Newsletter - Rotary International District 6800

The Faces of District Conference ‐ 2013More pictures from District Conference next month!2

4ABCOlive Branch Rotarians Believe InPromoting EducationTheOlive Branch club believes in supporting education,and they put their money where their mouth is! Earlierthis month, the club presented $500 in cash to each ofthree educators, and made another a Paul Harris Fellow, as reportedby Stephanie Lawson.In Photo A above, Mimi Cavagnaro was named Rotary Club ofOlive Branch Teacher of the Year. She is a teacher at CenterhillElementary, and is shown with Lisa Love and Bobby McRee,president of the club.DIn Photo B, Rebecca Dearden was named a Paul Harris Fellowin recognition of her many years of service. She is retiring fromCenterhill Elementary and is surrounded by family members,along with McRee.In Photo C, Tiffany Harris, teacher and Interact sponsor at OliveBranch High School, receives a plaque and check for $500 f romDr. Evans in appreciation for her service to the Interact Club forten years.In Photo D, Overpark Elementary Principal Lisa Love is presenteda $500 check. The OBRC presents a certificate to theirspeakers every week, along with donating a book to the schoolin their honor.Earlier this month, the Memphis East Club was treated to a talk by MichaelGlenn, the execuve vice president of Market Development and CorporateCommunicaons at FedEx. Though he paid homage to both his wedding receponat the Racquet Club 25 years ago and the Grizzlies current success,he spent his me with the club presenng a compelling case for culture asan important compeve advantage for a corporaon, using FedEx as anexample. Glenn is seen with club president Leighanne Hart in photo at right.

5DREW-RULEVILLE WELCOMES FIVE NEW PAUL HARRIS FEL-LOWS - Pictured (from left) Brad Cooper, president; Sam Miller (newPHF), Billy Marlow (new PHF), Jack Allen (new PHF); Christ Williams,Asst. Dist. Gov. New Paul Harris Fellows not shown are Dr. EdEggar and Joe Ricotta. DREW-RULEVILLE IS NOW 71.4% PHF!Aenon, Memphis Rotarians!Please take a look at this ‐ ‐ ‐DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY HEAD FOOT-BALL COACH SPEAKS TO CLEVELAND RO-TARY - Coach Todd Cooley told of goals andplans for the 2013 gridiron season, at the invitationof Rotarian Jasmine Shipp.Rotarian Karen Hill of the Memphis club says her father purchasedthe above (right) Crown Graphic press camera at MemphisPhoto Supply more than 40 years ago. A lens board isseen in the photo at left, inscribed with the words, “RotaryClub.” Karen is interested in knowing if any present or formerMemphis Rotarians might shed some light on whether the cameraactually belonged to the Memphis club.Rotary Foundation Points: If you are close to being eligible for Paul Harris Fellow(PHF), we have several foundation points you can take advantage of. If you pay onehalfof the remaining amount, we will match it and that way you can get PHF. (Example- if you have already contributed $600 and you need $400 more to get PHF, all youhave to do is pay $200, and the district will give you 200 points). Let me know if youare interested in taking advantage of this unique offer. Please make your check payableto the Rotary Foundation and mail it to the above address. V.J. SurpuriyaRotarian Kirk Povall (right) arranged for MikeChaney (le), Insurance Commissioner for theState of Mississippi, to speak to the ClevelandRotary Club. He is welcomed to the Club by RotarianLaurence Mellen (center). Vicksburg residentMike Chaney is Mississippi’s Commissionerof Insurance. Prior to his elecon, Chaney servedin the Mississippi House of Representaves andthe Mississippi Senate. The Commissioner isalso the State Fire Marshal and directs theinvesgaon of all fires of a suspicious nature.

District 6800 Leadership is Primed for the FutureMarty PetrusekPresent DG2012‐2013Tommy WhiteDG‐Elect2013‐2014Bob BickleyDG Nominee2014‐2015Cary VaughnDG Nominee2015‐2016Tom WilsonDG Nominee2016‐2017For the first me in the history of District 6800, our members know who is at the helm, now and for four years intothe future. Those in aendance at District Conference in Memphis last month approved a plan for “strong and clearsuccession plan for the district. Said present DG Marty Petrusek, “This will allow us to build a strong leadershipgroup for the future. The future district governors will be taking on leadership roles in district commiees to assuretheir Rotary growth over the next couple of years.”DB Museum is the Best!The Delta Blues Museum, Mississippi'soldest music museum, hasbeen given the highest nationalaward bestowed upon museumsand libraries‐‐the National Medalfor Museum and Library Services‐‐for its "exceptional contributions"to local and music communities.The Museum is only the thirdMississippi entity in the award'shistory to be honored, and it isthe only southeastern awardwinnerthis year. Rotarian ShelleyRitter is museum director.The award ceremony will takeplace in the East Room of theWhite House this Wednesdaymorning, May 8th, hosted by FirstLady Michelle Obama. MuseumDirector Shelley Ritter and TravisCalvin will represent the Museumin acceptance. The White Housewill live stream Wednesday’s Medalceremony on their websiteat www.whitehouse.gov/live.The award gives a nod to both thecultural preservation offeredthrough the museum's exhibits onthe Delta roots of one of America'smost fundamental art forms‐‐theBlues‐‐and to the museum‐fundededucational programming availableto students of all ages.Rotarians of Amateur (Ham) RadioROAR! They’re not trying to sound like lions. These two D6800 licensed AmateurRadio Operators (hams) are members of ROAR - Rotarians Of AmateurRadio. Jerry Klein of the Germantown club is seen at left, preparing tomake a call at his ham station. Jerry’s call sign is N4POY. At right is JimBuffington of the Aberdeen, MS club. His call is K5JIM. Jerry and Jim arehoping that other Rotarian-Hams in the district will make themselves known,so they might create a district net or perhaps a get-together at district functions.So, don’t roar! Just email your name, email and call sign to jerry@kossmankleinco.comor jim@jimbuffington.com6

FIRST LADIES TOUR LEBONHEUR ‐ Debbie Petrusek,wife of current DG Marty, and Linda White, beerhalf of DG‐Elect Tommy, toured LeBonheur Children’sHospital during District Conference at the invitaonof Rotarian Bill Pickens, who heads up “Giof Life MidSouth,” the D6800 project that brings inchildren from third world countries for lifesavingheart surgery. Photos: top le, Debbie, le, and Linda;top right, the two ladies prepared to enter theoperang room; center le, an OR nurse, right, explainsthe procedure; center right, Debbie and Lindaare shown with Pickens (third from le) and threeunidenfied people; boom right, this plaque hangson a wall at LeBonheur as a salute to District 6800’s“Gi of Life MidSouth” project. Photos were providedby several sources. Obviously we don’t have spacefor all of those submied. Thank you!Your club should be seen in thenewsleer! Send photos and stories tojim@jimbuffington.com7

Sizeable contributions to Polio-Plus announced at SummitRecently, financial commitments totaling approximatelyUS$4 billion over six years toward the US$5.5billion endgame strategy of the Global Polio EradicationInitiative were announced during the Global VaccineSummit in Abu Dhabi.Of note are new contributions from new donors, totaling$355 million:* Albert L. Ueltschi Foundation* Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation-Global* Bloomberg Philanthropies* Carlos Slim Foundation* Dalio Foundation* The Foundation for a Greater Opportunity establishedby Carl C. Icahn* The Tahir FoundationThe Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi also announced asecond pledge to polio eradication of US$120 million,adding to his first contribution made in 2011.A range of other donors, including the Islamic DevelopmentBank, Ireland and Japan, helped round outthe additional new pledges.Rotary was represented at the meeting by India NationalPolioPlus Chair Deepak Kapur, InternationalPolioPlus Committee Chair Bob Scott, PolioPlus DirectorCarol Pandak, and the entire 2-day event wasemceed by Rotary polio ambassador, actress ArchiePanjabi.Delta State University President William LaForge was keynotespeaker at a recent meeng of the Cleveland club.Midtown Memphis clubmembers Ann Rice andBill Rice welcome anold friend, Dr. ShirleyRaines, to the April 9club meeting. Dr.Raines is president ofthe Univ. of Memphis.8