Hubcap April 15, 2025 (Apr. 14, 2025)

It Happened Last Meeting

by LeeAnne Chenoweth Lawson

Hello Rotarians! Good to see you again!

President Vera McKissic opened our meeting with an extraordinarily powerful ring of the bell! LOL! I almost fell out of my chair!

Our greeter was Karina Cassell, who also led us in the prayer and pledge. We then sang God Bless America accompanied by Janie Johnson on piano.

Announcements:

Laurie Bianco announced the great need for more food donations for the area’s food pantries. Donations will be accepted on May 10, 10-2 at these locations: Greens Produce on Arkansas, the Tom Thumb on Park Row, and at the Mansfield Walmart.
Jim Quick said inspiring words about the Rotary Peace Conference, which he had attended. Rotary will set up 2 more peace centers in India and in Latin America.
LeeAnne Chenoweth announced that Timeless Concerts performs “Evening in France!” on Saturdays May 3 in Arlington and May 10 in Ft Worth! Concerts last approximately 8 pm-9pm and are followed by reception. Rotarians are welcome to use the “college rate” of $15 in appreciation--makes a great Mother's Day gift, too!
Joy Bates announced the good news that Webb Elementary has a PTA for the first time in decades! They are looking for donations to help some families pay the $30 for cap and gown for graduation. Please also stay a bit after the next couple meetings to help with making posters and write notes of encouragement.
Jill Regina needs us to sign up to present awards to students! No stress over what to say, as you will be given the info. Contact her to help.
Derek Kinney announced that St Andrew Methodist will take food donations this Saturday 8-10 am. Items will be taken from your car for you.
Randy Hendricks reminded us of the Rotarians Assemble training event on April 26, 9-2:45 at the Tarrant County College Trinity River Campus. Our club will reimburse the $35 cost.
Stacy Bridger announced the Levitt Pavilion Golf Jam inaugural golf tournament is Thursday April 24, at Shady Valley Country Club. 11:30 am registration and lunch, 1 pm shot gun star. Awards, dinner and music afterwards. Funds needed to be raised to support the Levitt and the free concerts it provides for attendees.

Sally Hopper presented Calvin McKaig with a Paul Harris Fellow Award +4! Donna Mack led us in singing with an accompaniment track. The song was “I Got Rhythm” by George Gershwin, and the word “rhythm” was replaced with “Rotary.”

Birthdays: James Spaniolo April 6, Marcie Schneider April 7, both Tommy Thompson and Mannie Toledo April 9, Hal Thurow April 10 and Emmett Rodriguez April 12.

Anniversaries: Chris Church 2 years, Kim Crawford 25 years, Vera McKissic 11 years.

Randy Hendricks introduced today’s speaker, Russell Fiorella, Arlington Teen Court Coordinator. Russell is a former teacher of 5th and 6th graders, and felt drawn to helping kids in a different way.

The Arlington Teen Court Program is a juvenile justice program that works within the Arlington Municipal Court. It is a voluntary program which allows juvenile offenders a chance to make amends to the community and to learn the value and reward of community service, rather than merely paying a fine. Cases are presented by volunteer teen attorneys to a jury of the juvenile offender's peers. The jury is made up of teen volunteers from local secondary schools and returning juvenile offenders. The juvenile offender receives a sentence of community service and jury terms. Upon successful completion of the program, the juvenile offender's citation will be dismissed and will not go on the record.

Arlington Teen Court aims to interrupt developing patterns of illegal behavior, by using a "hands on" approach to stress the responsibility and accountability of the offender's actions.

Through the Teen Court Program, juvenile offenders experience our justice system to first hand to educate and prepare them for life responsibilities as an individual, family member, and citizen. Here are some highlights:

Defendants are required to pay a $20 administrative fee as opposed to paying a court cost and fine.
Violations are dismissed and remain off the record upon successful completion of the Teen Court program.
Defendants gain knowledge of the judicial system.
The program gives the defendant an opportunity to give back to the community as restitution for their violation.
Defendants learn to becomes a more productive member of society.
Defendants between the ages of 14 to 18 who are currently enrolled in a secondary school may request the Teen Court alternative.
Defendants must come before the judge and enter a plea of No Contest or Guilty. At this time, the hearing date is set. The Teen Court Coordinator determines the type of hearing for each case, outlined below:
- Trial: defendants will have a trial which is presided over by an adult judge. The teen defendant will be tried by a teen prosecutor and defended by a teen defense attorney. The defendant's sentence will be determined by a teen jury. Those serving on the jury are either teen volunteers or teen defendants who are serving a jury term to satisfy a portion of their sentence.
- Master Jury: defendants will have hearings presided over by an adult judge. The teen defendant will give testimony of their offense and will directly interact with the teen jury. The teen jury will ask detailed questions to the defendant about his/her offense. The defendant's sentence will be determined by the teen jury; the jury members are teen volunteers and teen defendants serving a jury term to satisfy a portion of their sentence.
- Sentence: defendants are sentenced to complete community service hours, two or more teen court jury terms, and/or a creative alternative sentence to "pay" the fine.
The number of community service hours and jury terms, as well as the type of alternative sentencing, will be based on the type of offense committed according to the discipline grid (class 1 -4).
If a defendant does not complete the requirements by the completion date, they will be required to come back to court to see a Judge to show cause as to why they did not finish. It is at the judge’s discretion whether they are given additional time to complete the requirements or if they will have to pay the fine and be found guilty.

Teen court offers teens and adults a chance to volunteer in our justice system while giving back to the community. Volunteers are the key to the success of Teen Court! Volunteers earn community service credit, help the program fun efficiently, and directly impact teen offenders.

The Arlington Teen Court is requesting donations. Your generous donation will help the Program continue to grow and assists our volunteers. Your donation will go toward supplies for the Teen Court Program, training materials for volunteers, and scholarships to our active graduation teen volunteers as a reward for their community service.

A book was donated to Webb Elementary in honor of Russell. Kris Landrith gave us the last laugh, and it was actually quite funny! Thanks Kris, for getting up on your alligator feet to entertain us!

Quote of the week: “Courts do not exist for the sake of discipline, but for the sake of deciding matters in controversy.” The Right Honorable Charles Bowen, 1884.

Vera led us in the Four Way Test and we were dismissed.