THE EMAIL PUBLICATION OF THE WHEEL

ROTARY CLUB OF PORT ARTHUR

MEETING OF THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011

DISTRICT NO. 5910    CHARTER NO. 147

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

Adversity does teach who your real friends are.

Lois McMaster Bjuold

UP FRONT

President Craig Noble presided over the December 1st meeting. The invocation and pledge to the U.S. and Texas flags were led by Past President Ed Boone. Past President Janie Johnson introduced our visiting Rotarian and guests and Past President Bill Coons gave the attendance report. Past President Ray Depwe led the club in a song. President Elect George Newsome gave the Rotary Minute. Past President Clayton Salter reported that Past Presidents Carol Hebert and Sam Monroe celebrated their anniversaries in joining our club this week.

FRIENDSHIP DOLLAR

Past President Perry Snell had the Friendship Dollar and gave it to No. 12; Past President Tom Neal.

GUESTS

Karen Do (Rotary Club of Port Neches/Groves), Mayor of Port Arthur Deloris Prince, Becky Underhill (guest of Steve Fitzgibbons), John Mercer (guest of Steve Steve Fitzgibbons), Sherry Koonce (guest of Past President Roger Cowles), Kyle Hayes (son of Past President Jeff Hayes).

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Good news was reported by Past President Bill Coons, Past President Jeff Hayes, Past President Frank Cricchio, and Past President Ike Akbari).

The annual Christmas Party will be on Thursday evening, December 15th at the Holiday Inn Park Central.

President Craig Noble presented a Mack Pond Fellow to Steve Fitzgibbons.

Past President Roger Cowles told the club that this is 23rd year of the Holly Day Fund started by Past President Ray Depwe. It starts on Thanksgiving Day is sponsored by the Port Arthur News, the Retailed Merchants, and our Rotary Club. The Holly Day Fund has raised almost $200,000.

Past President Ken Burke told the club that the Community Care-Prayer Outreach is always needing volunteers. Past President Ike Akbari told the club that 100 Thanksgiving boxes were delivered to 5 different properties and the Seahawks softball team did the whole work. Past President Ike Akbari sponsored the whole cost of boxes and we appreciate this!

�@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. Orange meets at the Sunset Groves Country Club at noon.

WEDNESDAY

Beaumont-Downtown meets at the Elegante’� Hotel.

THURSDAY

Bridge City at the Community Center at noon.

FRIDAY

Nederland meets 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.

FITZGIBBONS ADDRESSES CLUB

Past President Jeff Hayes, Program Chairman for the month of December, introduced our guest speaker; Steve Fitzgibbons. Past President Jeff told the club that when you put the Holly Day Fund and the Taste of Gumbo together, there has been over $500,000 raised in our community in a short period of time. Steve Fitzgibbons served in Vietnam for 13 months and has won the Purple Heart in Port Arthur. Mr. Fitzgibbons has been a member of club and City Manager of Port Arthur for the last 16 years and will be retiring from his position. The hardest worker tied with Verna Rutherford is Mayor Deloris Prince. Mr. Fitzgibbons has been blessed to have worked with Becky Underhill and fellow Rotarian John Comeaux as the two assistant City Managers. Jim Mercer is with the management study report for Port Arthur and also is with the firm that is looking for a new city manager for Port Arthur. Mr. Fitzgibbons acknowledged Past Presidents Tom Neal, Sam Monroe, Floyd Marceaux, Bill Worsham, Jeff Hayes, Ike Akbari and number of others who have helped him through his 16 years and all the hard work they have done for Port Arthur. Mr. Fitzgibbons talked about the city�fs finances and other issues. He believes that the city is looking a little better financially. This year the city has cut some costs and next year Motiva will have about a $3 million increase there. At the end of 2013 a number of the major industrial district agreements will come to an end. Mr. Fitzgibbons also acknowledged Cele Quesada and their relationship of working together. Mr. Fitzgibbons talked some on the grants the city received. Mayor Prince has enjoyed working with Mr. Fitzgibbons and never met a man that has cared so much for his city and done what he has done for Port Arthur.