INSPIRATION
Rob Black chose a message from the late Billy Graham which advised us to find the rose among the thorns as we go through life.
SUPER SUCCESSFUL BAG
(Bring A Guest) LUNCH
We had roughly 30 guests and visitors join us for the meeting. Thanks to all who brought prospective members.
ANNOUNCEMENTS, Etc.
President Don thanked our greeters, Holly Applegate and Ron Hoak, as well as our front desk workers Rob Black and Anthony Landi.
Pres. Don had the privilege of inducting our newest member, PJ Fox III. PJ is the third member of his family to be a member of Providence Rotary and was accompanied by his father, Past President PJ Fox, Jr. and his sister, Joy. Both PJ and Joy participated in our club’s Group Study Exchange visit to India several years ago.
Applications for grants from the Providence Rotary Charities Foundation are due by the end of March. Please see the club website for information and application forms.
Terri Adelman noted that the books for our reading project have been labelled thanks to Art Norwalk, Don and Cheri Saracen, Maury Ryan, and Wendy Marcus for their help. We have 15 folks signed up to read to the kids and Terri will follow up on scheduling.
Happy Bucks were postponed until next week to give extra time to our special guest speaker.
SEN. REED SAYS NATIONAL DEFENSE NEEDS WILL PROVIDE THOUSANDS OF GOOD JOBS IN RI, BUT WE HAVE TO TRAIN THE WORKERS
U. S. Senator Jack Reed offered commentary on several current events including the economy, gun violence, and Russia.
Sen. Reed noted that the U.S. economy has added 18.1 million jobs since the bottom of the last recession in 2010. However, this job growth has come without much in terms of wage increases. We have a changing workplace with automation replacing middle range skills. The senator believes we need to invest in education infrastructure as well as physical items like roads and bridges so that we train for the skills that will be required in the economy of the future. He cited the partnership created by Electric Boat to train workers to build the new class of submarines which will provide well-paying jobs for decades to come.
Commenting on the recent school shooting in FL, Sen. Reed said he has long supported what he calls rational gun policies. These include an assault rifle ban and expanded background checks, both of which he has sponsored in the past.
Mr. Reed stated he believes that there is an ongoing information war promulgated by the Russians and cited stories produced by RT (Russian TV channel) that are artificially promoted in social media to rise to prominence in newsfeeds and other digital sources. These can be range from outright fiction to a Russo centric point of view and are competing for the minds of U.S. voters.
Senator Reed engaged in a lively question and answer period following his prepared remarks.
