Lynn Walton presided over the meeting. Mark Killingsworth provided the opening prayer and AD Hunt led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Lynn led the club in the Four Way Test. The meeting was held at the Holiday Inn in Hattiesburg and via Zoom.
Lynn reminded members that volunteers are needed for the Meals on Wheels service project. She also reported that RYLA is coming up soon. If any member has a child or grandchild interested in attending, please give her that information. The club will pay the registration fees. The next quarterly service project is the construction of a pergola at Wesley Manor Retirement Center. If anyone knows anyone or a company that could assist in providing materials for the project, please let Lynn know. Donations are now being sought for the Rotary Endowment Fund. A Kollege of Knowledge will be planned soon for new members.
Lynn then introduced today’s guest speaker, Noah Harris. Harris, who graduated from Oak Grove High School in 2018, has always been involved in school and community activities. The violin and piano player participated in sports and was an Eagle Scout. He also served as an intern for Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker.
Noah now attends Harvard and is majoring in government. Noah is also the first Black man Harvard's student body elected as council president Harris, a junior majoring in government, said of the confidence placed in him. “Especially with everything that went on this summer with the death of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, all the protests that went on in this moment of racial reckoning in this country. This is a major statement by the Harvard student body to entrust a Black man with such an unprecedented moment in its history.
Growing up, Noah recognized how blessed he was to have supportive parents, as well as a great school system behind him. He wanted to find a way to give back to those in his community and others like it who did not have that same opportunity. This took the form of a children’s book because of how important a great education is to what we want to achieve in life. He wrote and self-published a children's book during the summer after his senior year of high school.
Noah wrote a children’s book called Successville to inspire and encourage children to “dream big” and work hard to achieve their goals. Based on his own childhood growing up here in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, the brightly illustrated story teaches children about the importance of education. It tells readers that everyone has their own Successville, and everyone’s Successville is a different, special place.
Noah has been surprised by the overwhelmingly positive response he has received from friends, family, and his community. Kids love the book everywhere he goes with it.
If you would like a copy of Successville, you can find it at it Amazon, Barnes and Noble and everywhere else books are sold online.
For more information, contact svillenoahharris@gmail.com.
Lynn thanked Noah for his presentation. There being no further business to come before the club, she adjourned the meeting with our motto: “Service Above Self.”