kitty was an award of $304, and the drawing was led by Tom Nickerson. John Houghton’s name was drawn but he did not pick the Queen of Hearts. On to next week!
Ellen Niewoehner announced Nick Jenkins, of Waynflete School, as the recipient of a Youth Fellowship Award. He was introduced by Lydia Maier of Waynflete. Nick was recognized for his active community engagement. A $100 donation was designated to the American Red Cross dedicated to Puerto Rico Relief efforts. Nick thanked the Rotary Club for his recognition and acknowledged the potential for him to be a future Rotarian.
Matt Wolcott will chair the program committee beginning July, 2018, when John Curran becomes the club’s president. He requested Rotarian participation in helping to identify speakers for the club programs. His email contact info is benjaminlee2392@gmail.com.
Invocation: Tom Talbott Program Reporter: Tom Talbott Bits & Pieces Reporter: Jake Bourdeau Registration/Greeter: Katie Brown Sell Meal Tickets: Jennifer Frederick Raffle: Ellen Niewoehner Badge Box: Bruce Jones Collect Meal Tickets: Andrew Cook Sgt-at-Arms (Setup): Howie Herodes Sgt-at-Arms (Take Down): Peter Noyes
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 to the appropriate projects.
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.
Julie Mulkern, Executive Director – Julie grew up in Penobscot County where snow was plentiful and outdoor play was the norm. Her favorite winter memories include bombing down a hill with her sister and cousins on a toboggan. Julie has dedicated her entire career to creating and growing programs that promote the health and well-being of Maine families. Julie joined WinterKids in 2008 as the Development Director, and became the Executive Director in 2011. Before working for WinterKids, Julie was Manager of Development & Volunteer Resources at Spring Harbor Hospital, a psychiatric facility in the MaineHealth system. She has also developed volunteer and philanthropy programs for Community Counseling Center, Case Management for Youth, and the American Cancer Society. Julie holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Bates College and has certifications in philanthropy from the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy & the University of Wisconsin Madison. She is currently President of the Board of Directors for the Maine Public Health Association and serves on the Great Maine Outdoor Weekend Committee and the Maine CDC Physical Activity & Nutrition Workgroup. She is an alumna of the Upsilon Class of the Institute for Civic Leadership. Julie was born and raised in northern Maine, and now lives in Gorham with her husband, Ric and winter kids, Johnny and Ben. They enjoy all the Maine outdoors has to offer, in all seasons!
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Jim Willey read a letter from Caroline Raymond, the Superintendent of Long Creek Youth Development Center in Portland. She thanked Rotary for inviting her to speak at our March16, 2018 meeting and acknowledged how she enjoyed the club’s singing tradition.
Matt Wolcott will chair the program committee beginning July, 2018, when John Curran becomes the club’s president. He requested Rotarian participation in helping to identify speakers for the club programs. His email contact info is