The Friday March 1st Portland Rotary Club meeting was a Club Assembly, in which a number of members advanced ideas to continue fundraising for the club.There were 4 new fundraising ideas, 1 community service project, and 1 global grant proposal to continue international work. President Dick Hall, Moderator and Time Keeper!

Larry discussed a project, Shred the Dread, that would provide a one-time mobile paper shredding event on Saturday, June 15 from 10:00am – 2:00 pm.The Portland Rotary Club would partner with TD Bank. The Portland Rotary Club will sponsor a paper shredding event/fundraiser at the Northgate TD Bank branch in Portland. The estimate for a mobile shredding driver would run around $1,000.Banner and hand-outs (advertising) would cost around $250.The revenue structure would run $5 for a grocery bag and $10 per banker box. The club would need to receive 125 banker boxes to break even. To raise $5,000, we need to process 625 banker boxes in the four hours of the event.

 

Zach Newell proposed a new Stair Climb fundraiser.A new building at 201 Federal street is opening in April.The building will house 253 apartments.At 18 stories and 202 feet tall, the building would offer a nice opportunity to partner with the owners, create a buzz for the city, and capitalize on a fundraiser that would pair nicely with a charitable cause. Other types of these fundraisers around stair climbing are done for the likes of the American Lung Association or the National First Responders Fund.Our club needs to tie it to a charitable cause of local significance.We would also need to figure out timing and logistics of the fundraiser. We would need at least 6 weeks of lead time to create a webpage and promote the event with all necessary operational details.With tiered pricing, a set cost for advance tickets, a price for team tickets, and a cost for corporate purchases, Bruce Jones calculated that we could make somewhere around $20,000 for the first year.

Paul Gore and Dick Hall proposed a Yard Sign fundraiser that would produce personal and holiday related signs to be displayed in yards. The signs could be personalized for things like graduations and other types of celebratory occasions. Personalized signs would sell for $50, and be created by Port City Graphics. The signs can be created 2 days before the event and installed by Rotarians.100 signs at $50.00 each would yield $5,000.The cost of custom signs would be an additional $12.00 for a yield of $1,200, which would be a profit of $3,800.With that kind of profit margin, 400 signs at $50 each would yield $20,000. With the cost of custom signs at $12.00 for 400 signs would yield $4,800.That would be a profit of $15,200.

 

John Thompson introduced the idea of a Lobster Raffle that would sell raffle tickets during the summer for a chance to win something like 20 Lbs of lobster.The proposal is to work with Luke’s Lobsters and the Lift All Boat project in getting access to lobster the students catch.We might want to sell tickets to those coming into Portland via cruise ship.The proposal is to sell tickets downtown Portland between September and October, targeting cruise ship members.There are a lot of unknown variables, such as city permits for selling tickets, the price structure for selling tickets, and how much lobster would be raffled.John also proposed that some of the proceeds would go back into funding the Lift All Boats project.Some details need to be worked out, but the Marblehead Rotary Club has been doing a variation of this for years.John suspects that we could gross around $20,000 for this project. 

 

Nannette Ranger-Duncanson proposed a new community service event. The proposal is to continue our support of the Amanda C. Rowe elementary School. Nannette talked about the usefulness in painting a US map on the concrete portion of the playground for use as a teaching aid and as a way to enhance community fun. The proposal is a great way to partner with school administration, the city of Portland Parks Department, and local Interact Clubs.

 

Roger Fagan made a proposal to continue work on installing a hearing center in the Dominican Republic.The proposal is for a sort of mobile hearing center.Roger made a compelling case to continue the work he has already started, and as a way to work with new technologies in better assisting those in need. The hearing center offers a pathway to sustainability, allows Rotary the chance to reach new, serviceable cases, allows us to attract audiologists who bring their talent without having to transport heavy and expensive equipment, allows us to attract audiologists in training who want an international experience, and the ability to attract volunteers who will appreciate Rotary’s commitment to improving the lives of others. The total ask for funding is at $140,250, which includes a number of district matching grants and contributions from our club .The proposal is for a worthwhile cause, continuing the work already supported and advanced through the Portland Rotary Club.

Sam Chipman led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Tom Talbott delivered the thought of the day by asking us to imagine using three words to change our Rotary experience and perhaps our lives. Tom raised three fingers and invited us to join him in saying “I’ll do it!”

 

HELLO: Sue Young introduced the visiting Rotarians and guests: Isabella (Bella) Ferriter from Baxter Academy and Anna Klein-Christi, Executive Director of Baxter Academy.

 

NO LUCK:  Tuck Barclay led the raffle and non-other than Paul T Gore was chosen to try for the $180 pot. He was unlucky and the pot continues to grow.

 

HAPPY: A large number of members donated happy dollars to commemorate recent family birthday (Patty Byers) vacation and Scotch (Peter Goffin), Maple Sunday Weekend (Paul Gore) and for the Youth Scholarships (Anna Klein-Christie).

 

SPIRIT OF YOUTH: John Thompson introduced the Youth Service Award winner from Baxter Academy – Bella Ferriter. The executive director Anna Klein-Christie talked about Bella’s impact on the community and her natural leadership. Bella has become the school’s ambassador for new and prospective students; she volunteers at Partners for World Health and has helped them with fund raising; and she was deeply involved in helping the unhoused near the Academy by organizing lunches for many of those seeking shelter in the encampments. John awarded Bella a scholarship of $1,000 and Portland Rotary donated $100 to Partners for World Health in Bella’s name. Bella thanked the club for the scholarship and the donation.

Photo: Anna, Bella, and John!

PARLEZ-VOUS FRANCAIS? President Dick shared an email from Mark Shinners seeking French speakers to help with the Fork Food Lab’s efforts to support new residents from French speaking countries looking to start restaurants. Please let Mark know if you are interested in helping out.

 

NEW MEMBER: Nannette Ranger-Duncanson on the right, introduced our latest new member, Marnie Morrione. Marnie’s grandfather was a Rotarian and Marnie was a Rotary Exchange student to Brazil. Because of Rotary, Marnie developed a love of languages and travel, leading her to the Peace Corps and international service. Marnie was member of the Portland School Board and now works with the Portland Schools Foundation. She lives in Portland with her husband and children. She is the CEO of a travel consulting firm that focuses on Italian adventures.

 

LEND A HAND IN THE DOMINICAN:  Roger Fagan is asking if anyone is interested in the next prosthetic hands team traveling to the Dominican Republic, please email Bill Dunn or call him at 207-847-9345.

 

WE FOUND LUCK: While Larry Gross and Bruce Jones were out skiing Sunday River last week, they ran into former Portland Rotarian, Sarah Luck and her husband Peter. Sarah sends her best from the Camden Satellite Rotary Club.

MARCH BIRTHDAYS President Dick led us in a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday Dear Rotarians to celebrate the March birthday members: Jerry Angier (1), Patty Byers (4), Dave Small (9), Sue Young (13), Mac Collins (14), Larry Gross (16), Jack Schraeter (21), Paul Tully (29), Ellen Niewoehner (29), David Patterson (29), John Thompson (30), and Alan Nye (31).

MARCH ANNIVERSARIES:  Tom Saturley (43 yrs), Howie Herodes (32), Ellen Niewoehner (28), Nannette Ranger-Duncanson (28), Art Howe (13), Leslie Clark(4 ), Tuck Barclay (1), and Nikki Curtis (1 ).

Second Notice: Dwayne Black is the Operations Manager of Jones, Rich, and Barnes Funeral Home in Portland.  His application is sponsored by Laura Young.  Dwayne is active in the community and has been a member of service organizations such as Lions and Kiwanis Clubs in the past. After this publication, his application will be voted on by the Board of Directors.

 

If any Portland Rotarian would like to offer a comment on a proposal, please send it to our Club President, dickhall7780@gmail.com. It will be shared with the Board of Directors prior to a vote on the application.