8-23-2012 meeting of the Rotary Club of Chickasha

The Aug. 23, 2012 meeting of the Rotary Club of Chickasha opened with a prayer, pledge and song.

Guests included prospective member Evan Blasinggame, Brian McNatt and Dwight Yokum.

Prayer concerns include Bill Hodges,  Bill & Janice McVey and Julius and Ann Haralson.

The call has gone out for silent auction items for the Decmber Christmas party. See Ann Manchester if you have an item you would like to donate.

Jim Allen of Charles Allen Ford encouraged Rotarians to come the dealership on Saturday, Aug. 25 to test drive a new car. For every test drive that day, Ford will donate $20 to the Chickasha High School PTA. The goal is 300 drivers and a $6,000 donation.

Conrad Duprez said the Chickasha Public School Foundation is once again, in conduction with 29th St. Dental and Dr. John Phillips, sponsoring Bright Smiles. For every person that has his or her teeth whitened in September, Dr. Phillips will donate $100 of the $125 fee to the foundation.

President Cody White inducted Scott Biggs into the club as the news member. Scott is a former assistant district attorney who earlier this year opened a private law practice in Chickasha. Scott is a candidate for House District 51. He is the nephew of former club member Susan Winchester.

Guest speaker was Grady County Emergency Management Director Dale Thompson who updated the club on the recent wildfire that burned about 10,000 acres near Ninnekah.

He said the county remains under a burn ban and despite recent rains, the county remains in an "extreme" drought. Conditions the day of the Ninnekah fire were 113 degrees, 12 degree humidity and a brisk SW wind. He estimated the fire was moving at about 115 feet per minute.

He said all Grady County departments, Chickasha and task forces from Stephens and McClain counties helped fight the Ninnekah fire, which destroyed one home and damaged several pieces of fire department equipment. More than 100 firefighters from 18 different departments responded.

Thompson said two Rotarians -- Judge Richard Van Dyck and Scott Biggs are volunteer firefights in Grady County. He said we all owe these volunteers a show of gratitude.

"They put their lives on the line to save structures," Thompson said. "Our goal is save life first and then property."

He said a recent fundraiser brought in more than $30,000 to help the fire departments replaced the damaged equipment and purchase additional equipment such as bunker gear.

He encouraged Rotarians to consider become volunteer firefighters.

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