Colonel (Ret) Peter Crean is the Vice President of Education and Access at the National WWII Museum and is responsible for the content aspects of the Museum’s mission. Prior to his arrival in 2017, Crean served as Director of the US Army Heritage and Education Center at the US Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The AHEC includes the Army’s historical archive, its largest library and one of its largest museums, all focused on “telling the Army story, one soldier at a time.” As an Army officer with nearly three decades of experience and multiple deployments, Crean has an extensive record of service as a leader in logistics and administrative roles. He holds a Master of Science degree in logistics management from the Florida Institute of Technology and a Master of Strategic Studies degree from the US Army War College, where he was also a graduate of the Advanced Strategic Arts Program.
The Hattiesburg Rotary Club delivered two cooking appliances to a Lumberton family with two young children, one with special needs. They had no stove or appliances to cook food or a refrigerator/freezer to keep food cold. A monetary donation was also given when the appliances were delivered, and a refrigerator was provided by Dr. Annie Jackson with Canopy Children's Solutions.
On Tuesday, July 6, Rotary Club of Hattiesburg will hold its annual officer induction and awards ceremony. This event will be held at the normal weekly meeting time (noon–1:00 p.m.) at the Holiday Inn Hattiesburg-North on Highway 49. In addition to thanking our outgoing President, Mark Killingsworth, and board members, the club will induct its new President, Lynn Walton, and her cabinet, and will recognize four recipients with awards.
Awards given that day will include:
THE T. C. HANNAH “ROTARIAN OF THE YEAR”—Given in recognition of their outstanding service and unwavering dedication to the Rotary Club of Hattiesburg. T. C. Hannah, charter member and first president of the Rotary Club of Hattiesburg.
THE “MILAM S. ‘SONNY 34’ COTTEN NEW ROTARIAN OF THE YEAR”—Awarded to a dedicated Rotarian who has been a member of the club for less than three years. Named for Dr. Milam “Sonny 34” Cotton, a dedicated Rotarian who lived to serve, was the last member of this club to rise to the level of District Governor.
THE BILL GWYN “NON-ROTARIAN SERVICE” AWARD—Our club’s best attempt to look beyond our membership. This is the Rotary Club of Hattiesburg’s recognition of someone in our region who exemplifies our values, commitment to service, and the empowerment of those less fortunate.
THE JOE SPELL “SPIRIT OF ROTARY” AWARD—Presented to a club member for their service not only to the Rotary Club of Hattiesburg but to the community as well. This honor is named for Hattiesburg Rotarian, Joe Spell, who displayed a consistent, enthusiastic passion for the Rotary Club of Hattiesburg and Rotary International.
Click the "Read More" button to view past award recipients →
President Mark Killingsworth presided over today’s meeting. Mark provided the opening prayer. Denny Bubrig led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Mark led us in the Four-Way Test. The meeting was held at the Holiday Inn North and on Zoom. Joe Bost thanked those who helped with today’s meeting. There were no guests.
Mark then introduced today’s guest speaker, Rebecca Silba, Annual Giving Officer of the Rotary Foundation for our region of the country. Rebecca thanked club members for their recent contributions to the Foundation and for the work that our club and others are doing locally and around the world.
Rebecca Silber is the Annual Giving Officer for Zones 30 and 31. With over a decade of experience in nonprofit fundraising, board engagement, volunteer management, and event planning, she cares deeply about connecting donors and volunteers to the causes they are most passionate about. Previously Rebecca has worked at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Chicago, and the Hippodrome State Theatre in Gainesville, FL.
Born and raised in Miami, Florida, Rebecca has spent the last twelve years in Chicago falling in love with the people, culture, architecture, and culinary offerings of the Midwest. She’s still learning to tolerate winter.
Most recently, Rebecca served as a Donor Relations Specialist. In that role, she worked with Arch Klumph Society members to help recognize their significant generosity and dedication to The Rotary Foundation. Rebecca feels strongly about building bridges between Rotarians and The Foundation so they can experience a deep sense of fulfillment and accomplishment through their generosity and service.
President Mark Killingsworth presided over today’s meeting. Allen Anderson provided the opening prayer. Richard Topp led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. The meeting was held at the Holiday Inn North and on Zoom. Joe Bost thanked those who helped with today’s meeting and welcomed guests.
Mark then introduced today’s guest speaker, Bill Raymond. Bill is an Executive Planner and serves as the historic preservation officer for the City of Biloxi overseeing development in the City’s six locally designated historical districts.
Bill’s topic today is the Old Biloxi Cemetery. It was started in 1748 when the property was donated. The property has a 200-foot frontage on the beach and is the highest point in Biloxi. It is believed the property was donated because it already had graves on it and could not be used for anything other than a cemetery. The property was located next to the first French encampment in Biloxi.
Our guest, Bill Raymond, and Hattiesburg Club President, Mark Killingsworth.
A Biloxi native, Bill is a graduate of Notre Dame High School and the University of Southern Mississippi. His professional history includes 5 years as Downtown Services Manager for the City of Biloxi, which included managing the Main Street Program and the city’s visitor services program, as well as coordinating community special events. He also served as Main Street Executive Director for Greenville, Mississippi for two years. Presently he is an Executive Planner and serves as the historic preservation officer for the City of Biloxi overseeing development in the City’s six locally designated historical districts and managing the City owned and operated historic properties and museums including the Biloxi Visitors Center and the Biloxi Civic Center.
Bill is a board member for Main Street Biloxi, Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art, Biloxi Chamber of Commerce, Humane Society of South Mississippi, The Peoples Heritage Foundation and Southern Coastal Federal Credit Union. Bill lives in Harrison County with his three fur babies, Rosie Marie, Bruiser and Scarlett Ann.
President Mark Killingsworth presided over today’s meeting. A.D. Hunt provided the opening prayer. Stephen Utroska led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. The meeting was held at the Holiday Inn North and on Zoom.
Joe Bost thanked those who helped with today’s meeting. Mark has Nick Adams as his guest.
Mark then introduced today’s guest speaker, Paula Mathis. Paula is the Director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at the University of Southern Mississippi. She took that position in the fall of 2018. Prior to that she taught in the USM Honors College for 17 years.
Our guest, Paula Mathis (OLLI) and Club President, Mark Killingsworth.
Here we are in full swing, recovering from our vaccinations, meeting up with friends and people outside our limited circles, and seeing what has really changed over the past year. As Rotarians, we have perhaps had an easier time this year than others: we are guided by our shared core values as we approach every task and encounter obstacles: Service, Leadership, Diversity, Integrity, and Fellowship.
As individuals and as entire clubs we have saved over 1200 lives this year through our blood drives.
As individuals and clubs, we have provided shelter for families displaced by civil unrest and natural disasters through our inTENTS Events with ShelterBox.
As a district, we have helped our neighbors after hurricanes and flooding with nearly $20,000 in direct assistance. Many clubs contributed even further with work days on-site and food, cleaning supplies, and clothing fund drives and deliveries.
Ten clubs came together at the urging of the Rotary Club of Pass Christian to provide 6 truckloads of much-needed bottled water and hand sanitizer to the people of Jackson, MS after the hard freeze burst pipes and interrupted clean water access.
Eight clubs along the Mississippi Gulf Coast worked together with local hospitals and health systems to hold vaccination days and help to get shots in arms so that communities are healthy and return strong from these long months of COVD.
Thirty-two club presidents have already earned the Presidential Citation from Rotary International President Holger Knaack for their service projects, completion of goals, and important work within their communities and among their members.
In May alone four clubs are hosting golf tournaments and many more are holding annual events to raise money for scholarships that provide important opportunities for young people.
President Mark Killingsworth presided over today’s meeting. He provided the opening prayer. Coty Primeaux led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. The meeting was held at the Holiday Inn North and on Zoom.
Mark then introduced today’s guest speaker, Eric Graham with Baker & Graham Dentistry. Eric graduated from the University Medical Center in Jackson. He and his wife have three sons. Eric presented via Zoom and has Robert Lockhart as his guest.
A Hattiesburg native with an eye for sculpture, Dr. Erik Graham believes that every smile is a work of art ready to be unveiled. After attending dental school at University Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi, Dr. Graham and his wife Ginny (also a Hattiesburg native) moved back to Hattiesburg and joined Dr. Baker, where they formed Baker & Graham Family Dentistry. “It’s amazing having a partner like Dr. Graham. His wife’s grandmother was my patient, and she told Dr. Graham about me and my desire to find a good partner and expand the practice,” Dr. Baker said of Dr. Graham. “We get along because we are so different. He works at an amazing, meticulous pace and has an encyclopedic knowledge of dentistry. He is so caring with patients, and we complement each other really well.”
Do you have someone in mind who might provide an interesting, thoughtful, and/or entertaining program during our weekly lunch meetings? Take a moment to review our guidelines and current open dates by clicking the link(s) below. Once you have a program and date in mind, contact Mark Killingsworth or submit your information by clicking the "CONTACT US" tab in the menu.
REMINDER!: Our giving challenge for Q4 is the Rotary International Foundation. Members and friends of the Rotary Club of Hattiesburg are encouraged to make a $100–$125 contribution to the Rotary Foundation. This can easily be done online via the Rotary Foundation website. Click the graphic below to make your contribution.
President Mark Killingsworth presided over today’s meeting held at Holiday Inn North and the Zoom online conference platform. Lucy Sanguinetti provided the opening prayer. Richard Topp led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Joe Bost and thanked those who helped with today’s meeting. He asked Mike McPhail to introduce his guest. Mike has Steward Davidson as his guest today.
Mark then introduced today’s guest speaker, Mark LaSalle. Mark is a member of the Moss Point Rotary Club. He currently supports the District’s Membership and Foundation Committees. He is a naturalist and wetland ecologist.
Mark introduced Rotary’s Membership Initiative. The Initiative demonstrates ways to engage and secure new members and ways to engage and retain existing members. By using the Initiative, Mark’s club was able to attract two new members. He is encouraging each Club in his District to develop a club action plan incorporating these strategies.
Paula Mathis is the director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at The University of Southern Mississippi (Southern Miss). OLLI at Southern Miss has two locations: the main campus is in Hattiesburg, and the satellite campus overlooks the Mississippi Gulf Coast in Long Beach. Paula has been with OLLI since the fall, 2018. Prior to joining OLLI, she worked in the Southern Miss Honors College for seventeen years. Her background is in counseling, and she earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree at Southern Miss. In her downtime, she travels with family and friends, reads, binge-watches television drama series, and listens to podcasts.
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