8/24/2009 F. Lee Bailey, Esq. Discusses a Successful Inmate Re-entry Program
Sergeant at Arms
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Jeff Jolicoeur was our Sergeants of Arms today. Thanks Jeff!!!!!
Greeter
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Lucille Zelenkewich and Nikki Desjardins served as Greeters today. Next week's greeter for the August 31st meeting will be Marc Pitman.
50/50 Tickets
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Harold Buzzell sold $149 worth of 50/50 tickets. Dan Parks won $75. Dan will sell tickets next week. Jo Dennis won 10 free tickets to the next 50/50 drawing.
World Service Cup
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The donations for this month's World Service Cup will go to acquire back-to-school backpacks with anti domestic violence themes for kids.
Fined for pictures in the Paper
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There were no pictures in the paper last week.
Cell Phones
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A $10.00 fee for cell phone ringing continues for the 2008-2009 Club year. No fines assessed today.
On Leave
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Cynthia Corbin.
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
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Sarah recognized two very special guest today: Jan Goddard (Past District Governor) and Anita Diaz, our Rotary Exchange Student from Argentina. Sarah then asked all of the many guests today to stand and be recognized. She then asked all visiting Rotarians to likewise stand and be recognized
What can you do?
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* Tell Board Members what you are passionate about for community projects
* Tell the program committee about interesting speakers/topics you would like to listen to
* Be involved, join a committee
* Be active
* Be positive
Happy Dollars
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As previously announced, and in deference to today's speaker, there were no Happy Dollars today.
Announcements:
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There were no announcements today.
Upcoming speaker schedule:
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August 31, 2009 Kara Kugelmeyer, Thorndike Press September 7, 2009
Labor Day (no meeting)
September 14, 2009 Steve Erario, Mid-Maine Sustainability Coalition
September 21, 2009 Lauri LaChance, Maine Development Foundation
September 28, 2009 Tom McAdam, Kennebec Behavioral Health
October 5, 2009 International Woodfuels
Waterville Rotary Club Web Site
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http://www.clubrunner.ca/waterville
Today's Program: Amicus: A Successful Inmate Re-entry Program for Maine (F. Lee Baily, Esq.)
Bailey touts prison program
by
BY LARRY GRARD Staff Writer
08/25/2009
WATERVILLE -- Through his talk Monday to the Waterville Rotary Club, renowned defense lawyer F. Lee Bailey appealed to business leaders: Make contact with the state prison system, and indicate a willingness to hire inmates who have shown they deserve early release.
Bailey is working with Waterville lawyer John Nale to implement the Amicus program, which encourages inmates to participate in educational skill-training programs. On successful completion, the inmates would be eligible for early release."I hope that you folks will give it a try," Bailey said to a packed room of Rotarians and guests at the Alfond Youth Center. "If it can't be done in Maine, it can't be done anywhere."
Bailey asked that business people indicate an interest to Nale, who chairs the Maine State Prison Industries Advisory Council, which is in the early stages of its effort to implement Amicus.
"Businesses would choose from a list of eligibles," Bailey said. "Businessmen like challenges, and like to succeed."
As Bailey fielded questions, a local businessman told him of his own success in hiring a former inmate. Bob Jacobs, owner of Windows Plus in Winslow, said that the man he hired performed well, and is now taking college courses.
"He was fantastic," Jacobs said. "He had experience in the glazing industry, and was reliable."
Jacobs said that his wife, Deb, and other members of Cornerstone Christian Fellowship of Vassalboro make visits to the Kennebec County Jail in Augusta.
"Churches," Bailey said, "are extremely important in this effort."
Bailey, who helped start a similar initiative in Minnesota, estimated that one-third of inmates are "fit for release."
"Sociopaths and sex offenders," he said, "are bad risks. It's best to take a good, small bite out of the best of the apple."
Prisons, he said, should advise inmates of a checklist of desired behavior "as soon as the door clinks behind them." Education, fitness and honesty are among them, he said. Substance-abuse issues must be addressed prior to release, he said.
Bailey also suggested that polygraph tests be used on sex offenders and inmates with drug dependency. Such tests would measure their intent to repeat the crimes, he said.
Sarah Sugden, Rotary's local president, agreed with Bailey that such work programs reduce the number of repeat offenders.
"It's about moving forward," Sugden said. "That is the ideal to which we should strive, identifying innovative ways to find alternatives."
Sugden, director of the Waterville Public Library, is involved with Greater Waterville Community Children and Youth, which she said helps children who have made wrong choices.
Larry Grard -- 861-9239
lgrard@centralmaine.com
After his presentation, Sarah presented Mr. Bailey with a Rotary Four Way Test keychain with the thanks of the club.