Rotary Log for November 9, 2017
President Elect Cleo opened the meeting at 12:15
To commemorate Veterans Day, a UNH Army ROTC Color Guard was in place during the Pledge of Allegiance.
Al Lantinen directed the song, God Bless America.
Senor John Rice provided a short Invocation.
Greeter Diane Lavigne led us in the Four Way Test.
Guests and Visiting Rotarians
Leonard introduced Catherine Kolios and Skip Page from Rain for Sahel and Sahara. Rain is a not for profit organization providing aid to Niger, Africa.
Guests included Randy Whistler, Bob Miller, Paige Wilks, Angela Ferris, Jess Kellogg, Laura Barker and Amy Greenlaw.
Club Announcements, etc.
- Priscilla MacInnis is looking for Thanksgiving pie and turkey cookers. This is a critical need and time is running short.
- Leo reminded all that Christmas Tree Sale sign-ups are quickly filling up. Now most open spots are for Saturdays and Sundays.
- Marie Brownell is collecting Pre School to Fourth grade books. (Basil asked, "What if we still need them?")
- Barbara Miller told us about the upcoming Social, Monday November 13 5:30-7:30 at Mombo’s.
- Kaitlyn Burn (left) was inducted as a new member by Tristan Shanley.
- Cuzzin' Richard announced that the Portsmouth Jazz & Blues Festival will be held on November 12th at Portwalk.
- Charlie Bourdages won $70 in the 50/50 raffle.
- Yvonne Legge ran in the NYC marathon last weekend. Nice Job!
Guest Speaker
Priscilla introduced our guest speaker, Colonel Jim Ryan of the N.H. Air National Guard.
Colonel Ryan commands the 157th Air Refueling Wing which consists of about 1300 full and part-time (“traditional”) members. The Wing supports a global refueling mission with eight KC135R Stratotanker aircraft. The 157th maintains a fire emergency services unit, a support squadron and a security forces squadron. Home for the 15th is Pease Air National Guard base.
In honor of Veterans Day, Ryan notes that less than one-half percent of the population is serving in the Armed Forces. With the exception of the period before World War II, this is the lowest percentage in our history. In 1938 "Armistice Day" became a legal holiday honoring the end of World War I, the so-called “war to end all wars.” That happened on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of the year in 1918. In 1954 the definition was expanded to include veterans of all wars and was renamed "Veterans Day".
The N.H. Air National Guard deploys to Guam, El Salvador, the UK, Spain , Germany, Quatar and other places to support refueling efforts. The unit also provides refueling to fighter jets in transit over the Atlantic. That’s a mission that involves giving gas about every 300 miles. The unit also is involved with humanitarian and disaster relief efforts all over the world including recently to Haiti.
The KC 135 has been the backbone of the refueling effort for about 60 years. Most of the current R-model aircraft date from the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. In 2019, Pease will welcome a new larger refueler, the KC-46. The KC-46 is expected to be more fuel-efficient and quiet. It will also have an increased refueling, passenger and cargo-carrying capacity.
The meeting was adjourned at 1:17.
Dutiful Scribe du jour, Everett Eaton
Photography by Sara Treacy
