Rotary Log for December 5, 2019
There was a great turnout for this meeting as the speaker was Democratic presidential candidate, Tulsi Gabbard. In Leo’s absence, President-Elect, Jon, opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Trish Cummings then came to the podium to explain a special tribute. Apparently, before he died on Thanksgiving Day, Rotarian Bill Mortimer had requested Auld Lang Syne be sung at the meeting. John Rice led the singing of this traditional Scottish song of farewell, which was followed by a moment of silence. The invocation was pronounced by Mark Lorusso.
Several guests were introduced, followed by general announcements. Joann Neumann and Kenneth Murphy are on 7-DayNotice… Jon pointed out baskets on the tables for tips for the Portsmouth Country Club luncheon staff… Christmas tree sales are on track, despite the heavy snowfall last Monday and Tuesday.
Trish read a heartfelt thank-you note from a community member who had attended the Rotary Thanksgiving luncheon. Trish also brought along a colorful bag which Bill Mortimer had prepared before his death. It contained one each of every Christmas tree ornament that Portsmouth Rotary has ever produced. Bill asked that they be auctioned, and the proceeds donated to Rotary. That will happen at the next meeting.
Betsy Scott reported on the Thanksgiving luncheon, which was attended by about 90-100 people. In addition, 190 meals were delivered to the community. She and co-chair Ann Bliss thanked all the businesses that helped. The list is long. Portsmouth Hospital donated 28 turkeys and the Greek Orthodox Church donated its parish hall. Hilltop Chevrolet, Me & Ollies, the Flower Kiosk, Scamman Farm, Ohana Kitchen all contributed. Others helping were Greenland Central School and Portsmouth Country Club.
Sara Treacy announced that Salvation Army dinners were over for 2019 and that she would be scheduling 2020 soon. Also, she asked for one more volunteer to take photographs at Rotary meetings. New member Don Chick immediately raised his hand.
James Petersen confessed that J. Dennis Robinson had originally been scheduled to speak. His presentation has been moved to February. However, his new book “The Music Hall, How A City Built a Theater and a Theater Shaped a City” is offered for sale at $35. Mr. Robinson will generously donate $10 from every sale to Portsmouth Rotary.
Susan Gold announced that the Communications Committee would meet again in January…Steve Wood appealed for the donation of an old but usable iPad for Rotary’s use at the Christmas tree sales.
Joanie Dickinson praised the 17 Interact students from Portsmouth High School who helped unload Christmas trees. She needs volunteers to stuff stockings for Crossroads House and the Chase Home. She is also selling raffle tickets for a beautiful handmade “Snowman” quilt stitched by a Portsmouth High School teacher. Additionally, she asked members to support UNH’s Rotaract students in their Chipotle fundraising.
Fine Master Neal Ouellett was greeted with the usual ‘boos’ as he leveled the first fines of the winter at certain members. He dinged those who have already made plans to go skiing or escape to warmer climes! He asked for a show of hands of all those who had benefited from the stewardship of retiring Portsmouth City Manager, John Bohenko. When many shot up, he fined them all. He then asked everyone to give John a standing ovation!
Dave Underhill spoke as co-chair of the Portsmouth Rotary Recovery Committee. He explained that Portsmouth Rotary has joined six other New Hampshire clubs in our district to launch community education forums. These gatherings will discuss the tough issues surrounding substance misuse and the opioid crisis.
The Portsmouth Community Coordinated Response Steering Committee has partnered with the City of Portsmouth. The committee, which includes our own Moe Sullivan, has come up with five high-priority recommendations.
Number One is to launch community education and training in Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and trauma-informed care. The curriculum includes professional training, community awareness building and school populations.
Rotary will partner in presenting a “Master Trainer Program” this spring. Thirty residents of the Seacoast and Southern Maine will be trained, and they, in turn, will train 30 more each That’s nearly 1,000 people educated on how to lead this community response to trauma and substance issues that come with it.
Dave thanked the Board of Directors for approving $10,000 to underwrite the training and materials in partnership with the Pinetree Institute. Half of this money has come from a William Cash Committee grant. The board is working to fund the other half.
With the partnership of other area Rotary Clubs, the goal is to raise $30,000 in Rotary dollars this year. Portsmouth Rotary’s commitment is the anchor to get that effort launched. All our District Rotary Clubs will be part of the community education solution. They will be building on the solid successes this program has reported in Michigan, Washington and Virginia.
Heath Wilson was inducted into the Club after a short introduction from his sponsor, Nicole Scarneo.
John Lyons won the 50/50 raffle but, sadly, did not have the matching number to win the extra cash!
Jon next introduced our speaker, Congresswoman and Democratic presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii.) Elected to Congress in 2012, Ms. Gabbard has served on the Foreign Affairs, Armed Services and Homeland Security Committees. She is a major in the Hawaii Army National Guard and has been deployed twice to the Middle East.
Tulsa greeted everyone with “Aloha” and praised the work of Rotarians. She especially likes the way Rotarians step in to crisis situations when governments are not moving fast enough. She emphasized that her own overriding goal is to be of service to others. She wants to be the leader of everyone, regardless of party or background.
Tulsa recounted her arrival in Congress when she was warned that, as a freshman, she wouldn’t be able to get bills or amendments passed. Important issues were the province of more senior members of Congress. In order to start building relationships, she turned to the universal appeal of food. She asked her mother back in Hawaii to prepare 434 boxes of macadamia toffee.
She sent a box of toffee to every member of congress and their staffers, including a hand-written note. As a result, she was approached and thanked by many members of Congress, including committee chairmen. Her message was “Let us serve together.” She again emphasized the need to respect everyone and to serve the people and the country above everything else.
In response to a question regarding NATO, she said that, as President, she would look at funding and ongoing relations with other members. As a member of the Foreign Affairs and Armed Services Committees, she was familiar with these issues. She is committed to ending regime-changing wars and would redirect dollars to domestic needs such as infrastructure and education.
She finds Hillary Clinton’s recent accusation that she is a Russian spy offensive and irresponsible. Tulsa says the 9/11 attacks motivated her to join the armed forces. She thinks Clinton’s remarks were perhaps an attempt to silence people like her who challenged the foreign relations policies of former regimes. Clinton played an important role in the foreign policy of the Obama administration.
One Rotarian suggested that, if she wasn’t chosen as the Democratic candidate, that she run for Speaker of the House. Gabbard replied that she is not running again for her congressional seat.
Regarding gun control, Tulsi would uphold the Second Amendment, but feels that sensible gun safety legislation must be passed. All agree that we want our kids to be safe in school, she maintains. We have a right to be safe in church or at the grocery store. The goal should be to get to the root cause of violence.
Tulsi acknowledges that Climate Change is a very polarizing issue. Growing up in Hawaii, surrounded by natural beauty, it’s normal to be concerned about the environment. When confronted by a man in Iowa about her climate views, she responded simply. She explained that everyone has a right to clean water and clean air. The man saw her point and added that, as a farmer, he was also concerned about soil conservation so that he could grow the best crops.
Jon thanked Congresswoman Gabbard for visiting Portsmouth Rotary. The meeting ended with all joining in the 4-Way Test.
Respectfully submitted, Francoise Meissner
