Fundraising is progressing nicely. The number of donors has surpassed last year, but donations lag. At the end of March last year we had commitments of $15,646 compared to $14,665 this year—only a $1,000 difference. Don Day says more is in the pipeline.

To prepare members for the Shoot, Terry Robinson and Jack Whitmire provided a program to increase members’ knowledge of the annual event. They shared that the event has raised almost $50,000 since it started in August 1998. Last year we were prepared to serve 350 steaks. The dinner served by the Chief of Police and Sheriff sold for $2,300. All Club members are needed to make this a successful event.

Call for Target—The target may be launched immediately or with a delay of up to 3 seconds.

Shotgun Mount and Position—The shooter may start with a low gun or a pre-mounted gun when calling for the target.

Targets will be presented for attempt by the shooter and scored at each station in simultaneous pairs format. The shooter has the right to shoot either of the targets first. If the shooter has missed the first target he may fire the second cartridge at the same target. Should the shooter break both targets with either the first or second shot then the result will be scored as two hits.

In the event of a “no Bird,” nothing can be established. Two good targets must be present to record the score. “No Bird” is called when a target comes from the trap broken or is obviously off trajectory.

The first person on every squad shall be allowed to view a good presentation of targets from within the shooting station.

Field Judges will score each shooter's attempts on the individual’s scorecard in ink and then initial.

Shooters are responsible for checking the Field Judge's totals of “hits and misses” at each station.

Targets shall be scored as “hit” or “dead” and designated on scorecards by an (X) when a visible piece has been broken from the target. Targets not struck shall be called “lost” or “missed” and designated by an (O).

The call of “dead or lost” or “hit or miss” shall be announced prior to recording the score on every target.

If the shooter disagrees with the Field Judge's call, he/she must protest before leaving that station. The Field Judge may poll the spectators and may reverse his/her original call. In all cases the final decision of the Field Judge will stand.

Corporate sponsors. We continue to do well with corporate sponsors. We have signed 15 compared to last year’s 10. They are: Chesnick Furniture, Speedy Stop, Brannan Paving, Alexander & Marek, Ruth L. Constant, Inc., Suwannee Supply, Sather Financial Group, Texas Glass & Tinting, PPG Auto Glass, Victoria All-Sports, Jack Whitmire, Dow—Seadrift Operation, Crossroads Cellular, and First Victoria National Bank.

Station Sponsors. The number of station sponsors is the same as last year—11. They are Victoria Business Magazine, Lowe’s Companies, The Victoria Advocate, Shirley Breedlove, Greg Haynes Allstate, Pat Pachta State Farm, Brown & Associates, JHC Insurance, Friendly Oaks Bed & Breakfast, David Drost & Bruce Bauknight, and Victoria OMS Associates.

Youth Sponsors. There has been a big drop in youth sponsors There are seven compared to 14 last year. The youth sponsors are Westermeier Consulting, Colonial Funeral Homes, Six Flags Glass, Truman Transfer & Storage, Cole Cole & Easley, BHP Engineering & Construction, and Barbara Briggs.

Auction Sponsors. The following have donated to the auction—C.O. Firestone-Rio Grande, Kitchen & Bath Showplace, Victoria Communications Services, Boardwalk Properties, Frost Insurance, All American Awards & Trophies, Wells-Fargo, Robert E. Lee, III, VCS Security Systems, Fagan Answering Services, R.E. Clegg, Janecka Insurance, and Hodgkinson PC.

Cally’s back from PETS Cally Fromme

The Presidents Elect Training Seminar was a terrific experience that really inspired me to lead you through a great year. The Rotary International theme will be Sow the Seeds of Love. Our new RI president has a sensible bottom-up philosophy of management. He is empowering each club to set its own goals for the year. This is very exciting to me. This allows us to take a close look at what is important to our club in Victoria, Texas. We will be able to decide what seeds need to be planted, where they should be planted, what kind of care and nurturing the seeds may need, how many seeds we will plant, and what to do with the harvest.

I am very eager to get started...this is spring, after all! What a perfect opportunity to plan this garden with the other 96 of you. Get prepared to roll up your sleeves and get a little dirt on your hands. If you join me, you will be rewarded in reaping what you sow.

One of the seed packets provided by PETS is Rotary’s 100th birthday. We need to prepare to plant, so we can reap a community service project honoring it in 2005.

The last of the grants approved the Board of Directors was distributed March 19.

The recipients were:   

Bobby Schaar heads this committee and would be the best source for additional information.

Four programs are needed to finish the year

We have four unfilled programs between now and July 1—two in May and two in June. If you have a good idea for a program, contact Phyllis Hunt, 573-5277 or phyllishunt@victoriachamber.org.

RI President Rick King has announced that world-famous entertainer Jerry Lewis will receive an award for his “outstanding humanitarian service” on behalf of children with disabilities. The award, which will be presented at the 2002 RI Convention, will honor Lewis for helping to raise more than $1.8 billion for the Muscular Dystrophy Association since 1951. The entertainer is scheduled to give a 40 minute performance.

The Frommes, FitzSimmons, and Whitmires will be there enjoying the fun, festivities, and Spanish hospitality.

Architect Beverage Distributor
Chemical Manager Grocer
Jeweler Marketing Consultant
Media Representative Florist
Petroleum Person Travel Agent

Our three teams finished the Knowledge Bowl. We don’t have to worry about building a trophy case—no prizes this year.

Know Wheels—Tim Braaten, Jerry FitzSimmons, Bobby Leon, Jack Whitmire—led the Rotary teams. Cog-nitators—Joe Truman, Gene Rice, John Crabtree, guest—was close behind. Rotary Knowtary—Bill Brown, Mary Hodgkinson, Sally & Randy Covacevich—had a lot of fun. Make plans to participate next year.

We are much better at cookie stacking. Our team—Bill McLeod, Mary Hodgkinson, Bill Brown, and Phyllis Hunt—won the Girl Scout Cookie Stacking Contest.

Five join Victoria Rotary Club in the winter quarter

      
Bob Pearce                    Dan Fultz     

       
Dr Joe Podolak                 Hayden Gregg                    Carlos Saenz

Assets

Total Assets                                40,065

Equity                                             40,065