News of The Rotary Club of Portland, Maine
September 1, 2022
Labor Day Weekend - No Meeting This Friday
We wish everyone a safe and happy Labor Day weekend. Get ready for the following week when we set up "Flags For Heroes" at the Maine Mall on Sept. 6th, and have our first-ever club meeting on Friday Sept. 9th at the Maine Mall Food Court!
Meeting of August 26:  Substance Abuse Disorder and How You Can Save A Life | by Jake Bourdeau
 
Leslie Clark, Portland Rotarian and the Executive Director of the Portland Recovery Community Center (PRCC), introduced guest speakers Nicole Proctor and Tommy MacElhaney. Nicole and Tommy both work at the PRCC with Nicole being the Program Director of the Maine Recovery Hub, and Tommy as a trained councilor and harm reduction specialist. PRCC is helping to serve approximately 2,500 people in recovery. Maine residents saw 636 drug overdoses last year and this number will unfortunately be surpassed this year.
 
Both speakers discussed their stories with abuse, PRCC, Substance Abuse Disorder (SAD), and  Narcan (Naloxone). Narcan training can save lives such as Nicole’s. She shared her story of her son forever thankful for the person who used Narcan to bring his mother back to life.
 
Nicole noted that poor oversight of prescription drugs, notably Oxycodone and OxyContin are largely to blame for the increase in drug addictions. Heroin is cheaper than prescription drugs, and fentanyl is even cheaper, and much easier to transport. Nicole said that most illicit substances are laced with fentanyl now, since it is cheaper and more addictive than heroin.
 
Nicole posed and answered some routinely asked questions:
  1. What is drug addiction or substance abuse disorder? SAD is a complex brain disease which causes a compulsive use of a substance and often in a progressive manner.
  2. What is an overdose?  An overdose occurs any time some takes too much of a substance, whether intentional or accidental, including when medications are mixed. For instance, when sleep medications and oxycodone are taken at the same time, it can lead to negative drug interactions and an overdose. While sometimes overdoses are suicidal, many times they are accidental.
Tom introduced himself and discussed his history with PRCC. According to Tom, many drug addictions start with leftover prescription pills. He showed us how "Deterra Bags" are used to destroy and remove unused medications from circulation and future use. When drugs are placed in the Deterra bags, and water added, the drugs become chemically deactivated and unusable.
 
In an overdose situation, Naloxone, is an active chemical compound that can keep people alive and give them the opportunity for recovery. Narcan
 
Naloxone acts like a first aid kit or a defibrillator, if it is administered quickly to the person in an overdose situation. It is as an opioid antagonist that preferentially binds to the same receptors in the brain that opioids bind to. When an overdose occurs, the receptors get overloaded, however the Naloxone binds stronger than the opioids and pushes the opioid off the receptors allowing the brain’s signals to function properly.
 
Narcan contains Naloxone in a nasal spray form. To administer it, one places and holds the spray nozzle in a nostril, clamps down on the nostril to make a seal, and presses the button on the device.  Naloxone devices are one dose and work for about 20-90 minutes. 911 should be called for assistance as additional doses and medical attention may be needed. Second doses are routinely carried as a precaution in case the person goes back into an overdose condition, or the first dose does not work.
 
What are the signs of an overdose? Look for unconsciousness, shallow breathing, blue lips or fingers tips, and/or nodding out that looks like someone is sleeping. To determine if it is an overdose, try to wake the person and get their attention. Yell at them to wake, and consider a sternum rub with your knuckles to get their attention. If there is limited acknowledgement of these actions, an overdose may be occurring and one can administer Narcan. There are no known side effects to Narcan, if in fact the issue is caused by another issue.
 
Narcan takes 2-3 minutes to activate. Consider putting the person in a recovery position on their side, so they can breathe more clearly, so if they vomit they may not choke. 80% of the time a person reacts to the first dose, however, after 3 minutes if there is no response, administer a new second dose in the other nostril.
 
The Portland Recovery Community Center’s vision is that every person affected by addiction in Maine will have direct access to a local recovery community center, providing support groups, education, and individual resources to enhance their ability to heal, strengthen and grow in their recovery pathway, throughout all stages of their journey. PRCC brings awareness and leadership in the substance abuse realm showing hope is present, help is available, and providing a voice on the topic.
Bits and Pieces| by Erik Jorgensen
It was a breezy late August day as President Bruce Jones gaveled the club to order at the Italian Heritage Center. Paul Tully provided an inspirational message noting that it was 101 years ago that FDR was diagnosed with polio. Recently in NY, someone has contracted polio and it has been detected in wastewater. 12 billion dollars raised thru Rotary and international organizations has fought the disease with great success. We can be proud of what has been done, and we take seriously what Rotary has left to do. FDR said, "It is not whether we add to the abundance of those who have much, it's whether we provide for those who have too little." (Photo Paul Tully)
 
Dale and Phil Lustig from Boca Raton Florida were visiting. Respectively, Dale has served as a Rotary president and Phil as a District Governor.
 
Ellen Niewoehner managed the raffle, which has now reached $450. Charlie Frair drew the cards, but the Queen of Hearts eluded him. The pot continues to grow.
 
Ellen followed with an announced that our second “Ocean Cleanup Day” is scheduled for the morning of Friday, September 16th. Since we have our club social the night before at the Easy Day Bowling / Sea Dog Brewing Club, your Friday schedule is cleared for the clean-up! It will take place down at the Portland Waterfront, but the exact address is a still-to-be-determined location. We will provide the tools; maybe you can provide the labor.  (Photo Ellen Niewoehner)
 
Following Ellen, President Bruce reiterated the invitation to the club social on Thursday, September 15th. You can bowl, mix, and mingle with your fellow club members, who you often don’t get to know around a table at a lunch meeting. The address is 725 Broadway in South Portland. This one will commence at 4pm.
 
Bruce recognized a few folks working on the club’s media side – Emily Crowley, who has been managing our social media platforms; and Maggie McGauley, who has been crushing it on the website. Also in the realm of print communication, Dick Hall was acknowledged for his work pulling our most recent Club Directory together, something that we’ve been missing the past two years!   (Photo Bruce Jones)
"Flags For Heroes" Update and Set-Up Schedule
Despite his raffle demise, Charlie brought good news from the Flags for Heroes program! More than 100 heroes are now being sponsored as of last Friday – Charlie noted that 67 were from our club and a full 35 were from non-members. He also announced that on September 9th, our club will meet at the Maine Mall Food Court to experience the flags as a group. Members will be invited to buy lunch at the food court, eat together, and then take part in a special program for the heroes. Guests are encouraged. This could be your only chance ever to enjoy an Orange Julius at a Rotary meeting.
 
The event starts September 7th, and runs thru the 14th. It's a beautiful site, with a 100 special meanings.
Portland Rotary Tennis! Finally, this was the week of the annual “Sweetheart Deals Made in Smoke-Filled Rooms” night – the event at which the Rotary tennis league sets its teams for the fall tennis season. This is the league’s 30th season! In addition to Erik Jorgensen who took this great photo, this year’s team selection group consisted of L-R Roger Asch, Tennis Commissioner Bill Blount,, Tom Nickerson, and Dan Fahey.
Help Needed Loading Supplies - NOW THIS Saturday, Sept 17th
Support our District's Crutches4Africa Campaign!
Alas, due to shipping logistic issues, the date has been moved once again! The revised date is Sat, Sept 17th, 9am.   Loading of the 12th trailer from this district will take place at 128 Saco Ave., Old Orchard Beach. Please contact District Chair Dennis Robillard with an email, or text at 207-468-0443.  Crutches4Africa Website
Reminder - District 7780 Recovery Conference - 
September 8th  District 7780 will host the "Recovery Conference" at the Regatta Banquette & Conference Center, Eliot, Maine. Kennebunk Rotarian and Police Chief Bob MacKenzie will be leading the conference. Portland Rotary has two free tickets for anyone interested or participants can register with a $25 registration fee.  The theme is a Recovery Friendly Community with a focus on a Recovery Friendly Workplace. A lottery can be conducted to award the two free tickets, if necessary. Email Jan Chapman for more information, or visit the District 7780 website.  You can use this link for Registration
 
We need volunteers to help us fill backpacks with personal care items that will in turn be provided to people in recovery. This will be done on Saturday September 24, at 9 AM at the Recovery Community Center, 102 Bishop St, Portland, ME 04103. Thank you to those who have contributed to this program. Goodwill of Maine has donated backpacks.What to donate?  Use this handy  SignUpGenius for a list/quantity needed. If you have more questions, please email Jan Chapman!
 
We also are accepting cash donations as well as Hannaford Gift Cards and Metro tickets. Make checks payable to Rotary Club of Portland Maine, put 'Backpack Project' in the memo and bring it to a Club meeting, or snailmail to:
Jan Chapman, 1108 Sawyer Road, Cape Elizabeth, ME  04107.
 
Portland Sunrise Satellite Zoom Meetings
When: 1st and 4th Wednesdays at 7:30 AM 
Same link for every meeting!    CLICK HERE to Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 853 6341 5630       Passcode: 022825
Speaker Schedule
September 2 | No meeting - Enjoy Your Labor Day weekend!
September 9 | At the Maine Mall - Flags For Heroes
September 15 | Thursday Night Social EZ Day Bowl/Sebago Brew, South Portland 4pm
September 16 | No meeting with club social the night before
 
Club Executives
President  Bruce Jones
President Elect  Dick Hall
Vice President  Patty Byers
Treasurer  Dick Hall
Secretary  Bill Blount
Board of Directors  Ellen Niewoehner,
Bob Clark,  John Thompson, Ben Millick,
Quinn Slayton
Sergeant-At-Arms  Jake Bourdeau

 
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
 
1st Q Program Chair: Dave Putnam
       Managing Editor  Tom Talbott

 
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