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Russell Hampton
National Awards Services Inc.
ClubRunner
Speakers
Aug 17, 2018
Aug 24, 2018
Opioid/SAD Data and Statistics, at Jewish Community Ctr
Aug 31, 2018
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Community Service Chair
 
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Communications-WJ Bulletin Ed
 
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Good Cheer Co-Chair
 
Invocation Chair
 
Meeting Day Chair
 
Music Committee Chair
 
Program Chair
 
Membership Chair
 
Web Administrator
 
Administrative Coordinator
 
New Mainers Initiative
 
Opioid Task Force Co-Chair
 
Opioid Task Force Co-Chair
 
Welcome to the Rotary Club of Portland, Maine!
Portland Rotary
Service Above Self
We meet Fridays at 12:15 PM
Holiday Inn By-the-Bay
88 Spring Street
Portland, ME  04101
United States
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Rotary This Week

Portland Rotary Club
will meet this Friday,
August 17, 2018 
at Hadlock Field,
home of the Portland Sea Dogs
271 Park Avenue
, Portland
 
*08/17/18 Portland Sea Dogs at Hadlock Field
 

Our annual visit to Hadlock Field, home of the Portland Sea Dogs, will take place this Friday. Since this ball team came to town 25 years ago, we have had a summer meeting almost every year at Hadlock. We are always warmly welcomed and have a wonderful outing in the picnic area of the ball park.   
 
We are sure to have a couple of the players share their experiences of what it's like to work and play for a minor league baseball team.
 
Bring a friend…prospective member…your children...your parents/grandparents...or extended family…smell the fresh-cut grass...enjoy the sunshine...and some time away from the daily grind.
 
The food is ball-park fare, so leave your diets at home for one day.
 
Directions to meeting site at the ballpark: Go to the main gate and signs or ushers will direct you to the meeting site....the picnic area is on the right side of the field down the first base line.
 
Go Sea Dogs!
 
PARKING IS AVAILABLE AT THE FITZPATRICK STADIUM LOT.
 
08/10/18 Dr. Judith Jones, Maine Assn of Charter Schools

Matt Wolcott introduced our speaker, Dr. Judith Jones, Chair of the Maine Association for Charter Schools (MACS), who started by saying she has always believed that education and health are the keys to overcoming poverty. After a career in public education in a variety of positions ranging from education planning to policy positions, she moved to Maine in 1998 with her husband to “settle down.”  

Judith has been at the forefront of the development of charter schools in Maine, and presented her thoughts on the movement that began 30 years ago in the U.S. Today there are 7000 charter schools across 44 States and D.C, with 3.2 million students. Maine has 9 charter schools, currently serving 2240 students from over 100 towns and growing. 

A charter school is free and open to all students, non-selective. One of the words that Judith kept referring back to was accountability. All charter schools are bound by contracts with their respective states, agreements that state how the school will operate and be accountable for student achievement. The result is that every charter school can be different, each one carving out its own policies, budget, and curriculum. The contract must be accepted and approved by the State, and each school is given a periodic performance review. Maine’s review is every five years. This enabling legislation carefully spelled out the goals and operating practices of the charter schools. It was a model for other states, and for some time was “ranked” as the best in the country. It's still considered one of the 10 best. 

Driving the rationale is that when students are limited to a school choice based solely on their geographical location, they only know the socio-climate they live in. Many parents seek other opportunities, with innovative curriculums for their children, and do not want to be bound by one choice of their local public school. There are two sides to the issue, and those who are against charter schools cite systems that have low budget facilities, inexperienced teachers, and lower performance scores. Judith pointed to the fact that Maine developed legislation with a high bar for performance, and resistance has for the most part faded in Maine. She also noted that the charter school program has received strong bi-partisan support in the state. 

(Photo L-R: Matt Wolcott, Dr. Judith Jones and President John Curran.)

Budgets are frugal, and one of the challenges is that charter schools are not funded with federal or state funds. The school can receive public funding based on the number of students, age, and types of programs offered. It can also receive public and private grants and donations.

Charter schools are seen by supporters as offering distinct choices, while those who aren’t convinced, worry that they will be siphoning off funding from public schools. Dr. Jones pointed out that the funding goes with the student, thus limiting the impact charter schools impose on any system while offering options for those in need. The enabling legislation, which Dr. Jones helped to develop, sets the parameters and protections that guide and govern the schools. The legislation is expansive and allows for advances in education, such as virtual schools which take advantage of technology and respond to individual needs.

The Maine Association of Charter Schools has achieved the success to date by following a rather simple formula. To begin with they work closely with the local community and enjoy a great deal of volunteer assistance. They steadfastly follow enabling legislation that clearly delineates the means and expectations of performance. Finally, they are focused and able to concentrate on specific needs. Proof of the success of charter schools is the fact that each has a waiting list and graduates have a very high rate of matriculation to college.

To learn more about charter schools, check out the website at mainecharterschools.org.
 

08/10/18 Bits & Pieces
President John Curran opened our weekly meeting by welcoming 48 members and two guests. PP Cyrus Hagge (Photo at right) presented us with our invocation, reminding us of life's lessons through some quotes from Yogi Berra; Steve Mortimer led us in the pledge our allegiance to the American flag and we sang a patriot song a capella.
 

PP Laura Young introduced a new member, Amy Bouchard, who has lived in Bangor, Presque Isle, and now Kennebunk. Amy was a nutritionist and more recently became a financial planner with Merril Lynch. She’s excited about her community service roles, and has taken the “train the trainer” Opioid Recovery class with Jesse Harvey. Amy enjoys hiking, running, and is ushering at Portland Stage Company.  Please introduce yourself and welcome her into our club. 

(Photo L-R: President John Curran, Amy Bouchard and PP Laura Young.)


Chris Force (on right side in photo at right) ran the weekly raffle as the speaker selected a ticket from the holding vessel to try and find the elusive Queen of Hearts. PP Dick Hall’s name was selected, and he picked a two of diamonds, leaving over $890 for next week’s raffle. 


The Clarion has been trying out new menus over the last two weeks for our club and President John asked for a show of hands whether the Holiday Inn or the Clarion had the better food? The majority of those in attendance raised their hand for the Clarion. President John noted that there are a couple other options being considered for the club's weekly meeting venues.


PP Kris Rosado recently returning from his vacation to Erlangen, Germany, shared his experience of reaching out to their Rotary Club. Kris was stationed there during his service in the Army. Kris said that the Rotary Club treated him like family…..taking him on a private tour of city hall, and attending dinner at a restaurant which had been run by the same family for over 360 years. He was given their club banner to bring home and he will send them one of our club banners in exchange. (See "Around the World" separate article for photos.)   


Gracie Johnston (Photo left) provided an update on the Preble Street Soup Kitchen. She noted that there was a tremendous response for the Rotary volunteer night, and said that Preble Street can always use the help. The next Portland Rotary volunteer night at Preble Street is August 22. (See separate email coming about the details.) Contact Gracie to volunteer or further questions: gracie.johnston@newscentermaine.com. Gracie also let us know that she and some others donated their time at a dinner for a local organization, Maine Inside Out, that helps young people who are incarcerated, or formerly incarcerated, integrate back into society. Gracie told us about some of the kids who attended the event, discussed their lifes' paths, and how the organization had helped them get on their feet.

Along those lines, consider attending the Portland Rotary volunteer night at Long Creek Youth Center on the 3rd Tuesday of every month. For further details or questions, contact Mike Fortunato: michael.k.fortunato@gmail.com


Jan Chapman, coordinator of the Summer Reading Program, noted that this summer’s program had just ended successfully and thanked everyone who was involved. Jan talked a little bit about Erin Sullivan who wrote a children’s book called - Peace is a Choice You Make.  The book is about a little girl who discovers ways to work through bullying and negative comments, and how it makes a difference in herself.  In the book, the character makes peace with her inner circle and in the world with others. Jan and Bruce Chapman met Erin at a strawberry festival in Cape Elizabeth, and their conversations led to the Rotary reading program. Erin ended up donating 200 books to the program through the United Way, where the decision to use the book was approved. United Way was pleased with success of the program, which was held twice a week for 8-10 weeks. Approximately 152 books were used.  Thanks again to the volunteers who participated. 

Jan noted plans for the Youth Services Committee this year to include reading at Lyseth School. Other priorities include strengthening a relationship with the Portland High School Interact Club. Meghan Peabody is the liaison from our club to the Interact Club. Interact and Portland Rotary worked together this year on the Crutches4Africa effort. 

Another major effort of the Youth Services Committee is providing liaisons to Portland Schools for the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA). The leadership awards offer a 4-day program for students completing their sophomore year….the experience can be life changing.  Thank you goes to Bill Ross, the RYLA coordinator, and to the school liaisons, who are the key to the success of the programs, including: Rusty Atwood, PP Laura Young, Julie Chase, 2nd VP Ellen Niewoehner, Katie Brown, and Dave Putnam.


PP Dick Hall and Meghan Peabody are helping with the District’s Rotary Youth Exchange effort to host and exchange students for next summer. Please contact them if you are interested in hosting.  


Terri St. Angelo, event coordinator, discussed the upcoming Cornhole Championship Tournament, being held at North Yarmouth Academy on Aug. 23rd. They are currently looking for teams and for volunteers to help at the event with: setup, food sever, beverage sales, grill master, officials, take down and cleanup. If you can help or have questions, contact Terri at: tstangelo@andersonwatkinsinsurance.com.


Gus Karlsen spoke about hosting a couple boats in the MS Regatta, taking place on Saturday, Aug. 18th. Gus said our club has won the coveted trophy (the Dirigo Bowl) 8 times in 15 years, and the proceeds go towards the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society in Southern Maine. Gus thanked the club for the donations over the years. The goal is to have two boats in the Regatta. Thanks for your donations. Contact Gus at: 239-1568 or karlsen@prodigy.net.
 

 
Around the Rotary World
You can meet many different people as you travel the world on vacation. 
 
Here PP Kris Rosado shared lunch with some new friends while traveliing to Germany on a recent vacation trip......
 
 
and exchanged their club banner.
 
Cornhole Championship Fund Raiser

To register for this event, click on the following link: www.NYA.org/cornhole

Recovery Coach Academy
The Rotary Club of Portland, along with Greater Portland Health, is hosting a Recovery Coach Academy class. Details are below:
 
Volunteer Opportunities
Following is a list of our Club's volunteer projects. If you know of other opportunities, please contact Loretta: lrowe@maine.rr.com
 

                              When
Project                  Who to Contact


Locker Project         Pop-Up Picnic Dinner
                             with Wayside-Boyd St Gardens
                             5:30-7:00 pm
                             August 20

                             Steve Phillips
                             volunteer@mainelockerproject.org                   


Preble Street           4th Wednesday ea month
Resource Ctr           3:30-6:30 pm
Soup Kitchen           Gracie Johnston
                              gracie.johnston@wcsh6.com


Game Night             3rd Tuesday ea month
Long Creek              Mike Fortunato
Youth Center           michael.k.fortunato@gmail.com
                              or Jim Willey
                              jimandbarbarawilley@gmail.com                       

 

This Week's Duty Assignments

Invocation:  Dave Small
Program Reporter:  Tom Talbott
Bits & Pieces Reporter:  Ben Lowry
Registration/Greeter:   Chris Thomas
Sell Meal Tickets:  Patty Erickson
Raffle:  David Ertz
Collect Meal Tickets:  Brian McDonough
Sgt-at-Arms (Setup):  Dave Putnam 
Sgt-at-Arms (Take Down):  Jim Willey

Rotary Meeting Locations

If you would like to mark your calendars,
we are scheduled at the following locations
through August 24, 2018:

2018 
Aug 17 - Hadlock Field
Aug 24 - Jewish Community Center,
             1342 Congress St., Portland
Aug 31 - tbd


Blue BOLD dates are scheduled Board meeting days.

Any questions, please contact Loretta at: lrowe@maine.rr.com
 

Item Donations Needed
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.
 
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.