Program Highlights from 9/12/11 By: Steve Spry

I have to be up front and totally honest with y’all. What I keep reckoning back to from this week’s meeting, what stands out first and foremost in my memory is the Art and Beer night held at the Wiregrass Museum of Art. I thought Tara Holman, our new Museum Director and this week’s speaker said it occurred in October so I looked it up on the museum’s website and confirmed that The Art of the Brew will be held October 27 from 6-9pm at the museum. That’s a “heads up” to any other Rotarians, like me, who enjoy a glass of ale or lager every now and again. Tara said there was also wine served at Thursday’s “Wine & Art Afterhours” events for those so inclined.

Of course there’s also the subject of “art” being presented at our museum and although the walls of the museum are adorned with contemporary and abstract art for the most part, there are events, and other art exhibits planned featuring other forms and types of art. Among other activities that the museum features are outreach programs designed to enrich the school age children in our area.

Tara believes that art instilled in children at an early age can help develop the child in the areas of critical thinking and abstract thinking. One exercise that she administers to children in the outreach programs involves placement of shapes on a piece of paper. She believes this enables a child to hone his or her skills in the area of critical thinking by employing a sense of balance in their art creation that is unique to them and forces them to “think outside the box”. One of the downfalls of personalities occurs when we become entrenched into a limited comfort zone and subscribe to a philosophy which draws upon what has always been done rather than to explore new avenues in unconventional problem solving. I think we all have run into people from time to time in our lives that refuse to look at differing points of view simply because it has never been done that way before. I know I hear that a whole lot! Tara feels that some early art classes may have helped those sort of people.

The other beneficial exercise, according to Tara, that is part of the outreach program involves the development of a child’s abstract thinking process. Tara has the children list the letters A, B and C on the reverse side of their artwork and asks them to list items in their lives that begin with each letter. Unfortunately, she says art programs have been cut out of most elementary and middle schools in our area due to budget constraints. She feels that we may be missing the objective of art by denying lower grade children exposure to critical thinking and abstract thinking exercises which art programs can supply. She says that by the time kids reach high school level where art classes are still offered their method of solving problems has already been established.

Other programs at the Wiregrass Museum of Art include a list of adult-oriented programs, family programs, school tours, and teachers and schools. Future art exhibits include “Patterns of Conflict”, “InFocus”, “Interwoven”, and “Fall Colors”, AND BEER!!! A detailed list of each and every current or upcoming exhibition can be found by visiting the Wiregrass Museum of Arts website at www.wiregrassmuseum.org.

The museum is partially funded by grants from the City of Dothan, the Wiregrass Foundation, the Alfred Saliba Early Start Program, and various fund raisers which the museum holds periodically. They also accept donations from individuals, companies and corporations. Contact Tara Holman at the museum or go to their website for further information regarding upcoming events, exhibits, ways to contribute, and information on meeting space for your next business meeting or private social event. And don’t forget the beer, oh, and art too, October 27, 6-9pm!!

	Dothan Rotary Club Officers and Directors By: Hal Edwards

Names of Elected Officers and Directors for the 2012-2013 Year

Visit DothanRotary.com for more info...

	Upcoming Events

09/19/2011 - Upcoming Event
Program:Bill Lee
Rodolfo Alger:"What's Behind a Good Cup of Coffee?"
Invocation:Buddy Pitman
Introductions:John Brown
Ambassadors:Brian Duncan and Jeff Collins
Camp ASCCA Drawing:Terry Duffie and Phillip Tidwell

09/26/2011 - Upcoming Event
Program:Bob Rudder
"Hal Edwards went to The Rotary International Convention in New Orleans"
Invocation:Tom Roney
Introductions:Paul Lee
Ambassadors:Bill Durden and Charles Fails
Camp ASCCA Drawing:George Flowers and James Etheredge

10/03/2011 - Upcoming Event
Program:Rotary District 6880 Governor Tom Mann
Invocation:Jason Rudd
Introductions:James Etheredge
Ambassadors:Vic Pemberton and Jerry Freyberg
Camp ASCCA Drawing:Paul Lee and Bill Castlen

10/10/2011 - Upcoming Event
COLUMBUS DAY
NO ROTARY MEETING

	Joined Member Jerry Freyberg... By: Jerry Freyberg

Joined: 08/15/2011
Proposed by: Ronnie Dean
Classification: Non-profit
Occupation: Alabama-Florida Council, BSA
Job Title: Executive Director
Education: BA degree - Southwestern Michigan College; Central Washington University, Ellensburg Washington
Spouse: Tammy Freyberg
Children: Sons, Brad and Mark
Place of worship: First Presbyterian Church-Dothan
Hobbies: Hiking, Canoeing, Mountain Biking

	Joined Member Vic Pemberton... By: Vic Pemberton

Joined: 08/15/2011
Proposed by: John Watson
Classification: Food Services
Occupation: Pepi Food Services
Job Title: CEO
Education: MSU Executive Development
Spouse: Lorie Pemberton
Children: Sons, Donnie and David; Daughter, Jenny
Place of worship: Wiregrass Church
Hobbies: Golf, BBall

	Joined Member Tim Wilder... By: Tim Wilder

Joined: 09/12/2011
Proposed by: Dell Goodwin
Classification: Education
Occupation: Dothan City Schools
Job Title: Superintendent
Education: MS Educational Leadership; BS Communications; FSU; Georgia Southern Univ;
Children: Son, Walt; Daughter, Kaley
Place of worship: Methodist
Hobbies: Fishing, Hunting

	Joined Member Chris Mitchell... By: Chris Mitchell

Joined: 09/12/2011
Proposed by: Steve Thompson
Classification: Insurance
Occupation: Cincinnati Insurance Company
Job Title: Claims Specialist
Education: BA Auburn University
Spouse: Holly Mitchell
Children: Son, Gray; Daughter, Katherine
Place of worship: First United Methodist Church Dothan
Hobbies: Running, Biking, Singing, Hunting, Fishing

	The District 6880 Dispatch By: Bruce McNeal

Visit DothanRotary.com for more info...

	ROTARY PROGRAMS By: David Hanks

ROTARY PROGRAMS - NEXT QUARTER
October 3: Rotary District Governor, Tom Mann
October 10: No Meeting-Columbus Day
October 17: Doug Blankenship
October 24: Mike Azar
October 31: Jerry Adkinson
November 7: Buddy Pitman
November 14: White Elephant Sale
November 21: Gene Ragan
November 28: Larry Register
December 5: John Brown
December 12: Senior Citizens' Luncheon/Foster Children's Program
December 19: Bill Blount
December 26: No Meeting-Christmas
January 2: No Meeting-New Years'

	End Polio Now By: Mike Azar

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	Anniversary List

Sep-19...Paul Lee
Sep-21...Benjamin Lewis
Sep-28...Bill Lee
Sep-30...Jason Angeloff, Steve Spry
Oct-01...Sam Wainwright
Oct-04...Bill Durden
Oct-06...Roger Burchett
Oct-07...Kelli Pylant
Oct-11...Don Blish, Ron Owen
Oct-13...Greg Gregory
Oct-15...Willis Smitherman
Oct-16...Jack Carpenter

	Birthday List

Sep-21...Brian Duncan, Cynthia Green
Sep-22...Mark Chambers
Sep-23...Doug Hancock
Sep-24...Ronnie Dean
Sep-27...Archie Solomon
Sep-30...Ed McDaniel
Oct-01...Jeff Bauman
Oct-05...Les Pinckard
Oct-06...S. Lee Thomas
Oct-07...Margaret Futch, Paul Lee, Rufus Lee
Oct-09...Les Moreland
Oct-10...Buddy Pitman
Oct-17...Bill Lee