Rotary Club of McAlester, Oklahoma - News and Announcements

McRota

McAlester Rotary News

Tue, Jun. 28, 2005

Bruce Hall Installs New Officers
Additional Images Available Here

6/16/2005
Rambling Rotary Reports

The McRota Committee has been doing a lot of rambling and head scratching, as the new Internet Newsletter gets underway. For a guy who used a manual typewriter for 35 years, it has been an experience. Secretary-Treasurer Jim Henley has been experimenting with his newsletter software, while Fred Turner pounds away at the computer keys, typing an extra letter of the alphabet in every third word. (But we make good use of Spell-Check.)

The Rotary Trees are looking good, west of town. Slow down and take a look when you pass that way.
There were 15 Rotarians who met the Tulsa up with Tree-Group and had dinner, Randy Saunier reported. Then there were 30 to 35 to help with the tree planting on Saturday.

It has been a job to try to keep track of that dollar and the hand shaker each week, without a newsletter.
They didn’t even announce who won it last Tuesday. Don Harris said he had the dollar and tried to give it to Dick Dudley, who said he didn’t want it.
Well, a dollar is not what it used to be, as the kids and grandkids remind us.
Richard Gorman passed the buck to Randy Saunier the week before, and Randy grabbed it, but was embarrassed into putting it in the fine wheel stack.

High School Athletic Director Billy Holt was with us two weeks in a row, with the new football coach and the baseball coach as the speakers. Clyde Wooldridge from the News-Capital came and 59 were present. Merrie Brenner was with Phil; Weldon Smith was with (Nerd) Lucy; Carl Harris was Don’s guest; and Evans McBride was with Steve Brock. The week before, 51 persons were present, with a few baseball fans as visitors. Three weeks ago, 50 persons attended. Guests of Mike Lowber were Mike and Terrie Parks. Mitzi Chadsey was a guest of Brian.
April 19, there were 53 persons present and no guests.
There were 49 at the April 12 meeting. David Lerblance was a guest of Ashley. At the April 5 meeting, the attendance was 49 and no visitors.
On March 29, there were 60 present. And March 22, there were 57.

Don Brumley and Gary Boyd have been getting the handshaking dollar a lot and it has been hard to keep up with. But Don left early March 29 and there is no telling what Bob Basolo did with it. Karl Scifres handed it to Gary on April 12.
Dave Cressman gave it to Robert Miller on April 5. Robert Miller had given it to Don Brumley, March 22.
Clem Santine gave the buck to Jim Thompson, three weeks ago. Jim also has been pretty lucky lately. Two weeks the big money went from Lynn Edwards to Carl Filskow, who flexed his muscles and smiled, to show his greed. And last week Tim Whipps wrote off a $1 gift to Don Harris.
Where is the money now? Gary Boyd says his wife or one of his kids probably have the ones he had.

The High School Jazz Band performance kept all the members awake. And when the new football coach talked, they looked around like they were reaching for their TV remote control and getting ready for some football.

President Ron has been getting a lot of mail, since the club gave away all those dictionaries. He has been reading the thank-you notes at Tuesday club meetings, and some really needed dictionariesDon Brumley and Gary Boyd have been getting the handshaking dollar a lot and it has been hard to keep up with. But Don left early March 29 and there is no telling what Bob Basolo did with it. Karl Scifres handed it to Gary on April 12.
Dave Cressman gave it to Robert Miller on April 5. Robert Miller had given it to Don Brumley, March 22.
Clem Santine gave the buck to Jim Thompson, three weeks ago. Jim also has been pretty lucky lately. Two weeks the big money went from Lynn Edwards to Carl Filskow, who flexed his muscles and smiled, to show his greed. And last week Tim Whipps wrote off a $1 gift to Don Harris.
Where is the money now? Gary Boyd says his wife or one of his kids probably have the ones he had.

Wayne Milner was honored at the Boys and Girls Club anniversary event, for his long service on their board.
Wayne is getting to the point where everything he does, he has done for a long time. Fortunately for this area, he had taken part in the leadership of a lot of community events. Rotary appreciates his long service. P.S. Wayne gave the dollar to Steve Brock last week.

Brian Renegar spoke about the new Animal Health ID System March 22. There is a lot of local resistance to the system to fight mad cow disease, using computers and ear tags. But if you raise cattle, talk to Bryan.

By the way, Sue Hawkins has five “most beautiful” grand children.
That was accidentally left out of her story.

6/16/2005
Rotary Is In Relay for Life

McAlester Rotary has a nine-person team for the June 24 American Cancer Society Relay for Life.
The five-man and three-woman Rotary member team will also include the wife of Rotarian Brett Smith. Other members are David Cressman, J. Paul Lane, Ashley Lerblance, Fred Northern, Angie Nelson, Sue Hawkins, and Doug Helt. Suzanne Smith is the “Rotary Ann” who will take part.
The Relay for Life will be held from 6 p.m. Friday, June 24, through 6 a.m. Saturday, June 25. The relay raises funds for cancer research and for counseling and encouragement for persons who are fighting cancer.
The relay will be at the McAlester High School football stadium. It will start with an observance for cancer survivors and a memorial for cancer victims.
At the ceremony, a luminary will be lighted for each “special person.” Persons can sponsor a luminary for $5, by contacting Team Captain David Cressman, at 423-8722 or 6136.
David said he would appreciate the support of club members for the Rotary Team, in raising funds for the Relay for Life.

6/7/2005|
‘FreeWheel’ Brings Bike Riders

Mary Helfebein told us last week that a visit last Tuesday by Oklahoma FreeWheel riders would bring 800 to 900 bicycles to McAlester. And she apparently was right.
The McAlester Chamber official said the bicycle riders would pedal their bikes 60 miles up the mountainous road from Talihina.
The cyclists were last here in 1991, she said. They not only want to rest and eat in McAlester, but they also want to see the downtown area and historic places as well as check on civic promotions here.
The riders will put up tents in Chadick Park and stay there while some will stay in motels for the night.
The visitors would like civic organizations to put up booths in Chadick Park. Some of their bicycles cost as much as $6,000, Mary said, and some riders are from foreign nations. They also will “tell others, which will bring more people here.”
She said there would be bands and Indian dancers in the park.

Older News

Rotary Hospitality House Project is moving along with the fund-raising process. Pledge cards have already been completed by more than 85 club members, and are available at each club meeting and from club president Randy Saunier. Each McAlester Rotarian is asked to pledge or contribute now $300 or more for this great humanitarian project which will help so many in our part of the world. Those who can give more than $300 are urged to be as generous as they reasonably can; those who cannot give $300 are urged to give as much as they reasonably can. Pledges do not have to be paid in one lump sum and can be paid with a small amount each month over the next 8-12 months. We will also have some other fund-raising activities to supplement the contributions from McAlester Rotarians and others who respond to our plea for help. Our goal is to complete the fund-raising by December 31, 2000.

We anticipate that it will take about $80,000, to expand and remodel the old house at the corner of Rotary Park so that it can serve as a "hospitality house" for family of patients in the McAlester Regional Health Center or Cancer Treatment Center for extended time. The City of McAlester will be the property owner and the McAlester Regional Health Center will manage the operation. Rotary's part will be raising the money to get the job done.

The Puterbaugh Foundation in McAlester has announced a challenge matching grant for our project - if we raise $40,000, or more in cash, they will match $40,000. We have also received a contribution of $5,000, from the William K. Warren Foundation in Tulsa, and already have more than $10,000 in actual contributions from McAlester Rotarians.

2000 District Conference
April 28-30, 2000, in Eureka Springs, Arkansas

McAlester club president Randy Saunier speaking about our longstanding and ongoing Rotary Park project, and the new Rotary Hospitality House project for Rotary Park

Assistant District Governor (ADG) Bill Englehardt (who served our club for the past couple of years), McAlester Rotarian Kim Impson, McAlester club president Randy Saunier, and District Governor-Elect (DGE) Don Wasson (of the Tulsa Sunrise Rotary Club) at the Friday evening picnic dinner during District Conference

McAlester Rotarian Kim Impson (shown here visiting with Cyndy Bedell, wife of Fort Smith's Past District Governor Conaly Bedell) was named Editor of the District Governor's Newsletter for 2000-2001. Kim also serves as Editor of our club bulletin - The McARota. Kim's father, McAlester Rotarian Hi Impson, Jr., was a student at The University of Oklahoma with 2000-2001 District Governor Don Wasson during the early 1950s.

McAlester club secretary Robert S. "Bob" Duran received one of a number of District Governor's Citations at the Governor's Banquet on Saturday evening, his for Meritorious Service in connection with the District Web Page. Bob will continue as District Webmaster for our Rotary District next year under District Governor Don Wasson, as he has for the past three District Governors (Dave Baker, Bob Melott and Conaly Bedell). McAlester Rotarian Jacques Chatenay would also have received a District Governor's Citation at the Banquet but he was unable to attend due to an emergency situation.

Take a look at the photos from the District Conference on the District Website - look at http://www.ri6110.org/conference/2000distconf.htm

President-Elect Harvey Bollinger is already at work, with his club leadership team, preparing for Rotary Year 2000-2001. Harvey was at the Presidents-Elect Training Seminar (P.E.T.S.) and District Assembly in Springdale, Arkansas, a couple of weekends ago, along with McAlester Club Secretary Bob Duran and McAlester Club Bulletin Editor Kim Impson. Bob also serves as Chair of the District Website Committee and Webmaster for the District. Kim has been selected to serve the District as Editor/Publisher of the District Governor's Newsletter for 2000-2001 District Governor Don Wasson.

Our President-Elect Harvey Bollinger, at the 2000 P.E.T.S. and District Assembly in Springdale, Arkansas, on Saturday evening, sitting between Sevilla Vance (President-Elect of the Rotary Club of Poteau, Oklahoma, and former resident of McAlester) and John Kreissler (Rotary Club of Lamar, Missouri, and District Chair of the Group Study Exchange Committee)

Our Club Bulletin Editor Kim Impson (left), at the 2000 P.E.T.S. and District Assembly in Springdale, Arkansas, during the Saturday luncheon, with Sevilla Vance (President-Elect of the Rotary Club of Poteau, Oklahoma, and former resident of McAlester) - Kim also found another former McAlester resident at the District Assembly - Ricky Petricek, Club Secretary-Elect of the Rotary Club of Skiatook, Oklahoma.