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March 13, 2007 No. 23 Vol. 85
Today’s Program: Ambassador Vygaudas Ušackas
We are honored today to have as our guest speaker
the Ambassador of Lithuania to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland, Vygaudas Ušackas. Previous to his appointment to that
post, Ambdr Ušackas was the Ambassador of Lithuania to the United States
of America and Mexico.
Born on Dec. 16, 1964 in Skuodas, Žemaitija in
Lithuania, he graduated from the Law Faculty at Vilnius University where
his thesis dealt with the legal aspects of Thomas Jefferson’s
philosophy. He studied political science in Oslo, Norway and
Aarhus, Denmark and was actively involved in public political debates on
the developments in Lithuania and its aspiration for freedom. In
November 1991 he joined Lithuania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).
His career has been devoted to the threefold objectives of the foreign
policy of Lithuania: membership in the EU and NATO, and cooperative
relationships with neighboring countries.
Our speaker has an impressive history of service –
in 1991 Ušackas was a desk officer in MFA in charge of EU and NATO
affairs. In 1992 he became a Counselor of Lithuania’s Mission to the
European Union and NATO. Four years later, Ušackas returned to Vilnius
and in 1999 became Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. By the next year,
Ambassador Ušackas was the first Chief negotiator for Lithuania’s
accession to the European Union.
In 2001 President V.Adamkus appointed Ušackas as
Lithuanian ambassador to the U.S. and Mexico. His major mission was to
secure the U.S. support for Lithuania’s membership in NATO. During his
term as ambassador, two Summits of the Heads of States took place: in
January of 2002 when President Bush welcomed President V.Adamkus in the
Oval Office of the White House and in November 2003 when Bush visited
Vilnius, the first visit by a U.S. President to Lithuania. Ambassador
Ušackas’ work was instrumental in steering an unprecedented cooperation
among the Vilnius-10 group countries which resulted in the recognition
and support for NATO enlargement in the U.S. Congress and
Administration.
While stationed in Washington, he was very active
in traveling beyond the Beltway of D.C. to promote awareness about
Lithuania. During the 3 years of “campaign for NATO enlargement” he
visited over 40 states of U.S. where he met governors, local state
representatives, and representatives of mass media and business. Aiming
to ease travel restrictions for Lithuanians to the U.S. in May 2004, he
initiated consultations with the U.S. State Department and Department of
Homeland Security on the inclusion of Lithuania into the Visa Waiver
Program. In 2006, he was appointed to his current post.
Apart from a wide range of responsibilities as an
ambassador to the United Kingdom, the Ambassador and his wife, Loreta,
are also active in charity work to bring more educational opportunities
to children in rural areas of Lithuania. It was under their leadership
that the Kaimas (“Countryside”) Fund was established to carry out
programs for disadvantaged youth with computer training and organized
athletics in Lithuanian villages. In 2004, Kaimas Fund programs reached
more than 2000 children in 62 villages across the country.
Ambassador Ušackas and his wife Loreta have two
children - Raimundas and Paula. In addition to his native Lithuanian,
the Ambassador speaks English, Russian and French. Vygaudas Ušackas is a
passionate basketball player, has succumbed to the temptations of golf,
and admires adventurous tourism, as demonstrated by his recent trip to
the wilderness in Russia, where he along with others rescued a Russian
citizen who was lost in the forest of Kamchatka peninsula.
We are pleased to have as our guest such a
distinguished visitor. Welcome, Ambassador Ušackas!
Last Week at Kiwanis St. Petersburg Fire Chief
Jim Large
Kiwanian-of-the-Day Mark Shames introduced
our speaker Chief James D. Large, Fire Chief of St. Petersburg Fire &
Rescue.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of
the Fire Department, which was a volunteer department until 1907. Today,
the Fire Department has 357 employees, 337 of them sworn firefighters.
The department boasts 13 engines, 10 standalone lifesaving support
systems and four ladders that go up to the seventh floor. Chief Large
explained that outside rescue can only be done up to the seventh floor;
anyone trapped higher than that has to be rescued from inside the
building, a hazardous task. St. Petersburg Fire & Rescue has several
divisions that might not immediately come to mind when we think about
firefighters – it has a dive team, a hazmat team, a technical rescue
team for extrication and other specialty rescues, a prevention division
and an emergency management division to help in the aftermath of
hurricanes, tornadoes and the like, a training division and the more
familiar EMT division. Fire & Rescue gets about 45,000 calls for service
each year, of which more than 80% are EMT calls. People in distress can
count on EMTs to arrive in less than five minutes – the average is four
and a half – and training to keep EMTs at the cutting edge of medical
assistance is ongoing. Chief Large saw a number of things that needed
attention when he first took over as Fire Chief, primary among them
being the creation of a new 3-5 year Strategic Plan. Out of the list of
areas needing attention, outside stakeholders identified increasing
diversity on the force as a primary concern and that remains a priority.
Although they haven’t been as successful as they would like in that area
or in recruiting and hiring EMTs, they are instituting new programs and
strategies for both.
Although all fire departments run a number of
preparedness drills as they near hurricane season, Chief Large ran a
simulation on the response after a hurricane hits. Every department had
to come up with answers to what they’d need to do in the absence of
phone service, electricity, blocked streets and injured citizens. That
day exercise brought to light many things they can know be prepared
for.
Chief Large made a pitch for the Penny for Pinellas
vote coming up because of all the benefits to the Fire Departments and
consequently to us that they have received as a result of the funds
raised from that tax.
How Many Kiwanians Does It Take To Put On The
Great Chefs Event?
Fifty, and only about 16 from our Club have signed
up. Please enlist the aid of your friends and family and let Kathy
Condon or Ron Scoggins know they can count on you. The event
takes place on March 18 from 4:00 – 8:30 p.m. at the lovely waterfront
home of Fazel Fazlin.
Three Minutes To Encompass Many Years Of Kiwanis
Service
Long-time New Jersey Kiwanian
Harry Eisenagle gave his three-minute speech last week. Harry joined
Kiwanis in NJ at the urging of a neighbor. Harry’s Club had
responsibility for a nature lodge at a children’s camp, and set up
newspaper recycling in their town. He worked for Power & Light in NJ
which owned Three Mile Island in PA. Harry says he was there when the
‘incident’ happened and now they don’t need nightlights at his house!
Later he worked with United Way for many years. Harry is a Mason, a
Shriner and has been a Shrine Clown. He and his wife, who loves
international travel, have been to ten Kiwanis International
Conferences. Way to go, Harry! We’re glad to have you in our Club. A
lot of clowning around goes on here!
Kiwanians Made Special Olympics Even More
Special
Jane Baldwin thanked Club members (and
partners) Bill Allard, Bob & Joey Piplitz, Cynthia Mulligan & Joe
Fisher, Steve Cunningham, Ron O’Neal & Jeb Terry (Bucs Player), Pat
Biscotti & Nancy McFarlin and three helpers, Maryann Lynch, Charles &
Judy Stuart, Jane & Matt Baldwin, Dave Millard, Stan Shaver, JC Russell,
Worth Blackwell and Nick Gizzarelli for their sterling participation
at Special Olympics. Our volunteers are to be commended for helping
special kids and adults enjoy such a heart-warming event.
Did You Know?
Many Lithuanians migrated to the
USA.
Household names of people of Lithuanian descent include Charles Bronson
(actor), Aaron Copland (composer) and Sara Lee (Sara Lee Foods).
What’s Happening?
Florida District Mid-Year Conference Nearly Upon
Us
Don’t forget! The Florida District Mid-Year
Conference is being held in Lake City on Friday, March 30th
and Saturday, March 31st. For more information, go to the
Florida District website.
Schmooze On The Cruise
Join other Kiwanis couples and singles on a three
hour cruise Thursday, April 26th from 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm,
leaving from Maximo Moorings. Harvey’s will cater, there’ll be an open
bar and the sunset is free of charge. Weyman Willingham advises
that we sign up as soon as possible, as only 25 couples can be
accommodated. Cost is $40 per person. Look for the sign-up sheet that
will circulate again today at our meeting.
TODAY’S QUIZ:
1. If the last thing to happen is the
ultimate, and the next-to-last is the penultimate, what is the word for
the second-to-last?
2. How many kings did Lithuania have?
3. What does the ZIP in “ZIP-code” stand
for?
4. If, when you’re going through Orange
Blossom’s luncheon buffet, your eyes may be bigger than your stomach,
what is an ostrich’s eye bigger than?
PRAYER OF THE DAY
That I may love and respect my mother, father and old people; that I may
protect their graves from rending and destruction; that I may plant
oaks, junipers, wormwoods and silverweed for their rest in cemeteries.
Those who do not love and respect their bearers will await hardship in
their old age or will not grow old at all.
That my hands may never become bloody from human blood. That the blood
of animals, fish or birds may not soil my hands, if I might kill them
satiated and not hungry. Those who today kill animals with delight will
tomorrow drink human blood. The more hunters live in Lithuania, the
further fortune and a happy life escapes us.
That I may not fell a single tree without holy need; that I may not step
on a blooming field; that I may always plant trees.
That I may love and respect Bread. If a crumb should accidentally fall,
I will lift it, kiss it and apologize. If we all respect bread, there
will be no starvation or hardship.
That I may never hurt anyone; that I may always give the correct change;
that I may not mistakenly steal even the smallest coin. The Gods punish
for offences.
That I may not denigrate foreign beliefs and may not poke fun at my own
faith. The Gods look with grace upon those who plant trees along roads,
in homesteads, at holy places, at crossroads, and by houses. If you wed,
plant a wedding tree. If a child is born, plant a tree. If someone
beloved dies, plant a tree for the Vele.
At
all holidays, during all important events, visit trees. Prayers will
attain holiness through trees of thanks.
– a
pre-Christianity Lithuanian prayer –
LAST WEEK’S QUIZ:
1. Cappuccino is named after the color
of the Capuchin monk's habit, which is light/darkish brown with a
white hood.
2. The Alps as well as the Rocky Mountains were
formed in the mid-Cretaceous period after the first dinosaurs
appeared during the Triassic period, however, dinosaurs thrived during
the Cretaceous period. Evidence of dinosaurs in the Alps has been
discovered, but by the end of the Cretaceous period, the dinosaurs had
become extinct.
3. 12 men in the 20th century walked
on the moon: Neil Armstrong, Edwin "Buzz"
Aldrin, Charles "Pete" Conrad, Alan Bean, Alan Shepard, Edgar Mitchell,
David Scott, James Irwin, John Young, Charles Duke, Eugene Cernan, and
Harrison Schmitt.
4. Albert Einstein said, “Only two things
are infinite, the universe and human stupidity and I’m not sure about
the former.”
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