July 20, 2009
A NEW CITY ADMINISTRATION
Mayor Parker Wiseman makes his first report to the Club today. As Starkville’s new chief executive, he is an honorary Rotarian.
PUBLIC SERVICE
Brandon Presley, Public Service Commissioner for Mississippi’s Northern District, will speak next week.
LAST WEEK
Invocation and Pledge: John Robert Arnold
Attendance: There were 108 members (33 exempt) present and 87 (10 honorary, 19 exempt) absent.
Guests and visitors: Visiting Rotarian was Birney Imes of Columbus. Members’ guests included Arma Salazar of Kim Richardson, Ken Ramsey of Bobby Crossland, Jeremy Brock of William Hilbun, Margaret Allen of Tip Allen, and Sarah Estess, Kristin Farmer and Jodi Griswold of Jody Ray. Guest of the Club was Paul Sims, Starkville Daily News.
Scholar supports literacy: President Martha reported that Jarred Reneau, our outbound Ambassadorial Scholar, has made a gracious donation to our literacy effort.
Greetings from France: Fresh back from a month in France, Nancy Hargrove reported that she and Guy spent “three wonderful days” with Marie (RYE student ‘07-’08) and her family. She had the pleasure of attending the Rotary banquet of the Toul Club in a local chateau in Marie’s hometown. The event lasted from 8:00 p.m. until 2:00 a.m.
Rotary Minute: Past Secretary Jeff Donald brought a reminder that one of our membership requirements is “to attend.” Thirteen of our members had 100 percent attendance (including makeups) last year. He emphasized the importance of making up absences by attending other club’s meetings, participating in a Rotary committee or activity, or by visiting the RI virtual meeting online.
District 6820 Conference: President Martha reminded members that next year’s district meeting will be a cruise with District 6800. Leaving New Orleans for Cozumel on April 22, the group will return on the 26th.
THE TAKA SAGA
Our latest Rotary Youth Exchange Student Taka Sato will have many tales to tell of his experience; however, they will be bracketed by the saga of two missed flights in Atlanta.
On his inbound trip, he slept through the boarding call for GTR. On his return trip, the airline missed his international connection, so he had to spend the night in Atlanta.
As soon as he arrived in Japan, he e-mailed several people and said, “It’s bizarre. Everything is so much smaller than I remembered.”
In a further chapter of the story, his second host family, the Seals, were on tour in Japan when he arrived. Tina, his host mom, reported that the Sato family were lavish hosts and that she, Tracy and Taka were invited to address the Fukuyama Rotary Club.
CONDOLENCES
Our sympathy goes to Rotarian Joe Tom Mosley whose wife Margaret died unexpectedly on July 14.
NEW ROTARIAN
Andy Hughes, Starkville M&F Bank President, recently returned to the community from Brandon. The Eupora native is a Mississippi State University alumnus, class of 1981.
Although he is new to our club, he has been an active Rotarian for 15 years.
SYMPHONY BRINGS STARKVILLE RENOWN
A Starkville-Mississippi State University Symphony concert costs $15,000 to $20,000, but is free to the public due to intense community involvement.
“The symphony and chorus are vital components of our artistic and cultural development,” said Armando de la Cruz, immediate past president of the Starkville-MSU Symphony Association.
Starkville is one among very few U.S. communities that can boast a full-fledged orchestra. And, it is not just a concert venue. It is an outlet and training ground for local talent.
The association has completed four decades of service since its premier concert on November 24, 1969. That event cost only $300.
The Symphony Chorus was organized in October 1972, and the first concert was performed February 10, 1973. The first program for children was presented October 2, 1975.
In the coming year, Barbara McLaurin will preside over the 37 member board of directors and 17 committees.
“Over the years, our season has varied, but has gotten better and better,” said de la Cruz.
The 40th season featured the Symphony Orchestra with programs for children, English Elegance and Haydn Highlights; the Symphony Chorus with Thankful Gifts and A Broadway Melody; the Chamber Orchestra with a Christmas Concert and Opera Opulence; and Pops on the Plaza with the MSU Jazz Band.
“I’ve learned, among other things, that an orchestral concert is very expensive to produce. The musical score alone costs a fortune,” de la Cruz said.
Besides the score, the association incurs expenses for guest soloists and performers.
The longtime community volunteer explained that the job of Symphony Association president involves one month of planning and 11 months of raising money.
Well before he became the symphony president, our club had named him a Paul Harris Fellow in recognition of his voluntarism efforts in the city. Although he retired 9 years ago after 30 years at MSU, he has not cut back on any activity.
Appraising his and Rotary’s community involvement, de la Cruz said, “In your DNA, you must have that love for service.
“Every Monday I go to line dancing class at the Sportsplex, he said. “When I look out to the soccer fields, I see the Rotary marquee sign. You’ll never know how many of the soccer moms appreciate your gesture of support.”
His 3 daughters played T-ball and he noted that his homemade tee increased in value when he read about Starkville and Rotary’s involvement in the sport’s beginnings 50 years ago.
A COMMUNITY AFFAIR
“At conferences, other symphony leaders ask, ‘How do you fund it?’” said de la Cruz. “You know how — every year you get a letter from us.”
That annual fund raising letter invites:
- Contributions of $100 or more that entitle the contributor to voting membership in the association.
- "Corporate Concert Sponsors of 10"
Ten businesses, industries and organizations sponsoring the spring concert at $2,000 each per year.
- "Individual Concert Sponsors of 100"
One hundred direct sponsors of the winter concert by subscribing at $20 each per month for 12 months.
Member information is found at:
starkvillemsusymphony.org/contribut.html
Return to Starkville Rotary website
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