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Club Announcements:
Billy Brumfield Shelter Need
According to Matt Monsour, chair of the Billy Brumfield Shelter project, there is a need for a new washing machine at the shelter. If you are interested in donating for a new washing machine, please see Matt.
Prayer
Dear God, we come to this gathering fresh from the world outside, feeling the exhilaration of work well done, contracts signed, items produced, persons helped, contributions made, lessons learned and perhaps even praise received. Now, bless to our use and your service the food and fellowship we enjoy and the high purposes we share. Amen.
Dr. Sudha Madakasira, a Psychiatrist, spoke to the Rotary Club of North Jackson during its May 31, 2022 meeting. Dr. Madakasira, a club member, spoke on "Gun Violence in America: A Public Health Crisis". Dr. Madakasira, a club member, is a Psychiatrist and CEO and Medical Director of Psycamore, LLC, a licensed private, freestanding psychiatric intensive treatment program for individuals suffering from serious mental disorders resulting in psychosocial, work or school impairments. Sudha compared deaths with guns by suicide and homicide. In 2020 in the US, there were 19,384 by homicides and 2,4292 by suicides according to Dr. Madakasira. Mississippi is in the top 10 of gun sales per 1,000 adults in 2020. According to Dr. Madakasira, there have been 213 mass shootings in 2022. Guns are the leading cause of death among children and adolescents in the US. According to Sudha, people with certain mental illness commit violence more than those without mental illness. Here is the link to the meeting video https://vimeo.com/716468633. Shown in photo below is Dr. Madakasira with Club President Uriel Pineda.
The Rotary Club of North Jackson held their annual Club Assembly at St. Andrews Episcopal Church Tuesday evening May 24, 2022. Club members enjoyed a time of fellowship and great food prepared by the award winning cooking team at St. Andrews, the Holy Smokers. District 6820 Governor Elect Mark DiBiase and wife Rhonda were our special guest. Club President Elect Larry Anderson introduced the incoming officers and directors. Club Past President Charlie Johnson announced that Club Honorary Member Jim Stanley has been named the 1st recipient of the Joe Harris Service Above Self Award.
Shelly Walker, Vice-President of the West End District and Lyric Hotel in Cleveland, MS, spoke to the Rotary Club of North Jackson during it May 17, 2022 meeting. The West End District, is a group of three hotels with two restaurants and event venues on 17.5 acres of land on Hwy. 61 next to Delta State University in Cleveland, Miss. According to Walker, Cleveland did not have a "one stop shop" where guest can come and have a wedding, convention, meetings or a conference with full service on a property in one spot. The Lyric, the central hotel building provides a modern, technologically advanced, and relaxing atmosphere for guests. It serves as the check in point, both physically and operationally. The property features 63 rooms including 2 executive king suites with living areas and 3 king parlors. The Lyric Hotel is the home to the only Starbucks in the Mississippi Delta according to Walker. The property has a pool, entertainment area and event venues. The two restaurants on the property are the The 8 West Grill and The Farmhouse Table said Walker. Here is the link to the meeting video https://vimeo.com/712706183. Shown in the photo below from left, Club President Uriel Pineda, Walker and Club Executive Secretary-Treasurer Don Roberts.
Wes Holsapple from the Mississippi State Department of Health, spoke to the Rotary Club of North Jackson during its May 10, 2022 meeting. Holsapple spoke on emergency/disaster preparedness. According to Holsapple, citizens need to be prepared to be self-sufficiant for 3-7 days after a disaster. Why should we be prepared? Remember waiting in lines to buy fuel after Katrina? You need to be prepared for an emergency/disaster while traveling as well according to Holsapple. You never know when you will be stuck on the road. You need to have a family plan on how to get in touch with each other after a disaster. Natural hazards that are frequent in Mississippi are; rain & flooding, tornadoes, thunderstorms & lightning, extreme heat and power outages. There is a 44% risk of these happening. Why be prepared? Having what you need, when you need it according to Holsapple. According to Holsapple, being prepared reduces the emotional impact of feeling helpless during a disaster. Here is a list of Community disaster preparedness info and resources.
Belinda Lane, Community Outreach Coordinator for the Mississippi Organ Recovery Agency (MORA), spoke to the Rotary Club of North Jackson during its May 3, 2022 meeting. Lane informed club members that more than 1,300 Mississippians are currently waiting for a transplant and that every day approximately 20 people die waiting for a transplant. Lane added that most people think of just organ donation, but there is also a need for eye (the cornea) and tissue donations. A single organ donor can save up to 8 lives and between 50-70 lives can be healed through tissue donations according to Lane. In order to donate, you have to be in a hospital, on an ventilator and brain dead. Lane said to club members, like families have talks about finances, they need to have talks about organ, eye and tissue donation. Most people know about the little red heart on drivers license noting one as a donor. According to Lane, you can be any age to be an organ donor, but if you are under 18 years, a parent or guardian must give permission to donate. Ways to sign up to become a donor are: Online @ MSORA.org or registerme.org and at a drivers license bureau. Here is the link to the meeting's videohttps://vimeo.com/706987350 Shown in photo below from left, Club Vice-President Larry Anderson, Lane and Club Director Bill Osborne.
The Rotary Club of North Jackson recognized STAR Students and Teachers from area schools during its April 19, 2022 meeting. Students and teachers from Madison Ridgeland Academy, St. Andrews Episcopal, and St. Joe Catholic were represented. The STAR program, sponsored by the Mississippi Economic Council and the M.B. Swayze Foundation, recognizes students who have an ACT score of at least 25 and an overall average of 93 or above in selected subjects in the ninth, tenth, eleventh, and first-semester twelfth grades. STAR Students choose their STAR Teacher. The following are the STAR Students and Teachers that were recognized; John David Phillips (Matt Bramuchi) from MRA. Advikaa Anand (Thomas Risesenberger), Raymond Huang (Nancy Rivas), Mary Elizabeth Kees (Emily Jones), Jacob McGrath (Carolyn Brown), Richard Miller (Sallie Moseley), Oluwadamiloju Oluwatade (Sallie Moseley), Rhodes Pharr (Gracie Bellnap) and Catherine Purvis (Hannah Halford) from St. Andrews. And John Provine (Ellis Riser) and Avery Calvert (Sister Maria Thuan) from St. Joe. Here is the link to the meeting video https://vimeo.com/704785099. Shown in the below photo are the STAR Students and Teachers recognized.
The Rotary Club of North Jackson honored JPD Precinct 4 Officer of the Quarter Demetrius Persley, during its March 29, 2022 meeting. Officer Persley captured after a foot chase, a carjacking suspect as well as recovering a weapon used in the crime in Northeast Jackson. Shown from left in below photo, Club President Uriel Pineda, JPD Officer Persley and cub member and project chair Steve Orlansky.
Rotary District 6820 Governor Ed Thurmond spoke to the Rotary Club of North Jackson during its March 29, 2022 meeting. Governor Thurmond updated club members and guest on where the club stands with Rotary Foundation giving and encouraged members to recruit new members. Thurmond also informed attendees of upcoming district events. According to Thurmond, one half of all donations to the Rotary Foundation comes back to the clubs to use for service projects. Even though there are 1.2 million Rotarians in 36,000 clubs in 200 countries around the world, our membership is declining. Our district has lost 30% of its membership over the last three years. Governor Thurmond encouraged members to ask someone to join. According to Thurmond, the district conference will be held Saturday May 14th at Lake Tiak-O'Khata in Louisville, MS. The Rotary International Convention will be held in Houston, TX June 4-8.Shown from left in photo below are, Club President Uriel Pineda, Fran Thurmond and Governor Ed Thurmond, and Club Past President and District 6820 Assistant Governor Greg Campbell. The video link to the meeting is https://vimeo.com/694200516.
