MINUTES: April 14, 2015
Posted by Lamar Evans
on Apr 25, 2015
Rotary Club
Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Meeting April 14, 2015
Rotary Club
Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Meeting April 14, 2015
President Wes Brooks presided over the meeting. Thanks to Steve Ramp who gave the invocation and to Jaclyn Adams who led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Thanks to Rusty Edwards for serving as our greeter today.
Aaron Ladner thanked those who participated in today’s meeting and introduced visiting Rotarians and guests. Demaris Lee is a guest of Allen Anderson. She is a member of the Petal Rotary Club. Jana Causey is a guest of Johnny Stevens. Jana is considering a Rotary membership.
Wes reminded members that there is no lunch meeting next week. Our Night in Italy event will be held on the afternoon and evening of April 21. He also reported that there will be no lunch meeting on June 2. Holt McMullan will host club members in his home that evening. Lucy Parker is working out the details.
Wes also asked members to put the Bike-a-Thon date on their calendar. October 10th is the date for this year’s Bike-a-Thon.
Lynn Walton then introduced our guest speaker today. Karen Sims. Karen is the Executive Director of Pregnancy Choices of Hattiesburg Clinic.
The mission of Pregnancy Choices is to empower individuals to make informed decisions regarding pregnancy. The core message of the facility is to let their clients know that they have value. They also want their clients to know the truth about pregnancy, adoption, abortion, birth control, and STDs along with Christian counseling. Another core message of the clinic is to let their clients know that there is hope and resources available to help during and after the pregnancy.
The staff provides educational information regarding abortion, sexual and reproductive health information and will provide referral services to adoption, abortion and parenting. Karen says their goal is to help their clients make healthy, lifestyle decisions.
Pregnancy Choices offers ultra sound services to their clients to find out if the client is pregnant, if the pregnancy is viable and how far along the pregnancy is.
Since 2010 Forrest and Lamar counties have averaged 114 unplanned pregnancies. Karen says statistics indicate that there are many more due to under-reporting for a variety of reasons. Mississippi is number 2 nationally in the number of STDs reported. These and other statistics point to a need for Pregnancy Choices services.
Volunteers are needed in case anyone is interested. Volunteers are needed to host a baby shower, provide client gifts to give them incentives to return, lawn care, office supplies, or to possibly host a church baby bottle campaign. Volunteers are also needed for staff and counseling. Volunteers are provided orientation and training.
If you are interested in learning more about Pregnancy Choices, contact Karen by calling 601-264-2181 or visit their website at www.pcofhattiesburg.org.