Coming up next: Coming up this week, Rotary will be hosting Nick Ullo of the Boothbay Region Land Trust. Nick is the executive director of the Land Trust, and will be speaking on what they are doing to ensure and promote quality of life in the Boothbay Region. Afterwards, Rotarians are looking forward to participating in the Windjammer Days Stree Parade on June 28, and then a celebration of our current president Tony Curulla in the Changeover Dinner on June 29.

Timely topic — U.S. relations with Russia: The Rotary Club's speaker on June 15 was Louis Sell, who spent most of his career with the U.S. State Department stationed in the Soviet Union and in Yugoslavia — "two countries that no longer exist. The Soviet Union disintegrated after I arrived, and Yugoslavia broke up before I left," Louis pointed out. Louis made three main points:

1. While the Soviet Union was a superpower that could challenge the U.S. on both military and economic terms, Russia is far smaller and weaker. The Soviet Union, before its collapse, had 293 million people and was larger than the U.S. at the time. Now Russia has 147 million people. The Russian economy is the world's 7th largest at $2.5 trillion — so it is one-sixth or one-seventh the size of the U.S. economy.
2. The Nuclear Arms Reduction Treaties signed in 1972 and 1993 reduced our nuclear arsenals. Now both sides have 12,000 deployed nuclear weapons. While Russia is a nuclear superpower, they no longer have military parity with the U.S.
3. It is highly unlikely that we are headed into another Cold War. Vladimir Putin wants respect. The current government wants to preserve the power of its kleptocracy. Russia wants to enjoy a free hand in the former Soviet Union. But, several former Soviet states have already joined NATO (the Baltic states). Russia wants to build a global alliance that will defeat and humiliate the U.S. in the long run. They see us as responsible for their losing the Cold War and would like to take us down a peg or two.

Sell's remarks spawned a lively Q&A session. Was there Russian interference in the U.S. election? “Yes, I take that as a given.” Were there improper contacts before the transfer of power to the new President? “No, Kissinger also had back channels set up before the President took power.” What should we be doing? “Show them we're prepared to deal from a position of strength and be prepared to listen. Rebuild our alliance relationships with all the former Soviet states, including Russia. Sanctions rarely work, so don't bother with them.”

What are the most fruitful areas for mutual collaboration and similar interests? “1) Reducing our nuclear arsenals. We have a successful track record of nuclear treaties with the former Soviet Union. 2) Combating ISIS: while it is a potential problem in the U.S., ISIS — a radical Islamic Caliphate — poses a much bigger threat to Russia. 3) Afghanistan: neither country wants to see Afghanistan disintegrate again.”

Sell said, "The first step is to get our domestic house in order. Unless the U.S. can show the rest of the world that democracy is an effective and just system, we don't have much bargaining power. "

Rotary business: The Rotary Club's current treasurer (Brian McGrath) and secretary (Jean Huber) are serving their final terms this year. Rotarians who are interested in filling those Board positions should let President Tony Curulla know of their interest.

Volunteers are needed for Auction pick up runs every Saturday. And volunteers are also needed to help give out loaner bicycles and to sell used bikes from 10 a.m. to noon every Saturday through July 8.

Volunteers are also needed for the Windjammer Parade, as Rotary will have both Bob Jacobson’s beautiful car and a float towed by Hyson Excavation’s 1970s dump truck. These volunteers will be seated during the parade — please contact Tory Paxson at tpaxson@mainegardens.org with your interest.

The memorial service for Bill Kautzmann will be held at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens at 5 p.m. on the afternoon of Sunday, June 25.