Bob Fowler became the Executive Director of the Milestone Foundation in 2014.
The opioid epidemic in Maine is worsening, with daily deaths being reported in the newspapers. Fortunately, the Milestone Foundation is at the forefront of the battle with critical programs for those at risk at their Portland and Old Orchard sites. Milestone operates Maine’s only specialized substance use disorder emergency shelter. Their Homeless Outreach and Mobile Engagement (HOME) Team is who the police departments call first, as profiled by the Portland Press Herald (pressherald.com/media/gallery/milestone-foundation-home-team/).
The mission of the Milestone Foundation is to provide the best quality of services to empower individuals with substance use and behavioral health disorders to attain stability, dignity, recovery and an enhanced quality of life. The organization offers emergency shelter, medically managed detoxification, and long-term treatment in Portland and Old Orchard Beach, Maine. Their detox program is staffed by nurses and CNAs 24/7 and is overseen by a physician.
Bob has over 25 years of experience in behavioral health treatment and administration. He earned his MSW degree from the University at Albany. He earned a Master’s Degree in Public Policy and Administration, with a concentration in Financial Management, from the Muskie School at the University of Southern Maine, and a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Vermont. Bob’s professional experience includes various clinical positions, directing a mobile crisis team, and leading a number of nonprofit behavioral health programs throughout the northeast. He served on the Treatment Task Force of the Maine Opiate Collaborative, and was appointed to the Maine legislature’s Task Force to Address the Opiate Crisis in the State. Bob believes that Milestone serves a critical need in the community by providing compassionate, competent care to individuals experiencing homelessness and addiction, and he feels honored to work with Milestone’s staff and clients.
This discussion is not to be missed. The opioid crisis affects every Portland neighborhood and resident, and Bob is perhaps Maine’s leading authority on what is happening, what the future holds, and what we can do to help.
In his spare time, Bob is a guitar player, a master gardener, a beekeeper, and an adjunct professor at USM.
Dr. Elizabeth (Liz) Fagan, is a Speech Pathologist. Liz has been an Honorary Member of Portland Rotary since 2004. Her presentation described the 30-Million-Word project, and how Rotarians support the important efforts for providing books to children and reading to them. We know that reading proficiency is encouraged by trained special education staffs in the schools. Yet, volunteers like the Rotarians, address reading with children who are without identified disabilities. Research has shown how the capacity for children to learn is correlated with their early exposure to books and reading during their first three years.
Dr. Fagan spoke and provided video information about the “30-Million-Word Gap” at every age in their childhood development. Cognitive development is not a function of “what we are born with.” Rather, a language-rich environment sets the stage for optimal brain development and improves how children perform in the world.
Portland Rotarians support literacy programs by reading to children in the city’s public schools and during a summer reading/lieracy program. Each child who attends the summer reading programs are given a book of their choice from the selection provided. These books are donated through funds contributed by Portland Rotary.
Studies have shown it has been determined that a 30-million-word gap exists between what children who live in poor families hear in their first years of life, compared to the same population of children who live with economically advantaged families. Donating books and reading to children are the way we can help to erode the gap.
Nevertheless, many thousands more books are needed for the world’s children. Our goal must be to give all children a book to hold in their hands. We can read aloud to children, sing songs, and recite rhymes, and encourage them to learn big works and talk about big ideas. What matters most is to talk with children and increase their learning opportunities. Language affirmation is a focus on teaching children about how the type of words they learn are important. Words like, “We are happy to see you.”
Every parent has the chance to improve their child’s cognitive development by exposing them to books and reading.
(Photo L-R: Bob Martin, Dr. Liz Fagan, and President Don Zillman.)
President Don Zillman opened the meeting welcoming 51 members, 2 visiting Rotarians and 2 guests and related remorseful sentiments to the sad events of the riots that took place in Charloteesville, Virginia. Gracie Johnston (photo at left) offered our invocation with the “Serenity Prayer,” Past President Bowen Depke led us in the Pledge of Allegiance to our flag’ and we sang a patriotic song.
President Don recognized and thanked those members who “filled-in” on the weekly duties to keep our meeting running smoothly.
For many years Gus Karlsen has been involved with the Multiple Sclerosis Regatta that takes place in Casco Bay. Gus reminded the Club that in years past we have sponsored at least two beautiful sailboats in this charity competition. With the Regatta happening the very next day, we had only come up with enough funds to sponsor one boat. So the call went out and the bucks came floating his way, so Gus will have additional Rotary dollars to assist in the fight to eliminate the ravages of this disease. Great going, Gus!
With the Crutches4Africa project in full swing, Rotary has collected crutches, wheel chairs, walkers and similar assistance devices to help those impoverished and in desperate need of assistance in Africa. The devices have been gathered and need to be consolidated for shipment. This is a huge undertaking and a little help would go a long way. The packing project will be on Thursday, August 31 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at 20 Gooch Street, Biddeford. For more information, contact Tony Wagner at: tony.wagner163@gmail.com
The Rotary Club of Portland and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine have a long association serving up steaks and burgers at their annual dinner event. This year was well covered and the healthy kids were offering sirloin served by Rotarians, if that was their choice. Observers report that the children showed a distinct preference for the simplicity of an abundant hamburger. Thank you to all the volunteers.
If you haven’t heard, Portland is somewhat a craft brew capital with local beer breweries popping up all over the city. Ben Millick is determined to get new and seasoned members, along with friends, to experience some fellowship at a new place each month. He assures us that the list is long and he will keep us hopping to a new spot, so get ready to "meet and greet" and belly up to the bar!
We are known as the “singing club,” and we do a fine job on most of the songs....thanks to our talented song leaders and keyboard accompaniment. Past PresidentBill Blount and 2nd Vice President Amy Chipman observed that this was the 40th anniversary of the passing of the ‘King of Rock and Roll,’ Elvis Presley, and suggested that we offer up “Love Me Tender” as a tribute. We made a sincere effort.
The Queen of Hearts seems to be hiding in the dwindling deck of cards, because the raffle is up to over $700 and growing. Thanks to Julie Chase, showing pluck with no luck, she left the pot to grow and entice us to continue to buy tickets next week. (Photo L-R: Elise Hodgkin and Julie Chase)
Invocation: David Small Program Reporter: Alan Nye Bits & Pieces Reporter: Ben Lowry Registration/Greeter: Patty Erickson Sell Meal Tickets: David Clough Raffle: Jan Chapman Badge Box: Rusty Atwood Collect Meal Tickets: Jennifer Frederick* Song Leader: Meredith Small Keyboard Player: Kathy Grammer Sgt-at-Arms (Setup): Travis Parker Sgt-at-Arms (Take Down): Jerry Angier
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.
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.
As we receive applications for prospective members to join our Portland Rotary Club, the names of the applicants will be included in our Windjammer. Any information and/or comments you would like to share will be handled confidentially. Please contact Loretta Rowe: lrowe@maine.rr.com. Your input will be appreciated.
PROSPECT BUSINESS (Sponsor) Eileen Skinner Retired CEO (David Small) Mercy Hospital
Adam ScheppardNorthpoint Mortgage (Brian McDonough)
Bob Fowler became the Executive Director of the Milestone Foundation in 2014. 
Dr. Elizabeth (Liz) Fagan, is a Speech Pathologist. Liz has been an Honorary Member of Portland Rotary since 2004. Her presentation described the 30-Million-Word project, and how Rotarians support the important efforts for providing books to children and reading to them. We know that reading proficiency is encouraged by trained special education staffs in the schools. Yet, volunteers like the Rotarians, address reading with children who are without identified disabilities. Research has shown how the capacity for children to learn is correlated with their early exposure to books and reading during their first three years..JPG)
President Don Zillman opened the meeting welcoming 51 members, 2 visiting Rotarians and 2 guests and related remorseful sentiments to the sad events of the riots that took place in Charloteesville, Virginia. Gracie Johnston (photo at left) offered our invocation with the “Serenity Prayer,” Past President Bowen Depke led us in the Pledge of Allegiance to our flag’ and we sang a patriotic song. 
For many years Gus Karlsen has been involved with the Multiple Sclerosis Regatta that takes place in Casco Bay. Gus reminded the Club that in years past we have sponsored at least two beautiful sailboats in this charity competition. With the Regatta happening the very next day, we had only come up with enough funds to sponsor one boat. So the call went out and the bucks came floating his way, so Gus will have additional Rotary dollars to assist in the fight to eliminate the ravages of this disease. Great going, Gus!.jpg)
With the Crutches4Africa project in full swing, Rotary has collected crutches, wheel chairs, walkers and similar assistance devices to help those impoverished and in desperate need of assistance in Africa. The devices have been gathered and need to be consolidated for shipment. This is a huge undertaking and a little help would go a long way. The packing project will be on Thursday, August 31 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at 20 Gooch Street, Biddeford. For more information, contact Tony Wagner at: .JPG)
We are known as the “singing club,” and we do a fine job on most of the songs....thanks to our talented song leaders and keyboard accompaniment. Past President Bill Blount and 2nd Vice President Amy Chipman observed that this was the 40th anniversary of the passing of the ‘King of Rock and Roll,’ Elvis Presley, and suggested that we offer up “Love Me Tender” as a tribute. We made a sincere effort.