Jason Roach introduced the visiting Rotarians and guests. Jason is a red badger who is rapidly approaching the less-than-coveted status of a blue badger. There were several guests, I will not attempt to list them all here. However, I encourage you to continue to invite people. However, it is worth noting that we will need to start setting up more tables. The room was so full that at least four people were forced to stand throughout the meeting as there were no chairs available.
Barry started the announcements by displaying the volunteer hours QR code and reminding members to log their volunteer hours.
Barry announced that the Annual Meeting and photo would be December 7. Please attend the Annual Meeting as a quorum is required for that meeting. Also, you might want to be in our 101st year photo. Please show up early (before 11:45) for the photo. Barry claimed he’d even be wearing a tie for the photo – we’ll believe it when we see it.
Finally, Barry thanked the Angel Tree Elves. They will be discussed at length later.
The microphone was not lowered as Kurt Bartley, standing in for Sally Hopper, announced that the Arlington Rotary Club and our Rotary District 5790 are both matching donations up to $250 towards a Paul Harris Fellow. If you’re close to getting your next (or first) Paul Harris Fellow, be sure to donate.
Maggie Campbell announced that a new dog park is being built downtown. Please speak to Maggie for more details regarding the dog park.
Jim Quick encouraged everyone to read Scott Hendricks' article in the last edition of the Hubcap. Obviously, everyone in North Texas reads the Hubcap, such encouragement was superfluous.
Joy Bates announced several events with Webb. It is a wonder to behold the amazing work that Joy and other Rotarians do for Webb! Recently Joy’s joyous Rotarians distributed, provided, passed out, supplied, furnished, doled out, parceled out, meted out, or otherwise disbursed thesauruses to the Webb students. Additionally, next week Rotary is again providing for students from Webb to attend camp. Joy is also working to organize the gathering of supplies for crafts for the students. Furthermore, Joy is endeavoring to assist in the compiling of gifts for the 110 faculty and staff at Webb. Lastly, the Webb chess club is hoping to find someone to, or someones, to provide $508 of funding to purchase additional chess sets so that they will be able to expand the club and host tournaments. My goodness, that was a tiring paragraph to write. I can only imagine how much work it involves to head all of those projects. Thank you, Joy!
Tommy Thompson announced that this semester The Arlington Rotary Foundation gave out 31 $1,000 scholarships for college or trade school to former Webb students. We are grateful for the generosity of Rotarians in years past in creating our local foundation to assist the students coming from Webb.
Derrick Kinney swaggered up to the microphone with his highly unusual and yet somehow natural mix of panache and humility. Derrick thanked the Angel Tree Elves (Susie McAlister, Victoria Farrar-Myers, and Tanis Garrett) for their efforts in organizing and collecting the Angel Tree. This year our Rotary club purchased gifts for 90 Arlington children in need. Thank you to everyone who participated! Derrick also reminded the gathered Rotarians that we will be collecting supplies for Arlington Life Shelter at our next meeting, December 7. Please bring the things listed in the other e-mail you received from Derrick. Also, in this season of thanksgiving, thank you to Derrick, who runs the Community Service Committee as essentially a one-man committee (As a nominal member of the Community Service Committee, I can say that I’ve never actually been called on to do anything needed as Derrick just does it all himself. Speaking – or rather writing – of people who do most of it themselves, Bryan Roberts could probably use some help with the Vocational Services Committee if you’re looking for somewhere to volunteer.)
Stacy Bridger got up to talk about jiggling butts – specifically, the Jiggle Butt Run. They’re hosting their annual Shelter Gift Drive – the 12 days of giving – occurring at the Arlington Downtown Library from December 1 through December 12. They are collecting gifts and supplies for the women and children at the SafeHaven Shelter. Additionally, they are in need of volunteers to man the gift collection station at the Library. Contact Stacy for more information.
Scott Hendricks updated the Club on the grant projects that our Club has been funding. For more details, read the Scott’s Hubcap article.
Rachel Slossen invited everyone to First Baptist Church Arlington’s Incarnation: “Night of New Beginnings” on December 10 at 5 pm. From the church’s website, Incarnation: "Night of New Beginnings" is a Christmas musical celebration for the whole family! The program features a captivating live-action cast and choir, orchestra, original music and timeless holiday carols! Best of all, ADMISSION IS FREE, and International desserts will be served following the performance.”
Kurt came back to the microphone to announce birthdays and anniversaries. It was Jock Bethune’s birthday. We sang happy birthday to him. Jock was wearing his nametag on a tri-colored ribbon like an Olympic medal. Apparently, he was celebrating making another circuit around the sun since his birth.
Barry came back to the microphone and called up Vera to announce the program. Vera did not come up to the microphone. Apparently, Vera had read the agenda and knew that she wouldn’t be needed for a while, so she had stepped out. What Vera knew – and apparently Barry had forgotten – was that Barry still needed to induct three new members into the club. After much confusion, Jeff Jenkins, Kyle Lawson, and Christopher White were inducted into the club. Welcome to the club, fellas!
The inductions completed, Vera approached the microphone and introduced our program for the day, Aaron Perales from AISD. Mr. Perales discussed the dozens of amazing accomplishments of our local AISD students. Mr. Perales noted that he ended the teaching portion of his AISD career at Webb and has continued to be grateful for all of the work The Arlington Rotary Club has done to help Webb and other local schools.
There is an amazing amount of stuff going on with AISD. I took nearly a full page of notes. However, It’s after midnight and I’ve already reached around fourteen hundred words. Go watch the recording of the meeting to learn more of the details, I’m skipping to the end of the presentation.
Mr. Perales stated that we could help the AISD and community by (1) continuing our work with Webb, (2) mentoring and tutoring students, (3) serving as community members on committees, and (4) continuing to volunteer.
Barry thanked Mr. Perales and presented him with a book to sign which would later be donated to Webb Elementary in honor of his presentation.
Dan Blumberg stood up from his station
To deliver his humorous narration
Barry said “Wait…
We’re running to late.”
Which garnered quite the ovation.
Kris Landrith groaned in consternation
About the Last Laugh’s privation
That Barry’s meddling
And constant rescheduling
is ruining the Last Laugh’s system of rotation.
Barry thanked our guests and everyone else for attending the meeting and for helping make the presentation possible. He then led the club in the Four Way Test and adjourned the meeting. Barry again correctly said “if there is nothing more for the good of Rotary”! Those four hours each day of practicing saying that in the mirror have really paid off! Further, Barry actually had on pants (okay, it was jeans, not slacks, but still!) today!!!
Prost Y’all!
