September 26, 2013 – Meeting Roundup – Rotary Club of Martinsburg

September 26, 2013 – Meeting Roundup

September 30, 2013

The West Virginia Department of Commerce is a government agency of the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is responsible for overseeing West Virginia’s economy, workforce, natural resources, and tourism and oversees ten subsidiary agencies. These include the Development Office; Division of Energy: Division of Forestry; Geological and Economic Survey; Division of Labor; Office of Miner’s Health, Safety, and Training; Division of Natural Resources; Division of Tourism; WorkForce West Virginia; and Office of Economic Opportunity. This week we will have an opportunity to learn much more as our speaker is West Virginia Secretary of Commerce Keith Burdette.
In December 2010, Keith Burdette was appointed by Governor Earl Ray Tomblin as cabinet secretary for the West Virginia Department of Commerce and executive director of the West Virginia Development Office. Keith Burdette began his public service when he was elected to the first of two terms in the West Virginia House of Delegates. In 1982 he was elected to the West Virginia State Senate. In 1989 Keith was elected the 42nd President of the State Senate at the age of 34, the youngest Senate President in the state’s history. The West Virginia Jaycees named him their Outstanding Young West Virginian in 1991 and in 1992 the United States Junior Chamber of Commerce named him one of Ten Outstanding Young Americans for that year.
Upon leaving the legislature in 1994, Keith formed a government relations and consulting business. Three days after the 2000 election, Governor-Elect Bob Wise asked him to join the new administration where he served for three years as Director of Policy and Legislative Relations. After leaving the administration in 2003, Keith formed the Burdette Group Consulting firm. In November 2004 the Area Roundtable hired Keith to manage and operate the Area Roundtable and the Wood County Development Authority. He serves as President of the Area Roundtable, which is the umbrella organization for all development activities in Wood County including the work of the Wood County Development Authority and the Parkersburg-Wood County Development Corporation. Keith is actively involved in the Parkersburg community where he resides. He is married to the former Pat Haught Huffman and has two sons and two stepsons..

Dillon Farm Museum

For many of us, Thursday was our first visit to the Dillon Farm Museum, but probably won’t be our last. Jim Smith told us a little about the history of American farming in general, and Berkeley County farming in particular. After their brief presentation, we went out and looked at some of the impressive collection of historic farm implements, most of which I had no idea what they were used to do until the volunteers told us about them. It was both interesting and educational and a very nice way to spend a beautiful autumn day away from our usual meeting place. A special thanks goes to Kresha Hornby for the delicious lunch she catered. As someone who was raised in South Carolina, I especially appreciated the pulled pork barbeque. It was absolutely perfect.

Cogwheels

Answer to last week’s question:
The declaration for Rotarians in Businesses and professions encourages Rotarians to uphold the highest possible ethical standards in their business and professional activities. They are urged to adhere to fairness and honesty in all business dealings and to consider their vocation as another opportunity to serve.
This week’s question:
How may club members personally share in Vocational Service activity?

Our two student guests from Hedgesville High School were Chyna Brown and Will Kuria. Both of them are also members of the Baltimore Ravens band.
Doris Griffin, a former member of our club who is retired from the VA Hospital, was a guest of Taylor Perry. Taylor also brought Dorothy Davis, a retired educator. Pat Harrison, Branch Manager at First United Bank & Trust, was back as a guest of Manuel Washington. Karen Spence brought Barb Horn who has been with Johnnies for over 20 years in the cash & carry division in Chambersburg and Martinsburg.
Approximately 120 Rotarians attended the multi-club mixer at the Hollywood Casino last Thursday. Since no one was wearing a barrel to the meeting, I assume there were no major cash losses on the Rotary race or at the gaming areas.

Vicki Elliott still needs a few people to help purchase books for the Andy & Elmer’s Apple Dumpling Adventure Rotary Literacy Project.
Tickets for the Bob Elmer Sports Breakfast are now on sale. The breakfast is October 19 th and the tickets are $15. If you can’t go, buy a ticket anyway and your ticket will go to the Boys and Girls club. This is the one event we sponsor during the Apple Harvest Festival.
Wear your Rotary pin to the meeting and get two 50/50 tickets for the price of one. Same thing happens if you wear a Rotary shirt.

The CASA Super Heros 5k/10k/ Kids Fun Run will be held October 5th at Spring Mills Middle School. It’s $35 for the 5k run, $45 for the 10k run, and the kids run is free. Go to http://www.casaepruns.org/ for more details.
Hiz Honor, the Mayor, won 50/50 but was unable to draw the Ten of Diamonds. George will be selling tickets this week.

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