Paul Tobin eagerly greeted Rotarians at the door as we enter the apex of the Holiday Season. After a thoughtful leading of us in prayer and pledge, Henry Roberts turned it over to our diligent leader. President Keith kicked off the meeting with a few items including that the January 6th and 13th 2009 meetings will be held in the Civic Center due to the renovations in the New World Landing.
President Keith recognized Paul Harris contributors, Ray Jones, Margret Stopp, and Robert Mills. Each spoke of the importance of the recognition. Earl Hutto gave dates and times for volunteers needed to help with bell ringing for the remainder of the holiday season. Earl thanked all who had helped with the bell ringing. Blaise Adams took home the $71 in raffle winnings. Sunshine veteran Frank Beall introduced military guests, guests and visiting Rotarians. Those having birthdays were celebrated by the membership singing Happy Birthday. Frank concluded by offering words of philosophic humor.
Collier Merrill introduced our guest speaker – Florida State Senator, Republican Don Gaetz. In 2006, Sen. Gaetz was the first non-incumbent in 50 years to run unopposed and has quickly established himself as a vocal proponent for NW Florida. Previous 2000-2006 Superintendant of Schools for Okaloosa County, he was in Pensacola handing out awards to various “A” schools in the area. Sen. Gaetz went on to discuss the overall state of the State noting that after 35 years of increasing revenues for the state coffers, we are now dealing with the third straight year of reductions. The budget that was $73B in 2006 will be only $62B this year. This has been quite a wake-up call in Tallahassee in cost efficiences. In order to lower costs, he recommended a thorough scrubbing of the budget and elimination of governmental/bureaucratic redundancies and hindrances for Florida businesses. Why, for example, does it take 17 different stops at the State level in order to get your beautician’s license? And, does it really make sense that 12 separate governmental agencies influence the operations of a charter boat on a fishing trip? Florida needs to not only recruit new industries but cultivate those established businesses already here to ensure their continued development.
President Keith thanked Collier Merrill and David Stafford for their part in today’s program scheduling and introducing Sen. Gaetz. All others were thanked for their part. The meeting was adjourned.
John Clark and the Council on Aging’s “clothes-less calendar” has sold well and been popular, but they still have a few copies left.
Several of the Rooters will be singing at the annual Realtors Christmas Breakfast, joining Auby Smith and Roger Enzor to herald the season. The Rooters are also practicing for their “showlet” during the club’s holiday luncheon.
Dale Knee’s Hospice group paid tribute to Sam and Joyce Goldenberg for the couple’s many forms of assistance in providing facilities for this cause.
Art Hufford was a big help to his wife putting on one of the big, traditional Christmas Coffees which scores of ladies enjoy.
Hats off to Ted Nickinson. The task of computerizing names and plot locations for St. John’s Cemetery’s almost 12,000 burials is all but complete.
Hear that Jack Williams and his elves are planning another gala New Year’s Eve celebration. And Al Coby an’ city folks are gearing up for a new kind of party-for-everyone that same evening.
Alan Moore, December 23, Pensacola, FL, 5 years
Phil Alvarez, December 23, St Louis, MO, 36 years
Reed Bell, December 24, Pensacola, FL, 9 years
Lavonne Agerton, December 26, Pensacola, FL, 14 years
Dale Jordan, December 27, Huntsville, AL, 18 years
Betty Roberts, January 1, McComb, MS, 4 years
Denise Windham, January 3, Pensacola, FL, 6 years
Sherry Hartnett, January 4, Alexandria, VA, 3 years
Sandy Jennings, January 5, Alabaster, AL, 5 years
Jason Crawford
Upon graduating from high school, Jason enlisted in the U. S. Army and served a total of 8 years. After leaving active duty he became a member of the Florida Army National Guard while attending the University of West Florida.
Jason completed his bachelor’s degree in Business Management at the University of West Florida. He is a business development director with O’Sullivan Creel, LLP. In May of 2004, the Pensacola News Journal selected Jason as one of the Top 40 Community Leaders Under 40 Years Old in the Pensacola area. He is dedicated to this community and is one of the founding members and past chairman of the Pensacola Young Professionals. Jason also serves as a board member for Baptist Health Care and the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce.
Jason and his wife Heather grew up together in the small town of Franklinton, Louisiana and currently reside in Pensacola, Florida.
Charles Goldsborough
The Reverend Charles Neal Goldsborough (goes by “Neal”) is the 17th Rector of Christ Episcopal Church, Pensacola. Born in Bethesda, Maryland, he grew up in Culpepper, Virginia. He received bachelors and masters degrees from Old Dominion University and Virginia Commonwealth University, respectively. . He received his Masters of Divinity degree from the Virginia Theological Seminary in 1981. Neal served Episcopal churches in Virginia for 20 years and in the Diocese of Rhode Island from 2001 to 2008. He came to Christ Church in September, 2008. He is married to Carol, whom he met in grade school, and they have one son who is a law school student in New Orleans. Neal served as a field artillery corporal with the U.S. Army in Korea. He subsequently served as a Chaplain in the U.S. Naval Reserve where he retired with the rank of Captain. He was recalled to active duty from January to November 2005, serving at a combat support hospital in Kuwait. Neal’s personal interests include motorcycling, painting icons woodworking, reading, fly fishing and genealogy.