Angus King, III, Summit Utilities’ Vice President and Chief Development Officer, manages all growth efforts for the company, overseeing sales, marketing, and M&A activity.
Prior to joining Summit as CDO, Angus held a number of positions in utility scale renewable energy development at SunEdison and First Wind (First Wind was purchased by SunEdison in 2015), starting as VP of M&A at First prior to the acquisition and as head of development for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) at SunEdison, among other roles. Prior to First Wind, Mr. King was a partner with Evergreen Partners, a developer of affordable housing across the U.S. Prior to working at Evergreen and its affiliate, The Wishcamper Group, Mr. King worked as a consultant with Bain & Company and served as the Assistant to the Chief of Staff in the Clinton White House.
Angus graduated with distinction from the Harvard Business Schol in 2001, and cum laude from Dartmouth College in 1993.
Since moving back to Maine in 2002, Mr. King as served as Chair of the Finance Committee for The Opportunity Alliance, a social service organization based in South Portland and served as a member of the advisory board for the Maine chapters of the Trust for Public Land and the Nature Conservancy.
He will address "A Commitment to Efficient Natural Gas Innovation."
PDG Lawrence Furbish is the Rotary Foundation District Chair for our Rotary District 7780. While serving as his club’s president (Rotary Club of of Sanford-Springvale), Lawrence participated in a foundation project and he learned what sets Rotary apart from other organizations. He found that working on the Foundation projects:
1) Magnified what an individual can do or match;
2) Provided increased visibility for his club;
3) Expanded his personal horizons;
4) Increased his understanding of Rotary as an international organization; and
5) Encouraged generosity of his spirit.
During his presentation, Mr. Furbish detailed the several different funds that are available including the:
Annual Fund – The annual fund supports projects and grants, and it is unique in that the money is kept for 3 years, and at the end of the third year, half of the money goes to funds’ global grants, and the other half goes back to the district. One fourth of the half going to the District is kept as a source used to match grants, and some directed back for use as the Club sees fit;
Endowment Fund – This fund comes from wills and estates, and the interest on the donations from all these donations funds various programs (including seven peace center university programs);
Polio Plus Fund – All donations to this fund are applied to fight polio. The donations are matched at a 2:1 ratio by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. A $10 donation becomes $30 dollars after the match.
Grants from the funds are offered in six (6) areas of focus:
Disease prevention
Water and sanitation
Community and ecological development
Basic education
Child health
Peace building and conflict prevention
A global funded grant project typically requires two clubs to participate: a donor club and a club in the host community. At least one of the club members implementing the grant will need to take a short (a little over an hour) course on grant management which can be found on the District web page.
According to Lawrence, our Club reportedly does well in meeting our fundraising goals. Since Rotary has been keeping track, the Portland Rotary Club has donated over half a million dollars to these funds, including 60 Paul Harris Fellows, and one major donor. That said, his goal is to increase the number of members in the District that donate, since about half us currently participate. Mr. Furbish recommends that everyone participate in one of these funds, since for instance only $10 can provide a mosquito net to a child.
What are the ways one can participate in these funds? One way is by writing a check and giving it to the Club Foundation Chair or President; you can use your My Rotary Account on Rotary International's website (rotary.com) and click on the “DONATE NOW” button; or you can self-register on the District's website (District7780.org) using the form and mail in a check.
(Photo to L-R: PP Jim Willey, 2nd VP Bob Martin, 1st VP Ellen Niewoehner, and PDG Lawrence Furbish.)
President Amy Chipman is in India, so First Vice-President Ellen Niewoehner opened the meeting. PP Tom Talbott gave an invocation in recognition of President George Washington, because of the observance of the first president's birthday (February 22, 1732).
Ellen attended the District 7780 World Peace and Understanding dinner and seminar held on Thursday, February 20, at the Sheraton at Sable Oaks. She praised the program speakers and gave a report about the theme being: "Emigration, Migration, Immigration, Refugees, Asylum Seekers, Work Visas, Green Cards, and Citizenship." The presentations focused on how Rotarians have long been involved with helping those who are less fortunate and who are in need. Every day, Rotarians have worked, and are currently working, to assist those in need, on both a global scale and locally. Who are these Rotarians; what have they done; how can we help them? A keynote speech was presented by Rachel Davidson, Esq., a Rotary Peace Fellow, who is a high energy, passionate, compelling, immigration attorney practicing in New York City.
Cards and messages are welcome to be sent to Loretta Rowe, who continues to receive care as an outpatient at Dana Farber. Tom Ranello will help to organize a Rotary goodwill contact schedule for Loretta, when she returns to recover at home, which looks like it won’t be until mid-April, as there have been some temporary set-backs in her condition.
A Rotary Ski Day is organized for Thursday, February 27th. A 9 AM meet-up is planned at Southridge at Sunday River.
Weekly raffle drawing - Jennifer Frederick led the raffle. PP Don Lowry drew the Jack of Hearts, so he just missed winning the $1,403 jackpot.
Fund raising and the Corn Hole Tournament. Patty Erickson updated the plans for the Corn Hold tournament. The 2020 tournament will be held at the sports Dome on Riverside in Portland on a Sunday in May, when more working people can be attracted to participate. This change in venue has the capacity for electronic scoring, plus food and beverages are sold on the site, making it easier for Rotarians to be involved in the activities, rather than in obtaining and serving refreshments. A site visit checked out the facilities. The intention is to request for the Maine Outdoor Challenge sponsors to support the Corn Hole tournament. Electronic registration will be offered. The goal is to fund raise, while accessing the availability of technologies and services. Other fund raising opportunities are being considered to include during the tournament.
Community Service- Gracie Johnston presented an excellent overview about Portland Rotary's active participation in Community Service projects. "Community Service is the life blood of the Rotary," she said. Supplies are currently being collected to fills bags for the Preble Street Teen Center's survival kits. Please help this important cause by donating tissues, gloves, mittens, hand warmers, lip balm or give a financial gift to help purchase the needed supplies. Contact Gracie for more information (gjohnston@portlandradiogroup.com).
Annual ongoing Community Service project where Rotary volunteers are involved include:
the annual Thanksgiving Dinner served at the St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen. Last November, more than 40 Portland Rotary volunteers served 125 plated dinners and Sysco donated the food.
Rotarians volunteer to ring Christmas Holiday Bells for the Salvation Army.
School children received donated back packs stuffed with school supplies, and each one also included notes of encouragement and motivation from Rotarians.
Cultivating Community was a project to help clean Portland's community gardens and mulch fruit trees.
Stuff the Bus was featured in radio promotions.
Portland Rotary is 3 years into the program for helping to educate the public about substance use recovery. The Opioid task force will now be called the “Recovery Task Force.” Another training program to educate more recovery coaches is being planned.
AND…..Remember to volunteer to help serve clients dinner at Preble Street Soup Kitchen on the FOURTH Wednesday of every month.
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 (Sponsor)BUSINESS
Leslie Clark Portland Recovery (Gracie Johnston) Community Center
Natalie Ladd Portland Phoenix (Bowen Depke)
Angela Smith Harraseeket Inn (Tranferring Warrenton, VA Rotarian)
Photographer: Laura Young & Julie L'Heureux Registration/Greeter: Jennifer Frederick Sell Meal Tickets: Ellen Niewoehner Raffle: Mike Robinson Collect Meal Tickets:Justin Lamontagne Sgt-at-Arms: Jim Willey
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.
Angus King, III, Summit Utilities’ Vice President and Chief Development Officer, manages all growth efforts for the company, overseeing sales, marketing, and M&A activity.
Fund raising and the Corn Hole Tournament. Patty Erickson updated the plans for the Corn Hold tournament. The 2020 tournament will be held at the sports Dome on Riverside in Portland on a Sunday in May, when more working people can be attracted to participate. This change in venue has the capacity for electronic scoring, plus food and beverages are sold on the site, making it easier for Rotarians to be involved in the activities, rather than in obtaining and serving refreshments. A site visit checked out the facilities. The intention is to request for the Maine Outdoor Challenge sponsors to support the Corn Hole tournament. Electronic registration will be offered. The goal is to fund raise, while accessing the availability of technologies and services. Other fund raising opportunities are being considered to include during the tournament.
Community Service- Gracie Johnston presented an excellent overview about Portland Rotary's active participation in Community Service projects. "Community Service is the life blood of the Rotary," she said. Supplies are currently being collected to fills bags for the Preble Street Teen Center's survival kits. Please help this important cause by donating tissues, gloves, mittens, hand warmers, lip balm or give a financial gift to help purchase the needed supplies. Contact Gracie for more information (gjohnston@portlandradiogroup.com).