Apr. 28, 2016–John Eads / Light of the Village

LIGHT OF THE VILLAGE
Officers
Founder/ Executive Director:
John Eads grew up in New Mexico, and at the age of 14, he became a cadet at New Mexico Military Institute where he graduated from high school four years later. He continued at NMMI and earned a junior college diploma and a commission in the United States Army. John later earned a Masters of Business Administration degree from New Mexico State University, and a Masters in Hospital Administration from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. From 1998 through 2007, he served as Chief Executive Officer in two different hospitals for the Infirmary Health System. In 2005, he was awarded the Distinguished Early Career Healthcare Executive award for the state of Alabama.
From 1997 to 2001, John and his wife, Dolores, served with Prison Fellowship Ministries and conducted in-prison seminars in prisons throughout Alabama. They established Prison Fellowship seminars in the State’s juvenile facilities in 1998 and continued to serve inside both adult and juvenile correctional facilities until 2001. In 2001, John and his wife founded Light of the Village and served there part-time while working for the Infirmary.
In 2007, John decided to leave the healthcare field to devote full time to his work as Executive Director at Light of the Village.
John has traveled to East Los Angeles and learned about gang intervention at Homeboy Industries, considered to be the nation’s Best Practice for gang intervention. Additionally, he and his wife traveled to Camden, New Jersey to learn about youth programs from Urban Promise. In 2014, the Eads participated in a ten day leadership course taught exclusively by former Navy SEALS in Virginia. Since completing the course, several Navy SEALS have visited the ministry and play an active role in contributing to the Light of the Village.
Currently, the Light of the Village offers a six day a week presence inside the Alabama Village and surrounding communities. It serves children, teenagers, and adults. Since 2014, the ministry has expanded to four summer camp sites, and two after-school programs. We serve over 400 inner-city children a day for eight weeks during the summer and over 100 a day during our after-school programs. Additionally, we offer a GED program, job placement, ACT college prep tutoring and a variety of their programs to meet the needs of our community.

Apr. 21, 2016–Pat Guyton / Child Advocacy Center

Patrick F. Guyton
100 South Georgia Avenue
Mobile, AL 36604
251-438-1992
251-490-7722–cell
Mr. Guyton is a native of Kosciusko, Mississippi. He received a
Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Southern
Mississippi. He holds three masters degrees: A Master of
Public Administration degree from the University of South Alabama
A Master of Theological Studies degree from
Spring Hill College, and a Master of Science degree
in Counseling from the University of South Alabama.
He has completed a year of post-graduate work at the Graduate
School of Social Work at the University of North Carolina in
Chapel Hill.
Before moving to Mobile Mr. Guyton worked in Washington,
D.C.; in Raleigh North Carolina in the North Carolina Department
of Human Resources in Raleigh.
In Mobile he has worked at Spring Hill College in the Office of
Special Resources and at the University of South Alabama as
special assistant to the Dean of the College of Education. For
7 years he worked as the Director of Development for the Catholic
Archdiocese of Mobile.
He is the first Executive Director of the Child Advocacy Center
in Mobile having worked there since February, 1988. The Center
houses 28 professionals from 8 different agencies who work
together as a team in order to provide a wide range of services
“under one roof” for child victims of sexual and serious physical
abuse and their non-offending family members.
He is a member of the American Professional Society on the Abuse
of Children, the Alabama Professional Society on the Abuse of
Children, the National Children’s Alliance, the Alabama Network
of Children’s Advocacy Centers, and other organizations.
He has presented on child abuse issues at 24 national and
regional child abuse conferences. He was recently appointed by
Governor Robert Bentley to serve on the Governor’s Task Force on
Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse in Children to implement “Erin’s
Law” in Alabama.

Apr. 14, 2016–Dr. John Valentine / Dauphin Island Sea Lab

Dr. John Valentine, Executive Director
Dauphin Island Sea Lab
Biographical Information
Dr. John Valentine serves as the Executive Director of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL). Prior to being named the Executive Director, he served as Chair of the Sea Lab’s University Programs. Since arriving at DISL, he has written or co-authored over 95 grant proposals for research. Support for his research has come from both federal and state agencies including the National Science Foundation, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Environmental Protection Agency, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program (MBNEP) and The Nature Conservancy.
In 2015, a research team led by Dr. Valentine was awarded $6.5M to conduct studies on the role of biodiversity in determining the resiliency of the Gulf of Mexico following the Deepwater Horizon accident. More than 75 students, technicians and post-doctoral students were supported by these efforts. He has been lead or second author on over 70 scientific articles in addition to serving as an academic editor for the scientific journals Marine Ecology Progress Series and PLoSOne. He has also served as a panelist for U.S. National Science Foundation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Geological Survey, and NOAA’s National Undersea Research Program.
In addition to his national leadership in the marine sciences, he currently serves on the Executive Boards of the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program, and Alabama’s Forever Wild Program. Recently, the Governor’s Water Agencies Working Group charged Dr. Valentine with assessing the impacts of future watershed withdrawal on coastal Alabama resources. Dr. Valentine is also a recent graduate of Leadership Alabama.

Apr. 7, 2016–Andrew Saunders / Mobile Botanical Gardens

Introducing Andrew Saunders to the Downtown Rotary Club
Andrew Saunders is Chairman of the Executive Committee of Mobile Botanical Gardens. Previously he served as President of the Gardens.
Andrew and his wife, Carolyn, recently deceased, have been active participants in the growth and development of Mobile Botanical Gardens for many years as board members, officers, and underwriters.
Andrew was CEO of the Saunders family enterprises in the marine service industry throughout the Gulf region for his entire career. He was also active in the leadership of several civic and industry organizations including the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce–Chairman, The Nature Conservancy of Alabama–Chairman, The Seamen’s Foundation—Chairman; The Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway Association—Vice-chairman; The American Boatbuilders Association—Vice-chairman; GulfQuest—Executive Committee member.
Under Andrew’s leadership, the Saunders Companies supported the communities in which they operated, particularly Mobile, which was headquarters.

March 17, 2016

Minutes of the March 17, 2016 Meeting
The Rotary Club of Mobile
Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 12:20 PM by Robby McClure, club president. Ariel Chavez offered the invocation and afterwards Larry Sindel led the club in song. Tom Martenstein welcomed members of guests and a visiting Rotarian.
Youth Merit Award: Ashleigh Neese, a senior at UMS-Wright was awarded the Youth Merit Award and said she plans to attend Birmingham Southern in the fall.
New Member: Jimmy Lyon, a principal in Exit Realty Lyon was introduced as the newest Rotarian by Dan McDaniel.
Announcements: Robby made the following announcements:
• A board meeting will take today after the meeting.
• If planning a visit to Mobile West at Briquettes on Montlimar Drive, please come before 11:45AM to place you order for lunch so that the program can be on schedule.
Program: Furnishing the Bellingrath Home: Did She Shop til She Dropped?
Tom McGehee, Museum Director for Bellingrath Gardens and Home presented a power point program highlighting some of the purchases made by Bessie Morse Bellingrath for her home at the center of Bellingrath Gardens which was completed in 1936. Among the treasures and their stories:
• A pair of marble and brass urns once owned by Admiral Raphael Semmes.
• A banquet table and chairs from the London estate of Sir Thomas Lipton who had founded his tea empire in 1890.
• A French display cabinet formerly owned by New York senator and attorney Chauncey DePew. One of his more famous quips: “I get exercise acting as pallbearer to my friends who exercise.” DePew died at the age of 94 in 1928.
• A pair of large sterling silver cups with covers purchased from the estate of the longtime president of Studebaker, Albert R. Erskine, a native of Huntsville. When he was relieved of his duties in 1933 following some very bad management choices, he put a gun to his chest.
• A pair of Sheffield silver wine coasters from the descendant of George Tuthill whose home previously stood on the north west corner of Old Shell Road and Tuthill Lane until a fire consumed it in 1897.
• A bronze Japanese vase was a gift from local nurseryman and Rotarian Tom Kiyona to Mrs. Bellingrath who had been one of his best customers. When war with Japan was declared his property was confiscated in Mobile and he was forced to go into a relocation camp. At war’s end he returned to Mobile briefly, a broken man. He died in Japan, a nation he had left as a small child.
Robby thanked Tom for speaking to the club and announced that in his honor a donation has been made to the Mobile Infirmary Center for Women and Children.

March 10, 2016

MINUTES
Of the March 10, 2016 Meeting
The Rotary Club of Mobile
Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by club president Robby McClure who invited Tommy Fulton forward to offer the invocation. Tommy Blankenship then led the club in song accompanied by Less Greer on the piano. Tom Martenstein welcomed visiting Rotarians and guests of members.
Youth Merit Award: This week the Youth Merit Award was presented to Elizabeth Morrissette, a senior at St. Pauls. Elizabeth is a granddaughter of John M. Morrissette, Jr, who served as president of the club in 1980/81. She spoke on the subject of service which she termed “a labor of love.”
Announcements: Robby McClure made the following announcements:
• A board meeting will take place after the meeting next week on March 17.
• The Mobile West Rotary Club has changed their location to Briquettes Restaurant on Montlimar Drive.
• Robert Greer presented the club with a certificate from Rotary International thanking the club for its financial assistance in the End Polio Now Campaign.
Program: OysterSouth: A Revolution in Oyster Farming
Cullen Duke introduced Bill Walton, PhD, a professor at Auburn and Senior Scientist at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. Dr. Walton discussed the farming of oysters which was introduced through a program sponsored by the Sea Lab in 2003. The goal he said is to provide “consistent, beautiful, branded oysters” at a reasonable price point.
Dr. Walton noted that historically Southerners have been accustomed to plentiful oysters at very reasonable prices but that quality levels were sometimes questionable. He said that through oyster farming the quantity and quality can be controlled.
Currently there are 13 oyster farms in Alabama within five areas surrounding Mobile. He explained that oyster farming is now simply an option and will never completely replace what he termed “bottom culture” to describe traditional oyster harvesting.
After answering numerous questions, Dr. Walton was presented a certificate by Robby McClure, noting that in his honor a donation has been made to MARC.
The meeting adjourned at 1:00 PM.
Tom McGehee

March 3, 2016

March 3, 2016
Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by President Robby McClure. DeDe Sanogo gave the invocation, followed by Larry Sindel, who led us in song, accompanied by Les Greer at the piano. Tom Martenstein introduced our guests along with visiting Rotarians.
Student Guest: Saty Putcha presented our student guest, Brian Patrick Anderson, from Theodore High School.
Announcements: Tommy Fulton made a plea for our CART fund, which helps fund Alzheimer’s research. Former member, Fr. Greg Lucey, was welcomed back.
Program: Rod Frazer was introduced by Vaughan Morrissette. His program emphasized the details in his book, Send the Alabamians- 167th Alabama Infantry Regiment of Rainbow Division of WWI.
Mr. Frazer took his inspiration for his book from the books of two famous Mobile authors. The first was William Edward March, who wrote Company K. The second was Eugene Sledge, who wrote two books about World War II.
Mr. Frazer described his research for the book, which told about the recruitment of the Alabama men who became famous for their ferocity and tremendous espirit de corps. General Douglas MacArthur was tremendously impressed by these men. American General Edward Plummer was also impressed by these Alabamians, but was also frustrated by their rambunctiousness.
To honor these men, Mr. Frazer purchased some land in France upon which some of the bloodiest battles of WWI were fought. His purpose was to commission a statue portraying a soldier carrying a casualty. More than half of the original 167th Infantry Regiment lost their lives in these battles. It was here that the soldiers from Alabama distinguished themselves by turning back the Germans at Champagne, considered a key win for the allies.
He closed with the observation that Douglass McArthur made his name behind the success of the Alabama Division.
The meeting was adjourned at 1:00 pm.

February 25, 2016

Minutes of the Rotary Meeting – February 25, 2016
By: Henry R. Seawell, IV
Invocation, Song, Music and Pledge
Robbie McClure called the meeting to order. John Pisarkiewicz gave the invocation.
Tommy Blankenship led the song and pledge.
Introduction of Guests and Visitors: Tom Martenstein
Student Guest: The student of the week was Sara Taylor from St. Luke’s Episcopal School, introduced by Saty Putcha.
New Members: Thkisha Sanago and Suntrease Williams-Maynard, both of which were introduced by Rosie Chambers.
Announcements: Rotary Club of West Mobile has moved their weekly meeting to Briquettes on Montlimar Road, effective March 3, 2016. Ken Niemeyer announced a partnership between Rotary Club of Mobile and Big Brothers Big Sisters, which has led to the building of six free lending libraries.
Program
Speaker: Bill Sisson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce was introduced by John Dukes and provided a presentation on “Mobile’s Economic Outlook.”
Mr. Sisson began his presentation by citing to the “State of the Economy” in Alabama, an arrangement that was developed by the Mobile Chamber of Commerce (“Chamber”) in December 2015. According to the Chamber’s research, 82% of Mobilians expect more growth in our economy in 2016 compared to the previous year, and a majority of employers anticipate growing their numbers this year. Additionally, local contractors are experiencing a backlog of work, but their progress is somewhat stymied by a lack of skilled laborers.
The top economic issues in Mobile were identified as increasing the number of skilled workers through enhanced job training, developing local and regional job growth, and improving our infrastructure. Key challenges include economic uncertainty, regulatory restrictions, and the monitoring of consumer spending.
A number of impressive accolades were mentioned that should offer excitement to all Mobilians, including:
– Forbes listing Mobile first among cities in new manufacturing opportunities.
– Business Facilities ranking Mobile as the city with the second highest growth potential.
– The United States Department of Commerce naming Mobile as one of its twelve nationally designated manufacturing communities.
Mobile has experienced a 38% increase in manufacturing jobs in the last five years, as well as a 23% increase in wages. The city boasts the second largest manufacturing facility in the state of Alabama, Austal USA, and is home to Airbus’ only “Center of Excellence” in the United States. Mr. Sisson pointed out that the Hamburg, Germany aviation center has afforded that community with 40,000 jobs in its twenty years of development. The Chamber is presently poised to open a “Business Incubator” at a facility on St. Louis St. for the stated purpose of assisting start-up companies to flourish in the areas of manufacturing and distribution.
In summation, the state of the city is strong!
The meeting was adjourned.

Mar. 31, 2016–Casi Callaway / Director, Mobile Bay Keeper

Casi (kc) Callaway,
Executive Director & Baykeeper –
Mobile Baykeeper
Casi Callaway grew up in Mobile, Alabama, graduated from Emory University and moved to DC where she organized and lobbied on environmental legislation at the local, state and federal level. She came home in 1998 to work locally to protect her favorite watershed. Under Casi’s leadership, Mobile Baykeeper has grown into the Mobile Bay area’s largest environmental advocacy organization and one of the largest local organizations along the Gulf Coast with over 4,000 members and more than a half million dollar budget. She and the Baykeeper team are responsible for organizing, researching and educating the community on issues that affect public health, environment and quality of life.
Casi received the Liberty Bell Award from the Mobile Bar Association, was named a “Remarkable Woman” by Lifetime Television, Coastal Hero by Coastal Living magazine and a “Woman Shaping the State” of Alabama by al.com. Casi served on the Gulf of Mexico Program’s Citizen Advisory Committee and as a Commissioner to Alabama’s Coastal Recovery Commission.
She is a member of the Junior League of Mobile, Board Member of Waterkeeper Alliance and liaison to the international organization’s Board of Trustees, graduate of the Leadership Mobile class of 2012, Chair of the Leadership Council for Mobile United and is actively involved in environmental groups at the local, state, regional and national levels. She lives in the Mobile Bay area with her husband and wonderful 8-year-old son.

Mar. 24, 2016–Jeff Carter

Jeff Carter is the Executive Director for the City of Mobile’s Innovation Team. Jeff is a lifelong resident of Mobile County, and proud alumni of The University of South Alabama. Throughout his professional and volunteer experience, Jeff has utilized his diverse background to impact large municipal and non-profit organizations by focusing on data driven policies and procedures that result in increased efficiency, flexibility, and financial stability Jeff served on the board of The Grounds for five years,though its renewal and re-branding, and is currently working with the Fuse Project to provide the spark for innovation, funding and implementation of projects benefiting children along Alabama’s Gulf Coast.