Jonesboro University Rotary
N E W S L E T T E R
Thursday, February 9, 2006
President-elect Rusty called the meeting to order;
(Rev.) Joe (Ken) Stallings led the prayer;
Hon. Mike Webb led the pledge to the flag;
Beverly Eden introduced guests and collected Good News.
Vocational Minute
Paul Holmes is Editor of Northeast Arkansas Business Today that is published in Jonesboro. The tabloid is distributed to over 8000 bidness persons each month. NEABT was launched in October 2004 and recently hosted the inaugural NEABT Businesses and Businesspersons of the Year Award. Over 400 persons attended the event and it was declared a “rousing success.” Paul worked as a reporter and editor for the Jonesboro Sun for some 27 years and prior to that was an associate of KAIT-TV, your good neighbor station.
Super Seniors
Chris West is a Super Senior from Westside High School. He is the son of Jeff and Melinda West and is active in academics as well as sports. He is quarterback of the football team, catcher on the baseball team, runs track and is goalie of the ice hockey team…..ooopps…(I got carried away there on the sports stuff…) Chris holds membership in Fellowship of Christian Athletes, National Honor Society, Quiz Bowl Team, and is vice president of the senior class. He volunteers with Toys for Tots and Winter Wonderland as a tall elf. He also totes a 28 on the ACT.
Rebekah Baugh is a senior at JHS. She was introduced by Dosha and we learned that Rebekah is a member of Key Club, Interact, Nu Alpha Theatre, Beta® Club, Art Club, French (president) Club, Drama Club and plays the oboe in band. She plays a role in the current dinner theatre at JHS, “Pillow Talk” which runs through this Saturday evening. She spends a portion of each summer in Hungary and plans on attending UCA next fall. She will speak this Thursday.
Pot-O-Gold
Chair Pam Kail announced that a CALL NIGHT is forthcoming in about 2 weeks…more info next Thursday. If you have a prize or know of a prize, contact Ashley Pagan or Beverly Edens. Although announced earlier that URC was foregoing corporate sponsors this year to call on them as sponsors for the upcoming golf event, some plans change. We will be calling on 5-8 big sponsors this year. Make your contacts. Margaret announced that the auctions are coming along. She may be pegging you for an auction item. Be responsive. If you know of a person wanting a ticket, nail them early and often. SELL, SELL, SELL.
Group Study Exchange
The GSE to England will depart Saturday. Joe Stallings presented Amy and Denise gifts of $3000.00, er, $300.00 each to tide them over during the trip.
New Members Inducted
Dewayne Douglas was introduced by Jerry Smith. Dewayne is HR person at Target. He is married, has 2 sons and lives in southern Greene County near the metropolis of Finch, Ark. (salute!) He is a graduate of ASU (College of Business) and his hobbies include baseball and old trucks. His prior vocation was general manager of Ferrelgas on East Johnson Ave., (and I might add always contributed a gas grill to the POG) Welcome Dewayne.
Dr. Ben Burris was introduced by James McDaniel. Ben is an orthodontist in Jonesboro and came is a native of South Carolina. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee School of Dentistry. He received his undergraduate at the Citadel. Ben was a former GSE member to New Zealand. Welcome to Ben.
Good News
Jake Morse announced that our good friend Dennis Zopher reports that his wife underwent surgery this week to remove a cancerous lung. The good news is that she is now cancer-free.
Bert Price announced that his son Hamilton Price is touring Russia playing music. He is currently in Moscow but his next stop is Siberia where the temperature is presently –30 degrees. Speaking of brass monkey, that is cold!
Brian Clem and wife Beth are expecting a new baby child. Hey, URC, this is 2 for 2. Last week Ashley Pagan announced that she is in a motherly way. How about 3 in a row. Get the club pool going, somebody, on who will be making the next parental announcement.
Cheryl Davis announced that she is back. Cheryl has been AWOL for about 6 weeks or so while undergoing new training with her firm. She has a new title and role, and we are glad to have her back in the weekly Thursday morning meetings.
Chris Conger announced that Marine son got married and recovered as well as could be expected. He is a Marine, you understand. However, soon after the honeymoon he shipped out again and is somewhere in the ocean deployed again. Best Wishes to all. (It might well be Chris who announces soon that he is going to be a grandpappa…..)
Announcements
New member Orientation will be February 23, 12noon-1:00 at Mid-South Health Systems on Browns Lane. Jayni Blackburn will lead the program and lunch will be provided.
The Chris Carlisle Park has been approved for a District 6150 Grant to pilot an arboreal addition to the park (trees and walkways to us Nettletonians). Dosha Cummins and James McDaniel continue to lead the way on the CCPark and our heart-felt thanks go to them for this good news. Dosha further announced that the Thursday, March 30 program will feature the Chris Carlisle Park.
Visiting Rotarians
Wayne Wolfe visited from the J-Nooners
Guests
Super Seniors parents.
Make Ups
If you are going to be in Harrisburg, do a make up there. They serve awesome fried chicken.
Program
Leslie Pruitt is our Ambassadorial Scholar to Australia. She has been there for a full year and will be returning soon to complete a Master degree in International Peace and Conflict Resolution. Leslie is a native of Grubbs, Arkansas, and a graduate of Newport High School. She is also a graduate of ASU and is studying at the University of Queensland in Australia. She shares a flat with a Japanese and an Aussie. The U of Q is home to 1 of 7 Rotary-sponsored programs in the world. District 6150 contributes about $25,000.00 annually to the funding of the 7 programs around the world. There are 30,000 students on campus at U of Q and 7,500 are graduate students. Leslie has distinguished herself by volunteering much of her time. This has caught the attention of more than one professor and they have made a way for her to return this year and complete the Masters. However, it is NOT all work and no play. Leslie finds time for various outdoorszie stuff such as skydiving and scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef. It is very expensive to live there but she has found a way to work and attend classes. Leslie returns to Australia in a couple of weeks. We wish her well and thanks for representing our school, our community, our club, our state and our country so well.
Four Way Test
Joy Vaupel led the 4-Way Test: First, Is it the truth, Is it fair to all concerned, will it build goodwill and better friendships, will it be beneficial to all concerned.
Next Week’s Program
Attorney General Mike Beebe will be the guest. He is running for another office, but he will be speaking of the good programs that the AG office is manning. See you there. Editor.
---30---
