About District 6840

District 6840 unites the diverse cultures of Southeast Louisiana and South Mississippi. Generally, the district includes communities just west of the Mississippi River at New Orleans to the Mississippi/Alabama state line. Our landscape stretches the imagination with national forests, wildlife refuges, farmlands, urban development, beaches, hills, swamps, bayous and the mighty Mississippi River. For a good time we enjoy Mardi Gras celebrations and festivals in Louisiana and Mississippi. We also enjoy the serenity of our peaceful suburbia and rural areas. The District embodies the multicultural flavors of many, all blended in our varied cuisine, festivals and Southern Hospitality. This page includes a description of Louisiana and Mississippi, contact info on various District officers and committees and a district calendar.

Map of District 6840

Louisiana

In Louisiana, things are not always as they seem. Take our world-famous ironwork balconies, for example. Most people think they’re French. But, in fact, our unique “French Quarter” style architecture is largely inspired by the Spanish. Our wonderful food is a magical combination of French, African and Acadian influences. You see, Louisiana is as much a gumbo as the dish that made it famous. Forged by a rare fusion of many nations and cultures, Louisiana kept the best of all of them. Our widely exported musical styles were originally imported from Africa and the West Indies, then enhanced with Native American, German, Anglo-American and various other styles and embellishments. You can enjoy a little jazz tonight, zydeco tomorrow and gospel the day after that! A term often heard in descriptions of Louisiana, Creole, was originally used by those “born in the colony” as a means of differentiating themselves from those who arrived after the Louisiana Purchase. Creole can also refer to a combination of French, Spanish, African or Caribbean cultures in colonial Louisiana. Today, it mostly means great-tasting food! In the Southeast corner of Louisiana you’ll find the Greater New Orleans Region. Here you’ll find banana trees and banana foster, streetcars and oyster bars, winding traces and historical places. Source: Materials on Louisiana copied from Louisiana Official Tour Guide Louisiana Photos courtesy of Louisiana Office of Tourism

Mississippi

Mississippi is named for the Mississippi River which forms its western boundary and empties into the Gulf of Mexico. The name roughly translated from Native American folklore means “Father of Waters”. The translation comes from the Chippewa words “mici zibi” meaning “great river” or “gathering in of all the waters” and the Algonquin word “Messip”. Mississippi has always been a favorite vacation spot for history buffs, music lovers, food fanatics, gaming enthusiasts, beachcombers and golfers. South Mississippi is painted with historic homes and might well be an architectural museum. The variety of styles is amazing: Italianate, Neoclassic, Queen Anne and old Greek Revival. Artists and art lovers will enjoy the many museums and festivals. Museums abound with art, silver, folk art and crafts, children's literature, sculptures, stone carvings and a military tribute. One of the favorite attractions is Stennis Space Center, west of Bay St. Louis. Not only does NASA test its rockets for the space shuttle program here, but the facility also features StennisSphere, one of the best attractions in the South. StennisSphere includes interactive exhibits, a virtual reality space shuttle ride, a walk-through space station and exhibits on the world’s oceans and weather. Source Information obtained from www.mississippi.gov and www.hattiesburg.org. Photo obtained from www.hattiesburg.org.

District Governor Milton Wheeler

Born in Mobile, Alabama, Milton Wheeler moved to District 6840 in 1957 to attend William Carey University, where he earned a B.A. degree and a national Woodrow Wilson Fellowship, underwriting full expenses to any graduate school in America. He chose to stay in the district and earned his M.A. and Ph.D. at Tulane University. He returned to his alma mater where he has taught forty-three years on the Hattiesburg, Gulfport and New Orleans campuses. Rotary came into Milton's life in 1971. He was a member of the district's original Group Study Exchange Team to Australia. He fell in love with Roary. On returning home he discovered that his classification (higher education) was full in the Hattiesburg club. In fact,there was a waiting list, what with two colleges in town. Not to be detered, a new club was formed in 1971, Petal, to accomodate a thousand classifications. A charter member of the Rotary Club of Petal, Milton has maintained a perfect attendance for thirty-five years. On the district level, Milton served for fourteen years as Group Study Exchange Chariman. In this capacity he made his second GSE tour, this time to India as the Rotarian leader. In 2002 he taught for four months in Russia, in eleven universities in eight cities, as a Rotary University Teacher Grantee. During Rotary's Centennial year he was Zone Coordinator for Rotary Literacy Projects. For the last seven years he has served as director of orienation for outgoing ambassadorial scholars. His high water mark in Rotary came in 1989-90 when he served as district governor. The international theme that year was the simple and easy, "Enjoy Rotary!". And enjoy Rotary he and the district did, setting records for conference attendance, 100% at PETS, 100% at District Assembly and 100% of clubs at district conference. Milton and his wife, Donna, who are in their fifth decade of marriage, have seven Paul Harris fellowhsips. He is a benefactor to The Rotary Foundation. An avid traveler and student of international affairs, Milton has led 82 tours to Europe, 14 to Israel and Egypt, 10 to Australia and New Zealand and too many to count to the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. He is a devotee of baseball and has a baseball park named for him at William Carey University. He has a weekly television program on Hattiesburg's Cable Six that has featured historic backgrounds for 31 years. For 20 years he served on the executive board of the Mississippi Historical Society. With the passing of his dear friend,Governor-elect Ray Hymel of Belle Chasse, Milton accepted the district's challenge to be governor for a rare second time. Indeed, he has dedicated the year as a memorial to Ray and has offered the distict a challenge. In the words of Ronald Reagan, "Let's win one for the Gipper!" DG Milton Wheeler 2311 McInnis St. Hattiesburg, MS 39402 B: 601.582.6165 F: 601.582.6454 H: 601.268.3126 miltonlobos1@megagate.com

Immediate Past District Governor Jerry Fortino

"Jerry" (James Michael) Fortino was born and raised in Grand Ledge, Michigan. Jerry graduated cum laude from the University of Notre Dame in 1956 and earned his M.D. from the University of Michigan Medical School in 1960. He then came to New Orleans for his internship at Charity Hospital. On Monday, August 1, 1960 at 10:00 A.M. he met Carolyn, a student nurse who came to his ward to learn patient nursing. Carolyn and Jerry have been working side-by-side ever since—first as intern and student nurse and later as pediatrician and registered nurse in their pediatric clinic for a total of 46 years thus far. They were married on September 8, 1962 as soon as Carolyn graduated as a R.N. They have four children and 10 grandchildren. Jerry has twenty-six years of perfect Rotary attendance. In 2001 Carolyn and Jerry attended their first International Rotary Convention in San Antonio. Their interest in Rotary was so stimulated that they have not missed an International Rotary Convention since and Carolyn became an active Rotarian along side her husband. They love having Rotarians from around the world come to New Orleans and showing them the Mardi Gras and of course, visiting these same Rotarians to see their homes and communities. They have many interests from opera and Broadway shows to gardening. . . they seldom stay home in the evening . . . you might catch them at the ballet, dining in New Orleans’s fine restaurants, teaching dance lessons, museum hopping or attending charity benefits. For many years, Jerry and Carolyn have been collecting 19thCentury Louisiana Oil Paintings and they have decorated their home with English and Louisiana Plantation Antiques. The Fortinoes are retired from private pediatrics. They both donate four days a week and treat Medicaid patients only, especially those with attention deficit disorder or respiratory allergy. Carolyn and Jerry are both members of the Algiers Rotary Club in New Orleans, Louisiana. Jerry was named “Rotarian of the Year” in 2003 and “Rotary Club President” in 2004 for Rotary District 6840. Contact Information: 17 Colony Rd. Gretna, LA 70056 504.367.8777 504.367.0133 504.367.6090 jfortino@cox.net Home Club: Rotary Club of Algiers

District Governor Elect

Greg Lier is a lifelong resident of the New Orleans area. Greg received his undergraduate degree in accounting from Southeastern Louisiana University in 1976 and his Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School in 1979. While Greg does not actively practice law, he has used his accounting and legal training working as a real estate developer and manager with Rathborne Land Company since 1984. In 1987, Greg moved to Luling, LA, and joined the St. Charles Parish Rotary Club (then known as the West St. Charles Rotary Club). Greg believes that everyone has an obligation to give something back to the community. Rotary was the perfect fit. During Greg’s early years in the club, he was actively involved in international service. This soon became his favorite part of Rotary. Over the years Greg has hosted numerous GSE team members, youth exchange members and an ambassadorial scholar from Sweden. Greg started serving at the district level in 1992 as a member of the ambassadorial scholarship committee. Greg has served as the chairman of the committee since 1994, and is currently the Foundation Chairman for his club. In recognition of his effort on behalf of Rotary, Greg was named Rotarian of the Year in 1993-94 and was club president of the St. Charles Parish Rotary Club in 1996-97. Greg is also active in several business and civic organizations, and is a past president of the Harvey Canal Industrial Association, the Elmwood Business Association and the St. Charles Economic Development Council. Greg is married to the former Debbie Sandoz and they have two boys, Greg, Jr. and Joseph. Besides Rotary, Greg’s interests include golf, traveling with his family, wine tasting and attending sporting events. Contact Info: P.O. Box 157 Harvey, LA 70059 B: 504.364.9584 F: 504.368.6388 greglier@rathborne.com

Assistant Governors

Bayou Territory: Belle Chasse, Plaquemines Parish South, Westbank/Gretna and Westwego BayPass: Bay St. Louis, Pass Christian, Picayune and Stennis Space Center Beach: Biloxi, Edgewater Sunrisers, Edgewater and Ocean Springs East Coast: Gautier, Greene County, Lucedale, Moss Point and Pascagoula Gulf: Gulfport, Gulfport-Orange Grove, Long Beach and Wiggins Heartland: Franklinton, McComb, Summit and Tylertown Hub: Hattiesburg, Hattiesburg Sunrise, Petal and Richton Orleans: Algiers, East New Orleans, New Orleans and St. Bernard Ozone: Covington, Northlake/Mandeville, Slidell and Slidell Northshore Piney Woods: Bogalusa, Columbia and Poplarville Pontchartrain: Carrollton, Kenner, Metairie and Metairie Sunrise Tangi: Amite, Hammond, Hammond/Pontchatoula SunrisersKentwood and Ponchatoula Wild West: Harahan, LaPlace, New Orleans Int'l Airport and St. Charles Parish Garey Alimia-Bayou Territory #1 Colony Rd. Gretna, LA 70056 B: (504)341.999 H: (504)361.0536 email: garey@A1Louisiana.com Rotary Club of Westbank Gretna Steve Howard - Gulf Territory 228.896.5295 Rotary Club of Gulfport-Orange Grove Wayne Alexander – Piney Woods Territory waynealexander@bankplus.net Rotary Club of Poplarville Dick McCarthy-Orleans Territory dick@richardgrayspowercompany.com Rotary Club of New Orleans Childs Dunbar– Pontchartrain Territory childsdunbar@bellsouth.net Rotary Club of Westbank River Territory John Cornwell jcornwell@stcharlessheriff.org Rotary Club of St. Charles Parish Whitson Christy - BayPass Territory whitson.christy@bxs.com Rotary Club of Pass Christian Betty Gill - Heartland Territory 939 Cleveland Street Franklinton, LA 70438 B: (985) 839.7721 Fax: (985) 839.7735 H: (985) 839.6442 email: bettym@parishnational.com Rotary Club of Franklinton David Thompson – East Coast Territory dthompson@thepeoples.com Michael A. "Mike" Rich - Ozone Territory 151 Chamale Dr. Slidell, LA 70460 B: (985) 639.3510 Fax: (985) 649.0480 H: (985) 641.7365 email: mrich@psislidell.com Rotary Club of Slidell Northshore Tom Heanue – Hub Territory hlra@c-gate.net Rotary Club of Hattiesburg Sunrise Mike Haight – Tangi Territory mjhaight@I-55.com Rotary Club of Hammond Leah Snyder - Beach Territory 108 LaBranche Avenue Ocean Springs, MS 39565 B: (228) 875.1099 Fax: (228) 875.1099 H: (228) 875.1099 email: eastbeach@cableone.net Rotary Club of Ocean Springs

Deputy Governors

Bobby McDaniel 2180 Martin Road Summit, MS 39666 B: (601) 684.2869 F: (601) 684.2004 H: (601) 684.5868 email: governor@telepak.net Radio Service Rotary Club of McComb Mike Ratliff P. O. Box 17738 102 Wildwood Trace Hattiesburg, MS 39404 B: (601) 582-4553 F: (601) 582-4556 H: (601) 264-9073 C: (601) 270-9679 email: (B) mratliff@jhrlaw.net (H) mvratliff@comcast.net Attorney Rotary Club of Hattiesburg

District Officers

Secretary Gill Miller 8528 Mermaid Ave. Ocean Springs, MS 39564 H: 228.875.5937 F: 228.818.2657 norler@cableone.net Treasurer Barbara Mauldin 108 N. Main Street Petal, MS 39485 B: 601.583.8726 F: 601.583.8777 H: 601.583.6300 docbarbara@yahoo.com Co-Trainers Mike Gill 424 Eleventh St. Franklinton, LA 70438 B: 985.839.4505 F: 985.839.4576 mgill@sfbcic.com Betty Gill 939 Cleveland Street Franklinton, LA 70438 B: 985.839.7721 F: 985.839.7735 H: 985.839.6442 bettym@parishnational.com Lydia J. Alford lydia@alfordlegal.com Conference Chairperson Stu Guey drgueyjr@bellsouth.net District Hurricane Task Force Chairman (2006-09) PDG George Mahl, III 5817 Citrus Blvd. Suite K New Orleans, LA 70123 B: 504.733.8050 F: 504.733.8052 H: 504.737.4375 gmahl@aol.com Website Coordinator Lydia J. Alford 1424 Seventh St. Slidell, LA 70458 B: 985.643.6440 F: 985.643.6442 H: 985.649.2128 Membership Development Don Bryan dbryanupc@aol.com Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) Lisa Flair 104 Morning Glory Court Belle Chasse, LA 70037 B: 504.931.7749 lisarflair@yahoo.com Ambassadorial Scholarship Flint Distefano mralligator01@cox.net Rotary Foundation Rob Young robert.e.young@navy.mil Rotary Foundation-Annual Fund DGN Ace Necaise 3105 Magnolia Lane Ocean Springs, MS 39564 necaise@singingriver.com District Grants Dr. D.H. Short topdogms@aol.com 228.863.7862

Banner photo courtesy of Rotary International