During the last quarter of this truly unusual Rotary year, we are looking forward with hope to the time that we will be able to meet in person, shake hands, hug our friends, and enjoy face to face interactions once again. However, many of our activities will finish this year in a virtual format until health officials deem it safe to return to normal:
District Training Assembly including club officer training – April 10, 2021 at 9:00 am – will be virtual.
District Conference - April 22, 23, and 24 – hybrid: combination of both in person activities and virtual activities.
All Club Meeting: To kick off this unique district conference, all clubs are encouraged to move their regular weekly meeting to Thursday, April 22 at 11:30, join the district Zoom meeting, and participate in an All Club Meeting with Sylvia Whitlock, the history-making first female Rotarian, as the speaker. Please let me know (BeckyLMason@mac.com) as soon as possible if your club will participate in our first ever All Club Meeting.
Rotary International Convention - June 12 – 16, 2021 - virtual
o Registration: The Virtual Convention will be open to all Rotarians. Event registration will open in mid-April and will include a promotional fee of $49 for 21 days, with an increase afterward to $65.
o The Rotaract, Youth Exchange Officer and Inter-Country Committee pre-conventions will be held June 10 - 11, 2021. The cost of each preconvention event is $20. Both the convention and preconvention events include access to the House of Friendship.
o For more details and updates: https://convention.rotary.org/en
With only three months left in the 2020-21 Rotary year, let’s finish strong.
o What projects has your club successfully completed this year in spite of the challenges?
o What do you still have planned to accomplish before the end of June?
o Discuss with your club how you want to remember this challenging year. You still have time to make an impact with service in your community. It will be a source of pride in the future to know that in spite of a global pandemic, Rotary continues to stand for service above self, dedication to the community, and continually finding ways to make our world a better place.
To end with the wise words of Queen Elizabeth (which I have taken the liberty of adapting for Rotary): “I hope in the years to come everyone will be able to take pride in how they responded to this challenge, and those who come after us will say that the Britons (Rotarians) of this generation were as strong as any. That the attributes of self-discipline, of quiet good-humored resolve and of fellow-feeling (the 4 way test) still characterize this country (this organization).”
Calling all Club Leaders!! District Training Assembly Kickoff will begin on Saturday, April 10 at 8:30 AM-Noon. All club leaders are invited to learn about Rotary International's and District 5910 new initiative around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. We will also prepare you for club visioning and action planning.
We are a People of Action!
Please register using the tiny URL provided. District Training Assembly is the annual opportunity for club leaders to be others in similar roles and learn more about how club visioning helps create vibrant clubs.
This online course consists of one online orientation session for participants new to operating in a Zoom (virtual) environment. Actual course work consists of three 2-hour sessions. All sessions are required to complete and earn the RLI Part II certificate.
Online Orientation will be held April 17 (Saturday), 2:00-3:30pm CDT.
Lone Star RLI Part II Sessions will be held on April 20 (Tuesday) and April 23 (Friday) at 5:30-7:30pm CDT, and April 24 (Saturday) at 9:30-11:00am CDT.
Course requirements: RLI Part I must be completed before enrolling in Part II. Attendance at all three sessions; a computer (desktop or laptop), audio, video (camera) and internet access are required.
Registration confirmation and link will be emailed to registered participants. Class is limited to 20 participants. This course is $50.
If you find your online course is full, please submit the form under CONTACT US to be placed on a waiting list, indicating the Course (Part I, II or III), and preferred date and time.
This online course consists of one online orientation session for participants new to operating in a Zoom (virtual) environment. Actual course work consists of three 2-hour sessions. All sessions are required to complete and earn the RLI Part III certificate.
Online Orientation will be held May 7 (Friday), 5:30-7:00pm CDT.
Lone Star RLI Part III Sessions will be held on May 10 (Monday), May 11 (Tuesday), and May 12 (Wednesday), at 5:30-7:00pm CDT.
Course requirements: RLI Part I and Part II must be completed before enrolling in Part III. Attendance at all three sessions; a computer (desktop or laptop), audio, video (camera) and internet access are required.
Registration confirmation and link will be emailed to registered participants. Class is limited to 20 participants. This course is $50.
If you find your online course is full, please submit the form under CONTACT US to be placed on a waiting list, indicating the Course (Part I, II or III), and preferred date and time.
The calendar only recently says "2021," but be reminded now: the deadline for submitting District Grant Final Report is May 1, 2021. You may use either the pdf or Word version available on the District website.(website tab "Service" and "District Grants" on drop-down menu.) Please remember to attach copies of supporting documentation including receipts, invoices, bank statements or canceled checks (remember to redact bank account numbers), and photographs showing “Rotarians At Work” on your project. Scan and email your report and supporting documentation to Bobby Chapman < bobbychapman.5910@gmail.com > by May 1.
Governors, past district governors, district leadership and chairmen, and all interested Rotarians are invited to attend the Zone Institute in Houston. These annual institutes are like mini international conventions, offering opportunities to hear from Rotary thought leaders from around the world and find out what’s going on in Rotary beyond our district.
With sadness we announce that the Board of Directors of Rotary International has decided to suspend our Youth Exchange Program for another year. It has been a specifically difficult decision for our International President, since he and his wife over the past years have served as host parents for over 40 exchange students. Although we had been optimistic, this decision did not come unexpected. Different from the US, in Europe and in other places around the world they are preparing for a new wave of infections; in fact, several countries right now consider a more serious lockdown than ever before. Please click here for an excerpt from the letter of the RI President explaining their decision.
Needless to say, the District Youth Exchange Committee and all volunteers in our exchange program are very sad not being able to send students from Texas to other parts of the world or to welcome students from abroad to our District. Not being able to provide students this life-changing experience does not mean, however, that the District Youth Exchange Committee will be “out of work” for a year. For the coming months, we will be re-evaluating and re-organizing our program, so that we come back well-prepared and stronger than ever before!
Recruiting Outbound Students and Host Clubs for 2022-23 will Begin in the Fall
The Aggieland Club Makes Special Deliveries for Healthcare Workers
We ordered food from our local food establishments. (Whom were adversely effected by the pandemic)
Club members purchased snacks and drinks.
We will be doing this twice a month from March until the end of May 2021.
We will meet at Amico Nave to dispense the snacks to the delivery drivers.
The delivery drivers picked up the individually packaged meals from local food vendors.
Club members made homemade desserts to be delivered also.
Club members delivered to the local hospitals in need.
The beneficiaries of this project are the nurses and staff at the ICU’s, CCU’s and Covid wards at the local hospitals. CHI St. Joseph’s Hospital and Baylor Scott and White Hospital.
The Rotary Club of Beaumont has been busy continuing meetings on Zoom and service projects around the community and the world! In March, we celebrated World Rotaract Week, recognized International Women's Day with International Director Suzi Howe as our guest speaker in our Women in Rotary series, and as a special St. Patrick's Day meeting, the Beaumont Rotary Club held a joint meeting with Rotary District 1160 in Ireland! They educated us and entertained us with music, stories, and lots of fellowship!
Rotarians were busy with "Show Your Colors" flag project, helping with a Covid Vaccine Distribution coordinated through the Beaumont Health Department, and preparing layette bags for women and infants in Nicaragua as a District Grant project. Plenty of photos follow on the next page.
Members of the Rotary Club of Galveston on March 20, 2021 packed 104 backpacks at President-Elect Mary Brechtel's Health Matters Chiropractic Clinic. A Rotary District Grant provided funding for 50 of the backpacks donated to the Galveston Ronald McDonald House that is a home to pediatric patients and their parent/guardian receiving medical care at Shriners Hospital in Galveston. The additional 54 back packs were donated by the Moody Education Foundation and donated to the Resource Center, Upward Hope Academy and Gulf Coast Big Brothers Big Sisters. All backpacks contained school supplies, activity books and snacks and will be given to kids in need ages 3 to 18. Embroidered on each pack is the RI logo with the words "ROTARY CLUB OF GALVESTON.....WE CARE."
In the month of March, the Hardin County Rotary Club had its End Polio fundraiser at Hard Bean on St. Patrick’s Day. The Club has continued to have great speakers this Spring: US Congressman Brian Babin, Kerwin Stone of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 292, Superintendent Tipton of LISD, Hard Bean, HC Victims Assistance, and more are to come in March and April. We are in the process of gathering scholarship applications for our high school senior scholarships that we give each year. For April service to the Community, the Club is holding a county wide Pantry Drive for the Hardin County Victims Assistance Center. The Club also will participate in a Village Creek cleanup with its 2 high school Interact Clubs from Lumberton ISD and Silsbee ISD. The Club is continuing to prepare for its annual golf tournament on May 7, 2021. Please find the registration form in the next section and contact us if you would like a team.
Rotary Lake Conroe will be partnering with Old Navy-Conroe for our service project Clothing for Kids! This project helps local kids come shopping with a Rotarian with a set budget for new clothing. It’s a great way to work with local kids - shop local - give back to our community - This event will be on May 1st.
Orange Rotarians and friends enjoying the Free States Cellars Winery, site of the Club’s next Fundraiser
The Rotary Club of Orange is planning a fun event “Sip, Shop and Scholarships” with Mathews Jewelers Orange at the Free States Cellars Winery on Saturday, April 24 from 12 noon to 4:00 p.m. Mathews Jewelers Orange will bring a beautiful array of jewelry available for purchase and ideal for upcoming Mother’s Day, Graduation, and other special occasions. A portion of proceeds will go to Orange Rotary for scholarships. Orange Rotarians will sell raffle tickets for special prizes and will award door prizes. The first fifty guests in attendance will receive a complimentary glass of wine. Admission to the event is free; wine and accompaniments will be available for purchase from the offerings of Free State Cellars Winery, located at 4702 Tejas Parkway, Orange, TX 77632. Rotarians in the region are invited to attend and enjoy this unique outdoor site in Southeast Texas. Proceeds will go to fund college scholarships for graduating seniors. Further details will be posted on the Club’s Facebook page.
Palestine Rotary Satellite Club member Amanda Elling led the February-March service project to collect items for BARC-The Humane Society. In 2020 1,969 animals were accepted at the shelter. Primary needs for the shelter are leashes, dog and cat food and unstuffed toys. Members generously stepped up with numerous drop offs.
Pictured is a volunteer with BARC accepting a drop off of donations.
The weekly lunch virtual meetings for Spindletop Rotary continue to be filled with fantastic guest speakers. The Beaumont Convention and Visitors Center joined us March 2 with great information about our area and Restaurant Week. On March 9, David Yeakey, president of Lamar Rotaract, gave us an update on how student leaders are making an impact in our community.
Spindletop Rotarians put on the green and met up for an after-hours social at Little Woodrow's in Beaumont on March 16. Door prizes, snacks and fellowships were enjoyed by all as we celebrated St. Patrick's Day one day early!
The Rotary Club of Texas City collected almost $800 from members to support the Galveston County Food Bank campaign called "Move Out Hunger" to help feed kids during the summer months. Pictured is Rotarian Doreen Hughes who coordinated the campaign through the Real Living Hatmaker Group.
Vidor Rotary Club's green bus Read and Feed program has been rollin' rollin' rollin' as usual this year, serving anywhere from fifty to seventy-five kids in about an hour on Tuesday evenings twice monthly. Kiddos from birth to age eighteen can get a sack meal and books from the bus. In addition, summer plans are in the making, when the Rotarians will partner with Vidor ISD to deliver meals to children four days a week in June.