Portland Rotary Club 100th Anniversary Gala

Lee Nelson of WCSH Channel 6 was the Master of Ceremonies at the Rotary Club of Portland Maine 100 Anniversary Gala.  The Roaring Twenties themed gala, at the Holiday Inn by the Bay, was attended by over 230 people.

 

The Portland Club was the 177th Rotary club, chartered on September 1, 1915 under the auspices of the Boston Rotary Club. That was a difficult time to start a Rotary club with war raging in Europe and growing unease in the United States.  

 

A short film provided reflections from many Portland Rotarians, including past District Governor Bob Patten prior to his passing earlier this year. District Governor Sheila Rollins congratulated the club on their milestone and two Paul Harris Fellow Awards were presented.  The first PHF was presented to long time Rotary member and former Chief Justice of the Maine Supreme Court, the late Judge Vincent McKusick.  It was accepted on his behalf by a colleague from Pierce Atwood. The second PHF was presented to Westbrook’s own Enoch Barton (see related story in this Scribbler).

 

Portland City Manager Jon Jennings read a City Proclamation, after which Keynote Speaker Senator Angus King was introduced.  He related childhood memories of his father’s involvement with Rotary in Alexandria VA and periodically attending those meetings himself.  During his short speech, he quoted Robert F Kennedy: “Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”  Senator King has a long history with Portland Rotary and was presented a Paul Harris Fellow Award at the conclusion of his speech.

 

The evening concluded with dancing to the Carmine Terracciano Band.

 

Pictured: W-G Rotary Club President Christine Johnson with District Governor Sheila Rollins (and boa!)