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"The President's Pen"
2017-2018

Monthly Newsletter
February 2018
 
“Let There Be Peace”
 
We all have heard of the song, “Let There Be Peace on Earth.”  This song was written by Jill Jackson-Miller and Sy Miller in 1955.  The Rotary International’s theme for this month is Peace and Conflict Resolution
How can we resolve conflict issues?  Simple….. Apply the 4 Way Test.
1st….Is it the truth?
2nd…Is it fair to all concerned?
3rd…Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
4th…Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
This is our moral code for personal and business relationships.  This code guides everything we think, say or do.
            We are often challenged with major decisions.  I assure you by utilizing the 4 Way Test in your decision making process, you will easily arrive to the best and appropriate decision.
 
Louraiseal McDonald
President 2017- 2018 
 
2017-2018 Executives & Directors
President                                    McDonald, Louraiseal
President Elect                          Webb, Jay
Treasurer                                    Henderson, Jeff
Assistant Treasurer                  Horton, Daren   
Secretary                                     Gaw, Lou
Assistant Secretary                    Wood, Laura
Immediate Past President        Vanbiber, Craig
Community Service Chair        White, Brandon
Membership Chair                     Judkins, Barbara
Public Relations Coordinator   Gorski, Stephanie
Faux Paws Chair                          Horton, Daren
Flags Program Chair                   Feille, Keith
Scholarship Chair                        Bickerdicke, Glenn
Interact Chair                               Adams, Stacy
Spelling BEE Coordinator                  Howlett, Brad
4-Way Speech Coordinator                Weekly, Joyce
Blood Drive Coordinator                     Luce, Hannah
Dictionary Coordinator                       Wood, Laura
Diploma Plus Chair                              Spears, April
RYLA Coordinator                                Purvis, Keith
Speaker's Book Donations                  Gaw, Lou
Chief Sergeant at Arms                        Green, Milly
District liaison                                        Huffhines, Ted
Programs & Speakers                            Adams, Stacy
Website Administrator                          Fitzgerald, Jim
Rotary Foundation Coordinator          Vanbiber, Craig
Centennial Celebration Chair                Collins, David
Rotaract Chair                                           Fitzgerald, David "Fitz"
POLIO ERADICATION
"The Last Drop" Is the chant we will be hearing around the world this year, as the fight against Polio draws agonizingly close to the final drop that will mark the complete and utter eradication of this dreaded disease.
Speakers
Feb 01, 2018 12:00 PM
Trammels Trace - First Road to Texas from the North
Feb 08, 2018 12:00 PM
TBA
Feb 15, 2018 12:00 PM
TBA
Feb 22, 2018 12:00 PM
Regional Urology
Mar 01, 2018 12:00 PM
Mercy Ships
Mar 08, 2018 12:00 PM
TBA
Mar 15, 2018 12:00 PM
CASA
Mar 22, 2018 12:00 PM
Active Shooter
View entire list
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Chris Paddie
February 18
 
Roy McCarroll
February 22
 
Spouse Birthdays
Kim Collier
February 2
 
Barbara Day
February 6
 
Russell Hampton
National Awards Services Inc.
ClubRunner
The Hotel Marshall And The Rotary Club of Marshall, TX
The Rotary Club of Marshall Texas, was chartered August 1, 1919. The Hotel Marshall hosted the weekly meetings of the Rotary club from that date, for over 40 years.  It was also host for most of the social events in Marshall during the first half of the twentieth century. It played a vital role in the progress and growth of the club.
 
The first of these two key elements of early economic and social progress in Marshall, was the “old” Hotel Marshall, a three-storied brick building just east of what we now know as the present Hotel Marshall. The “old” Hotel Marshall, was built by the Perkins Brothers and Ray Daniels (who later became a charter member of the Rotary Club).
 
The “old” Hotel Marshall, built in 1914-1915, and its successor, the “new” Hotel Marshall, built in 1929-1930, served as pivotal mainstays in the city’s affairs, serving as an information center for guests and visitors, and, as the primary place to conduct business in Texas for companies and traveling salesmen. 
 
The first, and subsequent weekly meetings of the new Marshall Rotary club, were held in the “old” Hotel Marshall, until the “new”, larger hotel was opened some 10 years later, in 1930. The manager of the Hotel Marshall during that period, was John Kieffer, who was hired to run the hotel in 1914. He was also a charter member of the club when it was charted.   The weekly meetings were held in the opulent “Roof Garden” dining room of the new hotel.
 
As Past President Bill Sullivan (1973-74) recalls, it was the custom of the club, to have two greeters on the ground floor to direct visitors and welcome Rotarians to the weekly meeting. Another greeter was stationed at the Roof Garden elevator, to direct them to the dining area, and yet another in the dinning area to direct them to their table. It was, as Bill relates, the custom at the time to see that Rotarians and guests were seated at different tables each meeting, to promote fellowship and diversity, and “Fairness to all concerned” (a novel way to promote the 4-Way Test). 
 
Both the club and hotel were huge beneficiaries of the railroad. The Texas And Pacific railroad, ran from Marshall, Texas (Yes, the railroad began in Marshall) to California, with connections to all the major cities of the United States.  The booming economy and growth of Marshall was primarily attributable to the Railroad, which was the largest employer in East Texas as well as the strategic center of commerce in the whole state.
 
This relationship with the Hotel Marshall continued for many happy and productive years, where forty-eight different club presidents raised the gavel to open the regular weekly meetings. With the loss of the hotel manager, John Kiefer, the rise of the automobile, and the gradual decline of the railroad’s influence and ridership, the Hotel Marshall fell on “hard times” and this happy relationship ended abruptly in 1966. 
 
The last regular meeting of the Rotary club in the Hotel Marshall was held in July of 1966. The synergistic partnership with the Hotel Marshall ended on a sad and bitter note. Past President William “Bill” Palmer, (1966-67) remembers it well and shares the story with us.
 
Without prior notice, he and the other Rotarians arrived at the hotel expecting to be ushered to the Roof Garden as usual.  Instead, they were told that they would be meeting in the hotel coffee shop that day, which surprised and infuriated everyone. 
 
Bill had arranged for a high-ranking official from Barksdale to come as his guest and be the program that day. After trying to speak over the clamor, he was so frustrated, and felt so insulted, that he walked out of the meeting and told Bill never to invite him again. 
 
The club was so hurt, that they moved their meetings to the recently completed Panola-Harrison COOP building on Houston street, and never met in the Hotel Marshall again.
"Doing Good Is Fun & Contagious" 
If you have got it, infect as many people as possible. If you haven't got it, Catch It!