With temperatures, and snow, falling across the region, what better time to conjure up images of soft summer breezes on a sunny afternoon, the crack of the bat and the story of a baseball 'Hall of Famer,' whose legacy has been creatively captured by a local composer and faculty member at the University of Southern Maine.
Daniel Sonenberg is a composer, performer and educator living in Portland, Maine. He is best known as the composer of The Summer King, a two-act opera on the life of Negro League baseball great Josh Gibson. With the support of a National Endowment for the Arts grant, the opera received its concert world premier at Portland’s Merrill Auditorium in a concert presented by Portland Ovations and co-sponsored by the University of Southern Maine. The opera has been in development for over ten years with the Brooklyn-based company American Opera Projects. In February, 2016, Pittsburgh Opera announced that it would present the staged World Premier of a revised Summer King in five performances at Pittsburgh’s Benedum Center, beginning on April 29, 2017.
For the past several years, Mr. Sonenberg has divided his creative energy between works of concert music and recording and producing albums of his original rock music. In each domain, Mr. Sonenberg has allowed his involvement in the other to infiltrate his music making. His Machine Shop (2015) for marimba and recorded electric guitar was commissioned by the Utah-based percussionist Lynn Vartan, with the support of the Maine Arts Commission and premiered at the University of Southern Maine in April, 2015.
Since 2013, Mr. Sonenberg has released new rock music each year. His band Lovers of Fiction released a debut E.P. The Bear in 2013 and a full-length album, Long Overdue in 2015. In between those two efforts, and immediately following the premier of his opera, Dan released a solo album, Peaks Island Ferry, for which he played all of the instruments. He was the principal mixer and recording engineer on all of the albums as well.
Dan is an Associate Professor of Music and Resident Composer at the University of Southern Maine, where he has taught since 2004. He is willing to admit that as a native New Yorker and he grew up as a Yankee fan. Ironically, his arrival at USM was followed quickly by a Red Sox World Series championship - more baseball history and perhaps a future opera?
“To give away money is an easy matter and in any man's power. But to decide to whom to give it, how much, when, for what purpose and how, is neither in every man's power, nor an easy matter.” That’s what Aristotle said about philanthropy and it was a point that was shared by Friday’s speaker, Greg Powell, who wrestles with these problems on a daily basis as Executive Chairman of the Harold Alfond Foundation Board of Trustees.
The Alfond Foundation was formed in the 1950’s with proceeds from the Dexter Shoe Company. Its current assets hover around $770 million and support about $40 million in annual grant making, plus a $7 million investment in their college challenge program, which provides a seed college savings account of $500 for every child born in Maine. With a firm belief that every dollar needs to count, the Foundation provides challenge grants to assure that grantee organizations have full buy-in.
Underpinning much of the Foundation’s work is the assertion that educational attainment is a key element of both family income and economic growth. This is why the Foundation has so generously underwritten facilities on Maine campuses, while also embarking on the ambitious “College Challenge.”
According to Powell there are several factors in play in Maine. Due to cost and other factors, not enough citizens get higher education. Only 40% of Maine high school seniors get an associate or bachelor degree, despite 60% of current jobs requiring them. In addition, the skilled work force is declining in Maine due to people leaving and aging out. There has been inadequate alignment between higher education and employers, with the additional problem that public higher ed has been constrained financially and has been slow to transform programs for relevancy and attractiveness to students.
The Foundation approaches higher education with two strategies. The first is its signature program, the College Challenge, aimed at making higher education more affordable. While every baby gets an account, the Foundation has adopted a broad definition of “college” covering “everything from Ivy League degrees to a welding certificate.” The first universal group of kids with these accounts is about to hit kindergarten this year and 70,000 Maine families now have these new accounts. Experience has shown that families with accounts have higher aspirations. Kids with college savings accounts of any size are 3 times as likely to go to college and 4 times as likely to graduate.
The other strategy used by the Foundation is its effort to unify public universities across the state. The system’s new program, the Maine Center for Professional Studies, is an aggregation of business, law, and public policy, and is emblematic of this approach. The hybrid school builds on the strengths of each component program, identifying new synergies in the development of a new type of professional degree. The Center will promote partnerships with business, legal, nonprofit and professional communities across Maine.
(Photo: President Laura Young, Gregory Powell, Levi Knapp - both from the Alfond Foundation - and Rusty Atwood.)
President Laura started right on time and welcomed 59 Rotarians and 6 guests to our meeting, then introduced Tom Nickerson to offer an invocation, who found the perfect piece for the time and atmospheric conditions and offered up a poem, “In the Winter.” Somehow our perfection was thwarted, since the U. S. flag was not in the room, but being ever resourceful, Russ Burleigh, grabbed the tiny flags we have on the podium and we pledged our Allegiance to the Flag(s).
President Laura identified those Rotarians who will celebrate a birthday in January (listed in the January 6th WJ edition) and a chorus of 'Happy Birthday' followed.
We welcomed back into our fold, Christine Force! We've missed you, Christine!
We learned that Ben Delcourt suffered a skiing injury last week, resulting in torn chest muscles that required surgical repair last Thursday. We wish him a speedy and uneventful recovery.
We were also given the sad news that Mary Jean Pearce, wife of the late Duane Pearce (previous member), passed away. Her services are being coordinated by Conroy-Tully Funeral Services. For more details, go to: www.conroytullywalker.com/notices/MaryJean-Pearce.
At a meeting in September 2016, Dick Giles and the 3H group showed us (at left) the solar lights the group wants to take to the Dominican Republic (DR) and give to the indigent workers in the Bateys during their next visit. Over the past four months, Club members have made donations (at a cost of $15 each) and we raised $630, allowing us to purchase at least 42 lights for this project. Way to go!
Every “Rotary Minute” is special, interesting and revealing. This week was further proof. Michel Kanyambo, a new member who came to the Rotary Club of Portland by way of Rwanda, where he grew up, but had to escape in 2010 to seek refuge in the United States. While living in Rwanda, he saw a sign recognizing Rotary International for building a library in his country. This thoughtful gift to his strife-ridden country was inspiring and etched in Michel’s mind. Consequently, when Danielle Conway invited him to join her for lunch at a meeting, it opened his eyes to the other charitable outreach services of Rotary and prompted him to get involved. Michel is looking forward to seeing more members of minority in the club as we move forward.
During 2016 we brought in 20 new members to the Club by introducing them to the good works of Rotary and showing them that we are friendly, inclusive and inviting. In an effort to keep them comfortably involved, we have created a mentoring/buddy program. We are succeeding in part with some of the thoughts written in a note from Past President Tom Saturley ('91-92), who recently rejoined our Club. He indicated the membership had changed over the years....we were extremely friendly and warmly welcomed him back. Along that line, new member Ben Millett has come up with a great idea to have monthly socials at local watering holes and he has volunteered to host the gatherings. This and other ideas were discussed at a special meeting of new members from the Class of 2016.
The weekly raffle was led by Jan Chapman, with an attractive pot of $1,194 up for grabs to one lucky contestant IF they could find the Queen of Hearts in the remaining 23 cards in the deck. Justin Lamontagne's name was drawn by our speaker, but Justin drew the Ace of Diamonds. So the pot continues to grow!
2nd Vice-President John Curran, one of our very active 3H Rotarians, told us about the “Gift of Life” Program at Maine Medical Center, which offers free life-saving surgery to impoverished children from third-world nations. A couple of children from Panama are currently recovering from heart surgeries offered by MMC. Their parents came with them and were in need of proper clothing to make it through the dramatic climate difference they were experiencing. Portland Rotarians came to their rescue and gave them clothing to help them get by. More is needed, so if you can help or need more information, contact John: curraj1@mmc.org.
As mentioned at the Club meeting on Friday, Erik Jorgensen has been assembling a page with all the history minutes in one place...from 1915-2015. The link to this page can be found on the home page of the Rotary website (portlandrotary.org) toward the bottom on the right....or you can get there directly at: www.portlandrotary.org/Page/the-history-minute-project.
Invocation: Alan Nye Program Reporter: Julie L'Heureux Bits & Pieces Reporter: Bob Martin Registration/Greeter: Jen Frederick Sell Meal Tickets: Michael Greer Raffle: John Lock Badge Box: None Collect Meal Tickets: Loretta Rowe* Song Leader: Gracie Johnston Pianist: None Sgt-at-Arms (Early): Justin Lamontagne Sgt-at-Arms (Late): Mac Collins
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)
Julie Chase So. ME Community College (Laura Young)
Steven Mortimer Maine Mgmt Consulting (Laura Young)
Ognjen Nikolic Ogo Sense LLC (Russell Voss)
Terri St Angelo Anderson-Watkins Insurance (Linda Varrell)
Daniel Sonenberg is a composer, performer and educator living in Portland, Maine. He is best known as the composer of The Summer King, a two-act opera on the life of Negro League baseball great Josh Gibson. With the support of a National Endowment for the Arts grant, the opera received its concert world premier at Portland’s Merrill Auditorium in a concert presented by Portland Ovations and co-sponsored by the University of Southern Maine. The opera has been in development for over ten years with the Brooklyn-based company American Opera Projects. In February, 2016, Pittsburgh Opera announced that it would present the staged World Premier of a revised Summer King in five performances at Pittsburgh’s Benedum Center, beginning on April 29, 2017.
.JPG)
We welcomed back into our fold, Christine Force! We've missed you, Christine!.JPG)
At a meeting in September 2016, Dick Giles and the 3H group showed us (at left) the solar lights the group wants to take to the Dominican Republic (DR) and give to the indigent workers in the Bateys during their next visit. Over the past four months, Club members have made donations (at a cost of $15 each) and we raised $630, allowing us to purchase at least 42 lights for this project. Way to go!
The weekly raffle was led by Jan Chapman, with an attractive pot of $1,194 up for grabs to one lucky contestant IF they could find the Queen of Hearts in the remaining 23 cards in the deck. Justin Lamontagne's name was drawn by our speaker, but Justin drew the Ace of Diamonds. So the pot continues to grow! .JPG)
2nd Vice-President John Curran, one of our very active 3H Rotarians, told us about the “Gift of Life” Program at Maine Medical Center, which offers free life-saving surgery to impoverished children from third-world nations. A couple of children from Panama are currently recovering from heart surgeries offered by MMC. Their parents came with them and were in need of proper clothing to make it through the dramatic climate difference they were experiencing. Portland Rotarians came to their rescue and gave them clothing to help them get by. More is needed, so if you can help or need more information, contact John: 