NEXT MEETING, JUNE 24… Dick Wilcox, with BIPEC, will talk to us about his organization and its purpose.

LAST MEETING, JUNE 17… Don Phillips, Chairman of Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan, the world’s largest producer of phosphate, nitrogen, and potash, told us a lot about the very important fertilizer industry. Don is a native Mississippian who returned to the state after retiring as President and CEO of International Minerals and Chemical Corporation, in Chicago. Potash Corp did some recent studies that show that a vast majority of people in all walks of life have a misunderstanding about the role that crop nutrients, which we commonly call fertilizer, play in our very existence. So, in his role as Chairman, Don is helping develop an educational program (called, appropriately, FERTILE MINDS) to present the facts. The program has five points: 1) to let us know that there’s no such thing as “man-made” fertilizer – it’s all natural, 2) to remind us that farmers are not adding nutrients to the ground, they’re replacing them, 3) to tell us that the world has no choice but to use commercial fertilizer – there are 2 billion more people in the world than the earth can sustain by natural means, 4) there would be no recreational land without the use of commercial fertilizer – our golf courses and such would be needed for farming, and 5) agricultural people are among the world’s most ardent supporters of ecology. Don also reminded us that his company manufactures ingredients used in many other products, from toothpaste to television screens. Thanks to Don Clark for arranging and introducing this program.

WE REMINDED YOU LAST WEEK… that our new Picture Directory will be going to press shortly after July 1. Be sure to check the information about you on our club’s website (rotaryclubofjackson.org), and phone the Rotary office (352-8500) to leave a message on our answering machine if you want to change anything. In addition, if you’d like a more up-to-date photo of yourself, call Gib Ford at 353-9675 and schedule an appointment to have one made. The club will pay for your photo.

WHATCHA GONNA DO ON MONDAYS IN JULY? Well, you’ll certainly want to know about future Rotary programs. Here’s our lineup for July: