President Stacie Cook rang the bell and started the meeting at 12:08 pm. David Hartman led the invocation with another outstanding, heartfelt prayer. Arnold Oliver led the club in the Pledge of Allegiance and in singing You’re a Grand Old Flag.
Richard Boyd introduced his granddaughter Ada as a guest and David Kelley introduced his wife Debra.
Norris Martin had a birthday and Carl Dowlen presented Pumpkin Bread to him and guests.
Under the Sunshine Report, Dale Nelson, a 101-year-old veteran, fell and had two surgeries and is expected to go back to Presbyterian Manor.
The Flag Program billing has gone out via email. Remember that on April 4th, there will be no Rotary meeting, but flag teams will spend that time putting out “Door Hangers”.
Will Goodner brought a 2 x 4 (stud) to sign that will be part of a new Habitat for Humanity Home.
The Brag Bucket was busy today and I know that I have left out someone and I apologize. Benay Ayers’ son, Kellen, celebrated his business, Cards & Culture, being open one year. Marvin Groves’s business, Marvin Groves Electric Co., Inc. celebrates 50 years in business and Marvin put in a one-hundred-dollar bill into the Brag Bucket. Jake Munholland and his wife Anne celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary on a low-key day. See their Facebook page for details. Both of Stacie Cook’s sons have learners permits to drive. Andy Kocher’s granddaughter is riding without training wheels. I am sure Carla’s nephew threw a lot of pitches in the games this past week and I figure he struck quite a few out. I think I heard that Richard Boyd’s granddaughter runs track and their track team won state.
Today’s member spotlight is on Noel Filer. Noel joined Rotary in 1996. I first met Noel when she was with Red River Electronics, Inc., selling me Sharp calculators and typewriters. That was a few years ago. In 2011 Noel joined the YMCA as the staff lead on a capital project. In 2020, Noel joined United Regional as Foundation Director at United Regional Foundation. Noel has been married to Chip Filer for 33 years. She and Chip have two sons, a granddaughter and another granddaughter on the way. They met while in Leadership Wichita Falls. Noel leaves next month to walk the Camino de Santiago (Way of Saint James) in Spain and Portugal.
Josh Phillips tried to introduce our program, but the program wouldn’t have it. Steven Ulrick is with the Texas Ramp Project and Steven said that he will give his own introduction in the talk. The Kiwanis Club of Richardson, Texas in 1985 formed the Dallas Ramp Project as a 501(c)(3) and that has led to a statewide network of groups and individuals that keep the Texas Ramp Project going all around the state of Texas. The Texas Ramp Project builds wheelchair ramps using volunteer labor for anyone that needs one. Age, gender, religion, race, and ethnicity are never a concern. Their ramps are for anyone that needs one. Steven Ulrick gets help from SAFB, churches, civic groups, and others. Each ramp is ADA approved. The ramps are built with 2 x 6 lumber and decked with waterproof plywood decking. Handrails are also built into each ramp unless the individual doesn’t want or need the handrails. Steven builds ramps in Wichita Falls and surrounding areas. If you know of someone needing a wheelchair ramp, contact Steven Ulrick. The website is: www.texasramps.org.
On conclusion of the program, Stacie explained that there will be a donation made to the WFISD Foundation in Steven’s name.
After the Four Way Test, we adjourned.