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Russell Hampton
National Awards Services Inc.
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Speakers
May 11, 2018
May 18, 2018
May 25, 2018
Jun 01, 2018
Jun 08, 2018
Jun 15, 2018
Jun 22, 2018
Healthcare From the Physician's Perspective
Jun 29, 2018
Leadership
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Executives & Directors
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First Vice President
 
Second Vice President
 
Treasurer
 
Secretary
 
Immediate Past President
 
Sergeant-at-Arms
 
Director Term End 2018
 
Director Term End 2018
 
Director Term End 2019
 
Director Term End 2019
 
Community Service Chair
 
International Service Chair
 
Vocational Service Chair
 
Rotary Foundation Chair
 
Club Protection Officer
 
Vision Champion
 
Communications-WJ Bulletin Ed
 
Communications-PR External
 
Constitution/ByLaws Chair
 
Fund Raising Chair
 
Good Cheer Chair
 
Invocation Chair
 
Meeting Day Chair
 
Music Committee Chair
 
Program Chair
 
Membership Chair
 
Web Administrator
 
Administrative Coordinator
 
Welcome to the Rotary Club of Portland, Maine!
Portland Rotary
Service Above Self
We meet Fridays at 12:15 PM
Holiday Inn By-the-Bay
88 Spring Street
Portland, ME  04101
United States
DistrictSiteIcon District Site
VenueMap Venue Map
Rotary This Week

Portland Rotary Club
will meet this Friday,
May 4, 2018, 
at the
Holiday Inn By-the-Bay
88 Spring Street, Portland

 
*05/04/18 Erin Ovalle, Maine Life Media

Maine Life takes viewers on an exploration of Maine, the state’s most interesting places, off-the-beaten-path discoveries, introduces us to fascinating locals and the stories hardworking Maine people tell.   Host Erin Ovalle highlights all the things that make Maine a special place to live and work.  

Erin is a former morning news anchor on Portland TV stations WGME and WMTW.  She grew up vacationing in Maine and like so many, fell in love with the state. Erin worked in broadcasting in New Hampshire, Illinois, Michigan and Florida, before returning back to be the morning anchor here in Maine.  When not traveling the state, Erin enjoys volunteering in her community, spending time outside with her pup, Baxter, and checking out the many delicious restaurants Maine has to offer.

“I spent a lot of my career covering the news of the day behind the desk but missing the personal stories and people actually shaping Maine and our economy,” says Erin. “Maine Life is not only taking on personal and authentic stories but we’re also engaging with new and existing audiences both on air and online, giving viewers the chance to engage on their terms.”

Now in its third season, Maine Life can be seen Sunday mornings at 11:30am on Channel 6 in Portland and Channel 2 in Bangor.  Past episodes are available online at mainelifemedia.com .

There’s more to the Maine Life and Erin Ovalle story – how she got the idea and what are some of the most interesting episodes to date – as we will hear this Friday.
 

04/27/18 Catherine Fossett & Jennifer Nemi

Small business is a driving force in our economy. It’s not much of a leap to correlate small business and family business, especially when they are starting out. Not all family businesses remain within the financial or government definition of a “small business.” A better understanding of the dynamics of starting, developing, sustaining and passing along a family run business was the focus of our recent meeting. Bob Martin introduced the club to Catherine Wygant Fossett, the Executive Director of the Institute for Family-Owned Business (IFOB), and Jennifer Nemi, a third generation principal of Franklin Printing located in Farmington, Maine.

Catherine was well armed with charts and statistics laying out the challenges that are common to small business and are often accentuated when it’s a family affair. It is claimed that as much as 70% of our U.S. GNP can be traced to small, family-owned businesses. Clearly, they represent a significant and powerful segment of the economy and are worthy of assistance. It comes as no surprise that it was a prominent patriarch of a family-owned business who started the IFOB. In 1994 Shep Lee and his daughter, Candace Lee, were living the life and working through the labyrinth-like path toward a successful transition of a family-owned business to an offspring. They employed their experience and financial support to get the IFOB off to a great start and the success is proven. The Institute works in association with the University of Southern Maine, Thomas College and Husson College to assist family businesses prepare for the known and unexpected hurdles of business, as well as the olympian high jump of transfer and transition to succeeding generations.

The IFOB has been working on coming up with solutions to the problems of family-run businesses and has developed over 40 programs to offer examples of successful solutions. They hold a number of social gatherings to facilitate the development of relationships that can become mentoring opportunities. We now have the luxury of the internet which provides an easy access portal for members to access as they search to find the secrets of a successful family-owned business and the successive transfer of such.

We were introduced to Jennifer Nemi, a third-generation principal of Franklin Printing. The company has been active in the IFOB for many years and enthusiastically endorses the organization as a resource. Franklin Printing was started by Jennifer’s grandfather some years ago and has gone through the typical periods of downturn and obstacles. The initial iteration of Franklin was that of a small local journal.  The world of newspapers, long before the internet, has always been extremely competitive, demanding and littered with failures. As times and finances changed for Franklin they evolved from the nucleus of being a newspaper into a printing facility, thus capitalizing off of the fundamentals of the business. It follows that you are always taking the job home with you and that can magnify the explosiveness of dinner discussions. It is essential that those involved with running a family-owned business have both an information source as well as an outlet for those pent up emotions and problems.

The statistics accentuate the need for an organization such as the Institute for Family-Owned Business, in order to facilitate the development and transition of this huge economic engine. Family-owned businesses represent 80-90 percent of U.S. commercial ventures while providing jobs for about 62% of the workforce. The Institute for Family-Owned Business is a valuable resource for this segment of the economy and the business secrets for day-to-day operations and their continued success.

(Photo: Bob Clark, Bob Martin, Catherine Fossett, Jennifer Nemi, and President Don Zillman.)


 

04/27/18 Bits & Pieces

Last Friday we were pleased to be hosted by Bob Clark at the Boys and Girls Club on Cumberland Avenue.  Thanks to our contacts through The Long Creek Youth Development Center, we were fed a scrumptious meal, served by two residents, Ernie and Alex, who were about to head out to play basketball at northern Maine higher learning institutes.
 

Past President Cyrus Hagge offered up a thoughtful inspirational moment with humorous quotes from Mark Twain. 


Past President Bowen Depke reported that the Allagash Brewery fundraiser/social event was a rousing success. As he handed President Don Zillman a wad of cash, in an undisclosed sum, Bo thanked all who attended and donated for our ongoing effort to support the club’s CHE (childhood hunger and education) project.  Rusty Atwood mentioned that his wife Sue won a wonderful door prize at the event.  Many thanks to all who made this happen, especially Dave Seddon, the organizer extraordinaire. 


Rotary International is in the process of handing out 1,200,000 trees to clubs around the world.  Each tree, representing a Rotarian, will be planted in an effort to keep our planet green and breathing.  Past President Kris Rosado is spearheading our give-away so, if you’d like to plant a small tree in your yard (or anywhere!), please contact Kris.
 



Gracie Johnston
thanked those who participated in serving meals at the Preble Street Resource Center last Wednesday.  Seven folks gave of their time, including Megan Peabody, who was, on Friday, celebrating her acceptance into her master’s program at USM.  


Xavier Botana, the superintendent of the Portland Schools and one of our newer members, was recently named a “Change Maker” byThe United Way, one of the highest honors from this group. Congrats, Xavier!


A $500 check was given to Mike Robinson, who accepted on behalf of the “K-9’s on the Frontline” program, which was selected via a club vote last month to receive a portion of the funding available after our extremely successful Veteran’s program last fall.  


The Maine Outdoor Challenge is quickly approaching, as Patty Erickson reminded us from the podium.  She asked that we all keep our eyes and ears open for silent auction items as we are out and about in Greater Portland.  Restaurant and store gift certificates are an easy ask and, if needed, you can grab a letter explaining the process from Past President Kris Rosado to show for bona fides. We are also looking for gently-used sporting equipment, such as canoes, kayaks and bikes, to help as auction items.  And, lastly, 2nd VP Amy Chipman is handing out raffle tickets to all members (1 for $10, 3 for $20), with the winning ticket being awarded a $500 gift certificate to LL Bean.


Our tables were adorned with very sweet thank you notes from the young students at Lyseth School in Portland, who are  so very appreciative of our efforts, spearheaded by Past President Laura Young, to read to these young people. (See Photo Corner for photos of special event at Lyseth School for Portland Rotary volunteers.)


Past President Peter Goffin offered up a surprise Paul Harris Fellow to one of our most vibrant and active members, Mike Fortunato, who seems to have his hand in every aspect of our club.  Peter, who joked that he had “run out of relatives to honor,” mentioned the Veteran’s luncheon and our Long Creek mentoring programs as two examples of Mike pitching in, often over and above, during just the past few months.  With his extra efforts ongoing for many years now, Mike should be an example to us all of how “Service Above Self” should not just be a slogan, but a way of life. 


 

The weekly raffle was led by Jennifer Frederick. Mike Robinson's name was selected, but he did not find the Queen of Hearts allowing the pot to grow for next week.


 

Photo Corner
An amazing volunteer recognition event was held for Portland Rotary volunteers at Lyseth School! They gave us thank you notes and sang to us. It was quite touching.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Volunteer Opportunities
Following is a list of our Club's volunteer projects. If you know of other opportunities, please contact Loretta: lrowe@maine.rr.com
 

                          When
Project              Who to Contact


Locker Project      May 7, 4:45-6:00 pm
                          May 21, 4:30-6:00 pm
                          Steve Phillips
                          volunteer@mainelockerproject.org


DHS Junior          May 30, 10:20-10:45 am
Readiness            Need 13 volunteers
Workshop            Mike Reed
                          mreed@trsswealth.com


RYLA                   Phil Giordano
                          philtastic7780@gmail.com
Camp Hinds
Clean Up             Jun 9, 9:00 am - finish

Camp Hinds
Registration         Jun 24, 7:45 am-12:30 pm

Final RYLA           Dinner Cost $10
Camp BBQ           Jun 26, 6:00-10:00 pm


Preble Street        4th Wednesday ea month
Resource Ctr        3:30-6:30 pm
Soup Kitchen        Gracie Johnston
                           gracie.johnston@wcsh6.com


Game Night         3rd Tuesday ea month
Long Creek          Mike Fortunato
Youth Center        michael.k.fortunato@gmail.com
                           or Jim Willey
                           jimandbarbarawilley@gmail.com                       

 

Birthdays and Rotary Anniversaries

NOTABLE DATES FOR MEMBERS IN MAY

Member Birthday
  6th - Matt Wolcott
  7th - Bill Blount
12th - Bill Ross
13th - Tom Saturley
17th - Howie Herodes
          Bob Martin
          Tom Sukley
18th - Patty Erickson
          Brian McDonough

19th - Don Zillman
22nd - Jon Young
23rd -  Nick Lotfey 
 

Date-Joined-Rotary Anniversaries
Bill Blount - 26 years
Tony Manhart - 12 years
Laura Young - 11 years
Deb Lavoie - 1 year

                    
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL!

This Week's Duty Assignments

Invocation:  Tom Nickerson
Program Reporter:  Alan Nye
Bits & Pieces Reporter:  Tom Talbott
Registration/Greeter:   Tiel Duncan
Sell Meal Tickets:  Terri St. Angelo
Raffle:  Katie Brown
Collect Meal Tickets: Rusty Atwood
Sgt-at-Arms (Setup):  Mike Fortunato
Sgt-at-Arms (Take Down): Bruce Moore

2018 Maine Outdoor Challenge
 
Rotary Meeting Locations

If you would like to mark your calendars,
we are scheduled at the following locations
through June 2018:

2018 
May 04 - Holiday Inn By-the-Bay
May 11 - Clarion Hotel

May 18 - Clarion Hotel
May 25 - Holiday Inn By-the-Bay

Jun 01 - Holiday Inn By-the-Bay
Jun 08 - Holiday Inn By-the-Bay

Jun 15 - Holiday Inn By-the-Bay
Jun 22 - Clarion Hotel
Jun 29 - TBD


Blue BOLD dates are scheduled Board meeting days.

Any questions, please contact Loretta at: lrowe@maine.rr.com
 

Item Donations Needed
The following items are needed on an on-going basis. Please feel free to bring them to a meeting where we will collect and distribute them to the appropriate projects.
 
Crutches4Africa - Crutches, canes, folding walkers and wheelchairs to be shipped to Africa.
 
Toiletries for the Shelters - Collect those tiny bottles of toiletries you are paying for during your next hotel visit and bring them home for members of our society who find themselves staying at a shelter and in need of personal hygiene products.
 
Tennis Anyone?

ROTARY DOUBLES TENNIS LEAGUE
Winter Session 2018 
With two weeks to go, only one team has been
mathematically eliminated and everyone else is
very much in play. The wrinkle is that teams 1-4
have just a single match left, and teams 5 and six
have two upcoming.  But truly, almost anything
could happen.

TEAM 1TEAM 2TEAM 3TEAM 4TEAM 5TEAM 6
LowryBarnsBourdeauBlakeslee
Seddon
Gross
NoyesBlountPullenMooreHallNickerson
IngramHerodesPutnamYoungAschChipman
Grammer
St Hilaire
MillickCarrJorgensenBowker
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