4/23/26 meeting (Zoom) opened at 5:30pm by Lynn
Attendance: Dan Ellis, Peter Morgan, Lynn Ellis, Phaedra Bond, Suzanne Hedrick, Peggy Akers, Sally Chappell, John Morris, Martha Spiess, Diana Merenda, Madison Coveno
Lynn introduced new Chapter member Phaedra Bond, Iranian-American U S Military veteran and interfaith chaplain in South Portland. and also currently a volunteer with the Portland Police Department. She delivered a very informative talk on authoritarianism and Christian Nationalism using the Trump administration as an example of the former and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as an example of the latter.
Secretary’s Report: March minutes accepted as written.
Treasurer’s Report: Current balances as follows:
Checking: $1,578.60
Savings: $10,293.19
CD: $20,317.19
Total: $32,188.98
Finance Committee will meet to propose a budget which will be discussed and voted on at the May meeting.
The $1000 Doug Rawlings Scholarship will be awarded to a student from Orono High School.
Membership Report: ninety Chapter members of which fourteen have not paid yearly dues for 2026.There are six active Honorary members. Cumberland County boasts the most members followed by Kennebec County with the next most.
“Earth’s Greatest Enemy” film in Brunswick on 4/18 – Peter thanked Lynn for organizing the showing and for tabling at the theater.
The film will be shown again on July 10th at 3pm, also at the Evening Star Cinema in Brunswick, to coincide with the State of Maine Air Show at the Brunswick Executive Airport. This showing will be sponsored by the Chapter and by Peace Works Maine.
Earth Day Celebration in Brunswick on April 25th from 10am to 3pm sponsored by Peace works.Peggy will assist with the help of students from Yarmouth High School.
Memorial Day Parade from Topsham to Brunswick: Nothing has been finalized as of yet.Peace Works will not participate this year. Peggy will coordinate with Rosie Paul concerning our possible participation.
Peggy reported that the town of Lubec has requested a speaker for their Memorial Day program. She also reported that Indivisible Maine would like to have a speaker for a workshop session in Gorham on May 16th. No one volunteered for either event.
Peter expressed a desire for changes to our Facebook page. Lynn suggested more discussion on the matter at a future meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 6:50pm. Next meeting on May 28th (in person) in Brunswick. Adam will pursue the possibility of a Zoom connection to the meeting.
