The Pensacola Rotary Club held its regular meeting on February 26, 2008 under overcast skies and warm temps.
President Jerry called the meeting to order and led the club in the 4 way test.
Nancy Malloy was called to the podium to lead in prayer and the pledge of allegiance.
President Jerry announced that nominations are still being sought for the Ethics in Business awards luncheon – ballots can be obtained at the business table. Jerry then read a letter submitted to the Pensacola News Journal by the Executive Director of Global Corner acknowledging the Club’s role in cultural exchange efforts.
President Jerry then called Terry Scruggs to the podium to introduce our newest member, Trey Manderson. Trey is a local realtor associated with Coldwell Banker. He is a graduate of Mississippi State and located to Pensacola in 1994. He is active in various community activities and his addition to our ranks serves to lower the median age of the membership by 4.25 years.
Brian Bell and Tim Kane hawked raffle tickets and the lucky winner of the raffle was none other than Peit Hudson who walked away with 64 crisp dollar bills.
President Jerry then called on Nigel Allen for Sunshine. Nigel received a round of applause when he announced that the program was tight and he would forego jokes. He then introduced 2 military guests, 3 guests of Rotarians and 3 visiting Rotarians. Happy Birthday You All was rough this week due to lack of musical accompaniment. Unfortunately Nigel failed to keep his promise and told a big groaner about a murder for hire at Wal-Mart.
President Jerry then called Jim Stolhanske to the podium for our annual club assembly to include updates on current club activities. The first activity that was highlighted was our literacy effort through the Wee Read and ECARE programs. Dale Jordan provided a recap of our efforts in this arena and introduced some of the partners that we work with in local day care centers to teach children to read as well as teaching parents and teachers how to teach children to read in the preschool setting. ECARE is the early childhood education program that was initiated recently and is making great strides in dealing with local literacy issues.
Sandra Smith then provided a recap of our international efforts which are focused on providing aid and assistance to schools in India as well as the purchase of equipment for an eye hospital that treats avoidable blindness disease in that country.
Sherry Hartnett then updated the club on the local Rotary effort via Junior Achievement. Hats off to Sherry who currently serves as Chair of the local JA chapter. Sherry presented a video featuring Theo Baars and Vince Whibbs and detailing their efforts to start JA in Pensacola in 1958 and the great journey of the mission of teaching free enterprise to the children in our community. We were then treated to a great testimonial from a student at West Florida High who has worked his way up through the ranks at a local McDonald’s restaurant while attending school.
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned.
Betty Roberts and Rodger Doyle are mighty pleased with news that the Northwest Florida Blood Center will merge with another provider, making both bigger and stronger than ever.
Collier Merrill and Jimmy Jones were among club members present on a rainy night when Bill Donahue and Merrill Lynch colleagues hosted a client dinner to hear a national figure detail the national economic outlook.
Jack Fleming missed the recent Rooter program as he was on a cruise covering several of the oil-producing middle eastern countries.
Mike Ferguson and Jerry Maygarden are steaming ahead with their parts of the Honor Flight program. 100 WWII vets will be flown to Washington April 30th to see the memorial there. The pair are involved in raising the dollars for the charter flight.
Ted Nickinson and John Appleyard unveiled their History of Trinity Presbyterian Church at the kickoff of that church’s 50th anniversary celebration. The February 29th dinner also saw Frank Beall made an emeritus pastor at the church he served for a quarter century.
Fred Sitten – March 7 – born in Albertville, AL, in Rotary 9 years
Susan Graf– March 8 – born in St. Louis, MO, in Rotary 3 years
Clark Merritt – March 10 - born in Pensacola, FL,in Rotary 5 years