Second notices for January - June 2014 dues are being sent this week. If you have not paid your invoice, please check your email for it. Members without an email on file will receive a copy in US Postal mail. Please submit payment as we have paid Rotary International dues on your behalf.
The Youth Services Committee has planned a special program this week to recognize the many Rotary projects and programs for high school and university students.
Members will hear about the activities of our two Interact Clubs, as well as the Lamar University Rotaract Club. We are anxious to hear stories of the experiences of Pauline Roudales, Youth Exchange student, as she completes a year in the United States.
And it will be award time! The Youth Service Above Self Award Recipients will be named and recognized for their contributions to the community. A highlight will he the announcement and introduction of the two recipients of the Rotary Scholarship who plan to be with us to tell a little of their future plans.
It will be another great celebration of Rotary Youth! Don't miss it.
Ever wish YOU had the opportunity to ring the opening bell at the meeting?
For a donation of $25 to the Beaumont Rotary Foundation, you will be allowed to do just that. You will be called up to ring the bell to start the meeting.
When he rings the bell to conclude the meeting, President Chad Blanchard will match your donation with another $25 donation to the Beaumont Rotary Foundation!
Bell Ringer
on April 2
Becky Mason
in recognition of a project that teaches about Rotary values while raising funds for an HIV/AIDS program in Africa.
The Beaumont Rotary Centennial Playground was temporarily closed beginning today so that a contractor can demolish the adjacent Oil City Brass building. Please pass this message on to anyone you can think of who might be planning to go. Several school buses have been spotted recently, so schools are taking their children, just as we were hoping. Can you imagine a car or bus full of excited little ones, only to reach the playground and find it locked up?
Please alert anyone you know who might possibly be planning a visit. The City states that the contractor has 17 days to complete it, but as always it depends on the weather and what they encounter during the demolition process. We will let you know when it reopens.
Left to right: Ivan Alexandre Pironti; Livia de Queiroz C. Silva; Thiago Soler Facchini, team leader; Pamela Barbosa Silva; and Jose Rocha.
Wednesday, April 9, members of our club will welcome four young, non-Rotarian Brazilian Group Study Exchange (GSE) team members and their Rotarian team leader.
The team leader is an administrator for a company that produces equipment for many types of cargo transportation. Team members include a back office analyst, a federal attorney, a pharmaceutical researcher, and a quality assurance analyst in a poultry business.
During their stay in the Golden Triangle, they will have the opportunity to enjoy some highlights of Beaumont plus a day in Port Arthur and a day in Orange hosted by those two clubs. Our generous host families for their five-day visit are Marcia and Seth Crone and Bruce and Kathryn Walker.
Unfortunately, the schedule for their visits throughout the district doesn’t allow for a presentation at our regular meeting. If you would like to hear it, the Port Arthur and mid-county clubs are hosting a multi-club meeting at the Carl Parker Center at Lamar State College-Port Arthur on Thursday, April 10, at noon. All Rotarians are invited to that meeting.
We still need a few more Rotarians who could drive the team around for a portion of their visit. If you think you might have some time to help, get in touch with Becky Mason for more information.
Recent action taken by the Board of Directors was announced by Board Secretary Sharon McCabe on March 26.
Two resignations were accepted with regret:
Carol Eddins
Kathleen Jackson
Both have changed employment and classification is no longer applicable.
A new member proposal was approved:
Steve Gilbert, Public Relations & Marketing Manager, Sour Lake Motor Company-Sour Lake Truckville
Proposed by Shannon Williamson
Classification: "Auto Sales: Marketing"
In accordance with our bylaws (Article 13, Section 8), please submit written objections related to the aforementioned proposals within 10 days (of March 26) to the board of directors, stating the reason for your objection.
The Rotary Club of Beaumont recognizes high school juniors and seniors who have exemplified the Rotary ideal of Service Above Self with outstanding records of volunteer service during the past year.
Area high school Juniors or Seniors who have assisted community activities, impacted social issues, or served with non-profit agencies are eligible for nomination by Rotary members. Emphasis should be on students who have made a significant difference through a volunteer service or activity of their own initiative -- preferably above and beyond church or school sponsored activities.
Award presentations will be made Wednesday, April 9, 2014, during the meeting to celebrate other youth activities and programs. Please note that this is not a monetary award or scholarship, but recognition of exemplary volunteer service.
Graduations are always special events and Dean Lynn Castle has made them especially fun this year! With her lyrical introduction, she happily presented a Blue Badge and Rotary University Bachelor of Rotary Science degree to Kristi Fuselier.
Congratulations, Graduate Kristi!
In case you were not aware, even long time Rotarians can earn advanced degrees. Is a Master or Ph.D. in Rotary Science in your future?
We only have a few more weeks to gather tee shirts for a District-wide service project: tee shirts for Nicaragua, all of which will be sewn into diapers for newborns.
A tee shirt can be cut front and back, hemmed and turned into a diaper. Nicaraguan youths are trained to operate foot pedal powered sewing machines so the cutting and hemming are taken care of locally. This becomes a win-win situation for them, the children earn income for their family, and Nicaraguan mothers have access to inexpensive diapers.
If you have not completed your spring cleaning yet, make it a priority to clean out the closet and drawers and bring shirts to the Rotary office. You get more room and the women and children of Nicaragua receive some real necessities that we take for granted.
We thank Major Florian Estarada and the Salavation Armyfor helping with the success of the project by providing the delivery truck and storage of the shirts until they can be brought to the District Conference in April.
Lamar University Rotaract will be holding a fundraiser for a planned trip to Nicaragua. It is a great trip, a great project and you can help! All you need to do is show up and purchase dinner. How simple is that? Be sure to place your receipt in a box labeled LU Rotaract and the club will receive a donation.
Any Rotarian who visited a school will tell of how rewarding the experience was to them. However, the thank you cards from the children are made with love and appreciation that brings an even greater sense of reward.
The project was overwhelmingly successful again this year. Many thanks to Dr. Karen Newton, Chairman, who involved many of her staff members to assist in every classroom.
Thank you to all the Rotarians who participated and helped. We have a photo album on the website if you would like to see all the photos received. Access it through the Projects tab.
Have you considered becoming an advertiser in the RotaryGrams and on the website for the Rotary Club of Beaumont? What a great opportunity to support the club and have your business name in front of hundreds of potential customers or supporters every day.
We welcome and thank a new advertiser:
For $600 per year, your company's ad will run continuously on the homepage and on every subsequent page of the website. The ads can be linked to your company's website to increase your visibility and customer service. The ads will be shown at weekly meetings as well.
If you would like to pay in quarterly or semi-annual installments, please phone the Rotary office so we can accommodate your needs.
Thank you to those who have renewed:
To see your company ad here and on the website, phone the Rotary office!
Dr. Paul Szuch introduced Elaine Shellenberger, Director of Nutrition and Services for Seniors, which has delivered over 6 million meals to seniors in its 30-plus year history. Elaine discussed some of the challenges associated with aging, emphasizing that one of the senior population's most important concerns is remaining in their homes as they age. $1,662.50 is the annual cost to serve one senior citizen at home for Nutrition and Services. The annual cost for nursing home residence usually exceeds $40,000. She then shared a video introducing the many services the organization provides to our community. These programs include Meals on Wheels, AniMeals-pet food for senior citizens' pets, transportation services, monitoring emergency services, and a dining and social location for senior citizens who can still travel but live alone.
Last year the organization provided over 4,000 meals in Southeast Texas. One of the large concerns for Nutrition and Services is the rising cost of food. The organization travels nearly 15,000 miles per week to provide services. Therefore, rising fuel costs are also a major concern. Elaine praised local volunteers who have never wavered in their support of the organization's programs.
Elaine introduced several guests who are longtime volunteers for Nutrition and Services. She shared several letters of support for the many services the organization provides. Elaine concluded by inviting club members to their annual luncheon on May 1.
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