Downtown Rotary

The latest from Hizzoner

Jefferson City's role in the national Greening America's Capitals program was among the issues discussed by Jefferson City Mayor John Landwehr with members of the Jefferson City Rotary Club at the Club's meeting January 31. A team of designers will help Jefferson City officials come up with plans for the Wears Creek and Mill Bottom areas west of the capital, including rehabilitation of the former Ameren Power Plant and trolley car barn.

That development, he said, could be a natural link to the city's greenway trail system, including the Missouri River pedestrian/bicycle walkway scheduled for completion withing the next month or two. It also would complement Rotary Park, for which he expressed his appreciation to the city's Rotary Clubs, as an additional positive development for the area west of the capitol.

Mayor Landwehr discussed the benefits of the lodging tax change - from 3 percent to 7 percent - that will be decided by the Feb. 8 city election. The tax would go toward construction of a conference center that would enhance the city's ability to attract conferences; similar facilities in the 20,000 to 25,000 square foot range, he said, typically attract meetings that require 600 hotel rooms to house attendees.

Posted

Going nuclear

Although the University of Missouri's Research Reactor Center is one of the top university nuclear research reactors in the country, it's only one aspect of MU's comprehensive research program, Dr. Rob Duncan, MU's vice chancellor for research, told members of the Jefferson City Rotary Club January 24.

MU research, he said, last year drew about $228 million in funding from government agencies and another $222 million in fee-for-service activities, including drug trials and production of radioisotopes used by commercial pharmaceutical companies in cancer treatment and other drugs.

Noting the decline in population in the Midwest, Dr. Duncan discussed MU's approach to research, which is built around leveraging available investment capital in Missouri to promote basic research leading to economic development, and helping students think analytically and critically and focus on translating research into economic opportunity.

"Like Rotary, public service is the fundamental role of research at the University of Missouri, Dr. Duncan said. "We try to show students how knowledge can enable them to do whatever they can envision, and how to put knowledge into practice to build better lives for themselves and the community."

Posted

Take me out to the ball game

Tony La Russa, manager of the St. Louis Cardinals, was the very special guest speaker at the Jefferson City Rotary Club meeting January 17. He addressed a crowd of about 150 members and guests, one of the largest Jefferson City Rotary Club meetings in years.

Tony, who is beginning his 16th season with the Cardinals, recounted anecdotes from his experience as a first-time manager in the Chicago White Sox farm system in 1978, and went on from there to discuss his insights into topics ranging from managing advice (“trust your gut, don’t cover your butt”) to the difference between the current Busch Stadium and the prior Busch Stadium (“much better conditions for the players”).

Describing the second half of last year’s season as “one of the weirdest second halves I’ve ever been around,” he pointed out that the Cardinals never lost a series to a team with more wins than losses, but lost seven of eight series to teams with more losses than wins. Quoting his friend and Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver, Tony said the Cardinals in effect let the seven, eight and nine hitters in the batting order (the weaker teams in the league) get hits off them during the second half.

Looking ahead to this season, Tony said that off-season priorities included strengthening the pitching staff and providing additional protection for Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday. Pujols is expected to continue to bat third, followed by Holliday and new addition Lance Berkman in the fifth spot. Putting the first and second hitters on base for the power hitters to drive home will continue to be a goal, as will developing a third baseman to complement David Freese.

Posted by Downtown Rotary

Oh! Do you come from a land down under?

Nick Rackers, the Jefferson City Rotary Club’s nominee to travel to Australia on the Group Study Exchange Team, met Club members and said a few words at the Club’s meeting January 17. Nick, an instructor in Commercial Turf and Grounds Management at Linn State Technical College, says he’s looking forward to a life-changing experience as part of the Group Study Exchange Team.

Posted by Downtown Rotary

Was Martin Luther King a Rotarian?

That was the question posed by Rod Chapel, president of the Jefferson City Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and a member of the Jefferson City Rotary Club, to Club members during the Club’s meeting on Martin Luther King Day, January 17.

Rod said that the Rotary Four-Way Test could have been written by Dr. King himself, since his teachings and the principles embodies in the Four-Way Test are so complementary.

He encouraged Club members to look at MLK Day as a day on for service, not as a day off. Rod suggested that members take time to ask themselves what they can do that will have the biggest impact in serving others, and then go do it.

Rod is shown with Club President Mary Russell and St. Louis Cardinals Manager Tony La Russa, guest speaker at Monday’s meeting.

Posted by Downtown Rotary

January Birthdays

Rotarians celebrating birthdays this month are: Don Claycomb, Roger Stottlemyre, Jay Seaver, Joy Sweeney, Lyn Konstant, Arvs Petersons, and Chrissy Ellinger!

Posted by Downtown Rotary

A representative form of government

Our government depends on an informed electorate, and members of the Jefferson City Rotary Club received a unique perspective on legislative issues from two of the Missouri House of Representatives' 74 first-term members, Jay Barnes (left) and Mike Bernskoetter, who represent the western and eastern halves of Cole County respectively.

Jay told Club members that his priorities include local issues such as realizing the economic development potential of the old Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City.

Mike said that working on the proposed second reactor at the Callaway County Nuclear Plant also will be among his legislative priorities as the session continues.

Jay and Mike are sponsor and co-sponsor of a House Bill 126 that would require additional notice of mass layoffs of state employees, and both are supportive of state employees in general.

Posted

Welcome students

The Jefferson City Rotary Club welcomed three students at its January 10 meeting.

Ines Schumacher is a Rotary exchange student from Switzerland, where she is the national judo champion in her age group.

Our Students of the Month for January are Paul McMahon (left) from Jefferson City High School and Bret Gerstner from Helias Catholic High School.

Welcome!

Posted

Im-press-ive

Members of the Jefferson City Rotary Club were treated to a tour of the Jefferson City News-Tribune's production facility January 3. Mike Vivion, the newspaper's vice president and general manager, explained the workings of the presses and other machinery; Mike is in the center of the group photo facing left, toward the press.

Completed five years ago, the facility features a three-story high press, plus another story of paper- and ink-handling equipment in the basement; Mary Russell and Don Hiatte are shown with the black ink tank. Club members got to see the press in action printing the food section that will appear in the January 5 edition of the News-Tribune.

Many thanks to Mike and the News-Tribune for a most interesting and informative tour.

(download)

Posted

Alice Bartlett named Rotarian of the Year

Congratulations to Alice Bartlett, who was honored as the Jefferson City Rotary Club's 2010 Rotarian of the Year December 20. Alice is shown at center in the photo accepting congratulations from 2009 Rotarian of the Year Lyn Konstant (left) and Club President Mary Russell.

A member of the Jefferson City Rotary Club since 2005, Alice is a leader of the Club's annual New Teacher Appreciation Luncheon, which she suggested as a community service of the Club. More than 40 first-year teachers were honored at the fifth annual New Teacher Appreciation Luncheon last August. Alice is also active in the Student of the Month program, in which students from Jefferson City and Helias high schools meet with Club members.

"This is a great honor, and I was surprised - shocked is a better word - because I haven't been in the Club that long," Alice said. "I'm a big believer in community service. I've been blessed throughout my life to have been given many gifts, and I feel a responsibility to give back to the community."

Alice and her husband, Howard, have a family of eight children, 16 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. In addition to the Jefferson City Rotary Club, Alice is also active in her church, St. Stanislaus of Wardsville.

Posted

Navigation

Sites I Like

Tags

Archive

Contributors

The latest from Hizzoner

Going nuclear

Take me out to the ball game

Oh! Do you come from a land down under?

Was Martin Luther King a Rotarian?

January Birthdays

A representative form of government

Welcome students

Im-press-ive

Alice Bartlett named Rotarian of the Year