August 19, 2003

NEXT MEETING, AUGUST 25... Col. Rick Clapp, with the Corps of Engineers, will be our speaker.

LAST MEETING, AUGUST 18… Steve Hutton, with the Farm Bureau companies, gave us a good rundown on the Farm Bureau Golf Classic, which is set this year for September 29 – October 5 at Annandale. Steve briefly reviewed the history of the tournament, from its beginnings in Hattiesburg as the Magnolia Classic, through its early years in Jackson as the Deposit Guaranty Classic, and, since 1999, as the Farm Bureau Classic. It’s now one of the 48 sanctioned PGA tournaments, and prize money this year will be an astounding $3 million, with $540,000 going to the champion. The time period is four weeks earlier than last year, and should be a boon to both attendance and participation. Steve emphasized that the tournament is actually run by Century Club Charities, a group of 100 businessmen and women in Jackson. Over the past 16 years, this group has donated $2.6 million to local charities from proceeds associated with the tournament. He outlined a program called Birdies for Charity, which is open to all charities, and which brought in $266,000 its first year. Last year Century Club Charities was able to donate $704,000 to local charities. Thanks to Program Chairman Bill Allison for arranging and introducing this program.

COG CLUB MEMBERS…don’t forget: Dig out that memo you got last week from Chairman Ann Neal about the breakfast meeting on Thursday morning, August 21. Two things: first, mark your calendar and plan to attend. Second: call the Rotary office and leave word on the answering machine whether or not you’ll be there (we need to know). It’ll be great. (As information for the rest of you: COG Club members are those who’ve joined the club since July 1, 2002.)

PRESIDENT’S CORNER… Membership Development Chairman Harry Walker has set a goal of a net increase during this Rotary year of 8-10 new members. To do this we need at least 40 new members this year to offset members lost to job relocations, other obligations, or even death. If you have a qualified friend or business acquaintance, please contact Harry or Bill Dawson and propose a new member. Our COG Club will do their part to help them assimilate into our club. - Haden

UPCOMING PROGRAMS… so you can mark your calendar accordingly:
• August 25: Col. Rick Clapp, Corps of Engineers
• September 1: NO MEETING – Labor Day
• September 8: Rick Cleveland, Clarion-Ledger Sports Editor
• September 15: Kay Steed, Rotary District Governor
• September 22: Lee Paris, who’ll discuss a recent Mission Trip
• September 29: Harvey Johnson, Mayor of Jackson