The regular meeting of the Pensacola Rotary Club was held on a cool and overcast day one week before Christmas Day 2007. This is our annual Christmas program and the room was decorated beautifully in the holiday theme courtesy of the wives of President Jerry and former President Milt – great job ladies!
Rotarians and their guests were greeted at the door by Martin Harwood and Bob Rogers.
Grover Robinson IV handled ticket sales as only a politician could – winning tickets for everyone was his pitch.
President Jerry called the meeting to order and led the group in the 4 way test. Roger Vinson then stepped up to the podium and led us with a prayer and the pledge to our flag.
President Jerry then recapped the results of last week’s election. New officers are Keith Bullock – President Margaret Stopp – President-Elect Ron Jackson – Treasurer Innes Richards – Secretary. Jerry announced the continued need for bell ringers to assist in the Salvation Army Christmas fund drive which has been a tradtion of our club for a number of years. As a show of our appreciation for the fine service delivered by the New World Landing wait staff, President Jerry asked that we deposit a small token of our appreciation in the bowl as we exit the meeting. The club gave a rousing cheer for the fine work that this group does week in and week out.
Sunshine was next with the Mayor of Red Level – Charlie Blackwell. Charlie regaled the group with 3 jokes about good ole boys from his hometown and introduced 2 visiting Rotarians and presented a banner to a representative of the Downtown Memphis club. The list of birthday boys and girls was rather long as we will not meet for the next 2 weeks so there were 3 weeks worth of birthdays to celebrate. The group gave a rousing happy birthday you all to the late December and early January birthday gang.
The raffle pot amounted to $65 and was won by none other than the father of newly minted President Keith – Papa Ellis Bullock.
The program was introduced by Maria Butler Goldberg who reminded us of the wealth of cultural assets in our community and represented today by 3 members of the Pensacola Opera. Tim Kennedy, who serves as Director of Community Outreach for the Opera, provided a recap of the performances scheduled for 2008 that will take place in the Okaloosa Walton Community College Performing Arts Center while the Saenger undergoes its renovation. Bus trips are planned to take fans over from Pensacola.Tim was joined by 2 other members of the opera and the club was treated to vocals and piano accompaniment for several Christmas songs. The club then joined in for the final Christmas carol.
President Jerry thanked Carol Law in absentia for coordinating the Christmas festivities and the meeting was adjourned at 1:05 PM.
Hats off to the attendees at the Christmas luncheon and their singing. The addition of outside voices surely upped the sound of Happy Birthday.
Sherry Hartnett, Jerry Maygarden and Sandy Ray have embarked on a large task, setting up the methods for transporting 100 WWII vets to Washington to view the memorial there. Many of the vets are physically frail and need much help.
So sorry that Bill Baxter was felled by a heart attack. Bill was on the 16th hole at PCC when he was stricken. Latest report was that he’s doing well.
Morris Eaddy has his Christmas present in hand...a new saw, one which adds what he called “tonal depth.”
Wright Moulton’s family will be featured in the ongoing series of local family histories, this to be presented on January 24th for the Heritage Foundation.
Have you looked carefully at your new Rotary picture directory? The staff and printer did a fine job on photos. There are only a few high school pictures remaining, and the printing quality of the book is surely improved.
Dick Sherrill – January 10 – born in Pensacola, FL – in Rotary 46 years
Hugh Hamilton – January 11 – born in Spartanburg, SC – in Rotary 8 years
Julie Parker – January 11 – born in New Orleans, LA – in Rotary 9 years
Leigh Broxton – January 13 – born in Pensacola, FL – in Rotary 3 years
Joe Maloney – January 14 – born in Indianapolis, IN – in Rotary 4 months