April 13, 2004

We will NOT meet next Monday, April 19. We will meet instead
on FRIDAY, April 23, at the Hilton with District 6820.

NEXT MEETING, APRIL 23… (on FRIDAY – see above) our speaker will be Senator Thad Cochran. Thad, who’s a member of our club, will be speaking to the District Conference. It’s at noon on Friday at the Hilton.

AT OUR NEXT MONDAY MEETING, APRIL 26… our speaker will be Justice Graves of the Mississippi Supreme Court.

LAST MEETING, APRIL 12… Gov. Haley Barbour told us that the campaign is over, and now it’s time for us all to pull together for the benefit of Mississippi. He spoke of Job Creation, his most urgent priority. Three things will help, he said – keeping taxes low, going further with tort reform, and making advances in work force development and job training. He reminded us that competition is now world-wide, and just “being better than Belzona” won’t get it anymore. There are some tough choices to be made, he said, and he’s ready to make them. He promised no tax increase, an honest budget, and a cut in the shortfall. Thanks to Duane O’Neill for arranging and introducing this program.

THE ROTARY SPOTLIGHT… swung around on April 5 to shine on Gloria Johnson, who was spotlighted by Tom Dunbar. Congratulations, Gloria.

ROTARFEST IS COMING UP… on Monday, April 26. It’s a time for just Rotarians. No speaker, no guests - just good food (paid for by the club) and fellowship. It all begins after work on that Monday, when we’ll meet at the Ethnic Heritage Center, just on the other side of the Ag Museum campus from our regular meeting place. You’ll do best to park near Smith-Wills stadium (come in the entrance with the traffic light), and take the footbridge. Come as early as 5:30, or whenever you can. Dress is informal (take off that tie!), and so is the entire evening. Come on out - you’ll enjoy it.

TENNIS, ANYONE? Our annual tennis round-robin will be on Thursday, April 29, 3 pm, at River Hills. Cost to enter is just $20. Sign up at the next meeting, or call Chair Johnny Louis at 362-8877 or Linda Harmon at 362-8810.

PRESIDENT’S CORNER… Be sure to support our own Thad Cochran when he addresses our District Conference luncheon Friday, April 23, at the Hilton. This replaces our 4/19 regular meeting. Rotarfest crawfish boil Monday, 4/26, at the Ag Museum and Tennis Tournament at River Hills, Thursday, 4/29. These are all events that are "win/win" -- good for Rotary, and good for the Rotarian! See you there! - Haden