Memphis Central Rotarian

Vol. 32, No. 4          Meeting No. 1472        July 28, 2006        Editor: Jean Patterson
   

Today’s meeting
11:45 a.m. Chickasaw County Club.   Club Assembly.  President Jim Crone presides.

Future meetings
08/18/06:  11:45 a.m. Chickasaw Country Club.  District 6800 Governor Betty Jo Dulaney.

Last week’s meeting
        President Jim gave the invocation to open meeting #1471.  After the invocation we usually give the pledge of allegiance to the flag.  However, the flag was not in place so the pledge was delayed until later in the program.  Bert Canfield introduced two guests:  Randy Rean, guest of Rick James and Julius Sanders, a member of Mayor Wharton’s staff.

        Bill Eddings held the Floyd’s Fund drawing which was worth $86.00:  $43.00 to the club’s Scholarship Fund and $43.00 to the holder of ticket number 3827862. . . .Rod Ashley.  Congratulations, Rod!        
        Next up was brand-new sergeant-at-arms Tom Michael.  Sgt. Tom didn’t waste any time or words to let us know that his “retribution” reputation just might be a bit false!  How did he do that?  By telling us he would let himself off the hook this week for forgetting to bring the flag out to its rightful place before the meeting.  That’s one of his new duties as sergeant-at-arms.  

Then Tom made a very unexpected---and generous offer.  He asked Jean Patterson if she had made up her missed meeting from last week.  Tom was prepared to pay Jean’s fine “in respect of all the hard work she performs for the club”.  Jean will admit that she was almost speechless after hearing Tom’s nice offer.  She reminded him that she has one more week to make up the miss and has already visited the Rotary One club site to make up another missed meeting.  Tom told Jean he will pay her next future fine!  What a nice gentleman is our new sergeant-at-arms.  Tom, however, was quick to add that he will not always wear the “good guy” hat!  He immediately spun the wheel for a big $3.00 and asked those who needed to pay their fines to be truthful about it and see the treasurer.  Those honest souls seen anteing up at the treasurer’s tables included Ray Darby, Al Hollingsworth and Harvey Marcom.

Just before John May introduced our guest speaker, President Jim asked everyone to rise to join him in giving the pledge of allegiance to the flag.  After the pledge, John welcomed and introduced fellow Rotarian and mayor of Shelby County, A. C. Wharton, Jr.

We were delighted to have Mayor Wharton join us as the speaker of the day.  He is a fine gentleman who is also a very dedicated mayor.  
*Among several of his priorities for the job is building consensus.  
*His mission is to serve all citizens of Shelby County including the residents of Memphis.  
*He prefers progress over tough stances and gridlock.
        *He believes in working with communities, rather than against them.  One working example of this belief is the way in which Mayor Wharton was able to negotiate with the Millington and Bartlett fire departments to enable them to consolidate two fire stations in close proximity into one station that will serve both communities.  This move makes sense logistically and financially.
        *The Mayor is rightfully proud of the way in which the matter of building a highway through Shelby Farms was handled.  Because of his negotiation skills (the editor’s words, not the Mayor’s!) the county government was successful in obtaining $58 million in funding for the project.  Most important, integrity was maintained during the negotiations.
*The Mayor has overseen the county finances to help build the reserve back to a comfortable excess of $40 million.  Previously, $32 million was the standard reserve but prior to Mayor Wharton taking office; the reserve had dwindled down to almost nothing because of significant bond indebtedness resulting from ambitious school construction in the mid-90’s when approximately $655 million was borrowed.

       
Carlton Smith to embark on new venture (adventure!)
        Carlton is a man of many hats---and talents.  He is preparing to launch a new company in Raleigh in August called Adult Daycare of Memphis, Inc.  Visit the website www.adultdaycareofmemphis.com to learn more about this exciting new day care facility for adults.  When you visit the site you will see, as did the editor, that Carlton has left no stone unturned to provide comfort, food and exciting activities for all the clients who take advantage of everything the center will have to offer.    

Club meetings in the surrounding area    
For the convenience of our members we’re providing an updated list of nearby club meetings 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, Cook Convention Center  
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, the Magnolia Restaurant, 131 Commerce  
Holly Springs – Noon, Christopher’s Personal Care Home, 885 Highway 178E    
Memphis East – Noon, Racquet Club,  5111 Sanderlin Dr.  
Robinsonville -- 8 am, Hollywood Diner, Old Highway 61      
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      

 

Club roster    
Rod Ashley 363-6000                                Jack Robinson  213-3993                                  
L.D. Beard  369-9642                                        Gary Rutherford  753-7957                    
John Bennett 853-3460 *                                                   Mabel Rutherford  755-3815    
Yves Calvert 767-8776                                      Tidwell Semmes  767-5752 *    
Bert Canfield 634-2730                                                  John Shepherd  850-1061  
Jim Crone  570-0125 (cell #)                                Carlton Smith  690-1203    
Leroy Dahler 362-9700                                                Henry Springer  757-9005*
Ray Darby  366-7800                                 Jack Springer  681-0025        
Fred Davis  761-9486                                                      Jim Vandenburg  735-7003 *        
Jerry Daws 757-8578                                                         Lee Whipple  755-8350  
Bill Eddings 386-3182                                                     Dick Wieland  322-8630
Pedro Fernandez  568-1575                                Gordon Wilson  678-4101  
DeeDee Fowler  485-1678
Henry Francis 754-3405 *                                                      
Doc Harris 662-429-4551**                          
Al Hollingsworth 767-3600          
Laura House 323-6216            
Jay Hudson  529-3632                                                                                        
Rick James  362-3492 X27            
Jeff Jones  853-8109                                                                                                    
Doyle Lemons 756-6536                            
R.E. Linkous 754-0700
David Luiken  382-3823
Harvey Marcom 761-2016
Bill Matthews  345-5650
John May 259-3631
Floyd McDaniel  327-2013  
Chris McDermott   377-1000
Tom Michael  759-2143                        
Bob Neal  685-7772
Don Palmer 662-429-1542**
Jean  Patterson 332-5586, Ext. 1295      
Chester Perry 685-0972*  
Marty Petrusek 755-5945
Andy Peters 821-4145  
Mike Robbins  363-5880
Randolph Reeves  681-0507  


* Honorary member        ** On leave of absence