Jon Nass is the Chief Executive Officer of the Maine Port Authority (MPA). Prior to joining the MPA, Jon was Deputy Commissioner at the Maine Department of Transportation.
Jon worked as a senior policy advisor in the State of Maine Governor’s Office, collaborating with stakeholders on issues including transportation, education, emergency management, tax policy, and general government services. Jon served for seven years in the U.S. Congress, most recently as Counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security, where he worked on restructuring the national intelligence apparatus and reform of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He previously advised U.S. Senator Susan Collins on transportation, natural resources, and international trade matters.
In 2008, Jon deployed to Iraq to serve on a U.S. Department of State Provincial Reconstruction Team as a field officer embedded in a U.S. Army infantry battalion operating in the city of Baqubah. While in Iraq, Jon also served as a rule of law advisor working with the Iraqi judiciary and the Diyala provincial council before returning to Maine in 2010.
Jon received his Juris Doctor from the Catholic University of America, where he was a member of the Law Review. He majored in history and government at St. Lawrence University.
He will be speaking about the benefits to Maine of international trade - specifically ocean-based trade through our International Marine Terminal here in Portland.
Lauren Webster, the Director of Marketing and Administration for 75 State Street, spoke with us on Friday to discuss issues relating to senior housing. What few people in the room knew was that this venerable nonprofit organization has been in business for 166 years; it was started by a group of churches in 1854 who saw a need to house the elderly (originally for women) and moved on it. 75 State Street is now an affiliate of Avesta Housing.
What is Senior Living? 75 State Street provides both independent market-rate apartments and assisted senior living units. The former allow for aging in place, while the latter provide 24-hour residential care. While the assisted living model is critical, it is distinct from nursing home care, rehab or memory care, all of which are more specialized and costlier than what is offered offered at 75 State.
Private-pay assisted living units start at $6,750 per month, so it’s not an option open to everyone. For others, the facility has a number of units paid for by MaineCare. As with hospitals and private insurance, the private-pay rooms help to subsidize the very low reimbursement rates paid by the state, which amount to only $100.00 per day. The “special sauce” of the arrangement for the residents is that nobody knows who is on MaineCare and who is not. Everyone is treated equally. As Lauren noted, state-payer communities have to be worth living in, and this arrangement assures a level of dignity and community. In a facility that does not accept MaineCare, you can spend assets down to $0 and then get tossed out for inability to pay.
Senior living is a form of care where the supply is currently far short of demand in Maine as a whole, and especially here in Portland. With our 66,000 residents, the city has just 300 assisted living beds, 68 of which are at 75 State St. As the population ages, as wait lists deepen and need increases, something will have to change. Lauren urged employers to support family caregivers, and for everyone to advocate with lawmakers in support of mixed income senior communities.
Seeing that most residents live out their lives at 75 State Street, it’s proof that with a little care up front in the aging process you can often avoid more intense care later. “It’s a happily ever after story”, she said.
President Amy Chipman welcomed Rotarians and guests. David Small presented the invocation by reading of the poem "The Dash" by Linda Ellis. This reflective invocation describes how the time between our birth and death are captured in a simple dash between the two dates…..the dash represents all the time that we have lived.
Jan Chapman presented the Youth Services Award to Portland High School student, Loyde Vumpa (At right in photo at left). She spoke about the six years she has enjoyed being a volunteer as a mentor for Portland High School students. She introduced the Portland High School guidance counselor Marissa Emerson, who described many of the achievements accomplished by the "amazing student," Loyde Vumpa, the student selected to receive the Youth Service Award. Loyde enrolled in Portland High School as a sophomore, after attending school in South American when her family first left their native country of Angola. She has joined clubs, participated in sports and has risen to leadership positions while excelling in her school work. In fact, this year, Loyde increased her academic rigor while adding a daily after-school job with a law firm, to her packed schedule. Attending the presentation with Loyde were her parents Ester and Paulo Vumpa. In addition to the scholarship, Loyde requested for the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee to receive the additional award of $100 charitable donation that is given to a charity of her choice. Please contact Jan if you are interested in participating with the youth mentoring program.
The weekly raffle drawing was led by Patty Erickson. Our guest speaker drew the name of Justin Lamontagne to try his luck for the jackpot, but the winning Queen of Hearts was not drawn from the dwindling number of cards left in the deck. Next week's drawing will be even more than $1,207!
Past President John Curran reported on the Dominican Republic update and interesting international projects. In fact, the first phase of the Hearing, Hands and H2O (3-H) Dominican trip is planned for January 17-25, 2020. Traveling with the International Services Group will be John Curran, Bill Dunn from Yarmouth Rotary, and Ryan Curran, John's son who will be on his first Rotary International Service trip. Team members will also include the prosthetic hand designer Dean Rock; Dr. Natalya Jenny, an occupational therapist; and prosthetics professional Eric Hurt from Hanger Clinic, a technical consultant. A partnership has been budding with the University of Southern Maine School of Engineering. A goal is to improve follow up care for clients who are served. A new prosthesis design is going to improve how the hands will fit into the forearm socket. Also, the Committee has been partnering with a group of Dominican Republic citizens to launch the first prosthetics center on the island, called Centro de Protesis. Lots of progress has been made for this project, including fundraising and the January 20, ground-breaking event. Land for the clinic was donated from the mayor of Caleta, a town outside of La Romana.
Another international service project is the India trip, scheduled for the last week in February. Five have signed on, plus a couple of non-Rotarians. This project will expand the 3-H program to Asia. Rotarians or anyone else who are interested in participating in this program can contact PP John Curran at curraj1@mmc.org or 207-232-5478.
Mike Fortunato is arranging for a special fun Rotary meeting for networking and socializing on Thursday, Marcy 19th, to be held in place of the regular Friday meeting. This will be an evening meeting, beginning at 5 PM at the Italian Heritage Center in Portland. Hors d'oeuvres will be served and a cash bar will be available. Perhaps a Trivial Pursuit game will be organized. Cost will be about the same as the weekly lunch meeting. A show of hands indicated support for this special, one-time meeting to replace the March 20, regular Friday meeting.
Don't forget to volunteer for Preble Street Resource Kitchen on Wednesday, January 22, check with Gracie Johnston at gjohnston@portlandraiogroup.com.
Our Portland Rotary colleague, Erik Jorgensen, shared information about his candidacy to run for Maine Secretary of State! "I am happy to be running for Secretary of State, a position that, along with the attorney general, is elected by the Maine legislature on the first day of the next session." Congratulations, Erik and thank you for your dedication to public service.
As we receive applications for prospective members to join our Portland Rotary Club, their names will be included in our Windjammer. Any information and/or comments you would like to share about the prospective members will be handled confidentially. Please contact Loretta Rowe: lrowe@maine.rr.com. Your input will be appreciated.
PROSPECT BUSINESS (Sponsor)
Natalie Ladd Portland Phoenix (Bowen Depke)
Jennifer Sledge Woodlands Senior (Bowen Depke) Living
Invocation: Charlie Frair Program Reporter: Dick Hall
Bits & Pieces Reporter: John Marr
Photographer: Laura Young Registration/Greeter: Jake Bourdeau Sell Meal Tickets: Jennifer Frederick Raffle: Mark Foster Collect Meal Tickets:Bob Fowler Sgt-at-Arms: Scott Blakeslee
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.
Jon Nass is the Chief Executive Officer of the Maine Port Authority (MPA). Prior to joining the MPA, Jon was Deputy Commissioner at the Maine Department of Transportation.
Jan Chapman presented the Youth Services Award to Portland High School student, Loyde Vumpa (At right in photo at left). She spoke about the six years she has enjoyed being a volunteer as a mentor for Portland High School students. She introduced the Portland High School guidance counselor Marissa Emerson, who described many of the achievements accomplished by the "amazing student," Loyde Vumpa, the student selected to receive the Youth Service Award. Loyde enrolled in Portland High School as a sophomore, after attending school in South American when her family first left their native country of Angola. She has joined clubs, participated in sports and has risen to leadership positions while excelling in her school work. In fact, this year, Loyde increased her academic rigor while adding a daily after-school job with a law firm, to her packed schedule. Attending the presentation with Loyde were her parents Ester and Paulo Vumpa. In addition to the scholarship, Loyde requested for the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee to receive the additional award of $100 charitable donation that is given to a charity of her choice. Please contact Jan if you are interested in participating with the youth mentoring program.
Past President John Curran reported on the Dominican Republic update and interesting international projects. In fact, the first phase of the Hearing, Hands and H2O (3-H) Dominican trip is planned for January 17-25, 2020. Traveling with the International Services Group will be John Curran, Bill Dunn from Yarmouth Rotary, and Ryan Curran, John's son who will be on his first Rotary International Service trip. Team members will also include the prosthetic hand designer Dean Rock; Dr. Natalya Jenny, an occupational therapist; and prosthetics professional Eric Hurt from Hanger Clinic, a technical consultant. A partnership has been budding with the University of Southern Maine School of Engineering. A goal is to improve follow up care for clients who are served. A new prosthesis design is going to improve how the hands will fit into the forearm socket. Also, the Committee has been partnering with a group of Dominican Republic citizens to launch the first prosthetics center on the island, called Centro de Protesis. Lots of progress has been made for this project, including fundraising and the January 20, ground-breaking event. Land for the clinic was donated from the mayor of Caleta, a town outside of La Romana. .JPG)
Our Portland Rotary colleague, Erik Jorgensen, shared information about his candidacy to run for Maine Secretary of State! "I am happy to be running for Secretary of State, a position that, along with the attorney general, is elected by the Maine legislature on the first day of the next session." Congratulations, Erik and thank you for your dedication to public service.