Rotary Log for July 18, 2019
A perfect summer day, and so, perhaps, a few vacations kept the attendance numbers down. Still, our sunny Greeter, Jessica Hamilton, brightened the goodwill and energy of the crowd. President Leo brought the meeting to order with the Pledge. Then turned to one- or perhaps two-time past-Rotarian Russ Grazier to lead the patriotic song. Susan Gold followed that up with an inspirational invocation on having gratitude for life’s significant remembrances.
Guests
Among the guests was Beth Danislowski, proudly, and with clarity, introduced by her dad, Basil. Beth brought his latest grandchild, a girl, into the world.
Cindy Alex stood in for Ted to introduce PMAC Executive Director Grazier, Development Director Judy Pinkham and performer Kai DiMuzio (more on him below.)
Stella Scamman introduced Leslie Weld, wife of today’s guest speaker, the Honorable William Weld of Massachusetts and many of the Governor’s supporters.
And Peg Millar introduced her grandson, Will, a fine young man visiting her from Florida.
Announcements and Raffle
What?!… There were no announcements.
Dave Holden accepted the $43 raffle prize on behalf of Walter Liff. Is that legal? No match. On to the packed program…
Jeremy Alex Fund PMAC Scholarship Recipient Kai DiMuzio
Russ took the podium again after a brief introduction by Ted’s better half. He offered gratitude to our Club, the Jeremy Alex Fund, and to Ted for supporting a scholarship for Kai DiMuzio, the latest in a line of recipients.
Jeremy disappeared into the Maine woods 15 years ago during Ted’s presidential year. An intelligent young man with many gifts, Jeremy had also made tragic choices leading him down a path of drug use.
Ted turned an unthinkable tragedy into something positive by establishing the Fund in Jeremy’s honor. It offers a positive message and better choices for at-risk youth. Jeremy’s love of music led to the annual PMAC scholarship.
Kai thanked the Club for the Award which enables him to take private lessons on upright bass and to play with PMAC’s jazz ensemble. Kai performed a brilliant duet, “Autumn Leaves,” with Russ on saxophone, demonstrating his talent and passion for music and the upright bass. Kai will attend UNH in the fall, majoring in music composition.
Guest Speaker Honorable William Weld
Long-time Rotarian, New Hampshire Republican of note, and all-around very nice person, Stella Scamman, provided the introduction. She advised everyone that today’s was the first presentation in our Club’s Candidate Outreach program. The purpose: to allow us to hear from as many presidential, senatorial and house candidates as possible leading up to the 2020 election.
The ground rules are simple: listen respectfully, questions only from Club Members and one question only- no editorials or follow-up questions.
On to our speaker, Governor Weld, who had already made the rounds of the room as part of a tongue-in-cheek campaign goal. He intends to shake the hand of every New Hampshire voter three times between now and next November.
The Governor, a self-described fiscal conservative, was elected to Massachusetts highest office in 1990 with 50% of the vote. He was re-elected in one of the bluest Democratic states with a 70% majority. He credits his success in balancing the budget, lowering taxes, reforming welfare and creating jobs to “building alliances across party lines.” Governor Weld did not mince words in comparing his approach to that of President Trump, who he referred to as a “divider”.
The candidate drew many comparisons to his campaign goals and the record of the current resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and the legislature. In his stump speech and responses to follow-up questions Governor Weld identified his many priorities:
Putting an end to deficit spending. By his account it is moving to $30 trillion, a price that will be paid by future generations. He intends to accomplish a balanced budget with a zero-based budgeting strategy.
Focus on work force and education realities. The rapid rise of technology, such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and self-driving vehicles will result in the loss of 25% of the jobs done by lower-skilled workers. There is a need to invest in the training and education of these workers in the technical fields. Great effort is required to remedy increasingly divisive income inequality, according to the candidate.
Ensuring that our country is an honest, respectful, and loyal ally internationally. He described that strategy as a force multiplier. By contrast he referred to the rhetoric coming from the Trump administration as akin to that of 1930’s Germany.
Committing to climate agreements in the face of scientifically undisputed global warming.
Convincing the electorate that he is the most socially libertarian-leaning candidate.
Ameliorating divisiveness in our country. How? By “reaching across the aisle, not politicizing the oval office and stop bashing people over the head.”
He concluded his pitch by remarking that, “His dogfood is selling pretty briskly.”
So how does Governor Weld intend to upset the seemingly invincible incumbent in the primary? Simply, he posits, by starting with a win in New Hampshire.
Thus, the election season is in full force and promises to be another interesting time for our country and the Rotary Club of Portsmouth. President Leo left us with the message to live by the Four Way Test. Could we use more of that in our political discourse?
Respectfully submitted, Neal Ouellett
