Welcome to the Rotary Club of Anniston Morning
Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world.
Rotary club membership represents a cross-section of the community's business and professional men and women. The world's Rotary clubs meet weekly and are nonpolitical, nonreligious, and open to all cultures, races, and creeds.
Rotary membership provides the opportunity to: Become connected to your community. Work with others in addressing community needs. Interact with other professionals in your community; assist with RI's international humanitarian service efforts. Establish contacts with an international network of professionals. Develop leadership skills. Involve family in promoting service efforts.
LIKE us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AnnistonMorningRotaryClub
On Thursday evening the club met at St. Michael and All Angel's Church for our meeting and tour. Stephen and April LaFollette arranged the event and David Ford was our guide. It was a very enjoyable evening and all were very impressed with this 18th Century church built by the town's founder, Samuel Noble.
DG Mary Grace Evans visited the club on Friday, December 1st. She gave a very inspiring and upbeat talk which was very much appreciated by the members present.
On Tuesday evening, December 5th Anniston Morning continued its long-standing annual party for the Boys and Girls Club of East Central Alabama. The club hosted a pizza party and passed out gifts to the twenty-four boys and girls in attendance. It was a joyful occasion.
The Talladega Rotary Club participated in the College's Homecoming Parade last Saturday. They used the Rotary Four Way Test Banner in the parade.
Friday, October 13, 2023
Greg Waldren from the Back Country Horsemen of America gave a very interesting presentation this morning regarding the McClellan Horse Trails and their economic impact. There are 300 members in this chapter of the Horsemen. they have 900 acres with 30 miles of trails; 32 stalls; a 60 by 80 foot Pavillion with a rock fireplace. The economic impact in Alabama is approximately 2.8 billion dollars.
Dr. Steve West, Pastor of Jacksonville United Methodist Church, spoke to the club on Friday morning. He spoke about Grief and how to deal with it. He stated that there is no option to grieving unless you don't love anyone. He said you don't get over it but learn to live with it.
Dr. West said that everyone grieves differently and that you need to lean in to it and don't ignore it and don't let the sun go down in anger. You have choices in grieving ,good and bad. He said that Grief is not an enemy.
Sunday, August 27, 2023
By John H. Valieant
Dr. Adrian Mayse, Dean of the Division of Business Administration spoke to the club on Friday. Dr. Mayse is new to Talladega College having previously been at Howard University. They have 333 students and 19 faulty, 6 are full time and 13 are part time. He stated that they are now developing a strategic plan and updating policies and procedures. They are also reviewing the curriculum and developing criteria for internships.
Friday, June 30, 2023
By John H. Valieant
Foch Salem, our president for the past two years rang the bell for the last time this morning and turned the gavel over to incoming president, Judetta Cowden.
Thanks Foch for all you did and Best of luck to Judetta in the coming year.
Friday, June 30, 2023
By John H. Valieant
Melissa Griffin from Griffin's Upholstery spoke this morning about the company business. The company has been in existence since 1949. She and her husband will be managing the company but her father-in-law is still there. She spoke about how reupholstery is much better than buying new furniture as it is much more economical. It was a very interesting presentation.
Friday, June 23, 2023
By John H. Valieant
Last evening at an Anniston Morning Rotary Club Social our new president, Judetta Cowden was inducted for the Rotary Year 2023-2024. Shown here is Judetta and outgoing president Foch Salem, who had been president for two years. Foch was thanked for his service and presented with the plaque and his past president pin.
Monday, May 22, 2023
By John H. Valieant
Fred Couch a longtime member of our club gave the club an update on the 650 mile Alabama River Trail over the last two meetings. The trail started as Fred's idea in 2006. He asked the club to help fund the trail and that's how it started.
The Trail today has four permanent employees and three part-time employees. It has been designated as a National River Trail and has 638 campsites. Each year there is race and this is the 5th year. The best time so far is 4 days, 2 hrs and 17 minutes. There are 4H Riverkids in 34 counties and the Trail has contributed $80,000 dollars to the 4H Riverkids for canoes, life vests and paddles.
The Trail continues to get better each year thanks to Fred's initiative and vision.
Friday, April 14, 2023
By John H. Valieant
Ava Smith, an eleventh grade student at Donoho School was our speaker this morning. She told us about her great experience at Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) at the Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville. It was a very interesting and upbeat presentation from a very poised young woman. Ava will be a RYLA Ambassador for next year's program.
Friday, March 10, 2023
By John H. Valieant
Thubelihle Nkiwane, the daughter of Zet Nkiwane, a member of our club, spoke to us this morning about the book she has recently written and published. The book is titled: "To The Inner-most Self".
Thubelihle, a very poised 20 year old, writes, "I speak about the fact that life is not the simple and pretty linear plot we expect it to be. Moving through life with uncertainties and pain, the reader gains insight on the importance of being in touch with one's internal world: the emotions, feelings, thoughts, intuition and purpose.
It was very enlightening to see the maturity of this young woman.
Friday, March 3, 2023
By John H. Valieant
Al Mathis, from the Rotary Club of Sylacauga, gave an inspiring talk this morning. He spoke about his Grandfather, Herbert J Taylor, President of Rotary International in 1954-1955. Al spoke about how his grandfather came to write the 4 Way Test for the Club Aluminum Company in 1932 and the affect it had on the culture of the company. In 1954 while serving as President of RI, he formally shared the 4 Way Test with Rotary, and the rest is history. This is a fascinating story about perseverance in the face of adversity and the success that followed.
Monday, February 13, 2023
By John H. Valieant
Maggie Burn Owen, the YMCA CEO spoke to the club on Friday about the Rock Steady Parkinson Program. It is a program to help empower individuals to fight the disease. It is a program to help delay the symptoms of Parkinson's. The program currently has 14 members with a support group of approximately 25 to 30.
Friday, January 13, 2023
By John H. Valieant
This morning at our club meeting Toby Bennington, The Director of Planning and Economic Development for the City of Anniston was officially inducted into the club as our newest member. Toby is a great addition to our membership.
After his induction he gave a short synopsis of his life and what is happening in Anniston. His comments were very well received.
Friday, January 6, 2023
By John H. Valieant
Margaret Hatley received her second Paul Harris Pin on Friday morning at our Club Meeting. Here she is shown receiving the pin from PDG John Valieant.
Saturday, October 22, 2022
By John H. Valieant
District Governor Carol Argo came to Anniston on Thursday and participated in the induction of officers of the Talladega Rotaract Club and then, on Friday morning visited Anniston Morning and presented Club President, Foch Salem with the theme banner for the year, Imagine Rotary.
Saturday, October 22, 2022
By John H. Valieant
District Governor Carol Argo inducted new Rotarian, Mike Mulcare at the Friday meeting of Anniston Morning. Mike and his wife Peggy are shown after the ceremony.
Saturday, October 22, 2022
By John H. Valieant
Talladega Rotaract Club held an induction ceremony for its new officers. The club sponsored by the Anniston Morning Rotary Club was recently chartered. District Governor Carol Argo participated in the induction along with President Foch Salem of Anniston Morning. The photo shows the officers and sponsor Judetta Cowden also a member of Anniston Morning.
Friday, October 7, 2022
By John H. Valieant
Last Friday, Zet Nkiwane gave us a very entertaining and in depth look at his native country, Zimbabwe. It is an 18 hour non stop flight from the United States. It is a beautiful and colorful country with large cities and colorful countrysides. It is a landlocked country which was a British Colony called Rhodesia until 1980 when the country gained its independence. It is surrounded by South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Mozambique. Its capital is Harare with a population of 1.2 million people.
Friday, September 9, 2022
By John H. Valieant
Last evening the club members, spouses and guests were hosted by Stephen and April LaFollette at their sky box at the Jacksonville State Football Stadium. It was a great evening of comradery and fellowship. The club hopes to continue events of this type each month.
Wednesday, August 10, 2022
By John H. Valieant
Last evening the Boys and Girls Club of North Central Alabama held a banquet at Jacksonville State University for their stakeholders as a thank you for their support. The boys and girls did a wonderful job of emceeing the program. Coach Rich Rodriquez, the Head Coach of the Jacksonville State football team, gave a very encouraging and uplifting talk. At the conclusion of the evening Johnny Bird, the Chief Executive of the Boys and Girls Club, thanked everyone and passed out a few awards. Anniston Morning Rotary was one of the organizations who received a Helping Hands Award for our commitment to the Boys and Girls Club.
Saturday, February 12, 2022
By John H. Valieant
Pete Conroy from JSU visited the club yesterday. Pete has done many things since coming to the area. He has been Curator of the Anniston Museum; worked with the Alabama Conservancy; Forever Wild and the Chief Ladiga Trail and has worked with several governors and worked on assisting with the acquisition of Mercedes.
Pete has been largely responsible for Little River Canyon becoming a National Park and the Park is now in the process of building a Destination Hotel next to the Falls. Pete is now working with the Freedom Riders National Monument and has acquired three buildings on Gurnee Avenue directly across from the Freedom Riders bus station which will be called The Anniston Freedom Center.
Friday, February 18, 2022
By John H. Valieant
Michael Brown, the Interim Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students, spoke to the club this morning. He has been involved as a counselor, Director of the Wellness Center as well handling the College's COVID 19 response. He gave a very interesting and stimulating talk about students today and the challenges they face such as social interface with others, wellness issues such as mental wellness and proper eating.
Michael has challenging positions at the College but from his discussion with us he is the right person for the job.
Tuesday, March 15, 2022
By John H. Valieant
We held our club meeting this past Friday at the Oxford Police Department Special Operations Facility. It was a tremendous visit and very enlightening. The Special Ops Team showed us around the facility and told us about all the equipment they have the capability of using from mobile command centers to Armored Vehicles to drones and helicopters.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
By Scott Brightwell
On Friday March 2, 2012 at our regular Rotary Meeting twelve members were surprised when they were presented with a Paul Harris pin and certificate. With the addition of these twelve, Anniston Morning is now a 100% Paul Harris Club. This is a great honor because there are only two other clubs in the District with 100%.
Congratulations to: Kerry Holt, James Edgar, Jim Freind, Vickie Simmons, Alan Green, Pramod Vadlamani, Theresa Lackey, Melanie Delap, Margaret Hatley, Annie Brunson, Stephen LaFollette and Cindy James.