On June 12, 2013, Douglass High School Principal Dr. Eryca Neville was presented with Metro Rotary’s annual Vocational Service Award.

A graduate of the University of Missouri, Dr. Neville has served as the Director of Alternative Education for the Columbia Public Schools since August, 2011.  She was applauded for adhering to the highest ethical standards in her work, including the fair treatment of employers, fellow employees, associates, students, parents and the general public.

Previous winners of the Metro Rotary Vocational Services Award have included Robert Ross, Jr., Officer Shelley Jones, Mike Hood, Robyn Kauffman, Steve Sapp, Sheriff Ted Boehm, Judge Christine Carpenter, Mayor Darwin Hindman, Captain Brad Nelson, Don Laird, Karen Taylor, Bill Watkins and Phil Steinhaus.

On June 10, 1993, Metro Rotary was chartered and admitted to Rotary International. The initial membership listed thirty-four charter members, fourteen women and twenty men. Of that group, five individuals remain members in good standing today:

Win Burggraaff

John John

Ginny Northcutt

Audrey Spieler

Jim Stock

On June 14, 2013, Metro Rotary will hold its 20^th Annual Charter Night Celebration. This year’s event will be held at the home of Audrey & Jim Spieler (1018 Danforth Drive).  Please click on the map below to enlarge for directions.

Plan to join fellow Metro Rotarians in honoring and celebrating our charter members and our current members. Thanks to everyone, our club has been able to assist many people both locally and on an international level. Reservations are available at only $15 per person.

To reserve your space at Charter Night, please contact Jaime Freidrichs or Shatenita Horton.

On June 2, 2013, Battle High School in Columbia was officially dedicated.  The fourth high school in the Columbia school district is a 300,000 square foot facility located in northeast Columbia.  The school is named after Dr. Muriel Williams Battle, who served four decades in the Columbia school district and was its first female associate superintendent.  Dr. Battle died in 2003 at age 73.

One of the highlights of the day included the presentation of the Rotary Peace Award.  Dr. John DeSpain, President of Sunrise Southwest Rotary Club, presented the award to the Battle family, with Dr. Eliot Battle, Sr. accepting on behalf of the family.  Eliot and Muriel served as teachers and administrators during their respective careers, and they were pioneers in the integration of Columbia’s schools.

Children of Eliot and Muriel shared stories of growing up in the Battle family and the positive values that were stressed by their parents.  Local dignitaries spoke of the importance of the new school, and school administrators outlined plans for the future.  The event concluded with facility tours being conducted by staff and students.

Please consider attending the dedication ceremony for Battle High School.  The event will be held Sunday, June 2 beginning at 2:00 p.m.  As part of the formal ceremony, Dr. John DeSpain, current President of the Sunrise Southwest Rotary Club, will present Dr. Eliot Battle with the Rotary Peace Award.

There will also be building tours provided, and a showing of the documentary Battle: Change From Within will be held.  All Rotarians are encouraged to attend this exciting event.

Directions:  From I-70 take the St. Charles Road/Lake of the Woods Road Exit (Exit 131) and go north.  You will go approximately 2 miles northeast of the exit, and Battle High School will appear on the north.  (Please click on the graphic for a clearer map.)

The Columbia Interact Club is hosting an Outdoor Camping Equipment Drive for Douglass High School.

Please deliver any gently used or new outdoor camping equipment you would like to donate to Hampton Inn & Suites (1225 Fellows Place, corner of Stadium & College) in Columbia by May 17.

A sample list of equipment that Douglass High School would like follows:

Tents – Large (8-person), Medium (4-person) or Small (2-person)

Ground tarps

Sleeping pads

Headlamps

Lanterns

Gas stoves

Cook sets (pots, pans, spatulas, spoons, etc.)

Jackets (insulated Carhardts, windbreaker jackets/water resistant)

Lightweight ponchos

Casting rods

Basic tackle equipment

Tackle boxes

Waders (one size 8, two size 10, one size 12)

Insect sweep nets

Aquatic nets

Thanks for any assistance you may be able to provide for this important project.