Rotary Club of Pittsburg, Texas

Board "Retreat" Gathering at Ferndale

2007-07-18T12:21:00.000-07:00

Summer Board Retreat will be Thursday, July 26, at 5 pm at Ferndale Lake Club. Dinner will be served at 6. RSVP to M.E. Grundman.

Rotary in The Pittsburg Gazette

2007-07-15T16:24:00.001-07:00

See a picture of the new officers.

Today's Program

2007-07-11T09:45:00.000-07:00

TODAY'S PROGRAM
Jim DeBus: Larry Cannaday of Cannaday Financial Services will speak on the History of the stock market.

NEXT WEEK'S PROGRAM (18 July)
Carolyn Franks: District Governor Elect Steve Brown from Kilgore

Upcoming Program Chairs:
25 July Charles Florio: Carolyn Franks shares information about upcoming Whatley Center Programs

Rotary Today

2007-04-04T09:32:00.000-07:00

TODAY'S PROGRAM
Dean Woodward

NEXT WEEK'S PROGRAM
April 11 Christian Yantis: "PISD College Bound Kids and Seniors,"
by Beth Anne Dunavant

Upcoming Program Chairs:

April 11 Christian Yantis
April 18 Murry Alewine
April 25 Jim Archer

2007-03-20T19:43:00.001-07:00

TODAY'S PROGRAM
Jerry Cassell - RYLA & SLOT High school Students

NEXT WEEK'S PROGRAM
March 28 Evan Willian

Upcoming Program Chairs:

April 4 Dean Woodward
April 11 Christian Yantis
April 18 Murry Alewine
April 25 Jim Archer

2007-03-07T07:23:00.000-08:00

TODAY'S PROGRAM
Jason Snodgrass, Program Chair:
Lance Thompson
Titus Regional Hospital - Regional Development Coordinator & NCAA Football Referee (Big 12)

NEXT WEEK'S PROGRAM
March 14 Tim Spearman

Upcoming Program Chairs:

March 21 Cary White
March 28 Evan Willian
April 4 Dean Woodward
April 11 Christian Yantis
April 18 Murry Alewine
April 25 Jim Archer

This Week's Program

2007-01-31T07:21:00.000-08:00

TODAY'S PROGRAM
Joe Rex Robertson, Program chair
Perry Henderson - Pittsburg Hospital

NEXT WEEK'S PROGRAM
Feb 7, Rachel Miner, Program chair
Heifer International- Rotary International
Presenter is: Mary Ridgeway

Upcoming Program Chairs:

Feb 14 Vernon Rowe
Feb 21 Herb Riedel
Feb 28 Judi Saxton
March 7 Jason Snodgrass
March 14 Tim Spearman

Rotary Scholarship Applications

2007-01-28T14:47:00.000-08:00

Pittsburg Rotary Club offers scholarships to residents of Camp County, Texas. You will need the non-traditional student (over age 24) application and biographical form, or if you're under age 24 and in school, you'll need this application and biographical form. All of these are in Microsoft Word format.

This Week's Program

2007-01-17T08:48:00.000-08:00

TODAY'S PROGRAM
Don Reynolds (program chair)
Jason Steele - “Pittsburg high School Band”

NEXT WEEK'S PROGRAM
Mike Reynolds

Upcoming Program Chairs:

Jan 31 Joe Rex Robertson
Feb 7 Rachel Miner
Feb 14 Vernon Rowe
Feb 21 Herb Riedel

Today's Program

2007-01-03T09:47:00.000-08:00

Judy Pollan
“Innovative Learning – A video from Pittsburg Primary School”
NEXT WEEK'S PROGRAM

Jan 10 Steve Packer - "The History of the Pascal House," By Rita Harvey

Upcoming Program Chairs:

Jan 17 Don Reynolds
Jan 24 Mike Reynolds
Jan 31 Joe Rex Robertson
Feb 7 Rachel Miner
Feb 14 Vernon Rowe

Monday Report

2006-12-18T13:04:00.000-08:00

Big Thanks to Carol McCarty & Dave Grundish for hard work sorting this afternoon. We probably got half the cans sorted. If anyone wants to come work in the next hour, come on over, the building is open.

Community Food Project

2006-12-15T09:00:00.000-08:00

We'll do sorting on Monday & Tuesday afternoons (at the old Butcher Boy - across the street from First Methodist Church). I will have the building open, and tables set up to facilitate sorting the cans into categories.

Wednesday morning we'll start assembling the boxes around 9 am. The more people we have, the better.

We'll deliver the boxes after our meeting Wednesday. If we have 20 drivers, each delivery team would have about 5 boxes (we're doing about 110 boxes).

Note:
1. I will post updates at here.
2. This is a good project to involve your kids in. It's an opportunity for them to learn to be in service to others. Most of them will be out of school.

If you have any questions, let me know.

This Week;s Program

2006-11-07T19:50:00.000-08:00

TODAY'S PROGRAM

Program Chair Matt Lambert

NEXT WEEK'S PROGRAM
Nov 15 John Livingston
Angela Hammonds, Attorney at Law, speaking on "Family Violence"

Upcoming Program Chairs:

Nov 22 Chris Lummus
Nov 29 Paul Mayben
Dec 6 Richard McCarty

This Week's Program

2006-10-31T13:11:00.000-08:00

TODAY'S PROGRAM

Program Chair Debbie Knox
Pat Smith on Ground water and Surface water planning

NEXT WEEK'S PROGRAM
Nov 8 Matt Lambert

Upcoming Program Chairs:

Nov 15 John Livingston
Nov 22 Chris Lummus
Nov 29 Paul Mayben
Dec 6 Richard McCarty

Today's Program

2006-10-25T09:17:00.000-07:00

TODAY'S PROGRAM

Program Chair Shawn Kennington
Mary Laden
Pittsburg Intermediate School Choir

NEXT WEEK'S PROGRAM
Nov 1 Program Chair Debbie Knox
Pat Smith on
Ground water and Surface water planning

Upcoming Program Chairs:

Nov 8 Matt Lambert
Nov 15 John Livingston
Nov 22 Chris Lummus
Nov 29 Paul Mayben

Check out the District website at http://www.rotary5830.org/

Shrimp Boil

2006-10-19T07:01:00.000-07:00

Tonight's social event, a shrimp boil, is at Jim & Paula Archer's house. Click on the picture for a full size map to help you find your way to Lone Star Cattle Company.

This Week

2006-10-10T11:47:00.000-07:00

TODAY'S PROGRAM

Program Chair James Jones
Jennifer Townsend
Hanson and Sewell Center - Meeting AT the Hanson Sewell Center!

NEXT WEEK'S PROGRAM
Oct 18 Chuck Johns
Program Suzann Cromer
On the Mayor’s Sculpture

Upcoming Program Chairs:

Oct 25 Shawn Kennington
Nov 1 Debbie Knox
Nov 8 Matt Lambert
Nov 15 John Livingston

Upcoming Events:
October 14, 2006: Foundation Seminar in Kilgore. See Ron Clinton for info.

October 19, 2006: Club Social at Jim Archers ranch.

This Week

2006-10-04T07:27:00.000-07:00

TODAY'S PROGRAM

Program Chair Program Chair Jed Jackson
Rotary Directory - Come prepared to have your picture taken.

NeXT WEEK'S PROGRAM
Oct 11 James Jones

Upcoming Program Chairs:

Oct 18 Chuck Johns
Oct 25 Shawn Kennigton
Nov 1 Debbie Knox
Nov 9 Matt Lambert

Upcoming events:
October 4, 2006: Dress for your picture to be placed in the Pittsburg Rotary Directory.

October 14, 2006: Foundation Seminar in Kilgore. See Ron Clinton for info.

October 19, 2006: Club Social at Jim Archers ranch (Lone Star Cattle Company). Details will be provided at a later date.

This Week's program

2006-09-19T18:49:00.000-07:00

TODAY'S PROGRAM

Program Chair Bruce Harwell
Gerri Carter
On Health & Fitness
NEXT WEEK'S PROGRAM
Sep 27 – Program Chair Rock Grundman
Judge Combest
On
Camp County
Upcoming Program Chairs:

Oct 4 Jed Jackson
Oct 11 Chuck Johns
Oct 18 James Jones
Oct 25 Shawn Kennigton

This week's Program

2006-09-05T13:15:00.000-07:00

TODAY'S PROGRAM
Program Chair M E Grundman
Jerry Skidmore, DVM Mt. Pleasant
Topic: A Modest Proposal to Solve the Problems Associated with Pet Overpopulation.
NEXT WEEK'S PROGRAM
Sep 13 - Program Chair Richard Heyduck
Judy Pollan & Beth Ann Dunavant
Local Education Issues
Upcoming Program Chairs:

Sep 20 Bruce Harwell
Sep 27 Rock Grundman
Oct 4 Jed Jackson
Oct 11 Chuck Johns

August 20, 2006 Program

2006-08-29T13:05:00.000-07:00

TODAY'S PROGRAM
Program Chair: David Grundish
Chief Pessink
On Venture Crew
www.venturecrew451.com
NEXT WEEK'S PROGRAM
Sep 6 - Program Chair M E Grundman
Jerry Skidmore, DVM Mt. Pleasant
Topic: A Modest Proposal to Solve the Problems Associated with Pet Overpopulation.
Upcoming Program Chairs:

Sep 13 Richard Heyduck
Sep 20 Bruce Harwell
Sep 27 Rock Grundman
Oct 4 Jed Jackson

August 23, 2006

2006-08-22T09:00:00.000-07:00

TODAY'S PROGRAM
Program Chair: Carolyn Franks
Dr. Jon McCullough
VP of Institutional Advancement

NEXT WEEK'S PROGRAM
Aug 30 - Program Chair David Grundish
Chief Pessink
On Venture Crew
www.venturecrew451.com

Upcoming Program Chairs:

Sep 6 M E Grundman
Sep 13 Richard Heyduck
Sep 20 Bruce Harwell
Sep 27 Rock Grundman

Meeting Weekly On Wednesday at Noon
Pilgrim Community Room

Birthdays
Alton Rape 8/19
Anniversary
John & Linda Livingston

Paul Harris
Quote
“As you hold the honor of your ideals let there not be one man ‘missing’”

August 16, 2006 - Program Notes

2006-08-15T11:32:00.000-07:00

TODAY'S PROGRAM
Program Chair: Charles Florio
Carolyn Franks
Whatley Center

NEXT WEEK'S PROGRAM
Aug 23 - Program Chair: Carolyn Franks

Upcoming Program Chairs:

Aug 30 David Grundish
Sep 6 M E Grundman
Sep 13 Rock Grundman
Sep 20 Bruce Harwell

Meeting Weekly On Wednesday at Noon
Pilgrim Community Room

Paul Harris
Quote: There was a time (…) when Great Britain and the
planet Mars seemed about equal-distant.

August 9, 2006

2006-08-08T10:43:00.000-07:00

TODAY'S PROGRAM (at special location - Pittsburg First United Methodist Church)
Sarah Beth Gooding
Musical Presentation
Program Chair: LaVerne Davis

NEXT WEEK'S PROGRAM
Aug 16 - Program Chair: Charles Florio
Carolyn Franks
Whatley Center
Upcoming Program Chairs:

Aug 23 Carolyn Franks
Aug 30 David Grundish
Sep 6 M E Grundman
Sep 13 Rock Grundman

Paul Harris Quote:

True friendship is worth while because it costs. Everything that is worth while costs. Cost measures worth; the greater the cost the greater the worth. Liberty means more to the American people than to any other people in the World. Why? Because the American people paid the highest price for it.

Location Change this Wednesday

2006-08-06T17:45:00.000-07:00

We have a musical program this week, so we'll be meeting at First United Methodist Church in Pittsburg. After lunch in the Fellowship Hall (which is across the street from the courthouse to the west) we'll adjourn to the sanctuary for some music performed by Sarah Beth Gooding.

Program for Aug. 2, 2006

2006-08-01T12:26:00.000-07:00

TODAY'S PROGRAM

Sergeant Baker

On Iraq

Program Chair: Skip Cutler

NEXT WEEK'S PROGRAM

Aug 9 - Program Chair: LaVerne Davis

Sarah Beth Gooding

Musical Presentation

Upcoming Program Chairs:

Aug 16 Charles Florio

Aug 23 Carolyn Franks

Aug 30 David Grundish

Sep 6 M E Grundman

Meeting Weekly On Wednesday at Noon

Pilgrim Bank Community Room

District Website

www.rotary5830.org

Rotary Int’l Website

www.rotary.org

Make-Up Meeting Places

www.rotaryeclubone.org/

Meeting Days Of Nearby Clubs

Monday Mineola

Tuesday Mount Pleasant, Gilmer

Thursday Sulphur Springs

Friday Mount Vernon

Birthdays

Rachel Miner 8/1

Anniversary

Alton & Charlotte Rape 50 years

2006-2007 Goals

2006-07-22T18:24:00.000-07:00

BULLETIN COPY -

In addition to continuing to provide rotary scholarships for deserving new/continuing college students, sponsoring the Christmas food drive, the dictionary literacy project, the PISD Teacher Appreciation Breakfast, and contributing support to a variety of civic organizations and other worthwhile community services, the 2006-2007 board of directors has approved the following new goals and initiatives for this year:

I. Club Service

Objective: To strengthen fellowship and ensure the effective functioning of the club

GOAL I: Improve club communication (internal).

Initiatives:
Develop and distribute a club roster/directory to the membership to include phone, address, and email information

Develop group email list for sending information, weekly bulletin, and announcements to the membership

Post weekly bulletin on club website

GOAL 2: Increase overall club membership by 5%

Initiatives:
Conduct membership survey (recruitment)

Publish membership application process in club bulletin and discuss during club meeting (recruitment/retention)

Improve orientation of new members by developing and providing written expectations to include in new member packets (retention)

Assign mentor to each new member that will be responsible for his/her orientation during their 1st year of membership (retention)

Sponsor at least 3 club socials during the year that involve all club members and their families (retention)

GOAL 3: Increase club participation at district events so that at least 10% of the membership will have attended one district conference during the year

Initiatives:
Provide funds to cover registration fees for one district conference for each new member during their first year of membership

Provide information in weekly bulletin on all district conferences/assemblies and highlight during meetings

Develop and include information sheet on district conferences/assemblies in new member packets

GOAL 4: Improve maintenance of flags used in annual fundraiser

Initiatives:
Provide adequate protective covers for all flags to extend their use

II. Vocational Service

Objective: encourages Rotarians to serve others through their vocations and to practice high ethical standards

GOAL 5: Continue to involve students in the 4-Way Speech Contest and RYLA by having at least 2 applicants for the 4-Way Speech Contest and 1 club sponsored participant. The club will have at least 2 participants in RYLA.

Initiatives:
Provide information to all high school English/Speech classes about the 4-Way Speech Contest

Provide funds to cover travel expenses for club-sponsored student in the 4-Way Speech Contest and RYLA participants

GOAL 6: Develop at least one new project aimed at spreading the ideals of Rotary throughout the community

Initiatives:
Provide plaques of the 4-Way test to be placed in all Pittsburg schools

Initiate campaign within the club to encourage all members to display copies of the 4-way test at their place of business

III. Community Service

Objective: To promote projects and activities to improve life in our community.

GOAL 7: Develop and implement at least two new community service projects

Initiatives:
Apply for a District Simplified Grant to help fund new project

Work with area black/hispanic churches, businesses, and individuals to explore potential joint community service project to help “build good will and better friendships” across ethnic lines

Work with Pittsburg ISD administration to help identify potential projects/needs for at-risk/underprivileged students in the community

Work with other area Rotary clubs to explore the possibility of sponsoring a joint blood drive with Stewart Blood Center

IV. International Service

Objective: To expand Rotary's humanitarian reach around the globe and to promote world understanding and peace.

GOAL 8: Maintain 100% RI foundation sustaining member status for the club

Initiatives:
Have at least 4 club programs devoted to highlighting the work of the foundation

Develop billing process that would allow members to pay foundation contributions on their monthly bill

Include more foundation information in the weekly bulletin

Encourage attendance at the Foundation Seminar in October

GOAL 9: Participate in at least one district youth exchange or GSE project during the year

Initiatives:
Work with the district youth exchange chair to identify short term exchange programs in which to participate

Identify potential host families in Rotary and/or the community

Work with high school counselors to identify potential juniors/seniors interested in summer experience abroad

GOAL 10: Nominate for club sponsorship one candidate for the Ambassadorial Scholarship for 2007-2008

Initiatives:
Work with Northeast Texas Community College to identify interested candidates who will have completed their sophomore year in May, 2007

Work with high school counselors to obtain information concerning good potential candidates who graduated from PHS 2002-2005. Send letters and information to all promising students.

Invite a former Ambassadorial Scholar to present a program during the year

V. Public Relations

GOAL 11: Increase community awareness of Rotary

Initiatives:
Add a public relations chair to the Rotary board

Present information to the public, through community media outlets, about the club and its activities

Seek out ways to publicize Rotary projects and events with significant media coverage whenever possible

Work with the Pittsburg Gazette to feature a Rotarian or “Citizen of the month” column

Program for July 26, 2006

2006-07-22T18:18:00.000-07:00

TODAY'S PROGRAM

Richard Heyduck

How to research Genealogy

Program Chair: Nancy Cutler

NEXT WEEK'S PROGRAM

Sergeant Baker

On Iraq

Aug 2 - Program Chair: Skip Cutler

Upcoming Program Chairs:

Aug 9 Laverne Davis

Aug 16 Charles Florio

Aug 23 Carolyn Franks

Aug 30 David Grundish

Meeting Weekly On Wednesday at Noon

Pilgrim Bank Community Room

District Website

www.rotary5830.org

Rotary Int’l Website

www.rotary.org

Make-Up Meeting Places

www.rotaryeclubone.org/

Meeting Days Of Nearby Clubs

Monday Mineola

Tuesday Mount Pleasant, Gilmer

Thursday Sulphur Springs

Friday Mount Vernon

Birthdays

Ron Clinton 7/27

James McWhorter 07/30

Paul Harris Quote: “Has your town a City Beautiful Plan, Mr. Rotarian? No? What a pity! It would engage the interest of every man, woman, and child in your community. No town can be too large, none can be too small, to realize benefits from a City Beautiful Plan.”

Program for July 12

2006-07-11T15:36:00.000-07:00

Bird Flu/Pandemic

Sara Tatherow CEA – FCS

Program Chair: Andrew Covey

NEXT WEEK'S PROGRAM

Principal Jimmy Richardson

July 19 - Program Chair: Vee Couch

May Events

2006-05-03T12:10:00.000-07:00

Lots of items this week.

1. The District Conference is this Friday and Saturday in Mt. Pleasant. Check the District 5830 website for details.

2. Teacher Appreciation will be Saturday morning, May 27. Collect your items and get them to Mike Reynolds ASAP.

3. We’ll put out flags Monday, May 22 and leave them out a full week. This will have them out both for Memorial Day and for the Mayor’s retirement reception.

4. The reception for Mayor Abernathy is Tuesday, May 23 at the First Baptist Church Family Life Center. All Rotarians should be prepared to usher or help out as needed.

Don Reynolds' Annual Financial "Seance"

2006-01-29T16:37:00.000-08:00

Don Reynolds, of Smith- Barney in Fort Worth, gave his annual predictions on Wednesday. Here are some of the things he had to say:

The US economy in 2005 was quite resilient (considering all the big events), and exhibited the lowest marker volatility in 80 years.
In the coming year we'll need to pay attention to the (troublesome) actions of foreign leaders like Ahmadinejad of Iran & Chavez of Venezuela.
Watch for an extension of tax cuts - or the negative stock market reaction to a non-extension.
Watch to see how new Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke (info here and here) takes over from Greenspan (who is leaving at the peak of Baby Boomer productivity).
Handling the "housing bubble" without destroying the economy will be his major short term challenge.
He expects consumers to slow spending, but for corporations to increase.
He observes that an inverted yield curve (our current situation) usually - though not always - signals a downturn within a year and a half.

Rotary Supports Girl Scouts

2006-01-18T18:14:00.000-08:00

Last Fall our Rotary Club donated money to help the Girl Scouts of troop 148 here in Pittsburg to buy their vests. Here's a picture of the girls in their vests (except for the few who forgot to bring them to school to wear at the meeting). The Girl Scouts say, "Thank you Rotary!"

Pittsburg's Water Supply

2006-01-18T14:11:00.000-08:00

Ned Muse's program today featured Walt Sears of the Northeast Texas Municipal Water District.

Rain in our area has been pretty sparse in the past year - Walt told us how sparse. In 2005 Lake Bob Sandlin only received 25.45 inches of rain - the lowest amount since the lake was built. Normally the lake passes on about 100,000 acre feet of water downstream to Lake Of the Pines. How much in 2005? Zero.

So we're in pretty serious trouble, right?

Well, not exactly.

Lake Bob Sandlin still has 150,000 acre feet of water. Pittsburg uses less than 2,000 acre feet per year. Of course, this isn't the whole picture for Camp County. Walt says that most of the water use in Camp County comes from ground water, and the aquifer is definitely affected by our drought.

Walt emphasized that although our drought shows up worse on the official drought monitor, we're actually better off than the folks to the west for at least three reasons:

They have a greater draw on their lakes, due to greater population and industrial demands.
Their normal climate is dryer than ours.
They tend to have a greater rate of evaporation.

Walt pointed out two important things we have going for us.

Our municipal leaders were wise years ago when they invested in providing adequate water supply (in the form of lakes)
As far back as the records go, our area has never had one low following another. If this trend continues, we will have more than 25.45 inches of rain this year.

[As far as I'm concerned this is a great time to start!]

Rotary Christmas Party

2005-12-11T14:03:00.000-08:00

Here's a couple of picture from the Christmas party. My Nikon Coolpix 4600 is a nice camera and take good pictures, but the flash is sooooo slooooooow. I'd start taking the picture and by the time it'd actually take, Mike Reynolds (seen receiving his Rotarian of the Year award) had turned his head. At least you have a good view of the back of his head.

I'd never eaten at Ferndale before. The good old fashioned home-style cooking was delicious. The chocolate pie was the best I've had in a long time.

To the best of my knowledge, everyone had a great time. Thanks again to Ann & Gray McWhorter, our hosts!

Christmas Party

2005-12-05T13:46:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow (Tuesday) is the Rotary Christmas party at Ferndale Lake. As a newcomer to Pittsburg, I'd heard of Ferndale but had no idea how to get there. Consulting a Camp County map I had a general idea how to get there, but since the party is in the evening - when it'll already be dark, I though it'd be good to go out in the daylight with an experienced Ferndale person. So today Gray McWhorter gave me the tour.

Here's the general idea of how to get there: Go out of Pittsburg on FM 556. Turn right on FM 1519. You'll go several miles until you read CR 3322 on the left (the culvert work is going on in that area right now). When you turn there you'll see an open area right off 1519 where there will be a white sign for Macedonia Church of Christ. As you proceed down this road, you'll cross a bridge. Right after the bridge, look for the Ferndale entrance on the right. Though usually closed, Gray said it will be open tomorrow night.

This is a picture of the lodge, taken from the direction of the lake. When you drive in you'll be on the other side - which, conveniently, happens to be where the parking will be. See you there.

Shrimp Boil Photos

2005-11-26T11:05:00.000-08:00

Here are a few photos from the recent Shrimp Boil. Thanks to Jed Jackson and his hard-working cooking crew!

Even more - maybe the last word - on the Shrimp Boil

2005-11-16T12:43:00.000-08:00

The location of tomorrow night's Shrimp Boil has been changed to the Pine Ridge Club. Go out FM 557 (off US 271 between Cypress Bank & Hershels). Just past the Ebenezer church, you'll make a left down the Pine Ridge Road which will take you to the club.

More on the Shrimp Boil

2005-11-15T11:57:00.001-08:00

The Jacksons live just East of US 271 on Hwy. 11. You can find a map here. I checked for instructions on parking and Lanita says we can park in the circular drive in front, along the driveway, on the grass on either side of the driveway, and also back behond the house.

More on the Shrimp Boil

2005-11-15T11:57:00.000-08:00

Shrimp Boil Rescheduled

2005-11-12T08:02:00.000-08:00

The date of the Shrimp Boil has been changed from Monday, November 14 to Thursday, November 17. It will be at 6 p.m. at Jed Jackson’s house. If you can’t come, let Mike Reynolds know.

Bring an appetizer or desert to share.

News From Iraq

2005-11-03T05:31:00.000-08:00

This week’s Rotary program was done by Michael Hooper, recently back from working with the US Department of State Diplomatic Security Worldwide Protection Services. In this recording you can here him recount what it was like protecting US diplomats in Baghdad and beyond.

In other news the Shrimp Boil will be at Jed Jackson’s house Monday, November 14 at 6 p.m.

Today's Program: Children of Promise

2005-10-19T11:25:00.000-07:00

Today's speaker, Tim Wilson, is director of the Children of Promise mentoring initiative, a component of Communities in Schools. Based at Northeast Texas Community College, Wilson is working to raise up mentors for children whose parents are in jail. He estimates that about 2 million children in America have a parent in prison. The present effects on the kids - not to mention the increased likelihood they will themselves be incarcerated later in life - are devastating. He's looking for mentors who will commit to spending an hour a week with a child for a year. He says the hour a week is flexible - but the year commitment is not: these kids have seen too many adults make promises and then drop out of their lives.

The requirements for being a mentor include:

At least 21
Agree to a one year commitment
Commit to spending a minimum of an hour a week with the mentee
Have access to an automobile
Have a current driver's license, auto insurance, and a good driving record
Have a clean criminal history [I interpret that to mean NO criminal history]
Have never been arrested, charged, or convicted of child abuse, neglect, or molestation
Not be a convicted felon
Not be a user of illicit drugs
Be willing to adhere to all CIS policies and procedures

Wilson says the need in Pittsburg and Mount Pleasant is dire. They have at least 40 children that need placement. For more information you can contact Tim Wilson at TWilson@ntcc.edu or 903-434-8212.

Program on Identity Theft

2005-10-05T15:10:00.000-07:00

Today’s program featured Pittsburg Police Detective Richard Penn speaking on Identity Theft. He said they get 6-8 calls on this each month, and investigate each one. Texas has moved up to the number 4 state in the country for Identity Theft (the wrong direction) – California has the dubious honor of being number 1. This crime is on the rise in the Southwest, paralleling, Penn said, the location of the main production and use of methamphetamine, perhaps suggesting it is used as a way to finance the drug life.

Identity theft is a pain, besmirching your name and potentially costing you hundreds of hours of work and thousands of dollars to clear your record.

He noted that the crime is virtually unknown in Europe, probably because unlike US practice, the Europeans do not link personal identification and financial/credit information.

Some ways they steal your identity:

“Pharming” – Thieves hijack a legitimate business or financial website and steal your information.

“Phishing” – You get an email purporting to be from your bank or a business like Ebay. They tell you something is wrong with your account (some times that they’re about to cancel it) unless you click on the link and re-enter your account information. Although the link may look authentic, it’s not.

Jury Duty – They call of an evening to tell you that you failed to respond to your jury summons. However, nice people that they are, they’d like to send you your jury pay anyway. Just give the nice person your financial data so they can “help” you.

“Nigerian” scam letters – These purport to be from someone (frequently a relative of someone famous – I’ve gotten several from the “widow” of Sani Abacha, a former Nigerian dictator) who needs your help acquiring a large sum of money (usually in the millions). If you will handle the transaction through your bank, they will give you a percentage of the money. Instead, they empty your bank account for you.

Mailbox theft – People steal pieces of mail during mid-day when you’re at work and your mail is innocently sitting in your box.

How to prevent ID theft:

Get a secure post office box

Shred financial documents before you dispose of them

Guard your information, especially PINs (He told of an occasion where thieves wer able to use a fellow’s ATM card because he had his PIN written on a piece of tape on the card itself)

Consult your credit report regularly

Report any suspicious activity to the police

Watch your credit card receipts (some businesses still use old machines that print your whole number)

Limit the personal info you carry around.

If you’re a victim, you can get a security freeze on your credit

Other sources of information:

Federal Trade Commission

Texas Department of Public Safety

Wednesday's Program

2005-10-05T09:40:00.000-07:00

Judge Preston Combest (County Judger, Camp County) spoke last week on the “State of Camp County.” He began with state-wide legal changes that are impacting Camp County.

The per diem for jurors has been raised from $6 to $40. A nice move for jurors, but the state failed to appropriate any money to cover the expense.

The fines and fees associated resulting from DWI have risen dramatically. These costs have had the unintended consequence of increasing the number of unlicensed, uninsured motorists.

In news around the county:

The county is looking at acquiring multi-lingual, handicapped accessible voting equipment, the Model 100 Precinct Ballot Counter.

The new park will have a fishing lake, 4-6 ball fields, a 1.2 mile walking trail, facilities for volleyball, and a play area for children.

The park will be built by August 2007.

90% of the stump digging has been done, with a major labor contribution from Jimmy Nickerson.

$500k is coming from the state, with a requirement that the funds be matched locally..

21 September 2005 Program

2005-09-19T12:43:00.000-07:00

September 21, 2005

Program

Bette Holcomb on Genealogy
Presented By M. E. Grundman

Next Week

Sept 28 Rock Grundman
Upcoming Programs

Oct 5 Bruce Harwell
Oct 12 Richard Heyduck
Oct 19 Jed Jackson
Oct 26 Chuck Johns
Nov 2 James Jones
Nov 9 Melinda Jones
Nov 16 Shawn Kennington
Nov 23 Debbie Knox
Nov 30 Matt Lambert

Hurricane Katrina Update
Don Chauvin
Governor, District 6200
2005 – 2006
I want to thank all of you for the outpouring of well wishes, prayers, and contributions, which have come in every day since Hurricane Katrina hit the Louisiana/Mississippi Gulf Coast on August 29. One evening this week, after I had finished answering that day’s email, I leaned back and tried to reflect on the magnitude of Rotary’s participation in the relief effort. So many wonderful Rotarians had offered to open their homes to house evacuees. Many offered jobs. Others offered volunteers to come in and provide hands on help. And many of you sent in their monetary contribu-tions. Some contributed $10, some $20 and others more. Some club members pooled their donations and submitted their contributions as a Rotary Club. I then realized the true power and compassion of Rotary.
It is one thing to talk about Rotary’s SERVICE Above Self, but to witness this motto in action leaves one with a humbling feeling. I can attest to all of you - the FAMILY OF ROTARY is alive and doing quite well! It has been one week since my last communiqué and I would like to bring you up to date on the efforts of Rotary District 6200 and tell you what I know about the condition of District 6840.
District Governor Neil Alford of District 6840 was one of the many victims of Hurricane Katrina. His daughter’s home escaped the wrath of Katrina and I understand that DG Neil will be moving into her home. Governor Neil is working to reestablish communications with his club presidents to build a network capable of responding to the needs of family, friends and neighbors living in District 6840. Communications in and out of District 6840 is a hit or miss situation, generally with more misses than hits. Governor Neil has a new email address. It is:
rotary6840relief@yahoo.com
The eastern edge of my District 6200 was also in the path of Katrina. Earlier I reported my concerns for Grand Isle, LA. and I feared for the island, its people and their Rotary Club. I am pleased to report that the people of Grand Isle are committed to rebuilding their Community. I have been able to communicate with only two of the Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Grand Isle. The bridge, which connects the island to the mainland, has been damaged and it will be some time before authorities will be able to restore highway traffic. Access is limited to 4 wheelers traveling over the damaged bridge and boat. This is an area that will require some manpower hours sometime in the near future.

14 September 2005 Program

2005-09-19T12:02:00.000-07:00

Paul Henderson, manager of the Mt. Pleasant Airport did today's program. After showing the video Destination Texas about the TASP (Texas Airport System Plan), Paul shared some particulars about our local airport.

The current runway is 5000 feet.
They are in a capital improvement program to lengthen the runway to 6000 feet, which would bring us up to the same capacity as places like Paris and Texarkana. Although this is long enough for the commuter style planes that service Tyler and Longview, he doesn't expect the demand to be enough for such service to start here any time soon.
They just finished a major hanger addition.
They use full truck load (18 wheeler size) of fuel each week.
Recently named Texas Airport of the Year.
Flight instruction is available on site.
51 airplanes are currently based at the airfield.
Pilgrim's Pride is a major customer.

The Basics

2005-09-14T11:53:00.000-07:00

The Rotary Club of Pittsburg, Texas meets at the Pilgrim Community building (right next to the Prayer Tower) every Wednesday at noon.