How are we GIVING TO OTHERS?

November and December are the traditional months of giving! We celebrated Thanksgiving with gifts of food and fellowship with friends and family.

During December, STR members demonstrate their service to others by giving in many ways, including:

• Coming together on December 5 with Rotary Clubs of Tyler to make the Tyler Christmas parade a wonderful community event.
• Making a needy child's Christmas extra special by building and contributing to the Salvation Army BIKE BUILD on December 12 - another project with Rotary Clubs of Tyler!
• STR members giving time by ringing the bell for the Salvation Army's Red Kettle Drive on December 11 and 12.
• STR members giving time and money by working at the Angel Tree station in Broadway Square Mall or supporting online via the giving networks.
• A number of STR members establishing a Paul Harris account with the Tyler Rotary Foundation and/or increasing levels of Paul Harris membership. At least 18 donations totally over $3,600 were made to the Tyler Rotary Foundation for Polio Plus and the Annual Fund. Tom DeWitt coordinated the November giving event and worked with some generous long-term Rotarians, including several Past District Governors, to provide funds and points that resulted in ONE new Paul Harris Fellowship and SEVEN Paul Harris advancements.
• Some STR members will give the “gift of life” at area blood drives during December; we will have another STR focused blood drive early in 2020!
• Many STR members will give gifts, food, service, and love to those in need - only God knows how much STR members do each and every day, especially during the season of giving!

Thank you,  STR members, for GIVING to others!

COMING IN 2020: Diane Kavanuagh, our President-Elect for 2020-2021, is actively at work developing our 2020 Spaghetti Supper. Every STR member will be asked to give of their time, money, and energy as we raise funds to support our annual GIFTS to the Community!

Thanks for all you do for STR and the greater Tyler Community!

Jeff W. Johnston
President, STR 2019-2020

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Tom DeWitt

Fun facts about Tom:

• Raised in North Kansas City, Missouri. (the city where the casinos are!).
• Went to Vanderbilt University in Nashville, where he met Anne.
• Went to Key Club National Conference with Bill Clinton as reps from Missouri and Arkansas.
• Worked for Senator Al Gore, Sr. as a research assistant and with Al Gore, Jr. as trainees at The Tennessean.
• Spent 10 years in regional shopping center development and Republican politics, 30 years in commercial and residential development and brokerage, the last of which was here in Tyler, and five years working with the State of Texas and various City and County Governments in Development and Community improvement grant application and management.
• Third generation Rotarian, but didn't join until Anne's dad said it was a condition of marriage approval. Tom has been a Rotarian in Nashville, Des Moines, Meridian Mississippi, Temple and Tyler.
• He served as South Tyler Rotary Club President 2010-11 and Rotary International District 5830 Governor 2015-16. Joined STR at Mark Roberts' invitation having been turned off by another club that even 20 years ago was just "too old."
• Has been to three RI Conventions and is looking forward to June in Honolulu. After the convention, Anne and Tom will have their kids join them to cruise the Hawaiian islands to celebrate their 50th anniversary.
• Since retirement, Tom has done nothing but Rotary and Board service for Samaritan Counseling Center and Azleway Children Services.

Thank you, Tom, for your service to South Tyler Rotary and our community!