West Word for 09/28/2011

By AHariton • September 26, 2011

This Week’s Speaker: Lee Moon
UNF Athletic Director

University of North Florida President John A. Delaney announced the hiring of Lee Moon as the University’s Director of Athletics on Feb. 4, 2009. Moon, UNF’s sixth director of Athletics, came from UAB, where he has served as the Senior Associate Athletics Director since 2004.

Moon is the former Director of Athletics at Wyoming (1996-2003) and Marshall (1988-96) and brings athletics administrative experience with him from four different universities. He also served as an Assistant Athletics Director (1985-86) and Associate Athletics Director (1986-1988) at Kansas State.

While at Wyoming, Moon was responsible for a $15 million budget and helped secure the largest financial donation – $4.3 million for the naming rights of the student-athletic center – in the history of the institution. He also helped secure a $2 million donation at Marshall for naming rights to a similar facility.

While at Marshall, Moon was responsible for the hiring of basketball coach Billy Donovan, who later went on to win two national championships at Florida, and Dana Altman, who is the current head men’s basketball coach at Creighton and has led the Blue Jays to the NCAA Tournament seven times.

Moon is a graduate of Virginia Military Institute, where he earned a bachelor’s of science degree in history in 1970. While at VMI, Moon was a member of the school’s football team from 1966-1969. He later went on to play semi-pro football for the Roanoke Buckskins before earning his master of education degree at the University of Virginia in 1971.

After earning his master’s degree and serving as a graduate assistant coach for the Virginia football team during the 1972 and 1973 seasons, Moon served as an assistant football coach at Duke (1973-76), Virginia (1976-1981), Mississippi State (1982-1984) and Kansas State (1985), where he was named the interim head football coach and also served as the assistant director of operations for the football team.

Throughout his career, Moon has served on various NCAA leadership committees such as the Division I Athletic Directors Association Executive Committee, the NCAA Football Issues Committee, as well as serving as chair of the Southern Conference Men’s Basketball Committee.

Moon succeeded Dr. Richard Gropper, who has served as the UNF Director of Athletics since the fall of 1994. Upon Moon’s arrival, Gropper has taken on the role of UNF Director of Athletics Emeritus, serving as a fundraiser for the athletics department and other parts of the University until his planned retirement in 2011.

Moon has been married to the former Connie Gray since 2005. He has two sons, Lee Jr., who is an assistant men’s basketball coach at Fresno State, and Brian, who is doing his medical school residency at West Virginia University.

UNF just completed the final year of the four-year reclassification period to a full-fledged member of Division I athletics. The Ospreys began their transition from Division II athletics to Division I at the start of the 2005-06 season and beginning this year will be eligible for all postseason play on the NCAA Division I level.

Notes

President Marshall kicked off the program by playing a video re-cap of our first 70 days. The video reminded us that each of us was challenged to do a little in order to change the world. In the video we saw how we’re doing so far. In a short time we’ve fed the hungry, we’re inviting new members, hearing from Hall of Fame speakers, recognizing service above self, mentoring the future, celebrating our faithful, creating awareness, enjoying fellowship, and having fun.

The video ended with a reminder of many ways to get involved and make a difference. The moving song which accompanied the video is “This Could Be our Day” by the band Addison Road. The lyrics may be found here: http://www.lyrics.com/this-could-be-our-day-lyrics-addison-road.html

Thanks to Phil Murphey for taking the photos that made the slide show possible. Remember, you can email your photos to photos@westjaxrotary.org

We had a moment of silence for Roy Turknett and Jordan Brother

Jimmy Kelly introduced our newest member, Leslie Jackson, who was sponsored by Tim Alters.

Pop Ups:

Bob Kidd shared the good news that John Morrett turned 95 today. The not so good news is that John was ill and could not travel to Jacksonville for the birthday open house planned in his honor. The celebration may be rescheduled at a later date.

Ken Baker presented District Governor Clint Dawkins with a special gift. He presented Clint with something to remind him of his alma mater, Emory University. It was a t-shirt which proudly declares Emory’s football team has not been defeated in 150 years. Of course, Emory has no football team.

Phil Risley made an announcement about the November 4 Air Show. It will be held at NAS Jax this year and our club still has the chalet. Watching the air show from the chalet is about as good as it gets.

Phil Voss discussed the Jaguar game and tailgate party at the Jacksonville Historical Society

Speaker

Assistant Governor Harry Baxter introduced our speaker, District Governor Clint Dawkins.

Clint is “one of us” – member and Past President of the West Jacksonville Rotary Club
“Past District Governors are like old tennis shoes – the only thing that still works are their tongues. “

This was DG Dawkins last official visit in his leadership role. Clint offered some personal comments before his address –

He’s proud and humble to be District Governor of our district, among the best in all of Rotary.
He thanked his lovely wife Lane and all of the West Jacksonville Rotary Club for the support he’s received.
There’s more than 3000 Rotarians in District 6970. And that membership is staying steady in an environment with declining memberships in many organizations.
The district is 5th in world for giving to eradicate polio.
While we are a very strong district, we should be mindful that, “to whom much is given, much is expected.”

District Governor Dawkins said that while we are a top district there are five steps we can take to drive us higher still.

Embrace the Internationality of Rotary

Be proud of our work to eradicate polio. Rotary has given $187 million dollars to do so in the last two years.
If you’re wondering why is it that it hasn’t been eradicated yet, consider that there are 170 million children in India under the age of twelve. Only one was diagnosed with polio last year. An amazing triumph. We’re close.
If you’ve contributed, be proud and own the fact that you helped win the war. If you’re not yet on the team, get on it. You don’t want to miss the chance to feel a part of the winning team once we’ve won.

Be the Best Rotarian

When did you do something new, something out of your comfort zone?
This is how you grow, and it’s how a club grows.
You will get more than you give.

Evaluate Your Giving to the Rotary Foundation

If you own a car, a refrigerator, and a microwave, you’re in the top 1% worldwide in wealth.
The Rotary Foundation is among the most efficient non-profits in the world. It has a AAA S&P rating.
Half the money you give comes back to the district for local grants.
The goal for the coming year is a 5% increase with increases among three groups: Benefactors, Bequest Society, and Cumulative Lifetime Major Donors.
Find out how much you’ve already given, it’s probably more than you think.

Membership

The district is doing okay but must continue to work at it as we’re about level.
We’re getting older and that’s a concerning trend. We are only 11% under 40 and 68% over 50.
And we’re only at 15% women.
We are all part of the solution.

Synergy Through Collaboration among Clubs

There are 61 clubs in the district with the average membership less than 35.
Consider what two or more clubs can achieve. St. Vincent’s mobile medical services vehicle is a great example. “Working together, isn’t that what Rotary is all about?”
The coming Centennial of Rotary is an opportunity and one where Clint has challenged President Butler to take the lead.
The district conference is another chance to work across clubs. The conference will be different this year. It will be composed of three one day conferences (in Daytona, Jacksonville, and Gainesville). It will be affordable and tremendous.

Some Powerful Closing Points

We embrace humanity every day. But we must reach inside ourselves. While we have much to be proud of, we have to work harder and own it.
Proud to be a Westside Rotary member.
We are in the best district in the world.
We are the best club in the district.
And we have a top young president in Marshall Butler.

Quote of the Week

The quote of the day is from Rotary International Director Jim Smarge, who besides saying it takes more than 365 days to impeach a president has also said:
If you think you can’t screw up, then you also don’t believe you can swing the pendulum the other way and do something extraordinary.

Visiting Rotarians

Anne Renfroe from Downtown
Russ Miller from E-Club Southeast and Carribbean

Rotary Guests

Harry Roddenberry brought his nephew, Todd Cowen
DG Clint Dawkins brought his wife, Lane

Birthdays

Randy Thornton - Sep 22
Clayton Riley - Sep 25
Phil Voss - Sep 25

Next Meeting - October 5

Speaker: Lad Daniels, First Coast Manufacturers Association
Greeters: Paul Broom and Stew Green
Invocation: Jeff Collins
Pledge: Harry Roddenberry
Four-Way Test: Ron Robers
Scribe: Dan Griffin

Quick Links

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