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Russell Hampton
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Speakers
May 10, 2019
Development Along Downtown Waterfront
May 17, 2019
Program Presented by Members Joined July 1, 2018-Current
May 24, 2019
May 31, 2019
Finding Health After Cancer
Jun 07, 2019
Jun 14, 2019
Jun 21, 2019
Clean Up/Prep for RotaryFest 2019 Conference
Jun 28, 2019
Rotary Helping Young Women in Peru
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Executives & Directors
President
 
First Vice President
 
Second Vice President
 
Treasurer
 
Secretary
 
Immediate Past President
 
Sergeant-at-Arms
 
Director Term End 2019
 
Director Term End 2019
 
Director Term End 2020
 
Director Term End 2020
 
Community Service Chair
 
International Service Chair
 
Vocational Service Co-Chair
 
Vocational Service Co-Chair
 
Youth Service Chair
 
Rotary Foundation Chair
 
Club Protection Officer
 
Communications-WJ Bulletin Ed
 
Communications-PR External
 
Constitution/ByLaws Chair
 
Fund Raising Chair
 
Good Cheer Co-Chair
 
Invocation Chair
 
Meeting Day Chair
 
Program Chair
 
Membership Chair
 
Web Administrator
 
Administrative Coordinator
 
New Mainers Initiative
 
Opioid Task Force Co-Chair
 
Opioid Task Force Co-Chair
 
Friday, May 10, 2019
Welcome to the
Rotary Club of Portland, Maine!
Portland Rotary
Service Above Self
We meet Fridays at 12:15 PM
The Clarion Hotel
1230 Congress Street
Portland, ME  04102
United States of America
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Rotary This Week
 
 
 
Portland Rotary
will meet May 10, 2019
at the Clarion Hotel
1230 Congress Street, Portland
*05/10/2019 Steve DiMillo, Portland Waterfront Committee
Steve DiMillo has been working with the family business of DiMillo’s Restaurant since age 8….starting out washing dishes and working virtually every department prior to assuming the current position as Manager. While he oversees all aspects of the restaurant, his emphasis is on customer service and he’s committed to providing an enjoyable dining experience anytime a customer steps on board the floating restaurant.
 
He is active in the community, serving on various boards and committees, including the board of the Maine Restaurant Association. A 1978 graduate of Deering High School, he resides in Portland with his wife, Marge. Their son, Steven and daughter, Chelsea have joined the family team.
 
When he’s not at the restaurant, he enjoys spending time with his grandchildren, skiing, riding his motorcycle and boating with family and friends.
 
05/03/19 Brittney La Shier/Lizzy Handschy, Co-Chairs of Portland OPS
Brittney La Shier and Lizzy Handschy, co-directors of the Portland Overdose Prevention Site, provided a presentation on the need for such facilities in order to provide care for people with substance use disorder in order to reduce drug overdoses and reduce the transmission of HIV and hepatitis. They are working to create an overdose center in Portland. The City Council Health & Human Services & Public Safety committees will discuss this idea at their May 14 meeting at 5:30 in City Hall.
 
The two reviewed some of the causes and contributing factors to the current opioid crisis and the emerging trend to focus on harm reduction and substance use disorder, rather than the punitive approaches of the past. “Incarceration doesn’t work,” Ms. Handschy said, “Accidental overdoses are now more of a risk than auto accidents.”
 
The two described an overdose prevention center as a safe place for people to inject where the environment is nonjudgmental, and there is access to health care. Centers are designed to provide clinical staff trained in the use of naloxone (Narcan) along with access to sterilized needles that can be safely disposed. Users also have the opportunity for counseling. Ms. La Shier stated that there are currently no such sites in the U.S., but there are over 100 around the globe in 66 cities in 9 countries, including Australia, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, and Canada.
 
(Photo L-R:  Brittney La Shier, Lizzy Handschy and President John Curran.)
 
Barriers to creating these centers include costs, professional licensing, liability, stigmatization, and community acceptance. The biggest obstacle, however, is the law. Currently, the U.S. Department of Justice is pursuing a declaratory judgment against the Safehouse clinic in Philadelphia, which is attempting to be the first overdose prevention site. The case, U.S. v. Safehouse, points to the Controlled Substances Act which prevents anyone from providing a place for the use or distribution of a controlled drug. The suit is not seeking action against the creators of the Philadelphia site, it only asks the court to declare such facilities as illegal. Until this case is settled, the likelihood of municipalities engaging in the creation of overdose prevention sites is unlikely.
 
Mses. Handschy and La Shier pointed to the interest expressed by four city councilors and the introduction of supportive legislation in the Maine House as indicators that the process to provide safe use will continue.
 
05/03/19 Bits & Pieces
PP Cyrus Hagge (photo at left) opened our meeting with a moment of reflection by sharing the writings of Ambrose Bierce about the dawn–“when men of reason go to bed.” PP Don Zillman led the pledge and PP Laura Young picked a universally singable pitch for the national anthem. President John welcomed 46 members and 4 guests, then pointed to "Rotarians in the News" with Bob Fowler’s appearance on MPBN and Jesse Harvey’s Op-Ed piece in the Portland Press Herald.

PP Roxane Cole (photo at right in yellow) presented a check for $1,000 to Martha St. Pierre (photo at right in pink), director of the Betsy Ann Ross House of Hope in Augusta. The house is a refuge for homeless female veterans and helps them secure resources to restart their lives. St. Pierre shared that the house has been open for 18 months, has placed nine veterans during that time, and currently provides shelter for seven vets, two children and two service dogs. The House of Hope is currently seeking $150,000 from the Legislature to help fund the operation. St. Pierre said that the group had been thrilled to attend the last Veterans Appreciation Luncheon, which was the source of the contribution. Ms. St. Pierre said “This donation truly makes a difference in the lives of vets. One resident told me that she hasn’t felt safe in 15 years, now I do.”

(Photo L-R: Brian McDonough, Nate Cermelj, PP Don Zillman and Tara Ouellette.)
The Club welcomed two new members. PP Don Zillman introduced Tara Ouellette, a 2018 graduate of Maine Law; Brian McDonough welcomed Nathan Cermelj, Director of Development for Liberty Bay Recovery Center.

Gracie Johnston (photo at right) reported that 35 people attended the Opioid Awareness symposium, which included powerful presentations from the panelists. She said that participants were grateful for the Rotary program.

Ben Millick (photo at left) shared the progress on the New Mainer Task Force work with the Immigrant Welcome Center. The Greenhouse program now has five participants who have applied for the opportunity to advance their dreams of creating and sustaining a business. They are: Talal Alzefiri who plans to open a Middle Eastern grocery; Oumalkhaire Said Barkad, an export/import business; Papy Bongibo intends to create a night club; Adrian Espinoza wants to build an empanada wholesale and retail enterprise; Marcel Selemani will manufacture blue jeans based on the designs of his Congolese father. These entrepreneurs will be mentored by Abdullahi Ali, President John Curran, Mark Foster, Steve Mortimer, and Bob Martin.

PP Jim Willey announced that the Salvation Army conducts an English-as-a-Second-Language program for 70 students and is looking for substitute teachers. If interested, connect with Jim at: jimandbarbarawilley@gmail.com.
 

Emily Gorrivan from Portland’s Office of Economic Opportunity talked about Portland Professional Connections, a joint program between the city and the Greater Portland Chamber of Commerce, which matches New Mainer professionals with degrees to residents who have been in Portland for more than five years. The idea is that you meet together for coffee and refer the New Mainer to three or more people to help create effective networks. Especially looking for accountants, tax professionals, and engineers.

2nd VP Ellen Niewoehner (photo at right) announced that she will be distributing raffle tickets for the Maine Outdoor Challenge next meeting. Everyone gets nine tickets and sells them three for $20. Prize is a $500 LL Bean Gift Certificate.
PP Laura Young (photo at left) reminded everyone that our meeting of June 21 will be at Fort Williams Park on Cape Elizabeth and will be a cleanup day in preparation for the Rotary Fest on the following day. Sign up for both. For more info, contact Laura at: lyoung@mainecf.org.

Roger Fagan put out a call for volunteers to help pack the container with Crutches4Africa on May 11 in Biddeford. Contact him if you can help: drrogerfagan@gmail.com.

1st VP Amy Chipman (photo at right) called our attention to the pitchers on the tables containing forms….soliciting suggestions for ideas about Rotary. They will be available at every meeting.

PP Peter Goffin rose to talk about affinity groups that arise at the RI Convention’s House of Fellowship. He brought along a sartorially questionable shirt celebrating beer that he awarded to Rusty Atwood for his work of quiet pollination of Rotary and the Historical Society.

Bob Fowler (left in photo at left) offered President John (right in photo at left) the opportunity to pick up a quick $447 in the weekly raffle, but the Queen of Hearts continued to be elusive. Again, the pot continues to grow.

 
RotaryFest 2019

Registration for RotaryFest 2019 is officially open! 

To register, go to https://rotary7780.org/event/district-conference-1/. As you hopefully know by now, this is Governor John LoBosco's one-day, free, District Conference to be held on June 22nd at Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth. Even though it will cost you nothing, we need to know if you will attend so we know how much free food to plan for and how many children will be there for the many activities we have planned for them. And we do have an alternate location lined up in the unlikely case of bad weather.

So please, register early and we look forward to seeing you at what will be a distinctive and very fun District Conference.
 

Volunteer Opportunities

Following is a list of our Club's volunteer projects. If you know of other opportunities, please contact Loretta: lrowe@maine.rr.com

 
Project
When
Who to Contact
Preble Street
Resource Center
Soup Kitchen
4th Wednesday ea month
3:30-6:30 pm
Contact Gracie Johnston
Game Night
Long Creek
Youth Center
 
3rd Tuesday ea month
Mike Fortunato
michaelk.fortunato@gmail.com
or Jim Willey
This Week's Duty Assignments
Invocation:  Bruce Jones
Program Reporter:  Alan Nye
Bits & Pieces Reporter:  Ben Lowry
Registration/Greeter:  Loretta Rowe
Sell Meal Tickets:  Jennifer Frederick
Raffle:  Justin Lamontagne

Collect Meal Tickets:  Ellen Niewoehner
Sgt-at-Arms:  Dave Putnam
Rotary Meeting Locations

If you would like to mark your calendars,
we are scheduled at the following locations
through
June 2019:

2019
May 10 - The Clarion
May 17 - The Clarion
May 24 - NO MEETING DUE TO HOLIDAY WEEKEND
May 31 - The Clarion

Jun   7 - The Clarion
Jun 14 - The Clarion
Jun 21 - The Clarion
Jun 28 - The Clarion

Blue BOLD dates are scheduled Board meeting days.

Any questions, please contact Loretta at: lrowe@maine.rr.com
 

Ongoing Item Donations Needed
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: Roger Fagan, drrogerfagan@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.