January 12, 2009 Wyly
Posted by Steve Kelleher
Today's Program: Terrorism in the World Today (Colonel Michael Wyly, USMC (ret.)
Rotary Meeting for Monday, January 12th held at the Alfond Youth Center - Here is a recap in case you missed our meeting!
Sergeant at Arms
==============
Tim Beals did a great job as Sergeant of Arms.
Greeter
======
Roger Knauff welcomed us into the meeting today!
50/50 Tickets
===========
Don Plourde sold $78 worth of 50/50 tickets. Dan Bickford won $39 in the raffle and will sell tickets next week. Dan also won 10 free tickets to the next 50/50 drawing. Tom McGowan will be the greeter for meeting on January 26th.
World Service Cups
================
The World Service cups will support the African Orphan Project.
Happy Dollars
===========
Ally had 2 Happy Dollars. First, she is happy about the article in the Aentinel on Sunday about domestic violence. Second, she is thankful for the support she has received from the Board of Directors this year.
Dan Bickford shared that he's happy about the money his daughter gave him today to buy raffle tickets.
Mark Pittman was grateful for the Waterville DPW and their snow removal efforts.
Sarah Sugden is very happy to announce that the Waterville Public Library just received the Maine Library Excellence Award for its Book and Bike Program.
Announcements
=============
Ally announced that there will be no meeting next week due to the Martin Luther King holiday. Rotarians can, however, attend the MLK breakfast at the First Congregational Church and receive credit for a makeup. Ann Beverage will be selling tickets to the breakfast for $5. The breakfast will go from 7:30 to 9:00.
Ed Riggs reported that the Board has approved funding for the well drilling project in ambia and described the particulars of the project. With our funding of $15,000, we may be able to receive an additional $45,000 from the district for a total of $60,000.
David Geller announced that we are now beginning to plan for the Summer Golf Tournament. The committee will welcome new members and those who may be interested should contact him for more information.
Tom Longstaff discussed the Youth Empowerment Through Employment program, noting that it kicked off last Tuesday, 1/6/2009. 25 students were selected and they wil be starting with the program today. He encouraged Rotarian/employers to get involved with these students as both employer and mentor (with an emphasis on the mentorship). There will be a brief meeting of the Vocational Services Committee after the regular meeting today.
Mark Ford announced that the Board has decided that there will not be a spring fund raiser this year because of the success of our efforts year to date. He also noted that for the club year 7/1/08-6/30/09, the club will be making a 1:1 match on donations to the Rotary Foundation.
Today's Program: Terrorism in the World Today (Colonel Michael Wyly, USMC (ret.)
============================================================================
Mark Pitman introduced our Speaker, Colonel Michael Wyly, a retired Colonel in the U.S. Marines. Col. Wyly is a 1962 graduate of the United States Naval Academy and a decorated veteran with multiple tours in Viet Nam. He publishes in military journals and founded of the Bossov Ballet in 1996.
He spoke on the subject of terrorism. Col. Wyly shared that terrorism is a weapon of war. It is a psychological weapon. Terrorism is very dependent on the psychological effect and it is employed in order to destroy or undermine an established power. When terrorism is used most effectively you are not supposed to know where it was initiated.
While we have advanced in warfare technology the speaker did not feel that war was as much about technology as it is about human behavior. In fact history has taught us a lot about war. War had evolved over time. After World War II, and the Korean Conflict we began to discover how important the local population in the area is. In Viet Nam, Col. Wyly began to see acts of terrorism. He told of a story that he experienced involving the local people interested in civic improvement and an act of terrorism that prevented them from moving forward. This incident also put him at considerable risk, making it a very personal experience.
The cost of technology and equipment in warfare has gotten so expensive, that it has become almost unaffordable. Terrorism is less expensive and makes it a possibility for our competitors. If the military becomes irrelevant then who fights the war on terrorism? Terrorists would want us to get the military out of it. The speaker believes it remains a military problem.
Audience questions included: Why do terrorists commit these acts? Col. Wyly believes they are resentful of the country they strike. They do it for religious conviction as well as money.
Sergeant at Arms
==============
Tim Beals did a great job as Sergeant of Arms.
Greeter
======
Roger Knauff welcomed us into the meeting today!
50/50 Tickets
===========
Don Plourde sold $78 worth of 50/50 tickets. Dan Bickford won $39 in the raffle and will sell tickets next week. Dan also won 10 free tickets to the next 50/50 drawing. Tom McGowan will be the greeter for meeting on January 26th.
World Service Cups
================
The World Service cups will support the African Orphan Project.
Happy Dollars
===========
Ally had 2 Happy Dollars. First, she is happy about the article in the Aentinel on Sunday about domestic violence. Second, she is thankful for the support she has received from the Board of Directors this year.
Dan Bickford shared that he's happy about the money his daughter gave him today to buy raffle tickets.
Mark Pittman was grateful for the Waterville DPW and their snow removal efforts.
Sarah Sugden is very happy to announce that the Waterville Public Library just received the Maine Library Excellence Award for its Book and Bike Program.
Announcements
=============
Ally announced that there will be no meeting next week due to the Martin Luther King holiday. Rotarians can, however, attend the MLK breakfast at the First Congregational Church and receive credit for a makeup. Ann Beverage will be selling tickets to the breakfast for $5. The breakfast will go from 7:30 to 9:00.
Ed Riggs reported that the Board has approved funding for the well drilling project in ambia and described the particulars of the project. With our funding of $15,000, we may be able to receive an additional $45,000 from the district for a total of $60,000.
David Geller announced that we are now beginning to plan for the Summer Golf Tournament. The committee will welcome new members and those who may be interested should contact him for more information.
Tom Longstaff discussed the Youth Empowerment Through Employment program, noting that it kicked off last Tuesday, 1/6/2009. 25 students were selected and they wil be starting with the program today. He encouraged Rotarian/employers to get involved with these students as both employer and mentor (with an emphasis on the mentorship). There will be a brief meeting of the Vocational Services Committee after the regular meeting today.
Mark Ford announced that the Board has decided that there will not be a spring fund raiser this year because of the success of our efforts year to date. He also noted that for the club year 7/1/08-6/30/09, the club will be making a 1:1 match on donations to the Rotary Foundation.
Today's Program: Terrorism in the World Today (Colonel Michael Wyly, USMC (ret.)
============================================================================
Mark Pitman introduced our Speaker, Colonel Michael Wyly, a retired Colonel in the U.S. Marines. Col. Wyly is a 1962 graduate of the United States Naval Academy and a decorated veteran with multiple tours in Viet Nam. He publishes in military journals and founded of the Bossov Ballet in 1996.
He spoke on the subject of terrorism. Col. Wyly shared that terrorism is a weapon of war. It is a psychological weapon. Terrorism is very dependent on the psychological effect and it is employed in order to destroy or undermine an established power. When terrorism is used most effectively you are not supposed to know where it was initiated.
While we have advanced in warfare technology the speaker did not feel that war was as much about technology as it is about human behavior. In fact history has taught us a lot about war. War had evolved over time. After World War II, and the Korean Conflict we began to discover how important the local population in the area is. In Viet Nam, Col. Wyly began to see acts of terrorism. He told of a story that he experienced involving the local people interested in civic improvement and an act of terrorism that prevented them from moving forward. This incident also put him at considerable risk, making it a very personal experience.
The cost of technology and equipment in warfare has gotten so expensive, that it has become almost unaffordable. Terrorism is less expensive and makes it a possibility for our competitors. If the military becomes irrelevant then who fights the war on terrorism? Terrorists would want us to get the military out of it. The speaker believes it remains a military problem.
Audience questions included: Why do terrorists commit these acts? Col. Wyly believes they are resentful of the country they strike. They do it for religious conviction as well as money.