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May 10, 2022
Stories
TODAY: 05/10/2022 - Steve Casteel, Senior Pastor at Heritage Church

Steve is Senior Pastor at Heritage Church. He is married to Cindy, a retired teacher. They have two children, Cari and Matt. Cari is a History professor at The University at Buffalo and Matt is a worm farmer in Jackson.

Steve loves comic books and reading. He has a real passion for leadership development and community involvement. His personal mission statement is, ”live loved.”

MINUTES: 05/04/2022
Lynn Walton presided over the meeting. Mark Killingsworth provided the opening prayer and Anthony Harris 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 board election ballots are being distributed today. Members are asked to vote for the candidates of their choice and leave the ballots on the tables at the end of today’s meeting. She also reported that Annie Jackson has agreed to be the program committee chair for the coming year. Members are encouraged to volunteer to assist her
 
Lynn then introduced today’s guest speaker, Anni Carracedo. She is a champion of Rotary Youth Programs in District 6840. She is chair of the inaugural student-led District Interact. Anni accepted the challenge of serving a year as a Rotary Goodwill Ambassador (Rotary Youth Exchange student) after becoming involved in the Interact Club of Valencia in her home country of Venezuela. Her exchange to Bay St. Louis was curtailed when the Covid pandemic shut down schools and communities. She has been allowed to extend her visa and remain in the United States.
 
Anni explained that Interact clubs bring together young people ages 12-18 to develop leadership skills while discovering the power of Service Above Self. Benefits of being a Interact club member include taking action to make a difference in their schools and communities, discovering new cultures and promoting international understanding, becoming a leader in their school and community, and having fun while making friends from around the world. Rotary Interact clubs are now being expanded to local communities. Anni encouraged our club to consider starting an Interact club.
 
Through her Interact club in Bay St. Louis, Anni and other members began a Shoes, Socks and Hats program to raise money for Venezuela refugees. That program has received recognition from Rotary International. She began the project with just a handful of students, but it has now expanded to more than 900 members from 80 countries. They meet via Zoom. She encouraged our members to consider volunteering to host a Youth Exchange student in the future.

Another important youth program is the Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA).  Anni says it is an intensive leadership experience organized by Rotary clubs and districts where students develop their skills as a leader while having fun and making connections. Rising high school seniors are eligible to participate in the program.
 
Benefits of the RYLA program includes connecting with leaders in the community and around the world. Participants build communication and problem-solving skills, discover strategies for becoming a dynamic leader in their school or community and unlock their potential to turn motivation into action. Our club has sponsored RYLA candidates in the past. Anni says Rotary needs RYLA applications this year. The program has suffered the past two years because of Covid.02
 
There being no further business to come before the club, Lynn thanked Anni for her presentation and then adjourned the meeting with our motto: “Service Above Self.”  
NEXT WEEK: 05/17/2022 - Bret Montague, CEO "End It For Good"

At first glance, Brett’s career has spanned a wide range of experiences and industries. But if you look closely, you will see it has been consistently marked by service. 

A year abroad in Spain unlocked a curiosity and empathy in him for other cultures and people different from himself that has continued to impact his life and work to this day. After earning degrees in Spanish and International Development from the University of Southern Mississippi, Brett worked in Community Development with the Peace Corps in South America, followed by work in training management and human resources upon his return to the United States. 

The catalyst for Brett’s interest in drug reform came by way of two very different experiences. The first is the impact opioid use disorder has had on his close relative who has been in more than a decade long battle with opioid addiction and is now in recovery. 

The second experience came during his time in human resources. After recruiting a great fit candidate for a position at the company, he was prohibited from hiring him because the applicant had a felony drug possession charge in his past. From Brett’s perspective, the applicant lost and the company lost that day. 

Those experiences launched Brett into volunteer advocacy work that landed him at an End It For Good community discussion. As they say, the rest is history.

As the CEO at End It For Good he has returned to full-time humanitarian work as he and his teamwork to help the people of Mississippi consider how current drug laws adversely impact individuals, families, businesses, communities, and law enforcement, alike. 

Brett has always had a passion for helping people and has a deep curiosity for traveling and experiencing the culture, art, and food of countries in places like Europe and South America. Brett is a 6th generation Mississippian and a 5th-generation Hattiesburger. In his free time, you will find Brett either volunteering at community events in downtown Hattiesburg, bike-riding the Longleaf Trace, or hanging out with friends and family. Contact at brett@enditforgood.com

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