Sally Fox greeted attendees on this balmy overcast day and Leigh Broxton hawked raffle tickets. President Jerry called the meeting to order with the announcement that UWF requests input for educational needs for the downtown facility. Go to http://www.UWF.edu or contact John Cavanaugh’s office at 474-2200.
Betty Gail Peters led in the prayer and pledge with Vince Currie handling sunshine. Vince noted that Larry Scott was recovering in Atlanta from open heart surgery. Military guest representing the USAF and USMC were introduced along with visitors and visiting Rotarians. After birthday greetings, the $75 raffle was won by Mark Harden.
Collier Merrill introduced our speaker, T.K. Wetherell, President of Florida State University. Being the first FSU alumni (class of ‘67) to serve as president, Wetherell also served in the Florida Legislature from 1980 until 1992, when he ended his term as Speaker of The House. He still holds the record for the longest FSU football kickoff return.
FSU has over 40,000 students in Tallahassee with over 4,000 attending in Panama City as well as programs in various other countries. The school budget is $1.8 billion of which $850 million comes from the State. The balance must be generated through other sources. The University has a large economic impact such as $8-10 million for the home football games where 80,000 fans come to Tallahassee and school purchases and payroll for employees.
The challenges facing all Florida Universities is budget cuts primarily from Amendment I dealing with property tax cuts. FSU is experiencing an 8% cut since August 2007 representing a loss of $32,000,000. Each freshman class is setting higher academic standards but this year’s enrollment will be cut some 1000 students due to lack of State funding. The Engineering, Medical and Legal schools rank high among all State Universities, but changes are going to make it harder to keep up these standards. Florida needs to commit to keeping the academic standards high.
President Wetherell reviewed an alternate plan for reducing all property taxes 30% and raising sale tax to fund the loss of revenues. Currently 40% of State sales taxes come from tourists. He asks that we look at this option by going to http://www.fsu.edu or http://www.fsu.com for information on this option.
Hats off to Bobby Switzer & Company for their BIG gift to the Fetterman Museum!
Ron Jackson has been honored with another major role in the accounting field.
When the Rooters perform February 19th, they’ll be honoring the Month of Presidents which, sadly, has been largely ignored in recent years. The peppy patriotic tunes should make everyone happy.
Morris Eaddy had his own art show at a local Gallery set for February 8th. Morris does some great things.
Henry Cary (age 90) has some mobility problems but otherwise is doing well. He asks to be remembered to all.
Jack Fleming’s new book, called Thinking Places, is off the press.
Lew Doman and Jean Norman are working hard to get folks to recognize the special work of the United Way Foundation...an organization which targets one day covering the operating expenses of the parent group.
Credit Jack Gray with being chaplain of the Navy League.
Ed Nickinson & spouse had an unusual problem. They went skiing in Colorado and moaned that there was too much snow.
Former Sunshine Specialist Larry Scott had extensive heart surgery late last week. Hear he’s doing okay.
Milt Usry keeps counting things. Now he’s treasurer of Manna Food Bank.
Robert Palmer – Feb. 16 – born in Pensacola, FL, in Rotary 18 years
David Harrison – Feb. 17 – born in Mobile, AL, in Rotary 1 year
The Ethics in Business Award will be presented on Monday, May 5, 2008 at our Combined Rotary Clubs of Pensacola luncheon at New World Landing. If you would like to nominate an individual from the public/non-profit sector or from the private sector, please pick up a nomination form at Tuesday’s meeting. All nominations must be received by April 4, 2008.
UWF needs your input
The University of West Florida will operate the Education Center in the Vince Whibbs Community Maritime Park. To help us plan, we ask your help in identifying current and future education and training needs that could be met at the Center. Your participation and input are very important to this process. We are conducting a series of “listening sessions” between January and March 2008 to gather ideas from a wide cross-section of our community. Registration for the listening session is available until February 15, 2008 at http://continuinged.uwf.edu/ListeningSession.cfm or by contacting the Office of Continuing Education at 850-474-2914.
We are counting on your participation in this very important effort. We remain firmly committed to providing educational and training programs that meet demonstrated needs. Thank you for helping UWF to better serve the needs of the Greater Pensacola Community!