Carol Coultas, Business Editor for the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram has been a journalist for over 30 years, with much of her experience focused on reporting and editing about Maine businesses. She started her career as a part-time writer/receptionist at a small weekly paper in Billerica, MA, following a stint as a Vista volunteer. She met her husband when they both worked at the Lowell Sun. They spent their first year of marriage teaching English in Mexico.

Carol worked at the Lewiston Sun Journal for 22 years, first as a reporter, then as Managing Editor for nine years. She was Managing Editor of Mainebiz for a number of years before moving to the Press Herald. She has a special interest in reporting on banking and manufacturing and projects under her supervision have won numerous awards. She has hosted a wide variety of recognition programs sponsored by the newspapers for which she worked, as well as a number of panels providing in-depth insight in a range of topics.

A graduate of UMASS-Amherst, Carol and her husband live in Harpswell and have two children, one a journalist in New York City and the other is currently pursuing a graduate degree at Duke University. When she’s not working, she likes to bake pies.
 

Erik Jorgensen, Maine Legislature representing Maine House District 41, elected to the Legislature in 2012, and member of Portland Rotary, was back to report on the most-recent past session.

The First Regular Session of the 128th Maine Legislature convened December 7, 2016 and adjourned, August 2, 2017. It was the longest session in history of Maine. Erik’s service has allowed him to have experiences ranging from his visits to a marijuana cultivation facility, and to visit a huge hydro facility 1400 miles north of Quebec. Erik told us he is lucky to have a job with such experiences.

1650 bills were filed and 350 new laws were enacted. The vast majority of bills were killed by unanimous vote of the committees of jurisdiction. This unanimous record disputes those who say no one can work together. Erik told us that the dysfunction in Washington makes Maine’s dysfunction look amateur in comparison.  Most of the 350 laws which were enacted, were modifications and clarifications of existing law. He was disappointed that they were unable to pass a meaningful solar law. The citizen referendums dominated most of the time in the session. He believes that Maine needs to have an effective tax structure, but we must be competitive with nearby states.

Marijuana legalization for recreational purposes: Erik worked on this committee and says that he had a change of mind after studying the issue as part of the committee. He pointed out that it's very difficult to regulate a product when there is no requirement for labeling what level of active ingredients are in the product. Consumers need to know what is in that brownie or cream which is purchased. 

With a lot of work from both parties, the 3% surcharge for highest earners was eliminated, and schools were funded at a higher level, which came from a non-sustainable source, so this issue will likely return.

The reform of the minimum wage was changed to keep the tip credit intact. The removal of the tip credit was probably not intended, but as written, it occurred.

Unfortunately, other participating groups at the meeting venue created a level of noise making it impossible to hear the balance of Erik’s remarks and, after extending our apologies to him, he was invited to return at a later date.

(Photo L-R: Erik Jorgensen, Bob Martin, and President Don Zillman.)
 

President Don Zillman began our meeting by greeting 51 Rotarians, 1 Visiting Rotarian and 3 guests at the Bayside Bowl in downtown Portland. Dave Small provided the invocation with excerpts from Mother Teresa’s “Life is Life,” extolling the joys, trials and tribulations of our journey. Erik Jorgensen led us in the pledge and Past President Bill Blount led us in singing the Star Spangled Banner.

President Don thanked the Rotarians whose efforts made the meeting possible.
He welcomed visiting Rotarian Jim Graham and his wife, who hopped off a cruise ship in Portland harbor from his Kernersville, North Carolina Rotary club and exchanged club banners with us. 

Dick Hall, Club Foundation Chair, discussed the Rotary Foundation and a District 7780 raffle, asking: “Do you want to win a trip to Seattle for World Polio Day the first week of October?” District Governor Dave Underhill sent out an email to all clubs explaining the details: Donate $25 by September 30 to the Rotary Foundation Polio Plus and you are entered into the District drawing. You may donate online: endpolio.org/donate. Any questions, contact Dick Hall at: dickhall@maine.rr.com.
Thank you for helping Rotary to end Polio.

2nd Vice President Amy Chipman announced the "Circle of Five" involvement by our club members in support of the Rotary Foundation. As "Circle" participants, Julie L’Heureux was feted garnering her sixth Paul Harris Fellow and Mark Millar was recognized for his third. 

Andy Stone led us in our acapella rendition of singing, “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.”

Handling the raffle this week, Patty Erickson asked our speaker, Erik Jorgensen, to draw a name from the holding vessel...and Mike Fortunato got to try his luck at this week’s $850 raffle pot. Unfortunately for Mike, he chose the wrong queen....finding the Queen of Clubs and leaving the elusive Queen of Hearts safely embedded until next week.

Past President Russ Burleigh requested our continued support for his wife, Joan Steinberg’s ninth year making woolen mittens to be given to needy local children for the winter months. Contact Russ with donations of wool or money in support of Joan’s worthy endeavor at: primeribgraphics@icloud.com or 838-6129.

Nan Heald announced two events in support of her organization Pine Tree Legal Assistance. A silent Art Auction to be held on Friday and Saturday September 29-30. For more information, contact Nan at: nheald@ptla.org. Nan also suggested we put the following in our calendars: Senator Angus King will be speaking at USM’s Hannaford Hall, Friday, October 6, 5-7PM. For more information and to RSVP, go to: ptla.org/Celebrate50.

Past President John Marr gave the club an update on our involvement in support of the youth at the Long Creek Youth Development Center. Contact John (marrjf@gmail.com), Past President Jim Willey (jimandbarbarawilley@gmail.com) or Dave Putnam (david.f.putnam@mercer.com), if you would like to participate in this volunteer opportunity at Long Creek.

Charlie Frair reminded us of our Friday, Nov. 10, 2017 Veterans’ Appreciation Lunch to be held at the Italian Heritage Center. US House Rep. Shellie Pingree will be the keynote speaker. Registration is now open. Please go to Portland Rotary's website (portlandrotary.org) to register and be sure to invite local Veterans to join us.....their meal is on us! Please be sure to register any guests and veterans you want to bring. (See flyer below and on our club website: portlandrotary.org

                          When
Project              Who to Contact

Preble Street        4th Wednesday ea month
Resource Ctr        4-6:30 pm
Soup Kitchen        Gracie Johnston
                           gracie.johnston@wcsh6.com

Game Night         3rd Tuesday ea month
Long Creek          Mike Fortunato
Youth Center        michael.k.fortunato@gmail.com
                           or Jim Willey
                           jimandbarbarawilley@gmail.com