12-27-2012 meeting of the Rotary Club of Chickasha

The Dec. 27, 2012 meeting of the Rotary Club of Chickasha opened with a prayer, pledge and, given the date, a verse of Auld Lang Syne.

Guests included T.C. Cannon.

Prayer concerns: Jerry Standridge, Jerry Mottinger, John Jernagin and Bill and Janice McVey.

President Cody White reminded Rotarians that the club is awarding one for one matching points on Rotary Foundation donations through Monday, Dec. 31.

Cody announced Gordon Ramsey as a prospective member. He is being proposed by Mike Nunamaker.

Fairgrounds marketing director Peggy McMahan was our guest speaker. She gave us a progress report on what's going on out at the fairgrounds and the economic benefits it provides for the community.

She said the airgrounds is about 90 days out from starting work on a major drainage project.

McMahan,said engineers have been working on a plan to ease the problem of standing water at the fairgrounds.

"Every time is sprinkles it seems we have standing water," she said. "We are working to get the water off the fairgrounds. Because we are so level, we are having to take water all the way to Ada Sipuel."

Additional solid surface parking and lighting in the courtyard area will be also be part of the project.

"it will help control parking during multiple events," McMahan said.

Future plans include construction of another outdoor arena and a new climate-controlled building.

McMahan said the fairgrounds had events booked on 220 days during 2012, with an estimated 225,000 people attending.

"The fairgrounds has evolved from just a place to hold the county fair and some livestock shows," she said. "It has become destination point for tourism."

The fairgrounds complex currently has six facilities available for events, ranging from the 25,000 square feet building used for expos to a 4,000 square feet community building that has a commercial kitchen to a 69,680 square feet arena.

"Event organizers like the design of the fairgrounds and the close proximity of the buildings. They don't have to walk a mile or so from one building to another," McMahan said. "And, the buildings are connected by covered breezeways."

She said the fairgrounds has become a major economic driver for Chickasha, contributing almost $5 million annually.

"An average event brings about 1000 people to town for a two-day event," McMahan said. "People mean dollars. For every dollar spent, it will turn over five times."

Some of the big events booked at the fairgrounds during the first four months of 2013, include D&G barrel racing, the Grady County and SW District livestock shows, the annual Pre-War Swap meet and the Bad Shot gun show.

For more information about the Grady County Fairgrounds, you can call 405-224-2031.

Before adjourning, we voted on a slate of officers for 2013 with Greg Elliott topping the ballot as president.

The meeting ended after recitation of the Rotary 4-Way test.