March 24, 2009

Anthony Laramie is a Professor of Economics at Merrimack College. He received his Ph.D. in Economics from Clark University. Professor Laramie has taught Principles of Microeconomics, Principles of Macroeconomics, Economic Issues and Perspectives, Intermediate Microeconomics, Intermediate Macroeconomics, Public Finance and Money and Finance. His academic interests are in the area of the economic incidence and effects of government spending and taxation. He is the co-author (with Douglas Mair) of numerous papers and one book on the effects of fiscal structures on income distribution, economic growth, business cycles and regional economic development. Dr. Laramie will be our guest speaker this week.

Our next opportunity to serve community meals is May 4th. Mark your calendar now to reserve the date.

Check out the district newsletter. Haverhill Rotary has made a big showing this month!

A Different Safety Meeting

When the government broke up the Bell System quite a few years ago I had been a Supervisor in the Commercial Telephones Division. A monthly safety meeting of the telephone systems installers and service people was a requirement. At this time my assignment was at the North Andover, Massachusetts plant of the Western Electric and Bell Laboratories.

My wife and I had just bought a new convertible automobile. I was planning to hold the monthly safety meeting one month. Wondering what I could do to make the meeting different and yet interesting I decided to go to the Plant in our new convertible.

The safety meeting was planned for just after lunchtime and I had invited the crew to meet me in the main telephone system equipment room at 1:00PM. I explained that the topic of this month's safety meeting was: "Life Can Be Beautiful If You Work And Drive Safely." So we went out to the plant's parking lot and piled into the new convertible and one of the Telephone Company trucks and went to Benson's Ice Cream Stand in nearby West Boxford.

The topic of the meeting was announced. Everyone was invited to order whatever they liked. I sent the bill to my area Manager. He called on the next day and asked what in H--- the bill was for. I gave him the title of the safety meeting: "Life Can Be Beautiful If You Work And Drive Safely." Our crew had a good record and it seemed that a little reward was in order and that day's trip out was the reward.

He said, "You know those safety meetings can sometimes become dull or monotonous, but maybe your people will remember that one."
He paid.

Proposed for Membership
Adam Manchester, Benchmark Assisted Living - Proposed by Julian Rich

Welcome Our Newest Members
Paul Berthold, Century Copier Specialists
Carol Verny, Haverhill Public Library Director
Richard Sundell, Angel Flight
Make sure you sign their books! Do they have books?

March 26 - Anthony Laramie, Economics Professor, Merrimack College
April 2 - Bob Edwards, Chairman of the Cincinnati Duck Race
April 9 - Detective Rick Labell, Labell Presentations
April 16 - Marge Squire, Bradford Christian Academy
April 23 - John Grillo, National Energy Services Corporation,Ozone Laundry Systems
April 30 - Mary Gale, Rotary Youth Exchange

An attendance record of 50 percent is required to remain an active Rotarian. Any missed meeting must be made up within 14 days before or after the regular meeting. To accommodate busy schedules, there are various opportunities to make up missed meetings:

Monday 12:15PM Danversport Yacht Club
Monday 12:15PM Exeter Country Club
Tuesday 12:15PM Glenn's Galley
Tuesday 12:15PM Caffe Paradiso in Lowell
Wednesday 12:15PM Angelica's Restaurant in Middleton
Thursday 7:30AM Cochichewick Lodge in North Andover
Thursday 12:15PM Redhook Ale Brewery in Portsmouth
Friday 7:30AM Rockingham Park, Belmont Room in Salem NH
Friday 12:15PM Sweetheart Inn in Methuen