Due to the continued spread of the Covid virus and protecting the safety of our members, we’re postponing our first in-person meeting at the Italian Heritage Club until at least March 4. The board will meet again on 2/18 and will make a decision.
This Week's Speaker | Christian Cotz, 1st Amendment Museum
Christian Cotz became the CEO of the First Amendment Museum in January of 2020 having served in successively senior roles at James Madison's Montpelier since 2000. A student of all things Madisonian (literally and figuratively, since he also attained two degrees from James Madison University), Cotz comes to Maine well versed in the First Amendment - one of Madison’s most important accomplishments, and one of Christian’s favorite topics to talk about. As Director of Education and Visitor Engagement at Montpelier, Cotz insisted on and persisted in making Montpelier’s story more inclusive and was at the forefront of Montpelier’s efforts to build and maintain relationships with families descended from Montpelier’s enslaved community. He was the project director for the groundbreaking exhibition The Mere Distinction of Colour, which opened in 2017 and won six national museum awards. The following year he coordinated the National Summit on Teaching Slavery which produced TheRubric on Engaging Descendant Communities in the Interpretation of Slaveryat Museums and Historic Sites that he was also a contributing author to, and co-edited. Christian looks forward to the challenge of building something new and exciting at the First Amendment Museum, hopes he can continue to broaden the historical narrative, amplify voices that haven’t been heard, and inspire people to understand and utilize our most important natural rights.
In Memoriam
We are saddened by the passing of Portland Rotarian
Nan Heald, who died this week due to cancer. Nan was well known as the Executive Director of Pine Tree Legal Assistance and a nationally recognized justice advocate. Nan was our club's 2nd VP heading into this year, but stepped down due to the illness. In September 2014, Nan was our guest speaker, introduced by PP Don Lowry. A year later, Don would sponsor Nan into our club. A friend and fellow Rotarian, she made a difference in many people's lives. We offer this link to her obituary in the Press Herald. She will be missed.
Meeting of Jan 21 | Rick Schneider, Maine Publicby Juliana L'Heureux
Presenting on ZOOM, Rusty Atwood introduced Rick Schneider, the president and CEO of Maine Public, an independently owned and operated 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization with office and studio locations in Bangor, Lewiston and Portland, Maine. Mr. Schneider began his position on August 2, 2021. “I am thrilled to be the CEO of Maine Public,” he said.
As a way of personal introduction, Mr. Schneider described his experience with Rotary as a member of the Rotary Club of Reno, when he worked in Nevada. He explained how the Rotary Four Way Test resonates with the journalism presented on Maine Public. “Truth, fairness to all concerned, building goodwill and better friendships, beneficial to all concerned” are the attributes he supports in journalism. Although journalism does not necessarily help to build goodwill and better friendships, the fact is, reporting should be beneficial to its audiences.
Among the role models he credits for helping him to become a journalist was Jim Lehrer, who was the longtime anchor of the PBS News Hour. In fact, Mr.Lehrer had his own rules about journalism and some of them echo the Rotary 4-way test:
Do nothing I cannot defend.
Cover, write and present every story with the care I would want if the story were about me.
Assume there is at least one other side or version to every story.
Assume the viewer is as smart and as caring and as good a person as I am.
Assume the same about all people on whom I report.
Assume personal lives are a private matter until a legitimate turn in the story absolutely mandates otherwise.
Carefully separate opinion and analysis from straight news stories, and clearly label everything.
Do not use anonymous sources or blind quotes except on rare and monumental occasions. No one should be able to attack another anonymously.
Finally, I am not in the entertainment business.
Maine is fortunate because “Maine Public” has a strong local identity. People hear the news and weather from Aroostook County and Down East, to Mid Coast and Portland, and relate because they either live there, they think about family who are there, or have vacationed there. “Maine Calling” with Jennifer Rooks has guests and callers from all over Maine. Maine Public’s local brand is as important as National Public Radio (NPR) or Public Broadcasting (PBS).
Today, Maine Public is one organization governed by a board of community leaders providing both public radio and public television to the entire state. After the merger with the Maine Public Broadcasting Network (MPBN), there was still business to finish. Although Maine Public has facilities in Lewiston and Bangor, there is not an adequate presence in Portland. Now, after several years of looking for the right site in Greater Portland to expand services, the company acquired property at 27 Commercial Street. Maine Public will own the new location. Relocating in a new building on Commercial Street will improve the company’s public visibility.
Building plans will include constructing a state of the art technical facility to include studios for the classical network, news and Maine Calling. A ground floor storefront is envisioned, whereby there will be visibility and a place for public engagement. Also proposed are a top-floor community room and a collaboration café with an outdoor terrace overlooking Portland Harbor. In the new home, the capacity for Maine Public will be expanded to better serve all of the state.
A capital campaign is planned. FMI visit Maine Public.
Bits & Pieces | by Jake Bourdeau
President Bruce Jones called the meeting into order, and Maggie McGauley led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Bruce invited Kathy Grammar to the attend the meeting. Kathy is a former Portland Rotarian and professional voice coach who recently retired to Florida, and she sang us a patriotic song God Bless America. The song was wonderful Kathy! For the invocation, Juliana L’Heureux read a poem about sprinkling kindness into people's lives, and how kindness can be a gift to bring up someone’s day.
Visiting guest Gervin Kah is a Rotarian living in Libreville, Gabon in Africa, and he attended our meeting, his second in a row!
January Birthdays
Rotarians celebrating Birthdays in January include: Brian Batson, Tony Manhart, Steve Stromsky, Matt Tassey, Marissa Fortier, Don Lowry, and Amy Chipman. Happy Birthday!!
January Anniversaries
Bruce read the names of 18 Rotarians with club anniversary dates in January. The years of service ranged from newer members with 1 year, all the way to 55! Maggie McGauley 1 yr, Brian Batson 1 yr, Jenn Sledge 2 yrs, Michelle DiSotto 3 yrs, David Ertz 5 yrs, Megan Peabody 6 yrs, Ben Millick 7 yrs, PP Bowen Depke 17 yrs, Liz Fagan 18yrs, Bruce Moore 21 yrs, Rich Campbell 22 yrs, Patty Byers 23 yrs, PP Ellen Niewoehner 24 yrs, PP John Marr 27 yrs, Mark Millar 35 yrs, PP Tom Sukley 36 yrs, PP Alan Nye 38 yrs, and a toast to PP Mark Stimson with 55 yrs! Congratulations to all!
Remembering Mittens for Kids and Russ Burleigh
Joan Steinburg reached out to Amy Chipman via email to let her know that she knitted 100 pairs of kids mittens. Joan Steinburg was the wife of our past president Russ Burleigh who has recently deceased. Amy will be collecting the mittens from Joan, continuing Joan’s kindness and generosity, and the plan is to distribute the mittens through the Portland public schools to the children that need them. Amy, and many in the club may remember how Russ ran a yarn drive each year to support Joan’s continued efforts in knitting the mittens. Way to go Joan!! If Joan is up for it again, let’s put this topic on the calendar for next summer, and we can hold another yarn drive for Joan and the kids behalf.
John Thompson’s Paul Harris Fellow
Patty Byers presented John Thompson his first Paul Harris Fellow! John let us know that he cannot believe he has been with the club long enough to achieve his goal, and he thanked his role models who he has watched earn their PHF over years. Congratulations and thank you John!
Patty took the opportunity to let us know that with half the year remaining we are 42% on our way towards the goal of having every Portland Rotarian donate to the Foundation this Rotary year. She reminded us that donating is as easy as calling the Rotary Support Center at 1-866-976-8279, and referencing our club number 6308.
President Bruce capped the meeting with a Rotary “What Do You Know?” The first Rotary meeting was February 23, 1905. The meetings were primarily about friendship and business networking. It wasn't until two years later that the club first embraced civic service. The first project was to install public toilets in downtown Chicago. When you gotta go...
Foundation News | by Patty Byers
This is the last in a series of seven focus areas that the Trustees of the Rotary Foundation have identified as the underpinnings of all our charitable activity.
"Protecting the Environment"
Rotary shares an interest in protecting our common legacy: the environment.
We are committed to supporting activities that strengthen the conservation and protection of natural resources, advance ecological sustainability, and foster harmony between communities and the environment.
We empower communities to access grants and other resources, embrace local solutions, and spur innovation to address the causes and reduce the effects of climate change and environmental degradation.
How Rotary will help protect our planet?
The Foundation will enable our members and community allies to take action in these ways:
Protecting and restoring land, coastal, marine, and freshwater resources
Enhancing the capacity of communities to support natural resource management and conservation
Supporting sustainable agriculture, fishing, and aquaculture practices
Addressing the cause of climate change by reducing the emission of greenhouse gases
Strengthening ecosystems and communities affected by climate change
Supporting education initiatives that promote behavior that protects the environment
Advocating for sustainable consumption to build an economy that uses resources more efficiently
Addressing environmental justice issues and public health concerns
Help protect the environment
Consider a gift to the Rotary Foundation to create opportunities to help individuals and communities thrive financially and socially. If you have any questions, please contact Patty: pattybyers@gmail.com.
Speaker Schedule
February 4 | Joe Reagan, Wreaths Across America (Former Portland Rotarian)
February 11| Kathleen O'Donnell, SCORE Maine
February 18 | Nate Stevens, Boulos Company
February 25 | Club Assembly
President-Elect Bruce Jones will turn over the reigns to thesePast President's to MC the following meetings: February 4th: Laura Young • March 4th: Amy Chipman • March 25th: Tom TalbottApril 1st: Bill Blount • April 22nd: Larry Gross • April 29th: John Marr May 20th: Bowen Depke May 27th: Ellen Niewoehner • June 17th: Roxane Cole
Club Executives
President-Elect Bruce Jones
1st VPDick Hall
2nd VP Patty Byers
Treasurer Howie Herodes
SecretaryMichelle DiSotto
Board of DirectorsEllen Niewoehner, Mark Foster, Bob Clark, Roger Fagan, John Thompson
versed in the First Amendment - one of Madison’s most important accomplishments, and one of Christian’s favorite topics to talk about. As Director of Education and Visitor Engagement at Montpelier, Cotz insisted on and persisted in making Montpelier’s story more inclusive and was at the forefront of Montpelier’s efforts to build and maintain relationships with families descended from Montpelier’s enslaved community. He was the project director for the groundbreaking exhibition The Mere Distinction of Colour, which opened in 2017 and won six national museum awards. The following year he coordinated the National Summit on Teaching Slavery which produced The Rubric on Engaging Descendant Communities in the Interpretation of Slavery at Museums and Historic Sites that he was also a contributing author to, and co-edited. Christian looks forward to the challenge of building something new and exciting at the First Amendment Museum, hopes he can continue to broaden the historical narrative, amplify voices that haven’t been heard, and inspire people to understand and utilize our most important natural rights.
the Rotary Club of Reno, when he worked in Nevada. He explained how the Rotary Four Way Test resonates with the journalism presented on Maine Public. “Truth, fairness to all concerned, building goodwill and better friendships, beneficial to all concerned” are the attributes he supports in journalism. Although journalism does not necessarily help to build goodwill and better friendships, the fact is, reporting should be beneficial to its audiences.
President Bruce Jones called the meeting into order, and Maggie McGauley led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Bruce invited Kathy Grammar to the attend the meeting. Kathy is a former Portland Rotarian and professional voice coach who recently retired to Florida, and she sang us a patriotic song God Bless America. The song was wonderful Kathy! For the invocation, Juliana L’Heureux read a poem about sprinkling kindness into people's lives, and how kindness can be a gift to bring up someone’s day.
first Paul Harris Fellow! John let us know that he cannot believe he has been with the club long enough to achieve his goal, and he thanked his role models who he has watched earn their PHF over years. Congratulations and thank you John! 
President Bruce capped the meeting with a Rotary “What Do You Know?” The first Rotary meeting was February 23, 1905. The meetings were primarily about friendship and business networking. It wasn't until two years later that the club first embraced civic service. The first project was to install public toilets in downtown Chicago. When you gotta go... 
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