Nov. 1, 2018–Rod Cate / Attorney, Author "Get Back Up"

Rod Cate Bio:
Rod Cate, partner at Hand Arendall Harrison Sale, LLC in Mobile. Practicing lawyer for 26 years. Married to Tamberly Cate, 3 children Cullen 24, Connor 23, and Corbit 20. Graduated from Davidson College with a BA in economics in 1988. Graduated from UNC at Chapel Hill with a JD/MBA in 1992.
Topic: When I was 15 years old, I broke my neck playing high school football. The injury left me paralyzed from the neck down. I plan to discuss my recovery and how my disability did not stop me from living an extraordinary life. I’ve recently self-published a book on Amazon entitled “Get Back Up,” A memoir on how to not allow a devastating life-changing event ruin you quest for a great life. That will be part of my discussion.

Oct. 25, 2018–Bri Altier Ard– Interim Director, Global Engagement / Univ. of South Alabama

Bio: Bri Altier Ard is currently the Interim Director at the University of South Alabama, where her responsibilities include overseeing daily study abroad operations, advising study abroad students, managing the International Education Ambassador internship program, maintaining the study abroad program database, liaising with international and domestic partners, and more. Bri holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and a Master of Liberal Arts degree from Tulane University. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Philosophy in Instructional Design from the University of South Alabama.
Topic of conversation: Global Engagement at the University of South Alabama, including where we are, where we came from, and where we are going. In 2012-2013 academic year, USA had 62 students studying abroad. During the 2017-2018 academic year, USA had just under 300 students studying abroad. This almost 400% increase was due to many factors, including Global Engagement being included on USA’s strategic plan, collaboration across departments and colleges, increased scholarship opportunities, and increased student access by removing barriers. These actions have allowed for hundreds of USA students to see and experience the world

Oct. 11, 2017–Special Agent in Charge (SAC) James E. Jewell / FBI

JAMES E. JEWELL
Special Agent in Charge
Mobile Division
On December 21, 2017, Director Christopher Wray appointed James E. Jewell as the Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the FBI’s Mobile Division. In this role, SAC Jewell leads all FBI operations and personnel within the State of Alabama’s Middle and Southern Judicial Districts. SAC Jewell joined the FBI in 1996 and prior to his appointment as SAC he served as a Section Chief within the FBI’s Training Division in Quantico, Virginia with oversight of the Training Services Section. In this role, SAC Jewell’s duties included executive management of key strategic educational and leadership programs to include the National Academy, the Basic Field Training Program, and various executive leadership programs offered through the FBI Academy for federal, state, local and international participants. In addition, SAC Jewell managed the division’s logistics, space, facilities, and administrative programs while also maintaining responsibility for the FBI’s conference and event processes.
Prior to his service at Quantico, SAC Jewell worked in the Charlotte Division from January 2007 to February 2014 serving as both an Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) and Field Supervisor. While in Charlotte, SAC Jewell led the division’s Operational Support Branch with responsibility for the administrative and intelligence programs and personnel located throughout North Carolina. He directed significant intelligence efforts in a variety of high profile counterterrorism, counterintelligence, criminal and cyber program matters.
SAC Jewell served previous assignments at FBI Headquarters in Washington D.C. from 2003 to 2006 and with the FBI’s Houston Division from 1996 to 2003. During his time at HQ, SAC Jewell served as a supervisor within the Directorate of Intelligence’s Career Management Section and as a Congressional Appropriations Liaison within the Finance Division. SAC Jewell served successful periods in the Houston Division’s White Collar Crime program, the ENRON Task Force, and the Joint Terrorism Task Force. He primarily investigated matters involving financial institution fraud, money laundering, obstruction of justice, and international terrorism. In recognition of his professional achievements, SAC Jewell was awarded a LEGIS Fellowship in 2003 by The Brookings Institution, Washington D.C.
Prior to his career with the FBI, SAC Jewell worked as a Senior Litigation Consultant within Coopers & Lybrand’s Financial Advisory Services Group in Birmingham, Alabama and as a Senior Consultant within Ernst & Young’s Dispute Resolution & Litigation Services Group in New Orleans, Louisiana. SAC Jewell is a former Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy, serving on active-duty from 1988 – 1992 and in the naval reserve from 1992 – 1996. He received his undergraduate degree in Commerce and Business Administration from the University of Alabama in 1987 and obtained a Masters in Accounting from Louisiana State University in 1993. SAC Jewell is a Certified Public Accountant licensed by the Alabama State Board of Public Accountancy.

July 19, 2018

Minutes of the Rotary Meeting
July 19, 2018
By Kathy Miller
Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by Ernest Ladd at 12:00 p.m. Richard Franklin offered the invocation and Larry Sindel led the Club in song and the Pledge of Allegiance. He was accompanied by Les Greer.
Guests: Jeff Zoghby introduced guests and visitors.
New Members: Scott Fenn was introduced by Robby McClure.
Announcements: Ernest announced that there would be a board meeting today in the Ashland Suite. He reminded members of the Tarpon Tournament on Saturday, July 28 and the Captain’s Reception on July 26 at Ruth’s Chris.
Program: Claire McCarron introduced Ryan Hankins, Executive Director of the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama (PARCA). PARCA was formed in 1988 under the leadership of former governor Albert Brewer for the purpose of compiling and providing objective data to better inform policymakers in government. PARCA is a nonprofit funded by contributions and seeks to establish sound facts to be used to make sound, objective decisions. Mr. Hankins gave members examples of the projects and research in which PARCA has been involved. He discussed at length PARCA’s recent research about the priorities of Alabama voters. The purpose of the study was determined what issues were the most important to Alabamians. He discussed the methodology of the survey and the distribution of responses. The top ten issues or priorities PARCA identified were K-12 education, healthcare, government corruption and ethics, mental health and substance abuse, poverty and homelessness, jobs and the economy, crime and public safety, job training and workforce development, improving the state’s image, and tax reform.
Adjournment: After announcing members’ birthdays and reminding members of the Tarpon Tournament Captain’s Reception next week at Ruth’s Chris at 6:00, Ernest adjourned the meeting at 1:00 p.m.

July 12, 2018

Minutes of the July 12, 2018, Meeting
The Rotary Club of Mobile
Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by Immediate Past President John Dukes at 12:15 PM. Kathy Miller offered the invocation and Larry Sindel led the group in song accompanied by Bill Oppenheimer on the piano. Jeff Zoghby welcomed visiting Rotarians and members’ guests.
Announcements:
• John Dukes announced that the board will meet following next week’s meeting.
• Members are reminded that the annual Tarpon Tournament will take place on July 28th with a Thursday evening reception at Ruth’s Chris on July 26th. Sponsors are still needed. This will take the place of the lunch meeting.
Program: The Year in Review
Outgoing president John Dukes took a look back at the Rotary year just ended. He noted that there had been 45 meetings, we had welcomed 14 new Rotarians and recognized 19 student guests. Social events for members included a gala at Southern National, an inaugural Mardi Gras parade party at the Carnival Museum and after work events at local watering holes to encourage fellowship and welcome potential members.
Last year the club assisted with two global projects as well as donated to help Houston Rotarians following Hurricane Harvey.
Locally, the Tarpon Tournament brought in $20,000 in donations while grants upgraded the gym at Dumas Wesley, aided Baykeeper’s SWAMP program, helped with a literacy project at Light of the Village and the installation of a new lending library at the Mobile County Training School.
In addition the Rotary Children’s Foundation distributed $100,000 to ten local organizations. John thanked the club, the board of directors as well as Peggy Buggs and Tommy Blankenship for their assistance in a successful year and for the opportunity to serve as this club’s president.
Annual Passing of the Gavel
John Dukes called on past presidents to come forward and pass the gavel. He read off each name and the theme for the year in which they served. Russell Ladd who presided in 1970-71 passed the gavel down the line until John Dukes passed it into the hands of the incoming president, Ernest Ladd, IV.
President Ladd thanked John and addressed the club with brief remarks noting his optimism for another successful year ahead for the club.
Adjournment:
The meeting adjourned at 12:40 PM.
Tom McGehee

June 28, 2018

Minutes of the June 28, 2018 Meeting
The Rotary Club of Mobile
Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by John Dukes at 12:15 PM. John Pisarkiewicz offered the invocation. John Smith led the club in song and the Pledge of Allegiance. Jeff Zoghby welcomed members’ guests and visiting Rotarians.
Announcements:
• John Dukes announced that the Board meeting is to be held today in the Ashland Suite
• John Dukes reminded us of the passing of the gavel ceremony on July 12
• John Dukes reminded everyone of the annual roster and requested anyone who would like to supply a new photo and add/correct any personal info to please do so asap.
• There will be no meeting on July 4
• The annual tarpon tournament will be July 28. Ernest Ladd is leading the effort for our club. The captain’s meeting will be at Ruth’s Chris on July 26 in place of our regular meeting. More info to follow.
Program: Distinguished Young Women
Rob Diehl introduced Kendra Haskins, Executive Director.
Distinguished Young Women, formerly America’s Junior Miss, was founded in 1958 as a way to reward the accomplishments of high school senior girls seeking to pursue higher education. Visionaries quickly saw the need to recognize outstanding young women from all across the country and what we now know as Distinguished Young Women was born.
While modest in its beginnings, Distinguished Young Women grew and remains today the largest and oldest scholarship program of its kind for high school girls. With scholarship, leadership and talent as its overarching theme, Distinguished Young Women has drawn over 765,000 young women to compete in the program at the local, state and national level and $106 million in cash scholarships has been awarded to deserving young women. On her way to being named the Distinguished Young Woman of America for 2017, Skye Bork, earned over $38,000 through her participation in the state and national programs.
For the Class of 2018, more than 100 colleges and universities have made available over $1 billion dollars in college-granted scholarships to nearly 3,000 participants in more than 415 local and state programs. With the completion of the 61st National Finals, more than $2.1 million in cash scholarships will have been earned by those young women. Thanks to the dedicated perseverance of thousands of volunteers across the country who devote countless hours and resources to ensure the success of this program, these young women have all been afforded the opportunity to achieve!
John Dukes thanked the DYW ladies for their encouraging remarks and entertainment and noted that in their honor a donation has been made to the Rotary Children’s Foundation. John reported that our club has donated approximately $12,000 to the Foundation this year.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 1:47 PM.
Rob Diehl