United States Senator Ben Sasse
We were honored to have United States Senator Ben Sasse as our speaker. Senator Sasse is in his first term as the junior senator from Nebraska, and he was kind enough to join us immediately upon his return from a trade trip to China. Senator Sasse gave us five points he would like us to remember about trade:
- Trade is not the main reason for the work disruption in some industries (such as manufacturing) that we are currently experiencing in the United States. The primary causes of these disruptions are changes in technology. We are living through the digital revolution.
- Trade is indisputably good for America and for Nebraska, for both producers and consumers, on the whole.
- The term “trade deficit” is commonly misunderstood. The trade deficit most often discussed is a deficit in trade goods exported vs. trade goods imported. But that is normally balanced by a surplus in trade services.
- Misunderstandings about trade are due to a leadership vacuum in Washington that has existed for decades.
- We should be concerned about China’s use of cyber hacking and other methods to steal American intellectual property and give it to Chinese companies.
Senator Sasse told us that the Rotary Club is the center of American Society. Something we already knew, but it’s always good to hear it from someone with authority! The Senator allowed time to answer a number of questions from our members.
Thank you, Senator, for taking the time to visit our Club. And special thanks to Jim Murphy, Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army, for introducing the Senator, and to Jim and Todd Murphy of Universal Information Service for helping to arrange for the Senator’s visit, as well as to the Senator’s staff and to Cella Quinn, our program chair.
Good News:
Many of our Rotarians had good news this week.
Tim Cavanaugh gave us an update on this year’s Honor Roll program, and a shout out to Harry Koch who was Club President the year Tim won the award. The speaker that year was famed test pilot Chuck Yeager, who is still going strong, as is Harry.
Jena Bailey and her husband Joe are expecting their third child at the end of July. The trifecta! Jena is also our incoming Club Treasurer, so she will have a very busy year. Congratulations Jena!
Bob Keefer gave his thanks to Sharon Eller for many years of service as the organist at Prebyterian Church of the Master. Sharon recently retired from that position so she could join her husband Gary on Sunday Mornings at Westminster Presbyterian. I’ll add my thanks to Gary for the invocation at our meeting, and to Bob and Sharon for leading the singing.
Dawn Gonzales recently became the President of Susan G. Komen Great Plains, the great organization that leads the fight against breast cancer. Congratulations to Dawn and best wishes for a successful year.
John Ewing was a little late to our meeting because he ran into Frank Farrell, who trained John to be a police officer.
Prospective member Adam Leong was thankful for the start of baseball season. It’s about time, and about time for Spring as well!
Thanks and welcome to all of our guests, visiting Rotarians and prospective members, and thanks to everyone who helped with Club Service at our meeting.
Next week:
Next week, we have Jay Lund of Green Slate Development talking about Omaha’s Streetcar Proposal.
Remember, if it’s Wednesday, the place to be is Downtown Rotary.
See you next week!
Bill
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