Last weeks program was provided by Rotarian Lewis Marshall. Lewis’ guest speaker was Lawrence McClure, State Representative, District 58. Lawrence McClure is a Republican member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing District 58. He was elected to the chamber in a special election on December 19, 2017. Representative McClure gave us a legislative update and his thoughts on a variety of issues. McClure believes it was a very productive legislative session. This time last year we were dealing with hurricane Irma and the Parkland shooting tragedy. The Parkland tragedy opened a lot of eyes to school safety. A major, albeit emotionally charged, topic for now and into the future. Some current projects include; paving Alexander street, labor issues with the Strawberry industry (burdensome regulations) looking for relief from Federal regulations, I-4 private rail between Orlando and Tampa with a stop somewhere between Lakeland and Plant City and East Hillsborough county property rights. McClure believes Medical Marijuana is here to stay but, we still don’t have it right. He is against legalizing recreational use marijuana but, if it comes to it, we need to go all in with taxes, etc. Lake Okeechobee discharge is basically “sugar vs. agriculture”, with no middle ground. He is amazed at the farming technology and the fertilization best practices that the agricultural side uses. He doesn’t believe that is current practices that are affecting the ecosystem but rather history of poor practices. It seems that neither side wants to meet in the middle to fix this issue. McClure also touched on the need to take on frivolous lawsuits that end up affecting all of us. There are two very polarizing groups, the insurance company’s vs. everyone else! The legislature seems to be changing with the election of more Business Owners, rather than the traditional lawyer’s. If insurance rates keep going up, it will be devastating. Education issues are also very polarizing. School districts misconstrue budget dollars as the state budget funded education at an all time high this year. School districts are not running and managed efficiently. He believes, unfortunately, that control of spending needs to be controlled more by Tallahassee. It is outrageous for districts to say they are “underfunded”. $35billion of the budget goes to medicare/medicade etc, $35billion goes to education and $25billion is used to run the rest of the state. Representative McClure is committed to education. -provided by Mike Arndt
Club News
Welcome Louis and Shawn
Pres. Jodi Stevens, John Haney (proposer), Louis Alvarez
Clayton Jenkins (proposer), Shawn Jemison, Charles Harris (membership ch.)
Last week we inducted our 2 newest members, Louis Alvarez and Shawn Jemison. If you have not met Shawn and Louis be sure to introduce yourself and welcome them to our club.
Our club will be holding a social at the 1916 Irish Pub Friday Sept. 26th at 5:30 pm. Plan now to be there to enjoy some Rotary fellowship. All are welcome, it's an excellent event to bring prospective members as well. See you there!
Preparations are underway for the our club's second biggest fundraiser of the year. We need everyone to pitch in for this great event. Sponsorship opportunities are available and needed. Please see President Jodi and Doug Watson for more information.
Kayla Drawdy is the new Program Chair! Please notify Kayla of you upcoming speakers at 763-1821 or kayla@htitle.com
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From Our Members
Cedar Key sunset, Sunday September 16th
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Have any news you would like to share? Do you have a new position at work? Family news? Any news you would like to share with club members and bulletin subscribers? E-mail to Bill Wicker
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MINUTARIAN from Gov. Nick
A SPECIAL OCCASION
Because my wife and two daughters joined me on a speaking tour throughout the United Kingdom, I scheduled the programs on alternate days, so we could enjoy sight-seeing in between.
On one of those days, the girls explored Edinburg while I visited the Scotch Museum where I learned the expensive, single malt variety I thought was one of the best was considered a child’s drink where it was invented.
I had acquired a taste for this fine amber liquid long before I was old enough to legally consume adult beverages. That’s because starting while in junior high school, I spent my summers working in the Black Hills of South Dakota, which was two thousand miles
from my home in Massachusetts.
The best part was having no adult supervision. Ten
summers was plenty of time to learn about healthy pleasures, including those associated with Scotland’s national beverage. Therefore, visiting the Scotch Museum in Edinburgh was at the top of my priority list.
Later that day, with my wife’s encouragement, I bought a bottle of what I was told was one of the finest single malts money could buy. It had spent the better part of 3 decades in a cask, as was evident by the price. This was not just another bottle of Scotch. It was one I would save for that most special of special occasions.
Several times, I thought the moment had arrived. Academic awards, successful business ventures, and our children reaching various milestones each seemed an appropriate candidate. But upon further reflection, I would conclude there must be something else
that will eclipse even those important events. Thus, the bottle remained sealed for more than a decade.
There were no criteria for that elusive, special occasion. I just believed that when it happened, I would somehow know. All the while, the bottle continued
gathering dust.
I’m not sure when the realization struck, but eventually, I decided it’s not the occasion
that is special, since all events have the potential to merit this designation. What makes
something special is the meaning we assign to it. I was waiting for a special event, when I
should have been seeking ways to make all events meaningful and therefore special.
Events don’t have inherent meaning. We assign meaning when we reflect upon the ways
they relate to our purpose in life, and upon those things we value. Therefore, even a bad
experience can be special if it transforms our life for the better.
I no longer save things for an elusive special occasion. When I have the good fortune to
enjoy a rare pleasure, I use the opportunity to celebrate whatever at that moment seems
worthwhile. My bottle of Scotch was a wildcard capable of transforming virtually any
occasion into a special one. What are you hoarding for that special occasion? Is it the
fine china that’s rarely used? The decorative candle that’s never lit? Perhaps it’s a
striking outfit that’s seldom worn. Get it out. Use it. Celebrate the fact you always have
the ability to make special even the mundane.Add text here
Rotary announces US $96.5 million to end polioEVANSTON, Ill. (August 15, 2018) — Rotary today announced nearly $100 million in grants to support the global effort to end polio, a vaccine-preventable disease that once paralyzed hundreds of
A challenge to clean the world's riversIn 2009, Salvador Rico stood in the waters of the Russian River in Northern California with other members of the Rotary Club of South Ukiah. They were there for a river cleanup, during which they
Rotary partners with Mediators Beyond Borders to bring local solutions for lasting peaceEVANSTON, Ill. (Aug. 17, 2018) — Preventing conflicts from escalating into violent crises is 60 times more cost effective than intervening after
