Rotary Log: October 4, 2012 (Congress Candidate)

Rain, rain, go away! "New" England has been a lot like England lately! If we can't golf, we might as well listen to a politician…

Two-minute tidbit. (I love these) Here was the question presented by Tricia Cummings: who founded the now 40-year-old Christmas Tree sales? The answer is sealed in a mayonnaise jar under Funk and Wagner's front porch (trivia question within trivia question: who used to say that?). The answer to both is somewhere in this log. The Christmas Tree sales have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars over the last 40 years. Plus, it's just fun! Really gets you in the spirit of the season.

Welcome Annette Brennen! Annette works with Great Bay Community College and this is a second-round with Rotary, having first been in a club in Ireland!

Announcements

The Chief announced that the Citizens Police Academy will be starting October 30 and every Tuesday for eight weeks... the Rotary Thanksgiving Dinner is here again and you can volunteer by e-mailing Rotarythanksgiving@Gmail.com. My family has had a lot of fun running the roadrace in the morning and delivering meals right after the race. Volunteering on this particular day really makes you Thankful when you sit down for Thanksgiving... October 26 is the Food Drive at Philbricks Fresh Market, so please bring food there to replenish the soup kitchens in the Seacoast... Christmas Tree sign-ups are being circulated now and we are each required to volunteer for three time slots... We are now selling wreaths to businesses and there are order forms on the tables at our meetings or you can contact Mark Sullivan. 12 Inch $16, 16 Inch $20 and 24 Inch $35. Prepayment Is Required... the New Member social is tomorrow (Thursday), Jim and Ellen LaBrie's.

The Program

Carol Shea Porter, our former Congresswoman, is running to unseat Congressman Frank Guinta (Congressman Ginta will be speaking at a later meeting). Carol began by pointing out that she was born and raised in New Hampshire and her family are direct descendents of Gen. John Stark of Live Free or Die fame. She pointed out that the Rotary 4-way test would be good for government. There's something people of all political persuasions can agree on!

Carol believes that our top priority ought to be a comprehensive jobs bill. She said that there are lots of small bills passed and pending in Congress that deal with jobs, but no comprehensive bill. Such a bill would focus on infrastructure and education and would include a private partnership with government. The jobs bill would also reward corporations for staying home instead of going overseas. Carol would eliminate tax breaks for businesses that do go overseas and would allow no tax dollars to be spent teaching foreigners in other countries to speak better English. Carol believes there ought to be economic incentives if you place your corporation in a depressed area. The government, as a large purchaser of goods, ought to focus on buying products made in America. Investment in community colleges that can teach the skills needed for employers in this country will, in Carol's view, spur economic growth.

She would raise taxes on those earning over $300,000 and give tax breaks to the rest, would reduce farm bill subsidies, and she would cut the Pentagon budget.

Our Club has been very fortunate to attract all of the major candidates for public office.

The Log has checked its records and notes that Ben Wheeler just won the 50/50 raffle a few weeks ago when his kid was born and, coincidentally or not, he also won the gift certificate today and the 50/50 raffle again. Just the luck of the draw? The Log is calling for an independent Commission to investigate. Oh, and the 2 trivia answers: Art Cole and Jonny Carson.

Mistletoe Missive

Volume 1, Number 5

Santa’s elves have been busy at work this past week preparing for our 40^th season selling Christmas Trees and our 1^st season selling Business Wreaths…

Business Wreath Project:   Sales have officially opened for our Business Wreath project.  This is shaping up to be a worthwhile fundraiser for our club.  Wreath sales will happen during the month of October to ensure there is enough time to order and receive the wreaths for proper holiday display.  All sales are pre-paid and are coordinated through Mark Sullivan, committee chair.  Please see the flyer sent in the e-mail blast or visit our web-site for more details.

Interested in helping the committee?  A brief meeting is scheduled for this Thursday after our regular Rotary meeting.

Fast and Furious is how I would describe the Shift Sign-Ups.  Rotarians will have until the end of October to voluntarily sign-up for the three required selling shifts.  The sign-up sheets will be available at our meeting this Thursday and every Thursday in October.

Don’t forget to invite family, friends or co-workers to join in the fun.  Non-Rotarian volunteers are needed for our busy selling dates.  Marie Brownell is handling any and all scheduling questions.  Thank you Marie for all of your hard work and dedication to this project!

The Trees of Christmas Past:  Keep the memories of these trees alive by sharing a picture of your favorite Rotary Christmas Tree!  We’d love to get into the Christmas spirit and boost sales by posting a picture on our website.  How far back can we go – there are 40-years’ worth of trees out there!