September 23, 2003

NEXT MEETING, SEPTEMBER 29... we’ll hear from the Mayor of Jackson, Harvey Johnson.

LAST MEETING, SEPTEMBER 22… Lee Paris, President of Mississippi Properties and a member of our club, told us about his recent visit to a different part of the world. A total of twelve persons from First Presbyterian Church traveled to Uganda on a mission trip, and Lee related his experience there as life-changing. He described the way different members of his entourage established classes for lay leaders in the churches there, conducted Vacation Bible Schools for about a thousand kids, and even conducted a basketball clinic for teenagers. One of his highlights was a trip to a local Rotary club, where he found at the last minute that he was the featured speaker. Lee told about the dire need of the 15,000 persons in a Refugee Camp in Uganda, and how grateful they were for something as simple as a new t-shirt. Several Rotarians have asked how they can help the Rotary club in Uganda in their work with the refugees. If you’re one of them, just give Lee a call at 354-4255. Thanks to Program Chairman Bill Allison for arranging and introducing this program.

WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS… number four and five of this Rotary year. Introduced to the club at the September 22 meeting were…
• Chris Henderson, Attorney, Simmons Law Group, PA. Chris was introduced by his proposer, Heber Simmons, III.
• Kirby Boteler, Systems Administrator, Waggoner Engineering. Kirby was introduced by his proposer, Michael Caracci.

GOLF TOURNAMENT IS GETTING CLOSER… and if you want to get in, you’d better sign up soon. It’s set for Tuesday, October 14, at the Country Club of Jackson, with a luncheon at 11:30 followed by a shotgun start at 1:00. There’s a $50 entry fee, but for that you get a lot more than just golf. Call Chairman Joel Bobo at 948-0940 and get your name on the list.

PRESIDENT’S CORNER… We’re continuing to enjoy our new meeting facilities at the Ag Museum and the food from the River Hills Club. Not everything has been perfect, of course, but two problems that we’ve encountered are both on the way to resolution. Within the next week or so, we’ll have a needed change in the speaker system, and hopefully the feedback we’ve been experiencing will be a thing of the past. And, on October 10, the Ag Museum will open bids for asphalt paving of the parking lot, and the staff hopes the job can be complete by the end of October. Thank you all for your patience, especially after our first rainy Monday. And let me say now that it’s a pleasure working with the cooperative folks at both the Ag Museum and at River Hills. – Haden