Happy Mardi Gras! (Or Shrove Tuesday, if you prefer!)
Proposed New Member Announcement:
Christopher F. “Chris “Brantley has been proposed for membership in the Rotary Club of North Jackson by his father, Chris Brantley and is sponsored by Past President Kevin Russell.
Chris is a Trust Officer at Trustmark National Bank and currently serves as Vice President/ President-Elect of the Estate Planning Council of Mississippi. Chris is a Jackson native and attended the University of Mississippi, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. He is married. He and his wife, Reynolds, have one son, George, and live in Northeast Jackson. This is the 1st publication of this proposed new member.
Prayer.Great and gracious God, whom the heavens cannot contain, whose sovereign will our human waywardness cannot thwart, the depth of whose sacrificial love cannot be fathomed, we are grateful for every evidence of your love and mercy in our lives, and for every evidence of your awesome power in the world.
Bless all aspects of our meeting today and then go with us afterward that our labor may be fruitful and our behavior acceptable in your sight. Amen.
Nancy Suzonne “Suzy” Tubb was inducted into the Rotary Club of North Jackson at the Club’s February 26, 2019, meeting. Ms. Tubb is Tax Director at BKD LLP, CPAs and Advisors, in Jackson. She and her husband, Zach, are the parents of twin sons and live in Flowood. She is a graduate of the University of MIssissippi with Bachelor and Masters degrees in Accountancy from the University of MIssissippi and is a CPA. She (left) is shown with her proposer Jon Turner and her sponsor Past President Ann Somers in the following photo. We welcome her to our club!
Chris Harris, Director of Communications, Media & Broadcasting for the Mississippi Braves spoke to the Rotary Club of North Jackson at the club’s February 26, 2019 meeting. He was accompanied by Tim Mueller, the club’s Assistant General Manager and Director of Sales.
Chris enters his 11th season in minor league baseball and second with the Mississippi Braves as Director of Communications and radio "Voice of the M-Braves".
The two-time Southern League Broadcaster of the Year (2013 and 2017) served the past three years as the Director of Media Relations and Broadcasting for the Southern League's Biloxi Shuckers. Before moving to Biloxi in 2015, Harris served as Manager of Media Relations and Broadcasting and eventually Vice President of Communications for the Jackson Generals in Jackson, TN from 2009-2014, earning his first Southern League Broadcaster of the Year award in 2013.
Harris led the public relations efforts for Biloxi's move into MGM Park after a 54-game road trip in 2015 and oversaw the national coverage of the historical beginning of the franchise. Harris was once again recognized by the league in 2017, being awarded the Southern League Broadcaster of the Year award for the second time.
In his talk, Harris said that the Mississippi Braves team is the Atlanta Braves AA affiliate, that the club is owned and operated by the Atlanta Braves, and that it plays in the Southern League with teams from throughout the Southeast. Other Braves affiliates range from the Rookie League to the AAA where the Gwinnett Stripers compete. He stated that opening day is April 10 and that the MS Braves want to be viewed as family entertainment. Trustmark Park, where the Braves play, will have its 15th season in 2019 and is very well designed and built. It has a capacity of about 8,500 and expects to welcome its 3 millionth guest this season. To permit play except during rain, the field has 8,000 ft. of drainage pipe.
Mr. Harris discussed notable MS Braves alumni and the promotion and special events for the season. The “takeaway” from his speech is the family orientation os Central MIssissippi’s team. Y’all come!
We thank Messrs Harris and Meuller for coming to our meeting and invite them to return. Mr. Mueller, a longtime Rotarian, is invited to consider moving his membership to our club. Mr. Mueller(second from left) and Mr. Harris (second from right) are shown in the following photo withClub Director Lori Greer (left) and Club President Anna Powers (right)following Mr. Harris’ presentation.
At the February 19th club meeting, Foundation Chairman Suman Das made presentations to Past Presidents Witt Riffin and Mike Dawkins.
Mike Dawkins was recognized as a Benefactor of The Rotary Foundation. The Club made a $ 1,000 contribution to The Rotary Foundation. The Club made the contribution to recognize Dawkins his service to the Club in the 2013-2014 Rotary Year as Club President. The Club has made a practice of recognizing Past Presidents as Benefactors for their service as President and continued membership and service to our Club beyond their term as President. The Club’s contribution resulting in Dawkins being named a Benefactor was directed to the Foundation’s Endowment Fund (formerly called the Permanent Fund). Contributions to the Endowment Fund are invested and managed and, then only the earnings of the Endowment are spent.
Witt Ruffin was recognized and was named a Paul Harris Fellow (PHF) for both the 2nd and 3rd time simultaneously! Ruffin’s 2nd PHF was attributable to a $ 1,000 contribution to The Rotary Foundation’s Annual fund made by Past District Governor Bill Walker of Columbus. Walker made a contribution to honor Witt’s service to the District as North Jackson’s Club President during his term as District Governor. Witt was presented his 3rd Paul Harris Fellow by the Club in recognition of his outstanding service to our Club during his 2017-2018 Rotary Presidential Year.
Witt (left) and Mike (right) are shown in the following photo with Club Foundation Director Suman Das (center), who presented the awards to them. We congratulate them on their recognition and thank them for their support of the Rotary Foundation.
Sitaniel Wimbley, program director of NAMI (The National Alliance On Mental Illness) of Mississippi spoke to the Rotary Club of North Jackson at its February 19th, 2019 meeting. Wimbley informed members and guests of what NAMI Mississippi does to help identify, educate and support those with mental illness. NAMI's mission is dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with mental illness and of their families through support, education, and advocacy. Shown (from left) club member Lori Greer, who introduced Ms. Wimberley; Wimbley and Club President Anna Powers. We thank Ms. Wimberley for her presentation and for her service to the citizens of Mississippi.
Thomas Dent, Director of Faith-Based Volunteer Services for the MS. Department of Child Protection Services (DCPS) spoke to the Rotary Club of North Jackson at the club’s February 12, 2019, meeting. Mr. Dent, a former member of the club is also the son of current club member Tommy Dent. He discussed the role and activities of DCPS, Including, his and his family’s history of fostering children and of adopting their first foster child. He also discussed the Mississippi Heart Gallery which contains photos and discussion of children ready for adoption.
We thank Mr. Dent for his presentation and for his service to the children of Mississippi. He (center) is shown in the following photo with his father, and with Club President Anna Powers.
Rotarians Sara Anne White and Jay Cooke were honored as Paul Haris Fellows at the February 12, 3019, meeting of the Rotary Club of North Jackson. A person becomes a Paul Harris Fellow when that person has donated a minimum of $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation or has $1,000 donated in their name. People may become multiple Paul Harris Fellows by donating or having donated multiple gifts of $1,000 to the Foundation. The honor was established in 1957 to show appreciation for contributions that support our Annual Fund, PolioPlus, or an approved Foundation grant. There have been more than 1 million Paul Harris Fellows in the lifetime of the program.
Sara and Jay are shown in the following photo with Club President Anna Powers (left) and Director Suman Das (second from left), who presented the awards to Jay (second from right) and Sara (right). We congratulate them on their recognition and thank them for their support of the Rotary Foundation.
