The regular meeting of the Pensacola Rotary Club took place on Tuesday, March 4, 2008. President Jerry Maygarden called the meeting to order. Roger McDonald gave the pledge and prayer. R P (Rodger) Doyle welcomed visitors, guests and Sunshine, and birthdays were celebrated with song.
President Maygarden announced that Cliff Payne and committee applied for a grant from Rotary International to help children get wheelchairs in Costa Rica. The grant request for $24,875 was doubled to $58,000. Members applauded this charitable deed.
President Maygarden announced that March 31 was the close of membership recommendations. We began the year with 252 members and have had a 7 member loss and a 7 member gain. All were encouraged to get membership recommendations in soon.
Also, he announced the Ethics Awards Banquet would be on Monday, May 5 at UWF and that we would not have a meeting the next day, i.e. Tuesday. Sunday, May 25, is the designated date for the Family of Rotary. Carol Law will be giving updated information.
Paul Young, Program Chairperson, introduced the speakers of the day, Dr. Coy Irvin of Baptist Health Care and Dr. Judy Bense of the University of West Florida. Dr. Irvin is the co-chairman of the 450th year Executive Committee developing the planning for the community celebration. Dr. Irvin introduced his co-chairman, Maria Davis. He said the committee was working on a master calendar that will include marketing and education. New events for the celebration include: Tall Ships, Heritage Festival, Landing, a concert, etc. Funding for the event will come from grant monies and from the City of Pensacola, Escambia County Tourism, State, Federal and sponsorships.
Dr. Judy Bense spoke on the history of the early Pensacola settlement and of other early settlers in the southeastern US. She touched on settlements and explorations of Ponce de Leon, Maldonado, & Tristan de Luna. She told of the 1599 settlement in Pensacola that included 13 ships and 1500 people and how a hurricane effected the settlement. It was some of these ships that were sunk in the mouth of Bayou Texar that UWF archaeological students have made findings. She said there would be continued explorations in search of these ships and other historic projects.
President Jerry thanked all who had a part in the program, and Rex McKinney for selling tickets. The meeting was adjourned.
Getting ready for St. Patrick’s Day your Rooters will serenade the club with a medley of appropriate ballads on Tuesday.
See where Eric Nickelsen’s getting ready for a wedding come next month.
There were many members present at Jim Coe’s 80th birthday party last Saturday. The party, at Jack Williams’ place, was a grand mixer...and one who was there was Bill Wiltshire, who for years was a club member but has been out of action due to illness.
When Hugh Hamilton & company began celebration of Trinity Presbyterian Church’s golden anniversary a highlight was making Frank Bell the emeritus minister. Frank served there for 26 years. He continues his work as an interim pastor, currently serving in Tallahassee.
Evon Emerson and her chamber staff are glowing in the wake of the announced military aircraft order. Some believe that several related businesses could be affected locally.
Glad to see that Jim Martin’s in the Final Four for the PJC presidency.
Note that Frances Yeo and Junior Achievement are expanding their workings in the schools. JA’s 50 years old in Pensacola and continues to do good work.
Doug Werber – March 13 – born in Cleveland, OH, in Rotary 3 years
Charlie Sherrill (Jr.) - March 15 – born in Lawton, OK, in Rotary 15 years
Andrea Farage – March 17 – born in Pensacola, FL, in Rotary 5 years
Congratulations to Vince Currie who was awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast at its Annual Convention in Mobile, on Feb. 23.