Author: peggy

 

Minutes of the January 20, 2022 Meeting

The Rotary Club of Mobile

 

 

 

GREETING    The meeting was called to order by Elizabeth Stevens at 12:15 PM.

 

Moment of Silence: Dr. Stephen Ford Dill who passed away January 14, 2022

 

 

INVOCATION  Frank Harkins offered the invocation. Tommy Blankenship led the Pledge of Allegiance and introduced the meeting guests.

 

NEW MEMBERS:

 

John Driscoll, Director and Chief Executive Officer, Alabama State Port Authority. Introduced by Elizabeth Stevens.

 

Presentation of Excellence in Scholarship Certificate

 

Milligan Grinstead, McGill Toolen High School

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

*** Next Rain Barrel Installation Event – Feb. 18^th– 8AM-Noon

*** Member Bdays:  Jan. 20 Gerry Robbins, Jan 21 Don Foose, Russell Steiner, Jan 24 Kate Carver and Jan 25 Hawk Sindel

***District Mid-Year Conference this weekend

*** Board meeting today in Leinkauf Suite

*** Rotary Club of Mobile named beneficiary in the will of the Samuel P. Marshall Family Trust

***Birthday contributions to Rotary Children’s Foundation or Scholarship Fund, Billy Cassady

 

 

PROGRAM             Will Edmonds / Barton Academy and former Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar. Introduced by Frank Harkins.

 

 

In 1995 Will Edmonds was a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar out of our Mobile Rotary Club, which is how he was later able to study in Belgium. He graduated from the University of Mobile in 1997 with a double major in French and International business. While in college, he studied in FRANCE, at the Institut de Tourraine, and in BELGIUM, at the Universite Catholique Centre des Langues. In 2007, he completed a Master of Education with a concentration in French at the University of South Alabama. In 2009, he achieved National Board Certification in World Languages, and successfully renewed that certification in 2018. Will taught French 1, 2, 3, and IB 4 for 20 years at Davidson High School in Mobile. He is now teaching French at Barton Academy for Advanced World Studies.

 

Mr Edmonds started by noting that this was his fourth time as speaker at the Rotary Club of Mobile. He then began his remarks by recalling a letter of appreciation that he received from a student about how important “building communities matters” that Mr Edmonds teaches as part of his curriculum. He used that theme to link his ambassadorial scholarship with the importance of Rotary and how he tries to live his life and teach his students. He began his professional life overseas living with a host family and related some of the experiences thereof. He now teaches French at Barton Academy and has been a teacher for 24 years. He told about beginning and Interact Club at Barton. Will is the leader. He stated that beginning the club was actually suggested by Elizabeth Stevens with the motto of “Service Above Self”. He attempts to incorporate the Rotary ideals into his various programs on a regular basis. He noted that he teaches the French language to a conversational level in order for the students to be able to at least convey concepts in French. In fact, he takes his students on a foreign trip approximately every other year, covid aside.

 

SPEAKER CERTIFICATE            President Stevens thanked Mr Edmonds for his presentation and noted that, in his honor, a donation had been made by the club to the History Museum of Mobile that will provide transportation and admission to eight classes at Title I schools in the area.

 

                 

NEXT WEEK             Wiley Blankenship / Executive Director, Coastal 150 “Advancing Coastal Alabama’s Priorities in Montgomery”.

 

The meeting adjourned at 12:59 PM.

 

 

Minutes of the January 13, 2022 Meeting

The Rotary Club of Mobile

 

Call to Order:  The meeting was called to order by President Elizabeth Stevens, at 12:15 PM.  John Garrett came forward to offer the invocation.  Tommy Blankenship led the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance.  There were no visiting Rotarians or guests of members to welcome.

 

Student Guest:  Garret Powe introduced Abigail Murray, a senior at Mary G. Montgomery High School who spoke on her volunteer work and concluded that those positive experiences have influenced her to want to continue to volunteer throughout her life.  She will be attending Mississippi State.

 

Announcements – Elizabeth announced:

• Rotary Youth Leadership Conference has been canceled.
• The Mid-Year District Conference is to be held in Dothan the weekend of January 21-22, but a Zoom option will be a less expensive alternative to anyone wishing to attend.
• The installation of rain barrels discussed last week will take place on Friday, January 14. Please let Elizabeth know if you can assist.
• A city volunteer clean-up will be held on Saturday, January 15. Please contact Casi Callaway if you can help.
• Our members celebrating upcoming birthdays.

 

 

Program:  Bill Tobin, Rotary Relations Manager for ShelterBox, USA

 

Bill Tobin spoke via remote from his home in California regarding the ShelterBox Project which was founded by British Rotarians in Cornwall in 2000.  The original idea was to create boxes which would hold items to assist survivors of natural disasters.  The program has now grown to an international scale and Rotary is a partner in the project which to date has assisted 2 million people around the world recovering not only from natural disasters but those trying to survive in war-torn areas, such as Syria.

 

The boxes are fitted with items chosen depending on the area where the survivors are located. In a cold climate such as northern Syria the boxes have blankets, rugs and warm outerwear for children and adults.  In areas struck by hurricanes the box will have tarps to help with shelter as well as basic tools to rebuild. In the fall the Rotary Club of Mobile contributed $500 to the project to assist Haitians struck by an earthquake followed by flooding.

 

Mr. Tobin said that the organization would like to grow in the Gulf Coast region  and would welcome local volunteers.  Please go to shelterboxusa.org/volunteer for further information.

 

Elizabeth thanked the speaker and explained that a donation to the History Museum here in Mobile has been made in his honor.

 

The meeting adjourned at 12:55 PM.

 

Tom McGehee

 

 

 

 

Minutes of January 6, 2022 meeting

By Monde Donaldson

Call to order: The meeting was called to order by Elizabeth Stevens.

Invocation, Song and Pledge: Richard Stimpson gave the invocation. He was followed by Tommy Blankenship who introduced guests.

RI History Moment:  Tom McGehee gave us our Rotary history lesson on hotels.

Student Guest: Julie Otts introduced LeFlore High School counselor Gabarel Lambert who presented their choice for Student of the Week Nyla Reiss.

New member: James Fowler introduced Stephen Worley.

Announcements: Elizabeth congratulated Meg Fowler and Kim Garrett for being named to Mobile Bay Monthly’s 2020 Class of 40 Under 40. Kudos were also given to Michael Chambers for being named Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce’s outstanding Entrepreneur for 2021.

Program: James Fowler introduced Brian Harold, managing director of APM Terminals. The company is part of the global corporation A.P. Moller Maersk Group. They own 76 container terminals. The Mobile facility was opened in 2008 and expanded in 2017 and 2020. The Port of Mobile is the fastest growing port in North America. He attributed some of the initial growth to attracting a Walmart Distribution Center. They get most of their products from Asia and they are the biggest importer in the United States. Walmart was the springboard, he said.

He said APM terminals has patterned its efforts after the Savannah Model. Good land availability, great work force development, more distribution centers and rail access fit the Savannah model which Mobile is following.

The biggest competitors for the Mobile market are Savannah, New Orleans, Charleston, Los Angeles/ Long Beach. Mobile has not had the problem with the supply chain crisis that many other ports have had with cargo ships sitting offshore during the pandemic filled with goods. Mobile has been able to meet expectations. There are more ships off the coast of California than we handle in a week, he said.

The future for Mobile terminal looks bright, he noted., with the 2025 deepening and widening of the Mobile Ship Channel to allow two ships to come and go at the same time and the efforts of Mobile and Baldwin County leaders. The biggest boost recently was Gov. Kay Ivey’s announcement of $71.6 million to connect the Port of Mobile with the McCalla Intermodal Facility near Birmingham. This is actually part of a $231 million rail project program aimed at enhancing economic development infrastructure in central and south Alabama. He did say, however, a stumbling block that needs to be addressed and is now back on the table – a new Mobile Bay bridge. In his opinion, a new 1-10 connector is a must when it comes to recruiting new businesses to the area.

 

Closing remarks:  Elizabeth congratulated Nyla for being named Student of the Week and asked members to meet new member Stephen. The meeting was adjourned.

 

Minutes of the December 16, 2021 Meeting

The Rotary Club of Mobile

 

 

 

GREETING    The meeting was called to order by Elizabeth Stevens at 12:15 PM.

 

 

INVOCATION     Claire McCarron offered the invocation. Tommy Blankenship led the song, Pledge of Allegiance and introduced the meeting guests.

 

NEW MEMBERS:

 

1. Bestor Ward, IV introduced by Bestor Ward III
2. Margie Calhoun introduced by Elizabeth Stevens

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

*** Elizabeth thanked eight members of the club for gifts to the Scholarship Fund at our local Rotary                       Children’s Foundation

*** Member Bdays:  Dec 19 Tommy Blankenship, Angela Dunn, Aimee Risser, Dec. 20 Joey Betbeze and Dec. 21 Russ Ford

 

 

PROGRAM             David Rogers, Vice President of Economic Development Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce. Introduced by Michael Kintz

 

 

 

David serves at the Vice President of Economic Development at the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce. He joined the economic development department in January 2015. David’s department is the lead economic development agency for the City of Mobile and Mobile County. Under his role, David oversees the day-to-day operations of the department that consist of industrial recruitment, international trade, foreign direct investment, workforce development, talent attraction, and existing industry relations. Prior to his role as Vice President, David served as the Senior Project Manager and Project Manager where he managed lead generation, project recruitment activity, and industrial site development for the Mobile area. Some of David’s recent projects to announce in Mobile include the Walmart Imported Distribution Center, the expansion of the Airbus and Bombardier Final Assembly Line expansion, and the reinvestment of AM/NS Calvert. David serves on the Board of Directors for the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission, USA Center for Real Estate and Economic Development, and the South Alabama Workforce Development Council, where he currently serves as Chairman. David was born and raised in Mobile and attended the University of Southern Mississippi. He has completed the University of Alabama Economic Honors Program and Oklahoma University’s Economic Development Institute.

 

 

 

SPEAKER CERTIFICATE            President Stevens thanked Mr Rogers for his presentation and noted that, in his honor, a donation had been made by the club to the History Museum of Mobile that will provide transportation and admission to eight classes at Title I schools in the area.

 

Elizabeth Stevens shared some club membership statistics with the attendees. We have 76% male and 24% female, the largest age group is those aged 50-69 and 53% are over the age of 60. 24% of our members have been in the club for 26+ years and 45% have been members for 6-25 years. We have welcomed fourteen new members since July. Unfortunately, two members passed away during that time.

 

Elizabeth noted that the club is in good financial condition and that Kate Carver is available to answer specific questions.

 

Claire McCarron was called on the make the report of the nominating committee. The Club received no individual nominations and pursuant the the Bylaws of the Club, each of the nominees submitted by the nominating committee is therefore elected.

                    

NEXT WEEK             NO MEETING the next two weeks

 

The meeting adjourned at 12:59 PM.

 

 

Minutes of the December 9, 2021 Meeting

The Rotary Club of Mobile

 

Call to Order:  The meeting was called to order by President Elizabeth Stevens, at 12:15 PM.  Kellie Hope came forward to offer the invocation.  Larry Sindel led the group in song and the Pledge of Allegiance.  Danny Patterson welcomed a visiting Rotarian.

 

Student Guest:  Julie Otts introduced Baker High School Senior Andrew Kent who plans to study to be a pharmacist.  He spoke of the effect of his grandfather on him, who never slowed in service despite a fatal cancer diagnosis.

 

New Member: Bob Chappelle introduced our newest Rotarian.  Michael Galvin is a Senior Vice President at the Chamber where he is in charge of Member Engagement.

 

Announcements – Elizabeth announced:

• Club elections will take place next week.
• Our members celebrating birthdays.

 

 

Program:  Rendi Murphree, Ph.D., M.S.  – Disease Prevention

 

The subject of this week’s meeting was the Mobile County Health Department and its role in controlling infectious diseases.  Dr. Murphree said that there are three levels of the reporting of disease – those to be reported in either 4 hours (such as Anthrax, the Plague, a terrorist related outbreak), 24 hours (cholera, diphtheria, ecoli or measles) or 5 days (Malaria, mumps, venereal diseases, lime disease or West Nile.)  A questionnaire is then given to the patient who has been reported to them by their physician.  The team of investigators has jumped considerably from the original band of 6.

 

Dr. Murpree discussed Covid and said that the department is holding several off-site vaccination clinics to reach Mobile county residents.  A clinic is also operating at the former Festival Center on Montlimar Drive. She reported that 85% of Mobile’s most vulnerable have received the vaccination and a good percentage of adolescents have also gotten theirs.

 

When asked about the tremendous drop in the cases of regular flu last year she attributed it to the wearing of masks, social distancing and better hygiene during the Covid’s worst period.

 

Dr. Murphree said that venereal diseases were particularly dangerous to infants born of mothers infected with syphilis.  She said all pregnant women should be tested for VD even if they claim they have been monogamous.  Beyond that she declared the best defense was CONDOMS, CONDOMS, CONDOMS and asked our Student of the Week to spread the word among his schoolmates.

 

She also mentioned TB and said that although it is rare it does occur and that the best place to be treated is your local health department.  Dr. Murphree spoke from experience since that is exactly where she went after she caught it from an elephant.

After answering a number of questions. Elizabeth thanked Dr. Murphree and presented her with a certificate noting that in her honor a donation has been made to the History Museum of Mobile.  The meeting adjourned at 1:05 PM.

 

Tom McGehee

MINUTES OF THE ROTARY MEETING

December 2, 2021

By Dr. Leona Onderdonk Rowan

Call to Order:  The meeting was called to order by Garrett Williamson, President-Elect of Rotary Club of Mobile, at 12:15 p.m.

Invocation:  Ken McElhaney offered the invocation.

Patriotic Song and Pledge:   Members sang “America the Beautiful” and recited the Pledge of Allegiance led by Larry Sindel.

Members’ Guests:  Bob Chappelle called upon members to introduce their guests.

Student Guest:  Julie Otts introduced the school counselor from Davidson High School.  She in turn introduced the student of the week, Jackson A. Faggard.  Following Jackson’s remarks, Garrett Williamson presented him a certificate.

Moment in History:  Tom McGehee presented a brief history of the beginning of Mobile Rotary in 1914 and explained that the organization’s initial meetings were held at the Battle House Hotel.

Program:  Member Michael Kintz introduced the guest speaker, David Morris.  He is the founder and CEO of QB (quarterback) Country.  Located in twelve cities from New Jersey to Dallas, QB Country is the nation’s leading quarterback training and development company.  David’s own experience with playing football began at McGill-Toolen High School and continued at Ole Miss as a walk on.  He became the first true freshman walk-on quarterback to start in the SEC.

David began his remarks by recalling that when he was a child he attended Mobile Rotary Club meetings with his father.  This experience helped form his understanding of and appreciation for service to others.  QB Country provides training and development to quarterbacks in the NFL, college, high school, and middle school.  David said he became obsessed with football at an early age and his love of the game remained over the years.  So, after working in real estate for a number of years, he decided to return to football and he established QB Country in 2010.  The company specializes in small group and one-on-one training which fosters strong, positive relationships with trainees.  It also emphasizes recruiting and advising.  As a result, many of the high school trainees have been recruited and offered scholarships, thereby opening the door to opportunities they may not have had otherwise.

After questions from the floor were answered, Garrett thanked David for speaking to our club and presented him a certificate noting that a donation has been made in his honor to the Mobile History Museum.

Announcements:  Garrett announced member birthdays.

Closing Remarks and Adjournment:  He announced that Dr. Rendi Murphree with the Mobile County Department of Health will be the guest speaker next week. The meeting was adjourned at approximately 1:00 p.m.