From DG Jim Squire's disk jockey days at WSGA

Editor's Note: In lieu of meeting a Wednesday or two ago, Marietta President Chris Bethel wrote this musical message to club Rotarians. Dale Covington shared it with me, and I thought everyone might enjoy reading and listening to the musical suggestions … and learning a bit about DG Jim Squire:

Greetings this Wednesday to you. Normally we’d be meeting about now, so I thought I’d send out a quick message and hello to everyone.

Thank you for the positive feedback from my last blast Club e-mail. Several people reached out to me and many have some type of direct connection to Kenny and Dolly or universally identify with music. I want to share two of these responses with you:

• First, DG Jim Squire reached out to me and it turns out that he and Kenny Rogers were friends back in the 70’s when he was with the First Edition. DG Jim was a DJ with the number one rate Top 40’s radio station along the Georgia Coast back then. (See picture below of the young debonair Jim Squire when he was with WSGA Goodtimers DJs.)
• Second is from our very own ADG Mark Barbour. He and Brother Tim Brown went down to the Merchandise Mart a few years ago for a Rotary International sponsored event related to the “Imagination Library”.(By the way, Dolly is an Honorary Rotarian! – maybe we should make her a Paul Harris Fellow – I’ll look into this…)Tim and Mark were invited to a mixer to meet with Dolly. They stood in line for 2 and 1/2 hours and finally got up to Dolly and she looked up ant Mark and said “what do you do Honey?” Mark said well I’m a Preacher. She replied, “lean over here and give me some preacher sugar!”, so he obliged and gave her a kiss of her check. Dolly looked at Brother Tim Brown and asked him what he did for a living. Tim was star-struck and silent – he couldn’t speak! Mark had to answer for Tim and said he was an Educator. Dolly said “We’ll lean over here and educate me with some good sugar!” Good old Brother Tim FROZE and Dolly said “you need to hang around the Preacher more… and learn to kiss when the kissin’ is good”. Dolly then kissed Tim on the check! Well, walking out Brother Tim says to Mark in his slow southern drawl, “Brother M-a-r-k, I almost passed out, did I kiss Dolly or did Dolly kiss me…?!LOL! This is too funny - you can’t make this up!

Now for some quick updates:

1. The entire Hilton food and beverage has been shut down due to all the cancellations. The Hotel laid off all the servers as well as Marion the Manager. Based upon motion by PE Mary Ansley Southerland, your Rotary Board unanimously voted to give year-end bonuses now to the six (6) servers and Marion who were laid off in the form of $100 gift cards each. Hopefully this will help them in the weeks to come.
2. Initially we cancelled our meetings for the first 2 weeks, but we will not have our regularly scheduled meetings at the Hotel until further notice. I’ll continue to keep you posted.

Finally, in following up with my music themed e-mails, I share with you the following that I recently saw on FB. I hope they bring a smile to your face and warm your hearts, as they did mine.

For our INVOCATION today, please watch the incredible duet between Father and Daughter Duet of “The Prayer”. (Daddy Daughter Duet - The Prayer)

Finally, please watch the incredible PS22 Kids Chorus who sings “Don’t Give Up On Me” with Andy Grammar. PS22 Chorus is directed by Gregg Breiberg, is the Webby Award-winning public elementary school chorus from Graniteville, Staten Island, NYC – they sure are something special!

Remember, stay positive and if anyone needs anything, please reach out to me or the Board. We are only an e-mail or phone call away.

Thank you, stay safe, and I’ll touch base again soon.