Family In Rotary

After visiting earlier this week with our longtime member Mike Cook, I'm asking for prayers for that good man.   As many of you know, Mike has lost much of the sight in both eyes and the best that the doctors have been able to do is keep it from getting any worse.

    That would be a terrible thing for anyone to experience, but it's doubly hard for Mike.  His work managing the Hill Country Medical business requires him to read huge amounts of federal and state regulations, insurance company stuff and whatever.   He told me that when he gets home at night, he often  feels "just whipped."   So please keep Mike in your prayers.

     Once again, so many of our members were honored that it came very close to being Rotary Club of Kerrville Night when te Kerrville Area Chamber of Commerce held its annual banquet at the Inn of the Hill Resort and Conference Center.   More than 400 chamber members and guests cheered as our Past President Diane Green and her husband Bob, a Past President of the Morning Rotary Club, were announced as the Bill Dozier-Kerrville Daily Times Citizens of the Year -- the most prestigious award given at the yearly event.   Club member and Kerrville Daily Times Publisher Mike Graxiola presided over the affair as 2014-2015 Chairman of the Board for the Chamber, before passing the gavel to another Rotary Club of Kerrville member, Ward Jones, who will serve for 2015-2016.

    Still another of our members, Past President Kim Clarkson, moved into the Chairman-elect position, putting her in line to take over the chair for 2016-2017.    Kim also was recognized for her key role in the Leadership Kerr County program.  Noon Rotarian Greg Appel moved into the First Vice Chairman slot, and club member Sue Tiemann was among new members of the Chamber Board of Directors who were introduced.

     Graxiola, who remains on the board as Immediate Past Chairman, thanked retiring directors Kyle Bond and Paul Urban of our club and our Vice President and President-Elect, Jeff Talarico.  Rotarian Art Bell from our club was among Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors thanked for their service.    

      And I have a personal request that falls under the "Goodwill and better friendships" section of the Four-Way Test:    If you see my wife Verna when she comes to pick me up after our meeting today, you may extend your sympathy to her.   Today is our 48th Wedding Anniversary.

 

     Joseph Benham   Chairman, Family in Rotary  

 

Pictured here are a number of Rotarians in attendance at the Chamber Banquet.