• Tuesday, February 20, 2024
• 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m 
• Cash Bar & Light Hors D'oeuvres
• Come network with other Rotarians & Rotaractors!
• Bring your business cards!
• Feel free to bring a guest (family, friend or co-workers)!

DO YOU WANT TO BE AN "OKAY" CLUB PRESIDENT....OR DO YOU WANT TO BE AN "OUTSTANDING ROTARY LEADER" FOR YOUR CLUB? 

Rotary Youth Exchange builds peace one young person at a time.

Students learn a new language, discover another culture, and truly become global citizens. Exchanges for students 15 to 19 years old are sponsored by Rotary clubs in more than 100 countries.

What are the benefits?

Exchange students unlock their true potential to:

• Develop lifelong leadership skills
• Learn a new language and culture
• Build lasting friendships with young people from around the world
• Become a global citizen

　

Rotary and Rotaract Clubs in District 5890 are invited to send participants to an interactive leadership workshop in northwest Houston on September 23-24, 2017. In this workshop participants will learn how to improve their personal leadership skills that can be used in their club, their vocation and in any community organizations in which they hold a leadership position.

The Leadership Institute will be very interactive and will cover material in the following general topic areas:

Social Styles Listening Skills

Challenges in Leading Diversity Group Activities and Presentations

Problem Solving Empowerment of Others

Inspiring Leadership Team Building

Conflict Management Meeting Management Skills

Ethics Visioning Boards

Clubs may send a maximum of 2 members and the class will be limited to the first 24 who send in a registration fee of $250 by September 15. Registrations received after September 15, 2017, will be $300. The Institute will be held at the Courtyard Houston Northwest – Marriott located

at 11050 Louetta Rd., Houston, Texas 77070. Information on the hotel may be found on their website at www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/hounw-courtyard-houston-northwest.

Attendees must attend both days of the training and stay overnight at the conference center. The registration fee for the two-day Institute is $250 and covers all materials, four meals beginning with lunch on Saturday, September 23rd and the cost of lodging. Participants will be billeted two per room in non-smoking rooms. Smoking in the room will incur a substantial charge to room occupants beyond the registration fee.

Attendees should arrive at the Courtyard Houston Northwest – Marriott no later than 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 23, 2017, and be prepared to stay until the workshop concludes at about

5:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 24, 2017. Dress for the institute is business casual. If there are questions about the Institute or to receive a registration form, please contact Gayle Jircik at (713) 594-6305 or djircik@sbcglobal.net.

DATE AND TIME

LOCATION

 

DISTRICT 5890 INVITES

YOU

TO JOIN IN CELEBRATING Women in Rotary

Guest speaker – Sylvia Whitlock

Saturday, October 1st, 2016

6:30 PM OMNI Houston Four Riverway

Houston, Texas 77056

$75 per person or $1000 for table of 10

Register now! Space is limited.

Any proceeds will be given to PACE Universal

 

 

Welcome to Rotary District 5890, composed of 62 clubs surrounding and across the greater Houston Area. The Rotarian's in our District truly exemplify Rotary's motto of "Service above Self" with projects locally as well as all around the world. In Rotary's largest project, we are working diligently to eradicate POLIO from the world and District 5890 is working hard to aid in that effort.

This year's Shrimporee will be held at the Clear Lake Park on NASA Parkway (11:00 am - 4:00 pm)  This year's event will be the best ever, with educational, interactive presentations that will intrigue kids and educate parents. Each year, the Shrimporee is Space Center's major event, lots of food & beverages, shrimp and BBQ brisket lunch, live and silent auctions, entertainment, games for the kids and fellowship.  The event is free, meals are $15 each.  Raffle tickets for outstanding items are available for $10 each, 6 for $50.

Katy Rotary Club, Fort Bend County & Veterans of Foreigh Wars Post 9182 will dedicate and consecrate the Freedom Park Memorial Tower at 10:00 am on Friday, Sep 11 at the Fort Bend County Freedom Park baseball fields on south side of Westheimer Parkway, just east of Fry Road. This legacy project, underway for more than four years, is chaired by Rotarian David Frishman & co-chaired by Rotarian Ken Burton.   "We have looked forward to this day, to celebrate with the Katy Rotary Club, Katy Rotary Fund, and the VFW, their service and work, on behalf of our community and our nation", said Fort Bend County Commissioner and Katy Rotarian Andy Meyers.

Please join us this Thursday, September 10^th, from 5-8pm at Moonshiners Southern Table & Bar, 1000 Prairie St, Houston 77002 for our Rotary Young Professionals Social. This is a great new venue with fun food and drinks and parking available across the street. The event is geared towards ages 25-39 but everyone is welcome. This is a great opportunity for clubs to engage their current young professionals and invite potential Rotarian young professionals. We hope you will promote this event at your club meetings and through your club and personal social media.

The District Leadership Institute will be held Sep 12, starting at 8:00am.  Clubs in the district are invited to send two Rotarians that would like to participate in this  interactive workshop. Clubs may send a maximum of 2 members and the class will be limited to the first 24 who send in the registration fee of $250. The Institute will be held at the Northwest Forest Conference Center in the Conquistador Room in the La Hacienda Complex located at 12715 Telge Road, Cypress, Texas 77429, Information on the conference center may be found on the Northwest Forest Conference Center website at www.northwestforest.com

The District Foundation Seminar will be held Oct 17, at HCC Southwest Building, 5601 West Loop South, Houston, TX 77081.   Registration starts at 7:45am, continental breakfast, and visitation.  General Sessions start at 8:30am - 1:00pm.    The seminar offers motivation, inspiration, and new ideas for foundation giving. The Foundation Seminar isn’t just for club presidents and foundation chairs, but ALL MEMBERS of each club.

Houston NW Sunset is hosting a unique Business Mentoring & Networking event on Aug 20 4:00-7:pm at Hilton Garden Inn, 14919 Northwest Freeway, Houston.  Looking for niche market insights?  Want to expand your business?  Want to learn smart ways to deal with challenges?  Then mark your calendar and make plans to join us on Aug 20th...

Information and the application for the 2016-2017 District 5890 Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarships are now available, and may be accessed through this web site.  Remember, the applications are due no later than October 23, 2015.

The District 5890 Nominating Committee is now accepting completed application forms for Governor of District 5890 for Rotary year 2018-19.  Application deadline is December 1 2015.  All nominations must be submitted on the District Governor-Nominee Application Form (Form H).  The necessary requirements & instructions are available on the left side of this web page.

An Informational meeting is scheduled for Sep 27 2015 at Jesse H Jones Rotary House, 1600 Holcombe, Houston TX.  Potential candidates & Rotarians wanting to learn more about the process are welcomed to attend.

Great things are happening in District 5890 and your business can gain great market advantage by linking its brand to the amazing brand of Rotary.  District 5890 provides a range of sponsorship opportunities that allow our members' businesses to be front and center every time someone visits the District website or attends a district event like District Conference. Link to our sponsorship opportunities is attached.  If you have any questions, please call or email Michelle Bohreer, michelleb@bohreerzucker.com (832)622-4400.  A great opportunity awaits you and your business; take advantage of it soon to maximize your value.
 

District Governor Elect Dr Nick Giannone has been working hard in preparation for his coming year as District Governor.  His DG installation is rapidly approaching, Jun 26 at Safari West Ranch.  DGE Nick has already scheduled all his Official Visits, which you will find in his DG calendar.  He is very organized, ready to hit the ground running, conduct District activities and making the traditional Official Visits.   On the left side of this web page in the download section, you will find 2015-16 DG Nick's busy schedule for this Rotary year.  Let's all work together and make sure that Nick's year is an outstanding year.
 

HOUSTON has been selected as the 2022 Rotary International convention city! This was a lengthy process that involved many people throughout our District, particularly PDG Rhonda Kennedy and her committee, and this selection could not have happened without their dedication to presenting Houston and District 5890 as the only choice for Rotary International. Over the next six years we will be planning a convention that shows Rotarians from around the world exactly why Houston was not only the right choice but the only choice for the best International Convention possible.

Rotarians from around the United States and Canada will come to Houston on August 8-9 to hear about the latest Rotary activities in Russia.  This meeting is sponsored by the United States-Russia Inter-Country Committee and hosted by Rotary District 5890.  The Rotary in Russia Conference will be held on August 8-9, 2015 at the Houston Hilton North, located close to the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas.  The conference fee of $150, received and paid before July 15, covers administrative costs of the conference and five meals beginning with Saturday breakfast.  Conference registration received after July 15 will be $180. Cost of the hotel is $89 per night for two days before, during and after the conference for those who want to make a little vacation out of their stay.

 

Celebrate the new Rotary Year on June 26 with a wonderful installation gala at Safari Texas Ranch for incoming District Governor Dr. Nick Giannone, First Lady Fabiola Giannone, and your 2015-16 team of District officers!  Arrive at 6:30 for fun fellowship at the Reception, which includes a tasty appetizer table and cash bar.  7:00 p.m. begins the delectable seated dinner, featuring Safari Salad, Beef and Chicken Marsala, with potatoes, mixed vegetables, rolls, tea, coffee, and two bottles of wine (1 white/1 red).  As you top it all off with Chocolate Decadence Cake, the installation program will begin, which will be followed by dancing from 10:00 p.m. until you’re ready to call it a night. DO REGISTER NOW!

Location: Texas Safari Ranch, 11627 FM 1464, Richmond, TX 77407. CLICK FOR DIRECTIONS from MAPQUEST  or GOOGLE MAPS
Date:       Friday, June 26, 2015
Time:        6:30 pm Reception/Cash Bar
                 7:00 pm Seated Dinner and Program; 10:00 pm Dancing til ?
Cost:       $75.00 per person.  Table Sponsor w/ 10 seats: $1,000.00
RSVP:       Head count needed by June 12.  Please CLICK HERE to register online.
Payment:  You may pay ONLINE with Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or discover by Clicking HERE.  You may pay OFFLINE by mailing your checks (made payable to Texas Gulf Coast After 5 Rotary) by June 12 to: Rebecca Maddux at 7938 Wilmerdean, Houston, TX 77061.

August is Membership Month, a special time of the year when the entire Rotary family focuses on Membership Recruitment & Retention. What better way to jump-start your membership efforts than attending the District Membership Seminar on July 25 2015, at HCC Southwest Campus, 5601 West Loop South , Houston TX 77081  The cost of the event is $15 registration. We encourage clubs to pay the registration fee for all its attending members.  To register now, click on REGISTER ONLINE , which takes you to District event, then click on appropriate link on the left side of this web page.  Registration starts at 7:45 AM; Seminar 8:30 AM - 1:00 PM

JOIN US FOR ROTARY DAY WITH THE ASTROS THIS SATURDAY, MAY 30 at 3:30 PM - DG LISA FAITH MASSEY THROWS OUT THE FIRST PITCH to STRIKE OUT POLIO! (ASTROS VS WHITE SOX) Click Here for Registration Form
Join us at Minute Maid Park for Rotary Day at the ballpark. Rotarians and their guests are invited to an exclusive reception inside Champions Pavilion, which overlooks the ballpark and provides a unique view of the Downtown Houston skyline. Food and drinks will be available to Rotarians and their guests.  (Cash Bar) George Springer Jersey Giveaway for first 10,000 fans.  For more information about Rotary Night at Minute Maid Park, contact:David Frishman at 281.391.2147 or david.frishman@davidfrishmanlaw.com

At the recent District Conference, DG Lisa Faith Massey presented awards to outstanding clubs and individuals.  Congratulations to all for a job well done.  Click on this story heading to see the Major Award Winners.

Space Center Rotary Club is hosting it's 1st Golf Tournament in many years.  The tournament will be held at Bay Oaks Country Club (a great course) on June 1 2015, registration at 11:30 am, putting contest at Noon, shotgun start at 1:00 pm.  Registration fee - $125 Player / $500 Team.

 

 

 District 5890 "Club Leadership Training" will be held May 9, 2015 HCC Southwest, 5601 West Loop South, Houston, TX 77081  This is a team leadership training for all 2015-2016 Club Officers and members. Each officer will receive training on their specific officer duties as well as a "Rotary 101" class for new members. This is your chance to hear about all of the exciting things that will be happening in the Rotary world for the Rotary Year of 2015-2016.

 

 

The "Par for Polio" Golf Tournament is hosted by the Alvin Rotary Club and Alvin Sunrise Rotary Club with the support of the Alvin High School Interact Club.  100% of the profits from this tournament go to Rotary's End Polio Now.  The tournament will be held at Clear Creek Golf Club, 3902 Fellows Road, Houston, TX 77047  Registration starts at 11:00 am, lunch 11:30-12:30, with tee-off at 1:00 pm  Come join us "End Polio Now"  Click on REGISTER ON-LINE or this story heading to learn detail.

Back in the Saddle Again

Rotary at the Rodeo

Thursday

March 12^th

4:30 Social

5:30 Dinner

7:00 Rodeo

with

The Zac Brown Band

Register on the District 5890 Website

 

 

 

An International Service Project, started in 2000 and supported by Houston Area Rotary Clubs, Rotaract Clubs, and Interact Clubs, is proud to announce the shipment of our 205^th 40’ shipping container of books (for a total of over 6-3/4 million pounds), as well as several containers of bicycles & bicycle parts  to Rotarian led literacy projects in Africa and countries around the world.  Would you & your club like to help with the shipment of the next container?

Time flies.  We are now over halfway through the 2014-15 Rotary Year.  How is your Club progressing toward your Rotary Foundation Goals?  You can see by clicking on the heading of this article, then click on the Mid-Year Report on the left side of web page.  Want to make a donation to the Annual Fund (which funds our District and Global Grants) or to PolioPlus today?  Just click here to go straight to the Giving page www.rotary.org/myrotary/en/take-action/give  

I hope you all enjoyed last night's special All Club Meeting with RI President Gary Huang and Corinna from Taiwan.  I never cease to be amazed and inspired by the dedication of our Rotary International leaders.

The 2015-16 District Leadership Team Training will be held at HCC Southwest Building at 5601 West Loop South Freeway​, Houston. There will be NO COST for breakfast, breaks, etc.  If you are part of next year's District Leadership Team, register your intentions to attend by clicking on REGISTER and following the instruction.  Then mark your calendar and make plans to participate in this important event.

District Governor Lisa Faith Massey's initial newsletter is hot off the press and has hit the news stands; thanks to the hard efforts of Editor PDG Rhonda Kennedy.  

Let's have good District 5890 turnout to welcome Rotary International President Gary C.K. Huang to our 2015 All Club Meeting on January 15!  Contact your club president to determine if your club has reserved a table, in which case you may arrange payment as part of your club group. You also may register individually by signing on to the District 5890 website with your club LOGIN and registering ONLINE and you may pay the General Admission cost of $58.90 at the door with your credit card. The event takes place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel by NRG Stadium (8686 Kirby Drive) from 5pm until 9pm. During the two-hour cash-bar period that precedes the 7pm dinner and program, you'll enjoy varied and informative exhibits from other District Clubs (and also from non-Rotarians) at the District 5890 Salute to Service Exposition. President Huang will be visiting expo booths following his VIP Reception. Exposition Tables for non-Rotarians are $35, and Rotarian Exposition Tables are $20. Various levels of sponsorship, together with the schedule of events, are explained when you click "More," ..

2015 Lone Star PETS (President Elect Training) is rapidly approaching, March 5-8 2015  The hotel rooms are rapidly being booked.  To register for PETS and make reservations at the Hyatt DFW, click on the following link:  http://rotarypets.com  DGE Dr Nick Giannone is looking forward to working with the incoming Club Presidents & his Leadership Team, as we prepare for the 2015-16 Rotary year.  So, please take time now to register for PETS and make your hotel reservations.

 

The District 5890 Rotary Foundation Global Grant Scholarships Committee conducted interviews on Saturday, November 8, to select outbound scholars for the 2015-16 academic year.

As far back as I can remember, there were always bikes in my home. Since there is no better way to explore new neighborhoods or new cities, I’ve been on bicycles most of my life.

When the opportunity to be part of Rotary’s team for El Tour de Tucson came along, I jumped at it without a second thought. Being an avid cyclist, I already ride several times a week, but this gives me a far worthier motivation than adding miles to my bike.

By Julia D. Phelps, RI director

As I sat in the audience at the White House on 7 October, listening to 10 amazing Rotary women tell the stories of their volunteer efforts, two quotes kept running through my mind. First, “Be the change you wish to be in the world” (Mahatma Gandhi) and second, “Never underestimate the power of a small group of people to change the world. In fact, it is the only way it ever has” (Margaret Mead).

With sadness, I must report that PDG Roy Long has passed away.  A member of the Houston Heights Club, PDG Roy served Rotary well as 1988-89 District 5890 Governor.  Please keep his wife, Sonja, and their family in your prayers as they travel this difficult journey.

Sonja asked me to share with you that Roy's Memorial Services will be held Thursday, October 23rd 2014, at First Baptist Church's Chapel, 7401 Katy Fwy, Houston, TX 77024 713.681.8000  (I-10 @ 610 Loop)  Visitation: 10:00 am Services: 11:00 am

Reception following the services

Charlie Thorp PDG
District 5890

The 2014 District 5890 Rotary Foundation Seminar, held on September 20, 2014, was a celebration of the many International and Local Service Projects which were larger in size and scope due to funding from Our Rotary Foundation and was also a celebration of giving by our District’s Rotarians!

 I started off the Seminar by saying “If you are one of those Rotarians who think Rotary is still an old man’s organization which never changes – or is changing too slowly – you are in the wrong place, because today, you will see a new face of Rotary and will see how Rotary is changing the world!”

They say that there are moments and experiences that change your life, they challenge you, they teach you, they open your eyes and ...they shape you into a new person.  My Ambassadorial Year with Rotary proved that to be true. While I knew it would define a lot of things about my future and bring about many changes I must say that I got a lot more than I bargained for and I am glad I did.

District 5890's District Governor Lisa Faith Massey chartered the district's first Rotary Community Corp on August 20th 2014.  The Los Tios Mexican Restaurant was packed with charter members and supporters. Initial officers include Representative (aka President) Michelle Beaumier, Secretary Sandra Liu, Treasurer Sharlene Barris, Sergeant-at-Arms Janice Gillen & Community Service Chair Meher Patel. The RCC is a non Rotarian group of people getting together working toward better their local community.

On September 6-7, 2014, District 5890 will train selected District Rotarians who will participate in a two day workshop designed to improve their personal leadership skills.  Clubs in the district are invited to send two Rotarians that would like to participate in this  interactive workshop. Clubs may send a maximum of 2 members and the class will be limited to the first 24 who send in the registration fee of $250. Click on REGISTER . The Institute will be held at the Northwest Forest Conference Center in the Conquistador Room in the La Hacienda Complex located at 12715 Telge Road, Cypress, Texas 77429, Information on the conference center may be found on the Northwest Forest Conference Center website at www.northwestforest.com

DG Lisa Faith Massey's installation at the Petroleum Club was a wonderful event.  Janice Jones (Harrisburg Rotary Club) took lots of memorable photos.  To View your pictures and purchase the photos, please click on the following link below: http://goo.gl/Ilb5Uh

The Rotary Club of Brazos River cordially invites you to join us for an elegant evening of celebration on Saturday, June 21 2014 at 6:00 - 9:00 pm at Weston Lakes Country Club, 32611 FM 1093, Weston Lakes, TX 77441  Charter night only occurs once in a club's history and you are invited to share in this momentous occasion!  Please join the Charter Members of the Brazos River Rotary Club and our fellow Rotarians as we celebrate this singular event in our club's inception!  This club will serve Fulshear, Simonton, Weston Lakes and surrounding area communities.

August is Membership Month, a special time of the year when the entire Rotary family focuses on Membership Recruitment & Retention. What better way to jump-start your membership efforts than attending the District Membership Seminar on July 26 2014, at HCC Southwest Campus, 5601 West Loop South, Houston TX 77081  Registration starts at 7:45 AM; Seminar 8:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Please Join Lisa Fatih Massey for her District Governor's Installation and the District Leadership Installation.  The event will be held at The Petroleum Club of Houston located in Downtown Houston at 800 Bell St, Houston TX 77002 .  The Cost is $1000 per table of 10 or $100 per seat (individual seating will be assigned). Click on REGISTER ONLINE   There will be a cash bar available and valet parking is $7.00.  Both require CASH ONLY but there is a ATM located in the lobby of the building.  For more information please contact Rebecca Maddux 713-644-9285  or email rebecca@pmhvac.com

The annual Rotary International Convention offers you the perfect opportunity to connect with leaders from around the world and celebrate your shared passion for taking action in communities at home and abroad.  You'll hear from some of the world’s leading experts on topics such as water, polio, and social media. Through workshops and breakout sessions, you'll develop leadership skills and share your recreational, professional, and humanitarian interests. As you browse the project booths in the Billabong House of Friendship, you’ll discover new ideas for service, and perhaps a new partner for creating change.

The annual Rotary International Convention offers you the perfect opportunity to connect with leaders from around the world and celebrate your shared passion for taking action in communities at home and abroad.  You'll hear from some of the world’s leading experts on topics such as water, polio, and social media. Through workshops and breakout sessions, you'll develop leadership skills and share your recreational, professional, and humanitarian interests. As you browse the project booths in the Billabong House of Friendship, you’ll discover new ideas for service, and perhaps a new partner for creating change.

What is an eClub???  Rotary Int'l made provisions for Rotary Clubs to be formed and conduct meetings on the Internet.  These eClubs are fully recognized, same as our traditional Rotary clubs.  Just think of the possibilities -  Meetings Any time 24-7, Anywhere  Have a busy schedule? Need a flexible meeting time? Live in different places throughout the year? Travel frequently?  Have limited mobility?  Then the eClub of Houston may be just for you.

I hope you will join us for our August, 2014 trip to Nicaragua. We will be leaving from Houston on Wednesday August 6th on United flight # UA1421, at 6:10 p.m. and arriving in Managua at 8:37 p.m.  We will return from Managua on Tuesday August 12th on United flight # UA1423 leaving Managua at 7:15 a.m. and arriving in Houston at 11:45 a.m.  Click on this story heading for more details.

Join us at Minute Maid Park for Rotary Family Night, Saturday April 26, game starts at 6:10pm.  Rotarians and their guests are invited to an exclusive reception inside Champions Pavilion, which overlooks the ballpark and provides a unique view of the Downtown Houston skyline.  Food and drinks will be available to Rotarians and their guests.  Cheer on District Governor Bob Gebhard as he throws out the first pitch!  Seating will be in the Mezzanine Section, priced at $18  To buy your tickets online, click on www.astros.com/rotary  Use Special Offer Code: Rotary (follow the Ticketmaster instructions)  For orders of 10 tickets or more: Call Jake Winowich at 713-259-8317

 

District 5890 will be hosting the Zone 21B Membership Seminar on April 11 2014 at Crowne Plaza, 8686 Kirby Dr, Houston. Recruiting New Rotarians in the new millennium is both exciting and challenging.  But the leadership in Zone 21B is here to help you and your Club discover new and exciting ways to grow your Club’s membership.   There will be a great agenda with outstanding speakers, followed by our Young Professionals of Rotary Social Mixer. The registration fee is $50, payable by check or credit card. Make plans to register and attend this event.  To register for this event on-line, click on REGISTER  Then click on Members or Guests on the left side of that web page.

District Governor Bob Gebhard & Assistant Governor Jay Altieri invite you to Safari Columbus on Saturday April 12, 2014 2:30-6:30pm.  Hay rides and safari wildlife tours at E+P Ranch in Columbus, TX Food served at 2:30pm- Beef & Chicken Fajitas with Rice, Beans, and Guacamole with Chips and Salsa and Iced Tea.   $25 per person  No alcohol, please.

It is with great sadness that I must report the PDG Floyd Boze passed away February 20th.  PDG Floyd lead a great life (see bio below), and was the kindest Rotarian that I have know.  Floyd was president of the Lubbock Rotary Club, became a member of Space Center Rotary Club on August 20, 1973.  Floyd was elected Governor of Rotary District 589 (now 5890) in 1984. His District Conference was held in Guadalajara, Mexico.  Floyd & Nancy were both Paul Harris Fellows & Floyd Boze Fellows.  As of this Rotary Year, 2013-14, Floyd had 63 years of perfect attendance, having made up missed meetings of his home club in more than 20 countries outside the U. S. Please say a prayer for PDG Floyd Boze's family.  Floyd was a true Rotarian, who lived the life of "Service Above Self".  And now we must say good-by to one of the truly good guys.  I'm sure God has already scheduled a Rotary meeting in heaven to honor the arrival of PDG Floyd Boze.  I can see the banner now, "Well done thy good and faithful servant".  And to no surprise, Brother Floyd will have perfect attendance into perpetuity.

The Guerrero Rotary Clinic in Mexico needs $8,000 to purchase an Autorefractor in time for our March clinic.  If your club has any service project funds available or individual Rotarians who are willing to help us purchase  the equipment in time, we would appreciate your assistance.  An autorefractor is a computer-controlled machine used during an eye exam to provide an objective measurement of a person's refractive error and prescription for glasses or contact lenses. This is achieved by measuring how light is changed as it enters a person's eye.

I wanted to give everyone a Mid-Year report on the efforts of the District Foundation & its related committees (Polio Plus, Grants, Annual Giving & Endowment).  Plus the report includes upcoming calendar events.  Click on the "MID-YEAR FOUNDATION MID-YEAR REPORT" to access the details.

Houston Skyline member, PDG D'Lisa Simmons, was a special guest speaker at the Rotary-United Nations event in November 2013.  D'Lisa was invited to tell how her Rotary career has developed since being an Ambassadorial Scholar in 1988, and enabled her to contribute actively to humanity through Rotary. Her compelling story focused on the core values that Rotary teaches and practices for the improvement of society. Her delivery from the UN podium in the General Assembly Room received a standing ovation and sustained applause.

 

 The Bellaire/Southwest Rotary Club is hosting a party celebrating "PDG Bob Ellis' 50 Years of Service" on January 30th at 6:30.  The event will be held at BraeBurn Country Club, 8100 Bissonet, Houston.  The cost is $35.  So come join the celebration and show your appreciation to a wonderful Rotarian and one of the best Past District Governors  RSVP: Judy Harwell, 281-879-6467 jaharwell1@gmail.com

PDG Jon Eiche, District 5890 Representative to the US-Russia Intercountry Committee, reported that Rotarians from around the United States will converge on Houston on March 1, 2014, for a meeting to hear updates on Rotary International’s progress in strengthening Rotary in Russia.  This meeting is sponsored by the United States section of the US-Russia Intercountry Committee.

The 2014-15 District Leadership Team Training will be held February 15, 2014 at HCC Southwest Building on 610 W Loop.  If you are part of next year's District Leadership Team, register your intentions to attend by clicking on Attending and following the instruction.  Then mark your calendar and make plans to participate in this important event.

Mark Your Calendars!!!  District 5890 is hosting its All Club Meeting February 20th 2014 with Rotary International President Ron Burton as our feature speaker!  Seating is limited, so register early!  Individual tickets are $58.90 each with sponsorship tables of 10 available $750-1,500  Click on

 The All Club Meeting will be held at the Crowne Plaza - Reliant Stadium with VIP Reception 5:45 pm - 6:30 pm, General Reception with Cash Bar 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm and dinner from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm.  EVENT IS FULL, REGISTRATION HAS BEEN CLOSED.  Thanks everyone for your support.

Please make plans to attend and promote this event in your Club. Join us for this fantastic evening and wonderful opportunity to get to meet President Burton.

Now that the new Rotary year has started, the new Presidents-Elect should mark their calendars for the 2014 PETS. There is no better preparation than attending PETS which is scheduled for Mar 6-9 2014 at Hyatt Regency DFW.  In fact, attendance at PETS is now required by RI for all president-elects in order to serve as president of your Rotary club.

District leadership participated in the decoration of Rotary Int'l float which participated in the Rose Bowl Parade on New Year's Day, Jan 1 2014  Participates included DG Bob & Diane Gebhard, DGN Nick & Fabiola Giannone, PDG Charley & Barbara Clemmons & others.  Everyone has reported they had a great time.

Click on the Rotary Int'l Parade Float to see it in the 2014 Rose Bowl Parade

For more details, contact  Space Center's Past President, Mike Hernandez, Cozumel Projects Coordinator - mahernandezjr@att.net

Unfortunately, I must share with you the news of Thursday's passing of our dear friend and past president, Mike Dennard. Celebration of his life will be held on Thursday, December 5 at 10:a.m. at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church.  The service will include full military honors.  Interment of his ashes will be at Houston National Cemetery at a later date.

First, I'm happy to report that 58 of our 61 District 5890 Clubs have already made a donation to The Rotary Foundation (the Annual Fund or Polio Plus) this Rotary Year.  See the attached MCR Report to see how your club is doing so far.  Remember that fifty percent of the donations we make this year will come back to our District in the 2016-17 Rotary Year.  Our District's Paul Harris Society (those pledging to donate $85+ per month to the Annual Fund and/or PolioPlus) continues to grow.  Please encourage your members to join.  An anonymous Rotarian has agreed to match the first $1,000 donated by all new Paul Harris Society Members this year.   Click on this story heading to learn more about the District Foundation activities...

Ugandan Vocational Training Team posing with Dr. Denton Cooley, heart surgery pioneer and living legend. First heart transplant in the US and first implant of a fully artificial heart.  Dr. Cooley is 93 years old and still comes to work every day at The Texas Medical Center.  Team leader Rotarian Dr. Isaac Okullo, Dean of the Schools of Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy at Makerere University, the largest institute of higher learning in Uganda, is standing in the rear to the right of Dr. Cooley.  Thanks to Posey Parker of the Rotary Club of West U for facilitating this meeting.

This year’s 4-Way Test Essay competition, starting October 12, 2013, has been moved forward to give 12th grade graduating high school seniors a more relaxed lead up to the entry submission deadline.  Open to all 12th grade graduating high school seniors who are college bound in 2014 and active members of Interact, the theme is an essay on any one or more tenets of Rotary’s 4 Way Test. 

Students must submit their essay and signed cover sheet to their High School Interact Club Sponsor which must be received no later than November 15, 2013.  High School Interact Club Sponsors should sign the cover sheet and forward it by fax with the essay to Barbara Sharp, Competition Coordinator; (832) 200-2852 which must be received no later than November 29, 2013. High School Interact sponsors must review the forms for accuracy and completeness, check the cover sheet box stating eligibility and sign accordingly. A copy should also be sent to the sponsoring Rotary Club. 

Imagine… Please imagine if you can … the unimaginable disaster in Colorado. Yet some of us in Boulder and along the Colorado Front Range found ourselves without the most basic necessities that we take for granted every day; things as basic as brushing our teeth, drinking clean water, driving our cars, feeling secure with safe roads and bridges, having a warm and comfortable home and shelter - all gone in a few days. DG Bob Gebhard wants you to support Rotary District 5450's recovery efforts in Colorado

The 44th Annual Rotary Lombardi Award Presentation will take place on December 11, 2013 at the beautiful Wortham Center in downtown Houston. The motto for 2013 is Rotary Proud and a Houston Tradition for 43 Years.  Since 1970 the Rotary Club of Houston has celebrated the memory and legacy of legendary football coach Vince Lombardi by awarding the Rotary Lombardi Award to college football’s most outstanding lineman. The Rotary Lombardi Award is one of the most celebrated and prestigious awards in college football and is one of Houston’s most special events.  Individual tickets go on sale November 1, 2013. Rotarians get a deeply discounted price of $80 each or 2 for $125.

Announcing, the 2013 District 5890 Rotary Foundation Dinner will be held Sunday, November 3, 2013, at Maggiano’s Little Italy, 2019 Post Oak Blvd, Houston, TX 77056  Cocktails (Cash Bar) and Fellowship 5:00pm, Dinner 6:00pm  Featured Guest: Past Rotary International Director Mike Pinson & Spouse Mary.  We are now ready to accept reservations & payments to attend The 2013 Rotary Foundation Dinner.  Click on this story heading to see more details and register online.

For first time since 2004, the 2014 District Conference will be held May 1-5 2014, on the Carnival Fun Ship "Triumph", departing Galveston.  Don't miss this opportunity to learn more about our district while enjoying friendship, fellowship, food and fun in the Gulf.  We need your help, Rotarians are typically the worst procrastinators, wait until the last minute to commit.  But this year, we need each of you to commit prior to November 1.  We need a large number of committed attendees, so we can get Carnival to dedicate facilities for exclusive use by our District Conference.  Click on Cruise Video to see details.  Click on CONFERENCE DETAILS for more details.  Click on Conference Flyer for cruise details. Click on Sponsorship Op for opportunity to promote your business or club.  Click on Sign-Up Form to access the form.

Come join us at Celtic Garden on Friday, September 13, 2013 from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM  Celtic Garden is located at 2300 Louisiana St, Houston, Texas 77006  This is a great opportunity to mingle with an outstanding group of "Young Professionals", both Rotarians and non-Rotarians.  Participating in this mixer will provide multiple benefits.  Not only will you have the opportunity to make new friends & reconnecting with old friends, you will be supporting our efforts to eradicate Polio.  Upon your arrival, we will be providing information about Young Professionals of Rotary and accepting donations for Polio Plus.  And we are proud to report that the Celtic Garden is joining us in our efforts.  Your $10.00 Donation Includes Lite Bites & (1) Drink ticket, provided by Celtic Gardens.  That's what I call, "Win Win"  100% of you $10 donation will be earmarked to "End Polio Now".  Remember, we are "This Close" 

ALERT - DISTRICT GRANT CONFERENCE HAS CHANGED LOCATIONS

The District Grants Committee will hold a special meeting at Oxford Condominium Building on Saturday, September 7, 2013, to hear presentations from Clubs that have submitted District Matching Grant Requests for the Rotary Year 2013-14. Please forward this to the member listed as Primary Contact on your Grant Application. Attendance at this Conference is required for the Application to be considered. Any member of the Club familiar with the project may attend and make the presentation for their Club.

Since we can't hold a golf tournament on the cruise ship next year, we have scheduled a separate event for this year. This year's Rotary District 5890 Conference Golf Tournament will be held at the Wildcat Golf Course, 12000 Almeda Rd, Houston, TX 77045 on Monday October 14^th.  The entry fee is $125 per person, $500 per 4-man team. To register yourself or a team or to be a sponsor, click on REGISTER ON-LINE Entry fee includes greens fees, cart rental & dinner. Tee time will be 1:00 PM.

District 5890 is rapidly making its presence felt in cyberspace.  Most recently, we have entered the Facebook world.  Click on the following link to gain access:  District 5890 Facebook 

Be sure to invite your friends and family to visit this site and save the link as a favorite.

Check Our District YOUTUBE Page Featuring Many Activities within the District

Click on District 5890's new YOUTUBE page, which features many activities, including our participation with many outstanding charitable organizations, who were recognized during our "Be A Friend" dinner earlier this year. 

Key elements to ensure meeting the youth exchange requirements from Rotary International, the US Department of State, and the Council for Student International Education and Travel (CSIET) are:

1)    Adherence to the requirements by the host clubs
2)    The retention of records to show visible proof that the requirements were met.

Hosting a Youth Exchange student from another country can be a wonderful experience. It allows a host family to become familiar with another culture and provides the opportunity to share a young student's hopes and ambitions. Youth Exchange promises to enrich the lives of the student and every member of your family.

Host families for these programs can be Rotarians or non-Rotarians. Typical Rotary host families come in all shapes and sizes and might include young children, older children, or no children at all.  Click on Primer for Host Families for more information.

Primer for Host Families

Spending time abroad as an exchange student is one of the most unique opportunities available to you. You will be in for an experience that will affect the rest of your life. Your exchange will encompass different phases that will give you opportunities to grow in new ways and experience a new culture and ideas.

The purpose of the Rotary Youth Exchange program is to provide secondary school students with the opportunity to travel abroad, live with a host family, and experience life firsthand in a different country, school, and social environment. Exchange students will gain lifelong advantages through an expanded world view and greater appreciation of the world.  Click on Primer for Youth Exchange Students for more information.

Primer for Youth Exchange Students

The beauty of the online process is that clubs will be self sufficient, knowing what has been done and what remains to be done.  Moreover, clubs will have access to the training tools and forms needed without needing to ask the district. 

The most powerful force in the promotion of international understanding and peace is exposure to different cultures. The world becomes a smaller, friendlier place when we learn that all people — regardless of nationality — desire the same basic things: a safe, comfortable environment that allows for a rich and satisfying life for ourselves and our children. Youth Exchange provides thousands of young people with the opportunity to meet people from other lands and to experience their cultures, thus planting the seeds for a lifetime of international understanding.

The first reports from our outbound Youth Exchange stories are starting to come it.  These are so wonderful to read and you can just feel the changes happening in these young people.
Please visit this link:

RYE 2008-09 Stories

District 5890 Rotary Foundation Seminar will be held Saturday, September 21, 2013, 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM at Sagemont Youth Building, 11600 Hughes Rd at Beltway 8, Houston, TX. Registration & Snacks 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM All Rotarians Are Invited!  Featured Speaker:  PDG, Past RI Director & Rotary Endowment/Major Gift Advisor Don Mebus  Mark your calendar and make sure attend the District Foundation Seminar.

District 5890 Rotary Foundation Seminar will be held Saturday, September 21, 2013, 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM at Sagemont Youth Building, 11600 Hughes Rd at Beltway 8, Houston, TX.  All Rotarians Are Invited!  Featured Speaker:  PDG, Past RI Director & Rotary Endowment/Major Gift Advisor Don Mebus  Mark your calendar and make sure attend the District Foundation Seminar.

In honor of Membership Month for Rotary International take a few minutes to listen to RI President Ron Burton's Membership Message that emphasizes the need for every Rotary club to focus on membership.

RIP Burton also invites you to join the Thunderclap on the last day of August. You can learn more about it at this link: Thunderclap link.

RI President Burton’s Membership Message from Rotary International on Vimeo.

 

Come join the Rotary Night with the Dynamos for their game with the Seatlle Sounders.  The match will be held Saturday, August 17 2013, game time 8PM  Pre-game happy hour at Little Woodrow's EADO from 6PM - 7:20PM Price Package - 4 tickets at $25 each. Partial proceeds from the tickets and bar tab will benefit Polio Plus  

Please join the family of Rotary at Constellation Field in Sugar Land on August 10th at 6:05 pm as the Sugar Land Skeeters take on the Long Island Ducks in a match-up that will help eradicate Polio from the world.  Our own District Governor Bob Gebhard will throw the first pitch to kick off this historic game.  Please join us for fun and to help end polio!  Click on ON-LINE TICKETS, select the Aug 10th game and use special offer code: ROTARY13 to get special pricing of $12 ($6 will go to End Polio Now)

Vince Lipovsky, Charter Member of Space Center Rotary Club, passed away at 6:40 am, Thursday, July 11, 2013.  His wife, daughter, son and grandchildren were by his side.  Vince had gone back and forth 5 times this year from hospital to rehab to his home at Regal Estates in League City.  He died of congestive heart failure and fluid on his lungs.  The family had a private memorial service to honor the memory of Vince.  Please remember Vince and family in your thoughts and prayers.

The next Guerrero Clinic trip will be from September 7th - 12th.  We are planning a side trip to Copper Canyon.  if you want to take the Copper Canyon side trip, you are coming back the 14th. Over the past 30+ years, the Guerrero Clinic and Rotarians from our District have been instrumental in providing millions of dollars in free medical care to the indigent people of the state of Chihuahua Mexico For more information and applications, visit www.guerreroclinic.org  

August is Membership Month, a special time of the year when the entire Rotary family focuses on Membership Recruitment & Retention. What better way to kick-start your membership efforts than attending the District Membership Seminar on August 10, 2013, at San Jacinto College South. The cost of the event is $10 registration. Click on REGISTER ONLINE If you prefer, click on PAPER REGISTRATION and mail with check.  Registration starts at 7:45 AM; Seminar 8:30 AM - 12:45 PM  Breakfast snacks, snacks, coffee, soda, water will be furnished.  No lunch this year.

The Annual Fund –  Our District 5890 Rotarians and Clubs raised a total of $416,726 for the Annual Programs Fund (50% of which will come back to our District in the 2015-16 Rotary Year – Nick’s DG year)!  Our Per-Capita giving, which ranged all the way from $.29 per member at one club to $527.61 per member at another, averaged $155.96 per member.  While not a record, this average is higher than all but a couple of years in our District’s history.  All Sixty-one of our District 5890 clubs contributed and 34 clubs contributed at the $100+ per-Capita level.   Thanks to our 112 Paul Harris Society Members for greatly increasing the average.  Click on this story heading to see other Foundation giving results.

Indian Clerics offer to Help Fight Polio in Pakistan - noting that "India is not safe until neighboring Pakistan is Polio-free" , members of India's Rotary Muslim Ulema committee have come forward to offer their assistance in dispelling the myths surrounding Polio vaccinations in Pakistan. Religious leaders have administered Polio drops to their children in front of cameras and they now believe the magic (of zero Polio cases for over 2 years in India) could be repeated in Pakistan.

Space Center Rotary's EarlyAct FirstKnight program has been a tremendous success.  Teaching chivalry and building champions -- that's what the program is accomplishing at Whitcomb Elementary School is doing.  The program teaches children how to be role models and hold high standards for character. Organizers hope the examples will rub off on other kids.  It was the last day of school for students at Clear Creek ISD, and some of them went home with new titles for the summer.  Click on Houston's ABC Channel 13 News Reports

Come join us in celebration of the Rotary District 5890 Installation of District Governor Bob Gebhard & his incoming Officers.  The event will be held Saturday, June 15, 2013 at Pasadena Convention Center, 7902 Fairmont Parkway, Pasadena, TX 77507 MAP   Registration & Cocktail Reception starts at 5:00 pm, Dinner served at 6:00 pm, Program begins at 7:00 pm  Dress Code - Denim & Diamonds Cowboy Black-tie optional 

Please click on REGISTER ON-LINE 

My fellow Rotarians, Friends and Family of Rotary, as I come into the last remaining weeks of my term in office I want to thank all of you for the wonderful opportunity to serve as your Governor.  It has been a year filled with fun, excitement, tears and tragedies, in other words life on life’s terms.  With all its ups and down it has been a fantastic ride.

There are so many people to thank, since a Governor is only as good as his support team and staff.  You have all touched my life and have given me many wonderful memories for me to cherish for as long as I live.  These are a result of the magical gifts of friendship, fellowship and service we all share.  For this I thank all of you!  Through this experience I can truly say we have and will always continue to live this year’s Theme of “PEACE THROUGH SERVICE!”

As some of you know, PDG Bob Ellis had a medical incident at the District Assembly.  Bob was taken to hospital until he stablized.   We are so glad that Leanna reported that Bob is home and doing well.  He is walking with a walker (sometimes).  He will continue to have therapy and do exercises at home (if Leanna can make him).  Keep PDG Bob Ellis in your prayers, and be sure to send cards to PDG Bob Ellis, 5215 Braesvalley Dr, Houston, TX 77096

We will be taking our next trip to visit our many projects in Nicaragua beginning on July 31, 2013. I hope you will join us for our July-Aug., 2013 trip to Nicaragua. We will be  leaving from Houston on Wednesday July 31st on United flight # UA1421, at 6:30 p.m. and arriving in Managua at 8:47 p.m.  We will return from Managua on Wednesday August 6th on United flight # UA1423 leaving Managua at 7:02 a.m. and arriving in Houston at 11:28 a.m.

Thanks to Miguel Ottaviano, we now have photo albums of the District Conference!!  Click on the following link:  Photo Album 

The 2012-13 District Conference, held April 18-20, 2013, at the outstanding Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort - San Antonio, was a rousing success.  Opening with a great dinner, the always heart-warming opening flag ceremony by our Youth Exchange students, great speakers including RI President's Rep. David Roper, to the Governor's Banquet on Saturday.  Everyone came away more knowlegable and with a pride of satisfaction. 

District Governor Chris Schneider comments: "WOW!!!  What a team effort!!!  From the RI President’s Rep David Roper and all the distinguished speakers, to first time attendees and old timers, I have heard nothing but praises for your beautiful work, which included masterful planning and execution.  Words cannot describe my appreciation for all the hard work that went into this WELL-received conference.  I am, along with District 5890, forever grateful to your continued dedication to our world of Rotary.  Our Family of Rotary is honored to have you as leaders, and may God bless you for all that you continue to do for Rotary." 

To see the award winners, click on this story heading.

 

It’s that time again - time to sharpen the pencils for Rotary District 5890’s Scholarship Essay Competition!  We will award three college scholarships ($2000, $1000, $500) to InterAct members (12th Grade Only) from our District who submit the most outstanding essays centered on Rotary’s famous 4-Way Test. Winners will be selected from timely qualifying submissions and honored at the District Scholarship Awards Luncheon May 30, BraeBurn Country Club, 8100 Bissonnet, Houston 77074. Get to work now and help us make this year’s Essay Contest our District’s best ever!  Click on this story heading to get more info on Deadlines and Rules

The Divisional Director of Disaster Services will be at Houston Northwest to offer the Introduction to  Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Response on Friday evening May 10 and Saturday May 11.  Disaster Aid USA will also be present.  Disaster Aid USA is a project of Rotary International that provides a way to give people in disaster potable water when safe municipal water is unavailable or temporarily unsafe.  Participation of the NARS Ham Radio Club is also being confirmed for the event. 

 

District 5890 Rotarians always have a GREAT time at the RI Convention and 2013 will be no exception.  The 2013 Rotary International Convention will be held in Lisbon, Portugal, June 22-27, 2013. If you are planning to attend and would like to stay with other District 5890 Rotarians contact District Convention Chair PDG Sunny Sharma (ssharma@sunbeltmedical.com) to be added to his list. If you have already made plans to attend let PDG Sharma know to be included in communications about District 5890 events before, during and after the convention.

Additional information about the 2013 RI Convention can be found at the convention website:  http://lisboa2013.org/ 

The Houston Aeros invite all Rotarians, along with their families and friends to the Toyota Center to watch the Aeros take on the Hamilton Bulldogs on Sunday, April 7, 2013 at 5:05 PM for a night of hockey and networking.  All you have to do is click on the following link to purchase tickets (use the promo code: Rotary).   It will then give you the option to purchase seats, or donate tickets.  http://tinyurl.com/cruk5k9

Viewers in the Houston Clear Lake area will be able to see the International Space Station this week, starting Tuesday.  But the time and direction is different each day.  Click on this story heading to more detail each day. 
Tuesday, March 12, 7:06 a.m. (Duration: 6 minutes)
Path: 11 degrees above SW to 12 degrees above NE
Maximum elevation: 64 degrees

Katy Rotary Club will be hosting its Brew Fest on May 4 2013, starting at 1:00 PM at the Villagio Town Center in Katy.  40 Brewers, 125 Taps, 10 exclusive brews at our specialty custom built bar, Tap Wall contest, what more do you want!A band...that plays great music, yes, we got that too!

Incoming Rotary International President Ron Burton has named Space Center Rotarian Alan Wylie to chair the 2013-14 RI Int'l Youth Exchange Committee. Alan's committee will oversee Youth Exchange activities worldwide.  Plus Alan will sit on the Rotary Int'l New Generations Committee.

Nationally, Alan Wylie's name is synonymous with Youth Exchange, having chaired the district committee for over 20 years.  Two years ago, District 5890 Youth Exchange program was named # 1 in the United States. Alan currently serves as Chairman Emeritus of District 5890 Int'l Youth Exchange Committee.  This is a huge honor for Alan and for District 5890.  Alan has previously been named District 5890 Rotarian of the Year.

Space Center Rotary's spring fundraiser, Springoree, will be held at the Lakewood Yacht Club, 103 Yacht Club Lane, Seabrook, TX 77586 on March 21 starting at 6:00 pm.  The theme is Mardi Gras (the decorations are fantastic!).  Mardi Gras attire and whatever would be appropriate to the theme.  Cocktails at 6:00pm; Dinner at 7:00pm. with choice of beef, fish, or veggie.  The cost is $75 per person including two drink tickets for beer, wine, mixed drink and sodas (soft drinks). 

The 2013 District Conference will be held April 18-21 2013, at the outstanding Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort - San Antonio, TX.  Step into a world of timeless charm at Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa. Building upon our heritage as Rogers - Wiseman Ranch, our casually luxurious San Antonio Texas resort is the perfect blend of AAA Four Diamond pampering in an inviting setting.  Come celebrate the many accomplishments of District 5890.  District 5890 is alive and vibrant.  See how to make your club grow and maintain membership.  Learn why the Rotary Foundation is important to your Club, District 5890 and the World as a whole.

The Space Center Rotary Club will host a Peace Forum entitledPeace through Service Monday evening, Feb. 18, in the UH-Clear Lake Bayou Building Garden Room.  The forum, scheduled from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., is an effort to further inform the community, by describing actual service projects, of the value and importance of service and how it contributes to promote peace and better understanding among citizens of the world.  Please register that you will attend, click on REGISTER NOW

You are invited to Join Rotarians and Friends of Literacy from North America and Around the World for the Rotary Books for the World’s Booklegger Summit III, presented by: The Second Wind Foundation  The event will be held January 20-21 at: South Shore Harbor Resort and Conference Center, 2524 South Shore Boulevard, League City, Texas

The next trip planned to Guerrero Clinic will be Apr 2-7 2013.  There will be a group of doctors and eye specialists heading a group of Rotarians, which is always an anxiously awaited event for the locals.  Whether this is your first trip or next of many, you will always enjoy a very rewarding experience.  Whether you will attend this trip or won't be able to make this trip, the Guerrero Clinic needs your assistance.  The eyeglass center which has provided thousands of glasses really needs additional glasses inventory.  Please accept our invitation to join us in our passion for this noble effort as we create miracles in the lives of thousands of people in rural Mexico and around the world.  Click on this story heading for more details.

The Guerrero Clinic needs your assistance.  The eyeglass center which has provided thousands of glasses really needs additional glasses inventory.  Please accept our invitation to join us in our passion for this noble effort as we create miracles in the lives of thousands of people in rural Mexico and around the world.  Click on this story heading for more details.

I had thought I had written the last of my ‘Tweets from Trumbull’, but I received a phone call this afternoon, whose message made me want to share one last thing with our fellow D5890 Rotarians before we leave the frozen, snowed in north east and return home.  The call was from Larry Palmer of Newtown RC, to ask me to thank everyone again for all their thoughts, prayers and donations to the Newtown Fund. As of last Thursday (12/28), their Foundation Fund account had received more than $250,000 from approximately 1,750 very generous donors!! They are now in the arduous task of writing thank you and receipts!

Fox News has a current series called, "26 Random Acts of Kindness", featuring Houstonians who go beyond the call of duty to assist those less fortunate than us.  Sounds like work for a Rotarian!!!  No surprise when Northshore Rotarian Jim Mills and his wife, Linda, are featured in "Emily Gets Her Class Ring", gifting a high school ring to a daughter & mother who could not afford to pay.  Click on the following link to see the Fox News "26 Random Acts of Kindness"

I have just received a phone call from Newtown Rotary Club, thanking us for our interest and concern over the Sandy Hook Disaster. The first thing I was asked to do, is to pass on the club’s warmest thanks and appreciation of our response, to D5890 and our members.

As you can imagine, Newtown has had a very busy week putting things together and trying to bring some sort of organization to the myriad offers of help and financial support which have poured in from all over the world. United Way has offered to help organize and audit  ‘distribution’ and has stepped up to the plate with promises of full 100% pass through of all funds they raise. The club has been at the forefront of discussions with Newtown’s First Selectman (Lady Mayor), the town council and other civic leaders, as everyone bands together to first provide immediate help with funerals and families, and then move the community forward.

Rotary Int'l announced its "Top 5 Rotary Stories of 2012".  We are so proud of the Houston Interactors being part of the top 5 stories, as "Interact Celebrates 50 Years", which featured the Interact Club of Robert E. Lee High School in Baytown, Texas, USA.   Interact Club of Robert E. Lee was chartered just months after the first club in Melbourne, FL is celebrating the anniversary with various events, including a roundup on 15 September that was attended by more than 320 Interactors from across District 5890.  Click on Interact Clubs Celebrate Golden Anniversary to read the feature story.

On Dec 10-11, District 5890 was honored to have Rotary International General Secretary John Hewko take time from his busy schedule to come speak at our Dec 10 District Foundation Dinner, which was well attended.  The next morning, Chief of Staff Jon McKinnie had organized an executive tour of NASA's Johnson Space Center for Hewko and several members of our District leadership.   Some of the highlights of the tour included observing current Mission Control activities, walk through the Apollo Mission Control (remember Tom Hank's movie, Apollo 13), walk through astronaut training area (space station, space shuttle cockpit, next generation rover) and Russian Soyuz.  For more details & photos, click on this story heading.

We have all seen the media reports on the multiple shootings of young children in Newtown, CT.  Graham Sharp, Galleria Area Rotary Club, has immediate family just outside Newtown.  Graham & his wife, Barbara, rushed there Saturday to support his family and the local community.  Graham is providing a Rotarian insight into the aftermath of the loss of so many lives.  Click on this story heading to access his journal.

The District 5890 District Governor Nominating Committee is seeking potential candidates for our District Governor for the year 2015-16, to succeed Lisa Faith Massey.  The completed application must be received by January 4, 2012, by the Nominating Committee Chair, Bill Haglund. The application should be mailed to Bill Haglund, 9321 Katy Freeway, Houston, Texas 77024.

We would like to invite you to the Rotary Lombardi "Lunch With the Finalists Luncheon, sponsored by the Stehlin Foundation for Cancer Research.  Proceeds from this event supports Cancer Research, Education and Direct Care.  The event will be held at the Jesse Jones Rotary House International, 1600 Holcombe Boulevard, on Wednesday, December 5, 2012 from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM.  (Click on this story heading for ticket information)

Houston, November 17, 2012 – The Rotary Lombardi Award committee today announced the four finalists for the 2012 Rotary Lombardi Award. The finalists are:
Jadeveon Clowney - University of South Carolina Defensive End
Barrett Jones - University of Alabama Offensive Lineman
Jarvis Jones - University of Georgia Outside Linebacker
Manti Te’o - Notre Dame University Inside Linebacker

The project is complete!

 

What started as a $3,000 District Grant by the Rotary Club of Humble Intercontinental grew into a $10,450 plus project thanks to cash contributions from eight more clubs - Houston, Houston Heights, West U, North Shore, Willowbrook, Baytown, Bear Creek Copperfield and Brazosport.

 

Hurricane Sandy may have passed but those impacted by the storm are left to work through the process to get their lives back to normal. As those hit by Hurricane Sandy continue the road to recovery there are several ways that clubs in Rotary District 5890 can assist. Click on the MORE link below to find out how you can help.

District Governor Elect Bob Gebhard and Governor-Elect Dave Johnson #5910 are asking you to join forces and start having some Rotary Wine Appreciation Fellowship.  Please go to www.rotarywine.net  to sign up for a $20 yearly or $100 lifetime membership.  The Houston Area chapter will be holding regular scheduled events, starting with:  November 9, 2012: Katy Wine Fest, The Tuscany Villa 3330 F.M 1963 Katy, TX. 77494  www.katywinefest.com for info and tickets.  Click on this story heading to see this and future events.

Mayor Annise Parker presented "Disability Advocate of the Year Awards 2012" to four Houstonians honored for "Exceptional Service" to Members of the Disability Community on October 30, 2012.  We are proud to report that Rotarian Thelma Scott (Houston NW Sunset Rotary Club) was one of the recipients, in recognition of her tireless efforts to make a positive difference in the lives of young people with disabilities through scholarships, transition assistance and support services, enabling them to  become self-sufficient, discover their maximum potential and achieve their academic goals.

For more details click on RYLA to go to the RYLA pages.