One of the most rewarding things to me as I serve as your State Senator is to spend time in the various communities which make-up our six county senate district.

This past week I had the opportunity to do just that.

On Monday morning, I attended a breakfast at the Extension Service office in Greenville.

It was a pleasure to meet a number of new Extension Service employees who are part of the reorganization plan that has been put together by Auburn University and Alabama A & M.

When I grew up in Crenshaw County, the director of this office was called the County Agent.

The Extension Service office staff primarily served a single county, but that has changed significantly since the 1950’s.

With the advent of technology, the Extension Service work is more regional and is not concentrated in any given county.

I was joined at this meeting by several Butler County officials, including Greenville Mayor Dexter McLendon, my colleague, State Representative Charles Newton, and several members of the Butler County Commission.

The program consisted primarily of explaining the new changes under the reorganization plan.

Monday at noon I had the privilege of speaking to the Luverne Rotary Club, of which I am a member.

I was actually not first choice, but the program speaker did not show and I was &uot;drafted.&uot;

But it was a privilege, as it always is, to address my local club.

Monday afternoon I met with the chairman and a member of the Lowndes County Commission.

Commission Chairman Charlie King and Commissioner Robert Harris and I discussed ways to have effective communication between the leadership of Lowndes County and their state legislative delegation.

I thought it was a very productive meeting.

On Tuesday afternoon, I met in Prattville with the Director and all the staff members of the Department of Human Resources.

We discussed the recently concluded legislative session and the prospective agenda for a special session that might be called in the Fall.

This is a periodic meeting which I enjoy having with DHR employees.

Tuesday evening, I met with the President of Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Dr. Cameron West.

President West is an outstanding leader who has recently taken over the helm of that fine institution.

On Wednesday at noon, I spoke to the Prattville Chamber of Commerce and presented their president with a check for $10,000 to assist their arts related programs.

The Prattville Chamber does an outstanding job of bringing cultural events to their community.

On Thursday morning, I had the privilege of presenting Senator Hank Sanders with a plaque memorializing his recent venture, the writing of a book entitled Death of a Fat Man.

Senator Sanders has done a remarkable job on his first book, and I feel certain there are others that will follow.

Thursday evening, I attended a reception in Montgomery where United States Congressman Artur Davis was the keynote speaker.

This reception was the culmination of a very important meeting on bringing adequate health care to the underserved in the state of Alabama and particularly in the western Black Belt.

I think it is important to give you a periodic accounting of my efforts spent on your behalf.

Senator Wendell Mitchell can

be reached at 334-242-7883, or by writing

to P.O. Box 225, Luverne, AL 36049.