Prayer. God of love and mercy, gracious provider of all things
beneficial, in the midst of our busy day, we take these moments to seek the solace of your spirit, the calming reassurance of your promises, the renewing power of knowing that we live and work within your providential care and concern.
Bless us now as we partake of food and share in fellowship.
We do so with gratitude for these and all gifts which are evidences of your goodness and grace. Amen.
Club Announcements
Birthdays and Anniversaries
Birthdays
Hugh Johnson Feb. 05
Trace Swartzfager Feb. 05
Anniversaries
Rich Sun & Phyllis
Hollenbeck Feb. 05
Membership Anniversaries
Dick Dickerson 26 years, Feb. 01
Steele Dehmer 3 years, Feb 03
This week’s Rotary Foundation Thought is about a Rotary World Peace Fellow at work on the frontlines.
. Izabela Pereira, a 2007 graduate of the Rotary Center for International Studies at Universidad del Salvador in Argentina, helped monitor Nicaragua’s election as part of an Organization of American States (OAS) mission to the country. Izabela says her experience as a Rotary World Peace Fellow and an OAS observer gave her a firsthand understanding of how democracy is being promoted and strengthened in Nicaragua. She has also conducted fieldwork in Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire for the United Nations Development Fund for Women.
Izabela is one of the hundreds of Rotary World Peace Fellows who have received the training and field experience necessary to work for lasting peace and stability throughout the world.
Billy Brumfield House. The Rotary Club of North Jackson is serving supper once a month at The Billy Brumfield House, a Stewpot Community Services ministry. Our club serves on the 1st Tuesday of each month. Interested members need to meet @ Baker Donelson located at the corner of Eastover Drive and the I-55 North Frontage Road @ 5:15 PM and then travel together to Billy Brumfield. Also, if you are interested in sponsoring a month, the est. cost is $180 for the food. Mike Dawkins is project chair and can be reached @ 601-351-2428 or dawkins@bakerdonelson.com.
Between the Lions. Please remember to sign up for Between the Lions. During the school year, we read weekly to pre-Kindergarteners at William Walton Elementary School on Bailey Ave. It is a wonderful experience! The children are truly information sponges and very willing learners. Contact Jenny Price (662) 213-1294 for more information. We have resumed reading and are really enjoying it.
Member Care Committeereminder: for anyone who needs assistance getting to a meeting, please call Luther Munford at (601) 985-4418.
Thinking of Proposing a New Member?
First, discuss with Classification Committee (Paul Miller or Julian Carroll). They will provide a member- ship application, check classification availability and discuss occupational qualifications.
Rotary Membership Occupational Qualifications Applicant should be one of the following:
A corporate officer
A Professional (Attorney, CPA, Physician. Engineer, Architect, etc) A Proprietor
An Agent of a reputable company
A Manager or Supervisor of a department or section of a business
Rotarians, don't forget to like the club's Facebook page to stay up to date on the latest happenings. Search us out at Rotary Club of North Jackson or click the link:
“Service above self; they profit most who serve best.”
P. O. Box 9528, Jackson, MS 39286-9528 www.northjacksonrotary.org
Posted on
2018-19 RI President Barry Rassin wants Rotary members to Be the Inspiration
By Hank Sartin Photos by Monika Lozinska
SHARE: SHARE ON FACEBOOK TWEET THIS PAGE EMAIL THIS PAGE
Rotary International President-elect Barry Rassin laid out his vision for the future of the organization on Sunday, calling on leaders to work for a sustainable future and to inspire Rotarians and the community at large.
Rassin, a member of the Rotary Club of East Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas, unveiled the 2018-19 presidential theme, Be the Inspiration, to incoming district governors at Rotary’s International Assembly in San Diego, California, USA. “I want you to inspire in your clubs, your Rotarians, that desire for something greater. The drive to do more, to be more, to create something that will live beyond each of us.”
2018-19 RI President Barry Rassin announces his presidential theme, Be the Inspiration, at Rotary's International Assembly.
Rassin stressed the power of Rotary’s new vision statement, “Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change — across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.” This describes the Rotary that leaders must help build, he said.
To achieve this vision, the president-elect said, Rotarians must take care of the organization: “We are a membership organization first. And if we want to be able to serve, if we want to succeed in our goals — we have to take care of our members first.”
Rassin asked the incoming district governors to “inspire the club presidents, and the Rotarians in your districts, to want to change. To want to do more. To want to reach their own potential. It’s your job to motivate them — and help them find their own way forward.”
Rassin noted that one source of inspiration has been Rotary’s work to eradicate polio. He described the incredible progress made over the past three decades. In 1988, an estimated 350,000 people were paralyzed by the wild poliovirus; just 20 cases were reported in 2017 as of 27 December. “We are at an incredibly exciting time for polio eradication,” he said, “a point at which each new case of polio could very well be the last.”
He emphasized that even when that last case of polio is recorded, the work won’t be finished. “Polio won’t be over, until the certifying commission says it’s over—when not one poliovirus has been found, in a river, in a sewer, or in a paralyzed child, for at least three years,” he said. “Until then, we have to keep doing everything we’re doing now.” He urged continued dedication to immunization and disease surveillance programs.
Sustaining the environment
Rotary has focused heavily on sustainability in its humanitarian work in recent years. Now, Rassin said, Rotarians must acknowledge some hard realities about pollution, environmental degradation, and climate change. He noted that 80 percent of his own country is within one meter of sea level. With sea levels projected to rise two meters by 2100, he said, “my country is going to be gone in 50 years, along with most of the islands in the Caribbean and coastal cities and low-lying areas all over the world.”
Rassin urged leaders to look at all of Rotary’s service as part of a larger global system. He said that this means the incoming district governors must be an inspiration not only to clubs, but also to their communities. “We want the good we do to last. We want to make the world a better place. Not just here, not just for us, but everywhere, for everyone, for generations.”
Hon. Delbert Hosemann, Secretary of State for the State of Mississippi spoke to the Rotary Club of North Jackson at the club's January 23, 2018, meeting. Secretary Hosemann, who is completing his second term as Secretary of State, discussed the accomplishments during his term; namely,
significantly reducing the cost of operating the office of the Secretary of State;
improving the quality and accessibility of the department's website;
Improving the ability of corporations and LLCs to file reports;
developing a business-friendly website, Y'all Business, to assist business looking to locate in the state;
reducing the quantity of tax-forfeited property owned by the state;
Increasing the revenues received by school districts from what is called "16th Section Land" that the districts own and lease to individuals and corporations; and
conducting a Y'all Business Survey of Mississippi business owners.
The business survey was targeted at factors that would cause businesses to want to expand their business in Mississippi. The results are quite interesting. Most important is an educated workforce. Down the list, at no. 11 and 12 respectively, were local and state financial incentives and state and local tax structure.
We thank Secretary Hosemann for his presentation to our club and for his service and commitment to the citizens of Mississippi. He is shown at the podium during his presentation and with club members and a visiting Rotarian following his presentation in the accompanying photos.
Shown in the photo following his talk are; from the left, Secretary Hosemann, Rotarian Lori Greer, who introduced him, Club President Witt Ruffin, and visiting Rotarian Dr. Henry Mills.
Motivational speaker, Lemzel Johnson, spoke to the Rotary Club of North Jackson at the club's January 2, 2018, meeting. The purpose of his talk was to discuss what he calls "Strategies for Becoming Effective." The vehicle of this effectiveness he mentioned is an organization named LiveVersation. The following is from the LiferVersation website (Lifeversation.com): "Lemzel Johnson almost died in 2008 with an undiagnosed brain tumor that was over 2 inches in size. Being that the tumor was inoperable Lemzel kept himself motivated with inspirational speakers and motivational books. Being encouraged to have a better future than his current position, he worked to live out what he believed. As he did this, he recognized that many were being inspired to have hope for their future too. Today, Lemzel continues to inspire and motivate hundreds each year to find their identity and purpose in the midst of their difficulty. His mission is to help individuals and business find harmony through the application of life principles." The website further states "If you clarify your motive, then becoming and staying motivated will follow close behind."
To quote from the material that Mr. Johnson distributed, " Over the last several years LifeVersation has studied some of the rising problems in business today. It has found that the lack of well-developed 'Soft Skills' is the number one destroyer of productivity and effectiveness in businesses and teams. 'Soft Skills" are defined as character traits and interpersonal skills that characterize a person's relationships with other people."
"LifeVersations has created "Strategies for becoming effective" as an interactive training to boost the 'Soft Skills' of organizations, teams, and individuals. This training curriculum is designed to enhance the much-needed cohesiveness from within each individual or team member to build harmony toward success. We thank Mr. Johnson for his presentation to our club and for his commitment to improving productivity and effectiveness. He is shown during his presentation in the accompanying photo.
The Rotary Club of North Jackson recognized Officers Aldritch Harvey and Patrick Williams as JPD Precinct 4's officers of the second and third quarters of 2017 at its December 19, 2017, meeting for outstanding work on behalf of the citizens of Jackson. Officers Harvey (second from left) and Williams ( second from right) are shown in the accompanying photo with Precinct 4 Commandeer Keith Freeman (left) and Deputy Chief James McGowan (right). Thanks and congratulations to both officers.
Ben Moncrief, a 1998-1999 Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar in Scotland, spoke to the Rotary Club of North Jackson at the Club's December 19, 2017, meeting. Mr. Moncrief is currently working in the Strategic & Governmental Relations Department of C Spire. In 1998-1999, he attended St. Andrew's University in St. Andrew's, Scotland. The Rotary Ambassadorial Scholars program was started in 1947.
The purpose of the Ambassadorial Scholarships program was to further international understanding and friendly relations among people of different countries and geographical areas. The program sponsored several types of scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students as well as for qualified professionals pursuing vocational studies. While abroad, scholars served as goodwill ambassadors to the host country and gave presentations about their homelands to Rotary clubs and other groups. Upon returning home, scholars shared with Rotarians and others the experiences that led to a greater understanding of their host country.[2]
There were approximately 38,000 Ambassadorial scholars in the program which lasted until 2013. In announcing the discontinuation of the Ambassadorial Scholars program, Rotary International said.
"Beginning in 2013-14, The Foundation will offer scholarship opportunities through district and global grants. This new grant structure gives Rotarians greater flexibility in sponsoring the next generation of leaders."
One other key point Mr. Moncrief made is the need for more STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math graduates in Mississippi. Adding to this is the need to retain these graduates in the state. Now, nearly all of them emigrate to other states. His employer, C Spire, has an ongoing need for people with these qualifications.
Our club thanks Mr. Moncrief for his presentation and we congratulate him on his recognition as an Ambassadorial Scholar. He is shown during his presentation in the accompanying photo.
.png)
