Lucas St. Clair was born and raised into a subsistence living family in the North Woods of Maine, with no running water or electricity for most of his childhood. He left that lifestyle to attend a boarding school in the Western Mountains of Maine and went on to study abroad, pursuing a Culinary Arts degree at Le Cordon Bleu in London. Lucas worked in the beginning of his career in the restaurant and wine industry in New York City, Maine, and Seattle, WA.
In 2011, Lucas took over his family’s operating foundation, Elliotsville Plantation, Inc. (EPI). EPI owns 125,000 acres of timberland in Northern and central Maine that they have been purchasing since 1998. They have been managing the land and adding infrastructure for recreation over the last several years. To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service, President Barack Obama accepted the gift of 89,000 acres of land from EPI and created the newest unit of the National Park Service, Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument on Aug 24th, 2016. Lucas and EPI continue to play a role in the development of the region and enhancing the community’s ability to capitalize on the newly realized asset.
Beyond the restaurant industry and land conservation, Lucas has a strong interest in outdoor pursuits. He has hiked the Appalachian Trail, paddled the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, taken a NOLS semester in Patagonia and has climbed peaks in Alaska, Washington, Peru, Chile and Argentina. He has also worked as a fly fishing guide and helped Eddie Bauer with designing fishing apparel. He has had the great fortune to fish in some of the most beautiful waters in the world.
Lucas lives in Portland, Maine with his wife and two children.
(Photo: Rusty Atwood, Owen McCarthy and President Laura Young.)
Owen McCarthy, President of MedRhythms, Inc, was introduced by Rusty Atwood. In his “pre-speaker quiz,” Rusty asked how many Rotarians knew the answer to, “In what Maine county is the town of Patten located?” In fact, it’s located near the border with Aroostook County, but situated in Penobscot County. Patten is the home town of the speaker Owen McCarthy, who spoke about his company, MedRhythms.
MedRhythms is a digital medicine company building digital products using sensors, music, and machine learning to help people recover their walking abilities and reduce falls. They believe they will launch the first product for people who have had strokes, though they could also work with anyone who has neurologic injury or disease. The company started initially using techniques in the field of neurologic music therapy with one-on-one therapists to help people recover language, movement, and cognition. It is the mission of the company to help others by improving their ability to heal with the use of music.
There are two aspects to the company’s work. First, the physical therapy with music has demonstrated improved walking and neuro-motor capabilities. Patients who received this therapy have improved their walking tempo, symmetry, speed and balance. Eventually, many are able to walk without the use of canes. Second, is the neuroscience of music and its effect on the brain. Music activates the brain and aids in “neuro-plasticity,” by stimulating auditory and motor receptors at the same time. Therapists who provide the research and development for the rehabilitation are working with the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, a Partners HealthCare company.
MedRhythms’ launch is timely, because the cost of rehabilitation is increasing, the cost of portable technologies is dropping, and it’s possible to make the investment to make therapy more affordable. Moreover, increased research is demonstrating how the impact of music on recovery is a potential for patients who are diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, to improve fall prevention and to improve the support for achieving high-functioning individuals. Additionally, the research is continuing to support that music can help recover language for aphasia or improve memory.
Owen explained that financing for MedRhythms, Inc, includes major investors, but the fiscal projections are looking good to attract another round of funding. He explained that there is little preference for using instrumental versus vocal music in the therapies, except the vocals should be removed at lower cognitive levels (the strong beat is important). There is no direct correlation to determine if music therapy might improve bringing a patient out of a coma, but can help people in the full range of disorders of consciousness. As for licensing of music and copyright, the music used in the therapy is already purchased.
With President Laura Young back at the helm, she welcomed 59 members, 2 honorary members, 1 visiting Rotarian and 4 guests. Charle Frair read an E.E. Cummings poem of prayer entitled “I Thank You God For Most This Amazing.” Bruce Moore led us in the Pledge, and Russ Burleigh kept us in tune with “God Bless America.”
Laura then thanked the multitude of members who contributed their effort towards making the day’s meeting possible.
(Photo L-R: 3-H team headed to the DR - Jan Chapman, Bruce Moore, Dave Small, Bill Blount, Dick Hall, Drs. Liz and Roger Fagan.)
Portland Rotarians are out in force again serving our community and around the world. This past week a Rotary team worked at Preble Street Resource Center serving dinner – next week 10 Rotarians head to Deering HS to provide students with interview prep – on Saturday (April 29) 10 Rotarians head down to the Dominican Republic with Drs. Roger and Liz Fagan for more humanitarian work. More on that later!
Our thoughts and prayers for Justin Lamontagne and family. Justin’s wife, Marycelina had surgery for breast cancer, and we wish her a speed recovery. Lili Brown’s husband just had surgery for Parkinson’s, so reach out to them both with your support.
Terri St. Angelo took the podium for a “Rotary Moment.” Terri started out by asking us "Have you ever felt yourself wandering, asking whether what you’re doing is making an impact – is there something more?" Terri said she was involved – PTO, school boards, ‘Tri For a Cure’ – but felt something missing. That would soon change, after an invitation from Linda Varrell to come to lunch at Rotary, which brought Terri to the club. Governor LePage spoke that day to a large audience. We recited the Pledge, we sang a song. “All good,” thought Terri. Then a request went out for volunteers for our Veterans Day Appreciation Lunch. Though she was not a member yet, she volunteered. Arriving at the event, knowing barely a soul, she was asked to welcome the arriving vets and guests with a big smile. Turns out she knew more people than she imagined, and when told by many “hope you come back,” that was the moment she knew she wanted to be a part of us. She said she now recognizes that being a part of Rotary is to be a part of something much bigger. She then asked us all to take a moment, look around at the people seated at the table with us, and give them a big smile. Thank you, Terri!
Aforementioned Dr. Roger Fagan provided more details on the upcoming Dominican Republic trip. 18 people, hailing from ME, Alaska, Oregon, S. Carolina and Florida will be working out of the 3H Good Samaritan Hospital. Project goals include 140 new and improved water filtration systems, 200 hearing aids, prosthetic hands, and solar powered lighting. They have no hurricane to deal with this trip! We wish you all safe travels!
Mike Fortunato updated us on the “Maine Outdoor Challenge.” This is our #1 fundraiser, and the majority of the money we are able to donate to organizations and programs during the year stems from the success of this event. We have 31 teams so far, and the goal is 45. Are you looking for a team to be on? We’ll get you matched up on a team. Also – tickets for the Lobster Bake are now on sale - $32 Lobster, $28 Steak, and $26 Chicken - and you can get them starting this Friday – available from Loretta Rowe at our regular meetings over the next four weeks - and at: lrowe@maine.rr.com. Rotarians get these special rates, so be sure to contact Loretta with your request. If you go online to purchase your tickets, the rates will be different. Please make your check payable to the "Boys and Girls Club." Volunteers are needed for the days of the event and sign-up sheets will be on the tables starting Friday, May 5th!
With the weekly raffle being up to $2,050, Charlie Frair shuffled the deck of 7 cards, as John Houghton was called upon to find the Queen of Hearts. With hearts racing – breaths held – there was no payoff. Odds of winning improve next week!
(Photo L-R: President Laura Young, Jan Chapman, Emma Spies and Kathryn Barr.)
Jan Chapman, introduced Catherine Barr from Maine Girls Academy (formerly Kathryn McAuley High School), who in turn introduced Emma Spies, class of 2017, as our newest Youth Service Award recipient. Describing Emma as quiet but enthusiastic, she told us of Emma’s engagement at the age of 10 with ‘Angel Flight,’ a non-profit group that provides plane rides for children and adults who need hospitalization for cancer and debilitating chronic diseases. Since that time, Emma’s lemonade stand has earned $15,000 for the program. Addressing the Rotarians, Emma said that “service is something you live,” and thanked us for the $1,000 donation for her future schooling, plus the additional $100 donation to ‘Angel Flight.’
(Photo L-R: Dave Small, Amy Chipman and Loretta Rowe.)
Amy Chipman reminded us that for each dollar we donate to the Rotary Foundation, 50% comes back to us in district grants after 3 years. It can add up – nearly $103,000 is coming back into our District this Rotary year. Right in sync, Amy called upon Loretta Rowe and David Small to award them with Paul Harris Fellow Recognition Awards. This is Loretta’s 5th, David’s 2nd, each award representing $1,000 in contributions to the Foundation.
(Photo L-R: Abdullahi Ali, Andreea Paine and President Laura Young.)
Andreea Paine welcomed new member Abdullahi Ali, currently the founder and CEO for Gateway Community Services. Abdullahi was born in Somalia, raised in Kenya, and resettled in Maine in 2009. He studied at SMCC, USM, and earned a Masters In Science and Justice Studies from So. NH University. He currently lives in Portland, and is an avid soccer player. Welcome, Abdullahi!
The Falmouth Rotary Club is hosting an upcoming Electronics Recycling Collection Day event: Sat. May 13, 9am-1pm, at the Falmouth Shopping Center parking lot on U.S. Route 1. They have asked for anyone's help that wanted to volunteer since their Club is so small. They do get some Falmouth High School students to volunteer, but the more the merrier!
Bring a cash donation and the club will make sure the items are disposed of in an eco-friendly, responsible manner. For more information, contact: Anne Payson at annepayson10@gmail.com
Invocation: Russ Burleigh Program Reporter: John Marr Bits & Pieces Reporter: Jake Bourdeau Registration/Greeter: Elizabeth Banwell Sell Meal Tickets: Jerry Angier Raffle: Michel Kanyambo Badge Box: Leonard Scott Collect Meal Tickets: Ellen Niewoehner * Song Leader: Alan Nye Pianist: Russ Burleigh Sgt-at-Arms (Setup): Bill Ross Sgt-at-Arms (Take Down): Travis Parker
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.
ROTARY DOUBLES TENNIS LEAGUE Winter/Spring Session 2017
We are moving into the final weeks of the Winter-Spring 2017 Rotary Tennis League.
Mark your calendars for our annual end-of-season gala/cookout - this year it will be held at Russ Burleigh's home in Scarborough on WEDNESDAY MAY 24. Further details to be emailed.
For information on the next league startup, contact Tennis Commissioner, Erik Jorgensen or Bill Blount.