March 19, 2002

NEXT MEETING, MARCH 25… Our speaker will be Robert Praytor, with the Real Estate Commission.

LAST MEETING, MARCH 18… Don Shanks, a residential homebuilder and investor, talked to us about his avocation - being a Southeastern Conference football official. Over a period of 23 years, Don has officiated in regular-season SEC games, interconference games, 11 bowl games, a Blue-Gray game, a Senior Bowl, and a Kickoff Classic in New York, all of which give him a rich heritage of football stories from which to speak. After reviewing the recent fortunes of Ole Miss, Mississippi State, and Southern Miss (all sub-par last year), Don shared some anecdotes from his years of whistle-blowing. He then reflected on current situations in the SEC (like crowd noise and rules changes), and commented on a possible replacement for retiring SEC Commissioner Roy Kramer. Thanks to Danny Williams for arranging and introducing this program.

WELCOME TO NEW MEMBER… number 29 of this Rotary year. Introduced at our March 18 meeting was Guy Hovis, State Director for Senator Trent Lott. Guy was introduced by his proposer, Heber Simmons.

WE'LL MISS… Aaron Johnston, who has resigned from the club.

ONE MORE TIME… If spring is here, then our Rotary district meetings can't be far behind. It's time to tell the District who'll be representing us, so if you are interested in attending and representing our club at the District Conference in Natchez on the weekend of April 25-27, please contact the Rotary Office, at 352-8500.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS… Just so you'll know who's speaking when on what, here is a schedule of Rotary programs on the horizon: