THE EMAIL PUBLICATION OF THE WHEEL

ROTARY CLUB OF PORT ARTHUR

MEETING OF THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2011

DISTRICT NO. 5910  CHARTER NO. 147

THOUGHT FOR THE WHEEL

At Christmas play and make good cheer.  For Christmas comes but once a year.

Thomasm Tusser

UP FRONT

President Craig Noble presided over the December 22nd meeting. The invocation and pledge to the U.S. flag was led by Past President Roger Cowles. Past President Ray Depwe led the club in singing "White Christmas". Past President Bill Worsham introduced the visiting Rotarians and guests and Past President Bill Coons gave the attendance reports. President Elect George Newsome gave the Rotary Minute.

FRIENDSHIP DOLLAR

Past President Ken Burke had the Friendship Dollar and gave it to No. 5; Dan Wingate.

GUESTS

Gerald Condon (Beaumont), Bobby Simon (Nederand), Steve Paterson (North Port Arthur), Sen. Carl Parker, Liz Zigler, and Cedric Evans (guests of Past President Jeff Hayes), Cathy Bodin (guest of Edgar Cheshire), Juanita Hockett (Catholic Charities), and Ken Hill (Rescue Missions).

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Past President Roger Cowles presented checks from some of the money raised so far from the Holly Days Fund. Checks were presented the Salvation Army and the Community Care Prayer Outreach; $2,000 each. Checks to the Hospitality Center, Port Cities Rescue Mission, and Golden Triangle Assistance Ministries; $1,000 each.

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.

Good news was reported by Director Russel Buss, Past Presidents Jeff Hayes, Dan Wingate, and Frank Cricchio, and guests Steve Paterson and Gerald Condon.

President Craig Noble presented Perfect Attendance pins to Mary Jean George (3 yrs), Johnny Brown (5), and Past President Jeff Hayes (21).

WE WILL NOT HAVE A MEETING ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29TH AND OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE ON JANUARY 5, 2012.

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.

JANUARY PROGRAMS

Director Russel Buss, Program Chairman for the month of January, has announced the following programs:

JANUARY 5 - WILLIE ELMORE

JANUARY 12TH-COACH KENNY HARRISON

JANUARY 19TH-KAREN NOBLE

JANUARY 26TH-ROTARIAN  BILL MCCOY.

The theme for January will be Positive Port Arthur.

KAUCHER ADDRESSES CLUB

Past President Jeff Hayes, Program Chairman for the month of December, introduced Jim Kaucher as our guest speaker. Mr. Kaucher has been the Plant Manager of the Sabine Pass LNG since late 2006. Mr. Kaucher joined Cheniere in 2004 as the Project Manager for the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction of the Sabine Pass LNG Terminal. They are considering about $4 million to export natural gas. Mr. Kaucher explained what natural gas is. If it is vaporize, it is lighter that air. The plant is located on 853 acres of land along the Sabine Pass River on the border between Texas and Louisiana and they also have a plant in Corpus Christi. Mr. Kaucher said they have about 1,000 acres in Cameron Parish and the river has been dredged 40 feet and they had a ship that left Thursday. This plant is about 4 miles from the coast. They are about 23 nautical miles from the outer buoy and they have 2 docks. They can handle LNG carriers up to 266,000 cubic meters. Mr. Kaucher explained the different types of ships and they are very interested in deepening and widening the project of the Sabine River.