Collins to present at A-L Breakfast Club July 12

AUBURN — Matthew Collins will be the featured speaker of the Auburn-Lewiston Rotary Breakfast Club from 7:15 a.m. to 8:15 a.m., Wednesday, July 12, at the United Methodist Church, 439 Park Ave. Collins is in his 16th year as a volunteer with ESGR in Maine, a Department of Defense program, seeking to foster a culture in which all employers support and value the employment and military service of members of the National Guard and Reserve in the United States.

He had the honor of serving four years of active service and more than 28 years as a reservist, retiring at the end of 2007 from the Coast Guard Reserve as a Chief Warrant Officer 4. Collins holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Maine at Augusta. Prior to retirement, his employment had been in environmental protection, assisting the economically disadvantaged, helping people with disabilities obtain suitable employment, and investigating civil rights and labor law matters.

ESGR facilitates and promotes a cooperative culture of employer support for the guard and reserve service by developing and advocating mutually beneficial initiatives, recognizing outstanding employer support, increasing awareness of applicable laws and policies, resolving potential conflicts between employers and their service members, and acting as the employers’ principal advocate within Department of Defense.

Paramount to ESGR’s mission is encouraging employment of Guardsmen and Reservists, who bring integrity, global perspective and proven leadership to the civilian workforce.

Reservations are not required to attend; breakfast is $10 per person. To learn more, contact Pete Preble at jeff.preble@wright-pierce.com or visit www.auburn-lewistonrotary.org/