News of The Rotary Club of Portland, Maine October 14, 2020
Lessons From COVID...so far...
By Rusty Atwood
Chris Vickers was named President and CEO of STARC Systems in October, 2017. STARC creates temporary wall containment for renovations within health care, education and commercial construction projects. The company is based at TechPlace in Brunswick, the site of the former U.S. Naval Air Station/Brunswick. Maine clients include Maine Medical Center and Central Maine Medical Center, while national clients include The Cleveland Clinic, The Mayo Clinic, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, The Ohio State University and LaGuardia and Phoenix Airports.
Founded in 2012, STARC is used across all 50 states and internationally with the leading construction firms in healthcare as well as non-healthcare verticals such as commercial office, education, data centers, biotech, and government.
In August, 2020, STARC was recognized by Inc. Magazine for its 3-year growth of 438%, placing it 24th among all manufacturing companies in the U.S.
Chris is a native of Caribou and earned his BA from Colby College where he played varsity basketball and dabbled in theatre. He also holds an MBA from Harvard Business School. Before joining STARC Systems, Chris was President and CEO of Vermont Country Stores in Manchester VT. He has also served as Vice President for Merchandising at L.L. Bean.
Chris and his wife, Gina, live in Brunswick and are the parents of two adult sons.
Rotary Provides Masks for New England
The New England Rotary Million Mask Challenge Tour arrived in Portland on October 6 with 6,000 surgical masks for Portland Rotary to distribute. The effort is a Rotary District 7980 collaboration with East Hampton, CT Rotarian Ted Rossi and The Rossi Family Foundation to provide a million masks to organizations across the New England states. Portland Rotary donated its allotment to the Portland Public Schools, Preble Street, the Boys and Girls Club, and the Portland Sunrise Club for Milestone Recovery.
Laura Young, Katie Brown, and Ellen Niewoehner assisted in the event at City Hall, which resulted in extensive media coverage. Linkhere.
Bits and Pieces | byJohn Marr
Our Club’s amazing amanuensis or “Jack of All Trades,” Elise Hodgkin, opens the Zoom doors and invites us in from a “waiting room,” which has recently been added by the company. Hence, if you try to get online and there’s a short delay, fear not, you’re probably in the waiting room and Elise has to take tech steps to get you in. Every week there’s something to be learned at Rotary, so don’t miss out, making a meeting could not be much easier. Getting over 50 members to sign on is much more of a challenge than it need be. Please show your support by signing on and joining in.
As we experienced at in person meetings, we have the opportunity to see and hear our fellow Rotarians and catch up before the official start. For example, we learned that Doctor Roger Fagan is three weeks post op for a hip replacement and graduating from walker to cane. We also enjoyed a conversation relative to the long on-going battle to keep our world safe from abuse of system-altering chemicals and lamented the human loss, especially Jesse Harvey.
President Ellen called the meeting to order at 12:05 and opened by thanking Bob Martin for the work he has been doing with the Windjammer. Particular note was given to his solicitation of stories of Loretta Rowe which appeared in last week’s WJ issue (a must read!). We next went to the words of inspiration/invocation offered by Bruce Jones, who offered:
Strategies to enrich your life and that of others:
Free your heart of hatred
Reach out to someone who may need it
Practice Humility
Be Kind
Live Simply
Give More
Expect Less
Certainly, Bruce knows that with Rotarians you can always be sure of a job well done. For example, While Bob Martin has taken on the Roster duties and is asking each of us to go online and make sure your information is up to date. While the details of the membership are being collected, Mike Fortunato and Bruce Jones have taken on the sale of advertisements that keep the cost down for our membership. Certain names just keep coming up time and again. I think we should call them our “Rotary Service Above Self Super Spreaders.”
To the point of something always going on, the “dynamic duo” of Jan Chapman and Bruce Moore, along with immediate past President Amy Chipman, went to Preble Street to help pack meals for distribution to the ever-expanding needy in our community. The needs there are ongoing and they ask that you sign on and they can be sure to provide all the safety features need for a safe workspace. Amy, ever the cheerful one, noted that she and Jan managed salads while “Bruce cut the cheese”!
We only had a couple of guests noted, at this meeting. We had our summer son from Savanah, Kirk Duffy as well as Hanna Gregory, a potential new member and guest of Laura Young She is relocating to Portland and seeking employment in the demanding and ever needful world of nonprofits. A recent graduate with a degree in Government and Global Studies, she is ready to hit the road running. Guest Joyce Kennedy will soon be formally introduced as a new member.
Jumping from new to seasoned membership, we had a Paul Harris Fellow to bestow and our Foundation maven, Amy Chipman, introduced Tom Ranello who was recognized for his Second PHF! Way to go Tom and congratulations from all of us. Tom related the reason he was so appreciative of being a PHF is because by an individual giving to the Foundation they are “making the whole world a better place.” So true, Tom!
Continuing with the Foundation, Amy Chipman brought the Club and District numbers to our attention. With Dick Hall District Governor next year, we are all the more intimately involved. Lawrence Furbish has been dealing at the District 7780 level for quite some time and assists with the statistics and distribution, authorizing $231,000 in life changing grants. That’s an amazing figure but it could never happen if it wasn’t for you who give funds that keep things going, so take a bow Rotarians All! Spectacular as that is, we have to recognize the seemingly omnipresent and almost omnipotent Amazing Amy Chipman who steered and cheered, and maybe domineered, the Club on to reach 125% of our target.
Success breeds success, and this year Patty Erickson took on the Chairing of The Flags for Heroes on display at the still welcoming Maine Mall in South Portland. Paul Tully and Charlie Frair got everything teed up and convinced Patty to take on the herding. Cy Hagge stables and delivers the flags when they are not on display. Paul Gore provides handouts and Linda Varrell got us far more publicity than any can remember with a “loaned employee,” Sasha, to assist with the finer points of PR. We were nicely covered by the Portland Press Herald and quite a few of the locals. We look forward to doing this fundraiser again next year and ask that you think of the hero you want to recognize. A flag is a mere $100 and the recognition and impact on the individual recognized lives on forever, so please do your part. The exact amount of money raised is being calculated but we are sure that it’s more than $8,000.
Next Friday we will not meet due to the Indigenous Peoples Recognition Holiday. Our next Portland Rotary Club Zoom meeting will be on Friday, October 16th commencing around the noon hour. Remember, it’s not so much different than the good old days of in-person meetings. You can arrive early and chat it up a bit, or you can skillfully slip in after the formal opening and drop off, practically unnoticed, at any time. In other words, short of being indisposed, there’s hardly a reason not to attend and find out what’s going on. The speakers remain captivating and exceptional. Finally, by logging in, you find out, first hand, what your Club mates are doing to better the world and in what opportunities you can partake.
Loretta Rowe’s obituary appeared in the Maine Sunday Telegram on October 11, 2020. The link ishere. As she requested, there will be no formal service.
DA Sahrbeck Reviews Impact of Substance Use Disorder
By Dick Hall
Jonathan Sahrbeck, District Attorney of Cumberland County, reviewed the role of his office with particular emphasis on substance use disorder and human trafficking. He said the community needs to do more to prevent substance use disorder to help keep people out of the criminal justice system. Jonathan works with Paul Tully’s son, a detective in Portland who is a member of the Special Reactive Team that investigates all crimes, including substance abuse and drug dealing. Sahrbeck commented that most people involved in the criminal justice system are there because of substance use disorder or mental health issues.
Sahrbeck said that his office is very aware of the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACE) on people. In 2019, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a study on the problem which can be foundhere. According to the CDC, “Adverse Childhood Experiences are potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood. ACEs can include violence, abuse, and growing up in a family with mental health or substance use problems. Toxic stress from ACEs can change brain development and affect how the body responds to stress. ACEs are linked to chronic health problems, mental illness, and substance misuse in adulthood.”
Sahrbeck said ACEs rewire the brain to make it more susceptible to having problems. Many use drugs to cope with those experiences. Studies in Hillsboro County, NH showed 70% of inmates had an ACE score of 4 or above. He encouraged us to deal with any ACE which we witness. “Preventing youth from using drugs is important,” he said. If drug use starts before age 20, there is a 1 in 4 chance of having criminal problems. If use starts after age 20, those chances reduce to 1 in 20. Sahrbeck also said that he believes that gateway drugs include tobacco, vaping, marijuana, alcohol, cocaine, heroin and others.
Sahrbeck gave credit for the work of Kennebunk Police Chief Robert MacKenzie on substance use disorder. He said Maine is now losing 10 people per week from drug overdoses. He also mentioned how important it is to assist police by helping to address the underlying disorder.
Sahrbeck talked about human trafficking in the city of Portland, a problem that has grown in significance since the 1990’s. He said that the problem begins with simple events. One victim reportedly received an invitation to a party, which then turned into prostitution, and the victim was never able to get out from under it. From that one victim, the DA’s office realized there was a significant human trafficking problem in Maine. He encouraged everyone to look up survivor and support organizations in Maine and give them support. (The Maine Sex Trafficking and Exploitation Network is here.St. Andre Home’s Courage Lives site is here.Wisdoms Women Center ishere.) The District Attorney’s office goes after traffickers by identifying them and holding them when they come into the system for anything. This give the victims some free time. The office also identifies victims and offers treatment options if they come into the system.
The office tries to disrupt the market through prosecution and efforts to educate the clients. Sex trade clients need to understand that not only is the prostitute a victim, but they, too, are susceptible to violence, blackmail and other crimes. Generally, the judges are supportive of the office using educational alternatives for victims and johns as opposed to incarceration or other punishment. Whenever possible, the District Attorney tries to keep people out of the system.
Cultivating Community
A team of Rotarians provided assistance to Cultivating Community on October 5, by picking up fruit, trash, weeding and mulching the pathways in the Boyd Street Gardens.
Cultivating Community works to expand community access to healthy, local food; empowering children, youth, and adults to play diverse roles in restoring the local, sustainable food systems; and modeling, teaching, and advocating for ecological food production. Gardeners included Ben Delcourt, Amy Chipman, Peter Goffin, Mark Millar, Jim Vicenzi, Tom Ranello, and President Ellen Niewoehner.
Another work day is scheduled for on Tuesday, October 20th from 2:00 to 4:00. Please email Amy Chipman to participate. There is a limit of 10 people.
Preble Street Opportunities
Jan Chapman shares information about volunteer opportunities at Preble Street from Haley Foydel, Volunteer Manager. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant change to their service model and introduced additional safety requirements. Foydel writes: “A huge thanks to you and the Portland Rotary for your continued support of Preble Street. We're so appreciative of this volunteer community.”
In addition to helping to prepare pre-packaged meals, the organization needs volunteers to help with its Annual Appeal by stuffing envelopes and arranging mailings of personalized letters to the 10,000 Preble Street supporters around the country. This effort will take place on weekdays between October 26 and November 16. This is a low-contact opportunity with volunteers working in small groups in private rooms or sanitized workspaces. Days and times are flexible with shifts lasting 3 to 4 hours. Other low or no-contact volunteer opportunities can be found at thislink.
Foydel shares the following information for those who wish to help with meal preparations:
● All meals are packaged to-go, and many shifts include assembly of these meals in the dining room. Shifts are now limited to 3-4 people for the following mealtimes:
○ Breakfast (7-10am): 4 people
○ Lunch (10am-1pm): 4 people
○ Dinner (2-5pm): 3 people
● Meal Delivery to SoPo Satellite Shelter: This shift is daily from 4:30pm-5:30pm. We are currently in need of a regular Friday evening volunteer, as well as individuals willing to be "on-call" for last-minute shifts. This volunteer would arrive at our Resource Center at 252 Oxford to pick up pre-packaged meals and deliver them to the Quality Inn in South Portland. The only contact would be with 1-2 Preble Street staff upon pickup/delivery.
● Preparing individually-portioned snacks for our Teen Center Street Outreach Collaborative: Our team connects with teens who are unhoused and is always happy to receive snacks to bring, like granola bars, trail mix, Rice Krispies treats, etc. If homemade, we just ask for a list of ingredients in order to flag potential allergens. The only contact would be with a staff member at the Teen Center upon drop-off.
● PPE kit assembly: This would be an on-call position when we are able to access PPE supplies, and entails picking up the PPE from our Resource Center, taking it home/offsite to assemble in individual packages, and returning the kits to the RC for our staff to distribute them. The only contact would be with staff upon pickup/delivery.
Foydel said reserving a regular night for dinners is absolutely possible if there are enough Rotary members comfortable coming in. She can also enable a "waitlist" online for those who would like to sign up as backup volunteers in the case that someone is unable to attend last-minute. Those interested should contact Jan Chapman or Tom Ranello.
A Moment of Reflection
October
O hushed October morning mild,
Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;
Tomorrow’s wind, if it be wild,
Should waste them all.
The crows above the forest call;
Tomorrow they may form and go.
O hushed October morning mild,
Begin the hours of this day slow.
Make the day seem to us less brief.
Hearts not averse to being beguiled,
Beguile us in the way you know.
Release one leaf at break of day;
At noon release another leaf;
One from our trees, one far away.
Retard the sun with gentle mist;
Enchant the land with amethyst.
Slow, slow!
For the grapes’ sake, if they were all,
Whose leaves already are burnt with frost,
Whose clustered fruit must else be lost—
For the grapes’ sake along the wall.
By Robert Frost
Speaker Schedule
October 16 | Chris Vickers, STARC Systems
October 23 | Dan Shea, Colby College, Election Forecast
October 30 | Steve Bromage, Maine Historical Society
November 6 | Veterans Day Event
November 13 | TBD
November 20 | Heather T. Pacquette, VP Retail Services, Hannaford
November 27 | NO MEETING
December 4 | Vin Veroneau, President, J.B. Brown Company
December 11 | Rich Cantz, President, Goodwill
December 18 | Greg Mitchell, Economic Development Director, City of Portland
in Portland on October 6 with 6,000 surgical masks for Portland Rotary to distribute. The effort is a Rotary District 7980 collaboration with East Hampton, CT Rotarian Ted Rossi and The Rossi Family Foundation to provide a million masks to organizations across the New England states. Portland Rotary donated its allotment to the Portland Public Schools, Preble Street, the Boys and Girls Club, and the Portland Sunrise Club for Milestone Recovery. 
