When you see her this week, please wish Allison Calhoun a Happy Birthday. And, while you’re at it, thank her for all she does for the Rotary Club of Edmond.

    I’d hate to think where we’d be without her. Ask our current or any former Club President. They will all tell you the same thing. Allison makes it all run smoothly.

    Is there an issue with the meeting place? Allison will take care of it. Have the appropriate remittances been made to Rotary International? Allison is on top of it. Are the badges there? Of course. Is the meeting agenda set? Allison has it ready.

    How do we make certain we have fulfilled our obligations to our Rotary District? Have we filled out the proper RI form? Don’t give it another thought, for Allison has it done.

    Does one of our members have a special need? Has a special issue arisen, requiring the attention of our President, our Board or even the entire Club? Are our scholarship recipients receiving their funds? Allison always makes sure we’ve taken care of the matter.

    As you get to know the leaders of other Rotary Clubs, you find out how fortunate we are to have Allison. Although every Rotary Club has the office of Secretary, the Rotary Club of Edmond thinks of ours, at least unofficially, as the President-Elect in waiting. But I’m not so sure we’d ever be able to fill that slot without Allison, because the Secretary is responsible for filling out and submitting all sorts of time-consuming, tedious reports. In our Club, Allison does all of that.

    When I was Club President, I never worried about any of these issues. I didn’t have to. Allison always made sure every matter, every need, was taken care of. Because of Allison’s service to us, we are all better able to fulfill the Rotary Motto of Service Above Self.

    So please take a moment this week to let Allison know how much you appreciate her.

    Our special guest speaker this week needs no introduction. Ray Vaughn graduated from Edmond High School, received his B.A. from Oklahoma Christian College and his J.D. from Oklahoma City University School of Law. He was an Edmond Associate Municipal Judge, served Edmond in the State House of Representatives for 16 years, and, since January 2, 2007, has been Oklahoma County Commissioner for District 3. Commissioner Vaughn and his wife, Suzanne, have been married for 39 years, and have three children and seven grandchildren.

    Please welcome Commissioner Ray Vaughn to the Rotary Club of Edmond.