Month: June 2015

Meeting date: June 25, 2015
 By Monde M Donaldson
 Speaker: Chief James Barber
Mobile Police Department
Invocation, Song Music and Pledge
Ken Robinson called the meeting to order. Lewis Shreve gave the invocation.
Distinguished Young representatives led the song and pledge. They were accompanied by Les Greer.
Student of the Week
John Dukes recognized Linda Tran of Alma Bryant High School as one of the two winners of the 2015-2016 Rotary Scholarship.
Announcements
The Tarpon Tournament will be August 1 with the Captain’s Reception at Ruth Chris on
July 30.
Program
 Chelsea Fenton representing the Distinguished Young Women program introduced two Has Beens. They shared the story of how the program had impacted their lives and Fenton encouraged members and their families to attend the preliminaries and finals.
Mobile Police Chief James Barber was the main speaker. He told Rotarians safety is a fundamental right of government. “Everyone has the right to feel safe in their home.”
He reminded members that everyone is touched by the Mobile Police Department (MPD) every day whether they call a policeman or not – their safety at home, at work, at school and on the roads are all components of the job. “My goal is to make his the safest city on America,” he stated. “This means mutual respect for everyone.”
In November 2013, Barber said he was asked to draw a comprehensive plan for the MPD by Sandy Stimpson. Once he became police chief. Mayor Stimpson asked him to put this plan in place. Barber said he realized that the traditional police training had to be refocused to foster a mutual respect between the department and the community.
Ninety per cent of the neighborhoods don’t have serious crime, the hot spots that make up the other 10 percent are the areas where there were a disproportionate number of cases of serious crime (felonies).
Among the initiatives, Barber has implemented include constant contact by  the precinct captain in the neighborhoods, a re-entry task force for returning prisoners helping them to get jobs and avoid crime, expansion of the family intervention teams and a highly successful fatherhood intervention program focusing on a select group of participants.
The meeting was adjourned.
 

Minutes of the Rotary Meeting
June 18 2015
By Erin Kinney
Call to Order:  The meeting was called to order by club president Ken Robinson at 12:15 p.m.   Jeff Luther offered the invocation followed by the song led by Tom Martenstein accompanied by Les Greer on the piano.  Tom Martenstein welcomed visiting Rotarians and members’ guests.
Student Guest: John Dukes presented the first of two 2015-2016 Rotary Scholarship Award Winners to Daly Wettermark of St Paul’s High School for $4,000. She will be attending MIT to pursue her engineering degree.
New Members: The club welcomed 25 year Rotarian Rod Koberg, as well as Richard Sullivan.
Announcements:  There was a board meeting after the meeting. The Tarpon Tournament is set for Aug 1st with the captains’ reception on July 30th at Ruth’s Chris.  Bob Chappelle presented both William Oppenheimer and Robinson McClure of the Rotary Centennial Committee co-Rotarians of the year with a speech inspired by the Comic Cowboys.
Program:  The day’s program was fellow member Rob Hackbarth, who was introduced by Tommy Fulton.  Rob is the owner of Hackbarth Delivery, and Mondays Are Great mondaysaregreat.com  His first book is titled “There Are No Small Moments” and his second book will be published soon is called “The BET”
Mr. Hackbarth’s mission is to help individuals and organizations to succeed by implementing best practices based on timely principles.  Success is being and becoming the best at what you are meant to be and do in life.  BET=belief enthusiasm team.  Mr. Hackbarth handed out cards that had space to fill out a success tip, and a goal target date, which is either the due date or a reminder to review the goal.
Rob told a story about when he was a child about The Game. There was a newspaper article about a local kid who pitched a no hit shutout, and he was encouraged by his friend to do the same at their next Little League game.   This gave him a goal and motivation to do his very best.  He was an anxious 10 yr. old, trying to pitch a perfect game when he walked a batter, thereby ruining the perfect game, but keeping the no-hit shutout in place.  The next batter popped the ball up to the center fielder who caught the ball and threw it to 2nd base for a fielder’s choice.  Rob thought he gave up a hit, but team encouraged him. When the game ended, and the shut out remained, the team congratulated him.  However, the center fielder didn’t receive or want attention.  He was content to stay in the background.  10 years later, Rob was reading success theory books, especially Napoleon Hill, and he remembered that game and came up with BET:

1. Belief—the second most powerful words we will ever say to another person is “I believe in you”. No doubts. Parents, teachers, etc. Faith, belief, enthusiasm, incentive passion

 

2. Enthusiasm for a goal.

 

3. Team—those around you who encourage you.

To get a center fielder, you must first BE a center fielder.  Figure out the best practices based on BET that work for you.  BET on the club, BET on each member, BET on your team.
Adjournment:  President Robinson adjourned the meeting at 1:00 PM.

Minutes of the June 11, 2015 Meeting
Rotary Club of Mobile
Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by club president Ken Robinson. Rob Diehl offered the invocation and afterwards Tom Martenstein led the group in song accompanied by Bill Oppenheimer on the piano. Tom then welcomed visiting Rotarians and guests of members.
Announcements:
• Ken Robinson reminded the group that sponsors are needed for this year’s Tarpon Tournament which will begin with a reception on July 30th at Ruth’s Chris.
• Ken Niemeyer discussed the Literacy Project and had one of the lending library boxes on display. He said the goal is to have one in every public elementary school in the county focusing on 3-4th grade students and books appropriate for that age group are solicited. This took the place of donating dictionaries. He also explained that the Big Brother/Big Sister Program is assisting us with the project.
• Garrett Williamson directed everyone’s attention to a hand-out explaining the new Touch Point Program which seeks to increase members’ participation by recognizing members’ involvement in projects relating to club service.
Program: Dean Mosher, Artist and Author of “The Spirit of Fairhope”
Bill Hafner introduced Fairhope author and noted artist, Dean Mosher who presented a power point presentation discussing his recently published book entitled “The Spirit of Fairhope.” Historical images join current photographs and essays to trace the history of this eastern shore community.
Prominent authors such as Fannie Flagg, Winston Groom and Rick Bragg have written sections of the book which explains the history of the town. Mosher explained its settlement by a group of transplanted Iowans in the 1890’s extolling the idea of a Land Value Taxation System during what historians term the Progressive Era.
Photographs and text discuss the development of the community, the building of a wharf, schools, churches and the establishment of extensive waterfront parks for the enjoyment of residents. An image of the very first Monopoly game board includes familiar names in Fairhope. A Maryland proponent of Land Value Taxation created that game and included Fairhope in the mix, he explained. Fairhope also had the first public library in the state, he said.
Ken Robinson thanked Mr. Mosher for speaking to the club and adjourned the meeting at 1:00 P.M.