June 24, 2003

NEXT MEETING, JUNE 30… will be our annual Changing of the Guard, when Haden will take over the Presidency from Howard. Be sure to be in attendance!

LAST MEETING, JUNE 23… Barbara Travis, Mississippi World Trade Center (and also President of the Rotary Club of Rankin County), told us about her organization and its purpose. The MTWC is a non-profit, non-political membership organization dedicated to promotion of Mississippi trade across international borders. Barbara, who has long been active in economic development, pointed out that competing in the global community is mandatory for the future success of Mississippi companies. She used several different examples of how this is being done now, and how her organization is helping Mississippi companies learn about international culture, etiquette, and protocol in order to compete more effectively. In short, they are helping unlock the barriers to international business. Thanks to Wes Holsapple for arranging and introducing this program.

INFORMATION NEEDED… before we print our new yearbook! Included with last week’s Rotagram was a form for you to tell us what personal information, if any, has changed from what’s in the book now. Please mail, fax, or e-mail that information to the Rotary office, so we can be as up-to-date as possible.

MORE ABOUT OUR MOVE… to the Ag Museum property on Lakeland Drive: it won’t be long now. A Transition Committee has been appointed and is hard at work making sure all is in readiness. It looks now like we’ll make the move sometime in July. It’ll be big headlines in the Rotagram when it’s finalized, so don’t worry about missing it.

IN THE MARK-YOUR-CALENDAR DEPARTMENT… you’ll want to note that we’ll observe Monday, July 7 as our Independence Day holiday. We’ll not meet that day, so please mark your calendar now.

COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS… are being made now by President Haden. You’ll find out soon just where you’ll be asked to serve in the new administration. As much as possible, Haden is accommodating the wishes you gave him on the Committee Preference forms.

PRESIDENT’S CORNER… If you have had changes in your address, telephone number, fax number, etc., I encourage you to complete the survey that Bill sent out last week and return it to him. Also, may I remind you that next week will be my last Monday as your president. I hope you will be present then. It would be great if ALL our members could attend at that one time. Bill, Haden, and I would certainly enjoy such a surprise. – Howard