2012 Begins!

The last meeting of 2011 had a surprise guest.  Although not able to remain for the full lunch, the delightful person certainly contributed to the festive occasion.  Such is the delight of Mid-City Rotary meetings!

Strange person at Mid-City.  Santa also showed up.

Wednesday, January 4 - One of our regular guests, South Shreveport Rotarian Rachel Dwyer, Funeral Director for Forest Park Funeral Home will speak about “Pushing Up Daisies” including information on pre-need burial policies and cremation. (Chester chose the title.)

 

Wednesday, January 11 - Restaurateur and New Mid-City Rotarian Vincent Campanella will tell us all about his remarkable background with “The American Dream”.

December Programs

December 7 - Our District “C” City Councilman Ret. Marine Lt. Col. Oliver Jenkins will be our speaker. He will enlighten us on what is “the good, the bad, and the ugly” in Shreveport’s City Government. Come early to visit and bring a guest.

 

Wednesday, December 14 - Ray Bartek will speak on his experiences as a Congressional aide and also on his work as Founder and President of  Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA). His wife Raychel might join in the presentation. She spoke to us a couple of years ago at Crescent Landing about her experiences working in Congress. She also happens to be Ray Furr’s daughter.

Wednesday, December 21 - Our first annual Mid-City Rotary Club Christmas Party.  A pleasant holiday lunch.


NO MEETING Wednesday, December 28, 2011.


Merry Christmas!

Reminder:

No meeting the day before Thanksgiving.  Happy Thanksgiving!

What's up with Mid-City

Wednesday, November 9 - Local Insurance Executive and former City Council member John David Stewart.

Wednesday, November 16 - To Be Announced (but fun for sure!)

Sunday, November 20 - 2:00 pm  Christmas Concert to end Polio.  Frost Chapel, First Baptist Church (Ockley drive.)  South Shreveport and Mid-City Rotary teaming up with The West End String Quartert.  No admission, all invited.  Pass the word!  Donations to Rotary Foundation Polio Plus may be made following the concert.

Wednesday, November 23 - NO MEETING.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Wednesday, November 30 - Bessie Smith, Neighborhood advocate.

A nice rainy day lunch at the Bistro!

Senator Sherri Cheek chats with Mid-City Rotary October 12, 2011.

Upcoming Programs

Wednesday, October 19 - Troy Terrell, who is running against Sherri Cheek for the District 38 Senate seat, will be our speaker.

Wednesday, October 26 - Lisa Cantu, President-Elect of River Bend Rotary is going to speak to us mabout different generations and communications. Her presentation was well received at the recent district meeting.

*****

Concert to End Polio!

Mid-City and South Shreveport Rotary Clubs are promoting a special Holiday Concert to benefit the Rotary Foundation Polio-Plus campaign to eliminate polio world wide.  The Concert is Sunday, November 20, 2011 at 2:00 pm at the Frost Chapel at the First Baptist Church of Shreveport.  No admission charge.  Following the concert donations to Polio Plus can be made.  How simple is that?  A great way to initiate the Holidays.  Spread the word!

Toothbrushes to Schumpert!

Secretary/Treasurer Lisa Barker presents Sister Sharon Rambin several hundred toothbrushes for use in the Schumpert Hospital operated school based clinics in Caddo Parish.  Keeping watch are Bess Maxwell and Dave Hodnett at the September 28 meeting.

Fall Programs at Mid-City

Wednesday, October 5 - Craig Durette, the editor of the editorial page of The Times, will join us for a question and answer discussion of the October 22 election.

Wednesday, October 12 - Current District 38 State Senator Sherri Cheek, who is running for re-election, will be our speaker.

 

Wednesday, October 19 - Troy Terrell, who is running against Sherri Cheek for the District 38 Senate seat, will be our speaker.

District 6190 Governor John Roa...

...visited the Rotary Club of MidCity Shreveport September 7 at the Olive Street Bistro.  Governor Roa welcomed new Rotarian Vincent Campanella at the meeting.  Also attending was Huntington High School Interact Club sponsor Kathy Beech.

John Roa presents Rotary International Banner to  MidCity Sec./Treasurer Lisa Barker

Governor Roa addresses MidCity Rotary. Left to Right:  Chester Kelley, Jane Molloy, Kathy Beech.

More Hot Programs for the Summer

This Wednesday, August 3 - Dottie Bell, another CaddoParish SchoolBoard Member, will give her perspective on the state of Caddo Parish Schools. She never fails to “tell it like it is”. It will be interesting to compare her view with Charotte Crawley’s 2 weeks ago. Please come early to visit and meet the speaker. And bring a guest - hopefully a potential new member.

Wednesday, August 10 - State Representative Jane Smith will be our speaker. She is running for the State Senate seat being vacated by Buddy Shaw. Her primary opponent Barrow Peacock has already spoken to our Club.

Wednesday, August 17 - Walter Lamb will be our speaker. He is the Northwest Louisiana President of Ouachita Independent Bank who will give give us an update on banking in this area.

Wednesday, August 24 - Local Attorney John Settle will update us on the “Finish 3132” controversy.

Rev. George Schaetzle Retires

Mid-City Rotary perennial Vice-President Rev. George Schaetzle was fetted recently by his congregation at St. Pauls Lutheran Church in Shreveport.  Rev. George will retire to Wisconsin at the end of the summer.  Showing appreciation for his many years of service to his congreation and fellow Rotarians were Mid-City incoming President George Sewell, outgoing President Jane Molloy, and visting former Governor Bob Molloy.

Left:  George Sewell, Rev. Schaetzle, Jane Molloy, Bob Molloy
Sunday, June 26, 2011

Hot Weather, Hot Programs!

Chester Kelley has announced upcoming programs for Mid-City Rotary:

Wednesday, July 27 - Professional speaker Charles Wilson will speak on the subject “American Grab Bag”. 

 

Wednesday, August 3 - Dottie Bell, another Caddo Parish School Board Member, will give her perspective on the state of Caddo Parish Schools. To avoid bloodshed, I decided it was probably better not to have Charlotte Crawley and her on the same program.

 

Wednesday, August 10 - State Representative Jane Smith will be our speaker. She is running for the State Senate seat being vacated by Buddy Shaw. Her primary opponent Barrow Peacock has already spoken to our Club.

Mid-City Rotary Donates Books to SRAC

Perennial Vice-President and Secretary Reverend George Schaetzle is retiring this year and moving north.  George was recently honored by the Club with a Paul Harris Fellowship for his service to club and community.  Typically, George donated to the club his collection of some eighty richly illustrated children's books (he is an avid collector) for use in community service projects.  Chester Kelley immediately thought of the Shreveport Regional Arts Council and their marvelous youth programs.  As it turns out, Bonne' Summers, director of SRAC's Art Space, was starting a creative writing program for children.  The club members were unanimous in donating the books to SRAC.

George Schaetzle, Bonne Summers, Chester Kelley

Rev. Schaetzle's collection of illustrated children's books donated to SRAC

The collection was formally presented to SRAC May 12 in their 710 Texas Street "Funatorium."  President Jane Molloy, Chester Kelley, George Schaetzle and incoming President George Sewell were on hand.

What's Happening at Mid-City Rotary

Wednesday, May 18 - To Be Announced. (Chester promises an exciting program, however.)

Wednesday, May 25 - Juvenile Court Judge Shonda Stone

Wednesday, June 8 - Joe Kane, local manager of Lamar Outdoor Advertising, will update us on the politics of outdoor signage in Shreveport and Bossier City

Huntington High School Interact visit April 20, 2011

Led by Huntington High School Principal, Dr. Karon Manning, Interact sponsor Kathy Beech and Interact Club members Zachary Rossum and Dexter Chambers, updated the club on changes at Huntington High School (adding 7th and 8th grades) along with Zachary and Dexter's accounts of Camp Ryla.   Mid-City (formerly West Shreveport) sponsors the Huntington Interact, an active club thanks to Kathy Beech and strong support from Dr. Manning.

Kathy Beech describes an Interact Project

Dexter Chambers, left, and Zachary Rossum

Huntington Principal Dr. Karon manning

No Fooling April!

This coming Wednesday, April 13, Attorney John Hodge has chosen "Government Shutdown: What To Expect" as his topic. It appears this will be a continuing topic of interest whether the government shuts down tonight or "kicks the can down the road".

Wednesday, April 20: Cathy Beech, our Interact sponsor at Huntington High School has arranged for Huntington's principal, Dr. Karen Rankin-Manning, to be our primary speaker. She will be preceded by the 2 young men we sponsored who went to Camp RYLA last summer.

Wednesday, April 27 - Juvenile Court Judge Shonda Stone.

Wednesday, May 4 - Our 1st Annual Rotary Club of Mid-City Shreveport Auction.

Wednesday, May 11 - Our own Tricia Grayson will speak to us on the Caddo Parish School System's newly unveiled "Vision 20/20".

Great speakers!  Great food!  Cranky Delightful People!  Come join us.  Lunch is flat rate $13.00.

Program Schedule

Chester Kelley has announced the programs for:

January 26 - Architect Michael Newman.

February 2 - Dr. Ron Heezer, Director of the Shreve Memorial Library.

February 9 -  State Senator B.L. "Buddy" Shaw.

February 16 - Shreveport Chief of Police Willie Shaw.

February 23 - Walter Lamb, President of Ouachita Independent Bank.

March 2 - Caddo Parish Juvenile Judge Shonda Stone.

In the works:  Camp RYLA update from two Huntington High School Interact Club students. (Mid-City Rotary is the sponsoring club)

Happy New Year!

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Preventing Suicide in Louisiana

George Sewell will present an overview of the little known but highly effective Suicide Prevention Helpline operated by the Louisiana Association on Compulsive Gambling and the Louisiana Office of Behavioral Health. The Helpline, 1-877-994-2275, is manned by certified staff 24/7. He is expected to present examples of how the Helpline saved lives.