Bill Benson joined Boots2Roots in 2019 after a successful stint as the owner/operator of a small manufacturing business in Maine. Prior to owning his business and before moving to Maine in 2014, Benson spent 24 years on active duty with the United States Army. He is a combat veteran who served over 42 months deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. When not deployed, Bill enjoyed tours of duty in places like Texas, California, Germany, Colorado, Kansas, Georgia and Tennessee.
Boots2Roots was created with the hypothesis that early personalized preparation and networking would enable active duty veterans leaving the service to hit the ground running, gain and maintain financial stability from the start, and add new energy to Maine’s workforce.
When it came time for his transition, Benson and his family chose to settle in Maine because, out of all the places they lived, Maine felt most like home. He joined Boots2Roots because of the opportunity to use his own experiences as a veteran and business owner to assist other transitioning service members in finding meaningful work and put down roots in Maine.
Bits and Pieces | By Tom Talbott
President Ellen Niewoehner rang in the zoomers on a gorgeous 72-degree sunny April 9. Ahh! She turned our attention to Juliana L’Heureux for the invocation. Live from Baltimore visiting her son, Juliana invoked the famed Baltimorean poet, Edgar Allen Poe. His advice: “They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night.”
Our head count for the day, 37, which included 2 visiting guests, plus our guest speaker. By the end of the meeting, one of the guests would be a member!
Ellen shared the experience of the birthday parade for Mark Stimson, organized by Tom Ranello on Saturday, April 3. Mark, a legendary realtor in the Portland area, joined our club in 1967 and served as Club President ’79-’80. Turning 95, club members went to his home and serenaded Mark and his wife Connie, who listened, smiled, and waved from their front porch. With the South Portland police escorting the parade, which included the Salvation Army Band, Rotarians, members of his church, and countless friends, it was a grand time. Stay tuned… Bob Traill will be 99 on April 24th!
Two thousand “Purple Crocuses for Polio” were planted last year in Rotary Grove, and a few are just starting to peek through. Wait a week. Things should be coming up. It’ll take a few years to really take shape. Thanks to Paul Gore for the signs there describing the project.
Tom Ranello announced that on Wednesday, April 14th, at the Boyd Street Gardens from 2pm-4pm, we have the opportunity to “Cultivate A Community”. We’ll be putting down mulch, thinning out bushes, trimming some tree limbs. Bring gloves and some heavy-duty trash bags to help remove leaves, brush and debris. Email Tom or Ellen if you can join in. (Hopefully this WJ will reach you in time!)
Charlie Frair, leading the fundraising efforts, reminded us of how hard the pandemic put a crimp on our ability to raise money. To get things rolling, the club will be having a traditional 50/50 raffle, with proceeds going to the international Committee. This past week, all members were sent an email with five numbers, representing five tickets. We are asking that you buy one, and sell four, and certainly there is no limit! So, look for the email, and help us out to the best of your abilities. Drawing on April 30th!
New Member Stefanie Gill | by Tom Talbott
Say hello to new member Stefanie Gill, introduced by David Ertz. Stefanie is a multilingual consultant, and the owner of IntWork, a Maine-based company that provides diversity staffing and outplacement to support Maine employers. Stefanie recently spoke to the club about her work as a guest speaker.
Stefanie speaks Portuguese, French, Spanish, and Chinese fluently. Her skills enable her to connect diverse professionals to employers, primarily in the fields of engineering, finance, and IT. She grew up in Portland, and now lives in Westbrook with her husband and son. Welcome, Bienvenidas, Receber, Huānyíng!
Rwandan Initiative Continues
Michel Kanyambo and Erik Greven share the latest impact report from the Root Foundation in Rwanda:
On April 6th, we received 480692 Frw(around $490) to use to support more vulnerable families with food supplies on behalf of Rotary Club of Portland Maine.
On April 9th , 31 Families from Murama village of Kinyinya Sector – a different village from the two we served in our previous distributions - were selected and were called to be communicated in collaboration with Isibo and village leadership.
We purchased 350 Kilograms of Maize flour, beans, soaps and tomato pastes to . Each family received 10 kilograms (5Kgs of Kawunga, 5Kgs of beans, bar of soaps and 5 packages of tomato paste). Everything food purchased cost 436,500 Frw($440), 24,000 Frw($25) was used for transportation, 13,000 Frw($15) for packing into small envelopes while 9900 Frw(10$) was used in communication to families. (Receipts attached)
We distributed the food in the presence of local government officials and introduced Rotary Club of Portland Maine as the sponsor of the distributed food. The leaders and the beneficiaries said a word and a prayer of thanks to Rotary Club of Portland Maine for remembering them in these difficult times.
So far, this initiative has provided foods to 59 families from Batsinda, Giheka and Murama villages in Gasabo district, Kigali.
Root Foundation appreciates the generosity of Rotary Club of Portland Maine and wishes to continue this partnership to reach as many families in as many villages as possible.
Editor’s note: The Rwandan currency is the Rwandan Franc with one RWF worth $0.00102. One US dollar is worth 978.40 RWF.
The Other Greening of Maine
by John Marr
The cannabis conundrum continues to confound and confuse us in the state of Maine. Thanks to Justin Lamontagne, we have a better understanding of the issue and the business model of making and marketing marijuana in Maine. Justin introduced Brett Messer, the founder and General Manager of Brigid Farm of Maine where marijuana is grown for both medicinal and recreational purposes. The Farm is referred to as a “vertically integrated cannabis company” because it handles the product from seed to sale.
Messer readily admits that he loves to talk about marijuana because it has become his passion. He is a self-trained botanist with business degrees to help him master the divergent arts of creating both medicinal CBT products and exciting, enticing and interesting recreational products, somewhat of an agronomist wrapped in an economist.
Maine may have been one of the first states to legalize marijuana but has not been equally quick to get the mercantile aspects of the distribution, quality standards and sales terms of the product taken care of. For many of us, legalizing grass meant that one wasn’t going to get busted for puffing pot, whether we inhaled it or not. There was a lot of joking about what was going to happen when marijuana use, in any form, was legalized. However, it doesn’t take long into Brett’s presentation to realize that there’s far more to deal with than the avoidance of criminal charges by the local authorities.
While cannabis is legal in Maine, it has yet to be given similar status on the Federal level. Despite the continuing debate surrounding the legalization of marijuana, Mr. Messer did not get into a protracted discussion of the ongoing evolution of the legality and the problems that are involved. His discussion was not intended to convince anyone of the benefits as much as it was to talk about the day-to-day operation of the trade. The ease in which the business could be discussed was evidence of how broadly accepted it has become and causes some to wonder why it remains such a troublesome topic at the Federal level. From the farm, Messer has expanded into a bifurcated distribution channel with a CBD, medical marijuana dispensary, and two recreational stores going by the names of The Farm Stand and House of Hash. Messer made it clear that quality control is fundamental to all aspects of the business and government oversight is a constant, but not an irritant. Brett appreciates the need to differentiate and distinguish one’s business as the competition comes from within and outside of the state.
When legalizing marijuana was first discussed, many politicians pointed to the tax revenue as a major reason to let this budding business grow. While medical marijuana is taxed at the rate of 5.5%, recreational cannabis is taxed at a 25% rate. Consequently, the black market hasn’t gone away completely. With that market growing as it is, the need for workers is a challenge and even during COVID Messer hired 30 people and he forecasts hundreds of jobs to come. The Biddeford farm is two acres and he is looking for other places to grow more product. With the market opening to people outside the state there will be more product imported from outside Maine requiring further oversight and regulation. It’s not easy to figure the pricing of the product and there is a spectrum similar to other common products, with the quality and potency being primary differentiating factors. Messer said they are scrupulous in their compliance with quality, pricing and taxing since compliance deviation can result in hefty fines of over $100,000, and loss of licensing.
Because marijuana is still not permissible under Federal law, banks have refused to handle cash from Maine cannabis businesses. Messer said these problems are slowly being resolved with many credit unions leading the way and crypto-currency is another solution. As a result, some of the better-known commercial banks are getting involved, if not chasing the market.
As if the real estate market wasn’t already stressed, the new business has been a substantial stimulant as the companies look for warehouse space for product and indoor growing, as well as good store front space that meets local limitations. Of course, the politics of the matter brings the lobbyist into the picture, including the tobacco industry professionals. The locals are aware of the outside influencers, but are willing to deal with them as long as the market is, according to Mr. Messer, “open, free, and fair.”
What is going to happen with the so-called social aspects of cannabis remains to be seen. The craft beer industry in Maine has been influenced by cannabis growth and some brewers have created cannabis craft beer. It seems that you can smoke it, vape it, bake it, chew it in gummies, and drink it. If that doesn’t prove that it has traction, they will come up with some new pipe dream! Just remember this: “Don’t bogart that joint.”
Moment of Reflection
Distant Shore
The journey of finding who you are
Is like crossing an unknown sea.
Do safe harbors lie near or far?
Will you weather shoals to lee?
You’ve learned to steer by sun and star,
And trust your heart—that’s the key.
We track you now from distant shore,
Taught you what we knew to tell:
Fair winds shown from birds that soar;
Foretell far storms from their swell,
Reckon your set in a tidal bore,
Strain your ear for the far-off bell.
Now that you are launched in life,
Hardened by our terse scolding,
No comfort’s gained without a strife —
Our memories we’re tightly holding.
Piped aboard with drum and fife —
Your new commands are unfolding.
Philip Conkling
Founder and former president of the Island Institute, Rockland, ME
small manufacturing business in Maine. Prior to owning his business and before moving to Maine in 2014, Benson spent 24 years on active duty with the United States Army. He is a combat veteran who served over 42 months deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. When not deployed, Bill enjoyed tours of duty in places like Texas, California, Germany, Colorado, Kansas, Georgia and Tennessee.
Stefanie is a multilingual consultant, and the owner of IntWork, a Maine-based company that provides diversity staffing and outplacement to support Maine employers. Stefanie recently spoke to the club about her work as a guest speaker. 
