Memphis

Vol. 30, No. 13 Oct. 1, 2004 Meeting 1395 Editor: Henry Francis

Access our club web page "www.memphiscentralrotaryclub.org

for up-to-date news and all sorts of

background information about our club,

our District and Rotary International.

Today’s program

Alan Babain of AARP Driver Ed 101, will talk to us about the importance of maintaining our driving skills as we grow older.

If you haven’t already done so, sign up some of your friends and relatives for donations, then head for the Church of the Holy Spirit tonight to go for a walk. This is one of the ways that our club helps keep the Medical Mission hospital in Haiti going. The hospital is our major international project.

The Tour d’Esprit Walk will start at 3 this afternoon and continue for 24 hours till 3 p.m. tomorrow. All Rotarians are urged to participate.

You have heard, seen and read about the devastation Haiti suffered from Hurricane Jean. The hospital mentioned in those reports was not the one we help support in Port au Prince, but all of Haiti was victimized by Jeanne.

Marty Petrusek has decided to walk more than 25 miles – one miles and 385 yards more. “If I can make it through 25 miles,” he said, “I might as well go for the marathon distance.” Good luck, Marty. He wants every fellow Rotarian to back him up with $25 donations to the hospital he helped design.

More than 650 persons are expected to take part in the seventh annual Walk. For the third straight year, a good-sized number of students and teachers from Sheffield High, our adopted school, will participate.

The hospital has only one physician and two nurses plus many volunteers. The volunteers include Greater Memphis doctors, dentists and nurses. Two groups totaling 15 professionals will leave to work in Haiti during October.

Have you signed up for our annual Fireside Chats that will take place at noontime on October 8, a week from today? If not, please sign up today.

Hill Services, 2075 Chelsea (388-7500) just five minutes from Chickasaw (wheelchair accessible), Jim Crone host.

McKesson Corp. (367-6992, 5960) Shelby Drive @ Kirby, wheelchair accessible, Pedro Fernandez host.

Davidson Hotel Company, 1755 Lynnfield, Suite 142, (821-4145), inaccessible to wheelchairs, Andy Peters host.

Piggly Wiggly Supermarkets, Castle Retail Group offices (upstairs on west side of store), 5150 American Way (682-6317), Rick James host.
Fireside Chats always are interesting and fun. Since only seven or eight are present, each member gets the chance to get to know some of his fellow members better. There’ll be plenty of time for chitchat while you’re munching away on your lunch – and lunch will be provided by the host.

These chats have spawned lots of great ideas on how to improve our club, how to increase our charitable activities, and how to bring in some good new members.

            Bill Hildebrandt, our speaker, told us it’s not too late to take part in National Preparedness Month even though the month was September. He reminded us to prepare an "at home" emergency kit for emergencies and natural disasters.
            In the last six weeks, 18 states, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Guam all suffered disasters where Red Cross responded with help and assistance.
            Immediate response teams went to the stricken communities They served meals, counseled on mental health issues, provided clothing, shelter and handled other types of needs such as prescriptions, glasses, etc.

Locally the Red Cross opened a shelter in DeSoto County to serve families fleeing tropical storm Ivan as it hit Alabama and Florida. In a four to five-week period, 6.5 million meals were served, 30,000 contacts were made for mental health issues, and 23,000 volunteers

Bert Canfield introduced our guests - Martha Rutherford, wife of Gary; Laura House of Chickasaw, and Ham Smythe of the downtown club.

Bill Eddings collected $77 for the weekly drawing, and the winner of the $38 prize was John Bennett. The other $39 went into our Scholarship Fund.
Sergeant- at-Arms Carlton Smith spun $4.00 on the Wheel and several marched to the Treasurer and paid their fines for failing to make up a missed meeting.
Buddy Wright gave the invocation. Pedro Fernandez introduced speaker, Bill Hildebrandt of the American Red Cross. Dave Luiken presided.

Memphis – Noon, Cook Convention Center
Olive Branch – Noon, Olive Branch CC, Germantown Rd.
WEDNESDAY

Bartlett/Cordova – Noon, Colonial Country Club
Southaven – Noon, Boiling Point Restaurant,
FRIDAY