Aimee Petrin is the Executive & Artistic Director of Portland Ovations, an 89-year-old multidisciplinary presenter. Since her 2006 arrival, Petrin has led the organization through three exhaustive strategic planning processes; launched a new arts education and community-based outreach program; secured major funding from Jane’s Trust and a new dedicated Endowment; led Ovations’ first commissions of new works; introduced an expanded contemporary dance series and is actively building audiences in dance, contemporary chamber music and culturally specific art forms. These advancements culminated in the highly successful renaming and rebranding of the organization. In 2010, ‘The Portland Phoenix’ named her one of Portland’s Most Influential People. She is active in the field, participating in regional and national grants panels, showcase juries, curating excursions, and panels; and is committed to initiating and supporting regional performing arts projects. The 2014 commission and stage presentation of Daniel Sonenberg’s “The Summer King,” which went on to enjoy national productions. Petrin is a member of the University of Southern Maine Board of Visitors and is an Advisor to the National Dance Project a program of New England Foundation for the Arts. Previously, she has served on the board of Association of Performing Arts Presenters, the Bates Dance Festival Advisory Board and the Maine Arts Commission and as an international delegate for New England Foundation for the Arts. Petrin was previously at the Flynn Center in Burlington, VT. She graduated with honors and Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Vermont.
Her topic is “Backstage at Portland Ovations.” She plans to talk about programming, performers and personalities, as well as operations.
Last Friday, the Portland Rotary Club had the very unique opportunity to hear from Olympic hopeful Morgan Frame, who hopes to be representing the United States in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France. Her comments gave us an interesting insight into the battle to break into the very competitive world of rowing, a world that is rather foreign to Ms. Frame.
As a young athlete growing up as the daughter of Waterville High School’s athletic director, Morgan has always been active in sports and, as a senior at the high school, she was named Maine’s “Miss Basketball,” an honor given each year to the state’s top female hoopster. After contemplating playing for Cindy Blodgett at UMaine, Morgan decided to take a chance and head to Durham, New Hampshire, where she was an All-conference player for two years at UNH. After graduation, Morgan went to work at Enterprise Rental Car, a company known for hiring matriculating athletes, where she received a strong training in business, which she carried into her next venture as a pharmaceutical sales representative. But, after some time in the cutthroat world of sales, she began to miss the daily grind of athletic endeavors and returned to Maine as a manager and trainer for Orangetheory Fitness, a rapidly growing fitness chain in Portland. As a trainer, she began to work hard on the rowing machines and found that, with her background and size (6’1”), she was a natural. With encouragement from friends, family and new husband Derek, Morgan decided to accept an invitation to the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, where she and other hopefuls not only tried out for the 2024 team, but were part of the filming of an NBS show called “The Next Olympic Hopeful,” which follows the women as they battle for the coveted spots. The 90-minute show will be aired on December 29th.
Her next step (she seems to have made the cut) will be a “rookie camp” in Oklahoma City, where she will compete yet again for a chance to be sent to Princeton, New Jersey, where the US Rowing Team is headquartered. Luckily, she will be able to work part-time at a local OrangeTheory while she puts herself through the five-hour daily sessions. Morgan, acknowledging that “strength and power” are her primary attributes, admits that her lack of experience in the water may be a detriment in her attempt to gain passage onto the elite “sweep” (8-rower) team or even the one-woman sculling team. Either way, she has made the commitment to put her life on hold for the time being as she takes this once-in-a-lifetime shot at Olympic glory. With no real remuneration as incentive, this young woman epitomizes the ideal for an Olympic athlete and we, as Portland Rotarians and Mainers, wish her nothing but the best as she grinds her way through this amazing journey.
Introduced by President Amy Chipman, David Small presented our invocation for the day. In observance of this week’s Jewish Yom Kippur, he spoke of its tradition of refraining from work, contemplating good deeds, making amends with others, and reflecting on the past year’s mistakes and sins, rather than focusing on material possessions and superficial comforts. PP Bob Traill led us in the ‘Pledge of Allegiance,’ and Meredith Small led us in song, ‘America the Beautiful.’
Jerry Angier(right in photo on left) got things going with the raffle, summoning PG to the stage. Not Paul Gore, instead it was PP Peter Goffin! (left in photo on left) Peter’s luck did not extend to his selection, summoning the 3 of spades, which has a return on investment of 0.00%.
Amy’s announcements started by reminding us that the meeting of Oct 25 would be at the Office of Cultivating Community, 62 Elm St., Portland…..which has limited seating, and we need a head count for lunch. 12 signed up so far. Please let Elise know ASAP!
Next – while we work on getting the new conductor for the PSO here as a speaker, the PSO has offered us some special pricing if we have a group of 10 or more people who would like to attend an event. Also, if you have ever been curious as to what rigors it takes to land a job in city symphony, check out a special “behind the scenes” event at “The Addition” – Verrill Conference Room, 1 Portland Square, Oct 17 4:30-6pm.
Swap Shop Flyers are on the table and on the club website – check it out!
Amy reported that “RotaryRocks” District Conference last Saturday was a fabulous event, with 15 Portland Rotarians attending. We looked great with our 3H table set up. Great job!
Erik Greven(in photo at left) had some fabulous news regarding a Rotary Global Grant (RGG) that our club is participating in. Earlier this year Erik received an email from a Rotary club in India, inquiring about our prosthetic hand program. His Rotarian’s club was applying for a Global Grant that would be used to equip a new hospital with $150,000 of surgical equipment – primarily in the field of eye care/cataracts. A RGG can range from $30k to $400k. It starts with a host club seeding the fund, having other clubs contribute, then district participation, private sources, and then up to the Rotary Foundation. In this case, Portland Rotary made a $2k donation, and combined with the other donations and grant money, the $150k was raised. That is the power of Rotary – and your Rotary Foundation! Talk to Erik if you would be interested in joining him on a trip to India. What an opportunity!
Jan Chapman(in photo at right) had a spirited “Rotary Minute,” but first had two messages. First – Reading at Lyseth School starts up in October – we need some more readers to students in grades K-3. (Spanish readers, too.) Second, she reminded us that on Oct 23, 3:30p-6:30p, we need volunteers at Preble Street serving dinner. Afterwards, meet up for some socializing fun at SLAB. For her final minute – Jan hails from a strong Rotary family. Her father – served as President of the Damariscotta/New Castle club, and had 55 years of perfect attendance. Her mom, though women at the time were not in Rotary, was very active at club events. Her brother and his wife are members of the Brunswick club. Jan’s first job was selling night crawlers. Her dad and brother did the digging, and she was in charge of sales. To Jan, Rotary is far more than just lunch with friends. From traveling to the Dominican Republic, reading at Lyseth School, mentoring Portland HS students, serving at Preble St, or learning about the Opioid crisis -the entire experience means everything to her. Thank you Jan!
Charlie Frair(in photo at left) updated us on the Veterans’ Lunch. First the American flags we now own after our successful Maine Mall event will be on display for our lunch. By the way, the Mall wants us for 2 weeks next year! We made approx. $4500 this year – and we should double that next year! On to the Vets’ lunch, about 100 registered so far. 350 is the limit, so if you plan on attending, please register soon. We will need about 70 volunteers, so think about asking your spouse or significant other to help. Bruce Jones/PP Kris Rosado report that approximately $10k has been raised so far in funds, with a goal of $15k as the target. 7 vendor groups will be setting up tables. We’ll have the Coast Guard color guard this year. It’s all coming up fast!
Mike Fortunato(in photo at right) said 18 couples have signed up for the ‘Harvest Moon Square Dance’ to be held on Oct 26 at the Sprague Hall Grange in Cape Elizabeth. Arrive at 6:30 (or before), and the “caller” starts at 7p.m. To cheers, Mike announced that Gritty’s has donated a keg of their famed Halloween Ale! Tickets cost $20pp, $30 couple. Blue jeans and plaid shirts – it’s a hoedown! Yeehah!!
Invocation: Cy Hagge Program Reporter: Tom Talbott
Bits & Pieces Reporter: Jake Bourdeau
Photographer: Julie L'Heureux Registration/Greeter: David Ertz Sell Meal Tickets: Jennifer Frederick Raffle: David Clough Collect Meal Tickets:Dick Giles Sgt-at-Arms: Scott Blakeslee
If you would like to mark your calendars, we are scheduled at the following locations through 2019:
2019 Oct 18 - The Clarion Oct 25 - TBD Service Project
Nov 01 - The Clarion Nov 08 - Seasons Event & Conference Ctr Ramada Plaza, 155 Riverside St, Portland Nov 15 - The Clarion Nov 22 - The Clarion Nov 29 - NO MEETING - Thanksgiving
Dec 06 - The Clarion Dec 13 - The Clarion Dec 20 - The Clarion Dec 27 - NO MEETING - Christmas
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.
Aimee Petrin is the Executive & Artistic Director of Portland Ovations, an 89-year-old multidisciplinary presenter. Since her 2006 arrival, Petrin has led the organization through three exhaustive strategic planning processes; launched a new arts education and community-based outreach program; secured major funding from Jane’s Trust and a new dedicated Endowment; led Ovations’ first commissions of new works; introduced an expanded contemporary dance series and is actively building audiences in dance, contemporary chamber music and culturally specific art forms. These advancements culminated in the highly successful renaming and rebranding of the organization. In 2010, ‘The Portland Phoenix’ named her one of Portland’s Most Influential People. She is active in the field, participating in regional and national grants panels, showcase juries, curating excursions, and panels; and is committed to initiating and supporting regional performing arts projects. The 2014 commission and stage presentation of Daniel Sonenberg’s “The Summer King,” which went on to enjoy national productions. Petrin is a member of the University of Southern Maine Board of Visitors and is an Advisor to the National Dance Project a program of New England Foundation for the Arts. Previously, she has served on the board of Association of Performing Arts Presenters, the Bates Dance Festival Advisory Board and the Maine Arts Commission and as an international delegate for New England Foundation for the Arts. Petrin was previously at the Flynn Center in Burlington, VT. She graduated with honors and Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Vermont.
Last Friday, the Portland Rotary Club had the very unique opportunity to hear from Olympic hopeful Morgan Frame, who hopes to be representing the United States in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France. Her comments gave us an interesting insight into the battle to break into the very competitive world of rowing, a world that is rather foreign to Ms. Frame..jpg)
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Introduced by President Amy Chipman, David Small presented our invocation for the day. In observance of this week’s Jewish Yom Kippur, he spoke of its tradition of refraining from work, contemplating good deeds, making amends with others, and reflecting on the past year’s mistakes and sins, rather than focusing on material possessions and superficial comforts. PP Bob Traill led us in the ‘Pledge of Allegiance,’ and Meredith Small led us in song, ‘America the Beautiful.’ 
Erik Greven (in photo at left) had some fabulous news regarding a Rotary Global Grant (RGG) that our club is participating in. Earlier this year Erik received an email from a Rotary club in India, inquiring about our prosthetic hand program. His Rotarian’s club was applying for a Global Grant that would be used to equip a new hospital with $150,000 of surgical equipment – primarily in the field of eye care/cataracts. A RGG can range from $30k to $400k. It starts with a host club seeding the fund, having other clubs contribute, then district participation, private sources, and then up to the Rotary Foundation. In this case, Portland Rotary made a $2k donation, and combined with the other donations and grant money, the $150k was raised. That is the power of Rotary – and your Rotary Foundation! Talk to Erik if you would be interested in joining him on a trip to India. What an opportunity!
Jan Chapman (in photo at right) had a spirited “Rotary Minute,” but first had two messages. First – Reading at Lyseth School starts up in October – we need some more readers to students in grades K-3. (Spanish readers, too.) Second, she reminded us that on Oct 23, 3:30p-6:30p, we need volunteers at Preble Street serving dinner. Afterwards, meet up for some socializing fun at SLAB. For her final minute – Jan hails from a strong Rotary family. Her father – served as President of the Damariscotta/New Castle club, and had 55 years of perfect attendance. Her mom, though women at the time were not in Rotary, was very active at club events. Her brother and his wife are members of the Brunswick club. Jan’s first job was selling night crawlers. Her dad and brother did the digging, and she was in charge of sales. To Jan, Rotary is far more than just lunch with friends. From traveling to the Dominican Republic, reading at Lyseth School, mentoring Portland HS students, serving at Preble St, or learning about the Opioid crisis -the entire experience means everything to her. Thank you Jan! 
Charlie Frair (in photo at left) updated us on the Veterans’ Lunch. First the American flags we now own after our successful Maine Mall event will be on display for our lunch. By the way, the Mall wants us for 2 weeks next year! We made approx. $4500 this year – and we should double that next year! On to the Vets’ lunch, about 100 registered so far. 350 is the limit, so if you plan on attending, please register soon. We will need about 70 volunteers, so think about asking your spouse or significant other to help. Bruce Jones/PP Kris Rosado report that approximately $10k has been raised so far in funds, with a goal of $15k as the target. 7 vendor groups will be setting up tables. We’ll have the Coast Guard color guard this year. It’s all coming up fast!.jpg)
Mike Fortunato (in photo at right) said 18 couples have signed up for the ‘Harvest Moon Square Dance’ to be held on Oct 26 at the Sprague Hall Grange in Cape Elizabeth. Arrive at 6:30 (or before), and the “caller” starts at 7p.m. To cheers, Mike announced that Gritty’s has donated a keg of their famed Halloween Ale! Tickets cost $20pp, $30 couple. Blue jeans and plaid shirts – it’s a hoedown! Yeehah!!