Greetings from my “safe zone at home.” With Judge Moran’s instructions for a TWO WEEK “Stay at Home,” which took effect at 11:59 PM on March 27, we will NOT MEET again until at least Monday, April 14. We all may have questions on WHY some groups are exempted from the “stay at home” orders, but we all must take the time to exercise essential personal steps to ensure our own safety and health! At least 27 cases of the dreaded COVID-19 virus have been confirmed in Tyler and Smith County, and at least one case has resulted in the fatality of an elderly gentleman.
During our “safe zone time,” I challenge all STR members to find ways to RECONNECT with family, friends, neighbors and other Rotarians - from a safe distance, of course! Take the time to contact someone that you may have lost touch with - a phone call, text, email, or even a card or letter.
In the coming weeks, Diane Kavanaugh will be providing information on our reformatted 2020 No Dinner Spaghetti Dinner. Each STR member will have the opportunity to help with donations that fund all of our annual grants to much deserving not-for-profit organizations in our community.
Thanks again for all you do SERVING others!
God bless always,
Jeff Johnston STR President 2019-2020
No Dinner Spaghetti Dinner Our South Tyler Rotary Spaghetti Supper scheduled for April 30th is being "rescheduled" as a "No Dinner Spaghetti Dinner." In other words, a "No Go" event. What does this mean to each of you?
If you have checks in hand from donors, please mail them to STR, PO Box 5173, Tyler 75711. This will allow us to update our spreadsheet.
We will need to advise all donors of the event changes. They will no longer receive tickets. We are working on donor recognition.
Nothing will change in regards to using the funds for our usual grant awards in the fall.
Through our "No Dinner Spaghetti Dinner," we are asking members to make a personal donation. If each member donates a minimum of $150.00 or more, we'll add $15,000 (or more!) to our total. This will allow us to still provide much needed grant funding in our community. Please mail checks payable to the South Tyler Rotary Foundation and mail to PO Box 5173, Tyler TX 75711.
Looking for ways to serve?
Donate blood - Contact Carter Blood Care to set up an appointment, 800-366-2834.
Look at the Tyler Parks list and choose one you've never visited. Take your kids/family and do a park clean up.
BLOOD DONATIONS NEEDED NOW! A stable blood supply is vital for
all hospitals and there is a critical shortage of available blood products right now in Tyler/Smith County.
If you are able, please go to Carter Blood Care and donate; call to schedule an appointment at 800-366-2834.
903HELP.ORG
An online social services directory to help our neighbors in Smith and Cherokee Counties, 903HELP.ORG is a great referral source to find local resources to help those in need!
Donald Proudfoot is the director of the Tyler Small Business Development Center (TylerSBDC). He was born and raised in Rochester, NY. He holds a marketing degree from West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV, and an accounting degree from the University of Texas at Tyler.
Prior to working with the Tyler SBDC, Don spent over eleven years with a Fortune 500 company working in various capacities of accounting, marketing, and finance. Prior to that time, he spent four years selling building materials and fourteen years managing retail properties. Don has also owned several diverse businesses, such as a New York Deli, a Jazz Night Club, and a Water Store.
Don started as a counselor at the Tyler SBDC in 1996 and after one year became the Director. He currently oversees three advisors. Since being with the center, the Tyler SBDC has advised 5,263 clients and helped 815 loan clients qualify for a total of $242 million in loans plus their equity contributions.
The Tyler SBDC recently received the 2020 SBDC of the Year Award from the North Texas SBDC Region for achieving and exceeding all goals of the 2018-2019 fiscal year. It was the only center in the region to achieve all of the goals. Tyler SBDC also set a new record for a North Texas Region center for the amount of annual capital infusion- $36 million (loans that clients were able to obtain based on our services, plus their own equity contributions).
Rotarians - from a safe distance, of course! Take the time to contact someone that you may have lost touch with - a phone call, text, email, or even a card or letter. 
from donors, please mail them to STR, PO Box 5173, Tyler 75711. This will allow us to update our spreadsheet. 
A stable blood supply is vital for
