Ep 57 Donna Sytek - Madam Speaker! Wrangling Cats with Grace and Aplomb

Donna Sytek - NH's First Woman Speaker of the House

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Donna Sytek - Madam Speaker!
Wrangling Cats with Grace and Aplomb

​​Donna P. Sytek, State Representative 1977-2000
Speaker of the House 1996-2000

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New Hampshire’s first woman Speaker of the House was renowned for appropriating the phrase “herding cats” as her way to humorously describe the process of governing the 400 member House of Representatives aka the General Court in New Hampshire. Over time that description has caught on, not only because it accurately describes the process of trying to guide the second largest deliberative body in the US (3rd in the world, after the Japanese DIET), but because it also reflects the humor and grace that Speaker Sytek brought to the job.

First elected to the NH General Court in 1977 she served until 2000 rising to be the first woman Speaker of the House.

In this podcast Speaker Sytek reflects on her distinguished career in the legislature, the women who dominated the legislature upon whose shoulders she stood, and the current state of legislative affairs.

Portrait description:

Donna Page Sytek was the first woman to be elected Speaker of the New Hampshire House of Representatives. The portrait, set in the State House office occupied by the Speaker of the House, includes items of significance. The substantial wooden door features the first state seal dating back to 1776. The state flag symbolizes that the legislature is doing the people's business. The round table was the style Speaker Sytek preferred as it encouraged visitors to feel at ease and conveyed a more open environment. Furthering a sense of welcome and a little whimsy is the dish of chocolate kisses that was always available.

The gavel signifies the office, yet held lightly as her style was to preside without a heavy hand. Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure was a constant source of reference to a Speaker devoted to a dignified and orderly process.

Speaker Sytek's upright stance is relaxed and her open arms signify a respectful yet welcoming attitude to thoughtful discussion. The hint of a smile signifies a leader who appreciates the gravity of the business at hand while enjoying the people who made the work worthwhile.



Artist: Ralph Stone Jacobs

 

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Highland Storm 4 - Glow in the Lupine

Reflection of a Chapel in Autumn Water

Chapel of the Woods, Camp Mowglis

Chapel in the Blue Lupine

Supercalifragalistic Dreams

Sheep in the Shadows

Spirit Pony in a Shrouded Wood

Sunlight on Columbine

Spring's First Blossom

The Mountains He's Moved: Tom Salatiello Unsung Hero Ep 17

Unsung Heroes

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From the Laconia Daily Sun - March 13, 2018
Tom Salatiello has served Sanbornton well for almost 40 years, elect him today

To The Daily Sun,
Tom Salatiello is ending his political retirement to run for Sanbornton selectman. No one is more qualified. For almost 40 years, Tom served the town as our state representative (five terms), as our selectman (four terms), and as our representative to the Winnisquam Regional School Board.

Never afraid to speak his mind, Tom relies on two basic principles: respect for his constituents (including the elderly and the poor) and frugality. His encyclopedic knowledge of town government is respected by Republicans, Democrats, and Independents alike.
On Tuesday, March 13, please write in Tom Salatiello for Sanbornton selectman.

Stephen Tessler
Sanbornton

EPISODE 16 launches the beginning of a series sub-titled "Unsung Heroes". In this episode we meet Tom Salatiello who has served at almost every level of state and local government and been a state employee for almost 50 years at the NH Department of Health and Human Services.

Tom Salatiello and The Mountains He's Moved

Unsung Heroes

Tom Salatiello (left) with Wayne King

From going undercover as a dishwasher to  confirm allegations of abuse in a group home in northern New Hampshire, to teaching his clients and constituents how to navigate the bureaucracy, Tom Salatiello has lived a life of service to his fellow men and women.

In his first year in Seminary, in Worchester Massachusetts, Tom discovered that the life of a priest was not his calling but he knew right then that helping people would determine the course of his life. He chose social work and within a few years landed in New Hampshire at the Department of Health and Human Services.

This fall, he will begin his 49th year at HHS. At 75 years old he could have retired ten years ago. Today in the midst of a global pandemic he could be social-isolating but to Tom that would mean he could not serve the people he loves and someone else with a young family, or older parents, would need to be doing what he is doing. So he persists. Nothing seems to stop Tom Salatiello, not even pancreatic cancer that struck him nearly a decade ago and that he battles to this day.

That’s why this episode of New Hampshire Secrets, Legends and Lore brings you the first in what I hope will be an ongoing series of stories called "unsung heroes" and why I begin this series with one of New Hampshire's greatest unsung heroes, Tom Salatiello of Sanbornton. 

Moonlight On the Stone House

Sometimes I think Tom Salatiello is fueled by nothing more than pure love. In a world filled with partisanship, tribalism, bickering and anger he reminds us all that we humans have so much more that unites us than divides us. Every day for Tom Salatiello is another day when he draws the circle of humanity and love wider and wider to help unite us - in spite of our differences.

If you would like to suggest someone we should recognize, go to the show notes and send me an email with your suggestions and reasons. NHSecrets.blogspot.com . There you can also contribute to this podcast if you feel moved to do that as well.

Thank you for listening we'll be back again soon with another episode of NH Secrets, Legends and Lore.

Swans on Scamman Pond

A Child's Dream Among Lupine

Tom, Salatiello, NH, New Hampshire, State Representative, Selectman, State Employee, School Board, Winnisquam, Sanbornton, HHS, Social Work