Reflections At The Start of a New Year
REFLECTIONS AT THE START OF A NEW YEAR by Paul Moore Some years are hard to let go of. Others, we’re glad to see in the rear-view mirror. I’m ready for a new year! 2024 had its joys, but it was also a year in which advancing age was painfully (literally) apparent, for me and […]
The Year of Reinvention
The Year of Reinvention by Karen Wicker Happy New Year! I have the privilege of writing the first Rotary Reflections of 2025. It only seems fitting to talk about New Year’s resolutions. There is something magical about January that allows us to start over, dream new dreams, or change a bad habit or two. Whether […]
The Legacy of Louisa McCune
The Legacy of Louisa McCune by Lance McDaniel Club 29 member Louisa McCune is executive director of Kirkpatrick Foundation. Her father, Edward A. McCune, MD, was a longtime member of Enid Rotary Club. In the mid-1990’s, her oldest sister, Allison, was one among the first class of three women admitted into Enid Rotary Club. This column was […]
December 7—Pearl Harbor Day It Changed the World
December 7—Pearl Harbor Day It Changed the World by Larry Stein Sitting silently on the east side of Broadway just south of NE 13th Street, there is a hunk of metal which provides a timeless reminder of how important December 7th is for so many around the world. On that date in 1941 the events […]
Things that Endure
Things that Endure by Emily Lang I have a favorite ornament on my Christmas tree It’s a red apple — its handle a white candy cane with red stripes that have gone crunchy and are peeling away from a once shiny veneer. My name, Emily, is handwritten, probably with a white paint pen, in my […]
Fall Means Football
Fall Means Football by Larry Stein It’s football season and after Halloween and the election we head into the High Holidays of Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year celebrations. One of the best Rotary meetings is the annual Bedlam Rivalry. Many wear their Orange and black or Crimson and cream. Some great Cowboys and Sooners […]
I love Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving by Charlie Smith I love Thanksgiving. I love the holiday, and not just because of the abundance of good food. I hold dear a Smith table tradition of my mother’s oyster stuffing. And I’ve always been partial to pecan (puh-kahn) pie. Thanksgiving stirs up a cornucopia of other cherished memories. After-meal naps. Football games, […]
Origins on the Rule of Law
Origins on the Rule of Law by Jim Sharrock As we approach Thanksgiving, I am reflecting back to July 1 this year. When others were thinking about the upcoming celebration of our nation’s birth, I was thinking about an earlier time that put us on the path towards independence. Nancy and I were driving to […]
Strong Public Education Is Essential to Our Future
Strong Public Education Is Essential to Our Future by Phil Busey The cornerstone of our democracy has always been an emphasis on public education. Every child in this nation deserves an equal educational opportunity regardless of background, race, location, income, or family circumstance. The Founders understood the immense value of an educated populist in developing […]
A Civic On Ramp
A Civic On Ramp Rachel Hubbard Having worked in news and as a political observer in Oklahoma for decades, as elections approach, I often get calls from friends and family asking for my thoughts. During the 2020 cycle, a woman I know well pulled me aside in the grocery store. “Rachel, I’m embarrassed,” she said. […]
Overcoming Obstacles and Doing Hard Things
Overcoming Obstacles and Doing Hard Things by Charlie Smith I bought a fancy Garmin running watch. It is full of sports-related bells and whistles. It also has a heavy “nanny” component. The watch rates my sleep patterns and monitors other health data. Apparently, driving and other daily habits give me great stress. The second time […]
“Stealing Struggles”
“Stealing Struggles” by Dr. Freda Deskin One of the most essential life lessons I have ever received came from my dear friend and long-time mentor, Alma Wilson, the first female Chief Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Justice Wilson was so well known that everyone referred to her as “Alma.” She was like Cher, the […]