2009-10 Rotary International theme: The Future of Rotary Is in Your Hands.

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

Today's meeting
08/07/09 - 11:45 a.m. – Chickasaw Country Club – Program: Jackson Baker, political columnist
Program coordinator: Jim Crone

Jackson Baker is senior editor of The Memphis Flyer, a contributing editor of the Tennessee Journaland a contributor to Memphis magazine. His primary concerns are political coverage and general news; other duties include editorials, op-ed contributions, and the paper's on-line edition. He has worked as a reporter for the Arkansas Gazette and as an aide in the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. He was a panelist on the WKNO-TV series Informed Sourcesand an assistant professor of English at the University of Memphis. A frequent TV commentator, he has written for such periodicals as Time Magazine and the New York Times. Jackson has won numerous journalism awards, including four Green Eyeshade Awards from the Society for Professional Journalists. He is married and has four children and two grandchildren. He lives in Cordova.

Future meetings
08/14/09: 11:45 a.m. – Chickasaw Country Club – Program: Club meeting
08/21/09: 11:45 a.m. – Chickasaw Country Club – Program: Bob Canfield (organ donation)
Program coordinator: Jim Crone
08/28/09: 11:45 a.m. – Chickasaw Country Club – Program: Andy Spears presents proposed improvements to the public school system Program coordinator: Jim Crone
09/04/09: NO MEETING. Enjoy the extended Labor 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.

Treasurer Bill Eddings gives us this important reminder: First quarter dues are now payable. Invoices were sent out by e-mail to everyone in early July. If you did not receive your statement, please see me Friday and I will have a hard copy for you.

In the spotlight Our own John Shepherd was one of the citizens of Memphis who was interviewed on Memoirs of Memphis: Downtown, the latest in the Memphis Memoirs series of specials that air on WKNO television. Way to go, John!

Club members celebrating August birthdays
08/11: Harvey Marcom (The Reeves Firm)
08/14: Marty Petrusek (consultant)
08/23: Rick James (Castle Retail Group)
08/26: Ray Darby (Junior Achievement)
Last week's meeting
President-elect Karen Shea presided at the meeting in the absence of President Ray Darby. Our Blue Bell ice cream man, David Luiken, gave the invocation and led us in the pledge of allegiance to the flag.

Several visitors and guests were introduced including Billy Strong (guest of Bob Neal). Billy has an Elvis connection as told by Bob. It seems that many years ago, Billy was serving as a chauffeur (or driver) for Elvis. When he brought the car around to pick up his celebrity passenger, Billy found a $100.00 bill in the vehicle! He gave it to Elvis, who immediately gave Billy a tip for his honesty----$10.00. Back in the day, that was a large amount of money and Billy was thrilled. Bob relates that Elvis' dad was also there which is probably why Elvis didn't tell Billy to keep the hundred!

Other visitors included Ryan Gossett (guest of Randolph Reeves) and Carl Awsumb, husband of guest speaker Pan Awsumb. Both Carl and Pan are members of the Downtown Memphis Rotary club.

Dick Wieland served as the stand-in Sgt. at Arms for the absent John May. Dick wanted to make a good impression for John when he returns to his duties as the Sgt. That's why Dick made a blanket offer of $20.00 “coverall” to members who had numerous absences. R.E. Linkous, for one, took the package deal! Dick also fined anyone in attendance who was not wearing a Rotary pin. Harvey Marcom was pin-less but was forgiven that fine when he agreed to the package deal to pay for make up meetings. Dick went on to spin the Wheel for other offenders and was happy to see that the Wheel spinner landed on $6.00!

This seems like a good time to make an aside comment. We were told by good authority that LeRoy Dahler was recently pulled over by the local police for speeding and talked his way out of the ticket! Will LeRoy do as well when he returns to our meetings and faces the “wrath” of the Sgt. at Arms if he hasn’t already made up his missed meeting? Stay tuned for further details.

Jack Robinson oversaw the sales of raffle tickets for Floyd's Fund. As you know, the money raised each week is split between Floyd's Fund to benefit our Scholarship account and the lucky holder of the winning ticket. This time ticket number 7033 was randomly drawn out of the basket. The winner was Karen Shea who donated her win back to the club for the Scholarship Fund. Thanks, Karen, for your generosity. A reminder: It's always great when the winner donates back to the club but please---if you are a winner----do not feel guilty if you keep your winnings! After all, there's always next week and you could take some of this week's winnings to purchase even more tickets from Floyd's Fund.

Karen introduced Pan Awsumb, the speaker of the week. Pan gave a video presentation about the Living Waters for the World project that the Downtown Rotary club is actively involved in. Everyone received a colorful brochure that describes the project in detail. Here’s how YOU can help Living Waters for the World.

*Build a Clean Water Mission Team
*Donate to Living Waters for the World
*Become a Clean Water Advocate
*Pray

For more information, visit www.livingwatersfortheworld.org

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
Rotary Club of Memphis Sunrise – 7:30 a.m., Crescent Club, 6075 Poplar
West Memphis, Noon, Southland Greyhound Park
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, First Regional Library (NW side adjacent to the Square) – catered lunch
Holly Springs – Noon, Annie's Restaurant, 198 N. Memphis Street. Phone 662-658-2825.
Marion, Arkansas – Noon, The Cedars, 200 Washington Ave.
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

Are you unable to make up in person at a nearby Rotary club location? Then you may wish to consider going on-line to make up your missed meeting(s) at Rotary’s e-club one. It’s very easy to do and the variety of program topics allows you to learn a lot about other Rotary club projects worldwide in addition to business subjects and critical needs.
Make-up meetings at your convenience, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Spending 30 minutes on the website constitutes an on-line Rotary meeting. It is mandatory that your visit MUST be 30 minutes or more. Visit www.rotaryeclubone.org today!

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 *