Portland Rotary Windjammer March 8, 2023 (Mar 08, 2023)

This Week's Speaker: Charlie Therrien, President Mercy Hospital, and Scott Oxley, Sr. VP Northern LIght Health

This week's speaker is Charlie Therrien, president of Mercy Hospital, and Scott Oxley. Charlie serves as a senior vice president of Northern Light Health. Charlie has 42 years of health care experience, working in both physician practice and the hospital environment. Charlie earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Quantitative Methods from Babson College, Massachusetts. He is active with the United Way Thrive 2027 Council, Central Maine Power Advisory Council and is past chair of the Maine Hospital Association. Charlie lives in Kennebunk with his wife Ellen.

Scott A. Oxley (no photo) was appointed President Northern Light Acadia Hospital; Senior Vice President, Northern Light Health in October 2007. He has served in various roles at Northern Light during his 30 years with the company with a primary background in healthcare finance. He is a graduate of Husson University, the University of Maine MBA program and is a certified public accountant. Scott enjoys all outdoor activities and time with his wife of 30 years and their two adult-aged children.

Meeting of March 3 - Magician Phil Smith |by Juliana L'Heureux

A special magical treat program for Rotarians, President Bruce Jones introduced Phil Smith, of Abracadabra Productions, who performs as Your Maine Magician. He is a master magician, who is experienced as an entertainer for children and adults. He performs at homes, schools, trade shows, schools, churches and many other settings from Maine to Boston and beyond. Smith says he is is a ‘kid at heart,’ which helps him to create magic to dazzle everyone.

His humor, enthusiasm, and extensive variety of tricks kept our lunchtime audience engaged throughout. His jokes with the Rotarians and guests kept everyone smiling while he performed sleight of hand tricks with cards and coins.

The ‘magic bug’ bit Phil when he received a magic kit for Christmas at the age of 10. His grandparents encouraged his magic skills when they invited him to perform at church socials. He was already entertaining audiences at 18, when he performed at the Miss Maine pageant.

Phil’s skills grew when he studied at the University of Southern Maine’s theater program and practiced his magic tricks. His magician role models and colleagues were Maine’s Ralph Hall Greenwood (1912-2007), a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians Dean of the Society of American Magicians' Assembly 174, in Portland, Woody Woodward, with the International Brotherhood of Magicians, Robert “Bob” Nixen and Lloyd Covens who was a member of the former The Maine Magicians club.

Phil performed the classical linking rings illusion, a trick created by Asian magicians 5 centuries ago. A sleight of hand was performed with Rotarians Christine Force and Dick Hall who joined the fun when Phil gave them each soft foam balls to hold but then made the items disappear and reappear. He performed an ESP trick with Jan Chapman, using a 52 card deck but added the two jokers, to make 54 cards. He named the joker cards “Ed” and “Fred”.

Phil said he still practices before performing for audiences, especially when entertaining at a company function or trade show, because he wants to weave information into the act about the organization while creating magic.

You can contact Phil Smith directly by clicking here.

Remembering Bob Traill

It is with sadness to announce that fellow Rotarian Bob Traill passed away on Monday evening, with his family at his side. We will have a special tribute to Bob at this Friday's meeting.

BITS AND PIECES

| by Dick Hall

President Bruce Jones brought the meeting to order and Bill Blount led the Pledge of Allegiance. Tom Talbott gave the thought for the day in the form of a poem about preparation for winter.

Dan Fahey introduced our one guest Tuck Barclay, future Rotarian and guest of Bowen Depke. Mick Weltman conducted the raffle, but Christine Force was not able to find the Queen of Hearts to win $240.

Congratulations Patty Byers: Paul Harris Fellow +7

Bruce Jones awarded our club Foundation Chair, Patty Byers with her Paul Harris +7 pin. Patty accepted the pin and told us she felt fortunate to be able to continually support the Rotary Foundation. Note that Patty has also been doing a wonderful job of leading our Foundation Committee, and leading by example! (Phot0)

STAGED: Bowen Depke has four flex tickets for Portland Stage, for any performance until year end. If you want them, contact Bowen. Click to email.

Dollars raised all goes to the Portland Rotary Charitable fund. Thanks Bo! (Photo)

AWAY GAME: Bill Blount noted that Rotary Ruth Fletcher joined us on Zoom today and Mike Fortunato also joined on Zoom from Luca, Italy.

MUD: Tom Talbott encouraged all to donate items for the Mud Sale Auction, starting now! All funds will go to the club charitable works. Email a picture, description, value and minimum bid to Dick Hall and your item will be put on the online auction site. (More details below)

CONCERT: Tom Ranello talked about the upcoming Fentanyl Awareness Concert at Deering Oaks on May 6. It will be a free concert by the Don Campbell band put on in conjunction with the City of Portland. Several opiod support organizations will provide information to combat Fentanyl. (5) Portland Rotarians have already pledged enough support to pay for the band. We expect 450-500 attendees, so we need full club support. Tom invites everyone to a meeting to discuss at 11:15 next Friday. (Photo)

THEATER: Bruce Moore thanked everyone for the coats, hats, mittens, socks and other clothing to keep Milestone people warm. Milestone staff extended their personal thanks to Bruce, to pass along. Bruce also asked us to save the date: South Portland Cape Elizabeth Rotary has reserved the Lyric Theater April 6 for a fundraiser to support substance use disorder. to support the work of our District Recovery Initiative. All proceeds from the Lyric Theater show 'Curtains' will support recovery work. 'Curtains' is a musical comedy 'whodunit' from the creators of 'Cabaret' and 'Chicago' . You may purchase your tickets at their club's website, where you will see the Curtains logo and the "Buy Tickets" button. The price of each ticket is $25. Pre-performance gathering for drinks and snacks at 6:30. The performance begins promptly at 7:30.(Photo)

DEBUT: Bruce announced that Charlie Frair will be giving us a sneak preview of a new video next week.

Birthdays and Anniversaries!

A rousing chorus of Happy Birthday was sung for those celebrating this month: Jerry Angier, Patty Byers, Mac Collins, Larry Gross, Ellen Niewoehner, Alan Nye, David Patterson, David Small, Angela Smith, John Thompson, and Paul Tully. Bruce also announced Rotary anniversaries this month, and years in Rotary. Leslie Clark (3), Tom Ranello (25), Howie Herodes (31) and Tom Saturley (42).