Mark McDonald & The USS Mississippi

On Tuesday, January 24th our speaker was Mark McDonald. Mark is the Commissioning Committee Chairman for the USS Mississippi, a Virginia-class submarine that will be put into service later this year.

From Wikipedia:

PCU Mississippi (SSN-782) is a Virginia-class submarine of the United States Navy, named for the state of Mississippi. The contract to build her was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut on 14 August 2003. PCU-Mississippi’s keel was laid down on 9 June 2010. PCU-Mississippi was christened on December 3rd, 2011 at General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, Connecticut. Allison Stiller, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy, is the ship’s sponsor. The submarine is expected to be commissioned at a ceremony next June in Gulfport, Mississippi.

The Meridian District VIM Ramp Project Ministry was started in May of 1999 in response to a local pastor’s request to build a ramp for a disabled man who lived near the church he was serving. Volunteers built a second ramp in 1999 and then built five more in 2000. In 2001, a total of thirty-one ramps were built in the five county area including Clarke, Kemper, Lauderdale, Neshoba, and Newton counties. In 2010, a total of 93 ramp projects were completed for the elderly and handicapped. Since the program started over 650 ramp, step and handrail produces have been completed.

The ramps installed are temporary in that they are easily disassembled when no longer needed for reuse at another location. Recycling of ramps help reduce the cost of ramps significantly.

While the Ramp Project Ministry is sponsored by the Meridian District UMC under United Methodist Volunteers In Mission (UMVIM), many of the volunteers (both lay and clergy) give of their time, talents and financial support to pre-build and install these ramps come from other denominations including Baptist, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, Episcopal, Nazarene, Chruch of Christ, Church of God, non-denominational congregations and non-profit service agencies.

ALL LABOR IS VOLUNTEER! No one gets paid. 100% of your donation is used to purchase materials to finish projects. Volunteers and donations are always welcome. There is never a charge to an individual for a ramp, but donations are welcome from everyone.

If you are interested in volunteering or want to send a tax deductible donation mail to:

Dusty Culpepper works at Anderson Regional Medical Center and coaches youth in various sporting events.

Righteous Oaks Recovery Center

http://www.righteousoaksrecoverycenter.com

From Righteous Oaks’ Website:

Righteous Oaks Recovery Center is a interdenominational, interracial, six-month “in resident” biblically-based worship and work program of biblical teaching. We offer a soundly structured daily schedule whose rules, policy and procedures teach the men responsible behavior and good work habits. During the work times, the Ministry Staff encourages the men to remain in fellowship with each other as they work together daily, building social skills that demonstrate the love and behavior of Christ one to the other. We consider Righteous Oaks to be not only a individual healing Ministry, but a family healing Ministry as well. Family members are encouraged to participate as much as possible in church services and other Ministry activities. The resident’s family members are very important to us.

Righteous Oaks works closely with Mississippi Department of Corrections, Law Enforcement Agencies and the Judicial System to give men an alternative to incarceration when they run afoul of the law in their addictive behaviors. God has blessed us with a remarkable record of healing success in our program.

Righteous Oaks Recovery Center is a privately owned and privately operated non-profit Ministry. We are funded through tuition paid by our residents, private individuals, local businesses, churches and civic clubs.

Just in case you didn’t already know, Randy is our club photographer and handles all of the player and team photos for our T-Ball Program as well.

PS: For the record, the photo shown was not taken by Randy and therefore should not be considered representative of his professional work!

PSS: You can see some of Randy’s work at: http://www.rivesphoto.com

Don McNair Receives Award From Eddy Chaney

In recognition of his many years of service to the Downtown Optimist Club of Meridian and in particular for his dedicated work as our club secretary and treasurer, the DTOC recently awarded Don McNair a plaque as a small token of our appreciation. President Eddy Chaney presented the award to Don at our regular Tuesday Meeting on December 13th, 2011. Don plans to retire from an active role in the DTOC, but has graciously offered to assist with any of our events and even plans to join us from time to time for lunch.

Don McNair is a Meridian native and was a local businessman with F.W. Williams and USF&G for 30 years. He joined the Optimist Club in May, 1962 and served in various roles as a baseball coach and Youth League President at Randall Field. He was awarded Optimist International Life Membership status in 1975 in recognition of his dependable support as a “Friend Of Youth”.

Later, Don became a charter member of the North Hills Optimist Club, formed to expand youth baseball at Hardin Field in North Meridian. He was a co-founder of Rookie League Baseball in Meridian and served as a coach and club President during the 1980′s.In 1999, Don returned to full time Optimist action in the Downtown Optimist Club and became Secretary/Treasurer in 2004. He served in this role until his retirement in December, 2011.

Donald Eric McNair

Don’s father, Donald Eric McNair (1909-1949) was a noted professional baseball player (shortstop) who was inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall Of Fame in 1963. Eric McNair played with the Memphis Chicks and Knoxville Smokies from 1928 until 1929 when he joined the Philadelphia Athletics.

He played with the Athletics until 1935, played in the 1930 and 1931 World Series’ and in 1932 McNair led the American League with 47 Doubles in 1932. McNair played for the Boston Red Sox (1936-1938), the Chicago Cubs (1939-1940) and the Detroit Tigers (1941-1942).

In 1932, Eric McNair played in an All-Star exhibition game in Japan where two of his teammates were Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth.

VP Gene Vance with Gary Turbville

Gary Turbville was awarded the Second Annual Friend Of Youth Award in recognition of his work to help children. Gary has created a wonderful organization (Cans For Kids) funded in large part by Gary recycling empty beverage cans. He started by picking up cans along the road and has expanded his effort to include setting up can collection areas at local businesses and churches. One hundred percent of the funds Gary raises goes toward providing assistance to families during the year as well as providing presents and food at Christmas time for between 140 and 250 children.

The Downtown Optimist Club is proud to recognize the efforts of Gary Turbville and Cans For Kids by awarding Gary the DTOC Friend Of Youth Award for 2011.

In 2010 and again in 2011, the DTOC doubled their annual Christmas donations to these organizations and gave each organization $1,000 to help offset some of the higher costs these groups are experiencing due to increased requests for help. With the stagnate economy, greater need and lower donations, the membership of the DTOC decided to increase their level of support and in doing so, challenge other community groups to increase their support as well.

The presentation of the donations took place on Tuesday, December 6th, 2011, the same day DTOC membership volunteered to ring bells for The Salvation Army. Vice President Gene Vance gave out the donations and asked all the representatives of the groups to provide an overview of the work they are doing for children.

Justice Randy Pierce At DTOC Meeting

MS Supreme Court Justice Randy Pierce was the guest speaker at the Downtown Optimist Club today to talk about and read from his recently published fiction novel, “Pain Unforgiven“. The meeting was well attended by members  and included some visitors from the Lauderdale County Bar Association who had been invited to attend as well.

Justice Pierce took some time to explain his background and then provided listeners with an overview of the plot of the book and read selected passages. He described how he was encouraged by his staff to find a hobby and after examining his heart he realized that he had always wanted to write a book and he felt he had a story to tell. The story of the novel takes place in Greene County where he grew up rather than a fictionalized location because as Pierce said, “There are some great people and places in my hometown and I wanted to show them off to the world.” The novel takes a controversial look into the life of Grant Hicks, a successful Atlanta attorney from rural Greene County, Mississippi. Pierce’s novel introduces the reader to a host of unforgettable characters, situations and issues that captivate the hearts of small town America.

Justice Randy Pierce holds two degrees from the University of Southern Mississippi, a Bachelor of Science and MBA. Pierce received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Mississippi and is also a CPA. He has served in the Mississippi House of Representatives on the Agriculture, Transportation, Corrections, and Judiciary Committees. and as a Chancery Court Judge. He currently is an Associate Justice on the Mississippi Supreme Court serving the Southern District, Place Two, which covers 27 counties. “Pain Unforgiven” is his first novel, and, like his speeches, a perfect example of his ability to capture the audience and never let go.

You can learn more about “Pain Unforgiven” here: http://painunforgiven.com/

For more information on the Golden Spikes here is a link to their website.
http://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?cmenuid=1&url=goldenspikesbaseballclub&sid=1031204415

Thanks again,
Scotty Bailey

Golden Spikes