President Trish opened the luncheon by welcoming guests and visiting Rotarians. 
 
There were several important announcements. Dan Marston talked about  the Interact Beach Clean Up happening this weekend, Saturday May 16th at Wallis Sands Beach. All Rotarians are welcome to man the tent and give out refreshments to the Interact Students. Or Rotarians are welcome to assist with clean-up. 
 
Deb Rourke discussed Market Square Day. We will have two booths and Rotarians are welcome to attend and play chess. The club will be selling chess sets and promoting its first -ever Portsmouth Rotary Club Seacoast Open Chess Tournament. The event is slated for spring 2016 and is projected to be a major fund raiser for the club.
 
 
 
 
John Rice spoke about the Vocational Awards.  There are four categories in which to make a nomination: (1.) Public Service, (2.) Education, (3.)Health and Human Service and (4.) General. The dead-line for submission is May 14.  President Trish promoted the award by remembering that at her first Rotary meeting some 18 years ago, she was honored to see her mother receive a Vocational Service Award. The rest, as they say, is history. Check out the News of the Week to learn more about the history and significance of the Vocational Service Awards program.
 
Our newest Paul Harris Fellow, Bob Field had arranged to have a very special speaker address the club.
Since Bob was unable to be at our meeting Thursday, Jim Rini introduced our guest.  Boston College professor Peter Krause, a Williams College graduate with a PhD from MIT in Political Science, is an expert in Middle East studies. His topic was ISIS,  the crisis in Syria and the mess that is the Middle East.
 
Krause’s rapid-fire presentation was at once fascinating and complicated. We have included at the end of the Log the slides from Dr. Krause's presentation.
 
This is a letter that he received explaining the situation:
 
Sir,

Iran is backing Assad. Gulf states are against Assad!

Assad is against Muslim Brotherhood. Muslim Brotherhood and Obama
are against General Sisi.

But Gulf states are pro-Sisi! Which means they are against Muslim
Brotherhood!

Iran is pro-Hamas, but Hamas is backing Muslim Brotherhood!

Obama is backing Muslim Brotherhood, yet Hamas is against the U.S.!

Gulf states are pro-U.S. But Turkey is with Gulf states against Assad; yet
Turkey is pro-Muslim Brotherhood against General Sisi. And General
Sisi is being backed by the Gulf states!

Welcome to the Middle East and have a nice day.

KN Al-Sabah,
London EC4, U.K.
 
And that about sums it up! 
 
 
 
For those of you who are interested, Dr. Krause's slide presentation is included below. 
 
 
 
Respectfully submitted by Joanie Dickinson
Photos by Jim Rini
 
 
 
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