MINUTES: March 14, 2017
Posted on Mar 20, 2017
Many thanks to Carolyn Katterjohn for providing our program last Tuesday.
Rotary Club
Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Meeting—March 14, 2017
President Jaclyn Adams presided over the meeting. Thanks to Mike Ratliff who gave the invocation and to Wes Brooks who led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Thanks also to Sean Priebe and Jonathan Shemper who served as our greeters today.
Tracie Fowler recognized our visitors today. William Evans is a guest of Lamar Evans. Steve Casteel is a guest of Steve Ramp. Dick Vogel is a guest of Scott Hummel and Melissa Phelps is a guest of Maura McLaughlin.
Jaclyn thanked Paula Brahan for the completion of the first 100 days of service project for our club. She coordinated with the Hattiesburg Area Association...
...of Realtors in the collection of pantry items for Kids Hub. The campaign was extremely successful. The next 100 days of service project is coming up on April 6th. A minimum of 16 Rotarians are needed to read to the children at Hawkins elementary school on that day. If you’re interested in participating, sign up now.
Jaclyn recognized Lynn Walton who is heading up the Rotary 50/50 Raffle. Tickets have been ordered and should be available next week. If each Rotarian will sell four-$100 tickets the raffle will be worth about $30,000 with Rotary keeping one half of the proceeds. Additional prizes will be awarded throughout the raffle.
Jaclyn also reported that Mike Ratliff has invited Phillip Pitts from the Petal club to join our club. He will be transferring in the near future.
Jaclyn then asked Scott Hummel to come forward and accept a $2,500 Rotary district grant. The funds will be used in conjunction with the $1,000 provided by our club recently to help Carey students who suffered losses during the January tornado. Scott told Rotarians how much he appreciated our involvement and contributions. He says the community support of Carey students has been outstanding. The goal is to help the students remain in school rather than having to drop out and get jobs to replace their cars, clothing and computers.
Ryan Kelly then introduced out guest speaker today, Carolyn Katterjon, Executive Director of The Claiborne at Hattiesburg. The Claiborne is an assisted living, a memory care and an independent living community.
Carolyn encouraged each Rotarian to start senior adult retirement conversations early so that the seniors can entered into their retirement journey gracefully and with dignity. If you don’t begin the conversations early, you may end up making a 911 call that changes everyone’s lives unexpectedly.
She encouraged children to ask their parents what they want to do when they’re no longer able to make home repairs, drive a vehicle, end up in a medical emergency or find themselves without a spouse. Getting the seniors involved early in those decisions gives them dignity and lets them feel a part of the decisions and the discussions. Don’t wait until you “don’t have a choice” in these matters.
The Claiborne at Hattiesburg offers independent cottages beginning at just over $1,600 monthly. Assisted living and Memory Care unites are also available. Those begin at just over $3,000 which includes three meals per day, activities and rent. Other services can be added on and some of those services are included in Medicare B coverage.
Carolyn maintains that often parents want their children to begin those conversations. Seniors are often reluctant to bring the discussions forward for fear of disappointing or worrying their children. She says it’s the children’s responsibility to ask the parents now to “tell me how you see the last years of your life unfolding.”
To learn more about the Claiborne visit their website at http://www.theclaiborne.com.
With no other business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned by Jaclyn with our motto, “Service Above Self”.