President Paula Brahan presided over the meeting. Thanks to Gene Owens who gave the invocation and to Mallory Donald who led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Thanks to Leanne Cross for serving as our greeter today.
Mike Ratliff welcomed our visitors. Steve Ramp has Michael Dixon as his guest. Scott Hummel has Bryon Johnson, Brooke Marales, and Antony Kimaiyo as his guests. Sean Priebe has Elena Heves as his guest.
Paula distributed a Committee Contact list to all members. The list contains all of the club’s committees and the names and telephone numbers of those who have volunteered to work on each committee. She asked any Rotarian who is not on the list to please consider helping out on one of the committees. She also noted that the Projects Committee needs a Chair and asked that anyone interested in the job to please contact her in the near future. The chairs of each committee will be asked to provide a committee progress report in early January.
She also reported that the Board of Directors will be asked to meet briefly after next Tuesday’s membership meeting, December 19. The membership roster needs to be cleaned up before December 31 and candidates need to be selected for the 2018-2019 Board of Directors. Anyone interested in serving on the board next year is asked to let Paula know before next Tuesday.
Denny Bubrig, chair of the fundraising committee thanked those who participated in the recent survey and asked members to stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks.
Paula then introduced Mike McPhail who has been approved as our Club’s newest member. Aaron Ladner is his sponsor. Mike is a native of Yazoo City. He attended Mississippi State University and has been working in banking since he graduated. He recently had an opportunity to take a position here in Hattiesburg and is looking forward to working with our club in the coming years.
Mike Ratliff then introduced today’s special guests, the Treble Makers. They are an auditioned ensemble of 4th and 5th grade students from Thames Elementary. They are a hard-working and dedicated group of students, arriving at school early to attend rehearsals before school begins. Through Treble Makers these students are learning musicianship, ensemble playing, teamwork, and the value of working hard to achieve a goal. They are directed by Lauren Mizell who says the group always looks forward to attending the Rotary meeting. School Principal Teresa Merwin also attended with the group.
Thanks to the Treble Makers for entertaining us with their music and Christmas spirit.
With no other business or announcement, Paula adjourned the meeting with our motto, “Service Above Self."