by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
The Rotary Club of Jacksonville had a last-minute addition to the agenda for its meeting Monday when Mayor Alvin Brown visited the club at the Omni Downtown.
It was Brown’s first presentation to a civic group since he submitted his proposed 2011-12 budget Friday to the City Council.
“I ran for mayor for two years. I did a listening tour,” said Brown, who then credited a higher power for his election to the office of chief executive.
“I’m standing here today because of the grace of God,” he said.
Brown said God gave him the vision to lead Jacksonville, citing balancing the City’s budget without raising taxes or fees or drawing down the City’s reserve funds.
“I cut over 225 positions in City government, including 50 mayoral appointees,” said Brown.
Brown said he’s also committed to putting Jacksonville back to work by focusing on jobs, particularly at the port, and making sure Jacksonville’s small business owners have access to capital and credit.
“We have to live within our means, but we have to look toward the future,” said Brown.
He also talked about the importance of investing in potential and recalled when he was enrolled at Jacksonville University.
Brown said even though he was working 50 hours a week, he couldn’t pay his tuition and visited JU President Frances Bartlett Kinne to tell her he would be forced to drop out of the university.
“She told me to go downstairs and register for my classes,” said Brown.
“She allowed me to register and I graduated. She did it because she saw the potential in Alvin Brown. She knew I would work hard and play by the rules,” he said.
Declaring the “government can’t do it alone,” Brown pledged to develop partnerships within the business community.
“I am so honored to have the Jacksonville Regional Chamber and the Civic Council as partners to work together to improve the quality of life,” he said.
“God can bless Jacksonville and take it to the next level. We can do it when we work together as one city,” said Brown.
Club President Howard Dale thanked Brown for visiting the group and said Brown will return in September to address a joint meeting of Downtown Rotary and the Meninak Club of Jacksonville.
Jim Bailey, publisher of the Financial News & Daily Record, is 2011-12 program committee chair.
He said part of that responsibility is to schedule speakers and presentations that will educate and create value for the members.
“Good programs can increase our attendance and our membership,” said Bailey.
He shared some statistics about the club as it celebrates its 100th year of service to the community.
The club has 300 members, consisting of 52 women and 248 men. There are six sets of siblings among the membership and 13 pairs of father-and-son members.
Seventy of the club’s members are 70 years of age or older, with the most senior Downtown Rotarian being 93 years old.
Bailey said last year, the club welcomed 28 new members and saw 26 members leave its ranks, for a net gain of two members.
He also recalled an incident in the club’s history when it saw a decline in membership.
“Some of the members quit the club when cigars were banned from the meetings,” said Bailey.
Programs for the centennial year will include moderated panel discussions related to topics selected by the club members.
“You are the program committee. We want to know what you want to hear about,” said Bailey.
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