The Rotary Club of Beaumont, TX, is a large and diverse fellowship of inspired business, professional, and civic leaders with significant community connections that foster the ideals of Service Above Self and high ethical standards.
We know her as a member of our Club but all of District 5910 knows Becky Mason as 2020-21 District Governor.
Those nominated by their club and selected by a representative District committee for the Governor position commit to three years of advance work in learning, planning and training to take on the responsibility of leading the District to success during the year in which they serve. The Rotary International website says, "As a district governor you have proven strong leadership skills and decision making. During your year in office, clubs will look to you for leadership, support, and motivation as they carry out service projects and participate in Rotary programs."
"Strong leadership skills and decision making" ability are certainly descriptive of District Governor Becky Mason. Club #72 experienced and benefitted from her abilities as she led the Club through the myriad of activities during the Centennial year. And now, despite the extremely unusual circumstances of 2020, Becky has led the District and continued to motivate and challenge us to achieve even more than we ever thought we could.
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CALENDAR OF ROTARY EVENTS
(Club events & opportunities for meeting makeups)
November
For the health and safety of members, CLUB MEETINGS WILL CONTINUE WEEKLY USING ZOOM until further notice.
5
Nominating Committee meeting, 11:00 a.m. on Zoom
24
Board of Directors meeting; 11:30 a.m.as a hybrid meeting; there will be no more than 16 people (in addition to staff and tech crew) allowed to attend in person; Zoom will accommodate all others. If you would like to join the meeting, ask Jacque for the link.
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BOARD ACTION
In membership matters, the Board ratified our electronic vote to officially welcome PDG Gig Langston to the club.
Board approved the termination of Kevin Dodson.
We approved three CLASSIFICATION CHANGES that were proposed by the Classification committee. They are:
Craig Escamilla
FROM: Director, Student Retention & Success, Lamar University
The Board approved a service project to help an elementary school in Sulphur, Louisiana following Hurricane Laura. They are badly in need of school supplies for the teachers & children to replace that which was destroyed by the storm.
Finally, the Board again discussed when it might be safe to return to in-person meetings. We ultimately made the decision that it would be in everyone’s best interest to continue our meetings using Zoom through the end of 2020.
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Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans. It is a time to honor and recognize the sacrifice made by these men and women, and their valor and unselfish courage.
In honor of veterans, the Rotary Club of Beaumont will put flags at homes and businesses on Wednesday, November 11. Volunteers are needed. Please bring gloves and a hammer. With an early start to the day, your route will be completed and you will be at work before you know it!
Please call Pat Anderson (409-782-4057) or Gary Moncla (409-781-3778) and volunteer!
We want you!
We need you!
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Help for School in Louisiana
The Board of Directors listened to a request for assistance for a small elementary school in Louisiana that was badly damaged in Hurricane Laura.
Vincent Settlement Elementary in Sulphur, Louisiana lost most of its roof during Hurricane Laura causing extensive water damage to every one of the Pre-K -5th grade classrooms. They will be the last school in Sulphur ISD to go back because of the extent of the damage. The teachers return on November 9 and the students on November 16. The remediation company saved what they could, but anything water soluble had to be disposed of including not just school supplies, but rugs, cushions, books, wall decorations, and other things that make an elementary classroom a place that inspires students to learn. Many of these items were purchased by the teachers out of their own pockets over the course of many years and are now all gone at once. The same teachers who are dealing with damage to their own homes are now faced with starting over in their classrooms as well. Whatever help we can give them will be greatly appreciated and will enable them to bring some sense of normalcy back to their students' (and their own) lives, and will help foster learning in the midst of the disaster that has been 2020.
Your donation of gift cards or cash will help these teachers and the children who will be returning to their classrooms in two weeks. Your generosity will help tremendously with some basic but necessary things. Please consider purchasing a gift card (a Mastercard or Visa that can be used at any store; Walmart, Target, Michaels) or making a cash donation.
The Board understands many of you gave generously to Lake Charles in the initial drive we held. If you were not able to help then, perhaps you can help now?
You can bring to the Rotary office, Suite 213 in the MCM Elegante or mail to the Rotary Office, 2235 IH 10 S, Suite 213, Beaumont, TX 77705. Please have all donations in by Friday, November 13. Thank you for your generosity.
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Saturday, October 31 was a day full of "treats" for some local children! There were no "tricks" on this Halloween for the lucky kiddos who were given a bed of their very own from the wonderful non-profit known as Sleep in Heavenly Peace. There slogan is "No Kid Sleeps on the Floor in our Town!" and they mean just that!
A team of Rotarians and spouses became official "bed-deliverers" on Saturday when they learned how to assemble the beds as singles or bunks. They then loaded up their trucks and, with the help of other volunteers, made some children very happy! Check out all the photos in the slide show.
Rotarians and spouses enjoying their engagement in Service Above Self were (left to right): Kris Castle, John Lee, Kevin Reed and his wife Dena, Cindy Cherry, Debbie Maxwell and her husband Howard. Tim Sudela is also on the team but he was, of course, on the other side of the camera lens for this photo. Thank you, Tim!
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Where's your holiday spirit? With only six volunteers thus far, Maestro James Han is going to have a hard time covering all the voices needed for the exceptional sounds of our Holiday Chorus! Taking part couldn't be more convenient as you will record yourself in your own free time and in your own home! What could be easier?
Would you like to be a part of the Rotary Holiday Chorus? Vocalists will perform solo in the comfort of their own home, recording himself/herself singing the selected music to the accompaniment that will be provided. The music will be sent to each recording artist. Once you have made your recordings, you will send the video to Dr. James Han, who has graciously agreed to arrange it into a beautiful video recording that any Club can use for a 2020 Holiday Party. Join now and invite family and friends too. (Please sign up each person separately.)
We send wishes for a quick recovery to our friends and fellow Rotarians who are ill, are anticipating or recovering from surgery, or just in need of encouragement, support and good wishes.
All Rotarians
especially those who are unable to attend meetings via Zoom
We miss you and look forward to when it will safe for Rotary to meet in-person again!
If you know of members who should be added to this list, please advise the office staff at 409-842-1913.
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Rotarians, we really need you to become a part of the weekly meeting! Very few people are volunteering for the head table assignments and we spend a lot of time each week trying to recruit talented Rotarians! Look at your calendar and select a date that is convenient for your schedule. Red Badges are strongly encouraged to volunteer for this opportunity so you can move closer to your blue badge and members can get to know you better too.
In honor of Texas wine month, Ron Saikowski brought his knowledge of Texas wine to the club. The first Texas winery was Val Verde Winery in Del Rio opened by Frank Qualia, and business began in 1893 until today being run by the same family for three generations. They managed to survive Prohibition and maintain their business for Texas wine to become a solid reality.
Before the first actual winery was established, the Spanish Missions in Texas produced their own wine for the sacrament of communion as early as 1650.
Wine producers looked to Italy, Spain and Southern France for development of types of grapes: both hybrid and classic.
Recovering from prohibition didn’t occur until 1971 when Dr. Bobby Smith bought 50 acres in Lubbock and began planting. His winery is often called the first “modern” winery in Texas. Llano Estacado Winery is just outside of Lubbock. Another winery opened in 1977 in the College Station area as an experiment and became Messina Hof (a collaboration of Paul Vincent and Merrill Bonarrigo), and the winery quickly became award winning.
In 2005 there were 50 wineries and today there are 600. A local “fruit” winery is in our area and it is called Bruno Winery. The first year of Wine Down with Rotary, the club showcased a wine from Bruno’s winery.
Wine areas include the Texas High Plains (2/3 of Texas wines is produced here), Escondido Valley, Texas Davis Mountains, Bell Mountain, Fredericksburg and the Texas Hill Country. The science of growing grapes is precise as placement of vine direction is of utmost importance, soil must be considered and when to pick the grapes is masterly decided. Today the Texas Hill Country is the largest AVA (American Viticulture Acres) in Texas and the second largest in the US. Total production areas places Texas is 6th in the US behind California and New York who produce the most.
Ron reminded members of the Testing Essentials of wine:
See
Swirl
Smell
Sip
Swish
Spit or Swallow
When questioned on the best wineries in Texas, Ron was hesitant due to individual taste and types of wine. He did mention two wineries that won awards: Becker for their viogner and Messina Hof for a red blend that stood up against Opus One in a tasting panel.
Rotary International has a “Rotary Wine Appreciation Fellowship” that meets online during the year and creates wine events at all RI Conventions.
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Link to the Zoom page which includes this and the recorded meetings for October - December 2020.
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nd their own) lives, and will help foster learning in the midst of the disaster that has been 2020. 
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