Rotary Log for June 14, 2018
President Ben opened the meeting at 12:15 and promptly jabbed District Governor Dave for leading a chair scraping conspiracy.
Nancy Clayburgh led us in God Bless America.
Greeter Beth Tuttle helped everyone proclaim the Four Way test.
Senor John Rice provided a lovely Invocation.
At 12:27 President Ben brought the meeting back to order.
Guests and Visiting Rotarians
- Justin and Jim Rini brought along guests.
- Past president James introduced his daughter Olivia who recently graduated high school and will attend Wesleyan University in the Fall. It was noted that Olivia is considerably taller than her Dad…
- President Ben acknowledged Peg Millar's presence at the meeting.
Club Announcements
- President Ben advised that we had been far behind our $19,000 General Fund budget but recently had made up the deficit.
Ben also awarded Paul Harris Fellowships to Art Oxner and Bill Hurley (+5).
- He also announced that Bob Field is now at Webster of Rye and would appreciate visitors.
- Leo Gagnon reminded us that Rotary’s Little League team is headed for the playoffs…Also the N.H. Fisher Cats event in Manchester is scheduled for this Sunday June 24. If desired, Rotarians could buy a ticket for one of our Little League players. The cost is $36 dollars. Coordinate that with Leo.
- Joanie Dickinson says that the club continues to look for a new annual non-profit partner to succeed the Ritchie MacFarland Center.
- Peter Grace mentioned that he still seeks foursomes for this Friday’s Rotary Golf Tournament. Contact him if interested.
- It was announced that Leadership Seacoast had 39 graduates including Rotarian Lyndsey Hery. A show of hands indicated that many of us have gone through that worthwhile program. New candidates from our club are encouraged to apply
Happy Bucks
- There were several announcements about High School graduations including Leo Gagnon, Jon Flagg and Tricia Cummings.
- Justin was happy with the Portsmouth High School boy’s baseball team which won the State Division II Championship.
- Aileen Dugan was thrilled with the day’s program (Bring Back the Trades) as her son is in his third year of apprenticeship.
- Peg Millar was happy to be back at Rotary!
- Wayne Semprini was pleased that the Liberty Pole Celebration committee had met.
The 50/50 raffle of $72 was won by Dick Yeaton.
Speaker
Aileen Dugan introduced Steve Turner of Bring Back the Trades. Steve has owned Turner Upholstery for 30 years and business is growing. It took him 10 years to learn the trade. Turner’s current employees are experienced, older and earn good wages. But he is struggling to find new folks to work for him.
So, he started this campaign with a hat that says, "Bring Back the Trades." Within 30 days, Steve had sold hundreds of hats to skilled workers in 40 states through his Facebook page. They gladly paid $25 each to own one.
"Our goal is to donate a portion of (hat) sales to a scholarship program,” Steve said. “A program where individuals can gain access to the trade education of their choice and ultimately gain employment in that field. That’s vital to the growth of our nation.”
In fact, plumbers, electricians and other trades are in high demand, but their positions go unfilled. As do positions for radiation therapists, health care workers and other technicians.
Former Rotarian Del Record spoke of the Record Family Foundation's involvement. Many of the Records were welders so they thought it was important to support this cause.
Del emphasized that the cost of a two-year trades program is $33,000. That’s far less expensive than the $127,000 average cost of a four- year college education. Record further explained that the vast majority of scholarships given out by Portsmouth High School are for four-year colleges. Of the $355,000 awarded, most went to deserving students among the 170 college-bound graduates. Some $5,100 was awarded to five students for Trades Scholarships.
There were more impressive numbers. For example, the national drop-out rate for a college student is 40% vs 1.6% for trades students. Construction managers can make $47 dollars an hour and plumbers $26 dollars an hour. Really!? During the question and answer period Wayne Semprini wanted the name of the plumber who would work for only $26 dollars an hour.
Incredibly, Portsmouth High School has dropped its trade program. Local independent efforts are supported by the Portsmouth Naval Ship Yard and Chinburg Builders.
The Record Family Foundation, a 501C non-profit, continues to work with Steve Turner to provide trades scholarships for non-college bound students. In this way, they hope to produce individuals who can support themselves and be successful in their communities.
Several Rotarians were feeling in the pink at the meeting.
The meeting was ended at 1:00PM.
Respectfully Submitted, Dutiful Scribe du Jour, Everett Eaton and Suzanne Rapozza
Photos by Jim Rini
