Three years ago when my friend Tad Jones the Executive Director of the Will Rogers Memorial spoke to my Rotary Club, I came up with an idea: work concurrently in preparation of the 100 hundred year anniversary of the American Mother Road (Rt. 66) in 2026 to grow our Rotary Club. The Highway was also named the Will Rogers Highway At Will’s passing in 1935. https://oklahomaroute66.com/news/the-will-rogers-highway Tad was starting the process in 2023 to raise $11 million to break ground on the Will Rogers Memorial renovations (he raised $18 million in fact and breaks ground this August). I got the club last year to start a companion club that meets 2X a month in the evenings to support all things Will Rogers Highway. As the official “Membership Dude” (yup that’s my title), this process has increased our club by 50%. One of the things I designed was a bench and brochure under the title The Rotary Initiative: On the Road to Civility. The ultimate goal is to have these benches from Chicago to L. A which is like a “zipper” across the center of the US. God knows we could use more civility. I am most pleased to announce the first bench was dedicated today. I helped a young guy in the troop make its installation and promotion his Eagle Scout project. We had a county commissioner, a state Representative, the UnderSheriff and of course Tad Jones at the ceremony. The Rotary Club members (most of us in club shirts, me included) were there naturally as the first Bench went up at the county courthouse. It’s not about a bench it about the message of Civility along RT 66. Hope it works.

Here's a short clip of a race that I watched yesterday. It's known as the Sydney Cup a qualifying race for the prestigious Melbourne Cup. Amazingly this race was one of 4 Group 1 races that I had the privilege of watching yesterday.

What to say in your intro? Share where you're from, your reason for joining, perhaps your favorite fragrance, watch or a picture of you dressed sharp! It's a small action, but a HUGE step in you getting value from this community becasue you go from being a lurker to an ACTIVE member. In fact men that introduce themselves are 10X more likely to the actions to becoming their best selves. Bonus Point - By introducing yourself you're guaranteed to level-up. Seriously, you'll get at least 5-20 likes/points (oftentimes more) which will move you to level 2 and possibly level 3. And just like that you have access to more of this community!

Heading out today with my wife for some errands. It’s sunny going to get up to 60 degrees. Seems like a great day to not have a coat today!! Have a great Saturday my friends!!