In-Person Meetings Start March 11th! Details below!
This Week:Katrina Venhuizen, ecomaine
Katrina Venhuizen is an Environmental Educator at ecomaine and joined the team in August 2016 with 10 years of experience in various environmental educator roles across the country. She is responsible for designing curricula, on-site tour programs, as well as all other education and outreach programming that facilitates engaged waste reduction among residents, schools, and businesses in ecomaine’s 70+ member communities. Katrina holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Conservation Biology and a Certificate in Environmental Studies from University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her passion and commitment to her job roles inspires students and adults alike to attain their waste diversion and contamination reduction goals.
In-Person Meetings: Food Reservation Required!
We're meeting in-person, with a zoom option available, starting Friday, March 11th.
Here are the details that were announced last week. We want to reemphasize that you need to make a reservation if you are eating lunch.
Due to "no minimum meals" requirement by the IHC, our club needs to provide an exact number of attendees eating lunch. In other words you need to make a reservation. Email your meal confirmation (along with any nut, gluten or lactose restrictions) by 10am each Wednesday to our club Administrative Assistant, Alice Alexander.
Location / Time The Italian Heritage Center, 40 Westland Avenue, Portland, 12:00 noon
Zoom Option: Yes, we will be zooming our meeting and the log-in info will be emailed.
Mask and Vax: In accordance with Portland city protocols, masks will be optional. You will be asked to confirm that you are fully vaccinated at the door.
Cost: $20 You can pay by cash, check, or credit card at the door.
Link To Zoom Recording of Meeting: Click HerePassword: Wvv7==ne
President-Elect Bruce welcomed all to our Club Assembly, and due to Covid, the first Assembly in "a long time." Bruce asked for our input and ideas to help make our club stronger, not just for us, but for those we serve. Within an open format, Bruce wanted to focus on four foundational items: Membership, Service Projects, Weekly Programs, and Fundraising. Bruce challenged us to think about why you joined, and what it is you expect from Rotary. With that intro, the Assembly began in earnest.
A Rotarian said he has always enjoyed the political conversations around the table. “But at one meeting, I got attacked by 3 members when I said I liked the tax cuts. They got up and shouted at me. We should address that. People feel awkward about the topic. I think it would be appropriate to have a Rotary minute to talk about why I am conservative, in an explanatory way, not a debate. That would break down the awkwardness we all feel around the table.”
A discussion ensued about the role of political discussions in Rotary meetings. Quotes include:
Rotary is apolitical and not religious.
Rotary is not apolitical as we have people on all sides of the political spectrum. As long as views are balanced and respectful they are allowed. We all need to be comfortable saying that it is unacceptable to treat someone badly. Bruce said this will be an agenda item on the next board mtg.
In a fraternity, we don’t talk politics, religion and women and I think that should be true of Rotary.
Rotary is a nonpolitical organization. I would rather not have political debates at meetings. It would upset a lot of people. I love having different types of speakers to challenge me even if I don’t agree with them.
Fellowship is key. We need to be cognizant of those around us. Don’t dismiss the four way test.
I remember when we had politicians speak to our club. I don’t think we should have political speakers.
Speakers/programs:
We should do more for service and our speakers should inform us about local projects and international projects.
Learn about City of Portland project needs, knowledge about our community needs, more from groups involved in literacy.
We need a balance on programs which is hard on zoom. There are speakers we can’t bring in via zoom. We need more entertaining programs. Balance of business, arts, community groups.
We are a service and fellowship committee. We need to grow. We need interesting topics that will draw new members.
Caution speakers not to sell something. Better to focus on education rather than promotion. On Zoom we have had excellent speakers.
We can have table activities rather than just a speaker.
I support inviting national candidates who are selected by their parties to speak at our club as we are the largest club in Maine.
We have an open door for our sitting representatives to speak to our club regardless of their party. Good for visibility.
Membership:
Look at the classification list and invite who is not in the club currently.
Invite city manager, mayor, police chief to join our club.
Having a very visible project, Maine Outdoor Challenge, helps to bring in new members.
We seem to have a good number of spinoff groups and we should try to convert some of those members to join Rotary.
As a group we have work to do to be more welcoming to new people. You can’t have tokenism. We need more training on how to be better welcomers and retainers.
Spend some money to get more publicity.
Go on the road and go to a business. Bag lunch and invite them to join us.
Service Projects:
We join Rotary to give back to our community. A lot of us are ready to get out and volunteer. Put a push on community service, find some new projects.
People are very interested in community services but people aren’t stepping up in the committee when the chair calls them. We are hoping that once we get back together in-person this might help.
Earth Day, looking for something to do, clean up day, plant trees.
Maine Needs, hands on activity, put together packets and go to the location to help sort. Join forces with Portland Sunrise who works with Maine Needs too.
Environmental Committee is working on project with the city parks department. Working on Earth Day too. Ellen chairs this committee
Interest in backpack service project.
Know Your Rotary Logo
Bits and Pieces | by Laura Young
During the pre-meeting discussion there were lively reminiscences among those who attended Woodstock.
Bruce Jones opened the meeting and called on PP Larry Gross, (left) flanked by a flag, to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. David and Pat Putnam sang a duet version of “God Bless America.” David Small gave the invocation by sharing a poem titled, “It’s Still Winter” about battling ice and snow, being thankful, the elimination of polio, thankful for our meal, and despite the weather, we are Rotarians together.
We welcomed Gervin Kah, a visiting Rotarian from his club in Libreville, Gabon in central Africa, who is also a candidate for transferring his membership to Portland Rotary!
Jan Chapman (right), as chair of meeting day committee, asked committee members to let her know when they are not available so she can put the meeting day schedule today.
District Governor Dick Hall announced that District Training will take place on April 16th at UNE on Stevens Avenue in Portland. More details on the District 7780 website.
Liz Fagan (right) announced that the International work in Kosovo is going well. The students in a Master’s Degree program are in their second year. Two of them opened a clinic and asked her to supervise them. Bruce said, “Thanks for all your work Liz.”
Bruce closed by saying, “On this day in 1964, in Miami Beach, Cassius Clay shocked the odds makers and dethroned Sonny Liston.”
Speaker Schedule
March 11 | Jack Carr, Maine's Maritime History
March 18 |Susan Black, Brunswick Coastal Rotary, Village Health Works in Burundi.
President-Elect Bruce Jones will turn over the bell to these Past Presidents to guest host the following meetings: March 25th: Tom Talbott • April 1st: Bill Blount • April 22nd: Larry Gross April 29th: John Marr • May 20th: Bowen Depke • May 27th: Ellen Niewoehner
June 17th: Roxane Cole • June 29th: Ben Lowry
Club Executives
President-Elect Bruce Jones
1st VPDick Hall
2nd VP Patty Byers
Treasurer Howie Herodes
SecretaryMichelle DiSotto
Board of DirectorsEllen Niewoehner, Mark Foster, Bob Clark, Roger Fagan, John Thompson
Sergeant-At-Arms Dave Putnam
Club Administrator Alice Alexander
The Windjammer
is published online by
The Rotary Club of Portland, Maine.
Contributing Editors
Bill Blount, Jake Bourdeau, Dick Hall,
Erik Jorgensen, Julie L’Heureux, Ben Lowry,
Tom Nickerson, Tom Talbott, Laura Young
3rd Q Program Chair:Justin Lamontagne
4th Q Program Chair:Roxane Cole
Managing Editor Tom Talbott
Co-ProductionAlice Alexander
Thank you North43Bistro, South Portland, for your support!
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