No meeting this week in observance of the Memorial Day weekend. See you again at our next meeting at 11:45 a.m. on Friday, May 29.

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

John McCrae (1872-1918)

Future meetings
05/29/09 – 11:45 a.m. – Chickasaw Country Club – Program: Kristina Burnett, Estate Planning attorney
Program coordinator: Karen Shea

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.
Last week’s meeting
President Jack Robinson welcomed us to meeting #1596 of the Rotary Club of Memphis Central. The invocation was given by David Luiken In addition to guests of our Scholarship Award recipients we greeted several more visitors including Bob Duel (visiting Rotarian from the Niagara Falls County club) who attended the meeting with his son, Marty, a Memphis resident who is employed by the University of Memphis. Also on the guest list were Bill Bendall (visiting Rotarian from the Downtown Memphis Club) and Richard Ranta, Assistant District Governor who oversees our club. We also welcomed Patty Cherry, guest of Karen Shea.

Treasurer Bill Eddings ran the Floyd’s Fund raffle and did an excellent job of raising $82.00----$41.00 for the club’s Scholarship Fund and $41.00 to lucky ticket holder #674843-----guest Marty Deal---who took home the prize. Congratulations, Marty!

Scholarship Awards Committee chair Jerry Daws began the program by listing the members of the committee: Rotary Club of Memphis Central Scholarship Committee members: Daniel Augustine, Bert Canfield, Ray Darby, Henry Francis, Tom Michael, Carlton Smith and Dick Wieland.

On behalf of the committee, Jerry also extended thanks and “a tip of the hat” to: Jean Patterson for her assistance in preparing letters to principals of the eight participating schools along with forms for applicant students and then letters of congratulations to our six student scholarship award recipients; to Bill Eddings for handling the financial work; to R. E. Linkous for providing the use of his conference room when needed; to the Marriott Hotel on American Way for donating the use of a meeting room to hold interviews; and to Walmart and Medtronics who offered scholarship assistance.

This year 40 students submitted applications. Schools represented include Bishop Byrne High School, Carver High School, Hamilton High School, Hillcrest High School, Oakhaven High School, SBEC, Whitehaven High School and Wooddale High School. Members of our scholarship committee carefully reviewed all the applications and essays, narrowing the field to fourteen finalists. Interviews with the fourteen students were held on Saturdays. It was difficult, but after much consideration, six students were selected to receive cash scholarships of $1,500.00 each.

These Scholarship Award recipients were guests at last week’s meeting. We were impressed with each winner’s academic journey so far and their plans for the future.

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

Meet the Scholarship Award Winners for 2009:

Darlene T. Bratcher, Oakhaven High School. Darlene has an ACT score of 19 and a GPA of 4.1. She is third in a class of 150. When asked who in history—past or present—she would like to visit with for a day, Darlene chose President Barak Obama. In addition to completing her high school education, she holds down a 30-hour a week job. Future plans include attending the University of Tennessee at Martin where she plans to study to become a nurse.

Joshua O. Burse, Hamilton High School. Joshua has an ACT score of 30 and a 3.96 GPA. He is sixth in a class of 323. Joshua is captain of the golf team, a National Honor Society Scholar and a member of his church youth council. He also plays the viola. When asked who in history—past or present—he would like to visit with for a day, this scholar selected 19th century German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. Wow! Joshua plans to attend Fisk University where he will study chemistry.

Laquita L. Johnson, Hamilton High School. Laquita has an ACT score of 22 and a GPA of 4.29. She is #1 in a class of 323. This valedictorian is a cheerleader, a member of Bridge Builders, plays softball and holds down a part time job. . When asked who in history—past or present—she would like to visit with for a day, Laquita chose Martin Luther King, Jr. Laquita plans to attend LSU where she will major in International Business.

Benjamin A. Morris, Wooddale High School. Benjamin has an ACT score of 27 and a GPA of 4.4. Born in Germany, this well-rounded young man served as captain of his school’s Knowledge Bowl Team, played on the soccer team, is a member of the National Honor Society and is active in his church’s bus ministry. When asked who in history—past or present—he would like to visit with for a day, this scholar selected John the Baptist. Benjamin plans to attend the University of Tennessee-Knoxville where he will major in electrical engineering.

Amand Pugh, Wooddale High School. Amand has an ACT score of 22 and a 3.96 GPA. He is a member of DECA, the Key Club and the tennis team. He is also a tutor to younger students. When asked who in history—past or present—he would like to visit with for a day, this scholar selected Queen Elizabeth I. He plans to attend the University of Tennessee Knoxville where he will study biology with an emphasis on education. He and fellow Scholarship Award winner Benjamin plan to be roommates at UT.

Bronson A. Worthy, Whitehaven High School. Bronson has an ACT score of 32 and a GPA of 4.8. He is third in a class of 421. He is a four-year letterman in football, a mentor in DARE and a tutor. And why not? He has top-notch grades in AP chemistry and calculus! When asked who in history—past or present—he would like to visit with for a day, this scholar selected his grandfather. Bronson plans to attend Vanderbilt University where he will major in math or science. Not surprisingly, Bronson has won an almost full scholarship to Vanderbilt!

Words of Inspiration & Motivation: Rick James

Our annual golf tournament took place on Monday, May 18^th. The day was clear and bright. We could not have asked for better weather! A full report on the golf tournament will be included in the next issue of the Rotarian.

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.

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
West Memphis, Noon, Southland Greyhound Park --- new listing!
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.
Marion, Arkansas – Noon, The Cedars, 200 Washington Ave. --- new listing!
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 *