Zoom is quickly becoming one of the most dependable tools helping people through the COVID19 restrictions, but it has also been susceptible to various glitches that have caused some to distrust it. We have worked diligently to make sure our use conforms to the latest security guidelines, including the use of passwords in the Zoom meeting invitations and restricting the publication of the meeting link to avoid unwelcome intruders. If you have questions on the effective and safe use of Zoom, please see their website for guidance. If you would like further information, please contact Bob Martin.

 

 

Portland Rotary convened in unusual fashion on April 1 with over forty members joining online via the Zoom app. The Club had not met since March 6 due to the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, a hiatus unseen since the Club canceled meetings for the month of October during the 1918 flu pandemic. President Amy Chipman announced that the Club would retain this format until meeting restrictions are lifted.

 

President Amy shared that Loretta Rowe is back home recuperating from her treatments in Boston but might need some time before responding to email wishes. Amy also gave Bruce Jones his second Paul Harris Fellow award. Amy recognized each member on the call:

 

John Curran reported that life at MaineHealth had become “a bit crazy,” with the hospital redeploying staff to care for the increasing numbers of COVID patients. He said that it was heartening to see the community support for hospital workers through meals, gift cards, supplies, and other expressions. Kris Rosado’s firm, Morgan Stanley, delivered a large quantity of N95 facemasks to MaineMed they’d discovered in storage … Mike Fortunato shared the benefits of using the app Caribu for staying in touch with grandchildren. Info at https://caribu.com/  Erik Greven has been discovering new trails around Falmouth and Yarmouth…Gracie Johnston noted that Preble Street needs volunteers to help prepare food for the bagged meals the center is providing the homeless in lieu of the regular soup kitchen. (If you can do this work, contact Gracie as our Club work there is suspended.) …Ellen Niewoehner reported being swamped helping customers navigate the loan processes offered under the recently-enacted Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARE) Act…David Putnam shared that his clients are concerned about employee benefits for COVID19, but that carriers have been liberal with providing coverage … Bruce Moore discovered little-used trails in Cape Elizabeth, and reminded everyone to donate blood as it is in short supply…Mike Anderson is busy with his kids at home and reported a lack of new business…Rusty Atwood recommended listening to “Splendid Isolation” by Warren Zevon …Charlie Frair said how great it was to see everyone and that he was recovering from heart surgery. “I’m feeling better, but it’s been a tough recovery and I hate isolation!” Elise Hodgkin shared that she had exchanged emails with Loretta … Ben Lowry observed that the “new normal” is “very odd,” and he was glad to be back. He said his son was doing very well…David Small reported that the 3H team had been shocked at their reception upon their arrival in the Dominican Republic as there appeared to be a lack of preparedness reflecting the pandemic situation. The group was kept isolated and returned home on March 14. A major outbreak of COVID19 occurred in the DR shortly after their departure. The group has not experienced any symptoms after a period of isolation … Dick Hall shared that the meeting was his fourth virtual Rotary meeting of the week. He said that Rotary International had designated some COVID19 disaster relief funds, as has the District, with many clubs engaged in various pandemic-related efforts … Nan Heald reported that Pine Tree Legal had added a call center to accommodate the challenge of the pandemic. “We’re getting lots of questions about landlord-tenant issues and domestic violence,” she said. The organization has added a special tab on www.ptla.org related to COVID19 issues. It can be found under the “Veterans” section on the home page. Nan also said that working from home gave her a chance to look out her window at the birds, and scream at the woodchucks invading her garden … Jen Sledge continues to work in a dementia care facility and reports that worker childcare is becoming an issue. She shared a link to a humorous YouTube video on conference calls. Link is here.  … John Marr said he’s coping with the quarantine by putting mirrors up around the house and talking to all the new people he meets … Juliana L’Heureux is busy with Zoom meetings keeping CDC issues up-to-date. She’s registering nurses to be emergency backup and distressed to hear of nurses becoming ill due to COVID19 exposure. She expects nurses to be mobilized to administer vaccines whenever they become available. … Justin Lamontagne is in his third week of quarantine with his family in their Windham lake house. He’s busy with his wife homeschooling their kids, serving as the Athletic Director. “I’m still trying to figure out how to work from home, business doesn’t seem to be stopping.” Kris Rosado shared that his son is home from West Point to finish the year remotely, but confined with his girlfriend, also a cadet … Laura Young has been working from home for three weeks and busy on Maine Community Foundation’s front lines distributing grants. So far, $500,000 has been disbursed around the state to food pantry and health organizations from a COVID19 fund. She reports that nonprofits are scared about their future. MCF’s pandemic information is here … Rob Chatfield also informed members of his organizations videos and lesson plans for homeschoolers available at izzit.org … Liz and Roger Fagan will share more information about their Dominican Republic trip next meeting. Liz is seeing patients through Telehealth, and Roger is providing curbside service for clients and others for repairs, batteries, etc. … Roxane Cole is grateful for the technology that allows us to communicate for Rotary and business. She reports Bob Traill and John Tewhey are doing well.  Her clients are optimistic about the future as is the Board of Visitors at USM … Bill Blount will decamp to Wayne shortly and shared that while tennis courts are locked, vouchers will be provided for those who have paid for court time … Mark Millar, ensconced in Vail, Colorado, said that 4,000 people were laid off with one week’s pay by various ski resorts creating a huge problem for those who live paycheck to paycheck. He’s been reading to his grandson via video link … Mike Robinson has been “fattening the curve” with cooking and baking … Larry Gross is self-isolated on Munjoy Hill with his furloughed daughter. He credits MaineHealth with doing a “bang-up job” but forecasted future financial challenges due to cancelled surgeries and procedures … Bruce Jones noted the importance of new routines.

 

President Amy closed the meeting by sharing the video prepared for the Club’s 100^th Anniversary. The link to the video is here.   In the video, Dick Hall summarized Portland Rotary as being “small enough to know everyone, but big enough to do great things.”

 

 

 

 

 

My fiancee, Jenn, and I just arrived back in Portland after 4-plus months away in Northern California and Hilton Head, SC.  It’s been a very odd week, beginning with our two-day drive home up Route 95.  I’ve never seen anything quite like it, with almost no traffic on the highway.  As we approached the epicenter of the Covid-19 outbreak on Manhattan, one stretch of highway that usually takes about two hours was navigated in about 15 minutes.  As we crossed the GW Bridge and our tires touched the roadways of Harlem, we almost held our breath, fearing what would happen if the unthinkable occurred and we had car trouble.  This fear was exacerbated by the fact that we had suffered through a flat tire just the day before.  But we made it through, using paper towels and hand sanitizer at every gas station and rest stop, and made our way back to our home in the heart of Portland’s Old Port, which sits nearly destitute.  As we have self-quarantined over the past five days, like so many others we’ve been getting to long-ignored household chores, re-organizing closets and starting a big bag of clothing set to go to Goodwill when the “all clear” signal is given.  The TV has been a constant source of information as we have watched the daily briefings from DC and Albany but also a source of entertainment, with a new season of “Ozark” on Netflix as well as replays of Red Sox World Series games.  Jenn and I decided to begin playing board games, so up on a step ladder I went to the top shelf of a closet to see what I could find.  As I reached through the games of Boggle, Battleship and Uno, I spotted our long-lost cribbage board, which promptly fell from the shelf onto my mouth, cutting my lip and causing me to lose my balance on the short ladder, falling onto the floor, where I rolled my ankle on the spiteful cribbage board and scraped both my knee and elbow on the rug.  Cribbage board 1, Ben 0.  I vow to get my revenge!

 

 

I'm in my dining room every day fielding constituents' worried e-mails and attending incessant video briefings from the "guv'mint".   We've had conversations with everyone from Maine's Department of Labor and the CDC to Dr. Anthony Fauci himself.  I appreciate the information, but it's all COVID all the time.  In my other life, I work for a small foundation and have been reaching out to our equally worried grantees, modifying grants.  Be sure to visit theaters, museums and the symphony after this ends, as they are going to need everyone.

 

Our house is feeling smaller than normal.  We are eating maybe too well.  We have an extra person staying with us, so the bathrooms are being juggled, but we're all getting along fine, working in "sort-of-shifts" and reminded that friends in New York, with four people and a dog in a 900 SF apartment, have it much much worse.  Zen comes in walking and observing spring in the woods - I'm a birder and while it's too early for the migration, there are some snow geese at Back Cove, which is fun.  For media, we just watched the most recent season of "The Crown" and I'm currently reading Kingsley Amis' "Lucky Jim" a satirical classic from the 1950's.  

 

A small highlight was watching Portland High defeat Gould Academy on MPBN's "High School Quiz Show "- Our son Will played for Portland, and I'm not sure if it was more fun watching them win, or watching his expressions as he watched the team on TV, especially when they missed an answer.  In a season with no spring sports, it provided some good pre-recorded fun. Hoping everyone is healthy and ok. If I can help anyone with a government issue, please be in touch. 

 

 

I have been closely following the information from the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention and posting to nursing and health care forums.  I also found an awesome effort with Friends From Northern Maine, a group of neighbors who are sewing personal protective masks for health care workers.  Several of my home bound friends have called me to ask about rumors they are reading on the Internet that describe symptoms, unproven treatments and responses to the pandemic.  I refer them to appropriate links on CDC.gov.  As for books, I recommend, "Beneath a Scarlett Sky" by Mark Philips, a historical novel about Milan, Italy during World War II, also being produced into a movie.  I'm trying out recipes I now have time to do, and I baked my husband Richard a birthday cake! I hope everyone is staying safe and well.