Wheels for January 7, 2016 (Jan 11, 2016)

St. Patrick's Day Wine Tasting

Bar Z Winery

Mar 17, 2016
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Feb 04, 2016
Shannon Massey, Bell Helicopter
New Tiltrotor To Be Assembled

Feb 11, 2016
Randall Sims, 47th District Attorney
State of the District Attorney's Office

Feb 18, 2016
Scott Brumley, Potter Co. Attorney
Potter County Commissioner's Court

Feb 25, 2016
Dr. Dana West
Amarillo Independent School District

View entire list

President

Jeff Lester

President Elect

David O'Dell

Secretary

Tom Higley

Executive Secretary/Director

Gina Rodriguez

Treasurer

Gary Mitchell

Rotary Foundation

David Elizalde

Immediate Past President

Cal Harriman

Director

Bob Murray

Director

Mel Darnell

Director

Shelley Cunningham

Director at Large

Daniel Martinez

Director at Large

Teresa Clemons

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Wheels for January 14, 2016

Posted by Mary N Stephens on Jan 18, 2016

Bolstering Public Education

State Senator Kel Seliger presented a program on “State Legislature’s Efforts to Bolster Public Education”.

Kel spent 35 years in the steel industry and served four terms as Mayor of Amarillo, completing his service in 2001. Since 2004 Kel has served Texas as a State Senator, succeeding the late Teel Bivins, Ambassador to Sweden.

Kel serves on 5 state committees: Business, Commerce, Finance, Education and Higher Education.

Kel discussed the high cost of education and that although student loans are sometimes difficult to repay, they allow for much higher dividends when one considers the higher level of income graduates earn. Texas is actually 34% below the national average for community college tuition. For students on limited income that is a very positive and viable option. For instance, 1 semester at the University of Texas is $5,200.00 while one semester at UT Permian Basin is $2,800.00 per semester.

Unfortunately, Texas did not have one of the recent lottery winners but lottery proceeds only add $1.55 billion dollars annually to the Texas education budget which is $50-60 billion per year.

Interesting Current Events Concerning Education in Texas:

Senate Bill 149 allows students (Xavier Calandria 373-2592) who do not pass the STAR test an opportunity to graduate anyway. If a student passes all classes and has good attendance he may graduate in good standing.

“Flipped Classroom” is a concept being considered whereby students can first listen to a class lecture on-line and then do what we formerly considered “homework” at school.

Firearms have previously been allowed on State college campuses, now they may be allowed in classrooms. This option may be allowed according to individual campus policy.

Charter Schools are non-profit public schools with specific focus.

Thank you Kel, for a great and informative program.

Announcements

(Martin Birkenfeld 378-4255) has recently been promoted from Captain to Colonel and Assistant Chief of Police of the Amarillo Police Department.

Martin, congratulations and thank you for serving our city and our club with such excellence.

The Foundation Drawing: Last week Tom Higley and Wes Knapp blew their chance to get a free draw on the pot. Currently the Jackpot stands at $1979.00. Whoever draws the Ace of Spades will get the split and the balance will go to the Foundation to end Polio. Read your newsletter and look for your name and phone number and make sure you both attend the next meeting to get your second chance.

Many Thanks to the Following Rotarians for today’s meeting:

Greeters Doyle Moore, Mel Darnell

Presiding Jeff Lester, President

Invocation Doyle Moore

Song David O’Dell

Pledge David O’Dell

Introductions Mel Darnell

Program Chair John Kanelis

Ticket Sales Greg Green

Wheels Mary Stephens

Beef Jerky Melvin Edes

Pizza Rocky Gafford

Wheels for January 7, 2016

Posted by John Kanelis on Jan 11, 2016

Active Shooter Response

Potter County Sheriff Brian Thomas got us off to a fascinating 2016 with a program covering an issue that's been on people's minds of late: how to respond to an active shooter.

Brian has launched a series of classes designed to teach citizens how they should respond to a dangerous situation involving someone with a gun. The classes are called CRASE, an acronym for Citizens Response to Active Shooter Events. "There are classes like these occurring all over the country," Brian said.

He defined "active shooter" as involving an event with one or more people "trying to kill others not related to them or to each other."

In the old days, Brian said, "we would call for SWAT. Now we're the first ones through the door. We no longer can sit back and wait for the tactical unit."

Brian stressed a three-step program identified by another acronym, ADD. “Avoid any situation he said and know your exits. Deny the shooter access to you. Set up barricades. Try to make it impossible for the shooter to get to you. Finally, Defend you have to change mindsets."

Brian said (Tom Higley 355-0084) police officers should go to work daily with the goal of "making sure you're going home at the end of the day."

He said that "when the shooting starts, just follow our commands. Show your hands. We don't always know who the bad guys are."

Thanks so much, sheriff, for your service to our community.

Madelyn Frum presented Rotary club flags she received while making up at a Rotary club in Spokane, Washington adding to our ever-growing collection of banners.

Paul Borchardt presented a USO award to Melvin Edes for the effort Melvin puts in to supply our troops overseas with his world-renowned, famed beef jerky.

And immediate past president Cal Harriman presented our current president, Jeff Lester, a Rotary International award for bringing in two new members (Wes Knapp 680-5100) during the Rotary year.

Thanks as always go to: Jeff Lester, for conducting another great meeting; to our greeters Gail Bram and Dale Bippus; to President-elect David O'Dell for leading us in singing the National Anthem and reciting the pledge; to Cal Harriman for his invocation; and to Daniel Martinez for introducing guests and visiting Rotarians.

Oh, and the Rotary Foundation drawing pot is growing. We've got more than $1,700 in the pot. Remember, if your ticket is drawn, you get a chance to pull the Ace of Spades out of the deck. If you do . . . then you get to take home half of what's in the pot. The other half goes to the Foundation to help fund its great work around the world. Don’t forget the additional draw afforded to those who find their (name and phone number) in the newsletter and each attend the next meeting. Greg Green and Eddie Scott were the last in December who had a free shot at the pot but alas left empty handed.