O God, within whose patient providence we exist, by whose enduring love we are embraced, with whose strength we are sustained, and by whose Spirit we are empowered to live and do good in the world, we give thanks for every blessing bestowed so generously upon us.
Bless our own efforts in the service of others, and bless for our use the food and fellowship we enjoy. use us as willing instruments of your will. Amen
Club Announcements:
Upcoming Events:
1.Rise Against Hunger food packing at Madison United Methodist Church - February 22, 2020, 9 am - 12 noon.
2. Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, Twin Lakes Camp, Feb 27- 29. For children and grandchildren of Rotarians. A limited number of scholarships are available.
3. President-Elect Training Seminar (PETS) March 5-7, Natchez, MS
4. Women in Rotary Luncheon, Country Club of Jackson, March 17
5. Multi-District Conference, New Orleans, April 17-19.
Proposed New Member Announcement
Nelson A. Atehortua De la Pena, Ph.D., has been proposed for membership in the Rotary Club of North Jackson by Dr. Suman Das and is sponsored by Past President Don Roberts.
Nelson, or “Dr. A” as his students call him is an Assistant Professor in the School of Public Health at Jackson State University. JSU’s School of Public Health is located at the Jackson Medical Mall on Woodrow Wilson Drive.
He will be loaned the classification, Education – JSU Public Health after his membership is approved by the Board.
He is currently a member of the Rotary Club of Madison – Ridgeland. His membership there will terminate once he becomes a member of our Club.
A native of Columbia, Nelson earned an M.D. degree and a Master of Healthcare Management before coming to the United States. He earned his Ph.D. in Health Education at Texas A&M University, after obtaining a Master of Public Health at Western Kentucky University.
Nelson is married. He and his wife, Stella Patino have lived in Flowood for two years Stella is Human Resources Director for the Metropolitan YMCA.
This is the 1st publication of this proposed new member.
Rotary International - Toastmasters International Alliance
At the January 14, 2020 meeting of the Rotary Club of North Jackson, Rotarian and Club Secretary, Suman Das, discussed the collaboration between RI and TMI. The two organizations have similar histories and similar organizational structures. Please see the article at the end of this newsletter for more information on the alliance.
Rotary Club of North Jackson – Quarterly Membership Changes - IV Quarter 2019
Membership (not including Honorary) September 30, 2019 94
Termination ( T) / Addition ( A)
Name
Effective Date
Reason
Membership after Change
A
Lindsay Buford
10-01-19
Mew member
95
T
Witt Ruffin
10-01-19
Moved
94
T
Mike Dawkins
12-17-19
Business Pressure
93
T
Alison Kelly
12-19-19
Retired
92
Membership (not including Honorary) December 31, 2019 92
Nora R. Miller, President of Mississippi University for Women (The “W”) spoke to the Rotary Club of North Jackson at the club’s February 18, 2020, 2020. The subject of her presentation was “The W”, how it is today and how it is progressing. Ms. Miller received her BBA and Bachelors in Accounting from the W and her MBA from Mississippi State University. She is a CPA. She joined the staff of the W in 2001 and served as vice president of finance and administration for the W for 11 years prior to becoming president. She said that the W was created in 1884 and that it became coeducational in 1982. The current enrollment is 80% female.
Miller served as chair of the University Press of Mississippi and has served on the Board of Directors of the Southern Association of College and University Business Officers (SACUBO). She serves as Secretary/Treasurer of the Southern Universities Conference. She is active in a number of organizations including the Mississippi Chapter of the International Women’s Forum, Town and Tower, serving as chair in 2014-2015; Columbus Air Force Base Community Council; and Rotary Club of Columbus, serving as president in 2008-2009, and a three-time Paul Harris Fellow. A member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, she has served on the Vestry and as Senior Warden in 2015-2016. Miller was also on the Board of Directors of St. Paul’s Episcopal School, serving as chair in 2009-2010.
Miller served as Chair of the Tenn-Tom Chapter of the American Red Cross in 2007-2009 and has also been a member of the Northeast Mississippi Chapter and the Mississippi Regional Advisory Council of the American Red Cross.
A Leadership Mississippi graduate, Miller was named one of the Top 50 Businesswomen of the Year by the Mississippi Business Journal. Other honors include being named a 2019 Woman of Distinction by the Girl Scouts Heart of the South council, and a Rotary District 6820 2019 Champion of Change. Most recently, Miller received the Mississippi Distinguished Civilian Medal of Honor for her responsiveness to the soldiers and airmen of the Mississippi National Guard. A member of the Mississippi University for Women Alumni Association, she has served as treasurer for the MUW Alumnae Association and the MUW Ecumenical Council.
Miller emphasized that the W is a bargain in higher education with annual tuition and fees of about $15,000 for Mississippi residents. A program for moving Registered Nurses (RNs) from RN to BSN is one of the university’s stronger programs. The students in this program are non-traditional with much of the program being offered online.
The W is recognized as a great place to work and is a ‘best value” among Southern public universities. The university has an enrollment of 2813 students, with an average age of 24.6 years reflecting the emphasis on RN to BSN students. 86 % of the students are from Mississippi, 37%are African-Americans, 45% of the students are in health-related professions, again reflecting the RN-BSN program. The student-faculty: ratio of 13.1 is the highest in MS public universities. From 2010 - 2019, the W increased the number of undergraduate degrees by 67%. In 2019, the W graduated 911 students. The W’s graduates have a system low average indebtedness of students with loans of $29,393.
We thank Ms. Miller for her presentation and for her commitment to the youth of Mississippi. She is shown in the following photo with Club Director Larry Anderson (left) who introduced her and club president Greg Campbell (right).
Mark A. Tullos, Jr. President and CEO of the Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience (The MAX) in Meridian spoke to the Rotary Club of North Jackson at the club’s February 11, 2020 meeting. Prior to joining The MAX, he served several capacities in Louisiana and Mississippi, including Assistant Secretary for the Louisiana Office of State Museum, Director of the Louisiana State Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana and founding director of the Walter Anderson Museum of Art. Tullos received a degree in visual arts from Louisiana State University. He attended graduate school at Stephen F. Austin University and also participated in Getty Leadership Institute at Claremont Graduate University.
Mr. Tullos’ presentation to the club was highlighted by a brief video clip on The MAX. He said that The MAX has inducted 18 members into its Hall of Fame, including William Faulkner, Eudora Welty, Jimmy Buffett, Sela Ward, Jimmy Rodgers, Elvis Presley, Morgan Freeman, Leontyne Price, Margaret Walker Alexander, John Grisham, James Earl Jones, B. B. King and that 4 more members will be inducted in 2020.
The Max is an interactive cultural experience that fosters creativity in the visual and performing arts, such as pottery, painting, music, dance, to name a few. The objective of The MAX is to become a destination for interstate, intrastate, and international visitors.
We thank Mr. Tullos for his presentation to our club and for his contributions to our state. The following photo is from his biographical information.
The second photo is during his presentation to the club.
Gabriel Joseph “Gabe” Grothe was inducted into the Rotary Club of North Jackson at the club’s February 11, 2020, meeting. He (right) is shown in the following photo with his proposer Rotarian Eric Sokolosky. He was sponsored by past club president Don Roberts.
Gabe is a Landscape Designer with Martinson’s Garden Works in Ridgeland. He has lived in the metro area for 28 years. He graduated from Madison Central High School in 2009. In 2014, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Landscape Contracting and Management from Mississippi State University.
Gabe is married. He, his wife, Claire, and their daughter, Olive Jeanette, live in Madison.
Michelle’ Bingham, Special Events Coordinator and Communications Director at Stewpot Community Services, spoke to the Rotary Club of North Jackson at its January 28, 2020 meeting. Bingham discussed the different programs of Stewpot including the Billy Brumfield House (BBH).
The BBH is a shelter for up to 60 men a night, provides three services. It serves as an emergency shelter for homeless men, offering safe shelter, clean showers, nutritious food, and a supportive community. It also offers a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program, supported by AA meetings, group and individual counseling, employment requirements, and a savings program. Finally, for men with medical disabilities, it provides support and a stable place to live as they navigate state and federal requirements to receive benefits and permanent housing. The Billy Brumfield House was named for a homeless man who died of hypothermia while sleeping in his car. Our club provides super to the men on the First Tuesday of each month. If you are interested in helping with this project, please see Matt Monsour or Suzie Tubb. Shown from left are Matt Monsour, club director; Bingham and Larry Anderson, club director.
This Week's Rotary Thought is about the Rotary International- Toastmasters Alliance
As Rotarians and Rotaractors, you joined Rotary to make a difference and connect with others in your communities.
To help you achieve your personal and professional goals, Rotary International is working with Toastmasters International to provide opportunities to grow your networks, your leadership and communication skills, and your impact within the community.
This alliance with Toastmasters is different from Rotary International's relationships with other organizations: It enhances your membership experience through professional development opportunities and making connections beyond your club.
What is Toastmasters?
Toastmasters International is a nonprofit, educational organization with more than 16,800 clubs in 143 countries. Since 1924, it has helped its members become more effective speakers, communicators, and leaders through a worldwide network of clubs, much like Rotary.
How can you and your club get involved?
It's easy for Rotarians and Rotaractors to engage:
