Lake Butler Community Page News Tidbits

By Ted Barber

CLUB PRESIDENT SHANE COLLINS CALLED THE LAKE BUTLER ROTARY CLUB TO ORDER FOLLOWING ANOTHER OUTSTANDING MEAL AND FELLOWSHIP. TED BARBER PROVIDED THE OPENING PRAYER THANKING THE LORD GOD FOR THE MEAL AND FELLOWSHIP, THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIENCE AND SONG, ‘ARE YOU HAPPY AND YOU KNOW IT” WAS INITIATED BY KALEB ARCHER. SHANE INTRODUCED REBEKAH ELIXSON (A THREE TIME VISITOR AND SOON TO BE MADE A CLUB MEMBER), AND EMILY SANCHEZ WHO IS ALSO A POTENTIAL NEW CLUB MEMBER.

TYLER KELLEY ASKED THE “DID YOU KNOW?” QUESTION, “IN 1812 FORT ROSS WAS ESTABLISHED IN CALIFORNIA AS AN ATTEMPT TO GAIN A FOOTHOLD IN THE WEALTH AND EXPANSION OF THE WEST. WHICH COUNTRY ESTABLISHED THE FORT?” NO ONE HAD THE CORRECT ANSWER WHICH WAS RUSSIA. TODAY FORT ROSS IS A 3,400 ACRE STATE PARK 11 MILES NORTH OF JENNER ON CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY ONE. IT IS ONE OF THE MOST SCENIC COASTAL ROUTES IN THE WORLD SURROUNDED BY REDWOOD FORRESTS, SANDY BEACHES, PANORAMIC COVES AND BREATHTAKING VIEWS OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN.

SHANE PROVIDED A VIDEO OF GROUNDHOG DAY 2021 WHERE PUNXSUTAWNEY PHIL IN PENNSYLVANIA PREDICTED WINTER WILL CONTINUE FOR SIX MORE WEEKS. THE FILM CLIP SHOWED LIGHT SNOW WAS FALLING THIS MORNING AS THE CROWD WATCHED THE GROUND HOG.

SHANE THEN ANNOUNCED THAT WE HAVE A SEPARATE ACCOUNT FOR THE WHITE CROSS WITH AMERICAN FLAG PROJECT TO HONOR VETERANS. HE ENCOURAGED THE ROTARIANS IN ATTENDANCE TO SPREAD THE WORD THAT THESE CROSSES WILL BE DISPLAYED ALONG SR 121 IN LAKE BUTLER ON VETERANS DAY AND MEMORIAL DAY FOR THREE WEEKS EACH. SIGNUP SHEETS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTION OFFICE AND FROM LOCAL ROTARIANS. THE COST IS $40 FOR TWO YEARS AND WE THANK THE UCHS FOR MAKING THE CROSSES. A SECURE STORAGE LOCATION IS STILL NEEDED FOR THE FLAGS AND CROSSES.

SINCE OUR PROGRAM CHAIRPESON WAS UNAVAILABLE, SHANE ASKED FOR COMMUNITY UPDATES. GARRETT MILTON MENTIONED THAT ALEXANDRA PRITCHETT IS IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING A FACEBOOK PAGE FOR OUR CLUB. TED BARBER MENTIONED THAT WE SHOULD THANK DAVID STEGALL FOR POSTING OUR WEEKLY CLUB MEETING SUMMARIES ON HIS FREE LAKE BUTLER COMMUNITY PAGE. THE ANNUAL FOURTH OF JULY ACTIVITIES ARE PRESENTLY IN THE “GO” STATUS AND WE MAY HAVE A FUNDRAISER FOR THE FIREWORKS. HE PLANS TO ORGANIZE A PLANNING COMMITTEE. DALE WALKER MENTIONED THE UPCOMING BOAT RACES IN APRIL ON LAKE BUTLER LAKE MAY BE AN OPPORTUNITY

FOR THE ROTARY CLUB TO RAISE SOME FUNDS. SHANE HAD US DISMISS EARLY WITH THE ROTARY INTERNATIONAL MOTTO, “ONE PROFITS MOST WHO SERVES BEST!”

UPCOMING PROGRAMS: TED BARBER –FEB 9, LAKE BUTLER VALENTINE LUNCHEON (WOMAN’S CLUB)-FEB 16, AKEXANDRA PRITCHETT-FEB 23, SHANE COLLINS-MAR 2, GARRETT MILTON-MAR 9, ART PETERSON-MAR 16, SARA OWEN- MAR 23, TYLER KELLEY- MAR 30 AND BRIAN REAGAN- APR 6.