Rankin County Rotary Club

The Rotary Club of Rankin County was honored to welcome Margo Hemphill, founder and owner of Oneway Promotional Products in Richland, as our guest speaker today.

As a business and civic organization, Margo began by asking a simple question: "How can we become better business people?" Her answer came through a series of humorous yet powerful life lessons she learned from her mother, Pauline Gardner Moak, during the season when her mother began planning her own funeral.

What started as stories about funeral preparations quickly became lessons about leadership, character, attitude, and how we treat others. Through laughter and heartfelt moments, Margo reminded us that great leaders help others succeed, that God created each of us uniquely for a purpose, and that our attitudes are one of the few things we completely control.

She challenged us to live lives of honor and integrity, to be kind and generous, to make people feel welcomed and valued, and to consider whether we are living a life that we would be proud for others to examine.

Margo has a remarkable gift for combining humor, faith, and practical wisdom. We laughed, we learned, and we left with valuable insights on how to become better business leaders, better neighbors, and better people.

Thank you, Margo, for sharing your story and inspiring our Rotary family. We are honored you spent part of your day with us.

COMMUNITY IS WHAT WE DO TOGETHER

When neighbors help neighbors, amazing things happen.

This June, the Rotary Clubs of Rankin County are partnering with Community Bank to support ERCO (Ever Reaching Community Outreach) in Pelahatchie. ERCO serves families throughout our community who need a helping hand, but right now their food shelves are running low.

This is where our community can step up.

🥫 Pick up a few extra items during your next grocery trip.
📦 Drop them off at one of our convenient collection locations.
❤️ Help provide food and hope to families right here in Rankin County.

Most Needed Items:
• Canned Vegetables
• Canned Fruits
• Canned Meats
• Soup
• Peanut Butter
• Pasta & Rice

Every donation, no matter the size, helps strengthen our community and reminds families that they are not alone.

At Rotary, we believe that service begins at home. Together with Community Bank, we invite you to join us in making a difference—one can, one box, and one family at a time.

📢 Please LIKE and SHARE this post to help us spread the word.
🤝 Challenge your church, business, civic club, neighborhood, or workplace to participate.
🥫 Most importantly, make plans to donate this month!

Because the strongest communities are built when we care for one another.

Rotary Club of Rankin County — Service in Action

Today we had the privilege of serving alongside the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department at D.A.R.E. Funday at the Rankin County Safe Room on Marquette Road.

More than 350 children from 40 local daycares enjoyed a fun-filled, hands-on day learning about law enforcement, emergency response, animal care, and community safety.

Highlights of the day included:
• Rankin County deputies demonstrating equipment, drones, and search-and-rescue technology
• Rankin County Emergency Operations teaching children how they respond during emergencies
• Animal Control sharing the importance of proper animal care and safety
• Brandon Police Department allowing children to explore a patrol car and make announcements over the PA system
• A special visit from Meta characters who interacted with the children throughout the day
• Crooked Creek Veterinary Clinic’s petting zoo featuring dogs, goats, and even snakes
• Snow cones, smiles, and plenty of opportunities to learn about the people who serve our community

The Rotary Club of Rankin County was honored to help keep everyone hydrated throughout the morning. Our members served cold bottled water to the children, teachers, volunteers, and first responders as they enjoyed the day’s activities.

It was inspiring to see so many community organizations come together with a common goal—to educate, encourage, and invest in the next generation. Thank you to the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department especially Sgt Nancy Watts for making this event such a tremendous success.

Service Above Self.

Great lunch meeting today as we welcomed Scott Stricklin, Insurance and Risk Management Advisor with Marsh McLennan Agency. Scott shared a powerful testimony and inspiring presentation on life, faith, and the importance of “Service Above Self.”

We are grateful for Scott’s time and for the wisdom he shared on grace, patience, compassion, and becoming better servants in our communities and daily lives. His message was both encouraging and impactful, reminding us all of the difference we can make through service and kindness.

Thank you, Scott, for your heartfelt words and meaningful insights. We truly appreciate you joining us today!

Please join us in welcoming our newest member, Kooper Davis, to the Rotary Club of Rankin County!

Kooper has hit the ground running by volunteering at our events and faithfully attending our weekly meetings. He serves as the Associate Director of Operations and Branch Manager for the Reservoir Family YMCA with the Metro YMCA of Mississippi.

We are excited to have Kooper as part of our Rotary family and look forward to his continued service to our community.

Let’s give Kooper a warm Rotary welcome!

The world needs more Rotarians. 💙💛

Today, the Rotary Club of Rankin County was honored to welcome Chris Wilson, EHS & Facilities Manager for Siemens Energy, who gave an outstanding presentation on the history and impact of Siemens Energy.

Siemens has been a part of the Richland community since 1973 and continues to make a tremendous impact both locally and globally. The Richland plant currently employs approximately 640 people and manufactures energy transformers and wiring products that are distributed all over the world.

Even more exciting, Siemens Energy recently announced a major $300 million expansion right here in Rankin County. The new plant is expected to create an additional 300 jobs for our community.

Chris shared that Siemens is actively working with the Mississippi Development Authority on workforce development initiatives to help prepare and grow the future workforce needed for this incredible expansion.

What an exciting time for Rankin County! We are proud to have Siemens Energy investing in our communities, creating opportunities, and helping drive economic growth in Mississippi.

Thank you, Chris Wilson, for sharing with our club today!

Thank you to all our sponsors! Your support helps us make a difference right here in Rankin County.

“Service Above Self, One Profits Most Who Serves Best” is more than a Rotary motto — it is the heart of what it means to be a Rotarian.

A heartfelt thank you to every member of this club who worked so hard to secure sponsors, gather door prizes, and recruit teams. Your dedication, generosity, and servant leadership are what make our club strong and our mission impactful. Because of your efforts, we will be able to serve our community in meaningful ways and continue the Rotary tradition of fellowship and service.

Together, we are making a difference — and that is something truly worth celebrating.

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