Biddeford and Saco Rotary - Newsletter

Have an announcement? Send your Rotary news to Helene.plourde@kennebunksavings.com. Notices received by noon on Monday will be included in the TACK for that week.

WEEK IN REVIEW

April 24, 2010

Paul Deschambault led the club in “God Bless America.” Ron Gagnon said the prayer. Heather Gendron led the club in the four-way test, and Heather MacLean was extremely grateful she didn’t have to do it.

Everyone thought the buffet was delicious.

Phil Denison talked about how the Rotary Foundation changes and saves lives around the world. A contribution to the Foundation can mean the difference between life and death, he said, mentioning in particular the Malawi Children’s Village in Limbe, Cameroon. Rotary has provided clean water, food, clothing, sewing machines and even a windmill to MCV.

President Steve reminded the club that District Assembly will be held April 10, and that the GSE team from India will be in the area April 25-27. Three clubs will be working with the group, and he is not certain yet as to whether or not we will have to host any of the members. Steve said our club turned 90 on March 1, and reminded the club that the visit with the Bideford, England club in May will constitute the birthday party. He said the club has not found a location for the lobster bake. Anyone with a large home, willing to host 35 or more people should contact Chuck Hennessey or Steve.

Frank Dumais thanked everyone for working during the auction and for making it a success. He said the event grossed about $52,000, with proceeds to be shared with Saco Bay.

Julie Villemaire, president elect, announced that she is working on committee lists for her presidency. She suggested that all members indicate to her which committee they would like to serve on so that they do not end up on a committee that they do not enjoy.

During the fines, Frank Dumais said he was happy that the auction was over. Karen fined Joe for being late in paying his bills, but he said it is good business practice.

Josh was fined for leaving the word “machine” out of Joe’s business name during the auction.. Jim Audiffred was fined for telling Karen that cleaning was women’s work. Jim tried to defend himself, but he made it much, much worse. Jackson was fined for being last in and for being on his phone when he entered. The first part of that seems fineable, but not the second.

Jim Clingensmith introduced Eliot Cutler, an independent candidate for governor. Clingensmith said Cutler was the person responsible for putting the Denver Airport way outside of the city, and noted that Cutler served as Associate Director for National Resources, Energy and Science in the White House Office of Management and Budget under President Carter. In addition, at President Carter’s request, he helped negotiate a settlement to the Maine Indian Lands Claims dispute about thee decades ago.

Cutler, who graduated from Harvard, thanked the club for its work, and defended his Denver Airport decision, noting that it is the most successful airport in the country and that it has brought economic development to the area. (When I used to fly into Denver a lot to go skiing in Taos, I always wondered why the airport was in the middle of nowhere.)

Cutler said he believes in the four-way test and thinks the state government would be fine if it followed all four rules.

Cutler said he was born and raised in Bangor and that his grandfather came to the U.S. through Halifax and did not speak English when he arrived. He was a peddler and went on to raise a family with all three daughters graduating from college. He said his grandfather is a story of success.

He said he believes that the state of Maine is vibrant, but that people are frustrated, angry and disturbed. Too many Mainers, he said, don’t believe the government is on their side. They believe that the government is remote, big, leaderless and broken. He said people have a right to be frustrated and angry, but they should not give up or be discouraged.

He added that he thinks Maine today is like a boat. It has sprung a leak, the engine is “busted,” and there are six-foot waves going over the bow. “And we are arguing about whether to bail from the left of the right,” he said.

Cutler said to vote for him because he can fix the engine and plug the leak. He said he won’t sugar coat anything, and will always tell the truth about the challenges the state faces and the tough choices that need to be made. Under the current administration, he said, time has been wasted. The population has increased by 3 percent, but there have been very few new jobs created. The economy is at a standstill, schools need help, the debt is staggering, and the state is the oldest and the poorest in the U.S., he said. He added that businesses are not coming to Maine in sufficient numbers, and those that are here are not expanding. The cost of doing business in the state, he said, is high, and there is too little economic activity and too little growth. Governors don’t create jobs, he said, but a new government can help change the state so that people and businesses can thrive. Cutler said that as governor he would set goals that we could all share. He said he wants to cut costs in government, health care, and electricity. He added that the state should focus on people’s health instead of the health of the health care industry. Insurance premiums have risen five times faster than people’s income, he said, and the cost is crippling some families. The government in Maine, he said, is large and expensive. We pay for things we don’t need and pay too much for things we do, he said. The state gives bad customer service, he added, and imposes overzealous regulations that are not good for business and investors. He added that education is expensive and not as good as it could be. He supports charter schools and performance pay to reward good teachers. He added that the University of Maine system should be merged with community colleges to make the system more lean, efficient, and cost-effective. The two groups don’t talk to each other now, he said, so that community college graduates often have trouble entering the University of Maine and having all credits transfer. Another promise Cutler made was to work hard, every day, to bring everyone together into one Maine, one community. He noted that he doesn’t think of himself as being from Bangor. He thinks of himself as a Mainer and as soon as he crosses the border from Canada or New Hampshire, he feels as if he is home.

During the question-and-answer period, Audiffred said he disagrees with the idea of teacher pay as a reward. He said parents have a huge responsibility to make sure that students are good and attentive, and many are not meeting that responsibility. Kids who do not perform cannot be blamed on the teachers. He wondered how to get parents to take an interest in their kids’ education. Cutler agreed that parents need to do more, and said that is one reason that he supports charter schools, as parents are more involved in that system. Matt Early asked what Cutler thought the national health care reform meant for Maine. Cutler said he was worried and thinks the bill is complicated. He added, however, that he sees an opportunity in that the bill because it allows for pilot programs built around quality outcomes. The government could choose Maine as a pilot, which would allow the state to save money and deliver better care, he said.Someone asked if Cutler is pro casino and he said he is not. He said he believes casino money will go outside of the state of Maine, that people who gamble at casinos can often not afford it, and that, at best, casinos are an expensive form of recreation. Someone asked Cutler to explain what he thinks are the advantages that the state holds, and he replied the mountains, lakes, rivers, agriculture, the gulf of Maine and the people of the state.

In closing, Cutler said Maine can be the comeback state of the decade. His website is: www.cutler2010.com.

Thanks Heather Mc for taking the notes. Great job!!

Upcoming Events:

Silent Auction and Trek Across ME TrekkerPledge Night

                             Date: Wednesday, March 31st 2010
                             Time: 5:30-9 PM
                             Location: Run of the Mill Restaurant in Saco

Music, hors d'oeuvres, silent auction, and good times!
A cash bar and dinner are available.

Run of the Mill Restaurant, located on Saco Island will host our Silent Auction and American Lung Association of Maine Trek Across Maine Trekker Pledge Night. Throughout the evening, dinner guests will be able to bid on donated items on display. Computers will be placed at the Trek information table for attendees to pledge donations to cyclists riding with the CBC Trek Team. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the CBC, Run of the Mill, or by emailing Jen Myles at jennifermyles@msn.com.

**100% of the silent auction sales will go to support the CBC.**
** Run of the Mill will donate a portion of the dinner/drink sales**

PP Don has announced that the Club is making a $5,000 to the OOB Ballpark as our Community project. In addition to this donation, volunteers are needed this Saturday, April 3rd to help with a clean-up. Please contact PP Don at 284-4591 for more details.

Hope to see you all tomorrow!

Helene, Ye Editor

Neil’s Motors, Inc.

Quickprint Color Center

Saco Biddeford Savings Bank

Southern Maine Medical Center