Vol. 31, No. 7        August 26, 2005          Meeting 1433      Editor: Henry Francis

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Today’s program

Delores Gresham -- Social Security Reform

Social Security Reform – specifically personal investment accounts – has become one of today’s most heated issues.  At the same time, it remains one of the most elusive.  We remain confused by conflicting numbers, dates and projections.  We all just want to know – how will it affect me, my children and my family?

The National Center for Policy Analysis brought together a volunteer group of experts to form a special project, Team NCPA, to answer just that question.

Delores Gresham is a state representative in the 94^th district and is a member of the Team NCPA advisory board.  Delores not only understands the legislative dynamics of the issue, but she also brings a wealth of community knowledge to the table.  She understands what “we the people” want to know and has answers that our club members would appreciate hearing.

Buddy Wright

At least 17 Memphis Central Rotarians attended the moving memorial service for Buddy Wright last Saturday.  Altogether there must have been about 500 friends and family present.

Three ministers helped to put Buddy’s life in focus. Although he suffered the spinal cord injury at birth, he neither asked for nor received any special attention and care from his family. His mother, his father and his two sisters had a great life together. Buddy did the dishes and helped with all the other chores, just like his sisters. He could travel faster on his crutches than any of his classmates, and he was like lightning going down a flight of stairs.

An operation that might have enabled him to walk didn’t work as planned, so he needed a wheelchair when he turned 16. Once again he was the fastest – he won every race. Later on his thumbs gave out and he had to switch to an electric wheelchair – now he could go faster than ever – sometimes more than 20 miles an hour! He played basketball, flew a plane, sailed a sailboat, did lots of swimming and rambled through the Wolf River bottoms. A fine mechanic, he repaired his own wheelchairs and helped others to fix and learn to use their wheelchairs.

One of the ministers put it very well: “”Buddy managed to live free.”

Please make donations to the Ervin H. “Buddy” Wright Memorial Fund. You may turn in your donations at any branch of the First Tennessee Bank.

Rotarians whom we saw at the service: John May, Lee Whipple, Dick Wieland, John Bennett, Jeff Jones, Floyd McDaniel, Jerry Daws, Marty Petrusek, Laura House, Doyle Lemons, Carlton Smith, Bob Neal, Gary Rutherford, Bill Eddings, Gordon Wilson, Al Hollingsworth and Henry Francis.

Program for September 16

Steve Carpenter – Memphis Union Mission

Steve Carpenter ix the director of development for the Memphis Union Mission. He has been on staff since January 1999, and he is responsible for fund raising, publicity and volunteer relations, He is a member of Christ United Methodist Church.

Memphis Union Mission, founded in 1945, ministers to the physical, spiritual and emotional needs of homeless men and women. Every day the Mission provides emergency services, such as food, housing, clothing, hygiene and medical care, to some of our city's neediest people. The Mission also provides recovery and transitional programs that help men, women and families overcome homelessness and become self-sufficient.

Last week’s program

James Bolden, Regional Director of Homeland Security, told us last week how important it is to make plans to stay in business. “Business continuity planning must account for both man-made and natural disasters. Be prepared to assess the situation, use common sense and available resources to take care of yourself, your co-workers and your business’s recovery.”

An accomplished strategist, Bolden has been recognized as one of the most successful law enforcement recruiters and training experts in the country. He is a keen analyzer of an organization’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.  

After a disaster, one of the best ways to assure a company’s recovery is to provide for your co-workers’ well-being, Bolden said. “Communicate regularly with employees,before, during and after an incident.” He also pointed out the importance of disaster training in a new employee’s orientation program.

Visiting Rotarian needs a host

We have received a letter from Mike Mullin of the Rotary Club of St. Cloud MN. He will be in Memphis on Sept. 24 for an overnight stay. He’s coming to town for a Zone Rotary meeting, but after the meeting he wants to see a little of Memphis. He wrote, “I am hoping to find a Rotarian friend to perhaps show me around town and/or to share an evening meal.  My primary interest involves anything historical. I will have from approximately 3 o’clock in the afternoon until late evening.”

He is a dedicated Rotarian – past District Governor, past president.

“I would be happy to visit by phone or by e-mail if there is someone in your club who might be interested in showing a Northern Minnesotan around the city and environs of Memphis! P.S.  I am especially interested in enjoying the very best evening meal that Memphis has available!

Phone numbers: 320-363-2712 and 320-266-3999.

Email address: MMullin@csbsju.edu

Marc Edwards

We were happy to see Marc Edwards last Friday, but we were unhappy to learn that he is resigning from our club. But he’s not leaving Rotary. For some time now he has been unable to attend our meetings because of his heavy Friday schedule at Regions Bank on Winchester. However, he has been promoted to a post at the Germantown Regions Bank where he is handling small business loans in the East Memphis-Germantown-Collierville area.

“In my new position, I need to make a lot of contacts in my new area. That’s why I think it is important for me to belong to the Germantown club. But you’ll still be seeing me from time to time – whenever I have to make up a miss, I’ll make up at Memphis Central.”

Working with small businesses over a reasonably large area has been Marc’s ambition ever since he got into the banking business. “I’m very happy in my new job. It’s exactly what I have wanted to do.” His new phone number is 758-5050.

Special Notes

Doc Harris is in search of new employment. Please contact Doc if you know of any opportunities that might fill his needs

Jim Crone gave the weekly reading on the background and history of the Rotary Foundation. a

Bob Canfield, whom Bert introduced as his “older brother,” was with us last week. He’s from the Boston area. Debby Hall attended as an associate of our speaker, James Bolden. And once again we were graced with the presence of Mabel Rutherford, mother of Gary.

Andy Peters added two Rotary banners to our collection – from Eugene OR and Palm Beach Gardens FL.

Special Projects

August: With Gordon Wilson at the helm, we have sailed over the finish line in our book drive that will benefit the Memphis Literacy Council. The goal was 250 books, and Gordon reports that as of Monday we had the equivalent of 288 books in checks and actual books. No doubt that number will climb today, the last day of our August drive.

As the demand for literacy grows, so must the services offered by the council. The council is expanding by developing new curricula for adults, English classes for immigrants, and special interest workshops for at-risk populations.

September: A clothing drive aimed at providing T-shirts and underwear for the needy. Last year we donated coats, but this year we were told that the needy need something to wear under the coats. Start filling those bags!

October: A food drive similar to last year’s. More on this later.

Our mailing address
Memphis Central Rotary Club
P.O. Box 772296
Memphis TN 38177

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