Service Above Self

Rotary Club of Gwinnett County Celebrating 35 Years of Service!

eBulletin

Monday, January 19, 2009

Club Web Site

January is Rotary Awareness Month Rotary is a worldwide organization of business and professional leaders that provides humanitarian service and encourages high ethical standards in all vocations. Rotary Club membership is by invitation only.

Thought for the Week: "Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen."--Ralph Waldo Emerson

Editor: Rebecca Spitler If you have any comments or questions, email the editor.

Future Speakers

Jan 20 2009 May Smith "Why You Gotta Love What the Gwinnett Symphony Orchestra Does!!!"

Jan 27 2009 Jonathan Krohn, Author "Define Conservatism: For Past, Present and Future Generations"

Feb 3 2009 Wendell Dallas, VP & General Manager, Atlanta Gas "The current energy crisis, the role of natural gas, pricing fluctuations and off-shore drilling."

Feb 10 2009 Greg Book "Asst Dir for External Users & Sr Researcher, Nanotechnology Research Center (NRC), GA Tech"

Feb 17 2009 Gerald Rakestraw, VP & General Manager,Stone Mount "Turning Stone Mountain into Snow Mountain"

Feb 24 2009 Elliott Brack, Author "Gwinnett: A Little Above Atlanta"

Notes from the Editor by Rebecca Spitler I would like to thank all of you who read and responded to last week's e-Bulletin and sent me information for some of the articles you are reading this week. Please keep the information and stories coming!!! Are you interested in writing an article for publication in our e-bulletin. I would welcome the assistance. All you have to do is send it to me via email and I will set it up and schedule it for publication in our e-bulletin. Here are a few ideas:

An inspirational story. A humorous story. A historical story about you, your family, your community, a rotary event, etc. Do you have a hobby or skill that you are passionate about that would make for a good story. Do you like cars, motorcycles, airplanes, a particular sport, etc.? Maybe there are other members who share the same passion. Did you compete in a competition such as a car show, triathlon, regatta, etc. and have a story to tell about it.

Thank you Bob Rule for stepping up and being the first member to be featured in my weekly "Getting To Know You" article. Who wants to be next?

You Ought To Be In Pictures by Rebecca Spitler Our 2008 Christmas Party was graciously hosted by Phil and Mary Jane Wolfe. Here is a slide show compilation of the pictures from the party thanks to our photographer of the evening Tom Upchurch.

See the document: 2008 Christmas Party

To enjoy slide shows of other club events, click the links below:

See the document: 2008 Bell Ringing See the document: 2008 Club 35th Birthday Celebration

Rotarian On The Move - Elliott Brack by Rebecca Spitler Elliott Brack's book titled "Gwinnett: A Little Above Atlanta" should be available in the next few weeks.

The book is an 850 page story written in the context of the individuals and families Elliott credits as being "those who made a difference. Elliott was recently interviewed about his book by Shane Blatt with the AJC. To read the full article written by Shane click the following link: Brack takes a long look back in history book Don't miss Elliott's presentation to our club sometime in February.

Upcoming Events

2009 District Conference May 7 2009 - May 10 2009

100th Rotary International Convention Jun 21 2009 - Jun 24 2009

News

Members on Leave of Absence January Club Membership Anniversaries

January Birthdays

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Rotarian On The Move - Bruce Carter by Rebecca Spitler Bruce Carter was inducted into the American College of Dentists and the International College of Dentists in October in San Antonio, TX, both are honorary organizations. Bruce was one of 320 dentists inducted into the American College of Dentists as a new Fellow at the 2008 Annual Meeting of the College during the Convocation Ceremony held October 16th in San Antonio Texas. The American College of Dentists is the oldest national honorary organization for dentists. It was founded August 20, 1920 in Boston by the President, President-elect, and Secretary of the American Dental Association (then called the National Dental Association) and the President of the National Association of Dental Faculties (precursor of the American Dental Education Association). The College was founded "to elevate the standards of dentistry, to encourage graduate study, and to

grant Fellowship to those who have done meritorious work." Membership in the American College of Dentists is by invitation only. There are over 7,400 Fellows, active and retired. Fellows are selected based on their contributions to organized dentistry, oral health care, dental research, dental education, the profession, and society. Approximately 3.5% of dentists are Fellows of the American College of Dentists. The common characteristic shared by successful candidates for Fellowship is demonstrated leadership in some aspect of dentistry or community service. The selection process for Fellowship utilizes a well-established, confidential peer review system evaluating professional and community leadership positions, contributions, and credentials. Bruce was nominated for the International College of Dentists by our own Dr. Dan Dunwody. The International College of Dentists is recognized around the globe as the preeminent international dental organization. One of the "Objectives" of the College is to advance the art and science of dentistry for the health and welfare of the public internationally. The International College of Dentists is a leading honorary dental organization dedicated to the recognition of outstanding professional achievement and meritorious service and the continued progress of the profession of dentistry for the benefit of all humankind.

Rotarian On The Move - Ellen Gerstein by Rebecca Spitler In September, Ellen Gerstein , Executive Director of the Gwinnett Coalition for Health and Human Services began hosting a

program titled People Helping People aired on TVgwinnett, Channel 26. I had the opportunity to interview Ellen and here is what she had to say: Q: Didn't you write a column called People Helping People for the Gwinnett Daily Post? Do you still write this column on a regular basis? A: Our non-profit CEO Roundtable writes this column. When the paper had to cut back on print material, they moved it to the online edition of the Gwinnett Daily Post. Q: Who came up with the idea to televise People Helping People? A: Joe Sorenson, the Director of Communication for Gwinnett County asked us to produce a show about the Health and Human Service issues. J.K. Murphy, Chair of our Communication Committee, and several others met with Joe and brainstormed this idea. Q: Who helped you make the People Helping People broadcast a reality?

A: Joe Sorenson was responsible along with our producer Melanie Miller, who is a member of the Gwinnett County Department of Community Services staff. Q: How often do you produce a new show? A: We tape the show monthly and I believe it plays daily or several times a day. Q: What shows have you produced to date? A: Great Days of Service, Feeding the Hungry, The Homeless, Holiday Helping and just recently Seniors. Q: Do you have other broadcasts in the works? A: We are following our planning issues. Our next show will be on Community Engagement. Future shows will cover topics including: youth issues, health issues, safety, education and economic & financial stability. Q: Is there anything else you would like us to know? A: I would love any feedback from our group on future shows and interests. I also would love any ideas on how to market the show and increase viewer ship. To check the TVgwinnett broadcast schedule click the following link: TVgwinnett Guide An archive of all episodes of People Helping People can be found by clicking the following links:

• People Helping People: Feeding the Hungry • People Helping People: The Homeless • People Helping People: Holiday Helping • People Helping People: Seniors

Rotarian On The Move - David Post by Spitler, Rebecca David Post's company, Future Security, was voted Best Security Company of Gfor 2008.

winnett

David has also been involved in establishing a new organization, the Gwinnett Crime Control Council, that is associated with the Gwinnett Chamber. At the end of 2008 a group of professionals from the court system, security, law enforcement, business and community development met to address issues of concern to the business community and that ultimately affect the Gwinnett community as a whole. The mission of the council is to provide educational programs, seminars, panels and speakers to the business community, professional groups, clubs and civic organizations. Stay tuned for more news about the work this group is doing. They decided to form the Gwinnett Crime Control Council with

David serving as Chairman.

SPEAKER OF THE WEEK by J K Murphy May Smith, President, Board of Directors for the Gwinnett Symphony Orchestra May's presentation is titled "Why You Gotta Love What Gwinnett Symphony Orchestra Does!!!" May is a mortgage broker by trade but her love of music led her to become passionate about the Gwinnett Symphony. She has been involved in the temporary formation of a Board of Directors that are in the process of creating and accepting their by-laws in order to establish a permanent Board of Directors and Board of Advisors. She was asked to preside as President of the Board of Directors. May became an incurable music addict while listening to classical music and Broadway music records on her parents' old turntable and hanging around the piano while her father's quartet practiced in their living room. Car trips produced enough boredom for May's parents to teach May and her siblings four part harmony. When May was 9 her father sat her in the alto section of the church choir and told her to sing whatever Mrs. Brown sang, so she did. Piano lessons lasted as long as she could play by ear what her teacher or sister played, but she never learned to read music until she played violin in junior high school. May has sung in choirs and plinked and plunked on the piano ever since. May has raised 4 children who have given her 9 grandchildren. Now that her children are grown she and her husband of 39 years stay busy with their mortgage brokerage, Atlanta Mortgage Lending. When her children were old enough, May taught them four part harmony and they're still singing together! May is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and currently serves as Director of Libraries over 9 church congregations, and serves at the Atlanta Mormon Temple. She has been a choir director, music leader for children, accompanist, and served in presidencies of various organizations in church, taught Sunday School and lessons and classes for the Women's organization. Her hobbies include designing and sewing clothing for American Girl dolls and the girls who love them, knitting crocheting, tatting, quilting, cross stitch, embroidery, upholstery, horseback riding, gardening, cooking and baking.

Our Community by Rebecca Spitler As a Council Member for the City of Berkeley Lake I would like to announce that after almost 4 years of planning and preparation the City of Berkeley Lake celebrated the ground breaking for our new City Hall and Park on Saturday, January 17. The City of Berkeley Lake was established in 1956 and at some point converted an old 550-square-foot bait shack into its City Hall. The new city hall will be a 4,000-square-foot Craftsman-style building and is projected to be completed at the beginning of June 2009. Construction is set to begin January 19. The Mayor, Lois Salter; Council Members; Walter Anderson (Mayor Pro-Tem), Debbie Guthrie, Frank Lombardi, Tom Kitchens & Rebecca Spitler; Architectural Design Committee Chair, Barbara Carroll; Planning Consultant Eric Bosman, Urban Collage; Architect, Lindell Sherrill, Wakefield Beasley & Associates; and Construction Manager David Lee, W. H. Bass Company celebrated the historic event with citizens. Mayor Salter, Barbara Carol, Eric Bosman, Lindell Sherrill and David Lee spoke briefly to the crowd followed by the Mayor, Council & Architectural Design Committee Chair putting shovels in the ground to make it official. Special guests included: Mayor Nancy Harris, City of Duluth; Mayor Bucky Johnson, City of Norcross; and Randy Meacham, Managing Director of the Gwinnett Municipal Association. For additional information you can read the article in the AJC by Shane Blatt by clicking on the following link: Berkeley Lake gets ready for new City Hall

Getting To Know You - Bob Rule by Rebecca Spitler BOB RULE aka"Mr. Yo-Yo" grew up in Detroit in the 40's and started yo-yoing in 1948. In 1949 he entered his first contest and

by 1950 was beginning to win his share of contests. In 1950 Bob took a gold "Mr. Yo-Yo" trophy and continued to enter contests. He won a lot of prizes, including 2 bicycles. His most prized win was a jeweled Duncan Tournament Yo-Yo which he has kept in pristine condition and never played with it. In 1952 Bob was asked if he would like to work part time and run contests on weekends in Detroit for Duncan. Of course Bob said "Yes" and made a career out of yo-yoing. Bob learned how to talk to managers, how to present himself, put up contest signs in store windows, perform demonstrations and run contests for the kids. In 1955 he became a full time employee with Duncan and worked for them until 1958.

Bob took a short hiatus from 1958-1959 but couldn't resist being a "Yo-Yo Man" and went back to work for Duncan at the end of 1959. In 1960 Bob started calling himself Mr. Yo-Yo and in 1970 trademarked the Mr. Yo-Yo name which he still owns. As a Professional Demonstrator for Duncan he worked from the third week of August until the middle of June trying to create an interest in the yo-yo among kids. Bob helped run the National Championships in 1962 and 1864 in Anaheim, CA at Disneyland. Bob loved everything about being a Yo-Yo Professional. It gave him the opportunity to travel the world. Eventually all good things come to an end and in 1965 Bob left Duncan shortly before they went out of business. After Duncan, Bob settled down in Atlanta where he got into the slot car racing business and finally owned a company called Champion Slot Racing Products. In 1971 Bob founded a second company, BoLINK R/C Car's Inc. that manufactured radio controlled cars and accessories. In 1985 Bob sold Champion. This business is still active today in New Jersey. In 2001 he sold BoLINK to his son. From a career in yo-yo's to slot cars to radio controlled cars. No wonder Bob known for saying, "I've never had an honest job in my life." One of the highlights of Bob's yo-yo career was being invited to be on the Smothers Brothers Show in 1989. Bob has been honored with several awards. In 2002 he received the Harvey Lowe Lifetime Achievement Award present to him at the Worlds Yo-Yo Contest in Orlando and in 2004 he was inducted into the Yo-Yo Hall of Fame. Bob is proud of the fact that the Smithsonian Institution contacted him in 2002 requesting to archive all his yo-yo scrap books and pictures. They also ended up asking for one of his yo-yo's and a sweater he wore all the time. Bob says if you go to the Smithsonian and request to see his collection they will take you to a room where they will bring the collection for you to look at. To see a list of what Bob donated to the Smithsonian click the following link: Bob Rule Donation to the Smithsonian Bob and his wife Elleda have 3 children and 7 grandchildren. Bob's hobbies include Yo-Yo's, of course, and Off Road Racing. He is also an avid NASCAR fan. In addition to being know as Mr. Yo-Yo, Bob is also know as Mr. Sergeant-At-Arms. He has served in this position for our Rotary club since 1992 after joining the club in 1991. Bob has a great website that chronicles the history of the Yo-Yo industry and a virtual tour of his Yo-Yo museum. To go to

his site click the following link: Mr. Yo-Yo New Year's Resolutions For Success by Rebecca Spitler Since no one was brave enough to share their New Year's resolutions or challenge each other to a resolution, let me share the following with you. Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), philosopher, poet and public speaker, wrote this a long time ago, but his thoughts are still timely for today, especially when we think about making New Year's resolutions:

To laugh often and love much; to win the respect of intelligent persons and the affection of children. To earn the approbation of honest citizens and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others. To give one's self; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition. To have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.

I wish all of you every success in 2009! GRSP Host Family Needed by Phillip Wolfe What is GRSP? It is the Georgia Rotary Student Program. Georgia Rotary Clubs sponsor students recommended by a Rotary Club in their home country. The students become adopted members of a Georgia "host family," but live on-campus at the school they attend. For more details about this program click the following link: GRSP Program Our club usually hosts a student, although this year we partnered with the Snellville Club and provided a backup host family. Talk to anyone who has ever hosted a student and they will tell you how much fun it was and what a learning experience it was for their entire family. Some of our members who have served as a host family include, Wayne Sikes, Andy McClung, Bruce Carter, Laurie Fisher and Rebecca Spitler. You will make a friend for life. Some of our host families have visited the student in their home country. We are looking for a volunteer to be the Host Family for our student this year, August 2009 - May 2010. If you are interested and would like more info contact Phil Wolfe, President Elect.

ABC's of Rotary by Rebecca Spitler Each week I will present one of the ABC's of Rotary as written by Past RI President Cliff Dochterman to help those of us who are newer members further our knowledge of Rotary and as a refresher for the rest of us. Definition of Rotary: How do you describe the organization called "Rotary"? There are so many characteristics of a Rotary club as well as the activities of a million Rotarians. There are the features of service, internationality, fellowship, classifications of each vocation, development of goodwill and world understanding, the emphasis of high ethical standards, concern for other people, and many more. In 1976, the Rotary International Board of Directors was interested in creating a concise definition of the fundamental aspects of Rotary. They turned to the three men who were then serving on RI's Public Relations Committee and requested that a one-sentence definition of Rotary be prepared. After numerous drafts, the committee presented this definition, which has been used ever since in various Rotary publications. "Rotary is an organization of business and professional persons united worldwide who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world." Those 31 words are worth remembering when someone asks, "What is a Rotary club?" A Brief Look Back by Rebecca Spitler Meeting Report for Tuesday, January 13, 2009. CALL TO ORDER President Slade Lail welcomed members, visitors and guests to the meeting of the Rotary Club of Gwinnett. The meeting began with our tradition of a prayer followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Barbara King . RECOGNITION L.C. Johnson introduced his guest Phyllis Russell . Sergeant-At-Arms, Bob Rule , welcomed visiting Rotarians, John Camardell of the Atlanta club and Herman Penneman of the Duluth club. Bob recognized makeups turned in by Emily Brantley and Charlotte Nash . ANNOUNCEMENTS Render Freeman President Elect of Johns Creek announced

their fundraising event that will be held Tuesday, January 27 from 8-12. They will be hosting a Leadership Development Seminar, part of the John C. Maxwell Leadership Series and delivered by GiANT Impact. For more information and to register visit the Johns Creek Rotary Club website by clicking the following link: Wayne Sikes announced that Barbara King is retiring. CELEBRATIONS The following members celebrated birthdays:

Alan Najjar January 14

Bill Sheals January 16

PROGRAM There being no further announcements or business, Program Chair J.K Murphy introduced the our speaker, Bruce Baldwin, General Manager of the Gwinnett Braves. Who would have believed that 12 months ago on January 15, 2008 the Gwinnett County Commissioners would approved a letter of intent to be signed with the Gwinnett Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Atlanta Braves to relocate the team's Class AAA minor league affiliate from Richmond, Virginia to Gwinnett County and beginning with the 2009 season. At that time the commission also approved a purchase and sale agreement for a 12 acres site for the future Gwinnett Braves stadium. We saw the ground breaking on June 3, 2008 and will see the 1st pitch on April 17, 2009. Bruce grew up in the northwest and the west coast. He is originally from Vashon Island near Seattle, Washington. He is married with 2 sons and will be moving the family to Gwinnett soon. Bruce began his tenure with the Atlanta Braves 25 years ago in Pulaski, Virginia, a very rural area southwest of Roanoke where he learned about southern hospitality. Bruce talked about how bringing a AAA baseball team to Gwinnett will enhance the community's quality of life. It provides a unique opportunity for a family event that provides entertainment while allowing family and friends to visit. Ticket sales are going well considering the economy. $5 will buy you a set on the berm. Individual tickets see for $5 - $45. Packages are selling extremely well. $100 will buy a pack of 10 game tickets and food coupons. For more information about purchasing tickets call the ticket office at (678) 277-0300. The team will play their first game in Charlotte on April 9 then travel to Durham before coming home to play their first home game against Norfolk on April 17. At the end of April the

team will be traveling to Pawtucket. Bruce said it is no fun going to New York in April, it's COLD that time of the year! The only thing that separates a AAA player from the majors is consistency. Players on AAA teams are just a fraction away from being a major league player. 65% of these players will make it to the majors. More former Richmond/Gwinnett Braves players are playing for the majors than from any other AAA team. Bruce opened the floor to questions, here are some of his answers: Q: How does the team usually travel? A: By bus or airplane based on the best method. We will not travel by bus if the trip will take more than 5 hours. When we travel by bus we take 2 buses to make sure that everyone travels in comfort. Q: What is the average compensation of a minor league player? A: Anywhere from $3,500 - $20,000 per month. My typical annual player salary budget is around 2 million. Player contracts are for 6 months. Q: Who will be on the starting roster this year? A: I can't say because I don't know yet. Being so close to Atlanta it makes it very easy to bring players up or send them down. This is still a moving target for us. A player can move back and forth between the majors and the AAA depending on his level of play. Last ear we had 98 roster changes before the season started. Q: What is a Club House Manager, what is this person's responsibility? A: As I said a little while ago, "I am very luck to have my club house manager, whom I have worked with for a long time, follow me here to Gwinnett." I have one of the best managers in the business and it is hard to find a good person for this position. This person is responsible for the locker room and all the needs of the team and staff. Hours can be long and erratic. It takes a special person to succeed in the position. Q: Do you have positions that you are currently staffing? A: Yes. We have a full-time staff of about 20, 10 to 12 interns and will need about 400 part-time staff. We have been so inundated with resumes that we have not needed to advertise. We have received 1,900 resumes alone for the 400 part-time positions. Q: Will the new stadium be used for high school playoff games and/or other community activities? A: Yes. We expect so in the future but we will need to play in the stadium for a year before we fully understand the

capabilities of the stadium and what other activities it could accommodate. Q: Will the Gwinnett Braves play an exhibition game with the University of Georgia or Georgia Tech teams? A: No. Neither of those teams want to play an exhibition game because it will take away 1 home game from their regular season, 60 game, schedule. Q: How will you make money? A: From you. Through ticket sales, advertising and concession sales. We will be happy to break even for the season. Q: Did attendance drop in Richmond when it was announced the Braves were moving to Gwinnett? A: No. Richmond was a very supportive community and very disappointed to lose us. We had sold out games for the entire season last year. For more information about the Gwinnett Braves, visit their website at www.gwinnettbraves.com. ADJOURNMENT L.C. Johnson made a quick request for contributions to the Blue Buckets, Coins for Alzheimer's Research Trust (CART). President Slade Lail led us in the 4-Way Test.

The 4-Way Test Of the things we think, say or do… 1. Is it the TRUTH? 2. Is it FAIR to all concerned? 3. Will it BUILD GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? 4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?