06/30/17 Bits & Pieces

President Laura Young opened the meeting by welcoming 59 members, 3 visiting Rotarians and 7 guests. Dave Small gave a creative invocation where he used puns from a garden plot to promote action in our society, such as: squash the...., lettuce (let us....), turnip (turn up to....), and thyme (time to....). Meredith Small led us in the Pledge of Allegiance and we all sang the National Anthem with Kathy Grammer on the keyboard.

President Laura thanked those responsible for setting up and helping run the meeting smoothly. She gave thanks to more chairs and board members for their efforts throughout the year, including: Kris Rosado, Rusty Atwood, Roger Fagan, Tom Nickerson, Janelle LoSciuto, Linda Varrell, Jan Chapman, Bruce Moore, Kathy Grammer, Scott Blakeslee, Bowen Depke, and George Carr. Laura also thanked Elise Hodgkins for helping her get through the year. 

2nd VP John Curran introduced International guests at the meeting with consideration of expanding the Portland Rotary International outreach to Kosovo. John brought a member from the Kosovo Rotary Club, a 3D printer designer, and a representative of the Yarmouth Rotary Club to foster additional discussion.

A visiting Rotarian from Allen, Texas also attended the meeting, and exchanged club banners.

Charlie Frair provided us with an entertaining Rotary moment. He started by saying he was part of the West Bay Club in Camden for 12 years, and now Portland Rotary for 12 years. So why is Charlie a Rotarian? Three main reasons:

1) Because of each of us and the lasting relationships that are built at Rotary. 

2) The environment, culture and atmosphere that he and the Club are committed to. No matter your political leaning, race, color, or heritage, Rotary welcomes you to participate, and Charlie is proud to be a part of it. 

3) He believes Rotary is like a trim tab. When one looks at the diagram of a ship from bow to stern, ending with the rudder, it is often the rudder that can be so big that it does not actually turn the ship, but rather keeps it going in a straight line. But, if you put a trim tab on the tip of the rudder, the trim tab can start the ship turning in the right direction. Charlie believes Rotary is like the trim tab. which turns our us in a better direction. 

Lionel Nima, a relatively new member, was to be married this very Friday afternoon at City Hall. President-elect Don Zillman and President Laura were planning to attend the wedding on behalf of the Club. The Club donated a gift certificate and signed a wedding card for the happy couple. Congratulations to the happy couple! (Ed update: photo at left of the newlyweds - Pistis Yombe and Lionel Nima!) 
 

Patty Erickson ran the weekly raffle that had a pot of $484. The speaker drew Jack Carr’s name from the holding vessel, but Jack’s luck ran out soon after being picked, as the Queen stayed hidden in the deck. Better luck next week. 

Reminding us of the two contests she initiated when she took office in July 2016.....Who could bring the most guests to our meetings and who could bring in the most new members to our Club.....President Laura announced the winners: “most guests” goes to Rusty Atwood with 11, followed by Andreea Paine with 10. Tied for bringing in the “most new members” were Jim Willey and President Laura Young. Congratulations on those notable accomplishments! 

Russ Burleigh noted that when he asked for 5 minutes to be set aside at the meeting for the “Musical Moment,” he jokingly told President Laura impeachment was not on the table. The musical moment was more of a tribute and thank you to President Laura for her accomplished year as president of the Portland Rotary. Russ had a Power Point presentation and thanked President Laura for being the 103rd President of Portland Rotary. Some of her accomplishments included hosting speakers such as Janet Mills, Governor Paul LePage, Bill Green (WCSH6), and Stu Kestenbaum (MECA). Her tenacity really showed in her continued support of childhood hunger and education (CHE), including time spent reading to children and helping with food service.

Russ completed the presentation noting that he gave President Laura a nickname during her tenure: PrezLY – at which point Russ flicked to a picture of Elvis Presley with President Laura’s head on it. The musical moment and tribute ended with everyone singing “Can’t Help Falling in Love With You.” Congratulations and a hardy “Thank You, President Laura, for all you have done for Portland Rotary!” 

What better way to end the Rotary year then with a celebratory toast to a good 2016-17 and looking forward to an even-better 2017-18, toasted with the great beer samplings of Russell Voss' new business venture: NU Brewery. Yum!

(The question was raised, can we do this every meeting?)