Charles Garrison - Outstanding Achievement Award

The Rotary Club of West Shreveport recognized long-time businessman and landscape wizard Charles Garrison as the West Shreveport Business Person of the Year. Mr. Garrison established Garrisons Greenwood Gardens Nursery. Mr. Garrison was instrumental in moving the American Rose Center to Shreveport in 1974. In 1991 the City of Shreveport declared Charles Garrison Day.

President Paul Brown presented the award on behalf of the club. Garrison was a long time member of the club and is an honorary member.

The January, 2010 issue of the District Newsletter, carries detailed article on the event.

Congratulations and, thank you, Charles Garrison.

Happy Holidays with Huntington Interact Club

Sponsor Kathy Beech and members of the Huntington High School Interact have been busy this Holiday Season - and they have the photos to prove it! Service projects included keeping the school area grounds tidy and assisting the Gingerbread House with their December 12th "Breakfast with Santa" event at the Bert Kouns Applebee's. And, of course, the students celebrated their year at Crescent Landing.

Note December Dates

December 9 - guest speaker Bob Molloy

December 16 - Club Assembly (important business)

NO MEETING:

December 23 and December 30.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

We begin the month with Ray Furr informing us about his remarkable trip to Norway on December 2.

The following week, December 9, Bob Molloy updates the club on the Rotary Council on Legislation. This is the elected-body that adopts the organizational rules.

If you haven't checked your email lately, the District Newsletter is out.

Happy Thanksgiving

Many members missed out on Bess Maxwell's intriguing update of paranormal investigations by Louisiana Spirits November 18.

Reminder that the club will NOT meet Wednesday, November 25, 2009, Thanksgiving week. December begins with a treat:

December 2: Ray Furr's Adventures in Norway
December 9: Bob Molloy Rotary presentation
December 16: Open

Jane suggests that the club consider a community service project by volunteering as host/servers Saturday, December 12 for the Christmas Pancake Breakfast with Santa event for the Gingerbread House. Bert Kouns Applebee, 8:00 am - 10:00 am. Tickets: $5.00, available from Jane or irreverend George.

George Sewell has two new books on the market this Holiday Season - A Gnome, A Candle, And Me (whimsical philosophy, poetry and mischief,) and his time-travel novel The Krismere.

Huntington High School Interact

Sponsor Kathy Beech invited four Huntington High School students to talk to the club about their experiences at Rotary sponsored Camp Ryla this year. Seniors Darmon Bradley, Marlynda Ware, Corey Green and Carlton Gray all touted the infamous "trust fall" exercise at Camp Ryla as memorable. Shocking for the new arrivals, according to Darmon, was the realization that there are no stores, therefore, no shopping. And, making the week long camp truly primitive, all electronic devices were prohibited. But they made it.

Fall Programs

October 14 - Journalist and Political analyst Lou Gehrig Burnett
October 21 - Huntington High School Interact Club and sponsor Kathy Beech
October 28 - Terry Strain presents Pool of Siloam
November 4 - Shreveport Little Theatre and Managing Director Robert Darrow
November 11 - No Meeting - Veterans Day Appreciation lunch @ Crescent Landing
November 18 - Louisiana Spirits and Bess Maxwell
November 25 - Thanksgiving week - No meeting

Author Bill Keith

Former investigative reporter, State Senator, and now author, Bill Keith spoke to the club about Shreveport in the 1970's during the decline and fall of Commissioner of Public Safety George D'Artois. Cynthia Anderson gets her copy of Keith's new book "The Commissioner" autographed.

What's Happening in West Shreveport

September 2: District 6190 Governor TOM AGEE visits the club for a meeting with the Board (11:00 am) and will address the membership after.

September 9: Pierre Rubben, Executive Director of the Robinson Film Center. This is one of the jewels of the regional arts and entertainment offerings. The downtown cinema complex is rapidly becoming an attraction.

September 16: To be announced

September 23: Senator B.L. "Buddy" Shaw

September 30: Former (Shreveport) Times journalist, Louisiana State Senator, and author Bill Keith will address the club on his new book, The Commissioner, which is the story of the fall of once popular Commissioner of Public Safety George D’Artois.

October 7: Bill Handorf, Executive Director of the Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse of Northwest Louisiana updates the club on the many programs and services quietly at work in the area.

October 14: Political columnist (The Forum) and former political staffer Lou Burnett will present his unique perspective on all things political.

October 21: Kathy Beech and students of the Huntington High School Interact club update the club on their summer projects and experiences.

October 28: The Pool of Siloam Medical Ministry is a West Shreveport based service supported by the Methodists and numerous community organizations. Executive Director Terry Strain will talk about this innovative collaboration that is providing sorely needed medical services.

Please share this information with your colleagues and others who may enjoy these programs. The Rotary Club of West Shreveport welcomes visiting Rotarians and non-rotarian visitors. Special Rotary Crescent Landing lunch menu: $10.00. Non-lunch: $3.00.

New Season of Programs

A new season of interesting, informative, and provocative programs begins August 26 with State Senator B. L. "Buddy" Shaw, District 37, updating the club on events in the Legislature and perhaps other mysterious goings-on.

Mysterious goings-on is the theme for the September 2 program - Past President Bess Maxwell and her colleagues from "Louisiana Spirits" tell of their most recent investigations into paranormal events in the area.

Playtime at Hillsdale Elementary

The Rotary Club of West Shreveport continued to support Hillsdale Elementary School in their quest for modern playground equipment. The club previously secured items for the younger students. On June 3, 2009 acting President Rev. George Schaetzle presented Principal Charlotte Bailey a check for $1,025 - the award from the District Simplified Grant secured by the club. The award will match other funding for expanded equipment. Club member and former District Governor Jane Molloy coordinated the effort.

June is Busting Out All Over!

Programs for June:

June 3 - Potpouri and club discussion

June 10 - Dr. Roy Phillips discusses his book Exodus From the Door of no Return which was inspired by Alex Haley. In the book, family is the glue that binds Phillips ancestors from Slavery to Reconstruction, Jim Crow Segregation, the World Wars, the Great Migration of black families out of the South, the tumultuous civil rights period of the sixties, to the present day.

June 17 - Dr. Clara Wilson-Cook updating the club on "BSEBS: The Unveiling Secret at Southern University at Shreveport"

June 24 - Dave Hodnett Yes, our own Dave finally takes the podium to enlighten all about, well, whatever it is that he's going to talk about.

July and August dates are open

District 6190 Conference 1992

West Shreveport Rotarians at the Rotary 6190 District Conference 1992 in Natchez, MS Monmouth Plantation. Left to right: Carol Barr, Betty & Russell King, Grady & Syble Kelly, Ken & Sarah Day, Paul & Bonnie Glanville and grandson Scooter, Bess Maxwell, Ray and Lucy Furr and Jane & Bob Molloy.

(Thanks to Bess Maxwell)

May Programs

May 6 Jessica Miller, Executive Director of the Gingerbread House - Bossier/Caddo Children's Advocacy Center.

May 13 GSE Team

May 20 Annual AUCTION!

May 27 (Tentative) Richie Self

COMING IN JUNE: The Rotary Club of West Shreveport honors the West Shreveport Businessman of the Year!

Rotarian Chester Kelley Honored

West Shreveport Rotarian Chester Kelley received recognition from the local Forty and Eight club for his service to veterans and the military. A Viet Nam era Commander of C-130 aircraft, Kelley opens his West Shreveport restaurant, Crescent Landing, on Veterans Day to provide a complimentary dinner for Veterans. It's his way of honoring those who have served in the armed forces and express the finest ideals of the nation.

The 40 & 8 is short hand for "La Societe des Quarante Hommes at Huit Chevaux" - an independent honor organization of U. S. veterans, more commonly known as the Forty & Eight.
The Forty & Eight is committed to charitable and patriotic aims. And, on Wednesday, April 8, 2009, recognizing the contributions of Chester Kelley as part of the West Shreveport Rotary assembly.

UPDATES

Vice President George Schaetzle got to meet incoming Rotary President John Kenny in Fort Smith recently.

Board meets Monday, March 30, 5:00 pm at Crescent Landing.

April 1, 2009 program: Don Pledger talks about the Northwest Louisiana Suicide Prevention Coalition and their B I G conference March 28 here in Shreveport.

A Complaint Free Rotary!

A new approach to "Spring Cleaning." Rev. Joy Walker will address the club Wednesday, March 18 to introduce A Complaint Free World effort that is gaining interest world wide. Can you imagine going 21 days without complaining? What difference would it make?

Reece Middleton will update the club on the work of the Louisiana Association on Compulsive Gambling on March 25.

Upcoming Programs

February 18 Bess Maxwell and Louisiana Spirits (rescheduled)
February 25 pending

March 2 Board Meeting - Crescent Landing 5:00 pm

March 4 Sharon White, Regions Bank
March 11 TBA
March 18 Rev. Joy Walker - A Complaint Free Rotary!
March 25 Reece Middleton, Louisiana Association on Compulsive Gambling