This Week: Jonathan Curley Redfern, "The Tallest Building in Portland"
Jonathan Culley is the Managing Partner of Redfern Properties. Redfern Properties is a Portland’s most active developer of multi-family housing, with several projects currently in development or under construction. Jonathan currently also serves as Board Chair for Avesta Housing, the largest nonprofit affordable housing provider in Northern New England.
Jonathan holds an A.B. and an M.B.A., both from Duke University.
Redfern is a socially and environmentally conscious real estate development firm with a focus on mixed-use and multi-family housing. Redfern Properties strives to create unique residences and commercial spaces, while making neighborhoods and communities more vibrant and sustainable.
Happy Birthday and a Special Celebration to Bob Traill!
by Mike Fortunato
On Saturday, April 23, our good friend and fellow Rotarian Bob Traill celebrated his 100th Birthday, and we were honored to join in the occasion!
The event was held at The Landings in Cape Elizabeth, with Bob's family arriving from near and far, while all residents in the facility adding their cheers and best wishes. The ceremony was highlighted with a parade led by the "The Honor Flight", a program that Bob had participated in many times. Police cars and fire engines with sirens and lights got everyone fired up, all against a background of American flags. If Bob keeps having these wild parties, The Landings may have to bring him in to discuss these soirees!
Bob, a U.S. Marine veteran, graciously accepted a patriotic quilt from a local quilting group, in honor of his service in WWII.Bob was awarded the Bronze Star for his efforts as an intelligence officer during the war. He served as the chairman of both the Salvation Army Advisory Board and Maine Medical Center Annual Fund Committee.
Bob joined our club in 1980, served as our President in 1990-1991, and is a Paul Harris Fellow. Always an active member, he made his presence felt at so many service and fundraising events. You'd find him at Preble Street and the St. Vincent de Paul soup kitchens, for sure! He was also a steady participant at our Lyseth Elementary School reading programs.
We salute you Bob, and our club looks forward to seeing you at our meeting this Friday, April 29th!
Norm O'Reilly, Ph.D "12 Trends to Watch"
by Erik Jorgensen
We had several requests for Norm's presentation in full so CLICK HERE to take you to a download portal.
On Friday, we heard from Dr. Norm O’Reilly, the Dean of the Graduate School of Business at UMaine. A resident of Cape Elizabeth, he is the author of 16 books on various topics in business and sport management, including one on the NHL. He’s been on the job for 10 months. (Photo: Roxane Cole, Larry Gross, and Dr. O'Reilly)
The University of Maine Graduate and Professional Center has taken form in downtown Portland at the former CIEE building on Fore Street. It features a combination of the Law, Business, Engineering, and Public Policy enterprises at UMaine, all housed together in Portland. This collaborativeapproach is intended both to facilitate cross-disciplinary cooperation and also to address the huge issue of workforce loss that is projected for our region, by training new business and professional leaders. The Harold Alfond Foundation provided the University with an initial $7.5 million challenge grant. This was matched, triggering a second round of funding: $240 million to the University, including $55 million for the Graduate Center initiative.
The University’s M.B.A. program is focused on mid-career professionals, and during the pandemic it exploded from around 70 to 400 people. A lot of the students are nonresidential, taking classes online. Concentrations are both the traditional ones, like accounting, finance and general management, but the program now offers new and hybrid degrees, including engineering management, blue ocean manufacturing (aquaculture) and management of outdoor industry.
Dr. O’Reilly shared with us his list of twelve major global trends, all of which he believes will have a significant influence on Maine in the coming years. These, he said, should be considered by any contemporary business person, and while they are not presented in order of urgency, all should be considered important.
Here are The O’Reilly Twelve:
Home Rules - we won’t go back to an “all in the office” model of working. 36% of employees will work remotely forever;
It’s hard and will be harder to find new talent. Predictions hold that by 2027, there will be 100,000 unfilled jobs in Maine. People are moving here, often not to work, but to play, or work remotely at out of state jobs. We will need to rely heavily on immigration to Maine to fill our jobs.
He urged managers to “cherish the talent you have” and noted that 3-4% of all workers are quitting, but not to retire. They are just quitting and hoping to do something else. If you are looking for work, however, the time is right to get a job.
Contract work is increasing. For whatever reason, benefits are holding less of a draw for job seekers.
The digital economy continues to develop incredibly fast. Toronto currently has 77,000 unfilled tech jobs. If you are in a tech field you will have many choices.
He predicts that a rapid recovery is going to happen in tourism. People are desperate to travel and are booking trips at a great pace.
He warned that NFTs are going to be bigger, and so is crypto. And that these things are real and not jokes.
Diversity and Inclusion is not going away – this is harder to understand for older people, especially in a state like Maine. But since 2014 more nonwhite than white babies have been born in the US. With longer lifespans and working careers, different generational views of world will coexist -- boomers and millennials need to figure out how to live together.
Women bore a much heavier brunt of the pandemic than men did. The glass ceiling is very much still there, even though progress has been made.
People show increasing preference for localization over globalization.
At the same time, there’s an emerging trend of “Presence Free Living”. Buy a car, a house, or most anything from your living room on your phone – and this will only increase.
Finally: Privacy is the linchpin of modern life.
President Larry closed the meeting by thanking Dr.O'Reilly and noted the provision of funds in his name to maintain trees at Rotary Grove. He also reminded everyone of the 100th Birthday Party for Bob Traill to be held at our meeting on Friday, April 29th.
Bits and Pieces|by Tom Nickerson
Past President Larry Gross, (photo) filling in for Bruce Jones, opened the meeting. PP Jim Willey started us off with the Pledge of Allegiance. PP Amy Chipman led us in a stirring rendition of “America” (My Country Tis of Thee). PP Tom Talbott provided the Message of the Day. In reading "Lessons from Geese" by Milton Olson, Tom shared how geese can teach us that by working in a common direction we can accomplish more; by sharing leadership we can share talents; and by being supportive we stand by each other. All good ideals as Rotarians to hold.
Larry recognized our visitors: former members Chris Rosado and Doug Packer, and Kort Hefler, a former Past President from the Downtown Boston Rotary Club. Jim Vicenzi led the raffle (photo) and unfortunately Paul T. Gore was not able to fish out the queen of hearts.
Patty Byers shared a thank you note from Queenie (Peggy Wescott) as she remarked how much fun she had and how grateful she was for the laughter and fellowship of the club.
PP Jim Willey (photo) shared his experience volunteering to meet and speak in English with Gervin Kah to help with his English conversation skills. Jim is looking for couple more volunteers to join him in meeting Gervin for coffee for about an hour a week at Panera Bread, across from Kohl's in Westbrook. Contact Jim or Mike Fortunato to schedule a time.
PP Ellen Niewoeher reminded us to sign up for Maine Arborweek project to plant trees along the Bayside trail. The city of Portland provides the trees and tools. Plenty of parking along Marginal Way. This is our kick-off event for our Environmental Committee, and it takes place on Thursday, May 19th, 9am – Noon. Rain date will be the following Friday. Wear your yellow shirts! Reach out to Ellen for more information.
Charlie Frair (photo) asked for folks to join the "Flags For Heroes" team for an information zoom meeting on Monday 4/25. to please do so. This meeting has now taken place, but if you're interested in helping on this important fundraising event in September, reach out to Charlie.
Tom Talbott and Mike Fortunato shared the results of the "Mud Auction" – raising more than $4,000, double our goal. Tom thanked fellow organizers Dick Hall, Amy Chipman, Mike Fortunato, Ellen Niewoehner, and Bruce Jones. Mike Fortunato then came to the podium to discuss the final delivery /pick up of purchased items. To conclude, Mike boldly held a live auction of the remaining misfit toys that were not purchased, earning more than $100 extra dollars for our charitable fund! The bidding for items engaged both the Zoom and Room audiences. Patty Byers came up to help increase the bids on a really nice sweater. (Photo, Patty and Mike)
Our Zoom Team once again provided the expertise to deliver our meeting online to home audiences. Today at the keyboard and switches, Gervin Kah, Rich Campbell, and PP/DG Dick Hall. (Photo)
Speaker Schedule
May 6 | Troy Moon, Sustainability Director, City of Portland
May 20 | Kevin Hancock, Hancock Lumber
President-Elect Bruce Jones will turn over the bell to these Past Presidents to guest host the following meetings: May 20th: Bowen Depke • May 27th: Ellen Niewoehner • June 17th: Roxane Cole • June 29th: Ben Lowry
Club Executives President-Elect Bruce Jones 1st VP Dick Hall 2nd VP Patty Byers Treasurer Howie Herodes Secretary Michelle DiSotto Board of Directors Ellen Niewoehner, Mark Foster, Bob Clark, Roger Fagan, John Thompson Sergeant-At-Arms Dave Putnam Club Administrator Alice Alexander
The Windjammer is published online by
The Rotary Club of Portland, Maine.
Contributing Editors Bill Blount, Jake Bourdeau, Dick Hall,
Erik Jorgensen, Julie L’Heureux, Ben Lowry,
Tom Nickerson, Tom Talbott, Laura Young
4th Q Program Chair: Roxane Cole Managing Editor Tom Talbott Co-Production Alice Alexander
(photo) filling in for Bruce Jones, opened the meeting. PP Jim Willey started us off with the Pledge of Allegiance. PP Amy Chipman led us in a stirring rendition of “America” (My Country Tis of Thee).
former members Chris Rosado and Doug Packer, and Kort Hefler, a former Past President from the Downtown Boston Rotary Club. Jim Vicenzi led the raffle (photo) and unfortunately Paul T. Gore was not able to fish out the queen of hearts.
volunteering to meet and speak in English with Gervin Kah to help with his English conversation skills. Jim is looking for couple more volunteers to join him in meeting Gervin for coffee for about an hour a week at Panera Bread, across from Kohl's in Westbrook. Contact 
Mike Fortunato then came to the podium to discuss the final delivery /pick up of purchased items. 
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