Drew-Ruleville Rotary Club gets it done! - Rotary International ...

5Past District Governor Ken Bender diesDr. Kenneth Russell (Ken) Bender PhD, who served as District 6800 Governorduring the 2003-2004 Rotary year, died August 4th at the Mississippi State VeteransHome in Oxford. He was 81. A graveside service was held Saturday, August10th at Oxford Memorial Cemetery.Born in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, Dr. Bender graduated from Southside High Schoolin Ft. Wayne and earned graduate and undergraduate degrees at Indiana University.He held degrees in Banking and Finance and Psychology, and a Doctorate inEducation. He was a former Assistant Dean of the School of Education at OleMiss.In addition to his service as District Governor, Ken was a past president of theOxford Rotary Club and a multiple Paul Harris Fellow. He was a founding memberand elder at Peace Lutheran Church in Oxford. In addition to his parents, hewas preceded in death by his wife, Doris Lucille Bender (pictured with Ken inphoto at left).WORLD HEALTHORGANIZATIONWeek ending Aug. 21, 2013New wild polio cases reportedin the past week for 2013:11Total number of wild casesin 2012 YTD: 223Total number of wild casesin 2013 YTD: 192(includes 121 innon‐endemic countries)Memorial contributions in Ken’s memory may be made to The Rotary Foundation,One Rotary Center, 1560 Sherman Avenue, Evans IL 60201-3698, or theUniversity of Mississippi Foundation, School of Education, Bender ScholarshipEndowment, The University of Mississippi, P.O. Box 249, University, MSPast and future DistrictGovernors whoattended the Benderservices were (fromleft) Marty Petrusek,Gerald Gafford, DickWeiland, Bob Bickley,Vijay Surpuriya, TomWilson, Cary Vaughn,and Tommy White(current District Governor).MID-SOUTH GIFT OF LIFE -Baby Abby Martinez is held byDistrict 6800 Executive SecretaryLee Hughes in photo at left.Those in right photo are (fromleft) Rotary Club of MemphisEast President David Leake,Baby Abby, Mary & AntonioMartinez, and Bill Pickens ofMemphis East club, chair of Giftof Life-Mid-South. The infantunderwent heart surgery at Le-Bonheur Children’s Hospital.

6Scott Smith, CEO of Bolivar Medical Center in Cleveland,Mississippi, shows a proposed renovation plan to RotarianBill Bizzell (right). Bizzell was a trustee on the county hospitalboard when the decision was made to build a new hospitalon the eastern side of Cleveland many years ago.Gary Adams, new president of the Holly Springs club, is shown presentingan appreciation plaque to the outgoing prez, Lucy Carpenter. ManyD6800 Rotarians are familiar with Gary, who has spoken at both PETS andDistrict Conference about his late father, who was a polio victim.Non Rotarian has best attendancerecord at Aberdeen Rotary ClubAberdeen Rotary Club President Dwight McComb is shownpresenting a Certificate of Appreciation to Mrs. EverlenaGathings, who is the server for the club’s weekly meetings atShelaine Restaurant. Mrs. Gathings has a perfect attendancerecord for the nine years that the club has been meeting at thevenue. For that matter, she has remained in the room for theentire meeting during those nine years. Talk about dependabilityand dedication!The two young ladies seen in the above photo areRotary Exchange Students, whose trips to Madrid,Spain and Memphis respectively were coordinated bythe Germantown club and a Madrid Rotary Club. Pictured(from left) are Rotarian Vijay Surpuriya of theGermantown club, Mary Lindsey (U.S.) RaquellJimenez (Spain) and District 6800 Youth Coordinator,Smith Murphey (Sumner Rotary Club).Rotary International’s2013-2014 Theme“Engage Rotary - Change Lives”

7ATTENTION, CLUB SECRETARIESIt’s important that you submit your monthly reports to thedistrict secretary. Only 3 clubs failed to report in July!JUST DO IT!SAMUEL (THIRD FROM LEFT) is seen ten days aftersuccessful heart surgery at LeBonheur Children’s Hospitalin Memphis. Gift of Life - Mid-South, supported by District6800, made arrangements for the life saving procedure.Those in photo (from left) are Bill Pickens, Gift ofLife chairman, Samuel’s mother, Samuel, Sarah GraceTaylor of Gift of Life, Samantha Dean of Huey’s Restaurant,and Susan Scott, past president of MidTown MemphisRotary Club.Garrett Bouse (red shirt) received the Cleveland Rotary Club’sannual college scholarship to Delta State University. Garrett isan incoming senior, majoring in Physical Education. His parents,Gary and Rebecca Bouse of Caledonia, are on Garrett’s right.Presenting the scholarship was Rotarian Eckward McKnight. .FIRST OFFICIAL VISIT - District Governor Tommy White(right) chose the Como club for his first official visit.One of his tasks while there was to present a Paul HarrisFellow award to the outgoing club president, Randy Perkins(center). Seen at left is the new president, PeteNelson.Rotary International’s2013-2014 Theme“Engage Rotary - Change Lives”Rotarian Clay McWilliams (le) invited Bill Lee (right) to speak to theCleveland Rotary Club. Bill, Senior VP with Gulf Guaranty, spoke on theBale of Franklin (Tenn.), in which his great‐great grandfather fought .Welcoming Bill to the Club were Clay and Rotary President Emily Havens.The Bale of Franklin was fought on November 30, 1864,at Franklin, Tennessee, during the Civil War. It resulted in one of thelargest losses of lives for Mississippians serving in the war. The balealso resulted in the loss of six Confederate generals.