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Over The Coffeecups
Warren Mitchell - Editor
TODAY'S
PROGRAM
Bill Scarborough will introduce Col. Tom Hall,
who began his Air Force career in 1974 after graduating from
the U.S. Air Force Academy. He flew B-52's, RC-135's and
flight tested the B-1. He has also worked as an intelligence
analyst in the Pentagon and as a staff officer. During his
career he traveled to 33 countries and all 50 states. He
served 2 years at NATO in Brussels, Belgium. He commanded the
11th Operations Group at Bolling Field, Washington, D.C.,
where he was responsible for the AF Band and Drill Team. Col.
Hall is finishing his career at the Air War College at Maxwell
A.F. Base, where he is Chairman of the Dept. of Leadership and
Ethics.
He and his wife are from
Ashland, Kentucky. They have 2 sons, ages 22 and 20.
LAST
WEEKS PROGRAM
Past
President George Worley introduced Lynn Gowan,
Montgomery County Commissioner for District 5. Lynn took the
job in 1987 and when Bill Joseph leaves in October he will be
the oldest member of the commission in service.
He is a member of the
Montgomery Downtown Kiwanis Club and lead the Alabama Fair.
Commissioner Gowan thanked
George for his introduction and said "It was the first
standing ovation he had ever gotten". He asked how many came
for the food that morning. He came for the $500 George
promised him. (Followed by "That was true") George told him
we would be happy to have him; some of us would be happy when
he left. Either way, he would bring a lot of happiness.
He talked about some of the
things that had gone on in the country the last few years;
challenges that we met and how this country, more than any
other time, is on the edge of greatness.
Montgomery County is older
than the state by 3 years. The county seat was the capitol
for a while. There were two competing land companies,
starting the original cities. One was called New
Philadelphia; around the Capitol on Dexter Ave. and Jefferson
Ave. The other was, Alabama Town, on the bluff of the river.
Montgomery County was formed by the 2 competing companies
joining together; also formed the city of Montgomery. New
Town had a court house on the square. Settlers borrowed $500
to build the court house; a long way from today's budget of $1
million. Back then we were the center of commerce for this
area. Cotton was king; rich land surrounding the area brought
in rich planters. This was the center for opportunity.
People could come in and invest their money.
We are now on
the verge of that same thing happening again on a bigger
level. The last several years recruiting Hyundai to come here
was an exciting time. This time next year, cars will roll off
the assembly line. The impact will be tremendous on us,
meaning thousands of jobs. We have not had that experience
before. With this have come challenges.
This will not be the major
economic asset; Maxwell-Gunter Air Force complex has a great
impact on the area. It adds approximately 1.2 billion dollars
to the areas economy.
The commission has looked at
other communities that have experienced expansion. The
population in the next 20 years will increase 200,000 people.
Getting the plant here has put a tremendous strain on
facilities and services. Project 20-20 will have to be looked
at by the commission. It will need to plan
5-10 years ahead to see what
is needed in schools, roads, etc. The jail has been a
problem. A new jail is critically needed. Land has been
bought; owned by a bank that went bankrupt. (Got a great
deal) The land is 100 acres off Ripley St.
He said a lot of things
about the schools aren't right. In the 17 years he has been
on the commission, he now has confidence in the direction the
schools are starting to take. The County gives 1/3 of its
$100 million budget to the school system. He had voted for a
1 cent tax for education. The Commission wanted
accountability to get rid of teachers who are not getting the
job done. They're working on weeding such people out of the
system. Part of the process would include getting rid of
principals who are not performing well.
It was promised that part of
the money raised would implement the "Read Initiative Program"
where Alabama has lead the nation. Alabama has the best
reading initiative; other places in the country have copied
it. However, it has not been completely implemented in the
state, especially in Montgomery. In the past year reading
scores have improved tremendously. Teachers have been
inspired, because students are reading more. They're already
encouraged by the increase in reading scores. One outcome of
this is the drop in disciplinary problems.
They will do the same thing
in science. Improvement is being made, but a lot of areas
still need improvement. We need a system that works. If not,
people looking to locate here will not notice us.
We need to look at zoning in
the county. A mechanism needs to be in place to control
building. They need to protect property values with long
range planning.
This county has done well in
the past 15-20 years. It has been well run, well managed and
have had people like Bill Joseph doing a great job. Good
people have been hired to get them out of trouble. The county
had little debt. That allowed them to take on a project like
the Hyundai plant.
Lynn answered some questions
from the members.
LAST
WEEK'S GUESTS
Mike
Horsely had as his guest, Bill Goolsby, an old
friend.
ENTERTAINMENT
Al McLellan told a
story that he had found with the best western humor called,
"Jake the Rancher".
Jake went one day to fix a
fence. The temperature dropped and snow started to fall. The
truck wouldn't start, so he bowed his head and prayed. They
found him 3 days later frozen. When he go to heaven he found
it like Wyoming. He talked a while with St. Peter, saying he
had always heard God answers prayers, but why does he answer
some and not others? He asked what the heck is the deal. "So
you're the one whose truck wouldn't start and you sent your
prayers a flying. Angels checked your file, but they hadn't
heard from you in a while. All prayers are answered, but God
didn't recognize your voice and started a truck in North
Dakota". You better keep in touch.
THOUGHT
FOR THE DAY
Mike had a thought
on gardening for daily living. Plant 3 rows of peas; peace of
mind, peace of soul, and peace of heart. Plant 4 rows of
lettuce; let us be kind, let us be faithful, let us be
patient, and let us love one another. Plant turnips; turn up
for meetings, turn up for service, turn up for one another,
time for families and friends.
Water freely with patience,
cultivate with love, and there will be much fruit in the
garden, because you reap what you sow.
IN
MEMORIAM
Ed
Melton's sister Mary Arthur Melton Offween died
last week. Our sympathies, Ed.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
June 23rd - An
interclub will be held with the Millbrook Club for lunch at
Miss Mary's at noon; downtown Millbrook.
July 8th - A Club
assessment will be done. Surveys will be passed out at the
meeting.
July 12th - Board
will meet.
July 30-31 - State
Convention will be held in Dothan.
John Burch will
attend the International Convention at the end of the month to
represent the Club.
REPORTS
FROM BOARD
A decision was made to send
3 Boy Scouts to camp.
We're participating in a 12
year program, Partners with Blue Cross, providing $480
for health insurance for children.
BIRTHDAYS
& ANNIVERSARIES
JUNE
BIRTHDAYS:
15th -
Bill Scarborough, 16th - Ken Dowdy, 19th - Milt Livingston &
Frank Wells
JUNE
ANNIVERSARIES:
Barnie
Paulson-9, David Hancock-11, Al McLellan-16, Mike Winstead-19,
Malcolm Bush, 21, Mark Wilkinson-24,
Warren
Mitchell-27
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