August 20, 2002
NEXT MEETING, AUGUST 26… there’s a brand new store in town, and Britt Brookshire will tell us all about it.
LAST MEETING, AUGUST 19… we heard from the eighth president of the University of Southern Mississippi, Dr. Shelby Thames. Dr. Thames, who has an outstanding background in the University’s nationally-acclaimed Polymer Science department and has been very active in economic development in the state, gave us an overview of the University’s current situation and plans for the future. USM has recently been cleared to offer a four-year program on the coast, and this will result in a Dual Campus concept that is very exciting for USM. Already, USM has 2,200 extension students on the coast. Looking toward the future, Dr. Thames envisions 20,000 students by 2005, along with $100 million in research funds, up from the $65 million the University has this year. Dr. Thames discussed the budget problems all institutions of higher learning are having, and noted that the average family pays in tuition only $20 more now than they did in 1995. He completed his talk by looking at the upcoming football season, and gave us the lowdown on the team that will open the season against Jackson State on August 31. Thanks to Rick Trusty for arranging and introducing this program.
WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS…
number three and four of this Rotary year. Introduced to the club on August
19 were…
Jennie McIntosh, Chief Financial Officer, ARose, LP.
Jennie was introduced by her proposer, Don Clark.
Tony Mawson, Professor of Public Health, School of Allied
Health Services, Jackson State University. Tony was introduced by his
proposer, Jim Malloy.
YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS…
has approved the following new member proposal. If no objections are received
within 10 days, he will be introduced as a new member:
Matt Thornton, VP-Innovation and Resourse Development,
Mississippi Technology Alliance. Matt was proposed by Alon Bee.
PRESIDENT’S CORNER…
In an effort to eradicate polio by 2005, the Rotary Clubs nationwide are
striving to raise $80 million this year for PolioPlus. It has been determined
that if each Rotary member throughout the nation contributed $67.50, this
total could be achieved. Even though all Rotary Clubs may set their own
amounts, our District Governor, Jim Stanley, has suggested
that we round it off to $100 each. For those who are not already Paul
Harris Fellows, your contribution will count toward your PHF. For those
who are already Paul Harris Fellows, this is a great opportunity for you
to make a contribution to PolioPlus. Your company might also want to be
included. For additional information, please contact Lewis Lipscomb.