NEXT WEEK

Edward Yeates, founder and director of The Father's Child Ministry, will report on his organization which we support. The former MSU football player and his wife Barbara have led this crucial program in Starkville and the Golden Triangle area since 2004.

LAST WEEK

Invocation and Pledge: Andrea Myles

Attendance: There were 115 members (36 exempt) present, and 87 (19 exempt, 10 honorary) absent.

Guests and visitors: Literacy co-chair Brent Fountain substituted for Vice President Martha Wells to welcome guests. Rotarian Eddie Longstreet visited from the West Point Club. Members’ guests included Charlie Guest of Jack Forbus, Katie McKee Ertz of Chester McKee, Sharon Breckinridge of Trey Breckenridge.  Club guests were Nia Romero and Taka Sato, Youth Exchange Students, and Jarrod Reneau, Ambassadorial Cultural Scholar.

Makeups reported: Tommy Prentice and Martha Wells at a board meeting.

Club notes: Melissa Dixon reminded the Club of the Johnny Cash Flower Pickin’ Festival on Oct. 17-19. In response to a question, she said, “Yes, we are going to pardon him as many times as we can.”

President Chip conveyed Eddie Keith’s invitation for the Club to attend the dedication of the MSU Union Ballroom in honor of Bill Foster, the first Union director. Foster, past Rotary president and district governor, will be recognized on Oct. 11. Ceremonies begin around 10:00 a.m., depending on the timing of the Vanderbilt football game.

O.A. Cleveland passed on accolades from the recent MSU Leadership Summit. Richard Adkerson, co-chairman/director of McMoRan Exploration Co. and MSU grad, singled out Rotarians Scotty Wofford and Bill Simmons for praise for their influence on his career.

New Rotarians Dennis Bock and Dale Tate gave their classification talks and will be profiled in next week’s Rotogram.

Rotary Minute:  John Simpson presented a club banner from Florida’s Vero Beach Club on behalf of his Rotarian sister who spoke to us several weeks ago.

Literacy project:  Our partnership with Mississippi Public Broadcasting explained by Marie Antoon, MPB executive director, will be detailed in next week’s Rotogram.

DICTIONARIES

We give dictionaries to every third-grader in Oktibbeha Co. annually. Omis Avant, dictionary committee chair, reports that deliveries will be made this Tues. and Wed. to East and West Oktibbeha Co. Elementary Schools, Starkville Academy, Starkville Christian School and Overstreet Elementary School.

Starkville’s Habitat for Humanity chapter has built more than 40 homes in its 22-year history. According to John Breazeale, Habitat construction supervisor, the affiliate’s current rate of building has reached 3 houses per year.

The unit that the Starkville Rotary Club is roofing was begun in mid-September at 212 McKinley St. Dubbed the Lynn Phillips Gaines House in honor of the long-time Habitat supporter, the 4-bedroom house will be 1100 square feet.

A typical Starkville Habitat house costs about $61,000. The roof (trusses, decking, and basic 20-year shingles) accounts for about $3,500 of the total bill.

In just 2 Saturdays of work on the house, 40 volunteers already have been on the job. Another 30 are expected next weekend. Breazeale expects around 200 volunteers to work on the current house this fall. In a typical year, about 400 people invest their time and energy.

“MSU’s Day One leadership program is a great source of workers,” he said.

For a number of years, the local affiliate has benefited from a Spring Collegiate Challenge in March. Two colleges and one prep school regularly send teams to work.

it appears that a winter break challenge may shape up. One college has inquired about sending a Christmas break team. And, another is interested in an early January activity.

On the local staff, Breazeale is joined by Freddie Rasberry, executive director, and Peggy Branch, office manager. A very active board of directors includes a number of Rotarians.

Habitat for Humanity is not a giveaway program. Houses are sold to partner families at no profit and financed with affordable loans. In addition to a down payment and the monthly mortgage payments, homeowners invest hundreds of hours of their own labor — sweat equity — into building their Habitat house and the houses of others. The homeowners’ monthly mortgage payments are used to build still more Habitat houses.