On Wednesday, April 15, there will not be a Rotary meeting at the Elegante. Instead, Rotarians will meet and enjoy fellowship in fellow Rotarian homes as a way to better get to know one another and "build goodwill and better friendships."
We thank our hosts - Kathleen Alsup, Mellie Bevilacqua, Jim Broussard, Kathy Chessher, Steve Gilbert, and Leonard Juncker & Sharen Kirksey - who graciously volunteered to welcome Rotarians into their homes and provide food and refreshments.
THANK YOU, BEAUMONT, FOR SPONSORING PORT ARTHUR ROTARY
One hundred years of service to the community
1915 - 2015
On January 7, 1915, a group of Rotarians from the Beaumont Rotary Club, which had been chartered in 1913, met with some of the leading businesses and professionals of Port Arthur. The meeting was held for the purpose of discussing the fast growing world Rotary movement which was then in its tenth year. As a result of that meeting, the Port Arthur Rotary Club, the thirteenth to be organized in Texas, was chartered as Club No.147 in the world on April 1, 1915. The Club has a long and rich continuous history of community service.
The Rotary Club of Port Arthur will publicly celebrate its Centennial on April 16, 2015, at 2:00 pm. A program will be held to dedicate the ROTARY INTERNATIONAL AVENUE OF FLAGS, a display of registered flags of the 26 foreign countries and the USA that most frequently navigate the Sabine-Neches Waterway. The public is invited.
The location of the flags is next to the Jefferson County Sub-court in downtown Port Arthur.
Rotary is paying tribute and honoring the maritime, industrial communities and the seafarers of the world for its contributions to the area’s economy. The Sabine-Neches Waterway is critically important to the economy of the entire nation. As America’s energy Gateway, the SNWW generates more than one-hundred thousand jobs and one billion dollars of personal income for the citizens of Jefferson County.
As we reflect on the history and economic success of the area, we realize and know that the Sabine- Neches Waterway is a cornerstone that helps make this success possible.
As host club, we hope to have good representation. Please register to attend some or all of the Conference.
General schedule:
Friday, May 1 - Pre-Conference activities and tours will start at 1:00 p.m. Sign up for the "Shoot Down Polio!" Clay Shoot with proceeds to benefit the End Polio effort, or tours of local museums and attractions. We flip the switch for the official conference opening at the Beaumont Rotary Centennial Playground; then at dinner in the adjacent Beaumont Event Centre the spotlight will shine on district clubs for the Governor's Spotlight Awards.
Saturday, May 2 - The day will be full of presentations and collaborations about the good work being done across the District. There will be time to exchange ideas and share new plans. In the evening, the spotlight will focus on the District leadership at the traditional Governor's Dinner. We have some "top brass" showing up for the "top brass!" (Click on the attachment below for a sneak preview.) You don't want to miss this!
Sunday, May 3 - The spotlight will turn this morning to light up the great work being done by Rotarians collectively through the Rotary Foundation. You will be moved, motivated, and inspired. Plan to be here until around 11:00 a.m. when the lights will go dim on the 2015 Conference, but participants take the glow back to their respective clubs to continue to "Light Up Rotary!" across District 5910.
Come take part in a great new project! The Club will be providing expertise and a labor force to help Nutrition and Services for Seniors as they build a garden to plant, grow and provide fresh produce for seniors and the homebound who receive meal delivery. Such a great project and we are excited to have the opportunity to assist with this effort as our quarterly undertaking!
The first workday (weather permitting) will be Saturday, April 18 at the Center at 4590 Concord. Come out at 8:00 a.m. and bring hat, sunscreen, and work gloves. The plan is to dig holes and set the fence posts.
The following Saturday, April 25, we plan to complete the fence. Please bring a power drill or screw driver if you have one.
We are monitoring the weather and the property condition and will send out an update on the status of the work day by email Wednesday since we will not have a meeting at the Elegante this week.
The Special Projects Committee has one project in preliminary stages and plan to have it completed before mid-2015. That means it is time to look ahead and plan how the Club can contribute to another hands-on project that can have an impact on our community. Give some thought to it and talk to your friends and associates and submit a proposal for consideration.
The 2015 District 5910 Conference is fast approaching and the committee in your Rotary club is working hard to insure that this event is as grand as it can be!
To put on such an event in the style that our Club does, with amazing food, fun and entertainment, we are asking for your assistance with financial support. We have designed various sponsorship packages which will, in turn, benefit your business with advertising to several local clubs in our area and those in other parts of the district as well. Look at the map and you can easily see the large area and number of clubs in District 5910.
We believe the “Spotlight on District 5910" conference will be a huge success and we want you to be a part. Please consider becoming a sponsor by choosing one of the packages and become a sponsor to help us "Light Up Rotary" and District 5910 even brighter!
Phone me for more details or send your financial support along with your business logo to the Rotary office.
If you find yourself squinting in the sun today and can't find your sunglasses, you might be the owner of a pair found after a Rotary meeting recently. Come by the Rotary Office, identify yours, and pick them up.
There will not be a Rotary meeting on Wednesday, April 29 because many members will be in final stages of preparation for the District Conference in Beaumont that weekend.
Rotarians need to make up the missed meeting by attending one of the many Conference events: The Clay Shoot to benefit Polio fund, the Friday evening opening events at the Event Centre, the service project on Saturday, the Saturday evening dinner and entertainment, or attending the Dallas Brass Performance ($25 tickets available online) are all options.
(Click on the logo above to purchase tickets to the musical performance. The performance tickets do not include dinner but cash bar will be available.)
Dr. James Simmons, President of the BISD Board of Managers, was warmly welcomed after an introduction by another member of the BISD Board of Managers and Rotarian, Robert Turner. If there was anyone in attendance today who did NOT know of Jimmy, they were probably an out-of-state "visiting Rotarian."
Dr. Simmons began by recognizing BISD Superintendent, Vernon Butler, who attended along with Ron Reynolds, Public Affairs Specialist.
Dr. Simmons told Rotarians that he and his family have been invested in the Beaumont community and the educational system for years, stating that he, his beautiful wife, Susan, and their children are ALL products of Beaumont Schools. Dr. Simmons' father and mother were as well.
Dr. Simmons said that the Board of Managers is an amazing group of outstanding individuals who are "NOT politicians.....not elected and unpaid, pulling together to make things right." Dr. Simmons stated that ALL Board decisions are made in "open meetings," and that only three Board Members could attend today's Rotary meeting without reaching a quorum.
Dr. Simmons said that the BISD Board of Managers has taken some giant steps. After completing a recent external audit, this Board finally has more accurate picture of the financial state of BISD. This Board has added an Internal Auditor, (also a Rotarian) Rosie Delano.
Dr. Simmons stated that the school district, like many others, is in need of teachers. There are 100 fully-funded available positions, and asked Rotarians to "get the word out there."
When the Board of Managers were selected, there were 34 lawsuits against the District. This Board is addressing each one. He also stated that our District Attorney is pursuing restitution from significant losses over the years, as the result of nonfeasance or malfeasance.
Despite rumors, there is adequate funding for school supplies for all students in BISD.
The size of the Beaumont Independent School District Police Department has been reduced:
from 26 officers to 12;
from 26 police cruisers to 8;
the elimination of their canine unit;
elimination of assault weapons.
The question of whether or not to eliminate the BISD Police Department is "still on the table."
Each Board member heads a committee specific to their talents and strengths. For example, Robert Turner heads the Finance Committee, while Joe Domino heads the Public Relations Committee.
This Board of Managers hopes to have a selected applicant for the position of Superintendent by the end of April. The Board of Managers will serve until 2017.
The members of the BISD Board of Managers have accomplished so much in their brief existence and there is so much MORE work to be done. Their commitment to the students, parents, community, and state is a tremendous investment in insuring quality education for our children.
"Un-elected and un-paid"? What an honor to rub shoulders with these individuals!
Sponsor ads appear on the website continuously and are included in the sidebar of the RotaryGrams each week. One is spotlighted weekly to express our appreciation.
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