Minutes of the May 13, 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: John Garrett offered the invocation.
Pledge: Tommy Blankenship led us in the Pledge of Allegiance and welcomed guests of members.
Student Guest: There was no student guest this week.
Announcements: Claire made the following announcements:
• The Founders’ Day Cruise will be held tomorrow evening and there are a few slots remaining.
• The board will meet next week following the luncheon meeting.
New Members:
• Elizabeth Stevens introduced Wiley Blankenship, President and CEO of Coastal Alabama Partnership.
• Virginia Guy then introduced Mike Lee, President and CEO of Page & Jones.
Program: AM/NS Calvert Update
Ariel Chavez introduced Jorge Luis Ribeiro de Oliveira, CEO of AM/NS of Calvert, AL which was built by Thyssenkrupp at a cost of $4 billion. Mr. de Oliveira updated his audience with the following facts:
• AM/NS Calvert is the world’s most advanced steel finishing facility and was acquired from Thyssenkrupp in 2014.
• The firm currently employs 1,600.
• Construction is underway of a new steel-making facility to produce slabs to be used in the existing operation.
• The new plant will create some 1,000 construction jobs and result in an additional 200 employees when completed.
• The firm has a goal to be carbon neutral by 2050.
• AM/NS has sold off its Midwestern locations making the Alabama facility its principal operation in the United States.
• He stressed his firm’s commitment to keeping an open dialogue with the community and has a goal for a safe and sustainable future.
After answering a number of questions our speaker was presented a certificate noting that a donation to Reach Out and Read Alabama has been made in his honor.
Claire announced just the upcoming birthdays of members before adjourning the meeting at 1:50 PM.
Tom McGehee