The Birmingham Business Community Mourns Business Trailblazer

January 15, 2015

Staff Writer

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Rick Bentley, Birmingham based contractor, engineer and entrepreneur has died.
Mr. Bentley, died on January 12 surrounded by loved ones after battling several illnesses.
Born December 11, 1952 in Birmingham, Alabama Mr. Bentley became one of the Southeast’s premier and most sought-after contractors. Starting his first business with $700 he borrowed from his beloved mother Ann, Mr. Bentley founded several companies and landed numerous multi –million dollar contracts. Most recently he founded General Construction Engineering Management (GCEM) which provides program management, construction management, design build, and general contracting services. In addition, he completed projects for UAB’s Kirkland Clinic, Birmingham- Shuttlesworth International Airport, Regions Field, McDonald’s Corporation and Birmingham’s Uptown Entertainment District.
A product of the Birmingham City School system and graduate of Ramsay High School, Mr. Bentley had a great love for his hometown. After receiving Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Business Administration from the University of Alabama, Mr. Bentley decided to return to Birmingham and become an entrepreneur to aid in the growth and development of the Birmingham area. He also went on to receive a Masters of Engineering degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
His professional ventures were not limited to Birmingham, however, his love for Birmingham and devotion to the growth of its business and industry were paramount.
Mr. Bentley was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Titusville and oversaw the construction of a new church in recent years. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Bushelon Funeral Home Friday, Jan. 16 from Noon- until 9 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 17 at 2 p.m. at Sixth Avenue Baptist Church.

Make It Your New Year’s Resolution to Help “Change the Game”

Birmingham Times

January 15, 2015

Announcing the ALS Associations Inaugural Awards Dinner, Changing the Game

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – On Thursday, March 12, 2015 at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham-The Wynrey Hotel at 6:30 p.m., ticket purchasers, table donors, sponsors and honorees will join together for a night that will “change the game” for so many.
A night dedicated to honoring the champions who continue to fight the battle with ALS. The evening will include cocktails, a seated dinner, an awards ceremony, a silent auction and celebrated guest speaker, John Feinstein. Feinstein is a columnist for The Washington Post, Golf World and Golf Digest. He also hosts a daily radio show on the CBS Sports Radio Network, is a contributor to the Golf Channel and an essayist for CBS Sports Television.
We’re asking you to make it your New Year’s resolution to help us “change the game” and support our efforts to find a cure for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), otherwise known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, and attend the awards dinner with us.
Lou Gehrig, the Iron Horse of Baseball, showed extraordinary commitment to the game of baseball. His spirit of courage, even in the face of the devastating diagnosis of ALS remains an inspiration to this day. Changing the Game will forever secure the Spirit of Lou Gehrig Award Honorees as champions of ALS and individuals who, like Lou Gehrig, “changed the game.” The Spirit of Lou Gehrig Awards will be presented by famed football coaches Pat Dye and Gene Stallings.

2015 Honorees:

Kevin Turner – star fullback for the NCAA College Football National Champion Alabama Crimson Tide. He was drafted by the NFL’s New England Patriots, going on to play through 1999 for the Philadelphia Eagles.
In May 2010, Kevin was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Kevin is now involved in research that links chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), or repeated brain trauma in athletes, to a higher-than-normal onset of ALS. Turner has signed up for the brain registry with the NFL Brain Bank to donate his brain and his spinal cord so it can be studied after death.

Frank Orgel – began his coaching career by replacing legendary Warner Robins High School head football coach Joe Sumrall. Frank willed the team to its first of 23 regional titles. His next move took him to North Alabama, Clemson, South Carolina, Auburn and ultimately back to his alma mater, The University of Georgia. Coach Orgel’s ALS is atypical, primarily affecting just one side of his body. While he has been suffering with ALS for 15 years, he has only known what to call the disease he suffers from for the last five years. Frank’s atypical form of ALS made diagnosis especially difficult.

ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. The disease robs people of the ability to walk, to talk and even blink an eye. It traps them inside a body they no longer can control and ultimately prevents them from breathing as it takes their life. People with ALS lose the power to use their legs, hold someone close, and simply say, “I love you,” before their bodies gradually shut down. There is no known cause of the disease, although military veterans are approximately twice as likely to develop ALS as the general population.

“The Story of Annie McKinnon” 

Birmingham Times

January 15, 2015

By Adrianna Roshelle
My grandmother is and will always be one of the most powerful women I know. Her story is one that can inspire many. This week I got to sit down and talk to the beautiful, strong, warrior, Annie Mckinnon, 89, about her life and how her faith in the Lord, though at times challenged, was what got her through life’s toughest circumstances.
Adrianna:”Hello everybody, we are recording the great Mother McKinnon and she will be telling us the powerful story of her life. So mother,(a name all who are close to her call her!) how are you doing today?” Mother: “I’m blessed”  Adrianna: “You are the definition of blessed mother. The first question I’ll ask is, though you definitely grew up in a Christian home, what made you want to start your awesome prison ministry “Christians Concerned For Prisoners”? Mother: Well really, it never was in my heart. I found out later it was really ordained by God.”
Her two sons, got arrested for a robbery they didn’t do. One was acquitted, and one was sentenced to 10 years. Understandably at this time Mother began to have faith in Jesus Christ like never before. Any mother or any family member with loved ones in prison knows how hard this most definitely is.
Mother: “It was at the times when I would visit my son, and he would share some of his time for me to talk to some of the other inmates that didn’t have any family, then it became so many that I didn’t have the funds, so I was granted permission to bring a can and collect funds from others visiting to give to all of the inmates.”
During this time in 1978, guards saw the noticable change surfacing in the attitudes of the inmates of the prison, and Mother was most definitely asked to come back at least one night a week to talk to the inmates and give encouragement. And that’s one of my grandma’s many gifts. And that was the start of Christians Concerned For Prisoners.
Mother: “It was during this time that I was getting closer to the Lord that I was informed that one of my sons was supposed to have committed suicide in jail, but I know he didn’t. Later, it was found out it was a conspired murder. And it was during this tough time that I began to get revelation knowledge.”
For any new readers, that is the supernaturally given knowledge of God.
Mother: “The Lord told me, the devil took your son, but I am going to give you a great multiple of sons.”   Mother was given favor from powerful people to get approval from the IRS, so Christians Concerned For Prisoners became and is accredited.
She also was given ideas to help the prisoners by putting on an annual banquet, revival and concert filled with guest speakers and her great home cooked food for the community alike. The inmates were allowed to come out and help with setting up everything.  Trials and tribulation still came. Mother recalls the times when the ministry wasn’t even allowed to have a light bulb to speak to the prisoners and the had to use an extension. Some of the prison conditions were so bad that it was through Christians Concerned For Prisoners that many prisons like the Talladega County .ail was rebuilt.
Mother says that through it all her favorite things about this ministry it that it is interracial and nondenominational.
Mother: “Every inmate is like my son and I’m their mother. Color never matters.
She recalls the story of an inmate who was Latin American but who told her, “you’re my mother”. Not only were the prison inmates changed by Mother McKinnon’s life, but certainly all others who were willing to help, like Michelle Richardson and such great chaplains for allowing Annie McKinnon to be the first woman allowed into prisons.
Former chaplain Browser said on Mother being the first woman going in to minister to prisoners, …”many couldn’t grasp it.”
She says through it all, God gets the glory and all of the miracles He’s done through CCFP and more, can be found out in Annie’s McKinnons book, The Annie P. McKinnon story.
Her favorite scripture: In all your ways acknowledge him and he shall direct your paths. Prov 3:6
Love ya mother!❤

President Obama Wants Everyone To Have Fast Internet

Birmingham Times

January 15, 2015

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration wants to provide greater access to fast Internet broadband service in towns and cities across the country by encouraging the Federal Communications Commission to remove legal barriers to competition by Internet service providers. It also wants to help local communities improve their service with government loans and grants.
The modest proposals do not require congressional approval and are part of a series of measures President Barack Obama is rolling out before his State of the Union address next week.
Obama will detail his broadband plans Wednesday in Cedar Falls, Iowa, a community that has taken steps to provide high-speed Internet to its residents.
In a White House video before the announcement, Obama says: “You know what it feels like when you don’t have a good Internet connection. Everything is buffering, you try to download a video and you’ve got that little circle thing that goes round and round, it’s really aggravating.”
“There are real world consequences to this and it makes us less economically competitive,” he says.
Jeff Zients, director of Obama’s National Economic Council, said Obama wants to use the bully pulpit of the presidency to press the FCC, an independent regulatory agency, to “ensure that all states have a playing field that allows for a vibrant and competitive market for communication services.”
The administration’s stance would put it at odds with major cable and telephone companies such as AT&T, Comcast and Time Warner Cable Inc. that currently provide Internet service, often with little or no competition. Obama has already angered the industry by calling for new FCC rules that treat Internet service providers as public utilities.
Nineteen states place restrictions on municipal broadband networks.
The FCC is already considering requests for Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Wilson, North Carolina, to prevent state laws from blocking the expansion of their broadband projects. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler said in June that communities that want to provide their own broadband service “shouldn’t be stopped by state laws promoted by cable and telephone companies that don’t want that competition.”
A new White House report says that while 94 percent of Americans living in urban areas can purchase an Internet connection of 25 megabits per second, only 51 percent of Americans in rural areas have access to such Internet speeds.
The report also says that because of lack of competition three out of four Americans lack a choice for such Internet service.
The White House also announced that the Commerce Department would promote greater broadband access by hosting regional workshops and offering technical assistance to communities. The Department of Agriculture also will provide grants and loans of $40 million to $50 million to assist rural areas.
A council comprising more than a dozen government agencies will also seek to remove regulatory and policy barriers that hinder broadband competition, the White House said.

Congratulations Timothy Huffman III

Birmingham Times

January 15, 2015

Congratulations to Timothy Huffman III for being selected 1st Chair-Drum Set Percussionist for Alabama All-State Gold Jazz Band 2014-2015. The Alabama Bandmasters Association’s Conference is scheduled for January 22-24, in Montgomery, Alabama at the Convention Center. Timothy is the Music Director of Official Clutch Jazz Band and is a senior at Minor High School.
Timothy credits his mentors and thanks God for the gift.

ASU Opens SWAC Play with Win

Birmingham Times

January 15, 2015

MONTGOMERY, Ala.—Maurice Strong scored a team-high 14 points in leading Alabama State to a 71-50 win over Grambling State to open Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play.
Strong only played five minutes in the opening half after picking up two quick fouls, but came out in the second half scoring 12 of his points on six-of-10 shooting. He also grabbed a team-high nine rebounds.
“We came out in the second half and was able to get some things done and again it was Maurice that was able to give us that spark that we needed,” Head Coach Lewis Jackson said. “He’s big for us on the glass, he plays with a lot of energy and effort and he got us going there.”
Joining Strong in double digits was Luther Page, who again came off the bench to supply some energy. He finished with 12 points and Wendell Lewis added 11.
After struggling from the field in the first half of action, ASU (5-5/1-0 SWAC) picked it up in the second half shooting 56 percent and scoring 43 points on 18 of 32 shooting.
“We talked about a lot of things (at halftime) that we were doing and that was zero,” Jackson said. “We couldn’t get anything going in the first half. We were moving in slow motion. They were out hustling us, out rebounding us, they were making shots, making their free throws and as a result we were struggling to try and hold on there. It also hurt us Maurice getting in early foul trouble.
“It was a good energy half (second half). Luther gave us a lot of energy and Wendell did some good things and that is the way we have to play, with energy and we have us use our athleticism to help us win ball games.”
ASU trailed by six late in the first half and switched to a zone which seemed to catch the Tigers by surprise. The Hornets held GSU to only two points in the last nine minutes of the first half and one basket the first five minutes of the second half to go from six down to five up and they never trailed again.
“They were driving the ball into the lane against us fairly easy and we thought the zone may slow them down and make them take jump shots,” Jackson said. “The zone worked for us and we got a few stops there and it got us going a little bit also. The zone really helped us a lot and we played it a lot there in the second half. We changed it up a little bit after they were starting to get comfortable with it.”
The Hornets finished the game shooting 47 percent from the field, but struggled from both three point range and at the free throw line. ASU only hit four of 17 from beyond the three point line and only hit nine of their 20 free throws.
ASU held GSU (2-9/0-1 SWAC) to only 23 percent shooting (5-22) and 22 points in the second half while also hitting boards more and grabbing 23 second half rebounds compared to 17 for GSU.
Three players scored most of GSU’s points as Mark Gray had a game-high 18 points while A’Torri Shines finished with 12 and Remond Brown added 11.
The first half was a sloppy half of basketball as the teams went into the locker room even at 28. The Hornets led early 12-8 after a Brown three pointer, but could not build on the lead.
Shine and Gray led the visitors on a 18-8 run to lead by as much as 26-20 with 8:57 left in the half. From there the Hornets held GSU scoreless for over six minutes, but could not take much of an advantage during that time only scoring six points to even the score at 26.
Gray led GSU with 10 points while Shine added eight. GSU shot 39 percent from the field while winning the rebounding battle 24-18.
For ASU, Lewis scored nine and Bobby Brown had six. ASU struggled from the field shooting 37 percent. ASU was just as cold from the free throw line hitting four of their 10 attempts

Southwestern Athletic Conference Promotes It’s On Us Campaign

Birmingham Times

January 15, 2015

The SWAC is the only HBCU conference among the partners.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southwestern Athletic Conference has joined the It’s On Us campaign, an initiative to raise awareness about sexual assaults on college campuses announced by President Barack Obama and vice president Joe Biden. Born from a White House task force, the It’s on Us campaign is designed to educate and promote awareness of the issue and empowering action.
A primary goal of the It’s On Us campaign is to fundamentally change the perception of sexual assault, while inspiring everyone to take accountability in prohibiting efforts. The SWAC joins the NCAA, select Division I conferences, and a host national sport organizations to represent the athletic world. The organization utilizes celebrity public service announcements, print and online advertising, and campus events to spread the message.

For more information, or to take the pledge, visit www.itsonus.org.

A Celebration of Life for Gospel Legend Andrae Crouch

Birmingham Times

January 15, 2015

Late gospel legend Andrae Crouch’s funeral and memorials are set. Here is the information:
A celebration of Andraé Crouch’s life will take place on Tuesday, January 20 and Wednesday, January 21 at West Angeles Church of God In Christ, 3045 Crenshaw Blvd. in Los Angeles, California. Both services will be open to the public.
MUSICAL TRIBUTE CELEBRATION Tuesday, January 20 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. Viewing 7 p.m. – Service Time
CELEBRATION OF LIFE SERVICE Wednesday, January 21 10 a.m. – Viewing 11 a.m. – Service Time Bishop Charles E. Blake, Pastor In lieu of flowers, please send tax-deductible donations to: Andraé Crouch Memorial Fund c/o New Christ Memorial Church 13333 Vaughn Street Pacoima, CA 91340 www.newchristmemorial.org
Cards and letters may be sent to: New Christ Memorial Church Attn.: Mauri Jones 13333 Vaughn Street Pacoima, CA 91340
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Andrae Crouch, a legendary gospel performer, songwriter and choir director whose work graced songs by Michael Jackson and Madonna and movies such as “The Lion King,” has died. He was 72.
Crouch died Thursday afternoon at Northridge Hospital Medical Center, where he had been admitted Saturday after suffering a heart attack, said his publicist, Brian Mayes.
The Recording Academy, which awarded seven Grammys to Crouch during a career that spanned more than a half-century, said in a statement that he was “a remarkable musician and legendary figure” who was “fiercely devoted to evolving the sound of contemporary, urban gospel music.”
Crouch and his twin sister, Sandra Crouch, also a singer, lived in the Pacoima area of Los Angeles. They were pastors at the New Christ Memorial Church in the Los Angeles suburb of San Fernando.
“Today my twin brother, womb-mate and best friend went home to be with the Lord,” said Pastor Sandra Crouch. “I tried to keep him here but God loved him best.”
Born in San Francisco, Crouch wrote his first gospel tune at age 14.
Crouch wrote dozens of songs, including gospel favorites such as “The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power,” ”My Tribute (To God Be the Glory)” and “Soon and Very Soon,” which was sung at a public memorial to Jackson.
Debuting in 1960, Crouch helped pioneer the burgeoning “Jesus Music” movement from the late 1960s and ’70s that started the spread of contemporary Christian music.
“We’ve lost a true pioneer and he will be missed,” said Jason Crabb, another Grammy-winning gospel singer.
His influence also crossed over into in pop music. Elvis Presley performed his song “I’ve Got Confidence” for a 1972 gospel album, and Paul Simon” recorded “Jesus Is the Answer” for a 1974 live album.
Crouch worked with many other stars, from Diana Ross to Ringo Starr, and his gospel albums sometimes featured performers from other musical genres. His 18th solo album, “The Journey,” released in 2011, featured Chaka Khan, Shelia E., Take 6, Kim Burrell and Marvin Winans.
Crouch was one of only a handful of gospel performers to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
His choir, The Disciples, sang background for Madonna’s song “Like a Prayer.” Crouch helped Michael Jackson arrange the King of Pop’s 1987 hit song, “Man in the Mirror.”
He also arranged music for the 1985 film “The Color Purple” — which earned him an Academy Award nomination — and Disney’s “The Lion King” in 1994.
His success came despite a lifelong struggle with dyslexia. To create, he would make drawings that allowed him to grasp the concept. For the Jackson song, he drew a mirror with an image in it.
“I memorized everything through sight, the shape of the word,” Crouch told The Associated Press in 2011. “Some things that I write, you’ll see a page with cartoon pictures or a drawing of a car — like a Ford — or a flag. I still do it on an occasion when a word is strange to me.”
“So when I finish a song, I thank God for bringing me through,” he continued. “You have to press on and know your calling. That’s what I’ve been doing for all my life. I just went forward.”
Crouch had health issues in recent years, including diabetes and cancer. Last month, he was hospitalized for pneumonia and congestive heart failure and had to cancel a tour.

Alabama Average Price for Gasoline Falls Below $2

Birmingham Times

January 15, 2015

State average hits $1.99 per gallon for first time since 2009

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Alabama average price of gas has fallen for a record 110 days to $1.99 per gallon, which is the lowest average since May 2009. Drivers closed out 2014 on a high note with households saving an average of approximately $115 on gasoline in comparison to 2013 due to relatively low prices at the pump. The average price for retail gasoline hit multi-year lows during the last few months of 2014 and is expected to continue to fall as we begin 2015. Alabama consumers are saving eight cents per gallon compared to one week ago, 46 cents compared to one month ago and $1.13 per gallon compared to this same date last year.
The Alabama average price has fallen every day since September 25 for a total of $1.15 per gallon. Today’s price is $1.54 (approximately 40 percent) less than the 2014 peak of $3.53 per gallon in April. Barring any significant fluctuations in the price of crude oil, the average price at the pump is likely to remain below $3 per gallon in 2015, although prices may see seasonal increases this spring as refineries undergo maintenance, or this summer as demand increases during the busy summer driving season.
Fuel conservation and price shopping remain the key factors in keeping gas prices low in the short term and the long term.
Motorists should be aware of gas prices in their daily travel area to make certain they are purchasing the cheapest priced fuel available for each tankful. Consumers should never pay more than the state average for gasoline. The free AAA app can also help you in finding the cheapest priced gas in your area. The free AAA app is available to members and non-members alike. Some ways to conserve fuel and save even more money on gas costs include:
·         Buy the lowest grade octane your owner’s manual recommends. Most engines are calibrated for “regular unleaded”.
·         Keep your tires properly inflated. You lose 2% of your fuel efficiency for each pound of pressure you’re low.
·         Tighten your gas cap. Gas can evaporate and cause your check engine light to come on.
·         Make sure you are ready to go. Idling for two minutes uses enough fuel to drive one mile.
·         Make sure your wheels are properly aligned. Poor alignment causes the engine to work harder.
·         Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 MPH. Each 5 MPH you drive over 60 MPH is like paying an additional 20 cents per gallon for gas. Plus, it is also much safer.
·         Keep steady pressure on the gas pedal and use cruise control whenever possible. Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) is not only unsafe, but also wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage by as much as 33% at highway speeds and by 5% around town.
·         Remove bike racks, carriers etc, they can actually increase fuel consumption by 5 miles per gallon.
·         Use you air conditioning in town as little as possible, it uses 3-5% more fuel but in contrast on the highway, the aerodynamics of the car will be better and use less gas: Open windows on the highway can cost you 10% fuel economy.
·         Travel light; make sure you are not carrying any extra weight that could be left out. The lighter the car, the better gas mileage you get.
·         Make sure your car is properly maintained. Get a tune up, have an induction service, and always take it in if the Check Engine light comes on.
·         Combine your errands. Plan you trips so that you take the shortest, most direct routes and do all of your errands in one outing versus individual trips.
The National average is currently $2.13 per gallon, which is $1.18 per gallon less than this day last year. Detailed gas price information is updated daily at www.fuelgaugereport.com.
Visit www.AAA.com.

Weylin Bush – International Speech Contest Representing District 77

Birmingham Times

January 15, 2015

Weylin Bush was a semifinalist in the World Champion Speech Contest and represented District 77 at the International Convention in Kuala Lumpur August 20-23, 2014.
Weylin is a member of Vestavia Toastmasters club which is in Birmingham. He has been in Toastmasters since 2010. He has earned his Competent Communicator award. Weylin is an entrepreneur and owns two businesses, H53 Property & Investments, LLC and Bearly Hustlin Media & Consulting, LLC. He has been giving speeches outside of Toastmasters for the past three years to young Black males, church groups, and other investment entrepreneurs.
‘The Pursuit of Perfection’ was the title of the speech Weylin gave at the semifinal round. The speech was full of wisdom and was really the very action Weylin has taken in his own life.
If you think traveling to Montgomery, Alabama is a long way to go for a fall conference, or driving to Gulfport, Mississippi is a tough trip for a training session, consider Weylin Bush, our representative to the World Championship of Public Speaking.
The championship was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, half-way around the world with over 10,000 airplane miles, 20 hours of flight time and across the International Date Line. Weylin observed that he left Birmingham, Alabama on a Wednesday and arrived in Malaysia on Tuesday… the day before he left.
Weylin, who considers himself a world traveler and intends to visit all seven continents, described his flights from Birmingham to Dallas to Tokyo and finally to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia as comfortable, restful and offering ample food for the trip. The only slight apprehension he had was during the final leg of the flight from Tokyo to Kuala Lumpur on Malaysian Airlines.
Arriving late in the evening on the first day of the conference, Weylin was lodged in the host hotel and described his initial interactions with a cab driver and the hotel staff as comfortable, welcoming and entertaining. As a matter of fact, he felt he was treated like a celebrity! English is understood by many Malaysians but is not the primary language by far. The primary language is Malaysian Malay, closely followed by Chinese, Indian and Thai.
After a comfortable evening and restful night, Weylin took advantage of the friendliness of Toastmaster organizers to explore the training sessions and do some close-by sight-seeing. Two days after his arrival his semi-final competition was scheduled and Weylin was the last of 10 speakers. He said the competition was fierce and when asked what methods he used to calm himself before his presentation, he simply responded “… it’s all about confidence.” This was a positive memory he had about the competition… watching and networking and learning from other competitors which all boiled down to… confidence.
While Weylin did not win the semi-finals, he won our hearts as he traveled to a distant country by himself and easily fit into a crowd of over two thousand Toastmasters, none of which he knew, as well as numerous Malaysian representatives, shop owners and cab drivers.
After the semi-finals, Weylin took the opportunity to relax, stress free, and do more sight-seeing and, of course, shopping. He had his first encounter eating a whole fish as well as fruits with unpronounceable names. His one regret from the trip was not renting a car to experience driving on the “passenger” side of the car… Malaysians drive on the left side of the road.
Overall, Weylin was pleased and impressed with the event, finding himself in (mostly) familiar situations and watching the Speech Contest follow the same rules and procedures as our District contests (albeit on a grander scale). He was treated with appropriate respect and never felt truly alone. Well done Toastmasters!
When asked what one thing he learned from the many speakers he interacted with, he said “… use the word ‘YOU’ as often as you can to connect with your audience.” Then he was asked which speech he heard made an impact on him and he replied “… one comment that resonated with me… was… when your kids get in trouble, that’s when they need you the most.” As a father, this message hit home.
To end the conversation, Weylin was asked for one last piece of insight and he said: “Tell the message you won’t regret!” This is the message that left Malaysia with him. From the inner city of Chicago through a tough upbringing to an international celebrity, he made us all proud.
Our District 77 Celebrity, Weylin Bush.

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