This Week's Program: Ivan G. Most, "Building An Energy Program That Works"
The need for a consistent energy supply has been complicated by many factors. Climate change and environmental issues have given us reason to question how electricity is generated. Our economy is dependent on energy for growth and stability. The world is becoming more dangerous, because safeguarding sources of energy has become more and more risky.
What can we do to make sense of this complicated policy issue? What steps are required to understand the problem and start to review solutions? Our guest speaker, Ivan G. Most, Sc.D., P.E.(ret) will be here to shed some light on this by looking at the engineering options available. The discussion will include how to balance Energy Economy, Energy Security, and the Environment to achieve an energy policy that works
Ivan G. Most was the President of Strategic Occupational Health Management a New England based management and engineering consulting firm providing advanced research on occupational health topics for area businesses. Ivan was a professional engineer licensed to practice in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine. He has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts (Amherst), a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and a Doctor of Science degree from the University of Massachusetts (Lowell) in Work Environment Policy with a minor in ergonomics.
You can also text "MUD" to (978) 354-7780 to get the link.
Bidding ends on April 10th at 8pm. All kinds of great items, fun, entertaining and useful. Right now the deals are amazing! Tell your friends, and help us build this fundraiser with participants outside the club!
Some of the fantastic items up for bid were on display at last week's meeting!
• 31"x49" Mounted U.S.Wall Map from Paul Gore
• 3'x5'6" 4 Panel Japanese Silkscreen, courtesy of David Small
• Four Course Dinner and Wine at the Award-Winning Garden home of Erik Greven and Susan Vayda. Get a group of 8 together and enjoy!
• A basket of 7 "Naughty Wines" from Patty Byers
Last Week's Program: Julie Marchese - Tri for a Cure | by Tom Talbott
We welcomed Julie Marchese, Founder and Race Director for the Maine Cancer Foundation’s “Tri for a Cure” triathalon. Justin Lamontagne, did the introduction, and it would be important to note that Justin has been personally involved with the MCF. His wife Marycelina, diagnosed with Stage 3 Breast Cancer, has now been 8 years cancer-free, and has participated in the triathalon every one of those years. Justin has been on the board of the MCF, and we learned that he is the incoming President. Congratulations to both Marycelina and Justin!
Julie started by sharing some amazing facts. Since it began in 2008, the TFAC has raised over $22 million dollars for Maine cancer research and support. The largest triathalon in Maine is now held on and around the campus of SMCC, Cape Elizabeth and South Portland, with a USAT-sanctioned 1/3 mile swim, a 15-mile bike ride, and a 3-mile run.
How it all began. Julie’s family owned the Jordan’s Meats company in Portland, she being the 3rd generation to be involved in the company. She worked as a sales rep, but the company would eventually sell, a tough but deliberate choice in the highly competitive food industry. Her father would be injured, paralyzed in fact from an automotive accident, and died of his injuries. Her mother had cancer. Julie was out of a job.
It was around this time that Julie connected with Meredith Strang-Burgess, owner of Falmouth-based communications company. Meredith had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 1999, and as a survivor became very active in awareness and prevention, including being a President of the MCF. Julie was putting everything into helping her mother, and teaming up with Meredith was just what the doctor ordered.
Julie participated in MCF programs, but then, like her mother, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Julie said she was surprisingly unafraid – she knew the doctors, she new the procedures. Determined to do more, she suggested an idea of a fundraising triathalon. To learn more, she and 7 friends participated the “Danskin Triathalon”. Finishing the event, she said felt like a new person, powerful and enriched. She wanted other women fighting breast cancer to feel the same empowerement, and proposed the idea of the triathalon to the MCF.
With a goal of $35,000, an event announcement went out, expecting 60 or so women to attend an information party. 250 showed. The event was on! Support came quickly from area businesses, and sponsorships were quickly aligned.
Says Julie, ”There was a whole lot more to put on the event than could ever be imagined.”3 towns 3 harbor masters, public works, spectator/crowd control, 23 volunteer coordinators working with 500+ volunteers. WMTW TV8 signed on as the media partner, and agreed to a 5 hour live broadcast of the event- not even the Beach To Beacon has that! (“Sorry Joanie”.)
The event became so popular that it was selling out faster and faster every year, requiring it to shift to a lottery-style drawing for participants. It still leaves hundreds on a waiting list.
It was a moving message, one that reflected the tight community that has shared experiences with cancer. Some are survivors, others participate to show their support for loved ones. A common goal, to beat cancer. We thanked Julie for sharing with us how such an important event grew from her life’s journey, and what it has done to help so many. She made it look easy! More like incredible dedication. Photo: Julie and Justin
Bits and Pieces |
Dick Hall opened the ceremonies, Tom Talbott led us in the Pledge of Allegiance, and David Small presented an inspirational message, noting the Easter weekend upon us. His final comment, “We should all be grateful for the challenge, the inspiration, the shared experiences that our fine club offers, indeed, we are fortunate that Portland Rotary makes every Friday, not just this one, a Good Friday.” Niki Curtis announced and welcomed our guests.
No Card: Art Howe, tabbed with the honors of drawing the Queen of Hearts for our weekly raffle, was unable to make magic, and our pot continues to grow. Meanwhile, Happy Dollars rang out from all corners of the room, celebrations of many sorts.
Youth Exchange: Zach Newell shared two tidbits of good info. First, he asked the club to help identify host families for our incoming youth exchange student. The ask is for two host families from December through June. One need not be a parent to host. He then let on that his family will be the first host family, which drew a round of appreciative applause!
Snack Thanks: Zach then read a thank you letter from the Veterans Clinic in Portland. Our club has approved $1,000.00 last year toward the purchase of snacks for Veterans. Zach recently brought a 3rd round of snacks down to the clinic, totaling just over $500 of snacks provided this year. The letter from Kylie Higgins, Chief, VA Center for Development & Civic Engagement expressed their appreciation, noting that these donations reflect our concern that we have for our Veterans and the service they provided to our country.
U.S. Map Painting: Nannette Ranger-Duncanson gave us an important Save-The Date message for our planned team painting of a giant map of the United States at the Amanda Rowe School in Portland. Scheduled for the weekend of April 13-14 with the following weekend as our rain date. Sign up sheets will be on the tables this Friday or reach out to Nannette if you would like to volunteer.
Please note - This Friday, April 5th, Nannette will lead a short meeting immediately after our Rotary meeting to finalize details, based on the long-range weather forecast. The first day will be to sweep and wash the surface and Day Two will be for the layout and painting (in shifts).
Last, we need 20 milk jugs that will be used in the painting project! If you can wash them out and bring them in this Friday, that would be a big help!
Focus on Vision: Laura Young, leading our Vision Team, announced that based on club input, we have developed the following statements describing who we are to potential members and our vision:
Who We Are: Portland Rotary Club is a welcoming group of diverse volunteers committed to service, fun, and fellowship to improve our community and the world.
Vision: To be an increasingly active, fun, and visible club of diverse members who positively impact Portland and the world.
Portland Rotary Club members can now view documents including the results of the Club Visioning Survey, input gathered at the Club Visioning Facilitated Workshop, and the complete powerpoint report that was presented to the club at the March 15th meeting. To access it, click on this link to the website. https://portlandrotary.org/SitePage/visioning-team. Once there, you will need to log in as a member. Laura concluded by letting us know there additional documents will be added to this visioning team page as the committee continues to move forward with the project.
John Marr: We are sad to just learn of the passing of John “MadDog” Marr, a good friend and fellow Rotarian. John joined Rotary in 1995, and served as President 2013-2014. Information is very limited right now, but we will remember John at our meeting this Friday, and report an additional news regarding a celebration of his life.
Speaker Schedule:
April 12 - Rebecca Williams and Julia Preston, Best Buddies Maine
April 19- Club Social TBD during week / No Friday Meeting
April 26- Mark Dion, Portland Mayor
May 3 - Cara Valentino, The Dempsey Center
May 10 - New Members Presentation
May 17 - Norman O'Reilly UMaine Graduate School of Business
May 24th - Club Social TBD during week. No Friday Meeting
May 31 - Jared Cash, President and CEO George Mitchell Institute
Club Executives President Dick Hall President Elect Patty Byers Vice President John Thompson TreasurerDick Hall Secretary Tom Nickerson Board of Directors Bruce Jones,
Ben Millick, Quinn Slayton, Zachary Newell,
David Ertz, Maggie McGauley Sergeant-At-ArmsJake Bourdeau
The Windjammer is published online by
The Rotary Club of Portland, Maine.
Contributing Editors Jake Bourdeau, Larry Gross,
Erik Jorgensen, Julie L’Heureux,
Ben Lowry, Zach Newell, Bruce Moore,
Tom Nickerson, Dave Patterson,
Tom Talbott, Laura Young
Program Chair Doreen Rockstrom
4th Quarter Chair Roxane Cole Managing Editor Tom Talbott
The need for a consistent energy supply has been complicated by many factors. Climate change and environmental issues have given us reason to question how electricity is generated. Our economy is dependent on energy for growth and stability. The world is becoming more dangerous, because safeguarding sources of energy has become more and more risky.
Julie started by sharing some amazing facts. Since it began in 2008, the TFAC has raised over $22 million dollars for Maine cancer research and support. The largest triathalon in Maine is now held on and around the campus of SMCC, Cape Elizabeth and South Portland, with a USAT-sanctioned 1/3 mile swim, a 15-mile bike ride, and a 3-mile run.
Youth Exchange: Zach Newell shared two tidbits of good info. First, he asked the club to help identify host families for our incoming youth exchange student. The ask is for two host families from December through June. One need not be a parent to host. He then let on that his family will be the first host family, which drew a round of appreciative applause! 
U.S. Map Painting: 
John Marr:.png)
