Middlesboro Rotary Club announces that Brandon Gibbs, Director of Student Activities at Lincoln Memorial University, will be the next president. Brandon has been an actie member for four years. His first official meeting as president will be on Monday, July 10.
The Middlesboro Rotary Club has been in existence since 1928. With a current membership of 21, the Club is comprised of clerics, lawyers, librarians, coal miners, and several other occupations. Members are encouraged to maintain high ethical standards and help build goodwill and peace around the world.
The name “Rotary” comes from the early practice of rotating meetings between members’ offices. Rotary is also the world’s first service club, having been formed in Chicago in 1905 by Paul Harris, a local attorney. There are now over 3 million Rotarians, who belong to more than 31,000 clubs, located in 166 countries. In Eastern Kentucky there are over 30 Rotary Clubs and over 1,000 Rotarians.
Over the last 20 years, one of the main efforts of Rotary has been the eradication of polio worldwide. In 1985, Rotary International pledged $120 Million dollars to support the PolioPlus Program. In 2004, there were less than 200 cases of polio worldwide. That represents a 99% decrease since 1984. As of 2005, Rotarians have contributed over $600 Million dollars and the United Nations is on the verge of declaring that polio has been eradicated from the face of the earth.
In Bell County, Rotary helps support the Imagination Library Program, which will give every child born in Middlesboro one brand new book a month from birth to age 5. They also offer two scholarships, one to graduating high school seniors, and the other to juniors, seniors, or grad students majoring in business at Lincoln Memorial University. In addition, the Middlesboro Rotary helps support Repair Affair, Bell County Literacy, Project Graduation at Middlesboro and Bell County High Schools, and have sponsored members of Leadership Bell County.
At the June 26, 2006 meeting, at J. Milton’s Steaks and Buffet, Steve Obermann will be recognized and honored as a Paul Harris Fellow. This recognition is for Rotary Club members who contributes – or in whose name is contributed – a gift of $1,000 or more to the Annual Programs Fund. Each new Paul Harris Fellow receives a commemorative certificate, a Paul Harris Fellow pin, and a medallion. Donors are eligible for Paul Harris Fellow recognition when their cumulative giving reaches $1,000.
The Annual Programs Fund support the efforts of Rotary International in the fulfillment of the Object of Rotary, Rotary’s mission, and the achievement of world understanding and peace through local, national, and international humanitarian, educational, and cultural programs.
President Leo Haggerty says, “This is going to be a very special meeting. Steve has been a good member and very supportive of the Middlesboro Rotary Club. I know that Brandon will do a good job, but as my last duty as president, it will be an honor for me to preside over this meeting.”
Incoming President Brandon Gibbs states, “Being a part of the Middlesboro Rotary Club has been a wonderful experience for me and I look forward to my term as president. This meeting will be special, and I have been honored to know Steve Obermann. He truly is an outstanding individual.”
Being a member of Rotary has many benefits. At every meeting there is a program or guest speaker, exposing members to what is happening in the area, from the people who are making it happen. Some of the speakers have been Judge Bill Kelley, Mayor Ben Hickman, and Sam Coleman of the Small Business Development Center.
But, not all is serious at Rotary. For one of their Christmas meetings, member John Parker and wife Beth, the music director of First Baptist Church, sang Christmas carols. John, a financial consultant with Investment Professionals, Inc., is slated to become president for the 2007-2008 year. Member D.K. Blankenship had his son’s bluegrass band from Lexington perform. Then, there is the exposure to Rotary exchange students. These outstanding young men and women get to spend a year in a foreign country learning about a completely different culture. Upon their return, they come to meetings and share their experiences.
The Middlesboro Rotary Club also sponsored, as a fundraiser, “An Evening of Jazz” with guest performer, Christina Watson and her band. Christina is the daughter of retired attorney Bill Watson. This successful event has been held twice, both times at the Middlesboro Country Club.
The Middlesboro Rotary Club is always looking for new members. If you are interested in how to become a member, please contact Leo Haggerty at (606) 248-3069 or any Rotarian.