Reade Brower began his publishing career in Rockland, Maine with a coupon book for downtown merchants. The coupon book became The Free Press, a fixture in mid-coast Maine for 30 years, and Brower’s publishing business grew to include Target Marketing, the Sunshine travel guides, and a number of publications for various chambers of commerce along the coast. The failures of other entrepreneurs expanded his portfolio as he acquired Village Soup and Courier Publications, and took over Alliance Press in Brunswick when they couldn’t pay his invoices. To make the numbers work with the printing press in Brunswick, he successfully approached the Bangor Daily News and the Portland Press Herald to outsource their newspaper printing. In 2015, when he sat down to negotiate a new printing contract for the Portland Press Herald, then-owner Donald Sussman proposed an offer for Brower to take over all of Maine Today Media’s assets.

Since his purchase of Maine Today Media, Brower acquired the Sun Media Group, publisher of Lewiston’s Sun Journal and a dozen weekly newspapers in southern and western Maine, and the Rutland Herald, Barre-Montpelier Times Argus, along with affiliated print and online publications of the Herald Association in Vermont.

In a November 26, 2017 article, Murray Carpenter of the New York Times described Brower as “an unassuming figure for a media mogul.” Media watchers don’t find Brower’s hold on the newspaper industry in Maine and Vermont in the same vein as a Jeff Bezos or Rupert Murdoch. “I don’t feel at all powerful,” Brower told the Times. “My job is to create a sustainable business model that keeps people who want to be working in this industry working. And to have enough money coming in to pay the bills and make a profit so it’s a viable business.”

Asked by Downeast Magazine whether he had a five-year or a ten-year plan for his conglomerate,  Brower responded, “I have a 10-minute plan.”
 

Last Friday, we were fortunate to have Bob Martin introduce Susan Axelrod, managing editor of “Old Port” magazine”, a part of the successful Maine Media Collective, whose flagship publication, “Maine Home and Design”, has allowed for the offshoot of “Old Port” as well as the brand new “Ageless” publication, which hit stores just this year, targeting the 230,000 AARP members in Maine.

Susan, who grew up in New Jersey and comes from a background in the restaurant business, came to Maine in 2013 and began a new career in editing and writing, first with the Portland Press Herald and then, with “Old Port” as it began its run as a quarterly publication in 2014.  Now, four years later, the magazine puts out monthly editions, always with a theme (business, food, weddings, etc.) that tries to put a positive, yet not “pollyannaish” spin on certain aspects of Portland living.   With “Old Port” now distributed to stores, offices in libraries all around the Greater Portland area, Susan and her group of collaborators are focusing much of their attention on the “Ageless” endeavor, which, as a bi-monthly publication (editor’s note:  research shows that bi-monthly can mean twice a month OR every two months, in this case we are referencing the latter), features home, housing, food and health articles for those in the over-50 set.  This month’s “Ageless” features articles on Bethel and Hallowell, amongst other interesting stories.

With 226 print publications in Maine, the ability to draw attention from readers and get them to offline is becoming an ever-increasing challenge.  But, with the efforts of Susan Axelrod and the many folks at the Maine Media Collaborative, the days of the glossy magazines featuring fantastic articles and photography lives on.
 

Portland Rotary welcomed two new members at our February 9 meeting. Xavier Botana, Superintendent of Portland Public Schools, was introduced to the club by Rusty Atwood. Joe Reagan, Vice Chairman of Veterans Count Maine, an Easter Seals charity supporting local Veterans, was introduced by Charlie Frair.

Alex Fitzgerald was honored for her community service with a Youth Service Award Scholarship. Alex was recognized for her leadership of Deering High School’s transgender group and advocacy for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender issues.

Charlie Frair reminded members of the Veterans Organization “pitch-off” to be conducted on March 23. Various organizations will be selected to speak to the club on their programs and members will choose which ones will received grants from funds raised at the Veterans Luncheon. If you have nominations of organizations who should be included, please let Paul Tully or Charlie Frair know.

Gracie Johnston reminded everyone that the Club will provide dinner support at Preble Street on February 28. Please let Gracie know if you can volunteer.

Mike Reed had a chance to win $1,431 in the raffle but could only find the ten of spades. The pot inflates.

President Don reported that he had received 60 responses from members on the program issues reviewed by the Board concerning opening invocation, singing, and political speakers. The meeting of February 23 has been set as a Club Assembly. President Don requested input from anyone who wanted a motion placed before the club. A separate email has been sent to everyone on this topic.
 

                          When
Project              Who to Contact

Preble Street        4th Wednesday ea month
Resource Ctr        4-6:30 pm
Soup Kitchen        Gracie Johnston
                           gracie.johnston@wcsh6.com

Game Night         3rd Tuesday ea month
Long Creek          Mike Fortunato
Youth Center        michael.k.fortunato@gmail.com
                           or Jim Willey
                           jimandbarbarawilley@gmail.com