Published: July 02, 2009 08:11 am      

Rotary Club hosts Pickering

PICAYUNE — Stacey Pickering, Mississippi State Auditor, served as keynote speaker for the 2009 Annual Installation Banquet hosted by the Rotary Club of Picayune. During his speech, Pickering addressed leadership skills. “It’s something I’m very passionate about, talking about leadership and challenging people to motivate them a little bit,” he said.

Bruce Kammer, Rotary past president for the 2008-2009 year, introduced Pickering as the guest speaker.

Pickering was elected the 41st State Auditor for Mississippi. Prior to that he served in the Mississippi State Senate in 2003, representing district 42, Jones County.

In 2004, Pickering was named Legislator of the Year by the Mississippi Association of Realtors. He holds two degrees, a bachelor of arts from Stanford University in Birmingham, Ala., and a master’s degree from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He is a seventh generation Mississippian who currently resides with his wife, Whitney Pickering, and the couple’s four children on the same farm in Laurel he grew up on.

“Just the fact that you are in Rotary means that you are a leader,” said Pickering, “Everyone in this room is a leader.”

Pickering continued that people have the opportunity to choose what type of leader, he or she will be, whether in a community group or in their lives among their personal circles of influence. He summed up types of leaders.

“We have the opportunity to be reactionary, responsive or to be an initiator, and the new officers are going to have to decide are they going to be reactionary to problems when opportunities present themselves or are they going to respond OR are they going to lead this organization and the Pearl River community,” he said.

During his speech, Pickering used Walt Disney, the creator of the Walt Disney theme parks, as an example of an initiator.

“Leadership like Walt Disney showed, shows initiative… stop waiting for a problem to occur so you can react to it… that’s what makes a true leader, that’s what is going to change Pearl River County, Rotary, the state of Mississippi and our country,” he said. “Our job is to take the initiative and make the change.

Pickering congratulated the club’s incoming officers, which were sworn in by Whitson Christy, assistant Rotary district governor.

The 2009-2010 Rotary Club of Picayune officers are: R. Shane Fitzgerald, president; Linda Pate, secretary; Billy Geen, Treasurer and Reggie Hanberry, past president. There is currently no one serving in the vice president role.

In addition to the swearing in of incoming Rotary officers, the banquet, held Tuesday at Magnolia Columns, also served several other functions for Rotarians, including reflecting on the group’s achievements of the previous year and looking forward to the year ahead.

Throughout the evening many in the room were recognized, including the 2009 Rotary Scholarship recipients. The Rotary Academic scholarship was awarded to Jacob Hickman of Picayune Memorial High School and Josh Taggert of Pearl River Central High School. The Career and Technology Scholarship was awarded to Danielle Camp of Picayune Memorial High School and Alan C. Smith of Pearl River Central High School. The 2009 RYLA recipient was Samantha Thrasher of Picayune Memorial High School.

Hanberry summed up some of Rotary’s achievements for the 2008-2009 year, including significant contributions to Manna Ministries and Habitat for Humanity. Rotary also hosted their annual Fishing Rodeo for students of the PMHS exceptional education program.

Fitzgerald, incoming president, adjourned the meeting with “A Look Ahead” for the organization.