December 14, 2004

NEXT MEETING, DECEMBER 20… join your fellow Rotarians and their families for our annual Children’s Christmas Party. The popular Brick Street Barbershop Quartet will provide the entertainment, followed by a visit from Santa, including pictures and goody bags. A special holiday meal and children’s buffet will be served, and everyone will receive a Rotary Club chocolate from Nandy’s Candy. Chairman Chris Grussaute and her committee have put together a great party. Be there!

ON THE VERY SAME DAY... meet at 9:30 a.m. in the Ag Museum parking lot to join Chairman Lee Paris and others in our annual holiday visit to two local nursing homes. There’ll be caroling led by Guy Hovis, gifts for the residents, and lots of good cheer. That’s Monday, December 20. You’ll be glad you came.

LAST MEETING, DECEMBER 13… Andy Taggert, President and CEO of the Mississippi Technology Alliance, explained to us why the status quo is not good enough in Mississippi anymore, and how we can use technology to be on the offensive and move forward. Quoting Churchill (don’t dig in, move out), De Gaulle (don’t plan, execute) and Patton (don’t defend, attack), Andy told us how being on the front end of the technology age can work to our benefit. This was an excellent talk by a former member of our club. Thanks to Program Chairman Bill Allison for arranging and introducing it.

IT MAY NOT BE TOO LATE… when you get this to help ring the Salvation Army bells on Friday, December 17. Call Chairman Victor Smith if you have an hour free that day.

YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS… has approved the following membership proposal. If no objections are received within seven days, he will be introduced as a new member:
¦ Don Janous, Principal – Smith, Shellnut, Wilson LLC (Investment Banking). Don was proposed by Ben Allen.

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE… for you to mark your calendar. We will NOT MEET on Monday, December 27. But we WILL meet on Monday, January 3, when our speaker will be Senator Jack Gordon of the Mississippi Legislature.

PRESIDENT’S CORNER… We were challenged by our speaker today to take some risk along the way and help make history rather than just being along for the ride. Although it was not planned, Andy’s comments were appropriate to the projects that we have going on at this time. Most of us can participate as a volunteer ringing a bell for the Salvation Army or going to visit the elderly in nursing homes. Others of us can make contributions to our Christmas Charities and to our Raffle Ticket sales, which directly relates to the number of needy students that we can provide Rotary Mentor Scholarships. These projects may seem small, but the impact can be historical in proportion. Let’s work towards making this our best year in each of these worthwhile areas. If you have not participated as a volunteer or have not contributed in the past, I encourage you to consider stepping across that line. Think about the many people that will be touched in a positive way. In our Centennial Rotary year, let’s surpass all expectations! Take action today. Yours in Rotary, Danny