Latest DTOC News
Mark McDonald Speaks About The Submarine “USS Mississippi”
January 28, 2012
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.
Jerry Fox Describes The UMVIM Ramp Ministry
January 17, 2012
On January 17th, 2012,
Jerry Fox came to speak to the DTOC membership about the ramp ministry of the United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (VIM) organization. Supported by local churches, this group provides accessibility for the elderly and disabled by installing ramps, steps and hand-rails.
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.
Dusty Culpepper Receives 10-Year Award
January 17, 2012
After 10 years of faithful participation as a member of the Downtown Optimist Club of Meridian, Dusty Culpepper was awarded a plaque in appreciation for all the pancakes he’s flipped, mud he’s tracked home from the t-ball field and leadership he has shown throughout his years of service!
Dusty Culpepper works at Anderson Regional Medical Center and coaches youth in various sporting events.
David Mock Describes His Work At Righteous Oaks Recovery Center
January 10, 2012
On Tuesday, January 10th, 2012, our speaker was David Mock, Director of Operations for Righteous Oaks Recovery Center. David described in some detail the path that brought him to the Meridian area and led him to create this recovery center plus some of the success stories of their patients.
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.
Photographer Randy Rives Explains Digital Photography
December 20, 2011
Just in time for Christmas, DTOC Member Randy Rives was our guest speaker to discuss digital photography and will let us know which digital camera we should buy. Randy gave a great presentation about some of the techniques and tricks of getting more good photos than bad using digital cameras.
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
Optimism In Your Inbox
