January 12, 2017

Minutes of the January 12, 2017 Meeting
The Rotary Club of Mobile
Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by club president Les Greer at 12:15 PM. Bill Kinnaird offered the invocation and Jeff Zoghby welcomed members’ guests and visiting Rotarians. Gordon Korb led the club in song and the Pledge.
Student Guest: Cecilia D’Olive, a senior at McGill Toolen Catholic High School, was presented with the Youth Merit Award.
Announcements:
• Club Elections: Russell Ladd presented the following slate of officers and board members for the Rotary Year 2017-18: John T. Dukes, President, Ernest F. Ladd, IV, President Elect, Thomas C. McGehee, Vice President, Claire G. McCarron, Treasurer and Thomas B. Martenstein, Secretary. Directors: Elizabeth P. Stevens, Garrett Williamson, Douglas B. Kearley and Frank D. Harkins. A. Les Greer, Immediate Past President and Thomas E. Blankenship, Jr., Sergeant- at- Arms. Russell explained that since the club received no individual nominations prior to the 15 day deadline these officers and directors are thus elected by acclamation.
• Les Greer announced that a board meeting is scheduled following the luncheon meeting on January 19.
• Elizabeth Stevens announced that a special tour of Barton Academy has been arranged for Rotarians on January 26 following the luncheon meeting.
• Les Greer said that the Rotary District Meeting scheduled for April 27 will take place during a cruise aboard the Carnival Fantasy.
• Les Greer announced that there will be a meeting of the Rotary Club Golf Tournament Committee following today’s meeting.
Program: Judge Jerry C. Oldshue, Jr.
Celia Baehr introduced Jerry Oldshue a federal bankruptcy judge who told the club some history of bankruptcy laws starting with the debtor’s prisons in England. Bankruptcy legislation was enacted in the U.S. during financial crises but rescinded once the emergency had ended.
Judge Oldshue said that a permanent bankruptcy law was not enacted in the U. S. until 1898 and this was repealed in 1978 and has been rewritten with numerous amendments ever since.
He explained that this federal law is uniquely American and was designed to give a debtor a fresh start.
According to Judge Oldshue, the basic chapters in bankruptcy are as follows: 7 (liquidation) 9 for counties and municipalites (He said the city of Prichard as well as Jefferson County, Ala. have taken this route), 11 (Business re-organization) 12 (for family farms) and the most prevalent – 13 (wage earner plan– which got its start in Birmingham). Another, 15, is rarely used and deals with international firms filing bankruptcy within their own country and then dealing with American obligations. Creditors are receiving an average of 32 cents on the dollar owed them he said.
After answering a number of questions, Les thanked Judge Oldshue and said that in his honor a donation had been made to the Rotary International Foundation.
The meeting adjourned at 1:00 PM.
Tom McGehee