At 11:45 President Arnold bought us to our feet will a gong of the bell. Dave Hartman offered up a prayer and a request we keep Noel and her family in our prayers due to the sudden loss of her brother. Cara then led us in the pledge and sing along.
We had several guests including a very good prospective new member. Speaking of prospective members Howard Farrell and his wife were visiting. I believe we still have a chair with his name on it just waiting for him to return to the fold.
There were no birthdays to be celebrated. Good news for Barbara Lyne as she was back with us. However, Shirley Craft informed us that her cancer has returned, and she is to start chemo Monday. Our thoughts and prayers are with her also. She did remind us of the special veteran’s program she has planned for November 10.
We did have some brags including Andy’s granddaughter being named student of the month. Also, Monica announced that the club has two companies in line for ethnics in business awards. They are Frank and Joes and Sports Clips. Congrats to everyone.
Cara told us about herself (would you believe she was involved with roller derby at one time). Cara then introduced our Boys and Girls Club youth of the month. Our honoree is an eighth grader at McNiel with ambitions/goal to go to Harvard and become a doctor. She was accompanied by her proud parents and club director.
Dr Julian Mazachek was introduced by Dave Hartman as the new president of Midwestern State University having been here for five months now. She gave us some background information about growing up in St Louis Missouri going to a small college and earning an engineering degree. Finding she had an interest in accounting. This led her to then pursue an MBA followed by a doctorate in accounting. While doing this she taught a class or two finding that was what she really wanted to do professionally. This led to working in higher education in Missouri before being lured to MSU and Wichita Falls. She and her husband have been married for 38 years and have three grown children. Her stated priorities are her faith, family, and educating young people. She also shared that she was a first-generation student and that 55% of MSU’s students are first generation students. It’s also a diversified student body but she is planning on reaching further out of our local area even though there are a fair number of Caribbean students on campus. I think her target is somewhere between 8000 and 9000 total enrollments compared with just under 6000 now. With the legislature meeting next year the new affiliation with Texas Tech should pay off ($$$). Midwestern’s return on investment is the highest in the state compared with other colleges. In addition to focusing on getting Midwestern’s story out there she wants to develop more school spirit and pride. In addition to rehabilitating Bolin Hall assuming funding can be found she would like to plant 100 trees to celebrate the 100 years anniversary. Of course, Dr Mazachek is looking forward to partnering with local businesses and other Wichita Falls organizations. MSU is still the best kept secret in higher education but hopefully not for much longer.
Last but not least ask her sometime if the opportunity presents itself how they got rid of the geese from the lawn in front of the White House. Oh, and she is also a member prospect as she has been a Rotarian before.
The speaker’s book is to go to Barwise Middle School.
After repeating the four way test the meeting was adjourned.