Alamance County Tax Department recently issued the following announcement.
President Mary Thomas Gilbert brought the meeting to order. Ed Woodall led us in prayer and the pledge of allegiance to the US flag. Mary Thomas quoted Margaret Thatcher:
The world will little note nor long remember what we say, but it will not forget what we do. By that test we are happy to be judged.
Claudia Cannady , last year’s District Governor, visited today, as did Debbie Scott, the newest person in the District Governor line. Debbie is from the Jonesboro – Sanford club. Dr. Bob Carter from the Burlington Rotary Club read from a program he saved from our club’s charter meeting some 39 years ago. The only one of the 30 original charter members still active in the club is the much appreciated Chuck Stedman. Bob gave the keepsake to our president for our archives. Current District Governor Randy Perkins, sporting a new crutch, introduced his wife Reida, who is a member of the Mebane club. Mary Thomas wished Carolyn a very happy birthday. The other birthdays are listed below.
Today was Chris Jernigan’s second reading before the club. Welcome to the club, Chris!
Thomas Phelps has the program next week.
Click here to see all scheduled program dates and responsibilities.
Plan to Attend the February Evening Out Fund Raiser
Mary Thomas reminded us that our first Evening Out Fund Raiser will be held on February 11. It will be in lieu of the lunch meeting that day and will be held at Burlington Beer Works at 6 pm. Tickets are $25 per person, which will provide for heavy hors d’oeuvres and a complimentary pint or glass of wine, thanks to the generosity of BBW. Other alcoholic drinks will be available on a cash basis. Part of the ticket cost will accrue to the club. We will also have a reverse raffle, door prizes, gift baskets, music, and other games. Raffle tickets are $50 each. This event will be open to people outside our club. Let’s invite friends and relatives to join us on this important night. Purchase dinner and reverse raffle tickets by clicking on this link. You can find it any time by clicking on the “Get Involved” link on the menu at the top of the page. Then select the fundraiser link. A link is also found on the Home Page half way down.
January Birthdays and Anniversaries
| 4 | Thomas Phelps | 21 | Matt & Bharna Patel |
| 14 | Debbie Porch | ||
| 20 | Carolyn Rhode | ||
| 23 | Mikie Morrison | ||
| 29 | Cliff Parker |
Happy Dollars
- Randy Perkins passed out a sack of quarters to celebrate and remember the invention of the polio vaccine that is used by Rotary’s worldwide polio immunization program. Randy said he will be leading our district’s efforts to fund this effort when his term as DG is completed.
- Randy and Freebird McKinney, a member of our club and NC’s teacher of the year, have combined forces to put together a Rotary grant to send five to six teachers to Australia for training.
- Jim Cartner paid to announce the recent marriage of his daughter.
- Dick O’Donnell said he recently spoke at the Mebane Rotary Club and encouraged us to visit.
Chris Justice
Randy Perkins introduced our speaker. Chris is our district’s slated DG for 21-22. He is part of the Gate City Rotary Club in Greensboro. He grew up in Wilmington, served three years in the Army, got a BS in accounting in Wilmington, and eventually earned his law degree in Baltimore. He and his wife Stephanie live in Summerfield with their five children. She is a real estate broker with the Justice Group. Chris established a mid-sized law practice, which he later sold. He now has a smaller practice called the Justice Law Group. The smaller size allows him more time with other priorities, which include Rotary, Toys for Tots, and the Lionheart Academy, a school for autistic children.
Chris said he has expertise in several areas, including arcade games, but chose to focus on the problems with our immigration system, which is in need of comprehensive reform. He told us that it is important to have conversations about controversial topics if we are going to make progress. According to Chris, immigration law is extremely complicated and fails to take into account the unworkability of many of its provisions. He said the backlog of applications is often more than ten years behind. Those who are in this country illegally without having made a documented entry, discover that it is virtually impossible for them to upgrade their status now. Our law requires them to leave the county and reenter for this to happen, but, once leaving, the law bars them from reentering for ten years. In the case of persons who entered legally, but illegally overstayed their visa, they can readily upgrade their legal status and stay in the country. This state of affairs punishes one type of illegal activity but not the other, which encourages illegals to stay “underground.” Chris said the about fifty percent of illegal immigrants are overstays and the rest undocumented entries.
During Q&A time, Claudia Cannady asked about employment based immigration laws. Chris remarked that the certification process requires companies to show that US workers are not available to fill the jobs. Carolyn mentioned her concern for the options available to a certain couple named Harry and Meghan. Chris assured her that since Meg is a US citizen, there will be no issue. Randy asked Chris, “What is the right solution” to this mess? Chris said we need to construct a system that will work in real life and meets the needs of American citizens and employers.
Conclusion
Chris Justice drew the winning ticket #859, which was held by Randy Perkins’ table. Amid the cries of “foul,” Reida drew the ten of hearts, leaving the Ace of Spades among the remaining 46 cards. Our odds are getting better each week. Mary Thomas led us in a recitation of Rotary’s four-way test before we adjourned. See you next time.
Original source: https://alamancerotary.org/january-21-2020-chris-justice-the-need-for-comprehensive-immigration-reform/
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