As the Sam L. Cohen Refugee and Human Rights Clinical Professor, Anna Welch oversees Maine Law’s Refugee and Human Rights Clinic and teaches the Immigration Law seminar. She serves as a clinical professor and supervising attorney, as a classroom teacher, and as an advisor to students who are interested in immigration law and human rights.

Professor Welch previously served as a Fellow at Stanford Law School, where she taught and supervised students within Stanford’s Immigrants’ Rights Clinic.

A Maine native, Professor Welch graduated with honors and highest distinction from the University of Colorado at Boulder, where she studied journalism and Spanish. She then went to the Washington College of Law at American University. She graduated summa cum laude, order of the coif, and then went to Peru for a year, beginning in August of 2005, as a Fulbright Scholar. In Lima, Professor Welch worked with a non-profit organization to establish a public water management system in Chosica, one of the shantytowns known in the city as “pueblos jovenes.”

Professor Welch practiced at the law firm Verrill Dana in Portland, Maine, from 2006 to 2010. She was head of the firm’s Immigration & Global Migration Group. She also served as a volunteer lawyer for the non-profit Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project (ILAP) in Portland. Professor Welch was instrumental in helping to expand ILAP’s roster of pro bono lawyers for asylum cases. In 2008 she earned ILAP’s “Attorney of the Year” honor. During her time at Verrill Dana, Professor Welch taught immigration law at Maine Law, as an adjunct professor. She also helped supervise student attorneys at the Cumberland Legal Aid Clinic. In 2010, Professor Welch spent time in Nairobi, Kenya, where she served as a refugee protection officer at RefugePoint (formerly Mapendo International).
 

Paul Brown, a physical therapist on the staff of Back in Motion, told Portland Rotary that “arthritis is a normal thing to happen” as people age. “It’s natural and likely to occur in the neck, lower back, the area above the thumb, and at the site of previous injuries.” The secret to treating arthritis, Brown said, is exercise.

Brown said that the Center for Disease Control maintains statistics on medical needs and reports that diagnoses of arthritis have high rates of comorbidities with diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and depression. “Physical exercise improves all of these conditions,” Brown said. “But there’s not enough awareness of the value of physical exercise. He pointed to the state of Maine which has much higher rates of comorbidities than the national average. “With the exception of Portland, where rates are lower, the state of Maine is not a good example of how to live a healthy life.” Brown reported that 33 percent of Mainers suffer from heart disease and arthritis.

Brown said the Arthritis Foundation (arthritis.org) recommends 150 minutes of exercise a week. “Any exercise is valuable,” he said. “Even if you can’t do 150 minutes, just keep the joints moving.” He also said that body weight impacts the severity of heart disease and arthritis. “So get your weight down and do 150 minutes of exercise a week.” He recommended following a plant-=based diet and taking the time to determine which foods exacerbate inflammation. “Everyone is different, so diet will be different for everyone. Tom Brady avoids nightshade vegetables because he’s sensitive to them for inflammation.”

Brown recommended the services of a physical therapist who is trained to look at body mechanics to develop a theory as to why pain is happening in order to develop exercise solutions. He also demonstrated a number of exercises that help in the treatment and prevention of arthritis. (Videos demonstrating these are on the Arthritis Foundation website arthritis.org.)

Paul pointed to Bob Traill as one of the most inspiring people he knew. “He’s exercising regularly, almost every day. Look at him: he doesn’t look a day over 75!”

(L - R: Bob Traill, Paul Brown, and President Don Zillman.)

President Don Zillman welcomed 48 members and 2 guests to our meeting on Friday at the Clarion Hotel. 

Ellen Niewoehner did her first invocation ever in 20 years, by sharing the Irish Blessing.

Bruce Moore led us in the pledge and Kathy Grammer led “My Country Tis of Thee.”

Gracie Johnston reminded all that she needs help at the Preble St Soup Kitchen, Wednesday, May 25th, 3:30-6:30 p.m. Contact her for details or to volunteer: gracie.johnston@wcsh.com. Gracie also told us that the recovery coach training has been delayed.

Dick Giles, at his first Rotary meeting back from sunny Florida, was awarded his Paul Harris Foundation +6 pin, signifying $7,000 total giving to the Rotary Foundation. Dick was proudly wearing his PHF +5 pin at the time, and asked “Is this going to cost me more money?” 

Past President Dick Hall then gave a summary of the District Conference, that was held last weekend. Six districts attended, with over 600 people. Speakers included 

• Rotary International President Ian Riseley
• Shirley-Pat Chamberlain – Multiple Library Projects in British Columbia
• Razia Jan - Razia’s Ray of Hope education project in Afghanistan
• Travis Roy inspirational address
• Karen Wentz, RI Past Director

Breakout Sessions were held on Rotary Foundation, Literacy, Human Trafficking, Rotaract, Vibrant Clubs, Polio – Gates Foundation view, Opioid Crisis, Youth Exchange, Hands to Honduras, End 68 hours of Hunger, and Interact, Earlyact, RYLA.

Dick awarded the "Pyramid of Peace Award," given to President Don Zillman, for the club’s efforts in meeting all six Rotary Areas of Focus. Although 25 clubs won the award, it was reported that Portland Rotary had the highest number of volunteer hours for the year.  

The District 7780 Total Impact was very Impressive!
Cash Funding of Service Projects - $940,972
In-Kind Funding - $957,176
Number of volunteers - 4,743
Volunteer Hours - 34,531

Mike Reed was looking for 4 more volunteers for the Deering High School Mentorship workshop, and quickly had four volunteers, so he has a full team of 13.

As incoming chair for the Maine Outdoor Challenge, Mike announced we have 32 teams so far and only 13 openings. The auction has 60% of the items needed. We need 30 more items. Mike was able to get a client to donate a tuna or shark trip valued at $1200 to the live auction.

Jan Chapman announced that we have wrapped up the reading program for this year. She thanked the Rotary Club and the Maine School of Law. She has received bags of thank you's, some in Spanish. John Thompson was given he bag of thank you's in Spanish.  Don chimed in with a funny story showing how dedicated the teachers are at the schools.

Jerry Angier handled the raffle and Erik Greven was the winner of the first drawing but his two of hearts did not win the $512 jackpot. Better luck next time, Erik.

Liz Fagan presented a check for 3-H hearing aids, donated in by a local audiologist in memory of James Roger Fagan, Roger’s dad.

Amy Chipman reminded everyone to sell their raffle tickets for the Maine Outdoor Challenge. Winner gets a $500 gift card for LL Bean.

Amy also announced a pre-trip meeting at the Cumberland Club for all going to the International Convention in Toronto. Donated apps, cash bar, and money.....past conference attendees to share the “ropes.”  She also mentioned the two-district party in Toronto, at second city.

Don announced a Board meeting immediately following, to discuss the location for our meetings next year. He mentioned budget issues, meal prices going up and the fact that we have paid $2400 so far this year for meals not eaten, because we did not make our 50-person meal guarantee. He promised a report later.
 

                          When
Project              Who to Contact

Locker Project      May 21, 4:30-6:00 pm
                          Steve Phillips
                          volunteer@mainelockerproject.org

DHS Junior          May 30, 10:20-10:45 am
Readiness            Need 13 volunteers
Workshop            Mike Reed
                          mreed@trsswealth.com

RYLA                   Phil Giordano
                          philtastic7780@gmail.com
Camp Hinds
Clean Up             Jun 9, 9:00 am - finish

Camp Hinds
Registration         Jun 24, 7:45 am-12:30 pm

Final RYLA           Dinner Cost $10
Camp BBQ           Jun 26, 6:00-10:00 pm

Preble Street        4th Wednesday ea month
Resource Ctr        3:30-6:30 pm
Soup Kitchen        Gracie Johnston
                           gracie.johnston@wcsh6.com

Game Night         3rd Tuesday ea month
Long Creek          Mike Fortunato
Youth Center        michael.k.fortunato@gmail.com
                           or Jim Willey
                           jimandbarbarawilley@gmail.com