THE EMAIL PUBLICATION OF THE WHEEL
ROTARY CLUB OF PORT ARTHUR
MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 16, 2010
DISTRICT NO. 5910 CHARTER NO. 147
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
The flag is the embodiment, not of sentiment, but of history.
Woodrow Wilson
UP FRONT
President Perry Snell presided over the September 16th meeting. The invocation and pledge to the flag was led by Past President Ed Boone. Tracey Gabriel reported no visiting Rotarians or guests. Members of the club sang "America, The Beautiful". Past President Bill Coons gave the attendance report and Vice President Ramon Hill gave the Rotary Minute. Past President Clayton Salter reported that Russel Buss will celebrate his birthday on September 21st.
SILVER DOLLAR
Russel Buss had a Rotary coin and gave it to No. 10; Tracey Gabriel. She received the Service Above Self- Four Way Test Rotary coin instead of the Silver Dollar.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Shannon Harris, Past President Bill Worsahm and Past President Jeff Hayes worked on the dictionaries for the various elementary schools that will come to the museum for a hands on tour and to receive the dictionaries. Shannon needs two Rotarians per day about 11:20 a.m. The kids love them.
President Perry Snell reported the loss of the Rotary Club of North Port Arthur’s L.J. Romero who passed away recently. Please keep their club and L.J.’s family in your prayers.
President Perry Snell told the club that they need a couple of more GSE Team Member Applications. From April 11 through May 9, you can go on an all expense paid trip to Germany which is known as the Black Forest Region. Rotarians can be a Leader but not a Team Member. You do have to learn German and they do have classes. The applications can be downloaded from the Rotary District website. There is also time for RYLA applicants as well.
MAKE UP LOCATIONS
MONDAY
North Port Arthur at Southeast Texas Medical Center at noon.
TUESDAY
Beaumont-Spindletop at Elegante’ Hotel at noon. Port Neches and Groves have combined and they meet at the Pompano Club at noon, and Orange at Ramada Inn at noon.
WEDNESDAY
Beaumont-Downtown at the Elegante’ Hotel at noon.
THURSDAY
Bridge City at the Community Center at noon.
FRIDAY
Nederland at the Pompano Club at noon.
Remember you can make up on the Internet at www.rotaryeclubone.org. You can make up 2 weeks before or 2 weeks after. Please visit our website at www.portarthurrotary.org in your
spare time.
SEPTEMBER PROGRAMS
Past President Floyd Marceaux, Program Chairman for the month of September, has invited the following speakers for the month of September:
SEPTEMBER 23-PHILLIP KLEIN
SEPTEMBER 30-FELLOW ROTARIAN MARY JEAN GEORGE.
TEN-DAY NOTICE
A ten-day notice is hereby given for hereby given for Scott Street to become a member of our club. Mr. Street is the new Athletic Director at Lamar State College of Port Arthur and is being proposed by Past President Jeff Hayes.
STAFFORD LOVES HIS PATRIOTISM
Past President Floyd Marceaux, Program Chairman for the month of September, introduced Herb Stafford as our guest speaker.
Mr. Stafford grew up in Groves and his father owned the first pharmacy in Groves. He attended the University of Texas and graduated after being discharged from WWII active duty. He is a Texas certified nursery man, operated Stafford’s Nursery (for many years) and had his own radio show. Mr. Stafford is a recipient of the Boy Scout’s Silver Beaver Award loves roses. Mr. Stafford has been the Commander of the VFW 4820 in Port Neches for over 12 years and was largely responsible for Veteran’s Park. Mr. Stafford told us that it is sad for him to see our patriotism today go down the tubes. Prior to the 1940’s, people danced to a different tune of patriotism than they do now. Patriotism is always on his mind. After 9/11 you would see flags everywhere but today you rarely see an American flag in yards. Young people are not interested in joining the VFW program. Mr. Stafford read the words from "Ragged Old Flag" by Johnny Cash; an article from September 11, 1945 and also played a DVD entitled Fort McHenry & Francis Scott Key’s Star Spangled Banner.