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Russell Hampton
ClubRunner
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Speakers
Nov 29, 2019
Dec 06, 2019
Action For Climate Change
Dec 13, 2019
Dec 20, 2019
Holiday Program
Dec 27, 2019
Jan 03, 2020
Jan 10, 2020
Jan 17, 2020
Role of the Port Authority in Maine's Growing Economy
Jan 24, 2020
View entire list
Executives & Directors
President
 
President Elect
 
Vice President
 
Treasurer
 
Secretary
 
Immediate Past President
 
Director Term End 2020
 
Director Term End 2020
 
Director Term End 2021
 
Director Term End 2021
 
Club Admin/Coordinator
 
Club Protection Officer
 
Community Service
 
Communications - PR External
 
Communications - WJ Bulletin Editor
 
Constitution/ByLaws Chair
 
Fund Raising Co-Chair
 
Fund Raising Co-Chair
 
Good Cheer Chair
 
International Service Chair
 
Invocation Chair
 
Meeting Day Chair
 
Membership Chair
 
Music Chair
 
New Mainers Initiative Chair
 
Program Co- Chair
 
Program Co-Chair
 
Opioid Task Force Co-Chair
 
Opioid Task Force Co-Chair
 
Rotary Foundation Chair
 
Sergeant -At-Arms
 
Web Administrator
 
Web Administrator Assistant
 
Youth Service Chair
 
Friday, November 29, 2019
Welcome to the
Rotary Club of Portland, Maine!
Portland Rotary
Service Above Self
We meet Fridays at 12:15 PM
The Clarion Hotel
1230 Congress Street
Portland, ME  04102
United States of America
DistrictSiteIcon District Site
VenueMap Venue Map
Rotary This Week
 
 
 
Portland Rotary
will NOT meet 
Friday, November 29, 2019
in recognition of the 
Thanksgiving holiday!
Happy Thanksgiving to all! 
 
 
11/22/19 Liz Leddy, Golden Gloves Champion
Rotary welcomed Portland's national women's boxing champion Liz Leddy (photo at right), who described how boxing challenged her to become successful. To her, boxing is like meditation. In an article published in Old Port- Portland's City Magazine,  by Katy Kelleher, Liz gave credit for her success to Bob Russo, the founder of the Portland Boxing Club. Liz  is one of Russo’s star pupils. Although she’s been boxing for over 20 years, she continues to soak up Russo's wisdom. He changed her life—or perhaps it was boxing itself that saved her. When she first walked into the Portland Boxing Club in 1996, she was a teenager who needed help. In the article, she described  her teenage years with a frankness about the abuses she experienced. Her biography is summarized in the Old Port article that can be accessed by clicking HERE
 
Portland Boxing Club has transformed Liz’s life in more ways than one. Russo helped her to raise money to attend cosmetology school through fundraisers and boxing events. Now, she makes a living styling hair (she also teaches aspiring boxers). Liz expressed gratitude about the opportunity she has been given to be an award-winning woman boxer. Her inspirational presentation pointed out how important it is to mentor others when called on to do so. In mentoring and providing positive role models to others, we might have the opportunity to inspire someone like the amazing Liz Leddy.
 
 
 
(Photo L-R: Ralph Hendrix, President Amy Chipman, Liz Leddy, and Durwood Ferland.)
11/22/19 Bits & Pieces
On another rainy November day, President Amy Chipman opened the meeting with Julie  L’Heureux offering the Invocation. In a delightful twist, this one broke into the singing of the traditional Thanksgiving Day song, “Over the River and Through the Wood.”  Erik Greven led us in the Pledge, and 1st VP Ellen Niewoehner chose the National Anthem for the assembly song. 

Amy took a final count of 33 members who will attend the Dec 13th meeting at the Merrill Auditorium for a “Magic of Christmas” performance. (REMEMBER: No regular meeting on Friday, Dec. 13th)

Amy noted some 25 or so responses to a letter addressing membership and recruitment that went out to the club a few weeks ago. Those thoughts and ideas will be at the heart of a club assembly on Feb 7th.

Nate Cermelj made his debut as our weekly Raffle Conductor, and our guest speaker Liz Leddy drew Joe Gray as the lucky contestant. With $1145 on the line, Joe sliced one into the woods with a 7 of clubs and returned to his seat no wealthier than when he left.

The return of ‘Happy Dollars’ will now be featured once per month. We heard $8 worth of happiness, and $1 of sad for the departure of club member PP Don Zillman. Don (photo at right) is heading to the warmer climates of Santa Fe, NM with his wife Linda. Don came up to share a moment, noting they had moved to Maine in 1991. When questioned “How long will you be saying?” he wished he had the knowledge to have replied, after the Red Sox win 4 World Series and the Patriots win 6 Super Bowls.

(Photo at left: President Amy, Nick Galeucia, Assistant Principal Cicy Po, and Rusty Atwood.)
 
Rusty Atwood did the honors of introducing Cheverus student Nick Galeucia as our Student of the Month. A senior this year, Nick has been a “leader among leaders” at the school. A long list of volunteer and community work, a student with high honor credentials, and athletic achievements was revealed by Cheverus Assistant Principal, Cicy Po. Nick graciously accepted the award of $1000 for his future studies, and $100 donation in his name to the Ronald McDonald House.  

In addition to the Kosovo trip led by PP John Curran that focused on the prosthetic hand program, Liz and Roger Fagan had been working parallel to that with a program for the hearing impaired. Liz (photo at right) spoke about how the projection was to see and administer to about 30 people, but it ended up being 100. She was offered a job at the clinic, but the commute was too long.  She also noted how she was busy developing Masters programs at Kosovo’s local college in speech pathology, while also working on ways to bring students to the U.S. for advanced studies and Masters in this field.

Gracie Johnston was recruiting for the upcoming St. Vincent DePaul Thanksgiving Dinner.  Wed 11/27 8am-1:30pm – Preparing, serving, clean up. In our 19th year, we expect 100 people, and we need as much help as possible. Dick Hall runs a disciplined kitchen, so you won’t be standing around looking for something to do. Gracie also touched on the “Stuff-A-Bus” food drive event for the Preble Street Soup Kitchen at the Maine Mall Hannaford on Tues 11/26 conducted by the Portland Radio Group.  ring a canned or non-perishable food item, if you can!

PP Bill Blount reminded us that November is Rotary Foundation month, and this is the time to really consider several avenues that you can donate. Always know that your dollar goes farther with Rotary. On 8/1/19, Charity Navigator rated The Rotary Foundation a perfect 100 out of 100 score. Bill sent an email out to the club this past week, looking to inspire and increase participation in contributing to the Foundation. Every dollar counts. Currently we have 26 members who have committed to $100 per year, known as Sustaining Members. We have 8 “Circles of Five” – each person contributing $200 per year. 3 members are in the Paul Harris Society, stepping up to $1000 per year. (Bill B. is one!) Another one is now Mike Reed (Photo at left: Mike Reed and PP Bill Blount), who came up to receive his recognition pin and a standing O from the audience. Those three groups account for $13,600, which moves us closer to our goal of $17,000 for the year. Let’s close the gap!

PP Jim Willey reported that the monthly visit to Long Creek Youth Development Center was well received by the young men of the Cedar unit. The time was spent making cards for the Veteran’s Center, while enjoying an immense sandwich from D’Angelo’s. If you are interested in participating, reach out to Mike Fortunato (michael.k.fortunato@gmail.com).
 
Volunteer Opportunities

Following is a list of our Club's volunteer projects. If you know of other opportunities, please contact Loretta: lrowe@maine.rr.com

Project
When
Who to Contact
 

 

Preble Street
Resource Center
Soup Kitchen
4th Wednesday ea month
3:30-6:30 pm
Contact Gracie Johnston
Game Night
Long Creek
Youth Center
3rd Wednesday ea month (note change in DAY)
Mike Fortunato
or Jim Willey
  
Rotary Meeting Locations

If you would like to mark your calendars,
we are scheduled at the following locations
through
 March 2020:

2019
Nov 29 - NO MEETING - Happy Thanksgiving! 

Dec 06 - The Clarion
        13 - NO MEETING - Spec Attendance

                at 2pm showing Magic of Christmas
        20 - The Clarion
        27 - NO MEETING - Christmas

2020
Jan 03 - The Clarion
       10 - The Clarion
     
 17 - The Clarion
       24 - The Clarion
       31 - The Clarion

Feb  07 - TBD
        14 - The Clarion
       
21 - The Clarion
        28 - The Clarion

Mar  06 - The Clarion
         13 - The Clarion
         
20 - The Clarion
         27 - The Clarion

Blue BOLD dates are scheduled Board meeting days.

Any questions, please contact Loretta at: lrowe@maine.rr.com
 

Ongoing Item Donations Needed
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 to the appropriate projects.
 
Crutches4Africa - Crutches, canes, folding walkers and wheelchairs to be shipped to Africa. Contact: Erik Greven at: egrev95@gmail.com
 
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.