2004-2005 Club History/Activities

Total membership on July 1, 2004 was 143.   With leadership of King Rogers,  RCME chartered the Millington Rotary Club with  25 members.  Charter night was held on January 13, 2005.  The second annual Bobby Dunavant Public Service Award was held on February 16th with 700-plus attendees at The Peabody Hotel with Governor Phil Bredesen, the keynote speaker.   Honored recipients were Bill Gibbons and Joe Reves.  The year was marked with  outstanding programs. Many changes were seen at Georgia Avenue Elementary, with the announced retirement of Principal Dorothy Walker in May 2005.  Locke Elementary  merged  with Georgia Avenue in the fall of 2005 with Patrick Washington named principal.  Ellen Forman was named Teacher of the Year, 82 students received Angel Tree gifts, students had field trip to the Memphis Symphony, and Laura Colgate, violinist, held a benefit concert at GPAC for the school’s music department. New dutch-treat monthly  socials were added to foster  camaraderie  among members.  Holiday party was held at the home of Dr. Jim & Karen Avery  with the Newcomers Reception at the offices of President Lee Greene in the Sparks Building.  The annual fund drive raised $16,000 for RCME Foundation.  The Bobby Dunavant Golf Classic held at Germantown Country Club with 24 teams netted $12,500 for the club’s charitable projects. Scholarships in the amount of $2,000 were awarded to Craigmont Interact students and five Interact students attended the District Youth Leadership Conference. Larry Colbert was named Rotarian of the Year. John Glass, Lee Greene, and Maureen Gordon were named Paul Harris Fellows. Membership on June 30, 2005  was 141.