Brookhaven has a newly chartered civic club, and its members areready to serve.

The Rotary Club of Brookhaven-Lincoln County officially became oneof the latest of approximately 33,000 clubs worldwide Thursdayduring a charter luncheon at Mitchell’s.

“This is a great occasion for our club and our community,” saidTerry Puckett, club president.

The local club held its first meeting last November and was able tobe formally chartered once it attained a minimum of 20 members.Puckett said it was likely that Brookhaven was the largestcommunity in the state that did not have a Rotary Club.

“It’s high time we had one,” he said.

Alluding to some previous attempts, visiting Rotary officialsacknowledged some difficulties in getting a club up and running inBrookhaven. They cited the strength of existing civic clubs in thecommunity.

However, Rotary District Governor Chuck Jordan referred to the”service station principle.” The theory goes that one gas stationon a corner does well, but move in others and all do more businessbecause the area gets noticed and gets more attention.

“I think that applies to Brookhaven,” Jordan said. “They all areimproved and all will be better.”

Jordan touched on a number of Rotary Club focus areas. Its primaryarea is the eradication of polio, a goal that has virtually beenaccomplished, but also service projects to help fellow man aroundthe world in places like Kenya.

Literacy is a another main area, and Jordan said Brookhavenchildren will be able to participate in the club’s “Between TheLions” project it pursues along with PBS. He also mentioned anupcoming South Korea study program and ambassador scholarships thatallow selected students to study abroad for one year.

“It’s amazing what Rotary does,” Jordan said.

Puckett said the Brookhaven club would be considering what serviceareas and projects to focus on locally.

The Brookhaven-Lincoln County club was sponsored by the Natchezclub. Natchez club president Sim Mosby congratulated the Brookhavenclub’s 24 charter members on their efforts to form the neworganization.

“That’s where the hard work has been in getting this club started,”he said. “We helped but the work was here.”