TODAY’S PROGRAM
TBA

AUGUST 19 PROGRAM:
Rick McLeod, President, led the club in the singing of “America” and the saying of the “Pledge of Allegiance”. The invocation was given by Rev. Pamela Cicioni.

Wendy Kumpe led the club in a final rendition of “Take Me Out To The Fish Fry”, sung to the melody of “Take Me Out To The Ball Park”. '

John George introduced Mark Lericos, Sports Director for 40/29. Lericos has lived in New Jersey; Florida; Troy, Alabama; and Greenville, South Carolina, before coming to Northwest Arkansas. He thanked Rotary for lunch, as the media always appreciates free food. He started in broadcasting at age 12 by reading the middle school Menu for the day through the school broadcasting network. He added that food and sports remain two of his "favorites".

When he realized he wasn't good enough at any sport to play professional sports for a career, it became clear that sports broadcasting was the next best option. As a natural "entertainer", broadcasting was a great fit, and he gets to do what he loves...sports! Instead of playing sports, he gets to talk about sports. He particularly enjoys the passion in sports, and that fact that you never do the same thing twice.

Career highlights include:

3 Master's Championships

Pinehurst

Daytona 500 - Twice

Super Bowl

College World Series

Philly Title Game

Bowl Games - including Cotton Bowl... and his favorite, the Outback Bowl, because Outback serves steaks to the reporters! (Food!)

Press Meetings with: Michael Jordan, Jack Nicholas, and Bobby Knight

Lericos told a number of humorous stories about behind the scenes in live sports broadcasting and getting the story on the air: He covered the tornado live at the Georgia Dome while others were seeking shelter; or driving thru dense fog in a mountainous area in Northern California and following a logging truck's lights to get to a high school game; or running thru a swale of cat-tails and reeds to get a story on the air despite bleeding, muddy, and wet.

Always asked about Coach Bobby Petrino, he said that he seems as professional, structured, and incredibly organized. He is both fair and can be entertaining. Lericos added that Petrino and his brother both eat, live, breathe football.

Lericos stated that Station 40/29 is focused on local high school football, much more than other stations in the area, and that is because local sports are very important.

Rotarian Questions & Lericos' responses:

Q: What was it like breaking the Nutt story before the Mississippi State game?

A: I got a lot of heat for it. Worst thing for a media person is to become part of the story and that was what happened to him. Lericos said if he had to do it over again, he would break the story just as he did. Lericos had sources that he was confident the story was accurate, and someone else would get the story, so he went with it.

Q: Patrick Beverly?

A: Lericos says he likes Coach Pelphrey and what he's done for the team. The coach is about winning, but also winning the right way.

Q: Going back to Nutt, what do you see as a future media relationship with Nutt since you broke the story?

A: "I didn't get a Christmas Card from him". The news story actually became a rallying point for the team. Who knows, maybe it was calculated that the story to break then.

Q: Comment on Matt Jones/Jaguars and McFadden/Raiders.

A: Probably have 4pm games go to the Raiders and will see those locally.

Q: Hillis?

A: Though he may be injured, his versatility helps him, and he probably will not get cut.

Q: Impressions of Jeff Long?

A: He seems very open, down to earth, a pretty average guy. Generally impressed with him. Being a former coach, he knows how things work. He's also very willing to listen to ideas, and he is very good about giving credit to others as credit is due.

President Rick McLeod closed the meeting, leading the club in the Rotary 4-Way Test.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• Grants Committee to meet after Rotary.

• Joe Mills: Mercy Health is donating a second truck worth of medical supplies this week.

• Chad Kumpe is doing well and recovering from surgery.

• Rick McLeod thanked Dennis Ferguson for leading the "Frying Fish" team again this year for Frisco Festival.

• Joe Richardson, a former member now living in Kansas City has two tickets on the 45 yard line to a game on August 30. See Hal Savage if you would like to purchase these.

• Hal Savage reminded members to recruit new members and see him for membership application cards.

• Golfers: The District Conference 6110 Golf Tournament is September 25. Still time to sign-up. See Hal Savage.

• Member information is being updated. Please notify Hal Savage of any changes in your information.

• Handout: Rick Schaeffer, Frank Broyles & Ken Hatfield (and other Razorback Greats) will be signing copies of a new book "The University Arkansas Football Vault: The History of the Razorbacks" on August 30, from 11 am until 12:30pm at Barnes & Noble Booksellers in Fayetteville.

VISITING ROTARIANS & GUESTS:
Jack Counihan introduced Rotarian Joe Chumbler from Fayetteville Northside
Nathan Cash introduced Melanie Young
Darrin Chism introduced Sandra Chism
Jeremy Portmann introduced Josh Portmann
Susan Jasan introduced Mike Shea and Cathy Towle
Jonathan Wilson introduced Jayme Wilson

IN THE NEWS:

ATTA BOYS & GIRLS (Make-ups):
Jill Wagar 3x

UPCOMING PROGRAMS:
9/2 Dr. Greg Salamo/UofA Dept. of Physics/Nanotechnology research update obtained by Dick Trammell. Nanotechnology will touch every facet of our lives in just a few years.
9/9 Greg Spraig-Sam's Club/economics and trade in NWA/obtained by Pamela Cicioni. Spraig will talk about the local economy and the world economy and the impacts for NW Arkansas.