In this edition of the Hubcap: Vera's View, It Happened Last Meeting, Zoom Video Recording, Club Announcements and News
Thursday at the Rotary Club of Arlington, Texas:
Webb Elementary School
Appreciation Celebration
Admission Requires Photo ID
Vera's View
Daniel Hale Williams is a name I associate with the month of February. He is known for being the first doctor to perform a successful heart surgery. He is also noted for founding Provident Hospital in 1891, the first non-segregated hospital in the United States.
In 1913, Dr. Williams was elected as a charter member of the American College of Surgeons. Although there were others working to improve cardiac surgery, Henry Dalton of Saint Louis, Missouri, the first pericardial sac repair, and oversees the first successful surgery on the heart itself was performed by a Norwegian surgeon Axel Cappelen on September 4, 1895. The first surgery without complications was by Ludwig Rehn of Frankfurt, Germany. We owe a great debt of gratitude to these men.
Another man’s work we are grateful for during heart awareness month is Charles Drew. He was an American surgeon and researcher who invented the method of blood storage and transfusions. His work is still used today. He is known as the “Father of the Blood Bank."
You and I have an opportunity to build upon Dr. Drew’s work by donating blood to the Carter Blood Bank this Thursday! Although our meeting will be at John Webb Elementary, the blood drive will be at the church from 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM. If you have not signed up, please do so online.
See you for our annual celebration on Thursday at John Webb Elementary, 1300 N. Cooper St., Arlington, TX 76011. Registration with Photo ID at the main office is required, so please plan on arriving early.
It Happened Last Meeting
by Carey F. Walker
The weekly meeting was called to order at 12:00 pm by President Vera McKissic. Andy Bowne offered the invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Everyone sang a beautiful rendition of “God Bless America” with Janie Johnson on piano.
Visiting guests and visiting Rotarians were introduced by our greeter, Barry Bondurant. Peggy Martin and Kendall Sanders were visitors. Teri Schmidt, Ray King and Nick Abel were visiting Rotarians from Cross Timbers Rotary Club.
President Vera reminded us to report volunteer hours and to sign up to lead the prayer and pledge and to be a greeter.
The following announcements were made:
Kay King reminded us that a blood drive will be held at FUMC-Arlington on February 20, 2025.
Mike O’Donnell advised that Shakespeare Live will be presented on April 3-4, 2025, at the Levitt Pavilion. Mike asked for volunteers to make this a very successful event.
Deb Coppola informed us of a fundraising event for Arlington Charities on February 27, 2025. Help and Hope will be at Texas Live! This will be a culinary experience featuring tastings from some of our community’s finest chefs and restaurants.
All Rotarians are invited to Taste Community Restaurant Open House for business leaders. This open house is February 21, 2025, 11:00 am-1:00pm.
Sally Hopper and Kurt Bartley made three Paul Harris Fellow presentations. The recipients are Calvin McKaig, Plus 2, Chris McMurrough, Plus 1, and Diego Pena.
Mac Martin and Walter Virden with Janie Johnson on piano lead us in singing “Let Me Call You Sweetheart”. Sally Hopper announced Rotarians with anniversaries and birthdays. Celebrating birthdays were Tom Cravens, Sal Capuli and Nancy Blinn. Sally received birthday checks from all three. Celebrating anniversaries are Rachel Slosson, Sheila Haddad Nagy and Tanis Garrett.
Randy Hendricks announced the program for today. The program was presented by Kristi Scales. Kristi Scales is an American sports reporter who currently for the Dallas Cowboys Network as a sideline reporter. She has been associated with the Dallas Cowboys for nearly 29 years. Before joining the Cowboys, she worked as a reporter at Texas A&M, her alma mater. She is also one of 7 recipients of the Dallas Sports Commission’s prestigious Blackie Sherrod Lifetime Achievement Award.
At every Dallas Cowboys’ game, Kristi provides exclusive updates on the Dallas Cowboys. Additionally, she contributes to the Cowboys game day magazine, the team website and the Dallas Morning News line chat. Kristi has produced 3 Super Bowl broadcasts as well as International Bowl broadcasts from London, Tokyo, Toronto, Mexico City and Monterrey. Kristi was a sideline broadcaster at the Tokyo Dome for the Cowboys’ American Bowl game in Japan as well as London’s Wimberley Stadium in 2014.
Kristi has been a sideline reporter and a broadcast producer for the Cowboys for 26 seasons. She stated that her biggest challenge is conducting a pregame sideline interview with Jerry Jones. She indicated that there is always chaos on the sidelines, like a trainwreck waiting to happen at any minute. Additionally, Kristi has been a judge for the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders for the last 24 years.
Kristi recalled an off-season minicamp in 1991. She was the only female reporter at the time and the challenge was entering the Cowboys locker room with a cassette recorder and a microphone. She had an interesting encounter in the locker room with a 330-pound Nate Newton.
The Gene and Jerry Jones Foundation is heavily involved in Arlington. The Foundation is involved with The Salvation Army, Youth Football Development, Youth Health and Wellness Programs, Women’s Causes, and creating opportunities for girls to participate in organized flag football. Flag football for girls provides more opportunities to receive scholarships to college and increases Title IX compliance.
Kristi discussed the recent hiring of Brian Schottenheimer as the newest Cowboys head coach. The head coach has been with the Cowboys for the past three seasons as a coaching analyst and offensive coordinator. He is the 10th head coach of the Cowboys. Kristi explained that he is well respected by the players, and she expects him to be successful. He will have to assemble a new staff, as only 5 assistant coaches out of 27 are returning. The Cowboys are the 12th pick in the first round and the needs are numerous.
Vera informed us that next program will be on February 20, 2025, at John Webb Elementary school. The program will be Webb School Celebration.
Kris Landrith provided the last laugh. The quote for this week is from Mary McGrory: “Baseball is what we used to be. Football is what we have become”. Vera thanked the everyone for coming. She then adjourned us in the Four Way Test.
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Tannis Garrett, Susie McAlister
Kurt Bartley, Richard Urso
Steve Brooks
President Vera Opens Our Meeting
Andy Bowne, Prayer & Pledge
Barry Bondurant, Greeter
Teri Schmidt, Visiting Rotarian, Cross Timbers
Nick Abel, Visiting Rotarian, Cross Timbers
Ray King, Visiting Rotarian, Cross Timbers
Kendall Sanders, Visitor
Peggy Martin, Mac Martin
Kay King, Carter Blood Drive
Deb Coppola, Arlington Charities Fundraiser
Mike O'Donnell, Shakespeare Live
Calvin McKaig, PH+2
Chris McMurrough, PH+1
Diego Pena, PH
Mac Martin, Walter Virden, Janie Johnson, "Let Me Call You Sweetheart"
Sally Hopper, Birthdays and Anniversaries
Randy Hendricks, Speaker Introduction
Speaker Kristi Scales, Dallas Cowboys Update
President Vera Presents Webb Library Book
Kris Landrith, Last Laugh
Four-Way Test
"Upon the education of the people of this country the fate of this country depends. "
