Memphis Central Rotarian

 

This Week's Program
 

Kavanaugh Casey, director of development for eBonheur Children's Medical Center and the LeBonheur Foundation, will be our speaker today. Kavanaugh runs the day-to-day operations and is closely involved with fund raising. She also has worked successfully with corporations to develop fundraising activities. She will focus on strategic priorities and future plans.

 

 

We have a website

            Memphis Central now has its own website, thanks to Carlton Smith. The website address is www.memphiscentralrotaryclub.org

 

Perfect attendance

Three of the members who received Perfect Attendance pins last week have never missed a meeting since the club was formed 29 years ago. Chester Perry, John Shepherd and Leroy Dahler were singled out by President Dave Luiken as he made the presentations.

Altogether 17 of our 43 members had a perfect year. Others with perfect attendance (number of years in parentheses):

John Bennett (26), Henry Francis (22), Rod Ashley (20), Bob Neal (19), Jerry Daws (17), Fred Davis, (16), Jeff Jones, (15), Marty Petrusek (13), Larry Conn (10), Dick Wieland (10), Gary Rutherford (9), Chris McDermott (4), Dave Luiken (3), Floyd McDaniel (2).

Fireside Chats on Oct. 8

 

            Our annual Fireside Chats will be held at noontime on Oct. 8 at several locations. Rick James, Andy Peters, Pedro Fernandez and Jim Crone already have volunteered to be hosts.

Fireside Chats give members a chance to offer ideas and suggestions to improve our club, to increase our charitable activities, and to come up with plans that will bring good new members into our club. The groups are small, making it easier for everyone to be heard.

 

At our last meeting

 

John May sold $123 worth of tickets for our weekly drawing, one of the best sales ever. Winner of the $62 prize was Floyd McDaniel.

Henry Francis pointed out that four past present and future District Governors were present as he introduced Vijay Surpuriya of the Germantown club. Vijay will be District Governor next year. Also present were two-time DG John Bennett, past DG Janet Johnson Trawick and our own Dick Wieland, the present DG. Lee Whipple introduced his guest, Sarah Prosser. Once again we were happy to greet Martha Rutherford, Gary’s wife. We also welcomed Fred Gwatney, a visitor from the East Memphis club.

Carlton Smith, our sergeant-at-arms, captured three members in his Wheel net. Tom Michael and John May failed to make up, and Dick Wieland forgot to turn off his cell phone – and it rang!

Jean Patterson offered the invocation and led the Pledge to the Flag. Andy Peters introduced our speaker. Dave Luiken presided.

 

Can Marty do it?

 

            Walking 25 miles is quite an ordeal – almost as tough as running a marathon. Marty Petrusek doesn’t know if he can do it, but he’s going to give it his best try starting on the afternoon of Oct. 1 and finishing sometime in the early hours of Oct. 2.

            Why is Marty making such a sacrifice – walking almost the equivalent of a marathon? Because he wants us to share his sacrifice. If he makes the 25 miles, he wants every member to reward his effort with a $25 donation to the Haiti hospital that Marty designed and that our club helps sponsor.

            Marty’s effort will be part of The Haiti Tour d’Esprit, a 24-hour race that members and friends can take part in to raise money for the Haiti hospital.

            The idea is to have people walking all through the afternoon, night and morning – 24 hours of walking. Walkers can get sponsors who will contribute so much per mile covered by their walker.

 

On fire for the Foundation

 

            Janice Johnson Trawick does a wonderful job of getting her message across. Her use of $10 bills to illustrate how the Rotary Foundation would use our gifts to help people all over the world was very moving. She made it clear what an annual gift of $100 by each Rotarian would accomplish.

            “We have to be the Good Samaritans of the world,” she cried  “I want you to be on fire for the Rotary Foundation, just as I am.”

            Janice is no stranger to our club. She made frequent visits when she was District Governor, and has continued to keep in touch with us. She congratulated us on our 100% Paul Harris membership, one of the few clubs in the world that can claim this honor.

 

Upcoming programs

Sept. 3          No meeting

Sept. 10:       To be announced
Sept. 17:       Alan Parks – Memphis Stone & Gravel
Sept. 24:       Elaine Harvey – House of Mews
Oct. 1:           Alan Babain – AARP Driver Safety

 

Special notices

 

            Chris McDermott has volunteered to chair our Annual Giving Campaign.

            We are in the process of updating our Club Directory. Harvey Marcom is ready to photo anyone who wants to have a more recent picture. Bio sheets are available for updating member records.

            As Bob Neal was presented with his 17-year Perfect Attendance pin, he recalled how he almost got booted out of the club for non-attendance. “Seventeen years ago Clyde Jones came to me and told me that I should be a more active member. Clearly Clyde convinced me.”

            Leroy Dahler was following the news about Hurricane Charley very closely since he has a home in Fort Myers. He has learned that his home suffered severe damage, including a roof partly torn off by the ferocious winds that swirled up to 140 mph in Fort Myers.

 

Centennial Convention

 

Rotary’s Centennial will be celebrated next year from June 18-22 in Chicago, where Rotary got its start. This is an excellent opportunity for our members to get involved on the international level – the site is close by and the convention is a special celebration.

Vice President Jean Patterson is willing to help anyone who wants more information and wishes to make a reservation. You can reach her at 332-5586, Ext. 1295 or you can email her at jean.patterson@acbl.org

 

Club roster