ur “Rotarian of the Day” today is Ben Estes. You know Ben; he’s always very quiet and dressed to the nines for every meeting.
Ben was born in Tulsa on October 19, 1942, graduating from Edison High School in 1960 and the University of Tulsa in 1964 with a B.A. degree in business administration. He was vice president of Merrill Lynch but rumor has it that he retired. He is married to Shirley and they have two children, Kelley (1964) and Ben III (1967).
Ben has been in Southside since 1989, and Bill Ward proposed him for membership. He served as community service director in 1992-1993 and is a Paul Harris Fellow, Southside Star and Benefactor. He currently serves on the Southside Foundation as vice president. Ben enjoys real motorcycles and is a magnificent cook. We’ll get a chance to taste that cooking when he makes his brisket for the Scotch and Cigar Night on Oct. 3.
Ben, thank you for arranging our program today.
This Week’s Program
The Southside Foundation
he Board of Trustees of the Southside Foundation (also known as the people who take your birthday/anniversary check) will present the program today. This year’s trustees are: John Haley, Ben Estes, Lynn Fesperman, Robert Reins, and Russ Robinson.
Thank you, gentlemen, for presenting today’s program.
Southsider Quick Notes
Last week…
- The ROD last week was Kevin Blair and our speaker was Isabell Estes. We learned that most of the people in our club are “D” types.
- Tulsa Police Chief Ron Palmer was initiated as an honorary member. Considering how much grief we gave him when he was a speaker once a year, I’m surprised he agreed to put up with the abuse on a weekly basis.
- Nov. 4 is the Will Rogers Entertainment Gala. Tickets are $125 per person, and the award recipient this year is Toby Keith.
- Scotch and Cigar Night will be Oct. 3 at 6:30 p.m. Tom Wilson, the kind and very brave soul, is hosting it at his house, 6920 S. Columbia Ave. Ben Estes will be providing the brisket, Mehdi will be providing the sides, and Randy will be providing the scotch! Email Brett Brough (brett@brettbrough.com) with your reservation (name and number of attendees). The cost is $30 per person. Bring some prospective members and show them how much fun we Southsiders have!
- The first annual Run for the Roses will be Saturday, Oct. 11 at Centennial Park. Registration is at 7 a.m. and the 3K race starts at 8 a.m. The entry fee is $10, and cash or checks will be accepted. Make checks payable to the City of Tulsa. Entry fees go up to $15 on Thursday, Oct. 2, and you won’t be guaranteed a T-shirt. There will be no on-site registration, and entry fees will not be accepted after Thursday, Oct. 9. You MUST be 50 or older on the day of the race in order to enter. Entries can be dropped off or mailed to:
The Broadmoor Retirement Community
8205 E. 22nd St. Tulsa, OK 74129
- Do you like hockey? Then head out to the Rotarian Bonanza at the Tulsa Oilers game on October 25! They’ll be playing at the BOK Center, and Rotarians (as well as their family members) can get in for $5 per person and one can of food.
- RI Foundation checks go to Donna Petty now. Thank you, Donna!
- Want to win a $50 gift certificate for Ti Amo? Then you’d better read the October edition of the Rotarian magazine. Jerry Ramey has a $50 Ti Amo gift certificate for whoever gets the correct answer to this month’s question!
- Rotary District 5910 was hit very heavy by Hurricane Ike, as the district contains Texas City , Galveston, Port Arthur, Beaumont and Orange along the south all the way north to Palestine. They have a fund if anybody would like to donate to help out those hurt by Hurricane Ike. Checks should be made to: Texas Area Fund Foundation, Inc. for credit to Rotary District 5910 Donor Advised Fund. Please mail to: PDG-5910 A. Hugh Summers, District 5910 Emergency Response Chairman, P O Box 1399, Palestine, TX 75802-1399 .
All donations to this 501 c 3 foundation are tax deductable and a receipt will be sent to the donor. The district governors in the affected parts of Texas are accountable for expenditures made by this non-profit foundation.
- This week, OSU and OU were off, so Bob Winters had his picks for TU and Arkansas.
- Arkansas vs. Texas
Bob’s pick: 45-10, Alabama. The real score: 52-10, Texas. - TU vs. Central Arkansas
Bob’s pick: 52-12, TU. The real score: 62-34, TU. - OU vs. TCU
Bob’s pick: 42-24, OU. The real score: 35-10, OU. - OSU vs. Troy
Bob’s pick: 45-24, OSU. The real score: 55-24, OSU.
A Note From Past District Governor Don Walker
We received this email from Don Walker, the past governor for District 6110. Here’s what he has to say about Alliance for Smiles:
“During the first two weeks of August, I accompanied Anita Stangl, The President and CEO of Alliance for Smiles, to a number of Rotary clubs in District 6110. Alliance for Smiles provides free cleft lip and plate surgery for needy children and has captured my heart and imagination. I now want to tell all clubs in District 6110 about their work and commitment to Rotary.
“Many of you know that after my time as District Governor, I have gone on medical missions where I personally have seen hundreds of children’s lives changed. I want people in District 6110 to have a similar opportunity. I am reaching out to Rotarians in this District to sponsor Alliance for Smiles’ 14th medical mission to Huangshi, China.
“I am arranging for a number of non-medical volunteers to go on this mission and help. For those who cannot go this time, I am asking you to open your hearts and donate to cover the direct costs of the mission. This amount is $80,000 and will give full Rotary sponsorship recognition to District 6110 on T-shirts, press releases, and the web page. Over 120 children will have their lives changed in a positive and dramatic way.
“I want to tell you what impresses me about Alliance for Smiles. I love children and I want to make a difference in their lives when I can do something. There is tremendous satisfaction that I personally have experienced because of volunteering and literally seeing miracles take place through the skill of our surgeons. Being part of an effort that changes children’s and families’ lives, has changed me as well.
“The second part of the organization that impresses me is the commitment of Alliance for Smiles to spread the work and message of Rotary, of Service above Self. Alliance for Smiles was founded by five members of the Rotary Club of San Francisco and the philosophy of Rotary is core to their mission statements and goals.”
If you would like to donate or learn more, talk to Don den Daas.
