Among the highlights during the past Rotary year was when President John presented the Opioid Community Service project at the Rotary International Convention in Hamburg Germany, as a model showing how a club can get involved helping to address the substance use epidemic. A slide presentation describing John's attendance at the convention will be available soon on the website.
Treasurer Scott Blakeslee presented the fiscal year financial and budget reports to the Club. Two reports were presented: the Operating financials and the Charitable revenues and expenses. The overview showed the Club has overcome the operations deficits from the previous year. Credit for this success is because of last year's fund raising and the move to a new meeting location. Fund raising for the Veterans Luncheon, the Maine Outdoor Challenge and the Children's Hunger and Education programs were the major sources of charitable revenues. Looking ahead, the Cornhole Challenge fund raiser, scheduled for August 1st, beginning at 5 PM, at the North Yarmouth Academy ice arena, will help to continue the fund raising successes. Other fund raising ideas are in the works.
President John thanked all committee chairs who supported the club's programs and activities during his leadership term. Special appreciations were extended to the Meeting Day Committee (Chair Jennifer Frederick), and the Program Committee (Chair Matt Wolcott), for setting up and presenting 48 interesting themes at each weekly meeting. Particularly notable were the meetings where PP Ben Lowry spoke about the opioid crisis as published in The Rotarian Magazine and his dedication to being a recovery coach; the New Mainers programs were important; the Sweetheart Auction was fun and successful; and the New Members Program was an excellent club activity.
In the International Service Report, President John recognized the humanitarian work being done in the Dominican Republic and, additionally, supporting the work in Kosovo, for the purpose of supporting hearing rehabilitation and clean water. Portland Rotary is also exploring a new partnership with a club in India, as well as applying for Global Grants in Africa and Latin America. The next Dominican Republic 3H humanitarian trip (Hearing, H2O and Hands) is scheduled for March 7-14, 2020. If you have an interest in being involved, please contact Chair Erik Greven at egrev95@gmail.com.
The Community Service Committee is the "life blood" of Rotary, as reported by Chair Gracie Johnston(photo at right). Volunteer work with the Maine Immigrants Rights Coalition and Preble Street Resource Center are continuing, but there are urgent needs for more volunteers. The volunteer work to support the Opioid Task Force received a $5,000 Rotary District 7780 Grant. A donation of 100 units of Narcan from Kaleo Pharna in Virginia, was obtained to distribute to the 85 people who attended two community public health trainings. The purpose of the trainings was to teach the public how to recognize an opioid overdose and how to use Narcan (also known as Naloxone).
Youth Services Committee Chair Jan Chapman(photo at left) presented the progress this committee has made during the past year. Another successful North Deering Reading program is scheduled during the summer. Check with PP Laura Young for more information at lyoung@mainecf.org. Thanks to Bill Ross who is the RYLA Rotary Youth Leadership adviser.
PP and DGN Dick Hall with Meghan Peabody reported that three students will be involved in the Rotary Youth Exchange - the students will go to France, Italy and Spain.
PP Jim Willey recognized the Club's Honorary Membership new honoree - PP Robert (Bob) Traill.
Thanks were extended to Dave Snow and PP Don Zillman for their service on the Portland Rotary Club's Board of Directors.
A special thanks was presented to Elise Hodgkin (photo at right with President John) for the superb administrative support she provides to the Portland Rotary.
President-elect Amy Chipman, the incoming 2019-2020 President, thanked outgoing President John for his leadership and presented him with a Past President's Rotary Pin.
THANK YOU, JOHN, FOR A GREAT YEAR!
(A slide show of this program is available by clickinghereor going to the following web address: https://clubrunner.blob.core.windows.net/00000006643/en-ca/files/sitepage/about-our-club/2019-club-assemblypdf/Club-Assembly-June-28-2019.pdf
President John Curran opened the annual change-over meeting and Club Assembly by welcoming 48 members, 2 guests and one visiting Rotarian. He also welcomed several snowbirds back to the North: Gus Karlsen, Alan Levenson and part-time Portland Rotarian, Tom Broadaway.
Gracie Johnson led us in "America the Beautiful," and we pledged our allegiance to the American Flag. PP Cyrus Hagge gave the invocation, which was a fishing-centric story about a game warden, a man with a bucket, and some real special fish.
President John gave recognition to the many Rotarians that helped clean up Fort Williams the previous Friday at our Club Service Day. More then 10 members played arborists for the day and helped clear over an estimated $2,000 worth of overgrown vegetation. Of note, PP Dick Hall brought his chain saw, and had a blast.
PP Jack Carr introduced us to our newest member of Portland Rotary: Cole Smith of Criterium-Engineers. Congratulations, Cole! Welcome to Portland Rotary! (Photo at right L-R: PP Jack Carr and Cole Smith.)
President John also thanked the volunteers, donors, team members, and everyone that made the Maine Outdoor Challenge (MOC) a success. Diana Grandoni (photo at left) of the Boys & Girls Club (B&GC) noted that with the partnership and help of Portland Rotary, the fundraiser helped raise approximately $42,000 total, which is split between the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southern Maine and Portland Rotary.
Mike Anderson led the raffle this week for a shot at over $600. President John pulled LR’s (PP Loretta Rowe), ticket out of the can. Even after asking Mike to hold the cards where she could see them (which he didn't), Loretta managed to pick the 5 of Hearts, rather than the targeted Queen of Hearts. Better luck next time, Loretta!
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.