Rotary Review
Bill Trant, Governor
January 2018
Rotarians set aside the month of January to showcase one of the avenues of ser-
vice, Vocational Service. This avenue of service rests in the very fabric and origins of Rota-
ry. Paul Harris brought together people from different professions and businesses to meet as
friends instead of rivals. Rotary developed into a leadership organization that “recognizes
all useful occupations as worthy of respect.” Look at your club. It is made up of local busi-
ness, professional, educational and civic leaders who meet regularly to get to know each
other, and formulate ideas to improve the world around them. Talk to your fellow mem-
bers, find out what they do every day. You might be surprised, and you might even learn
something.
Don’t forget to sign up for the District Conference at the Beau Rivage in Biloxi, Ms. There
is more information in this newsletter.
Important Links:
WORLD HEADQUARTERS
Rotary International ●www.rotary6880.org
One Rotary Center
1560 Sherman Ave ●www.rotary.org
Evanston, IL 60201-3698 ●www.DaCdb.com
Tel: +1 866-976-8279 (toll-free)
Fax: +1 847-328-4101 ●www.Rizones30-31.org
contact.center@rotary.org
Hours: 8:30am - 5pm Central ●www.facebook.com/D6880/
Languages:
English, French, Spanish
Making A Difference... In Our World
Rotary Districts 6820 – 6840 – 6860 – and 6880
Multi-District Conference
Join us at the Beau Rivage Casino and Resort
Beach Blvd, Biloxi, Mississippi
June 7-10, 2018
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What did you do at lunch today? The Brewton Rotary Club had a paper air-
plane flying competition with Earl Blackmon to learn about #Lean and
how #ContinuousImprovement can help businesses grow.
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Auburn Rotary U
Club Names B
Citizen of the Year: U
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Jay and Susie
Gogue N
When Jay and Susie Gogue moved to Auburn in 2007, “Gogue” was barely a household word, and neither likely would have been
stopped in the aisles of a local grocery store. Ten years later — at its Wednesday, Jan. 10 meeting — the Auburn Rotary Club cel-
ebrated the Gogues’ decade-long legacy of bettering Auburn University and the city it calls home by naming the couple as its co-
citizens of the year.
The Auburn Rotary Club has honored an individual, individuals, businesses and nonprofit organizations as its citizens of the year
since 1983. The award is bestowed to those who exemplify Rotary International’s local or global service focus. Elected or public
officials nominated for the award must have community contributions beyond their immediate public service duties.
In presenting the award on the behalf of the club, Citizen of the Year Committee Chair Martee Moseley said “Team Gogue” was a
well-deserved moniker often used by locals referring to the couple’s community impact.
“It was very clear that in all they have done professionally and civically, they have operated as a team,” she said.
To mark the honor, the Gogues received a framed certificate noting that their civic contributions have bettered the Auburn commu-
nity and modeled Rotary International’s tradition of “service above self.” In addition, the Auburn Rotary Club made a $1,000 con-
tribution to a charity of the Gogues’ choice, which was the Food Bank of East Alabama.
“Every once and a while, we talk about the Auburn Experience — the words we use are ‘compassion with action.’ As a communi-
ty, this place has tremendous passion, and it’s where we do something about it,” Dr. Gogue said when accepting the award on be-
half of himself and Mrs. Gogue. “It’s quite an honor that you recognize both of us, and we’re most appreciative.”
After leadership appointments at Clemson University, Utah State University, New Mexico State University and the University of
Houston System, the Gogues — who both graduated from Auburn in 1969 and will celebrate their 50th anniversary this year —
moved to Auburn in July 2007 upon Dr. Gogue’s appointment as Auburn University’s 18th president. His 10-year tenure as presi-
dent was marked by increases in student enrollment, the research enterprise and outreach partnerships.
The Gogues’ dedication to supporting the community outside Dr. Gogue’s day-to-day duties as president equally endeared the
couple to the community and created an enduring legacy for the university and the community alike. Their shared vision for a
world-class performing arts center that would benefit both the university and city led to the naming of the Jay and Susie Gogue
Performing Arts Center in their honor. Construction of the performing arts center is expected to be completed by August 2019.
Previous Citizen of the Year award recipients present for the ceremony included Auburn Bank, represented by President and CEO
Bob Dumas (1983); retired physician Dr. Jim Mathews (2002); Dr. J. Terry Jenkins, retired Auburn City Schools superintendent
(2007); Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Arts, represented by Museum Director Dr. Marilyn Laufer (2011); Auburn Mayor Bill
Ham (2012); K. Ted Wilson, retired financial adviser and founder of Wilson Investment Group (2014); Dr. Mary Burkhart, retired
director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Auburn University (2015); and Auburn Chamber of Commerce President Lolly
Steiner (2016).
The Auburn Rotary Club is one of 33,000 Rotary International clubs in more than 200 countries and geographic areas. The world-
wide Rotary International network includes more than 1.2 million neighbors, friends, community leaders and problem-solvers
who, for more than 110 years, have come together to make positive, lasting change in communities at home and abroad. The Au-
burn Rotary Club meets weekly on Wednesdays from noon to 1 p.m. at Saugahatchee Country Club. For more information about
the Auburn Rotary Club or how to become a member, visit www.auburnrotaryclub.com.
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The Demopolis Rotary Club held its Christmas party at the Demopolis Country Club on December 14. Rotarians
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John Wallace and Woody Collins organized the event which included dinner for Rotarians and their fami-
lies. John Wallace even put on a dancing demonstration! Rotarian Ashley Coplin organized a cookie decorating
station for the children and a few adults. No Christmas party is complete without Santa. Rotarian George Durbin
performed admirably. Rotarian Jay Reynolds got the gifts and Rotarian Rob Fleming made sure to capture the
happy night on film. It was a truly nice time with fellow Rotarians and their families as we get to know each other
better. A long time Rotarian in the club commented that he believes the Demopolis club is probably closer togeth-
er than it has ever been in over 30 years. From Demopolis, we hope everyone in District 6880 will have a joyous
and happy new year!!
Mayor John Laney gave
Lorenzo Moore is leaving his vocational speech to
the club as a new mem-
the club to move to Birming-
ber. Mayor Laney is a
ham as part of a job transfer
chemical engineer who
with his employer Robertson
rose to a regional vice
Bank which is opening a
president over four con-
new branch there. Lorenzo
struction material mills
has been an excellent Rotari-
employing 650 people
an since joining the club in
before retiring. He has
November of 2016. He has
now become Mayor of
had an outstanding attend-
Demopolis. He dis-
ance record and has been
cussed how he strives to
involved in many of the
use the four way test as
community events spon-
a guide in fulfilling his
sored by the club. He will
responsibilities as
be deeply missed. We all
mayor. Mayor Laney
wish him the best. Lorenzo
discussed his goals as
is pictured with club presi-
mayor and improve-
dent Jason Windham. (left)
ment of the infrastruc-
ture of the city. Those
goals include quality
Freddie Armstead, Marengo County Com-
education and technical
missioner, is pictured with club
training; good regional
president Jason Windham. Mr. Armstead
healthcare emphasizing
who has been a commissioner for 32 years
the recent partnership
spoke about the current state of the county
between the hospital
commission at our January 3 meeting. Mr.
and UAB; protective
Armstead said that the commission is debt
services; and outreach
free and has a AAA rating. He talked about
letting people know that
working relationships and investments made
Demopolis is ready for
in the county. These include: a $2 million
business. He believes
investment in the Demopolis hospital; money
two of the more critical
to the Industrial Development Board for a
responsibilities of the
truck driving school and training course;
city council (and two of
working with Thomaston on water and storm
the biggest ways the
shelter projects; Linden on a sewage project;
City can make improve-
a drainage ditch in Demopolis and multiple
ments for its citizens)
completed and planned road projects. Arm-
are the appointment of
stead was complimentary of the working rela-
quality board members
tionship between the current commissioners
to the various boards
and was especially complimentary of our
and the funding provid-
club's president who also serves as a county
ed to those boards. (left)
commissioner. (right)
The December 19th Troy Rotary meeting was hosted by
Sabrina Pennington and David Phelps. They invited Gary T
Wilbert, Director of Development of the Trojan Warrior
Fund. Gary discussed the North End Zone project, which
will be finished in the summer of 2018. The project will
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add 402 club seats to the stadium, as well as facilities for
staff and student-athletes. He spoke of the many accom-
plishments of Troy’s athletic programs, and noted how
important it is for the University to provide resources for
student-athletes to succeed both on and off the field. Pic- Y
tured are David Phelps, Gary Wilbert, Sabrina Pennington,
and President James Bruce. (RIGHT)
The January 16th Troy Rotary meeting was hosted by David Price & Greg Price. They invited Jeff McClure Director of the Pike
County Schools Alternative Learning Center. Jeff has worked in education for 20 years. He attended Troy University where he
received a B.S. in Psychology and an M.S. in Education. He has completed additional M.S. degrees in School Counseling. Jeff has
worked as a curriculum specialist, a software trainer and presenter, a behavior specialist, and a classroom teacher throughout his
various educational assignments. At the Pike County Alternative Learning Center (ALC), Jeff has a morning assembly to coordi-
nate the day's activities. The assembly includes: pledge to the flag, moment of quiet reflection, reciting a personal belief statement,
and reciting a character statement. Jeff used an effective video presentation to outline the Alternative Learning Centers programs.
He suggested that education should be modeled more like industry businesses. He presented 9 industrial programs leading to an
associate degree in cooperation with Troy University. Jeff asked “where will skilled workers come from when most are 55 years or
older today.” Grants and most funding models are for needy students and go away with improvement. Jeff displayed an architectur-
al drawing for a new ALC center. He concluded with three primary reasons that new employees get fired: 1 don’t show up to work,
2 on the cell phone, and 3 can’t pass drug test. Pictured are President “booty” Bruce, Jeff McClure, and Greg Price. (ABOVE)
T
The January 9th meeting of the Troy Rotary Club was
hosted by Benny Pinckard and Michael Precise. They
invited L.C. May, brand manager for Conecuh Ridge
Distillery and grandson of Clyde May. L.C. spoke of
how Clyde May began moonshining in Bullock County
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in 1946, after returning from World War II. At the
time, there were many competitors in the area, but O
Y
Clyde set his business apart through hard work and his
commitment to producing the best moonshine. Clyde
believed that, “if you’re not going to do something
right, just don’t do it.” He tasted every batch of moon-
shine to make sure it met his standards. In addition to
being hardworking, Clyde was also creative. He want-
ed to create a smoother product, and experimented
with different methods in aging the moonshine. He
discovered that by adding apple slices at the end of the aging process, he could make smoother moonshine;
this type of whiskey became known as Alabama-style whiskey. Clyde’s son Kenny May created the Cone-
cuh Ridge brand in 2002 to produce the whiskey legally, and in 2004, Clyde May’s Whiskey was named
the official state spirit of Alabama. Because distillation was illegal in Alabama at the time, the whiskey
was produced in Kentucky; now that distillation is legal in the state, Conecuh Ridge will move all produc-
F
hope, addresses the 100 third-grade students at J.
Larry Newton School before club members distrib-
uted copies of A Student’s Dictionary from The
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Dictionary Project (https://
www.dictionaryproject.org/. Each student received a
personal copy of the dictionary to use at school or at
home. In early December, club members also dis-
tributed dictionaries to the 289 third-graders at Fair- I
R
hope Elementary School. This is the twelfth year the
club has participated in The Dictionary Project, in
line with Rotary International’s goal of supporting
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education, one of its Six Areas of Focus.
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On a frigid day in January, the Rotary Club
of Fairhope recognized seven new P
members who had completed its orientation
program for new members. Graduates E
received permanent badges and Four-Way
Test and Object of Rotary plaques.
L-R: Angela Jones, Bob Harrison, Al Beck,
Michelle Anderson, Taylor Strunk,
David Johnson, Rachel Rome, and Mem-
bership chairman Paul Stanley.
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Navy Lt. Will Dorriety, weapons officer for the
USS Toledo and a Naval Academy graduate,
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accompanied his dad, Greg Dorriety, to the
Point Clear Rotary Club's Jan. 18, meeting held
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at the Sweetwater Café at the Colony on Battles
Road. (below)
N
T
Craig Nelson, past president of the C
Point Clear Rotary Club, was pre-
sented Jan. 18,with his third Paul L
Harris Fellowship pin. (above)
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Mr. and Mrs. Steve Funchess and Mr. and Mrs. Steve
Longfield took part in a recent event held on behalf of
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the Point Clear-Fairhope Rotary Youth Club. The
youth club is a major recipient of Point Clear Rotary's
charitable contributions each year. (left)
Edward Theodoro,
NJROTC instructor at
RHS, and cadet Emily
Mann were our guests
November 30. They
C
talked about the correct E
way to dispose of a flag.
We also collected toys for N
Toys for Tots, which Mr. T
Theodoro is in charge of
at school. They were in- R
vited by Terry Simpson.
Also pictured is club pres-
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ident Jeremy King. L
(right)
We recently celebrated Christmas by having a Wild West themed party at B
member Cynthia Nall’s home. A great time was had by all. (below) A
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Sunset
Volunteering at the local M
Montgomery area Food
Bank. Pictured Donna Mari- O
etta & Hootie Gipson. (left)
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Montgomery Rotary January
8th, pictured with Graham
Champion and our speaker Hon.
Mac McCutcheon – Speaker of
the House, AL House of Rep.
(below)
Atmore 38 38 0 0 3 37.72 46
Auburn 114 117 3 -1 2 60.66 24
Bay Minette 31 26 0 4 68.27 17
-5
Brewton 66 65 0 3 45.00 40
-1
Brundidge 24 23 0 3 92.00 2
-1
Central Bald- 28 26 4 86.24 6
win Sunset -2 -2
Chilton County 9 8 -1 0 4 59.38 27
Daphne/ 18 19 1 0 3 87.50 5
Spanish Fort
Demopolis 42 42 0 0 3 95.28 1
Dothan 160 151 -9 2 3 89.04 4
Dothan Tues- 130 133 3 0 4 52.82 33
day Rotary
Elba 19 18 0 3 61.11 23
-1
Enterprise 61 61 0 -1
3 72.51 14
Fairhope 85 79 -6 -1 3 71.91 15
Fairhope Sun- 55 59 4 3 42.00 44
set -3
Foley 65 62 2 54.55 31
-3 -3
Geneva 28 28 0 0 3 78.57 11
Greene Coun- 0 0 0.00 51
ty 0 () 0 n/a
Greenville 31 29 -2 29 3 60.00 26
Gulf Shores- 16 16 0 0 3 82.00 8
Orange Beach
Huntingdon 0 0 0.00 52
College 0 () 0 n/a
Jackson 26 27 1 0 4 79.17 10
Montgomery 44 39 3 52.38 34
Capital -5 -5
Montgomery 40 42 2 0 3 83.33 7
Sunrise
Montgomery 18 23 5 0 3 60.32 25
Sunset
North Mobile 7 10 3 0 1 70.00 16
Opelika 84 83 -1 -4 3 49.40 38
Opp 27 28 1 0 2 44.83 42
Ozark 0 56 56 0 3 57.00 29
Phenix City 35 32 -3 -3 3 74.23 12
Point Clear 110 106 -4 0 1 45.00 41
Prattville 32 34 2 2 2 44.10 43
Prattville- 30 33 3 0 3 50.00 37
Millbrook
Sunrise
Robertsdale 38 37 -1 0 3 64.15 21
Selma 40 40 0 0 3 63.48 22
Tallassee 21 19 -2 0 4 36.00 47
Troy 84 90 6 -1 3 59.11 28
Tuskegee 13 12 -1 -1 4 64.58 20
Wetumpka 25 27 2 0 3 74.10 13
York- 0 8 8 0 1 50.00 36
Livingston