Kilgore Rotary learns about East Texans Against Lawsuit Abuse

Jerry Camp, right, Kilgore Rotary Club president, presents a book to Diane Davis with East Texans Against Lawsuit Abuse after she spoke to the club on Wednesday. Davis told Rotarians her group, in business since 1992, has helped make major difference in the number of frivolous lawsuits because of support from the business community. Diane Davis of East Texans Against Lawsuit Abuse spoke to the Kilgore Rotary Club on Wednesday, telling Rotarians that because of the support of people like them the number of frivolous lawsuits in Texas has decreased significantly.

Davis, who has been with the group since its inception in Kilgore in 1992, said the road has been a good one for ETALA as far as its work is concerned.

“We started strong and united and we have added a good number of supporters over the years,” she said.

ETALA was the brainchild of Kilgoreite Ruben Martin back in 1992, and Kilgore joined the nationwide organization to form the East Texas chapter. The program took off from the very beginning, gaining support from a host of business groups around the Kilgore, Longview and Tyler area, and it has remained strong and viable ever since.

Davis aid the organization has remained strong and is one of the most vocal in Texas for more than 15 years.

“We have been at the forefront of many campaigns to stop frivolous lawsuits and to enact legislation to protect our business clients,” she said.

ETALA works to educate business and community leaders through a variety of ways, and to educate students as young as fifth grade and all the way through college with different contests and programs.

In other Rotary news, the annual fish fry is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 14, in the First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. The menu includes fish, fries, hushpuppies, cole slaw, pickles and tomato relish, along with a drink. The money goes to fund scholarships.

Rotarians will put flags out again for Veterans Day on Wednesday, Nov. 11. The flags will go out several days in advance of the holiday and will be picked up either that day or the day after.

Rotarians are also planning to be part of the Christmas parade once again and will hand out flags to children along the parade route.

This coming week’s program was not announced at the meeting.

The Kilgore Rotary Club meets each Wednesday at noon in the ballroom of the Meadowbrook Country Club. Guests are always welcome.