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Over The Coffeecups
Warren Mitchell - Editor
TODAY'S
PROGRAM
Barnie
Paulson will introduce Marcy L. Ingram, a financial
advisor with Merrill Lynch. She is a native of Montgomery.
She did undergraduate and graduate work at Temple University
in Philadelphia, PA. Marcie is a specialist in wealth
preservation and growth. She regularly conducts seminars on
investing, specializing in wealth management and retirement
planning.
For over 2 years she has
written an investment column for the Montgomery Independent.
She also has written articles for the Montgomery Advertiser.
Marcie spoke to the Club on
December 18, 2003. The Club welcomes her back.
LAST
WEEKS PROGRAM
Past
President Ken Robertson
introduced the speakers Sgt. Mat Reese, Alabama Bureau
of Investigation and Carole Hudson, representatives of
Operation “Save The Teens”. The program is presented in most
high schools and middle schools, at a minimum cost. It deals
with the problem of illegal drug abuse and the impact on young
teenagers.
Sgt. Reese, who has been
with the ABI for 17 years, began the program by referring to
the tomahawk on the back of the new nickel that was shown by
George Oetting. He said the tomahawk crossed with another
subject meant freedom. Freedom, he said is not cheap. He
talked about the ceremony that took place in Tuscaloosa
honoring a young Marine from Evergreen that was killed in
Iraq. He was killed taking a cluster bomb away from a little
girl. The young man had had drug problems before joining the
Marines. It is a complex problem facing teenagers. Mrs.
Hudson had a son, 19, who died from an overdose of drugs.
Sgt. Reese showed a picture of John.
Our kids need someone to
look up to. Young people need heroes today. At a Coffee
County high school, he spoke to the students telling them to
stay away from the drug Ecstasy; which is currently the drug
of choice for teenagers. It costs the makers $ .20 cents to
produce and it’s sold for $20.00. About 20% of high school
students use it. A short movie was shown where a young boy
was in intensive care from using the drug. Two weeks later he
had an overdose and robbed a pawn shop. The boy’s father was
a policeman.
Two students were killed in
a car wreck going 100 miles per hour. Black athletes were
asked what the possibility of their dying in an accident; it
was great.
A young boy in Birmingham
died from an overdose. A pharmacist in Hoover had been
selling drugs to kids.
Sgt. Reese warned; don’t
leave drinks on a table alone,
because someone might put something in the drink that could
kill you. A young man who had something put in his drink died
15 minutes later from taking the drug.
Carol made a point that it
could happen in any home. Drugs could be anywhere in the
home. Alabama is 1st in the nation for middle school students
using drugs. It is estimated that 15% of 8th graders use
drugs. Also 2 out of 10 6th graders use drugs and 5 out of
10, 7th graders.
No one person can do
anything, but everyone can do everything. They have talked to
125,000 kids all over the state. The program lasts about 90
minutes.
A judge in North Alabama
said “Drugs are depriving us of our children.
Carol said her son, John,
was an honor roll student and an athlete in high school. She
had no idea her son was on drugs. When he went away to
college he had his own apartment and was unsupervised. He
overdosed and his friends left him on a bed for 2 hours. When
he was unconscious they took him home and left him. He was
19 when he died.
The program receives no
funding from the state. DECA said they do not qualify,
because they are considered a one time drug program and not
effective. They feel if one child is saved, it is worth it.
Picture is called “This Is Life”.
LAST
WEEK'S GUESTS
George
Wilson had as his guests the following persons; his wife
Linda, Callie
Griffin and Tom Whitmire.
Ken Robertson had as
his guests; his wife Jo and Frieda Ridork, his
sister-in-law, and the speakers, Matt Reese and Carole
Hudson.
George Worley had as
his guest, Jimmy Jones, the Manager of J.C. Penney’s.
President Winstead thanked Mr. Jones for his support in
our Christmas Shopping Spree for children from the court
system.
ENTERTAINMENT
Al McLellan
said his son was a little late for Mother’s Day, but that was
alright. It was “The Hand That Rocks The Cradle, Rules The
World”.
THOUGHT
FOR THE DAY
President
Winstead's read some of the
world’s smallest books. “The Plan To Find The Real Killer”,
by O.J. Simpson, and Janet Reno’s books, “My Beauty Secrets”
and “What I Know About Women”. (No pages)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
John Roddan is back
from Miami, having visited several Kiwanis Clubs.
Doug Speight has had a
hip replacement and he is in rehab. He is expected home this
week.
Fran Eckerly was
jailed for MS, but she had raised $966, so she was released.
She thanked all of those who helped her raise her bail.
Last Monday an interclub was
held with the Capital City Club at RSA Plaza; 4 members
attended.
July 1st, the author
of “Shifting Sands” will speak. He worked 10 years for the
Prince of Saudi Arabia.
George Oetting showed
us the newly issued nickels that commemorate the Louis & Clark
expedition. It has an American Indian background.
May 25th, members will
help with the HOBY Conference at Huntingdon College.
ELECTION
Having no nominations from
the floor at last week's meeting the following slate of
officers, for the coming year, was presented by the
nominating committee.
President: Ken Carrick
President Elect: Ed
Melton
Vice President: Jim
Jones
Treasurer: Charlie
Eckerly
Secretary: Pete
Summer
Board of Directors:
Continuing for their
2nd year of a 2 year term:
Doug Speight
John Burch
Barnie Paulson
Elected for a 2 year term:
Fran Eckerly
Dana George
Bob Bonn
Vince Cox
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