John Wolcott (Matt's father) is a retired Systems Engineer and president of Systemetrics, Inc., a software development firm. Since his retirement, he has been a school bus driver in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. From Thanksgiving through Christmas, however, he dons the red suit and morphs into the jolly old elf from the North Pole, with whom you may be familiar.
A 38-year veteran of Clausmanship, he will introduce us all to the original Saint Nicklaus and follow the legend that has led to our modern-day Santa.
John is also president of his Rotary Club in Greenwich, Rhode Island, its first “re-cycled” president.
“I’m not a stranger to the dark Hide away, they say ‘Cause we don’t want your broken parts I’ve learned to be ashamed of all my scars Run away, they say No one will love you as you are. But I won’t let them break me down to dust I know that there’s a place for us For we are glorious.”
These lyrics from the song “This Is Me,” written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul for the Broadway show and movie “The Greatest Showman,” demonstrate why it’s become a fight song for people who are not accepted by society. For most of us, our time in high school was a bridge between childhood and adult responsibilities, a time when we got our legs beneath us and began to exert ourselves, tentatively for the most part, into our community. But as the Deering High School Choral Group demonstrated for us Friday, there are high schoolers who carry enormous burdens and face significant challenges in their effort to get their legs beneath them.
While many of us greet this season as one of renewal and affirmation, the singers of Deering reminded us with raw emotion and the tenderness of youth that the cost of renewal can be overwhelming. Introducing themselves by name and acknowledging their culture, we learned that they came from Maine and Tennessee, Portland and Falmouth, Iraq and Honduras, Mozambique and Angola, Finland and Rwanda, Sudan and Ecuador. One remarked that he was a WASP; another wore a hijab. The thirty or so young people, led by their outspoken advocate and director, Dr. Peter Stickney, offered beautiful insights and testimonies as they sang to us.
They shared “Love Has Broken Down the Wall,” by Mark Miller—“Cast aside your doubts and fears, love has broken down the wall.” “Make Them Hear You,” a song that could be an anthem of our disparate immigrant community from the musical Ragtime, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens: “I could not put down my sword when justice was my right.” “Let the River Run,” by Carly Simon; “I Am Willing,” by Holly Near, a song that is a reminder to embrace change: “For I am open and I am willing, so give me an ocean to hold my tears.”
Dr. Peter Stickney spoke briefly on behalf of the group. “We are singing from the heart,” he said. “This program is all of us. This is a message for all of us. You are in a position of power. You have age; you have whiteness; you have wealth. Help our school.” Dr. Stickney related that the students at Deering speak 62 languages, only 47 of which are recognized by the state of Maine. “Think about that,” he said. He said that many of the students in the group had a story of how they came to America. Many to escape death and persecution, many who have left their families. And there were those who were discriminated against because of their sexual orientation. He invited everyone to attend the group’s concert on December 13 at 6:30 pm in the Deering High School auditorium.
“Look out ‘cause here I come And I’m marching on to the beat I drum (marching on, marching, marching on) I’m not scared to be seen I make no apologies, this is me.”
(Photo L-R: President John Curran, DHS Music Director Peter Stickney, and Matt Wolcott.)
President John called the meeting to order, welcoming 42 members and 6 visiting guests. Charlie Frair gave the invocation, which included a poem by Bob Schieffer entitled “Ode to Love.”
A child’s question asked of me, If I can’t see it, can it be? I see my toy, I know it’s there. I feel my arm, I touch my hair. These are things I know to be, but what of things I cannot see?
What of the wind, where does it go? Are there other things to know? Oh yes, my dear, and soon you’ll find, they’re locked inside the heart and mind.
Sweet love’s desire, a mother’s prayer, more real than all you see out there. More real than sun and moon and rain, at first much harder to explain.
The only thing that I can say, I say it now in just this way: What is real and what is not? Love is real, the rest is not.
PP Jim Willey(photo at left) spoke in reference to Pearl Harbor Day and noted that current club member PP Bob Traill served in World War II, as did member Earle Leavitt – who was actually stationed at Pearl Harbor and has memories of the attack. Earle recalls the Japanese planes flying so low overhead that he could see the faces of the pilots as they flew to the harbor.
The club sadly noted the passing of former United States President George H.W. Bush. The nonprofit organization Points of Light was launched by Bush to support volunteerism and has inspired millions of volunteers worldwide.
Lynn White and Susan Dudley Gold (photo at right, L-R) told the club about the Vet to Vet Maine organization which offers support, companionship, a friend to lonely and socially isolated veterans who are most at risk for suicide. Vet to Vet Maine’s trained volunteers (who are veterans themselves) visit fellow veterans at least twice a month in their homes. This is a wonderful program that has made a real difference in our state.
Justin Purvis(photo at left), from the United Way of Greater Portland, spoke to the club about the Starting Strong program and commended the 26 committed Rotary volunteers who assist young people in improving their reading proficiency.
Charlie Frair and Paul Tully(photo at right, L-R) then spoke about the great success of the Veteran’s lunch and how they exceeded each and every one of their goals. They thanked those members on the Committee, as well as all 68 Rotary volunteers. They noted that 336 people were served meals – with 217 of them being veterans. The event rose over $15,000, a good portion of which will be able to be donated to Vet organizations. They noted the increased media coverage and read grateful letters by several vets that attended. Finally, they recognized Elise for all her hard work on the event and bestowed both roses and a gift card to a restaurant.
With Dick Giles(on the right in photo at left) conducting the weekly raffle, Jerry Angier (on the left in photo at left) was chosen for the chance to win $200 in the pot and he tried without success to pull the Queen of Hearts – as PP Paul T. Gore had done the previous week.
PP Russ Burleigh noted that his wife has been hard at work all year making mittens with donated yarn from Rotarians and other sources. He proudly announced that she has made 145 pairs of mittens, which are being donated to three local schools for children in need.
Member Birthdays 5th - Philip Rhinelander 7th - Jake Bourdeau George Carr 8th - Katie Brown 14th - Ben Delcourt Bob Spohr 18th - Rob Chatfield 23rd - Bruce Nelson 24th - Dick Giles 25th - Bill Reynolds 28th - Dave Seddon 29th - Cyrus Hagge
Date-Joined-Rotary Anniversaries 1 year - Ben Jackson 6 years - Chris Force 6 years - Russell Voss 7 years - Bob Martin 12 years - Jake Bourdeau 15 years - Jack Carr (PP) 16 years - Amy Chipman 16 years - Dick Giles 16 years - Ralph Hendrix 16 years - Bruce Jones 16 years - Don Mckenzie 18 years - Erik Jorgensen 20 years - Greg Hansel 21 years - Jon Young 31 years - Earle Leavitt 34 years - Peter Noyes 37 years - Dave Small 41 years - Joe Gray 46 years - Bruce Nelson
As we receive applications for prospective members to join our Portland Rotary Club, the names of the applicants will be included in our Windjammer. Any information and/or comments you would like to share will be handled confidentially. Please contact Loretta Rowe: lrowe@maine.rr.com. Your input will be appreciated.
PROSPECT BUSINESS (Sponsor)
Mike Anderson Malone Commercial Brokers (Ellen Niewoehner)
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.
John Wolcott (Matt's father) is a retired Systems Engineer and president of Systemetrics, Inc., a software development firm. Since his retirement, he has been a school bus driver in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. From Thanksgiving through Christmas, however, he dons the red suit and morphs into the jolly old elf from the North Pole, with whom you may be familiar..jpg)
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PP Jim Willey (photo at left) spoke in reference to Pearl Harbor Day and noted that current club member PP Bob Traill served in World War II, as did member Earle Leavitt – who was actually stationed at Pearl Harbor and has memories of the attack. Earle recalls the Japanese planes flying so low overhead that he could see the faces of the pilots as they flew to the harbor.
Lynn White and Susan Dudley Gold (photo at right, L-R) told the club about the Vet to Vet Maine organization which offers support, companionship, a friend to lonely and socially isolated veterans who are most at risk for suicide. Vet to Vet Maine’s trained volunteers (who are veterans themselves) visit fellow veterans at least twice a month in their homes. This is a wonderful program that has made a real difference in our state.
.JPG)
Charlie Frair and Paul Tully (photo at right, L-R) then spoke about the great success of the Veteran’s lunch and how they exceeded each and every one of their goals. They thanked those members on the Committee, as well as all 68 Rotary volunteers. They noted that 336 people were served meals – with 217 of them being veterans. The event rose over $15,000, a good portion of which will be able to be donated to Vet organizations. They noted the increased media coverage and read grateful letters by several vets that attended. Finally, they recognized Elise for all her hard work on the event and bestowed both roses and a gift card to a restaurant.