MINUTES: January 17, 2017

...Jaclyn Adams and will be installed later today. Phillip Pitts is a visiting Rotarian from Petal. Larson Barkum is a guest of Scott Hummel.

 

Jaclyn noted that Luella Benedict, the wife of our fellow Rotarian Quentin Benedict, passed away over the weekend. She was 97, as is Quentin. Please remember this family during their loss. It was also noted that Bill Hughes’ wife had emergency surgery last evening and is in ICU. She is expected to be in a hospital room within the next day or so.

 

Ryan Kelly is in need of two speakers for the last two weeks this month and also need a volunteer to take the March program responsibilities. If you can assist, please contact him.

 

The One-Hundred-Days-of-Service project sign-ups will begin next week. Please plan on giving back to this community in Rotary’s name during the next 100 days.

 

Jaclyn then introduced Taylor Backstrom and inducted him as our club’s newest member. Taylor is employed by Hancock Bank. He grew up just south of Hattiesburg and chose to make this community his home. He graduated with his undergraduate degree from USM in 2006 and earned his Masters from them in 2006.

 

Jaclyn then introduced today’s guest speaker Ken Thronson. Ken the founder and executive director of the Lighthouse rescue mission here in Hattiesburg. Lighthouse is a three-phase transitional recovery program for moms and their children. He hopes to open a program just for single women in the near future.

 

Phase 1 of the transitional program offers food, GED preparation, basic life skill training, Bible study, spiritual development and counseling. Phase 2 helps participants find a job, teaches them budget management and helps them secure housing. During this phase, 50% of their earnings are saved for them to use for housing needs when they leave the program. Phase 3 of the program helps them set up their new home, provides follow-up case management and helps them find a church.

 

Ken encourages everyone to get out of their “Holy Huddles” and get involved in the needs of this community. He says there is a lot of hurt in the world and many homeless families right here in Hattiesburg that need our help.

 

The program is funded primarily through private donations. If you want to learn more or if you want to make a donation visit their website www.lighthouserescurmission.org.