Ryan Kelly presided over the meeting. Lucy Sanguinetti provided the opening prayer. Annie Jackson led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Ryan then led the club in the Four Way Test. The meeting was held at the Mugshots Bar and Grill in Hattiesburg. 
 
Ryan reminded members that the wine tasting event will be held in early June at the Canebrake Golf Course Clubhouse. The district conference is coming up in the spring. Silent Auction items are needed for both events. Stew conducted the 50/50 raffle. Mavis Creagh was today’s winner, and she drew the correct card. The pot is valued at $76.00 today.
 
Ryan reported that the club has received a thank you card from Annie for the toy donations members made to Canopy prior to Christmas. 
 
Annie then introduced today’s guest speaker, William J. Brown. Mr. Brown is the founder and CEO of Cubz 2 Kingz, a 501(c) 3 organization that promotes the study and engagement of Scince, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM) to at-risk students between the ages of 8 to 18. The organization was founded in 2018 and serves young people in the Hattiesburg and Wayne County areas.
 
Mr. Brown notes that most young people today are always on their telephones. He developed a phone app so the Cubz 2 Kingz information can be delivered to their phones. The core training programs teache five basic principles. He teaches participants that (1) they are strong, (2) intelligent, (3) manly, (4) brave and (5) that they can be leaders. The program is trying over-come the “kill – steal” doctrine that many of the area’s children have. He maintains that most of the participants problems stem from not having a father figure in the home. They work primarily through the juvenile detention centers.  
 
There being no further business to come before the club, Ryan thanked Mr. Brown for his work and his comments and then adjourned the meeting with our motto: “Service Above Self.”