William "Bro" Adams is a senior fellow at The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Bro was the tenth chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) from 2014 to 2017. Shortly after arriving at NEH, he launched an agency-wide initiative titled The Common Good: Humanities in the Public Square. The initiative seeks to demonstrate the relevance of the humanities to the life of the nation during a time of unprecedented domestic and global challenges.
Under the rubric of The Common Good, NEH launched a number of new grant lines, including the Public Scholar Program, Common Heritage, Dialogues on the Experience of War, Next Generation Humanities PhD Grants, Humanities Connections, NEH-Mellon Fellowships for Digital Publication, Open Book, Creating Humanities Communities, and Humanities Access Grants. During his tenure at NEH, Bro also sought to deepen the engagement of the agency with community colleges and veterans groups and causes.
Prior to joining NEH, he served as president of Colby College in Waterville, Maine, from 2000 until his retirement on June 30, 2014. He also served as president of Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania from 1995–2000. A native of Birmingham, Michigan, Bro earned his undergraduate degree in philosophy at Colorado College and a PhD from the history of consciousness program at the University of California, Santa Cruz. He studied in France as a Fulbright Scholar before beginning his career in higher education with appointments to teach political philosophy at Santa Clara University in California and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He went on to coordinate the Great Works in Western Culture program at Stanford and to serve as vice president and secretary of Wesleyan University. Mr. Adams's formal education was interrupted by three years of service in the Army, including one year in Vietnam. In each of his professional roles, Bro has demonstrated a deep commitment to the humanities and to the liberal arts.
Bob Martin introduced Justin Lamontagne, a Portland Rotarian, and a partner with NAI The Dunham Group. His presentation centered on the commercial real estate market from the big-picture perspective. Commercial real estate includes three types of properties (a) industrial (b) office and (c) retail; Justin is an Industrial Office Specialist. Also included was some information about “Peninsula/Old Port Developments.” Other commercial real estate includes hospitality, like hotels. Commercial real estate works with property owners and businesses to find space to buy or sell. In the commercial market, about 70 percent of consulting with clients are advising them about property values. In the industrial real estate market, the property inventories are tight and it’s having a deterrent impact on economic growth.
Since 2011, the rents and the sale prices of commercial rentals and sales have risen. Industrial vacancy rates are declining and are under five percent. Driving this market are craft beer-making and legal medical marijuana growers. Unfortunately, new construction has not kept up with the demand and one reason is because banks will not provide cash to medical marijuana growers.
In the office properties market, the nicer spaces are gone. A recommendation is for class B office space to invest in property upgrades to attract tenants. Medical office space requires a “Class A” space to comply with quality regulatory requirements. Office space design is changing....now created for efficiency. Office space is shrinking. Maine has mixed-use space and unused industrial space with high ceilings. Although there is some new building in office properties, the rents on new construction are top of the range.
Retail and e-commerce are impacting bricks and mortar stores. People are changing how they shop.
During the 2007 Recession, the dark space left as a result of the economic downturn is quickly being reabsorbed. Customers must brace for an increase in the cost of properties when leases are renewed. In the Old Port and Peninsula, the market is primarily about hotels and condos. Parking for employees and consumers continues to be a challenge for all who want to do business in this area of Portland.
Justin encouraged Rotarians to learn more about two questions on Portland's election ballot this November related to real estate: one is about rent controls and the other about residents’ influence over zoning.
(Photo L-R: Justin Lamontagne, Bob Martin and President Don Zillman.)
President Don Zillman rang our meeting in at the Clarion Hotel with 53 members and 3 guests before turning the mic over to Paul Tully (at right) for the invocation. “PT” reminded us of interesting historical occurrences that happened on other October 6ths, but closed with a moment of silence in the wake of the tragedy that unfolded in Las Vegas - 58 killed, 500+ wounded. Past President Bowen “Front Page News” Depke led us in the Pledge of Allegiance, and we sang our best rendition of “America The Beautiful.”
Last week our speaker, Carol Coultas, Business Editor for the Press Herald, remarked that she was always on the lookout for a good story. She hit paydirt with Bowen Depke. Bowen is President of Spire Express located in at 477 Congress St., aka Portland’s iconic “Time and Temp” Building. The crux of the story is that the building’s owners are letting the building fall into disrepair and neglect. Peeling paint, broken and leaking radiators, and crumbling plaster are causing tenants to move out, leaving the remaining businesses to wonder why the owner doesn’t renovate or sell. When Bowen raised the question at the meeting, it resulted in a feature front page story in the paper, detailing the situation and drawing upon Bowen as the voice of the tenants.
President Don thanked the members who participated in our meeting’s set up and execution, and then read the list of 13 members born in the month of October. Happy Birthday, Dear Rotarians!
Many had heard the news this week of the passing of two important people in our Rotary family. Honorary member Harry Sawyer and Gloria Tewhey, wife of Past President John Tewhey. Harry was remembered by Past President Russ Burleigh, when hespoke of Harry as his long-time friend. Harry was prolific at bringing in new members over the years. A quick review of our current roster shows 7 members under his name, and there were many more. Russ read a poem he wrote and read to Harry a few years ago, a roll call of the members he brought to Rotary. There will be a memorial service at St. Lukes next Thursday (10/12) at 2pm. We then remembered Gloria Tewhey, wife of our Past President John Tewhey. Linda Varrell stood to tell us how she had met Gloria while working 13 years together with Maine Youth Leadership. <Maineyouthleadership.org> When the organization was going through difficult times, it was Gloria who kept the program going and developing it into the sustainable organization it is today. Services for Gloria will be in MA, closer to her children, but there will be a gathering of friends at the Tewhey residence in Gorham, 3 Valley View Drive, noon on October 15th. Our condolences to both families, and our eternal respect and love to two great people.
Charlie Frair (left) updated us on the upcoming Veterans Day Lunch. It will be a sell-out, so please register right away at: portlandrotary.org. Pay at the door. If you are a veteran and club member, please contact Past President Loretta Rowe (lrowe@maine.rr.com or 883-5432) as soon as you can, as there will be something special planned! Flyers are being passed out, so take one for your office or community center and post it up. Volunteer sheets are on the table, we need as many as possible and we have a job for everyone!
President Don provided the latest news on the Rotary effort to help hurricane victims. The District is looking for volunteers to drive supplies to Florida – let Don know if that could be you! Info came out in an email from District Governor Dave Underhill. Contributions can be made directly to the efforts in Puerto Rico with a check made out to Portland Rotary, and “Puerto Rico” written in the memo line.
Song Leader Ron Bennett, with side-kick Past President Bill Blount, led us in a rendition of “This Land Is Your Land.” With members concluding the song at different points, it had a nice fade out.
We welcomed new member Merle Hallett, introduced by Gus Karlsen, to our club. (Photo at right: Gus and Merle.) Affectionately known as a true “Man of the Sea,” Merle has sailed the world, was the owner of Handy Boat, and one of the original founders and sponsors of Portland’s MS Regatta, now known as Portland HarborFest. Under Merle’s guidance, some 3 million dollars has been raised to help those afflicted by MS. With an encyclopedic knowledge of the maritime, seek him out for some great stories. Welcome Merle!
Program Chair Bob Martin let us know that this coming Friday, plus Oct 27 and Nov 3, we will be meeting at the Gateway Community Service, 501 Forest Avenue here in Portland.
Last but not least, the weekly raffle, with $927 available for the taking. Led by Terri St Angello, Ron Bennett had the honors of the name draw, but he left empty handed, unable to pull the Queen of Hearts from the shrinking deck.
When it became known that our much-loved and respected member of 55 years, Austin Harris, was in declining health, our Board very thoughtfully voted to award him with a Paul Harris Fellowship, his sixth. Since he was unable to attend a Rotary meeting and was even without the strength to meet with many people, it was decided that, with the agreement of Austin’s son, Scott and daughter, Jane, Jim Willey and I would present Austin with pin and declaration in his home on Thursday, October 5, 2017. We were both saddened to see that Austin was not well. Nevertheless, he was clearly overwhelmed and happy to receive the honor. He then began to reminisce and recount a variety of stories with wit and lucidity.
After over two hours Jim and I took our leave, pleased to know that it was the right action to take, but saddened to see that Austin was not well. We receive a note from Jane with the enclosed picture and the message that Austin was quite exhausted in the afternoon but extremely pleased with his sixth Paul Harris Fellowship.
(Photo L-R: Past President Jim Willey, Austin Harris (seated), and Past President Bob Traill.)
Invocation: Peggy Wescott Program Reporter: Ben Lowry Bits & Pieces Reporter: Dick Hall Registration/Greeter: David Clough Sell Meal Tickets: Loretta Rowe Raffle: Andrew Cook Badge Box: None Collect Meal Tickets: Ellen Niewoehner Song Leader: Don Lowry Keyboard Player: None Sgt-at-Arms (Setup): Bruce Moore Sgt-at-Arms (Take Down): Justin Lamontagne
If you would like to mark your calendars, we are scheduled at the following locations through December 2017:
2017 Oct 13 - Gateway Community Service Oct 20 - Holiday Inn By-the-Bay Oct 27 - Gateway Community Service
Nov 3 - Gateway Community Service Nov 10 - Italian Heritage Center (Veterans' Lunch) Nov 17 - Holiday Inn By-the-Bay Nov 24 - NO MEETING - HAPPY THANKSGIVING
Dec 01 - Holiday Inn By-the-Bay Dec 08 - Holiday Inn By-the-Bay Dec 15 - Holiday Inn By-the-Bay Dec 22 - NO MEETING - HAPPY HOLIDAYS Dec 29 - Holiday Inn By-the-Bay
BlueBOLD dates are scheduled Board meeting days.
Any questions, please contact Loretta at: lrowe@maine.rr.com
The following items are needed on an on-going basis. Please feel free to bring them to a meeting where we will collect and distribute them.
Crutches4Africa - Crutches, canes, folding walkers and wheelchairs to be shipped to Africa.
Toiletries for the Shelters - Collect those tiny bottles of toiletries you are paying for during your next hotel visit and bring them home for members of our society who find themselves staying at a shelter and in need of personal hygiene products.
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William "Bro" Adams is a senior fellow at The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Bro was the tenth chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) from 2014 to 2017. Shortly after arriving at NEH, he launched an agency-wide initiative titled The Common Good: Humanities in the Public Square. The initiative seeks to demonstrate the relevance of the humanities to the life of the nation during a time of unprecedented domestic and global challenges..JPG)
President Don Zillman rang our meeting in at the Clarion Hotel with 53 members and 3 guests before turning the mic over to Paul Tully (at right) for the invocation. “PT” reminded us of interesting historical occurrences that happened on other October 6ths, but closed with a moment of silence in the wake of the tragedy that unfolded in Las Vegas - 58 killed, 500+ wounded. Past President Bowen “Front Page News” Depke led us in the Pledge of Allegiance, and we sang our best rendition of “America The Beautiful.”
Charlie Frair (left) updated us on the upcoming Veterans Day Lunch. It will be a sell-out, so please register right away at: 
Program Chair Bob Martin let us know that this coming Friday, plus Oct 27 and Nov 3, we will be meeting at the Gateway Community Service, 501 Forest Avenue here in Portland. 