Ambassador Laurence Pope is a retired American diplomat and is the author of several books, including François de Callieres: A Political Life (2010), a biography of the first proponent of professional diplomacy. He was previously the U.S. Ambassador to Chad from 1993 to 1996.

In the wake of the tragic murder of Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens during a terrorist attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton turned to Ambassador Pope to serve as Washington’s man in Tripoli, an appointment that did not require Senate confirmation.

In 2000, President Bill Clinton nominated Pope as ambassador to Kuwait, but his nomination was derailed by Sen. Jesse Helms (R-North Carolina), Sen. Trent Lott (R-Mississippi) and other conservative Republicans because Gen. Zinni had criticized their support of Ahmed Chalabi, an Iraqi politician opposed to dictator Saddam Hussein. According to Pope, Helms’s aide Danielle Pletka told him he would not even get a hearing unless he agreed to testify on his advice to Zinni regarding Chalabi. Pope retired from the State Department on October 2, 2000, after 31 years of service rather than expose his confidential advice.

Two years later, during the ramp-up to the U.S. War on Iraq, Chalabi was responsible for supplying the George W. Bush administration much of the false information alleging that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.

Ambassador Laurence Pope served in the foreign service and diplomatic corps for thirty-one years, in one the most important, and difficult, regions in the world – the Middle East, as well as North Africa, and did so during some of more challenging periods of contemporary history. 

He is considered a top expert in the region. After retirement, he served for several months as the Staff Director in Jerusalem for the International Committee on Middle East Peace, led by former Senator George Mitchell, and after 9/11, he was appointed Senior Advisor for Arab Affairs to the United Nations.

A graduate of Bowdoin College, Pope also had advanced studies at Princeton University and is a graduate of the U.S. Department of State Senior Seminar, a Senior Fellow at the Armed Forces Staff College. He speaks Arabic and French, and resides in Portland, with his wife Betsy. Laurence Pope is the eldest son of Major Everett P. Pope, who was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1944 for his conspicuous courage at Pelelieu.
 

President Laura Young welcomed 53 members, 6 guests and 1 visiting Rotarian to the meeting. Alan Nye gave a Mothers’ Day  invocation honoring mothers and quoting from Ralph Waldo Emerson, Erma Bombeck, Abraham Lincoln and others. 
 

Queen Peggy Wescott led us in the pledge to the flag; Kathy Grammer led us in singing the national anthem; President Laura introduced the visiting Rotarian and guests; and she thanked all those that assisted with today’s meeting. 
 

We sang “Happy Birthday" and wished "Happy Rotary Anniversary" to those Rotarians celebrating their important dates for the month of May.
 

Past President Roxane Cole shared a ‘Rotary Moment’ and reflected on some of her proudest achievements during her year as Club President in 1999-2000. Roxane discussed going to the Rotary International Convention in Singapore and hearing a Rotarian discuss giving a tree to speakers at their club. She brought the idea back to Portland Rotary and, working with the City of Portland arborist, established Rotary Grove on the Eastern Prom Trail. She is also proud of our contribution to the Armillary in front of Casco Bay Lines on the waterfront, depicting Portland Rotary in the sphere.

Ben Millick conducted the raffle for $2,223. Bruce Moore’s name was picked out of the vessel, but he picked the wrong card – to the relief of all those Rotarians still hoping for this huge Rotary prize. Better luck next week to those entering the jackpot! The cards are down to 4!
 

President Laura announced that we raised $932 from our event at the Allagash Brewing Tour. The proceeds go to the United Way of Greater Portland’s Summer Feed and Read Program to help purchase books for the program. Accepting a check from President Laura is Katie Camplin from the United Way.

Past President Bill Blount thanked all those who participated in the 2017 Spring Rotary Tennis League and encouraged those interested to consider joining the fun. For more information or interests, please contact: Eric Jorgensen at ejorgensen@maine.rr.com or Bill Blount at wblount1@gmail.com.
 

Travis Parker requested items for the silent auction and volunteers to help solicit more items from restaurants and local businesses. Large donation items can be held at the Boys and Girls Club and smaller items can be brought to our meetings and given to Travis - contact Travis at: travisparker@gmail.com. Two types of raffle tickets are for sale: only 300 will be sold at $20 per ticket or 6 for $100 for some major prizes to be drawn at the lobster bake; a second type of raffle ticket is offered for a $500 L.L. Bean gift certificate selling at $10 a ticket or 5 for $40. Meal tickets are also available for the lobster bake from Loretta Rowe: lrowe@maine.rr.com. Don't wait until the last minute....get your tickets NOW!

International Service Chair, Dr. Roger Fagan reported on the 3-H hearing aid program. He hopes to receive many more donated hearing aids in addition to those contributed by distributors. Continued ongoing training of those who are providing “hands on” hearing assistance at the Dominican Republic clinics are planned via video conferencing. Jan Chapman (photo right) reported on the progress with the new 3-D prosthetic hands.

David Small (photo left) reported on the installation of the water filters and solar lights in the Bateyes.   

Over the past year, Public Relations Chair Linda Varrell provided the assistance of an intern at her business to help with marketing, press releases and on-line posts in social media. Her successful efforts allowed the club to receive over $8,000 in valuable media through the publication of press releases covering Portland Rotary stories.

(Photo L-R: Dick Hall and Amy Chipman)

Foundation Chair Amy Chipman thanked those who contributed to the Rotary Foundation through donations, Sustaining Memberships and bequests. The Club goal for 2016-2017 was $15,000 and it should be achieved by June 30. Year-to-date Foundation contributions are $13,790, three outstanding members will contribute another $600 and 15 Sustaining Members have contributed $1,500. Annual contributions to the Rotary Foundation can be made in four ways: (a) EREY (Every Rotarian Every Year) - any level of contribution and 62 Portland Rotarians are in this group; (b) Sustaining Members - contribute $100 annually and there are 22 members in this group; (c) Circle of Five - Each member contributes $200 annually, there are currently 8 circles with 40 members and a 9th circle is being organized; and (d) the Paul Harris Society, where contributors donate $1,000 annually, there are three members in this group. Additionally, Major Donors achieve contributions to reach $10,000 and there is one member in this category. Benefactors include those who donate endowment funds - remembering Rotary as a beneficiary in their estate or when a member donates $1,000 or more to the fund outright- there are seven members in this group. A Bequest Society member Level 1, is when a member donates $10,000 or more via an estate plan and there are 2 members in this group. One Portland Rotarian is in the group of new direct or bequest contributions of $10,000. A 100th Anniversary of the Rotary Foundation was celebrated in 2017. In 2017-2018 the Foundation Chair is Past President Dick Hall, who told us next year’s goal is to raise $20,000.

(Photo L-R: Janelle LoSciuto and Lili Brown.)

Youth Services Chair Janelle LoSciuto reported that Youth Services supported 7 students for  the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) program and scholarships were given to local-area school seniors. Portland High School Interact is recruiting for more members. There is $1,000 in the budget for a youth exchange program, which unfortunately did not happen this year, but the efforts continue towards a successful program in the near future. $250 has been donated to the volunteer efforts at Long Creek Youth Development Center. Lili Brown thanked everyone who participated in the Lyseth Reading program, where 13 people from the USM Law School and 13 Rotarians donated time to read to students. This program is extended into the summer at North Deering Gardens, scheduled from July 6 to August 10.

It’s been a busy, but productive, year for Portland Rotarians!