2008-09 Rotary International theme: Make Dreams Real

We are Rotary club #3931.
Visit our web site: www.memphiscentralrotaryclub.org

Today’s meeting
11:45 a.m. – Chickasaw Country Club. Annual Scholarship Awards Program coordinator: Jerry Daws

Scholarship Award Winners 2009
Darlene T. Bratcher, Oakhaven High School
Joshua O. Burse, Hamilton High School
Laquita L. Johnson, Hamilton High School
Benjamin A. Morris, Wooddale High School
Amand Pugh, Wooddale High School
Bronson A. Worthy, Whitehaven High School

Words of Inspiration & Motivation: Rick James

Rotary Club of Memphis Central Scholarship Committee members: Jerry Daws, chair; Daniel Augustine, Bert Canfield, Ray Darby, Henry Francis, Tom Michael, Carlton Smith

Future meetings
05/22/09 - No meeting in observance of Memorial Day weekend

Note: All meeting information is provided to the newsletter editor by the Program Committee. We believe our meetings listings are current and as accurate as we have been made aware. Please contact Jean Patterson, newsletter editor, if you have update/corrections for the future meetings section.

Update on Karla Njathi, one of our Scholarship recipients from last year.
As we prepare to present our Rotary scholarships to six more deserving students, it seems only fitting that we should learn how one of last year’s winners is faring today.

Henry Francis has been in contact with Karla Njathi, a winner last year when she was a student at Hamilton High. Karla has just finished her first year at East Tennessee State University where she achieved A’s in three courses and B’s in the rest. She is majoring in digital media where her special interest is computer animation.

She regrets that she cannot visit us, but she is helping her father do the planting at his farm in North Carolina. After they finish the planting, she will fly to Seattle to work a summer job.

“I need to make some money after what happened to me on my way back to school after spring break,” she reported. “I checked my bag on the bus I was taking, but my bag was gone when I got to Johnson City. And my computer was in it. The money I got for the lost bag didn’t begin to cover the cost of that computer.”

When she heard that Hamilton students Joshua Burse and Laquita Johnson had won scholarships, she was overjoyed. “I know them both well, and they certainly are most deserving.”

An interesting point – Karla’s father is a native of Kenya from the same general area as President Obama’s father lived. “They lived in the same place, but they belonged to different tribes,” she said.

Our annual golf tournament is coming soon! Are you ready? It all happens on Monday, May 18. The Rotary Club of Memphis Central’s annual golf tournament takes place on Monday, May 18^th at Chickasaw Country Club. Are you planning to bring a four-some to play in the event? If so and you haven’t signed up yet, please contact Bert Canfield or Bill Matthews. Current estimates are 88-92 players for this event.

Want to be a hole sponsor? If so, contact David Luiken. Do you want to volunteer to help as needed at the tournament? If the answer is “yes” contact president Jack Robinson.

We urge every member of our club to participate in some way. You can be a player, a hole sponsor, a volunteer worker----the choice is yours!

Proceeds from the golf tournament will benefit our Scholarship Fund.

Horn Lake, MS to start Rotary club organizational meetings in June
The Rotary Club of Horn Lake will start organizational meetings after June 2nd when the Horn Lake city elections will be over. Already several folks have committed to join the new club including the Mayor. If you know someone in the Horn Lake area who would be interested in becoming a Prospective Charter Member please call Dick Wieland at 901-270-3778.

Jay Hudson shares exciting news about the new addition to his family. Former club member Jay Hudson relocated to East Tennessee a couple of years ago. Since that time Jay and his wife, Kari, have built a new home and just recently welcomed a second daughter into their family. This is the news Jay shared with us several days ago:

“Kari and I are proud to announce the birth of Courtney Elizabeth Hudson. She was born on Tuesday, May 5^th at 8:15 AM. Courtney weighed in at 8 lbs 3 ounces and measures 20 inches in length. Both Courtney and Kari are doing well. Carrigan can’t stop saying “Baby Sister, Baby Sister.” Kari is being discharged today (May 8) around 6 PM and we will introduce Courtney to her new home this evening.”

Club meetings in the surrounding area
For the convenience of our members we’ve provided a list of nearby club meeting sites where we can make up our misses. Please save this list for future reference.
MONDAY
No meetings close to the Memphis area.
TUESDAY
Collierville – Noon, Ridgeway Country Club
Memphis– Noon, University Club
Olive Branch – Noon, Olive Branch Country Club, Germantown Road
Oxford– Noon, Oxford University Club, 300 North Lamar
WEDNESDAY
Germantown-- Noon, Germantown Country Club, 1780 Kimbrough
Hernando – Noon, Windy City Grille (NW side of Square)
Holly Springs – Noon, Annie’s Restaurant, 198 N. Memphis Street. Phone 662-658-2825.
Memphis East – Noon, Racquet Club, 5111 Sanderlin Dr.
Robinsonville -- 8 am, Tunica National Golf & Tennis facility, Highway 61 & Casino Strip Blvd.
THURSDAY
Bartlett/Cordova – Noon, Colonial Country Club, 2736 Countrywood Pky, Cordova
Southaven – Noon, Boiling Point Restaurant, 55 Church Rd. (near Civic Center)
Tunica – Noon, Women's Club Building, corner of River and School Streets
FRIDAY
Senatobia – 12:15 p.m., Northwest Junior College campus, Haraway Center

Our mailing address

Memphis Central Rotary Club
P.O. Box 772296
Memphis TN 38177

Your individual Rotary membership number is printed on your copy of the Rotarian magazine.
Or contact our club secretary to find out your number before corresponding with Rotary International.

Honorary members of the club*
John Bennett 853-3460 *
Henry Francis 754-3405 *
Floyd McDaniel 327-2013 *
Chester Perry 685-0972*
Tidwell Semmes 767-5752 *
Henry Springer 757-9005*
Jim Vandenburg 735-7003 *