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Over The Coffeecups
Warren Mitchell - Editor
TODAY'S PROGRAM
The installation of officers for 2003-04 will be held today.
The installing of new officers will be done by Lt. Governor
Truel Watts. The following officers will be installed:
President -
Mike Winstead
President
Elect - Ken Carrick
Vice
President - Ed Melton
Treasurer -
Charlie Eckerly
Secretary -
Pete Summer
Members of the board to serve 1 year are: Gene Ash, Dick
Bennett, Michael Fritz, and Scott Powell. Scott will
serve the remaining year of Doug Speight's term.
Members
serving 2 year terms are: John
Burch, Doug Dowdy and Jim Jones.
President
Mark Wilkinson will make some remarks about this year.
New
President Mike Winstead will briefly outline his goals for the
coming year.
LAST
WEEKS
PROGRAM
President Wilkinson said
one of the outstanding programs we had this year was Mike
Hosley. Mike didn't finish his talk then, so he was asked to
finish during the meeting, becoming the unknown speaker.
When he
spoke before members had some questions about the groups in
Iraq and he went over them and some problems there.
Asked if he
remembered seeing groups of guys standing in front of one of
Saddam's palaces. One of them was in a car, with his flack
jacket on, and someone came up and shot him under the arm and
neck. He was 31 years old, speaks 5 languages and was working
on his PHD. It brings it close to home that things are
dangerous there.
It is so difficult to put together a coalition government,
because of the various groups. The majority group is the
Shiites Muslims. They believe the leaders should be religious
leaders. The other part of the religion is the Sunni who
believe Mohammad is the leader. That is where the fiction
comes in. In Iraq and Iran, Shiites are the majority of the
population. Saddam was a Sunni, and that made up the Bath
party; ruling party for a long time. The Sunni population is
from Baghdad to Crete in the north, forming a triangle.
In the
northern part of Iraq there are Cuds and it is in this area
where some of the oil fields are located. In the south are
oil fields controlled by the Sunnis and that is where the
power existed.
There are
different groups within those groups. In the
Shiites in the
southern area there are 2 groups with different leaders. One
group believes if you live by the "faith", government will
take care of itself. It doesn't believe government should be
lead by religious leaders, but led by whoever comes from the
faithful. A group more in line with the Iranian teachings
with the religious leaders, the faithful, should rule the
country. That sets up a problem in the south with the Shiite
population.
In the north
with the Cuds, there are 4 groups who want to have their own
government. Most have been Sunni Muslims by gun point for
centuries. Basically they have a strong ancient religion.
Cuds are generally friendly to the United States, because they
have been protected by the U.S.
Sader, a young
man who follows Iranian fundamentalism, is trying to
consolidated power that has moved into the Baghdad area known
as Sudan City, a very poor Shiite population. He's trying to
consolidate the power in the south, stirring things up.
Iran has
been sending people over the boarder supporting Sader. There
are several cities that have been infiltrated.
The Iraqi
people have had no experience in governing themselves. A
coalition government can't come up with a leader. It has
appointed a committee of 9 to govern. The population is used
to having one strong leader, having been ruled by Saddam for
over 25 years. Not surprised about the problems there
One group,
who is being fought in the country, is MEK, made up mostly of
women. They don't like the U.S., because the U.S. bombed MEK
headquarters. Iran has started to help the U.S. against the
MEK. It is important to note that MEK has a lobbyist
headquarters in Washington, D.C.
THOUGHT
FOR THE DAY
Mike
Winstead gave some remarks
about "Southern Style" football.
What does the average Alabama player get on
is SAT's? Drool
What do you get when you put 32 Arkansas
cheerleaders in a room? A full set of teeth.
How do you get a Georgia graduate off of your
porch? Pay him for the pizza.
How do you know if a Mississippi State
football player has a girlfriend? There is tobacco spit on
both sides of his pickup.
What are the longest 3 years of an Auburn
football players life? His freshman years.
Why did Tennessee choose orange as their team
color? You can wear it to the game on Saturday then use it
while picking up trash along the highways the rest of the
week.
PRESIDENT'S
REMARKS
President
Wilkinson told the members the need for Kiwanis to raise
the dues from $80 per quarter to $90. In order to raise the
dues a vote of the members had to be taken. He asked for a
voice vote and all the members voted yes. The dues increase
will become effective in October.
President
Wilkinson made some remarks about the District Convention in
that Kiwanis is having a more focused approach year after
year. That was one of the things he hoped to have achieved
during his term with programs and projects. He thanked
members for their participation and was proud to have served.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Ken
Carrick thanked everyone who took part in the RSVP
Luncheon at the Civic Center. He asked for volunteers to read
to the students at Dalraida and serve lunch to the teachers on
October 9th.
A gift was
received from RSVP for the Club's support and participation in
their luncheon.
Last Monday,
September 22nd, a Board meeting was held at Al McLellan's
office. The results of the meeting will be reported to the
Club.
Barnie
Paulson reported that Doug Speight is staying with his
daughter and doing well. He would appreciate members calling
him.
DATES
TO REMEMBER
October 9th - Reading to
Dalraida students. Members will serve lunch to the teachers
in recognition of their service, from 9:30-1:30.
November 6th - Members will read to
students at Dalraida. Ken Carrick would like members to
volunteer.
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