December is disease prevention and treatment month, and this issue is always a critical priority for Rotarians. For an idea of how Rotarians around the world are responding to the pandemic, follow this article on the Rotary.org website: https://www.rotary.org/en/rotary-clubs-help-fight-covid-19-pandemic. It makes us proud to be Rotarians.
Our clubs continue to adapt and find ways to serve our communities while keeping their members and community members safe. As we anxiously await a vaccine, our biggest priority is just that – continuing to serve while keeping everyone safe.
I hope to see you at the Virtual Jingle and Mingle Holiday Party on December 14 from 6:30 – 7:30 pm.
Also remember that February 25 - 28 is Virtual Lone Star PETS. Presidents-elect (presidents in 2021-22) and presidents-nominee (presidents in 2022-23), should watch for emails from DGE Jerry Springfield for more information.
Wishing you a wonderful holiday season while finding ways to keep yourself, your community, and your family and friends safe,
Join Rotary friends for a fun, multi-club, holiday party filled with mirth & merriment!
Please register to attend. Virtual Zoom login information will be provided to registrants before the event. Zoom room opens at 6:15 pm. Festivities begin at 6:30 pm.
U.G.L.Y. Sweater Poll*
Holiday Movie Trivia
Win, Lose, or Draw Holiday style
Virtual Choir presentation plus the World premiere of "12 Days of Rotary"
On Saturday, November 14, we interviewed 16 wonderful applicants (and their parents) who are interested to become Rotary Youth Exchange students. Six are interested in the long-term (school-year) exchange; they are sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Bryan, Friendswood, Huntsville, Texas City, and The Woodlands. And ten are interested in the short term (summer) exchange; they are sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Bryan, Conroe, Friendswood, Galveston, Hardin County, Huntsville, Lufkin, and Nacogdoches.
As always, a big “Thank You” goes to everyone who has helped with the interviews: Chris Turner (Friendswood), AG Birda Gaskin (League City), Marcus and Nisa Gillespie (Huntsville), PDG Ulli Budelmann (Galveston), Lisa Watson (Texas City), as well as nine former exchange students (aka Rotex) from Texas: Zoe Garza (Dayton), Annemarie Hoffzimmer (Huntsville), Shannon Kaspar (Bryan), Kasidy Meyer (College Station), Geena Timmerman (League City), Regan Vander Wiele (Friendswood), Jake Burns (Conroe), Irma Castro (Bryan), and Elizabeth Watson (Texas City). All these Rotarians and students have “donated” a day of their busy lives to our District Youth Exchange Programs.
The most special “Thank You” goes to our District Youth Exchange Officer (aka YEO) Carol Mattingly (Huntsville) and PDG Doris Lockey (Lake Conroe) for a perfectly prepared “virtual” event. Without their organizational skills and expertise the meeting would not have run that smoothly.
We still have room for more Long-Term and Short-Term Exchange Students that is, we are still accepting applications for both exchange programs. As soon as possible please contact Carol Mattingly at 5910rye@gmail.com (or 936-661-3997) if you know of any student(s) who might be interested in becoming an exchange student. Remember: for these exchange programs children and grand-children of Rotarians are also eligible to apply.
We still do not know yet for sure whether the pandemic situation will allow us to safely welcome students from other countries to live in our District next year. To be prepared, however, and have everything “in place”, very soon your Club President and President Elect will receive an email from Carol Mattingly and Ulli Budelmann asking them whether your club would be willing to host an exchange student this coming 2021-2022 Rotary Year. Please help us and encourage your club to host a student!
If you need more information about our Youth Exchange Programs, please contact either our District Youth Exchange Officer Carol Mattingly at 5910rye@gmail.com or 936-295-6606, or our District Youth Exchange Inbound Coordinator PDG Ulli Budelmann at budelmann5910@comcast.net or 409-939-1224; they would be more than happy to answer any questions that you may have.
District Governor Becky Mason and the Conference Planning committee are excited to announce the 2021 District 5910 Conference will be virtual! This online opportunity will allow Rotarians from across our district and the WORLD to attend.
While we would all love to see friends in-person, we are thrilled to have virtual tools which give us the opportunity to expand our reach beyond Texas. Plans are being solidified and we are in contact with speakers from across the US and around the world! Please keep an eye out for topic details and registration information in 2021.
We look forward to the Rotary District 5910 Conference continuing to open opportunities!
We are still collecting information for the District 5910 Speakers Bureau. If you know of someone who is an interesting and good speaker who is willing to speak in person or by Zoom, please forward their information to Cecilyk@aol.com.
On November 5, together with the Lufkin Rotary Club, we held a "Putts for Polio” event at a local golf course to raise money for Polio Plus. $20 got you a chance to compete in the Putting Contest plus a free beer. In all, we collected $619 for Polio Plus, which will be matched by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation! We had a great time putting on this event and raising money for a wonderful cause.
Members of the Rotary Club of Beaumont delivered supplies to the students and staff at Vincent Settlement Elementary School in Sulphur, Louisiana. Category 4 Hurricane Laura made landfall in Cameron, Louisiana on August 27th and then swept across Calcasieu Parish including the Sulphur community.
The books, games, gift cards, and personal care and cleaning items were greatly appreciated by Vincent Elementary Principal, Carla Williams. The Pre-K through 5th graders were finally able to return to school on November 19th due to COVID-19 restrictions and damages incurred by Hurricane Laura. They still have much work to do, but even though everyone was wearing masks, it was obvious they were smiling.
Rotary Club of Conroe mourns the loss of Bert Lynch
Bert Lynch, President of the Rotary Club of Conroe in 1973-74 and a Rotarian for more than 50 years, passed away on Thanksgiving Day. Bert retired a few years back, after more than 50 years as a CPA. He was a partner at Hereford, Lynch, Sellars and Kirkham, and mentored not only many of the young accountants who became part of the firm but also many businessmen and women he counseled over the years. Bert is survived by his wife, Craig, his daughters and son-in-laws, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He was a larger than life presence in the lives of those who loved him. He always thought of others first. (Submitted by Kris Nordstrom McBride.)
Rotary Club of Conroe Holiday collection
The Rotary Club of Conroe is collecting non perishable food items for The Montgomery County Food Bank. The collection bins are located in the lobby of Honor Cafe in downtown Conroe and will continue through Dec. 9.
Rotary Club of East Montgomery County (RCEMC) heard from Mike Flinn at their meeting. Mr. Flinn is the General Manager of Big Rivers Waterpark and Adventures located in New Caney. He gave details of the Park’s upcoming events and how they did during the summer with a pandemic. Big Rivers is a supporter of Rotary’s work and has played an active role in the community. As a token of appreciation, an elementary school book “Room on the Broom” will be donated to Timber Lakes Elementary in Mr. Flinn’s honor.
Again this year, the Rotary Club of Galveston partnered with the Galveston Marine Reserve Unit to receive and distribute "Toys for Tots' for deserving youngsters in our area who might not otherwise have a new toy this holiday season. This year's very successful drive was held November 20 at Fisherman's Wharf.
Volunteers participating included (from left) Rotarians Ruth Suhler, Don Davison, Kyle Albright, Club Executive Secretary, Ulli Budelmann; and Mike Guarino, President. Representing the Galveston Marine Reserve Unit were (2nd from left) Staff Sergeant Inscore Harley and Sergeant Victor Johnson (center.) Also pictured, Phillip Caballero (far right), Mike Guarino's grandson. (Photo by Robyn Bushong.)
Rotary ETX, a satellite club of Lufkin Rotary partnered with Scott Foster, owner of Home Run Auto Glass, to serve lunches to the community surrounding Brandon Park. The Satellite Club received their first T-shirt during the service project.
Pictured are charter members, Shelby Shelton, LaDonna Gatlin, Lisa Mclane and Lisa Crow.
Thank you Old Navy-Conroe for partnering with the Lake Conroe Club for the service project "Clothing for Kids!" This project helps local kids by allowing them to shop with a Rotarian and a set budget for new clothing. It’s a great way to work with local kids, shop local, and give back to the local community
Orange Rotarians had a busy November highlighted with a community outreach project. Rotarians devoted a meeting time and more to boxing food for the Salvation Army to give to families for Thanksgiving. Several members returned to the Salvation Army a few days later to help with the distribution. The Club also held a get together “Wine Down with Rotary” at the outdoor facility, Free States Winery. Members and guests enjoyed catching up, learning a little about Rotary and enjoying good food and drink.
Orange Rotary continues hybrid meetings with in-person sessions at Robert’s Restaurant and video conference through Zoom. Strong programs were given by John Gothia, Orange County Judge; Joe Mires, Battalion Chief, City of Orange Fire Department; and John Badeaux, Orange Sheriff’s Department on the Blue Santa program.
In December the club will have a community project, Ringing the Bell for the Salvation Army.
The Spindletop Rotary Club of Beaumont is developing a cookbook with recipes from a variety of Southeast Texans. A portion of the proceeds will benefit CASA of Southeast Texas. The form is available through the link below for anyone that would like to submit a recipe for "Cooking for the Club: Building Goodwill & Better Friendships in the Kitchen". For more information, please contact myrotarycookbook@gmail.com by January 15, 2021.
Texas City Rotarians came together to put Thanksgiving Meal Boxes for families in the area in need. Families were contacted personally and picked them up on Saturday, November 21. The Rotary Club donated the turkeys and dressing and the Galveston County Food Bank donated the other food items. Texas City High School Interact Club members came out and volunteered to help as well.
Pictured above (l to r): Bruce Clawson, Donna Newding, Barbara White, Chris Delesandri, Summer Chapman, Doreen Hughes, Thelma Bowie and Paul Selman.
Speakers Bureau
On November 5, together with the Lufkin Rotary Club, we held a "Putts for Polio” event at a local golf course to raise money for Polio Plus. $20 got you a chance to compete in the Putting Contest plus a free beer. In all, we collected $619 for Polio Plus, which will be matched by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation! We had a great time putting on this event and raising money for a wonderful cause.
Rotary Club of Conroe mourns the loss of Bert Lynch
Rotary Club of East Montgomery County (RCEMC) heard from Mike Flinn at their meeting. Mr. Flinn is the General Manager of Big Rivers Waterpark and Adventures located in New Caney. He gave details of the Park’s upcoming events and how they did during the summer with a pandemic. Big Rivers is a supporter of Rotary’s work and has played an active role in the community. As a token of appreciation, an elementary school book “Room on the Broom” will be donated to Timber Lakes Elementary in Mr. Flinn’s honor.
Rotary ETX, a satellite club of Lufkin Rotary partnered with Scott Foster, owner of Home Run Auto Glass, to serve lunches to the community surrounding Brandon Park. The Satellite Club received their first T-shirt during the service project.
Thank you Old Navy-Conroe for partnering with the Lake Conroe Club for the service project "Clothing for Kids!" This project helps local kids by allowing them to shop with a Rotarian and a set budget for new clothing. It’s a great way to work with local kids, shop local, and give back to the local community 
Orange Rotarians had a busy November highlighted with a community outreach project. Rotarians devoted a meeting time and more to boxing food for the Salvation Army to give to families for Thanksgiving. Several members returned to the Salvation Army a few days later to help with the distribution. The Club also held a get together “Wine Down with Rotary” at the outdoor facility, Free States Winery. Members and guests enjoyed catching up, learning a little about Rotary and enjoying good food and drink.
Rotary Club of Palestine Satellite Club member Allyson Mitchell led the October service project delivering gas cards to clients at the Crisis Center.
ortion of the proceeds will benefit CASA of Southeast Texas. The form is available through the link below for anyone that would like to submit a recipe for 
