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.