Sea Dogs Game/ Field Presentation of 150 Flags: Sunday July 21st. You receive a free ticket to game, and you can purchase more through this link: Flags For Heroes Sea Dogs Tickets. Tickets are $12, but by using this link, $4 will be donated to Portland Rotary.
Display at Maine Mall - July 22- August 5
We will need volunteers for the following:
Thursday, July 11, 5p-730p at Cyrus Hagge's Office, Cassidy Point. Help paint the bases for the flags.
Sunday July 21st, 11:30am - 3;30pm (Shifts) Staff our Rotary Booth at the Sea Dogs game, with handout information
Sunday July 21st, Maine Mall 6pm - Flag Display Set Up
Please contact Charlie Frair, Paul Tully, or Tom Talbott if you can assist!
Dick Hall rang us in, Bruce Jones led the Pledge, Juliana L'Heureux graced us with her invocation and the meeting was underway. Special treat - Ice Cream Sundaes!
RISING TIDE SOCIAL EVENT: Another robust social event, this time at Rising Tide Brewery in Portland. Here's a few of the attendees who rose to the occasion - L-R Jake, Dick, Patty, Art, Roger, Liz, Bruce, Jan, Tom, and Quinn!
WENT TO A GARDEN PARTY: Erik Greven and Susan Vayda opened their Falmouth home for a wonderful Portland Rotary "Mud Auction" item; "A gourmet dinner with wine pairings in an award winning garden." It all came to fruition last week, on a splendid June evening, with the high bidders realizing the full beauty of the landscape. Each appetizer, entree and dessert came with a specially selected wine, wonderfully prepared by the hosts. Seated at the dinner table, on the left Ellen Niewoehner, Paula Vicenzi, Jim Vincenzi, and on the right Amy Chipman, Bill Blount, and Becky Foley. Fabulous!
READING ROCKS! Clockwise - Niki Curtis, Mike Fortunato, Nannette Ranger-Duncanson and David Small get into their reading, and some gamesmanship over at the Boys and Girls /Sagamore Clubhouse. Great summer program set up by Laura Young.
NEW PAUL HARRIS FELLOWS. On her last day as Club Foundation Chair, Patty Byers recognized 10, yes 10 members with new Paul Harris Fellow honors. All 10 were no strangers to the recognition, as all already had at least one PHF pin in their possession. Let us recognize and thank the following for their generous contributions to the Foundation:
• Art Howe, Chair of our Portland Satellite Club, received his first recognition in 2015. This is second.
• Past President Jack Carr who joined our club in 2003, received his first PHF in 2012. This is his third.
• Christine Force, joined our club in 2012 and received her first award in 2019. This is her fourth.
• David Small, joined Portland Rotary in 1981, received his first Paul Harris in 2011. This is his fourth.
• Justin Lamontagne, joined our club in 2011, received his first recognition in 2017. This is his fourth.
• Erik Greven, joined Portland Rotary in 2014, received his first award in 2016. This is his fifth.
• Past President Ellen Niewoehner, joined the club in 1998, received her first pin in 2011. This is her fifth.
• Matt Tassey, a member of Portland Rotary since 1986, received his first Paul Harris in 2011. This is his sixth.
• Past President Roxane Cole joined the club in 1991, received her first pin in 1999. This is her eighth.
• And finally - Julie L’Heureux, who brought the idea of Giving Circle to our club, received her first recognition in 2004. This is her ninth.
10 Paul Harris Recognition Award recipients in one meeting, surround
Foundation Chair Patty Byers!
WRIST SHOT: Tom Talbott explained the new wrist bands that were on all of the tables, a new fun way of sharing with others our "Flags For Heroes" program. Each band says "Who's Your Hero", which is a fascinating question to ask someone. It makes them stop and think. On the other side of the band, it has our website, FlagsForHeroesMaine.com. Using the band as a conversation starter is a simple and effective way to share a great gift with someone. We're providing a path for people to tell the hero in their life what they mean to them, or it's a wonderful way to remember and honor someone who has passed. We only have 200 bands, so Tom implored the audience to take a band, but to please wear and share, don't stuff it into your glove compartment!
Last Week's Speaker: Dick Hall, Outgoing President, Patty Byers, Incoming President | by Tom Talbott
This was the week of the changing of the guard, the close of the ’23-24 Presidency of Dick Hall, handing the gavel to our incoming ’24-’25 President Patty Byers. It was an opportunity for Dick to review the past year and express his gratitude for all those who had helped to make it a highly successful and vibrant outing. It also provided Patty with a platform to express our club’s collective heartfelt appreciation for the tireless Rotary leadership that Dick brought to every meeting. His guidance, vision, and knowledge led to many of our club’s fine accomplishments this year, while still maintaining a big hand in District leadership, coming off his year as District Governor.
Dick started his remarks by thanking his predecessor, Bruce Jones, who had helped revive the club after the scourge of Covid that had taken so much from us. Bruce provided a good base to build on, with new programs like our monthly social, and restarting service projects.
Armed with a visual presentation that highlighted all aspects of our club, and the people behind all the projects, Dick was able to dramatically showcase the programs and the fun we had this past year. Each section had an excellent montage of photos that showcased the individuals involved, which in its totality made for a highlight reel of many great successes. Anyone watching would have to be impressed with the sheer scope and enthusiasm that was shared.
Thanks went to Club Service Leaders, that in addition to Patty Byers/PE, John Thompson/VPE, Tom Nickerson/Secretary, Sergeant/Jake Bourdeau, and the Board - Bruce Jones, Quinn Slayton, Maggie McGauley, Zack Newell, and David Ertz.
Program Chair Doreen Rockstrom and her team of Dave Putnam, John Thompson, Justin Lamontagne and Roxane Cole assembled a wonderful cast of guest speakers for our meetings. Brian Nickerson and Jan Chapman's team took care of registering everyone for lunch, Jake Bourdeau crew of Sergeants made sure we had all the meeting supplies in order and David Small's Invocation squad kept us enlightened.
Membership Chairs Nannette Ranger-Duncanson and Niki Curtis introduced 21 New Members to our club, eliciting a big “Wow!” from Dick, and cheered by the club!
Jake Bourdeau and Quinn Slayton took our monthly Socials to a new level! It takes a while to build a following, but now it’s a favored event that continues to grow!
Communication is key, and with Tom Talbott leading the Windjammer crew, Juliana L'Heureux posting on Facebook, Maggie McGauley attending to the website, Tom Nickerson updating the club database, and Patty B on the Roster book.....you heard about everything we did!
Fundraising, one of the toughest assignments, is on the rise thanks to events like “Flags For Heroes”, under the direction of Charlie Frair and Paul Tully. Tom Talbott cleanly set up and executed the Mud Auction. The new “Shred The Dread” was a ripper thanks to Larry Gross, with other new “1st Time” events like the “Stair Climb” planned for this upcoming year.
Youth Service is off and running, with Laura Young leading the reading program. Nannette Duncanson-Ranger was all-in leading the giant U.S. Map painting, with a nostalgic backstory of doing the same thing with her dad when she was young. Bob Clarke led the team of school liaisons on the way to the Student Service Awards, and Amy Chipman and Bruce Jones provided leadership for our Boots and Backpacks event. Bill Ross has the lead on RYLA, and set up a great meeting with RYLA students to share their experiences.
One of Dick’s pursuits was to bring back a long-term youth exchange, and that was accomplished with the help of Zack Newell’s family and Jan Chapman/Bruce Jones. Zack’s daughter will soon be headed to Japan, and Jan and Bruce will be opening their home to an incoming student.
Community Service was in Amy Chipman’s DNA, so she took on the chair role for another season, with a host of projects. Green team/Environmental leader Ellen Niewoehner led the Portland/Eastern Prom tree plantings and community garden upkeep, and Sam Heck was at the forefront of our Milestone Recovery Detox Center collaboration. Bruce Jones got Andrew Square benched, and Nanette had the reigns on our annual Thanksgiving dinner at St. Vincent DePaul's. So much accomplished!
Vocational Service - Roger and Liz Fagan continue their incredible work decades long work with the Dominican Republic Hearing Aid program, and David Small has undertaken leadership in bringing Rotarians to improve water and light conditions to these DR communities. Brian Nickerson with PATHS, Jan and Bruce on Opioid Recovery, and John Thompson with Lift All Boats were all important programs that made an impact.
The growth of our Rotary Foundation giving can be traced to Patty Byers and her commitment to End Polio. She oversaw dozens of new or repeating Paul Harris Fellows, 9 Circles of Five, new Major Donors Jon and Susan Young, and 4 new Bequest Society members. Goals exceeded on every level. Dick was proud to let us know that Gervin KAH will be the chairperson next year, which is wonderful!
In conclusion, Dick will be as busy as ever in the District with numerous board positions. He hopes to improve his fishing in his spare time and wanted to express his appreciation to his super supportive better half, his wife Andrea, “Andy” to us all, for everything she has done to make this all possible.
With an exchange of Rotary pins, Dick gave way to Patty “She’s Everywhere” Byers. Patty added to the moment by giving Dick a special “Past President 2.0” pin, as there is no place in the world to purchase a pin for a President who has led for two terms! (’06-’07 and ’23-’24). She then presented “Andy” with her own special pin, for her patience and support as Dick wrestled with a number of financial rabbit holes that weighed on the club, dubbing her "Mrs. Rabbit". (Phot0- Andrea, Patty and Dick, Patty)
To recognize Dick’s accomplishments, Patty announced that the club’s current roster of Past Presidents had all chipped in to purchase a row of trees along our favorite Bayside Trail. It was a touching and emotional tribute for all of his fine work.
Speaker Schedule
July 12- President Patty Byers
July 19- Portland Sea Dogs- Annual Picnic Lunch at Hadlock Field
July 21 - Sunday - Hadlock Field Presentation "Flags For Heroes"
July 26 - Flags For Heroes Lunch at the Maine Mall
August 2 - Niki Curtis, Humanitarian Outreach to Poland Trip Review
Club Executives
President Patty Byers President Elect John Thompson Vice President Justin Lamontagne TreasurerDick Hall Secretary Tom Nickerson Board of Directors Dick Hall, Quinn Slayton, Zachary Newell, David Ertz,
WRIST SHOT: Tom Talbott explained the new wrist bands that were on all of the tables, a new fun way of sharing with others our "Flags For Heroes" program. Each band says "Who's Your Hero", which is a fascinating question to ask someone. It makes them stop and think. On the other side of the band, it has our website, FlagsForHeroesMaine.com. Using the band as a conversation starter is a simple and effective way to share a great gift with someone. We're providing a path for people to tell the hero in their life what they mean to them, or it's a wonderful way to remember and honor someone who has passed. We only have 200 bands, so Tom implored the audience to take a band, but to please wear and share, don't stuff it into your glove compartment!
This was the week of the changing of the guard, the close of the ’23-24 Presidency of Dick Hall, handing the gavel to our incoming ’24-’25 President Patty Byers. It was an opportunity for Dick to review the past year and express his gratitude for all those who had helped to make it a highly successful and vibrant outing. It also provided Patty with a platform to express our club’s collective heartfelt appreciation for the tireless Rotary leadership that Dick brought to every meeting. His guidance, vision, and knowledge led to many of our club’s fine accomplishments this year, while still maintaining a big hand in District leadership, coming off his year as District Governor.
Thanks went to Club Service Leaders, that in addition to Patty Byers/PE, John Thompson/VPE, Tom Nickerson/Secretary, Sergeant/Jake Bourdeau, and the Board - Bruce Jones, Quinn Slayton, Maggie McGauley, Zack Newell, and David Ertz.
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