2022-2023 Welcome

It is truly an honor to serve as club president of the Rotary Club of Gulfport during this 101st year as we all work together to serve our community.  As such, we have chosen as our theme of the year, "Rotary 101". This is a play on words as we were founded in 1921, making our club 101 years old. Even more significantly, our theme this year, Rotary 101 suggests that we focus on the basic, elementary and critical few things that support our mission of 'Service Above Self'. Much like any 101 course you may have taken in school, the focus is on the foundation, the building blocks and the heart of something much deeper. In our case, our foundation, Rotary, centers around service to others and shining a light on those that we serve rather than those of us who serve. In 1914, Rotary founder Paul Harris said, "Whatever Rotary may mean to us, to the world, it will be known by the results which it achieves. To that point, we will work to support each other in the spirit of service.
 
We will focus on a few other critical areas which support our mission of service. These areas include our speaker programs, membership engagement & growth, fellowship and telling our story. This year, we will place a strong focus attracting speakers who engage our members and guests. We will look to invite dynamic, relevant and even controversial speakers as we understand that our weekly program can determine attendance and growth. We will focus on retaining and engaging current members in a more impactful way while we look to grow club membership with community focused individuals and leaders in our area. Another area of focus will be more opportunities to fellowship with other club member and with Rotarians in other local clubs through social events, service events and fundraisers. Lastly, we want to tell the story of the Rotary Club of Gulfport. Of all the things that our club does in an excellent fashion, we have a significant opportunity to use social media and other means to talk about who we are, who we serve, our joint projects with other organizations and why someone should consider joining our club. During Rotary year 22-23 we will improve our focus on these key areas that we already have shown success in.

I appreciate all of our officers and active members for their commitment to making our club so special.  It is so important to our community that we stay active and relevant providing service and scholarships to so many deserving students in our area.  I look forward to our continued efforts in providing whatever support and service we can for the city of Gulfport and its citizens for many years to come.
 
In Service,
Chris Estrade
President 2022-2023
2022-2023 Welcome 2023-07-31 05:00:00Z 0
HONORING OUR VERTERANS, IT'S WHAT ROTARIAN'S DO! Sandra Jordan 2013-11-07 00:00:00Z 0

GOTTFRIED EXPECTS SOUTHERN MISS TO CHALLENGE IN CONFERENCE USA

Posted by Sandra Jordan
We had the privilege to welcome Mike Gottfried to Rotary yesterday afternoon.  Once again, Doug Barber with the Sun Herald was present to cover the presentation.  See what Mr. Barber had to say: http://www.sunherald.com/2013/08/15/4877000/gottfried-expects-southern-miss.html
 
ABOUT MIKE GOTTFRIED:
Mike Gottfried, who spent 12 successful seasons as a head college football coach, is known as one of television’s most respected game analysts.  Since 1990, he’s served as an ESPN college football analyst for ESPN’s Saturday Primetime telecasts.
 
Gottfried began his coaching career in 1966 as a head coach at Roseville (Ohio) High School.  His 12 years of college head coaching experience included stops at Murray State (1978-80), Cincinnati (1981-82), Kansas (1983-85), and Pittsburgh (1986-89).  He was also an assistant coach at Arizona, Cincinnati, Morehead State and Youngstown State.During his four years at Pittsburgh, Gottfried compiled a record of 26-17-2, including two wins each over Notre Dame, Penn State and West Virginia.  His total coaching record as a college head football coach is 77-54-6.
 
A sought after motivational speaker, Gottfried travels throughout the United States speaking at colleges, high schools and corporations. He also has spearheaded fund-raisers for charitable organizations in Alabama and Ohio.  He helped found the GMAC Bowl in 2001.
 
In 2010 Mike was named the Mobilian of the Year by the Cottage Hill Civitan Club for his extraordinary, positive impact on the Mobile community.  Mike and his wife, Mickey, were named the recipients of the 2010 Director’s Community Leadership Award by the FBI Special Agent in Charge of the Mobile Division for their work with Team Focus. He and his wife, Mickey, have two children and three grandchildren.
GOTTFRIED EXPECTS SOUTHERN MISS TO CHALLENGE IN CONFERENCE USA Sandra Jordan 2013-08-16 00:00:00Z 0
DANNY SHERIDAN, PROFESSIONAL ODDSMAKER, GETS THE CLUB READY FOR FOOTBALL SEASON Sandra Jordan 2013-08-09 00:00:00Z 0
Rotary Club of Gulfport Awards Scholarships to 4 Students Marci Wilson 2013-06-06 00:00:00Z 0

Safety Awards 2013

Rotary Club of Gulfport
Safety Awards
 
The Rotary Club of Gulfport is pleased and proud to dedicate this meeting to the men and women listed below who represent our local safety departments. These individuals have committed their lives to the safety and welfare of the citizens of Gulfport and Harrison County. Congratulations to all.
 
Gulfport Police Department
Officer of the Year-Detective Michael Kamien
Reserve Officer of the Year-Reserve Officer Richard “Landon” Williams
Explorer of the Year-Terriyanna Mays
 
Harrison County Sheriff’s Department
Officer of the Year-Investigator Coley Judy
Explorer of the Year-Nick Dean
 
Gulfport Fire Department
Firefighter of the Year-Engineer Mark Hilley
 
 
 
Harrison County Fire Department
Margaret Hosli
 
 
American Medical Response
Paramedic Jennifer Taylor
Safety Awards 2013 Marci Wilson 2013-05-09 00:00:00Z 0
Rotary Club of Gulfport - New Members Marci Wilson 2013-04-25 00:00:00Z 0

John Harral Awarded Founders Day Award by Gulfport Rotary Club

Posted by Marci Wilson on Mar 13, 2013

The Gulfport Rotary Club presented John Harral, an attorney with Butler, Snow, O’Mara, Stevens and Canada, with the Club’s prestigious Founder’s Day Award during a March 14 luncheon at the Great Southern Club. 

 

The award, named after the founder of the City of Gulfport, William Harris Hardy, recognizes a person whose contribution to the quality of life in the community is worthy of recognition.  It has been awarded annually since 1989. The Club chose Harral “In recognition of a lifetime of service to the City of Gulfport.”

 

Mr. Harral said he was very surprised by the honor and felt privileged to join the distinguished group of prior winners.  In thanking the Club for the honor, he quoted Winston Churchill, one of his heroes, who said “You make a living by what you get, but you make a life by what you give.”  That quote expressed his philosophy and the philosophy of the Rotary Club and its members, Harral said.

 

The fact that Harral was chosen for such a prestigious award would not come as a surprise to those who know him and have worked with him in his many community activities.

 

Gulfport School District Superintendent Glen East spoke of Mr. Harral’s involvement in the schools and in support of education.  He told of the many living history roles that Harral has played in the schools to bring history alive for the students.  He has portrayed such figures as Abraham Lincoln, James Madison, Dr. William Houston Teagarden, one of the founders of Mississippi City, Christopher Columbus, Alexander Hamilton, Stonewall Jackson and many others.  In fact, Mr. East said that there are times when a student sees John on the street years after a presentation and says "I know you, you’re Abraham Lincoln!”   Mr. East recalled that John started Gulfport Excellence, a private foundation to support public education in Gulfport and which has a current permanent endowment of over $150,000.  For these and other efforts in support of education, the Gulfport Chamber of Commerce created the John M. Harral Spirit of Education Award which the Chamber awards annually and made Mr. Harral the first recipient in 2004.

 

Lisa Bradley, the Executive Director of Gulfport Main Street Association, spoke of Mr. Harral’s long involvement in efforts to revitalize downtown Gulfport.  Harral, Lisa pointed out, was instrumental in forming the Gulfport Downtown Association in 1997, while he was President of the Gulfport Chamber.  He was the first President of the GDA and remained active in the Association until it was superseded by the Gulfport Main Street Association after Katrina.  He served as the first President of Main Street and has been named its President Emeritus in recognition of his long involvement in the effort to revitalize downtown. 

 

Other speakers noted John’s role in the creation of the Gulfport Business Club and his service as its second President; his many years as Sunday School teacher, Lay Eucharistic Minister and service on the Vestry and as both Junior and Senior Warden at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church; and his leadership in such nonprofits as Christmas-In-April and the Lynn Meadows Discovery Center.

 

 

-MORE-

 

 

 

 

 

Harral was selected for the inaugural class of the Sun Herald’s Top South Mississippi Community Leaders in 2002.  He’s been named to Best Lawyers in America, named Lawyer of the Year for the Coast in Banking and in Finance Litigation, a Mid-South Super Lawyer (Banking) and is listed in Who’s Who in American Law and Who’s Who in America.   

John Harral Awarded Founders Day Award by Gulfport Rotary Club Marci Wilson 2013-03-14 00:00:00Z 0

Rotary Club of Gulfport names Father Louis Lohan Founder's Day Recipient for 2011

Posted by Marci Wilson on Apr 10, 2012

FOUNDER'S DAY

 The recipients of the award has been any man, woman, child, or couple from the Gulfport area whose contribution to the quality of life in this area is worthy of recognition. The award can be for a single meritorious act or for an accumulation of service to others in the community, which spans several years. 

 

 Congratulations to Father Louis Lohan as the Rotary Club of Gulfport’s 2011 Founder’s Day Recipient 

  Father Lohan is the pastor of St. Thomas Catholic Church in Long Beach. He was born in Ireland and after graduating from college came to the United States in August of 1971. He came to the Gulf Coast and worked in Pascagoula for three years, went to Mexico for 4 years and came back to the coast and worked in Bay St Louis, D’Iberville, Wiggins, Lucedale and Leakesville before settling in Long Beach at St. Thomas in 1993. Though he personally lost everything, as well as the church, in Hurricane Katrina he continued to work for the communities of Long Beach and Gulfport, assisting families, law enforcement, and anyone else who crossed his path. Father Lohan displays the true meaning of service and dedication to our local community through his unselfish acts and displays a true humanitarian spirit.

 

Favorite Scripture Passage:
“Notice the ravens: they do not sow, they do not reap, they have neither cellar nor barn—yet God feeds them. How much more important you are than the birds! Or take the lilies: they do not spin, they do not weave; but I tell you, Solomon in all his splendor was not arrayed like any one of them. If God clothes in such splendor the grass of the field which grows today and is thrown on the fire tomorrow, how much more will he provide for you, O weak in faith!" (Luke 12:24-28)

  

Past recipients are as follows:

1989 – James Eaton                          

1990 – Judge Harry Walker

1991 – Dr. Harriet Murphy                                               

1992 – George Thatcher                                   

1993 – Leo W. Seal, Jr.                                      

1994 – David Cottrell, Jr.                                  

1995 – Ester Barrett                                                           

1996 – Margaret Allen Moyse                         

1997 – Dr. Ted Riemann                                  

1998 – Sister Delores Coleman

1999 – George Schloegel

2000 – Judge Dan Russell

2001 – Nathan Walker

2002 – Coach Bert Jenkins

2003 – Coach Herbert Wilson

2004 – Lindy Callahan

2005 – None

2006 – George P. “Buddy” Hopkins, Jr

2008 – Roland Weeks

2009 – Drew Allen

2010 – Tip Milner

2011 - Father Louis Lohan 

Rotary Club of Gulfport names Father Louis Lohan Founder's Day Recipient for 2011 Marci Wilson 2012-04-11 00:00:00Z 0

Rotary Club marks 90 years

Posted by Marci Wilson on Oct 27, 2011

Rotary Club marks 90 years

By PRISCILLA LOEBENBERG

GULFPORT -- The Gulfport Rotary Club celebrates 90 years of “service above self” on Tuesday.

It is club No. 1014 in the International Association of Rotary Clubs, and one of the three largest clubs in its district, which includes South Mississippi and Southeast Louisiana.

Twenty local businessmen founded the club just 23 years after the founding of the city of Gulfport.

The club set its first regular meetings for noon on Thursdays, and it has been meeting on the same day and time ever since.

George Thatcher, writer of the Beach Walks column in the Sun Herald, has been a Rotarian since 1963 and attended Gulfport Rotary Club meetings with his father in the 1940s. He provided a history of the club’s founding.

In its first year the club raised money for the starving population of Armenia, began discussing ways to improve The Old Spanish Highway (now U.S. 90), urged the need for a seawall and helped establish local Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops.

The group also began a friendly rivalry with the Biloxi Rotary Club in regard to meeting attendance, golf and baseball.

“The Rotarians that I have known through the years have enriched the life of the community and had an impact on the growth of Gulfport,” Thatcher said.

Club President Eric Brown has been a member of the Gulfport Rotary Club for nine years and has been a member of a Rotary club in every community in which he has lived since 1994.

“Rotary clubs are service clubs,” Brown said. “They were founded by active business leaders. They met to network, but also to become more effective in the community.”

Brown said the group helps raise money for many deserving organizations, including The Salvation Army and Lynn Meadows Discovery Center.

Every year a drawdown is held that raises $10,000 for scholarships for graduating high school seniors.

Starting in the spring, a 5K or 10K run will be held with proceeds to benefit Feed My Sheep and international hunger programs.

Through Rotary International and the Rotary Foundation, the group helps fund water projects in Africa and has pledged to eradicate polio from the world.

Due in part to Rotary efforts to immunize children, only a few countries still have reported cases of polio.

“For 90 years the club’s motto has been service above self,” Brown said, “and that commitment hasn’t changed. What has changed is the diversity of the club.”

The original group was limited to white, Anglo-Saxon males, and women were not admitted to the group until the 1970s. Brown said he is proud that the current 137-member club is diverse in regard to race and gender. 

“Rotary used to be an old man’s club,” Thatcher said. “It’s not that way anymore. It has been revitalized by the young people.”

Rotary participates in Group Study Exchanges in which young people (non-Rotarians) visit abroad for several weeks. Gulfport Rotary Club is planning an exchange with a Brazilian Rotary Club.

Members in both locations will host the guests in their homes, take them on tours of the area and allow them to speak at local club meetings.

Brown said there are many second and third generation members in the club and he hopes one day his children will carry on the traditions of Rotary.

Today there are 1.2 million members in 34,000 Rotary Clubs worldwide.

Rotary Club marks 90 years Marci Wilson 2011-10-28 00:00:00Z 0

Rotary helps foster peace, understanding through education

Posted by Wayne Hearn (847) 866-3386 wayne.hearn@rotary.org on Sep 11, 2011
A decade after 9/11, humanitarian service organization continues to train new generations of peace builders EVANSTON, Ill., USA (Sept. 6, 2011) – This September marks the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States, tragic events that changed the world and add even more relevance to the United Nations’ annual International Day of Peace on Sept. 21. The occasion also highlights the importance of the peace-building work carried out by humanitarian groups like Rotary International. Rotary clubs always have embraced this call for peace at the grass-roots level by addressing the underlying causes of conflict and violence through thousands of community-based service projects around the world. “Since 1905, Rotary clubs have worked locally and internationally to make the world a better and more peaceful place one person, one family, one community at a time,” said William B. Boyd, chair of The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. Rotary also takes a direct approach to world understanding by providing future leaders with the tools they need to “wage peace” on the global stage with its innovative Rotary Peace Centers program. Launched in 2002, Rotary awards up to 110 full scholarships each year for master’s-level degrees or a professional certificate in peace and conflict studies at seven Rotary Peace Centers located at: • Uppsala University, Sweden • University of Bradford, UK • University of Queensland, Australia • International Christian University, Japan • Universidad del Salvador, Argentina • Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA • Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, (an intensive, three-month course for mid-level professionals in governments, non-governmental organizations, and international industry) “As more than 20 major conflicts are currently being waged this year alone, the world needs more peace makers skilled in the arts of conflict resolution,” said Boyd. “We now have 608 Rotary Peace fellow alumni who already are making a difference in key decision-making positions in governments and organizations around the world.” Those interested in the program can apply through local Rotary clubs. Applications for the 2013-14 class will be available for download from the Rotary website in January 2012, and are due to The Rotary Foundation by 1 July 2012. Qualified applicants must possess an undergraduate degree, have a minimum of three years of professional experience at international agencies, government and non-governmental organizations, businesses or academic institutions; and demonstrate a commitment to peace and international understanding through their volunteer, academic, and professional achievements. Margaret Soo of Malaysia, who studied at the Rotary Center at International Christian University in Japan (2002-04), is now the chief operating officer of the University Foundation Office and group vice president of the Group Corporate Affairs office at UCSI University in Malaysia. “Many people have good intentions, but they do not have the specialized training needed to make a difference,” said Soo. “I think it is important to have professional training in this field. You should be able to say ‘I’m a peacekeeper’ the way you say ‘I’m a doctor’.” Other Rotary Peace Fellow alumni of note: • Joseph DeVoir, USA, earned his master’s degree at the Rotary Peace Center at University of Queensland, 2009-2011. DeVoir is based in Palestine, working with the Palestine Economic Policy Research Institute where he researches international aid trends and impacts. • Myint Myint Shwe, Myanmar, earned his professional development certificate from Chulalongkorn University in July 2008. She is a program coordinator of the Non-Formal Education Program of the Yangon Office at Save the Children UK in Yangon, Myanmar. • Mahamoud Ahmed, Somalia, earned his master’s degree at the Rotary Peace Center at the University of Bradford in 2008-10. He works for Action Aid International as program support coordinator for development in Hargeisa, Somalia. He also teaches several classes at the University of Hargeisa and the University of Admas. • Jan Nemecek, Czech Republic, earned his master’s degree at the Rotary Peace Center at Universidad del Salvador in 2002-04. He is a coordination officer for the United Nations Country Team in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. • Gohar Gyulumyan, Armenia, earned her master’s degree at the Rotary Peace Center at Duke University in 2007-09. She is the task team leader for the World Bank's Tax Project in Armenia and for its Statistical Capacity Building Project in Turkmenistan. Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders who provide humanitarian service and help to build goodwill and peace in the world. There are 1.2 million Rotary members in 34,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas. Rotary clubs have been serving communities worldwide for more than a century. The Rotary Foundation, under its new Future Vision plan, seeks to forge strategic partnerships with established organizations with expertise in any of Rotary’s six areas of focus: peace and conflict prevention/resolution; disease prevention and treatment; water and sanitation; maternal and child health; basic education and literacy; and economic and community development. The foundation grants support major international projects with sustainable, high impact outcomes. For more information, visit www.rotary.org. For visual materials go to: http://rotary.org/mediacenter
Rotary helps foster peace, understanding through education Wayne Hearn (847) 866-3386 wayne.hearn@rotary.org 2011-09-12 00:00:00Z 0
Welcome to our new website! Marci Wilson 0