Apr. 15, 2021

Minutes of the April 15, 2021 Meeting
The Rotary Club of Mobile
Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by Claire McCarron at 12:15 PM.
Lori Myles offered the invocation. Tommy Blankenship led the Pledge of Allegiance and introduced the meeting guests.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
• Board meeting today
• Reminder to club members to update roster photos and info
• Founders Day evening is May 14.
NEW MEMBERS
None
Program: Sheriff Sam Cochran, Sheriff of Mobile County.
Sam Cochran is a native Mobilian who graduated from the McGill Institute and went on to attend the University of South Alabama where he holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in criminal justice and public administration. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy. He began his law enforcement career with the Mobile Police Department as a police cadet where he spent 31 years working his way through the ranks, serving the last 10 years as Chief of Police. In 2006, Sam Cochran was elected Sheriff of Mobile County and re-elected in 2010, 2014, and 2018.
The sheriff’s remarks were in two main areas. The first was the lack of growth in the city of Mobile and the second had to do with current police conditions. His general theme was that the city needed to show some growth after many decades of stagnation. In fact, the city has not grown in population since the 1960s. There have been various opportunities to annex areas adjacent to the city limits. Those opportunities were declined by the various city councils over the years. In the sheriff’s view, it is important for the city to grow to help fund infrastructure and the corresponding tax base it would come with annexation. According to the sheriff, there are some 80,000 citizens of Mobile County reside near the city limits.
The sheriff then talked generally about recent gang related instances of shootings and other serious crimes. Because of the current national political environment of police pushback, his department is having a challenge with recruiting in addition to high turnover.
President McCarron thanked Sheriff Cochran for his presentation and noted that, in his honor, a donation had been made by the club to “Reach Out and Read Alabama”
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 12:59 PM.
Rob Diehl

Apr. 8, 2021

Minutes of the April 8, 2021 meeting of the Rotary Club of Mobile
Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by club president Claire McCarron at 12:15 PM.
Invocation: Allen Ladd offered the invocation.
Pledge: Tommy Blankenship led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Student Guest: There was no student guest this week due to Spring Break for area schools.
Announcements: Claire made the following announcements:
• A board meeting will be held next week following the regular meeting.
• Rotary Happy Hour was held this past Tuesday evening at El Papi and a great time was had by all. Be sure to watch for the next one.
• Please submit updated photos or changes in contact information for the upcoming Roster ASAP.
• Watch the mail for your invitation to the Founders Day cruise the evening of May 14 and please RSVP since space is limited.
Program: Mike Lee: President and CEO of Page & Jones, Inc.
Virginia Guy introduced Mike Lee who brought the club up to date on the latest activities around our port. Included were:
• Dredging of the ship channel to a depth of 50-54 feet to allow larger ships as well as existing ships with larger loads. A planned widening of the channel will permit two ships to pass each other as well. Mike said funds are in place and that routine dredging is underway in the meantime. This will reduce wait time for ships and make the port more appealing to shippers. 2025 is the target date for completion of the project he added.
• The container terminal has been improved and can handle 500,000 containers on site. There are new cranes, and now two ships can be unloaded at once. A new refrigerated warehouse, the largest in North America has been completed and can store 42,000 pallets of frozen food and is in use by Walmart.
• The automobile terminal will allow an increase in the shipment of automobiles through Mobile thanks to a public/private partnership. This will assist in cars manufactured around Alabama as well as up into Tennessee.
• The cruise ship industry is awaiting permission from the CDC to start up and in the meantime is petitioning courts to allow that decision in future to be made at a state, not national level. Cruises may begin in some Gulf ports by July but Mobile’s cruises may not begin before August or September.
• Amtrack Passenger Service is in the news he said and added that the Port Authority and a wide range of businesses are against it unless Amtrack comes up with the funds needed to add an additional track and needed infrastructure. Mike reminded his audience that the passenger trains are given the right of way and without an additional track this may well have a detrimental effect on commerce and as a result, jobs.
Mike answered a number of questions before Claire thanked him for speaking to the club and presented him with a certificate noting that a donation in his honor has been made to the Reach Out and Read program. After announcing the upcoming birthdays of Rotarians Claire adjourned the meeting at 1:00 PM.
Tom McGehee

Apr. 1, 2021

MINUTES OF THE ROTARY MEETING
April 1, 2021
By Dr. Leona O. Rowan
Call to Order : The meeting was called to order by Claire McCarron, President of the Rotary Club of Mobile, at 12:15 p.m.
Invocation : Cart Blackwell gave the invocation.
Pledge and Welcome: Tommy Blankenship led the members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and welcomed members’ guests.
Student Guest: William Latta introduced the representative from Theodore High School and student of the week, Eva Burch. Eva spoke of her own experience with service to others as an Azalea Trail maid.
Announcements: Claire announced there will be a happy hour on Tuesday, April 6th at El Papi. Also, she reminded all members to submit any changes to roster info to Peggy Buggs. This includes an updated photo or changes in contact information.
Program: Virginia Guy introduced the guest speaker, Mr. Owen Bailey, Chief Executive Officer and Senior Associate Vice-President for Medical Affairs at USA Health. He earned a bachelor’s degree in health administration from Auburn University and a master’s degree in health administration from the University of Alabama Birmingham.
Owen began his presentation by displaying the motto of USA Health which is: “We help people lead longer, better lives.” He went on to explain that USA Health is the only academic health system in our region AND it is the only Level 1 trauma center in our area. Its trauma center ranks in the top 10% for number of patients with positive outcomes. In recent years, USA Health has seen explosive growth which has positively impacted healthcare and economic expansion. The system includes USA College of Medicine, University Hospital, Children and Women’s Hospital, the Mitchell Cancer Institute, as well as physician services.
USA Health currently employs 4,500 full-time and part-time employees, making it one of the largest employers in the area. Three hundred medical students are currently enrolled in the College of Medicine and there are 240 residents and fellows. Owen noted that approximately one-third of doctors in the Mobile area received their training at USA Health. During March of 2021, a midtown Mobile clinic opened, and plans are underway for the Mapp Family healthcare facility in Baldwin County. To address the Covid-19 pandemic, USA Health partnered with the City of Mobile to provide vaccinations at the city auditorium and with the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce to provide vaccinations at area businesses. Similarly, an outreach program offered vaccines in nine different locations throughout the community.
After questions from the floor were answered, Claire thanked Owen for speaking to our club and presented him a certificate noting that a donation has been made in his honor to the “Reach Out and Read” literacy initiative.
Closing Remarks and Adjournment: Claire announced member birthdays and reminded everyone the meeting next week will include guest speaker, Mike Lee, President and CEO of Page and Jones, Inc. She adjourned the meeting at approximately 1:00 p.m.

Mar. 25, 2021

Minutes of Rotary Meeting
March 25, 2021
By Kathy Miller
Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by Claire McCarron, President of the Rotary Club of Mobile, at 12:00 p.m.
Invocation and Pledge: Destiny Maynard gave the invocation and Tommy Blankenship led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Members’ Guests and Visiting Rotarians: Tommy Blankenship introduced Members’ guests and visiting Rotarians.
Student Guest: Jeff Luther introduced Blair Fischer, Head of School at St. Paul’s Episcopal School, who introduced Marie Robinson as the student guest. After Ms. Robinson spoke to the Club, Claire presented Ms. Robinson with a certificate.
Announcements: The next Rotary Happy Hour will be on April 6, 2021 at El Papi. Claire asked that members submit any roster changes or updated photos to Peg.
Program: Casi Callaway introduced member Suntrease Williams-Maynard, Executive Director of the The Maynard 4 Foundation and Special Counsel, Adams & Reese, LLP. Ms. Williams-Maynard introduced her family, who serve as the other officers of the Maynard 4 Foundation: her husband, Stephen Maynard, her son, Dareon Maynard, and her daughter, Destiny Maynard. Ms. Williams-Maynard said that the Foundation was created by her family in order to serve the community as a family. Their family is passionate about four areas: education, culture, social justice, and health equity. Ms. Williams-Maynard outlined the Foundation’s objectives and current and planned work in these areas. The Foundation is about promoting freedom, love, kindness, and civility and breaking free from any type of chains, whether physical, emotional, or mental. The Foundation is promoting the “GOT A.I.R.” Campaign (accountability, integrity, and respect). The Foundation is sponsoring “May-nard Day”, a carnival-style program involving young people and law enforcement to encourage young people to understand law enforcement. Ms. Williams-Maynard said she and her husband encouraged Destiny and Dareon to work for their positions with the Foundation. As part of the program, Dareon presented a history of Juneteenth. Destiny has spear-headed, “Tea Times with Destiny”. In each Sunday afternoon on line session, Destiny discusses the history of a black woman based on Destiny’s research. Ms. Williams-Maynard also discussed the Boys Leadership Institute which her son will help spear-head. Claire thanked Ms. Williams-Maynard and her family for speaking to the Club.
Closing Remarks and Adjournment: Claire announced members’ birthdays and the program for next week. She adjourned the meeting at 1:00 p.m.
Kathy Miller
Contributing Editor
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Mobile Founders' Day Cruise – Friday May 14, 2021

Friday May 14, 2021 5:30 PM – 08:00 PM

Please Join Us for an Evening of Fellowship As We Cruise the Mobile River Aboard the Perdido QueenFriday, May 14, 2021
Boarding 5:30 p.m.
Departure 6:00 p.m.
Debarkation 8:00 p.m.
 
1 South Water Street
Mobile, Alabama
 
Reservations Required before May 7, 2021
 
Early Bird Reservations – $65/person
After May 1, 2021 – $75/person
$5 from every reservation will be donated to the Rotary Scholarship Fund
 
REGISTER HERE
 
Parking available underneath the Arthur R. Outlaw Convention Center (Free with mention of Rotary event)

May 27, 2021–Ariel Chavez/Owner, New Frontier Travel, LLC

Alberto ‘Ariel’ Chavez
Ariel was born and raised in La Paz, Bolivia. In 2002 he moved to the U.S. as an international student to complete his engineering studies at the University of South Alabama. In 2005 he graduated Summa Cum Laude from the Civil Engineering program at South Alabama and was selected graduating Student of the Year by the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Ariel worked as a project engineer in the highway design department at Volkert & Associates for over 8 years. In 2010 he obtained his masters degree in transportation planning from the University of South Alabama as well as his Professional Engineering (P.E.) license in Alabama and surrounding states.
In 2014, following his love and passion for travel, he started a small business in Mobile and purchased a Cruise Planners American Express Travel franchise. Since 2016 he has been a top producing franchisee and now manages a team of travel advisors around the country. In 2019 he was elected as a member of the Advisory Board of American Express Travel.
Ariel became a U.S. citizen in 2015 and has visited all 50 states and over 40 countries around the world. Ariel is fluent in Spanish, English, intermediate German and can understand Southern. He and his husband Cai enjoy sailing, they recently completed their foster care and adoption certification and both are looking forward to their first placement.

May 20, 2021–Ashley Rich/Mobile County District Attorney

Ashley Rich
Mobile County District Attorney
Ashley Rich is the District Attorney for the 13th Judicial Circuit of the State of Alabama, which is the second largest Circuit in the State. She was elected in November of 2010 and has the honor of being the first female District Attorney of Mobile County. Prior to taking the over as the leader of the office she served as an assistant District Attorney for 15 years. She has tried over 155 jury trials and numerous defendants who are on Death Row in the State of Alabama.
Ashley has been an enemy of crime and a champion of families for 20 years. As a prosecutor, she has served Mobile County since 1996.
Ashley Rich is tough on crime and leads a team of over 60 dedicated employees to serve the Citizens of Mobile County everyday by: Vigorously Prosecuting Crime, Delivering Justice to all Victims, Supporting Law Enforcement in Seeking the Truth, and Aggressively Working to Prevent Crime.
Outside of the courtroom she has steered children in the right direction with community outreach programs, serves on the Penelope House Domestic Violence Center Board, the Underage Drinking Task Force, the Board of Volunteers of America, the Board of the Boy Scouts, and Mobile United Public Safety Committee. She also serves as “Big Sister” in the Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentoring Program.
In 2015 she was selected by her peers through the United States to serve as President of the Association of Government Attorneys in Capital Litigation. In 2011 she received the National Trial Advocacy award for outstanding Capital Litigation by the same organization.
Ashley has been awarded the Lagniappes “Nappie Award” for Mobile County’s Hardest Working Elected Official four times. She was also awarded the Mobile Baybears Community Service Award in 2013, Along with the Mobile Museum of Arts “Her- Story Award”. This year she was the recipient of The Watson Guy award at the 21st annual Drug Education Council, which recognizes the continuing tradition of helping others.
Ashley was just elected without opposition to her second 6 year term in office.

May 13, 2021–Jorge Ribeiro/CEO, AM/NS Calvert

Jorge Luiz RIBEIRO DE OLIVEIRA
President & Chief Executive Officer
AM/NS Calvert
Jorge Luiz Ribeiro de Oliveira, joined AM/NS Calvert as
President and Chief Executive Officer on September 1,
2019. Jorge is responsible for the operations and strategic
direction of the multibillion-dollar steel processing facility in Calvert, which is jointly
owned by ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel Corporation.
Jorge began his career at ArcelorMittal Tubarão almost 34 years ago, as a development
engineer trainee. In January 1989, he became section manager of blast furnaces
enlarging afterwards his responsibility to the production planning & control and the blast
furnaces & sinter. In June 2008, he was nominated General Manager responsible for
iron making and energy department. He held this position until 2010 before being placed
in charge of the steel making and Hot Strip Mill at the ArcelorMittal Tubarão facility.
In 2011 Jorge left ArcelorMittal Tubarão to take a position as President & CEO of
ThyssenKrupp Steel CSA Cia Siderúrgica do Atlántico SA. In July 2014 Jorge re-joined
ArcelorMittal as Chief Operations Officer of Flat Carbon South America.
Living and working in an international environment has taught Jorge the importance of
bringing people together and just how much can be accomplished when you empower
people to work together. Jorge’s moto is “With respect, trust and transparency we are
stronger integrated and much more motivated”.
Jorge is a graduate in metallurgical engineering from Universidade Federal Fluminense,
Brazil and he participated in executive programs at Kellogg School of Management,
USA and PGA program at Insead in France.
Jorge enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, and playing golf. He and his wife
Livia reside in Daphne, Alabama, with their twin daughters Brunela and Gabriela

May 6, 21–Janet Cobb / Executive Director, USS Alabama Battleship Commission & Battleship Memorial Park

BIO – JANET L. COBB, MG (USA Retired)
Executive Director, USS Alabama Battleship Commission and Battleship Memorial Park, Mobile, Alabama
Janet Cobb became the eighth executive director of the USS ALABAMA Battleship Commission and Battleship Memorial Park on December 14, 2015.
She enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve in May 1974 and served until August 1976. She was commissioned a Second Lieutenant, Signal Corps in May 1978 from the University of Alabama ROTC program, where she was named a Distinguished Military Graduate. MG (Ret.) Cobb was the fifty-fourth general officer and first female general officer to graduate from the University of Alabama. In April 2017, MG (Ret.) Cobb was one of seven selectees for the inaugural University of Alabama ROTC Hall of Fame.
She commanded at the detachment, battalion, brigade, directorate/brigadier general and major general levels. Her deployments include post-Desert Storm operations at the Ports of Al Jubayl and Ab Dammam, Saudi Arabia; Operation Iraqi Freedom port operations, Port of Ash Shuyabah, Kuwait (2002-2003).
MG (Ret.) Cobb’s additional deployments were joint assignments, where she served as Commander, 598th Transportation Group (Terminal)(2007), Rotterdam, the Netherlands, with oversight of military ports in Europe and North Africa; and Director, Central Command Deployment & Distribution Operations Center (Camp Arifjan, Kuwait)(2011), which directed all intra-theater airlift for Iraq and Afghanistan.
MG (Ret.) Cobb was assigned to the Department of the Army Staff as the Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, G-4, (Mobilization and Training) from 2011-2014. She was mobilized and served in the Pentagon on the Army Staff as Deputy G-4 in 2012. In October 2013, then-Secretary of the Army John Marsh appointed MG (Ret.) Cobb to the Army Reserve Forces Policy Committee for a two-year term.
Her last assignment was Commanding General, 81st Regional Support Command, Fort Jackson, South Carolina and Senior Commander, U.S. Army Garrison Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico. On August 8, 2016 she was retired from the Army of the United States after 42 years in uniform.
Her decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (3), and various campaign and service awards.
She holds a J.D. from Cumberland School of Law, Samford University; an M.S.S. from the United States Army War College and a B.A. from the University of Alabama.
MG (Ret.) Cobb is a past USS ALABAMA Battleship Commissioner. She serves on the boards of the Historic Naval Ships Association, The Lee Foundation and the Equine Therapy Group for Veterans. She is member of the Mobile Bay Area Veterans Day Commission Board of Trustees and serves on the Veterans Initiative Advisory Council of the Community Foundation of South Alabama. MG (Ret.) Cobb holds a real estate license with the State of Alabama. She is a member of VFW Post 5658, American Legion Post 99 and other professional and civic organizations.
She is a resident of the Barnwell community in Baldwin County.