THIS WEEK'S SPEAKER: Chad Mullin - Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland

Chad Mullin has dedicated his career to Habitat for Humanity, beginning as a college volunteer on a spring break trip that introduced him to the organization's mission. After graduating from the University of Maine, Chad served with AmeriCorps as a full-time Construction Site Supervisor with Habitat for Humanity of Charlotte, North Carolina. He returned to Maine in 2011 and joined Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland, where he has served as Construction Manager, Director of Construction, and now Executive Director. In his current role, Chad leads the organization in its mission of bringing people together to build homes, communities, and hope.

Affordable housing remains a major challenge in Greater Portland. Chad will discuss the need and how Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland is responding. Since 1985, Habitat has built 100 homes in Cumberland County and helps low-income homeowners remain safely in their homes through its Critical Home Repair program.

President Justin welcomed 37 Portland Rotarians (no guests this week) Dan Fahey, Dee Dee Fusco and Katherine Wall were recognized for setting up the meeting. Penny Harris ran the raffle, where Erik Greven came up a Two of Spades short of the $242 pot. 

LITERACY BOOKING: Dave Patterson gave a Youth Services Committee update on Raising Readers on behalf of Bob Clark. This year, 17 Club members read to 405 students in 51 sessions at Lyseth School. Next year, 18 classrooms will participate. Dave announced that the playground world map installed by Portland Rotarians will be repainted in spring 2027. 

EARNED RUN: President Justin announced our Club received a 2025–26 “End Polio Now” Certificate from The Rotary Foundation for our polio donations, and thanked Jerry Wall for leading the Club's Foundation Committee.

GLOVES, SOCKS, HATS, OH MY! Still at the podium, David announced that 180 pairs of warm gloves, socks, and hats, have been distribute to youngsters at the after-school program of the Portland Boys & Girls Club. This was a tie-in with Kennebec Savings Bank, who provided our club with $500 of support, orchestrated by Tom Talbott, Roxane Cole, and Steve Stromsky. Notably Steve is an associate with the bank and helped coordinate with the bank’s community service director Tommy Johnson. David tied in the Boys and Girls Club and the event went perfectly smooth! Photo: David Patterson, Tom Talbott, and from Kennebec Savings, Patrick Farrell, Kathy Hepner, Jim Edwards, Tommy Johnson. 

LAST LOBSTER: Bill Milliken announced he'll send QR code links for the Lobster Raffle, with a deadline of Sunday, November 1. The raffle has raised more than $5,100 for Raising All Boats and other Club projects. Bill also shared a Flags for Heroes notecard members can use to write personal thank-you notes to donors.

SPEAKING OF FLAGS… Justin invited Tom Talbott to report on the sold-out October 17 District Veterans Celebration in Portsmouth. Tom thanked the 18 Portland Rotarians who attended and reported that a $4,000 District grant grew to over $32,500 for Hero Pups, providing five trained companion dogs for veterans, with another 80 still on the waiting list. Tom also recognized Jamie McCarthy of Portsmouth Rotary, Operations Director at Port City Air, and Hero Pups founder Laura Barker. Both suffered personal family tragedies during the planning but remained committed to making the event a success. Their dedication and Service Above Self, even while grieving, made the event especially meaningful to Tom.

FLAGS TO HOLD COURT: Tom then announced an invitation from the Maine Celtics to reprise last year's Flags for Heroes halftime presentation on Friday, January 29, 2027, 7pm game, when the Celtics will be honoring First Responders that evening. A brief practice session is planned after our meeting earlier that day from 2p-230p. Tix will be $18. Sign-ups coming! 

MORE SERVICE OPS: Niki Merrill announced a $2,000 Rotary Response Grant for our backpack project with the Portland Recovery Community Center. We'll purchase 75 Rotary-logo backpacks for people entering recovery residences after incarceration, detox or treatment. Niki and President Justin are planning a “packing lunch” to fill backpacks and write notes of encouragement.

CALLING A (SOUS) CHEFS: Tom T reminded members to sign up for Preble Street Food Hub volunteer training, online or in person. Dee Dee Fusco is collecting names to schedule Club teams for shifts. This fulfills part of our commitment under the District Food Security Grant received this fall, where we received $4000 from the District to support Farms For Food Equity. 

Step One -  REGISTRATION

Step Two -  Orientation Video  (Click Photo) (Only 6 mins)

FIDDLE ABOUT: Amy Chipman put in a plug for the New England Fiddle Ensemble Gala on Saturday, November 14, at the Portsmouth Elks. There'll be live music, auctions and a buffet dinner. See Amy or www.NEFiddleEnsemble.org/fall-gala/ for details.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Erik Greven and Roger Fagan spoke about our collaboration in a $160,000 Global Grant received by a Rotary Club in India to replicate our Dominican Republic project in South Asia. Several Portland Rotarians made a friendship visit to India, and our Club contributed several thousand dollars.

Roger Fagan reported on initiatives with the Passamaquoddy Nation in Washington County following his summer visits. Roger saw hearing aid patients, and David Small is exploring a possible water purification project for the reservation. 

CURTAIN CALL: Roger Berube invited members to join the South Portland/Cape Elizabeth Rotary Club for a November 7th fundraiser at South Portland’s Lyric Theater. Tickets for “You Can’t Take It With You” are $25, with a pre-show gathering at Evie’s Tavern on Sawyer Road.

Can a club treasurer or foundation chair establish recurring TRF donations for a member? No. Club leaders can make one-time contributions from their club or from individual club members online, but they can’t enroll members or their club in recurring giving.