This Week's Speaker: Brooke Haley, Preti Flaherty - Maine's Paid Family /Medical Leave Act
Brooke Haley from Preti Flaherty will join us this Friday and provide an update on Maine’s Paid Family and Medical Leave Act. This law will require funding beginning in January of 2025; benefits for employees who qualify for paid leave will begin in 2026. A number of questions and concerns have been presented by entities impacted by this statute as the ME Department of Labor is developing final regulations.
Brooke is a Partner in Preti Flaherty’s Employment Law Practice Group where she advises banks, financial institutions, and corporate employers, in matters of employment law and commercial business litigation.The focus of Brooke’s practice is the defense of employers against claims for discrimination, harassment, retaliation, hostile work environment, wrongful termination, misappropriation of trade secrets, restrictive covenants, and business-related disputes before state and federal courts and administrative agencies.
Brooke is a Maine native and graduate of Villanova University School of Law and Bowdoin College. While in law school, she served as a summer associate with Preti Flaherty. She returns to the firm after seventeen years at notable boutique and mid-sized litigation firms in New York City. Brooke lives in Falmouth with her daughter, Fiona, and their bernedoodle, Lucy.
THIS IS A LOBSTER FOR FREE ZONE. OBEY THE CLAW.
John Thompson offered updates on the lobster raffle, encouraging all to stay with it. John expressed his thanks for the club involvement. John also reminded everyone that if there is inclement weather that those signed up to work the raffle should work with each other to decide as to whether to sell tickets or sit it out. John also asked members to note hours on the schedule. Some cruise ships come in at different times. John again gave a big thank you to all in the club for their hard work and support.
This is our first fundraisers which is 100% targeted to raising funds outside of club members. We are now over $7700!
We need everyone who is physically able to participate. Please sign up for at least two shifts.
As of this Windjammer, we have 17 more selling days.
Work with Rotarians who have done it before to learn the ropes. Sign up for the third slot for your first time.
Setup time is 30 minutes before boat arrival.
3 1/2 shifts, but if you need to do less that is OK too.
Free parking at Sun Life lot Mon-Sat. Free everywhere Sunday
Spot the Deely Boppers: Mark Millar, Bill Milliken, Jake Bourdeau.
Tri-Boppers: Bill Milliken, Larry Gross, Bruce Jones
BITS AND PIECES | by Zach Newell
President Patty Byers provided the thought for the day – a moment of reflection about the impact of Polio and Rotary’s impact in helping toward eradicating Polio.Patty reminded the club that Jonas Salk created the vaccine in the early 1950s. Patty’s mother, Ruth Byers, contracted polio at the age of 27. But it was not too late for Patty’s husband, Reid and his brother, Tom who participated in first clinical trials in 1952. Dr. Salk, himself injected both boys with the vaccine.Then in 1954, Dr. Salk tested the vaccine on over 1.8 million children, they were known as the Polio Pioneers. On April 12, 1955, when the vaccine was announced “safe, effective, and potent”, it was the front-page headline news in the NY Times.
It was a remarkable moment when the entire nation breathed a sigh of relief that this hideous childhood disease could be prevented. It’s been reported that when the announcement was made, church bells rang, factory whistles went off, people ran into the streets and began hugging each other. That was 70 years ago. Patty asks, “Can you imagine the celebration that will occur when it’s announced that polio has been finally and forever eradicated?”
GUESTS: Bowen Depke gave introductions, recognizing our guests including our Portland Rotary Youth Exchange student, Antonio Soriano Lujan. Bowen also introduced two members visiting from South Africa, Clive Hassell from Port Elizabeth West from Southeastern, South Africa Lesotho district; and Cathy Hassell from Port Elizabeth East, also from Southeastern, South Africa Lesotho district, 17470. Both Clive and Cathy are originally transplants from the United Kingdom. L-R Cathy, Clive, Bowen, and Patty.
QUEEN OF HEARTS: Dave Putnam ran the raffle with $270 in the tin.
Our guest, Cathy, pulled Paul Gore’s name from the hat. Paul was looking for the Queen of hearts, but instead pulled a 5 of spades.
BECAUSE I'M HAPPY: Bill Blount gave money to acknowledge everyone who was a past president, asking those who served to rise and be recognized.
GLOBAL GRANT UPDATE: President Patty gave an update on the ban of Good Samaritan hospital. Good Samaritan Hospital is located in the Dominican Republic. Patty reiterated that the ban against working with the hospital will be lifted in November. Patty understands the Foundation’s decision. Patty attended the Recovery Conference last weekend and talked to supporters who expressed their continued support for Portland Rotary’s grant application, which will still move forward in November.
SALUTE TO ELKS: Patty acknowledged the great work of our Elks Club hostess, Margaret, who's been working tirelessly serving our club each week.
PLEASE RSVP: Dick Hall reminded all to please RSVP to lunch. The number of people who respond to Tom Nickerson does not match the people who attend. We need to meet a 25-person minimum at lunch.
BEAT POLIO ACROSS THE BRIDGE: In Gervin’s absence, Dick also reminded us of the 3rd annual Casco Bay Bridge Walk, which will take place on Thursday, October 17th at 4:00pm. After the walk, the club will be meeting afterward at Broadway Bowling for our monthly social. A reminder that for each pint ordered, $1 will go toward efforts to eradicate Polio.
COMMUNITY SERVICE COMMITTEE NEWS:
Zach Newell reminded all of volunteering opportunities on the horizon.
(Two occurred before this newsletter, but it shows how much we're doing!)
Barn Fest will take place on Sunday, October 6th from 3:00pm – 7:00pm. Zach reminded all that when volunteering that it is okay to volunteer for a length of time that you are comfortable with.
Zach also reminded the club that thanks to Amy Chipman and Bruce Jones, we will be delivering boots to the Amanda Rowe elementary school and the Boys and Girls Club on Tuesday, October 8 at 10:00am. Please meet at the Rowe School at 10:00am on Tuesday, October 8 for a photo op. And lo, as we went to press, Bruce Jones reported: "Photograph here of Rotarians delivering 60 pairs of warm winter boots to the Boys and Girls Club. Earlier in the day we delivered 100 pairs to Rowe." Rowe photos - next week!
Zach asked to reach out to him directly to help with our exchange student, Antonio. It would be great to invite Antonio to participate in events –lunch, dinner, sporting events, or other activities. Spending time with Antonio is a great way to get involved without a long-term commitment of hosting.
Last Week's Meeting: Club Assembly |By Eric Jorgensen
On Friday, Portland Rotary had a chance to reflect. Our fall club assembly was designed to provide an update on progress toward the organizational goals established during last winter’s planning work.
Our vision, determined during that process, is to be an increasingly active, fun, and visible club of diverse members who positively impact Portland and the World. The Club’s goals are to increase membership, improve our public Image, and raise more funds, all while having fun.
The assembly presented different dimensions of club activity and focused on how work in each of those areas tied back to the goals.
Bob Clark and David Patterson spoke on behalf of Youth Services, where the committee is promoting literacy at the elementary age level through its work at Lyseth School and the Sagamore Village Boys and Girls club. The focus of this activity is the reading aloud and book distribution program: we are currently reading aloud in 17 classrooms. A new season of this program will begin in November, spearheaded by Laura Young. Youth services also leads our many youth leadership activities: RYLA, the Youth Service Awards, our local Interact Clubs, and Rotary exchange (and we were honored on Friday to have our youth exchange student, Antonio, join us for lunch).
Mary Pat Connellan spoke about our club’s Natural Resource and Sustainability activities, around which we are partnering with local organizations, including Portland parks and rec. The key projects that will continue in this area are tree planting on the Eastern Prom, Our partnership with Window Dressers on a window insert project; and Cleanup Day participation in parks in Portland, and South Portland
These activities will promote Membership, as they offer the sight of people actually serving.
They will enhance our Public Image if we can find ways to get recognition for our work, and they should help raise More funds – the value is less about direct fundraising than in “friend-raising”.
Zack Newell – talked about Community Service. This is mostly about the strategic pillar of improving the club’s public image, which we do by working directly with partners, like Cultivating Community and the Boys and Girls Clubs. Included in this dimension are projects like Barn Fest, the St. Vincent De Paul Thanksgiving dinner, the Boots for Kids initiative, the backpack project, and Salvation Army bell ringing. All of these activities are important not just for the work they do but for how they help with our visibility.
Niki Curtis and Nannette Ranger-Duncanson then spoke about membership, which is a core function of the plan: the theme is “ask ask ask”. They noted that the “whole club is the membership committee”.
Some of their committee’s activities include “Rotary Cards,” which can be distributed to potential members to get them to visit the club – their first meal is on us. talked about implementing a buddy system, continuing the orientation meetings each quarter, and encouraging members to buy Rotary swag, The committee encourages members to bring guests; and noted that they always collaborate with the Good Cheer Committee. As Nannette noted, “Come to Rotary: Once you see it, it’s contagious”.
Finally, President Patty discussed Marketing and PR, through which the club hopes to define and shape its public image. In addition to the Windjammer, this function will hinge on the club’s new website, which will be more outward facing than our current site.
Taken together these facets of our club’s work show that not only are we an active, vital organization, but that we are solidly on a course to meet our strategic goals.
Our Assembly Presenters: Nannette Ranger-Duncanson, Mary Pat Donnellon, Niki Curtis, David Patterson, Zach Newell, and Bob Clark.
Rotary BIrthdays & Anniversaries
Patty acknowledged October birthdays and Rotary anniversaries.
Birthdays: Bob Clark, October 3rd, Dave Putnam 13th, Tom Talbott 19th, Scott Gorneau 19th, Roxane Cole, 24th, Erik Jorgensen 30th!
Anniversaries: Jack Schraeter, 39 years,
Jim Vicenzi 17, Sam Heck 16, Zach Newell 12.
Speaker Schedule
October 17 - Thursday Night Social Event
October 18 - No Meeting
October 25 - Cary Tyson - Portland Downtown
November 1 - Kirk Duffy- Visiting Savannah
Club Executives
President Patty Byers President Elect John Thompson Vice President Justin Lamontagne TreasurerDick Hall Secretary Tom Nickerson Board of Directors Dick Hall,
Brooke Haley from Preti Flaherty will join us this Friday and provide an update on Maine’s Paid Family and Medical Leave Act. This law will require funding beginning in January of 2025; benefits for employees who qualify for paid leave will begin in 2026. A number of questions and concerns have been presented by entities impacted by this statute as the ME Department of Labor is developing final regulations.
John Thompson offered updates on the lobster raffle, encouraging all to stay with it. John expressed his thanks for the club involvement. John also reminded everyone that if there is inclement weather that those signed up to work the raffle should work with each other to decide as to whether to sell tickets or sit it out. John also asked members to note hours on the schedule. Some cruise ships come in at different times. John again gave a big thank you to all in the club for their hard work and support. 
President Patty Byers provided the thought for the day – a moment of reflection about the impact of Polio and Rotary’s impact in helping toward eradicating Polio.Patty reminded the club that Jonas Salk created the vaccine in the early 1950s. Patty’s mother, Ruth Byers, contracted polio at the age of 27. But it was not too late for Patty’s husband, Reid and his brother, Tom who participated in first clinical trials in 1952. Dr. Salk, himself injected both boys with the vaccine.Then in 1954, Dr. Salk tested the vaccine on over 1.8 million children, they were known as the Polio Pioneers. On April 12, 1955, when the vaccine was announced “safe, effective, and potent”, it was the front-page headline news in the NY Times.
PLEASE RSVP: Dick Hall reminded all to please RSVP to lunch. The number of people who respond to Tom Nickerson does not match the people who attend. We need to meet a 25-person minimum at lunch.
Bob Clark and David Patterson spoke on behalf of Youth Services, where the committee is promoting literacy at the elementary age level through its work at Lyseth School and the Sagamore Village Boys and Girls club. The focus of this activity is the reading aloud and book distribution program: we are currently reading aloud in 17 classrooms. A new season of this program will begin in November, spearheaded by Laura Young. Youth services also leads our many youth leadership activities: RYLA, the Youth Service Awards, our local Interact Clubs, and Rotary exchange (and we were honored on Friday to have our youth exchange student, Antonio, join us for lunch).
y Pat Connellan spoke about our club’s Natural Resource and Sustainability activities, around which we are partnering with local organizations, including Portland parks and rec. The key projects that will continue in this area are tree planting on the Eastern Prom, Our partnership with Window Dressers on a window insert project; and Cleanup Day participation in parks in Portland, and South Portland
Rotary BIrthdays & Anniversaries .png)
