Mayor since 1998, Bill Floyd seeks the right questions!

Tim Martin, John Scott, and Todd Speed enjoy a special "picnic" lunch

Former President Walt Drake introduced our speaker, Mayor Bill Floyd. Mayor Floyd began by stating that everyone present Friday had some direct connection to the City of Decatur. Bill, who has been in Decatur since 1972, was first elected to the City commission in 1991. He was re-elected 4 more times and was named Mayor in 1998. Bill related that after all these years he has come to realize that while he has all the answers, nobody is asking the right questions. Mayor Floyd presented a program regarding Decatur's desire to become fully "sustainable" in the near future.

He relayed that there were 4 major components of Decatur's quest for total "sustainability": 1-environmental, 2- community, 3- institutional/organizational, and 4- economic. Bill gave examples of proposals the city is attempting to put forth in their attempt to become sustainable.

He touched upon the creation of a new 9 member 'Sustainability Board' that will attempt to partner with Agnes Scott College, the local school systems, restaurants, and citizens of the city. There will be a new transportation plan that the community will have to buy into. Bill gave us a public safety update and said that our shortage of 11 police officers is now down to 4.

Bill also touched on proposed annexation plans of the city and the impact of those plans on our unique school system. He mentioned several capital investments that the city has undertaken including sidewalk improvements, the McCoy pool, fire station #2, and streetscapes. Bill is very enthusiastic and confident that The City of Decatur is doing well and heading in the right direction.

A book was presented to the DeKalb Public Library System in honor of Mayor Floyd's presentation of our program, The Sustainable Enterprise Fieldbook- When It All Comes Together by Jeanna Wirtenberg with William G. Russell and David Lipskey.

Reported By Scotty Candler

Photographs By Fred Boykin

Happy February Birthday

• February 10: James Brewer-Calvert
• February 13: Frank Matthews
• February 15: Buck Buchanan
• February 19: Rick Meyer
• February 23: Bill Painter
• February 23: John Shelton
• February 24: Brenda Leder
• February 26: Cynthia Becker
• February 26: Walt Bryde

Mark Whatley, James Brewer-Calvert and Julia Glenn Carter share their Rotary spirit

Mayor Bill Floyd hears the right question from Hugh Goodwin

Welcoming Guests

There were no visiting Rotarians.

Guests of Rotarians:

Peggy Merris introduced her guest, Meredith Roark, who is a City of Decatur employee.

Officers for Decatur Rotary:

President - Mark Hastings

President-Elect - Bryan Downs

Past President - David Ewing

Secretary - Vee Nelson

Treasurer - Jason Conn

Sergeant-at-Arms - Doug Torbush

District Governor - Ted Propes

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

President Mark reported that Decatur Rotary Club's participation in the MLK weekend service project was very successful. Our thanks go out to all those who participated.

Ed Turner is fine tuning our club's plans to deliver the apples to our Dekalb County teachers. Judy Turner will have all of the apples at Decatur First Bank, and the distributing members of the club will be asked to pick them up either February 10th or the 17th. Stay tuned for information.

Jim Philips gave us an update on Polio eradication in the world. Thanks to a challenge grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and donations from Germany and England, a total of almost $650,000,000 has been collected to go towards the total eradication of polio.

President Mark reminded our members of the upcoming Valentine Social to be held on February 13th from 6:00-9:00 PM at The Houston Mill House located at 849 Houston Mill Road. Bring someone special and join in the festivities.

Barbara Tedrow of the International Service Committee invites all Rotarians to a new photography show by Bill Boley. The show focuses on the people and cultures of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The Decatur Rotary Club is involved with the project along with the East London Rotary Club of the Eastern Cape. This will be a good opportunity to become acquainted with the people, culture and geography of the Eastern Cape. The show will be held in Bill Boley's home-based studio and gallery at 233 Ivy Glenn Circle, Avondale Estates, GA on February 8th, 2009.

The Champion Newspaper named Walt Bryde as the Champion of the Week.

The Rotary Peachstate Literacy Conference will be held in three weeks at the Carter Library Conference Center. More information to follow.

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Join us! Decatur Rotary Club meets each Friday at noon at the Old Courthouse on the Square in downtown Decatur.

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The four-way test of the things we think, say or do:

Is it the TRUTH?

Is it FAIR to all concerned?

Will it build GOOD WILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?

Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

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