July 6, 2009
INFORMATION FOR DEVELOPMENT
Applying scientific information management to economic, workforce and community development issues is the mission of nSPARC. MSU’s National Strategic Planning & Analysis Research Center Director Domenico (Mimmo) Parisi is our guest today.
NEXT WEEK: SYMPHONY
The popular Starkville/MSU Symphony is next week’s topic. Guest speaker is Armando de la Cruz, this year's symphony president.
LAST WEEK
Invocation and Pledge: Carey Hardin
Attendance: There were 91 members (27 exempt) present and 106 (10 honorary, 26 exempt) absent.
Guests and visitors: Visiting Rotarian was Ken Ramsey. Members’ guests included Graham Wells of Martha Wells, Jeremy Brock of William Hilbun, Nancy McCarley of Donna Reese and Terry Frey of Bobby Crosland. Guests of the Club were Anna Follett, Exchange Student, and her mother Melissa, Jarred Reneau, Ambassadorial Cultural Scholar, and Paul Sims, Starkville Daily News.
Makeups reported: John Rush in Jackson, Andy Gaston in Aberdeen, Joe Thompson in San Diego, Frank Chiles and Joe Bumgardner in West Point, Carey Hardin online, and Tommy Prentice and Nellah Taylor at board meetings.
Rotary Minute: Annual giving and the Rotary Foundation are the “bread and butter” of RI’s worldwide service work. Robert Clark, local foundation chair, reported that we are maintaining our share of the effort as an EREY club. Every Rotarian Every Year certifies that each member of our club donates at least $100 annually. This year, we topped the mark of more than 100 active Paul Harris Fellows, and surpassed $300,000 in all-time giving. Our per capita giving is $112 per year, but Clark noted that one California district averages $685 per member and two Korean clubs exceed $300 per member.
STARKVILLE ROTARY SPIRIT OF SERVICE THRIVES
President Chip Templeton’s State of the Club address featured perspective from the past, accomplishments of the present, and goals for the future. His report affirmed that we fulfilled this year’s RI theme, “Make Dreams Real.”
Thanking Buddy Staggers for sponsoring his membership in 1985, Chip reviewed Rotary International’s 104-year history and our Club’s 85-year tenure.
In particular, he focused on Starkville’s contributions to District 6820. This year’s district governor, Joel Clements of Waynesboro, originally was a Starkville Rotarian. The immediate past-district governor and vice president of the College of Governors was Jack Forbus, who also chaired nominations and literacy committees. All told, our Club has directly provided 7 district governors.
Other members with 2009 leadership positions were Nellah Taylor, district treasurer and finance committee chair; Larry Mullins, assistant district governor; Keith Remy, Rotary Youth Exchange chair; Carey Hardin, water committee chair; Stu Vance, president of the COG and PolioPlus committee chair; Bill Foster, COG member and district foundation trustee.
“The 2008-2009 program didn’t just start a year ago,” said the outgoing president. “This administration began about 20 months ago with the formation of a long-range planning committee.”
The committee, chaired by then Vice President Templeton, garnered 31 ideas from members and winnowed them to six focus priorities that formed the framework of his Club report.
The Rotary Club of Starkville functions by way of 29 committees that file annual plans of work. Those plans are compiled for the board’s guidance and for reports to the district governor who makes an annual official review visit.
The biggest challenge facing our club in a rather transient community is to increase beyond the 200 member mark. Our official 2008 RI report showed 194 members last April. We close this year with 194 members. We actually topped the goal of 200 several times in the year. Our maximum figure was 204 members.
In addition to major community assistance, our support of the RI Foundation resulted in the third consecutive year of EREY recognition and a $21,185 check to RI (see the Rotary Minute report).
The Club’s six long-range goals this year were:
- Literacy – We committed to funding 12 eligible childcare centers for Mississippi Public Broadcasting’s Between the Lions reading program. Although only two centers applied, more are interested after seeing this year’s results. President Chip revealed that his “favorite read” of the year was Papa Snores. Literacy Co-chair Brent Fountain gave us a sample of the educational program and presented his “Top Ten Reasons to Volunteer.”
- Reinvigorate the Starkville Rotary Foundation to fund more local activities – This year, $18,580 passed through the foundation for community service. As an example for us, Chip and his wife Connie donated to the foundation in memory of three Rotarians who passed away this year.
- Help SOAR (Starkville Oktibbeha Achieving Results) reach its challenge goal of $250,00 – Our annual contribution of $1,000 applied to that goal, but the need is ongoing.
- Increase fund raising activities for community service – The hallmark of this year’s effort was the $6,614.38 raised at the fall social for the Habitat for Humanity Rotary Roofs.
- 5 & 6. Draw on member strengths, and demonstrate the ideals of Rotary – Chip enumerated the list of our contributions that will be published later.
Templeton closed with a compliment, “By your actions every day, you really do ‘Make Dreams Real.’”
 Gavel passes 86 times since 1924 — President Martha Wells and Past-President Chip Templeton explain the Club to Starkville Daily News Reporter Paul Sims. Wells will wield the gavel under the international theme “The future of Rotary is in your hands.”
Outbound Rotary Youth Exchange — “I’ve had a great time already and I haven’t even left the country,” said Anna Follett as she reported her RYE orientation camp experience in Arkansas.
From the moment of registration, she said they were immersed in cross-cultural experiences. Former RYE students served as check-in counselors and spoke whatever language they had learned. No English was spoken. Needless to say, Anna reported a lot of hand-waving communication.
The 4-day South Central Youth Exchange Multidistrict activity draws from 15 states. Her mother, Melissa, served on the staff representing District 6820.
 Anna leaves for Italy in September, three weeks after our inbound student, Francesca, arrives.
Return to Starkville Rotary website
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