April 8, 2003

NEXT MEETING, APRIL 14… Senator Trent Lott will be our speaker.

LAST MEETING, APRIL 7… Secretary of State Eric Clark gave us a report on his office, emphasizing its involvement with the Legislature in the bill that became known as the Voter ID bill. Eric pointed out that, since the bill was defeated, we’ll have to do some fancy footwork not to lose $34 million in federal funds (and still have to do the voter ID thing anyway, but with our own money). He also told us about the Administrative Procedures Act (that DID pass), which he believes will be of great benefit to the state. Thanks to Danny Williams for arranging and introducing this program.

WELCOME TO NEW MEMBER… number 34 of this Rotary year. Introduced to the club at the March 24 meeting was…
• Johnnie Esters, Financial Advisor, Legg Mason Wood Walker. Johnnie was introduced by his proposer, Robert Taylor.

YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS… has approved the following new member proposals. If no objections are received within seven days, they will be introduced to the club as new members:
• Royce Boyer, Professor Emeritus, University of Alabama-Huntsville. Royce was proposed by Vickie Greenlee.
• Dr. David Potter, Commissioner of Higher Education, State Institutions of Higher Learning. David was proposed by Geoffrey Mitchell.

POLIOPLUS REPORT… President-Elect Haden Hughes announced on April 7 that we have thus far contributed more than $37,000 – as compared with our club goal of $22,000. And more is expected!

CHANGE OUR MEETING PLACE? At the April 7 meeting, Rodney Chamblee made a report from a special committee concerning our meeting place. Your Board of Directors has recommended that we move our meeting place, providing that a majority of club members vote to do so. You’ll get a letter from President Howard this week with a post-card ballot. Please vote. More about this later…

MENTOR SCHOLARSHIPS… There are 52 applications for scholarships this year, and the Committee will interview 30 of them. Interviews will be on April 28, May 5, and May 12. Committee members, please mark your calendars.

PRESIDENT’S CORNER… THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for your contributions to the PolioPlus campaign. It is so thrilling to know that because of your generosity, we far exceeded our goal. Thank you, also, for your kindness and hospitality to our Indian visitors last week. They were greatly impressed with our Club and its members. Please keep in mind that the annual District Conference is coming up April 24-26. Since it is in Jackson this year, I hope we will have a good attendance from our membership. – Howard

PLEASE NOTE YOUR CALENDAR… that we will NOT meet on our usual date of Monday, April 21. Instead, our meeting that week will be shifted to Friday, April 25 in conjunction with the District Conference. Same room, similar meal, same price. Please plan to come on Friday that week!