March 2, 2004

NEXT MEETING, MARCH 8… our speaker will be Mayor Yvonne Brown, Town of Tchula.

LAST MEETING, MARCH 1… Dr. Henry Johnson, Superintendent of the State Department of Education, told us about the status of public school education in the state, and, more importantly, the direction in which it’s headed. Dr. Johnson gave us details about the four sets of factors that will determine our course: Educational Leadership, Family, Community, and the Individual. Things are already in place for us to start moving forward in education, he said, with a rigorous curriculum, a good assessment program, and a comprehensive accounting system. Thanks to Stuart Kellogg for arranging and introducing this program.

THE ROTARY SPOTLIGHT… performed an admirable task on March 1, when Larry Johnson gave Jack Spradling a taste of his own medicine. Good poem, Larry! And congratulations, Jack, for being caught in our spotlight.

REMEMBER… when Lee Paris told us about his trip to Africa? At the March 1 meeting, he introduced a visiting Rotarian – Amos Magezi, from Mbara, Uganda – whom Lee worked with on his trip there. Amos is in this country gaining support for improving conditions in Uganda. And he may be our longest-traveling visiting Rotarian this year!

THE MENTOR MOMENT… on March 1 featured a short talk by one of our 1995 scholars, Robert Sanders. Robert went to USM and became president of the student body. Now he has his masters and is teaching in the Jackson schools. He said he could not have gotten his college education without our scholarship, and said that it changed his life completely. We need to help others like Robert. And that’s what the Raffle Tickets are all about.

PRESIDENT’S CORNER… Here are a few numbers for your edification: since July 1 we have added 15 new Paul Harris Sustaining Members, 3 new Paul Harris Fellows, and we have a net membership increase of 4. You’ll also be interested to learn that, so far, we’ve sold 316 raffle tickets toward our goal of 700, and we have 173 reservations for the Sweetheart Banquet. Good work, folks! – Haden

OUR FAMILY OF ROTARY COMMITTEE… notes that Maurice Joseph is recovering from surgery at St. Luke’s in Houston. Thanks, Jim Ingram, for that information. We all wish Maurice well.

THE NORTH JACKSON ROTARY CLUB… is changing their meeting place. As of March 16, they’ll be meeting at St. James Episcopal Church on Tuesdays.