This Thursday, February 16, 5:30pm, we will host our monthly "Social", again returning to the Salvage BBQ, 919 Congress Street, Portland. Members of the Portland club, the Portland Sunrise club, spouses, SO's, potential new members, friends - everyone welcome!
DONATIONS! Bruce Moore is seeking for donations of the items most needed by the Milestone Recovery Center, including men’s winter coats, long underwear, hats and gloves, and cold-weather sleeping bags and tents. Please check your closets and basements to see if you have any of these items you no longer need. Bring them Thursday and Bruce will pick them up!
Self Service - order a drink or food at your leisure. No meeting, just good cheer, camaraderie. Friday meetings, good as they are, are more structured and shortens conversational opportunity, getting to know people as well. The event last month at Salvage was a success, 25+, plenty of room for more!
Remember, this takes the place of our regular Friday meeting, so do your best to attend.
Last Week's Speaker: Quincy Hentzel, CEO, Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce |
by Ben Lowry
For the third time in the past 5 years, Portland Rotary was happy to welcome Quincy Hentzel, the President and CEO of the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce. Introduced by Justin Lamontagne. Quincy gave us a quick overview of the Chamber’s focus over the past many months while acknowledging her front-page photo in the Friday Portland Press Herald taking a selfie with Mr. Monopoly, with the announcement that Portland has been selected out of 30 cities to be represented with a special edition of the game, set to come out this fall. (Photo: Cyrus Hagge, Quincy Hentzel, Bruce Jones)
On a more serious note, Quincy spoke on the status of the 13 referendum questions that were on the ballot this past November, with the Chamber taking a position against all of them. Her reasoning is that the issues, including cruise ships, rent control, and charter commission responsibilities, should be overseen by the city council rather than John Q. Public. While the Chamber was successful in the opposition of 6 of the 7 initiatives that were most pressing, the rent control matter prevailed, such that a landlord cannot raise a unit’s rent over a certain level once that unit has been vacated. Quincy suggests that this does not provide impetus for owners to put more money into renovations which could add value to the unit. With such a shortage of both rental properties and homes for sale, The Chamber hopes to encourage more (and better) availability for those hoping to come to Greater Portland for new employment opportunities. Quincy and her staff are now in the process of advocating for changes that will not allow citizen initiatives to reach the ballot but, ironically, the only way to get that done is through a referendum question. With just four such issues in 2020, having thirteen on the ballot just two years later suggests a path that will only lead to confusion, Quincy suggests. Only time will tell on this matter.
In response to Rotarian questions, Quincy asked us all to send in nominations for the new Monopoly game. Any suggestions can be sent to Portland@toptrumps.com. It will be fascinating to see how this “plays” out over the next few months. STORY
Quincy tread very lightly on the Portland School financial issues, gave us a brief but interesting overview of the Portland Harbor dredging issue, and commented on the need to fill the over 200 open positions within the city government, including such key spots as city manager, city economic development director, and police chief, all of which are currently being held by interim placeholders. She also praised the prospect of firming up the work to bring the Roux Institute to the old B&M site, with traffic issues seemingly being the most pressing roadblock.
It's always good to get an update from the chamber and hear from Quincy, whose organization represents 7 communities in the area, some of which, she notes, are really “killing it” in terms of growth and progress. She feels that cities such as South Portland and Westbrook are taking all the right steps in making for a more business and tourist friendly Greater Portland.
Bits and Pieces |by Zach Newell
President Bruce Jones started up the meeting, askingSteve Stromsky to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Cyrus Hagge provided the message for the day, a little ditty on the plight of a snowball. Jan Chapman introduced our lunch guest, Alex Richard, through Mike Robinson Alex works with Workforce Solutions, Business Services Coordinator. Welcome!
Raffle: Jim Vicenzi oversaw the raffle. With Roger Fagan winning last week, we started with a new pot of $200. Ron Bennett has his name pulled, but he was unable to beat the 52:1 odds, choosing the unlucky 7 of Clubs. (Ya' need the Queen of Hearts to win!)
International Update: Dave Small gave the club an international update. He showed the Good Samaritan Hospital that has been running in the Dominican Republic since 2000. Dave talked about the Batey, settlement in the Dominican Republic, where the sugar cane fields are located. Haitian immigrants hack (cut) the sugar cane for $5 a day. The conditions are deplorable, shoddy 8’x10’ shacks of made of wood, concrete blocks, or tin, no electrical, plumbing, or running water. In addition to hearing aids and prosthetic hands, Dave outlined ways Rotary has created clean water in the Batey. Dave also demonstrated the use of portable solar lights, and suggesting the club raise money to buy 50 lights. The lights are roughly $10=$15 each.If you would like to contribute, you can send a check made out to: Portland Charitable Fund , memo line “Solar Lights.”
Youth Service Award: John Thompson introduced Anna Klein-Christie, the Executive Director of Baxter Academy of Technology and Sciences, who in turn introduced Logan Rudolph who we honored with our monthly youth service award scholarship. Logan was recognized for his internship work with Partners for World Health, and volunteering at both Preble Street and Maine Needs. Logan plans to attend nursing school, either at Northeastern or Drexel. Congrats Logan! (Photo: John , Logan , his mom, and Anna.)
Rotary Direct: David Ertz provided a quick overview for donation directly to the Rotary Foundation through “Rotary Direct.” Rotarians can sign on via this website. Sign in in the upper right-hand corner, select sign-in. Sign in with your Rotary International username and password. If you need help, reach out to David or Patty Byers!
Translators Needed! Mike Robinson, who works with Program Manager Goodwill Workforce Solutions, notes that they have a large number of participants looking for employment who speak French and Portuguese. If you speak these languages, there is a need for translators. If that is you, reach out to Mike! (Photo)
Mud Sale: Tom Talbott reminded everyone of the annual Mud Sale, which will take place in April. He reminded Rotarians to begin combing through possessions to identify any new or lightly used items that you might want to donate toward the online Mud Sale. Last year the Rotary Club made approximately $4,000.
The 2nd Annual Mud Sale is coming in April!
This is our online Auction of items donated by Rotarians. Easy, and a lot of fun!
In addition to the items of value who no longer covet in your attic, basement, or garage, the big-ticket items we had donated last year had a lot to do with our success. Generous Rotarians offered a week stay at a lake house, a fishing trip, a boating trip, a round of golf, show tickets, and a lot more. Think creative!
The Environmental Committee in conference!
From the left, Dick Hall, Tom Ranello, Roxane Cole, Bruce Moore, Brian Nickerson, Chair Ellen Niewoehner, Amy Chipman,and Steve Stromsky.
ROTARY DIRECT GIVING
Rotary’s recurring giving program, Rotary Direct, makes giving easy, fast, and secure. You can schedule a monthly, quarterly, or annual donation that empowers Rotarians to change lives in communities around the world.
You choose how much and how often to give. It’s a simple and secure way to make a big impact!
Enroll online at Rotary Direct or by a quick call to the Rotary Foundation Support Center at 1-866-976-8279.
March 3 - Magician Phil Smith of Abracadabra Productions
Club Executives President Bruce Jones President Elect Dick Hall Vice President Patty Byers Treasurer Dick Hall Secretary Bruce Moore Board of Directors Ellen Niewoehner,
Bob Clark, John Thompson, Ben Millick,
Quinn Slayton Sergeant-At-Arms Jake Bourdeau
The Windjammer is published online by
The Rotary Club of Portland, Maine.
Contributing Editors Jake Bourdeau, Dick Hall,
Erik Jorgensen, Julie L’Heureux,
Ben Lowry, Zach Newell, Bruce Moore,
Tom Nickerson, Tom Talbott, Laura Young
Program Chair:Dave Putnam Managing Editor Tom Talbott
This Thursday, February 16, 5:30pm, we will host our monthly "Social", again returning to the Salvage BBQ, 919 Congress Street, Portland. Members of the Portland club, the Portland Sunrise club, spouses, SO's, potential new members, friends - everyone welcome!
Translators Needed! Mike Robinson, who works with Program Manager Goodwill Workforce Solutions, notes that they have a large number of participants looking for employment who speak French and Portuguese. If you speak these languages, there is a need for translators. If that is you, 
You choose how much and how often to give. It’s a simple and secure way to make a big impact!.png)
