Downtown Rotary

Serving Through Service in Jefferson City, MO
Downtown Rotary
Downtown Rotary

Monday, 12:00 Noon
Miller Performing Arts Center
214 E. Miller St. (at Madison St.)
Google Map

Contributors:
Mary Russell
Steve Renne
Patrick Hiatte
Lyn Konstant
Jason Jett
Heidi Vollet

Navigation

Sites I Like

Tags

Archive

2012 (10)
2011 (57)
2010 (72)

Contributors

Downtown Rotary Heidi Doerhoff Vollet
 

Be the best you can be, everyone has their own level of greatness.

(download)

"Be the best you can be." "Everyone has their own level of greatness." Those were the words from NFL Kansas City Chiefs Coach Todd Haley to the packed crowd of 400 people at Monday's Rotary meeting. Jefferson City, Helias, and Blair Oaks High School football teams and coaches joined the Rotary Club members to hear the second-youngest head coach in the Chiefs' franchise history. At 44 years old, Haley consistently pushes his players with a passionate and demanding approach that has already paid dividends for the franchise. His message, not only directed to the young football players in the room, but to all the Rotary members, whether in business or their personal lives, was not to miss the opportunities that you have now, and give your best all the time.

Coach Haley was introduced by Dr. Mike Monaco, the Chiefs' team physician, former co-captain of the Jefferson City Jays Football Team, and son of long time member, Nick Monaco.

Also offering a few words from the audience was Lincoln Head Coach Mike Jones, former super bowl star for the St. Louis Rams. Listen to the link below to hear Coach Haley's remarks.

(download)

 

Posted by Downtown Rotary
 

Take me out to the ball game

Tony
Crowd
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
 

¡Enhorabuena!

Emily
If you don't speak Spanish, that's Congratulations! to Emily McElwaine, who will be studying in Spain for the academic year beginning in August 2011 as a Rotary Youth Exchange student. Emily is a student at Helias Catholic High School in Jefferson City and was a special guest at the Jefferson City Rotary Club meeting December 13.

Posted
 

Special guest

Charlie2
Rotary was glad to have Charlie James (far right) join us today. Charlie is a member of the great 1964 St. Louis Cardinal's World Championship team who beat the New York Yankees in seven games. Great to see you Charlie.

Posted by Downtown Rotary
 

Anchors aweigh

Sealpatch2
Captain Ed Anderson (right in first photo) and six members of the crew of the submarine USS Jefferson City were special guests of the Jefferson City Rotary Club October 18. Capt. Anderson, in second photo with Mary Russell, Club president, and Tom Carr, Club member who arranged the visit and introduced the crew, expressed the appreciation of the ship's company for the support they receive from the Jefferson City area.

Members of the Club expressed their appreciation for the efforts of Capt. Anderson, who will be relieved later this year, and the crew to keep our nation secure; Jefferson City crewmen departed (to teach a high school class) with a rousing standing ovation from Club members.

(download)

 

Posted
 

G'Day, Mate!

Aussiea
Greetings were in order when a Rotary Group Study Exchange Team from Australia visited the Jefferson City Rotary Club Monday, October 11. From right, team leader Gary Scuddamore and team members Ryan Golder, Aaron Wise, Jenny Poolman, and Mike Froggatt responded to questions after each telling Jefferson City Rotarians a bit about themselves and their hometowns.

  • Gary and his family raise cattle, sheep and dry-land crops near Goondiwindi, an agricultural and transportation hub in Queensland.
  • Ryan is part owner/operator of a recreational vehicle park, also in Goondiwindi, and is developing an artesian spa in conjunction with the park.
  • Aaron has been with an accounting firm in Stanthorpe, Queensland, for four years and helps work his parents' cattle properties on weekends.
  • Jenny is a senior constable with the New South Wales police force, currently stationed in Tweed Heads near her home in the coastal town of Pottsville Beach.
  • Mike, from the Gold Coast, serves the Queensland Police Service as a detective and is undertaking post-graduate studies toward a Master's in Criminology.

Welcome to all, and a hearty "G'Day, Mate" from the Jefferson City Rotary Club.

Posted
 

A day in court

Check
A day in court can be a positive experience, if it's Blazer Court at Lewis & Clark Middle School. LCMS Principal Dr. Bob Steffes and LCMS eighth grader and Blazer Court alumnus Khalil Kennedy shared the good news with members of the Jefferson City Rotary Club at the Club's meeting September 20. Blazer Court is the only program of its kind in mid-Missouri.

"It's all about how to make students successful," said Dr. Steffes of the program, which began 4-1/2 years ago as a way to address potential attendance issues. The eight to ten students involved in Blazer Court each semester establish attendance and classwork goals and meet weekly to assess progress against those goals with counselors and Blazer Court Judge (and Missouri Supreme Court Judge and Rotary Club President) Mary Russell. Highlights of each student's progress are recognized in the group.

"I learned a lot of things that helped me improve my attendance and get my schoolwork done," said Khalil. "It wasn't scary to go before the judge, it was fun." Part of the fun is positive reinforcement for students selected for the program; incentives to achieve goals range from alarm clocks presented to participants at the beginning of the program to school supplies to coupons good for dessert at the school cafeteria.

To help with the cost of the incentives, the Jefferson City Rotary Club donated $1,000 to the program, and that donation was matched by a $1,000 Rotary District Grant. The photo shows, from left, Dr. Steffes and Khalil receiving a $2,000 check from Club President Russell.

Posted
Posterous theme by Cory Watilo.
​