The Rotary Club of Beaumont is proud to announce the celebration of International Women's Day at the club meeting on Wednesday, March 2. Our speaker will be the esteemed Dr. Anne L. Matthews who served as the first woman Vice President of Rotary International. Anne was also the first woman to serve on both the Rotary Foundation Trustees and the Rotary International Board of Directors.
Anne Matthews is highly recognized for her work in educational consulting and her contributions to Rotary International. She has spoken in all 50 states and 30 foreign countries on educational issues and/or on The Rotary Foundation and the work of Rotarians. Having traveled extensively on Rotary service projects, she will have some compelling and fascinating stories to share.
You do not want to miss this meeting. Please mark your calendar now. Invite and plan to bring friends, associates, and prospective members.
March 9 will be devoted to recognizing World Rotaract Week. Our program will be presented by the Lamar and Beaumont Rotaract clubs.
On March 16, Dr. Bart Foster, Entomologist with Bill Clark Pest Control will inform us about the mosquito season ahead and the facts about the Zika virus.
March 23 is the much anticipated Rotary Goes to School when Rotarians spread across all schools in Beaumont to deliver each 1st grader their own copy of an awesome Dr. Seuss book. Sign up for your school choice.
Your help is needed in restoring a treasured part of Texas - the Big Thicket! The Big Thicket Association is seeking Rotarians' assistance in planting 10,000 seedlings for the Centennial Forest project in 2016. This will also help restore the native Long Leaf Pine forest in the Big Thicket. The tree seedlings are very small and the tools needed to plant the trees are provided.
This is a "Toddler Long Leaf"
Members of the club, friends and family members are needed to join in the effort to help plant trees on the last remaining tree planting day - Saturday, March 12.
Saturday, March 12th
Meet at 8:15 a.m. at the Visitors Center or at 9:00 a.m. at the Big Sandy Creek planting site (directions below)
Project chairs are Nakisha Burns and Karyn Hawkins. They are in the process of arranging carpooling or group transportation. Please indicate on the sign up if you would like to share transportation or plan to drive yourself (and your family or friends.)
Directions from Beaumont to planting site:
Travel North on HWY 69…continue on HWY 69 north past Kountze then turn left on 1003 (Honey Island)…turn right on FM 943 …at the Big Sandy Creek Unit sign stay to the right on FM 1276…continue past Dallardsville…turn left at FM 1276 on to Lily Road…follow the signs to planting site.
If you arrive later a Ranger can give you directions.
Promoting literacy is a goal of Rotary International and a favorite project of the Rotary Club of Beaumont. Each spring, Rotarians flood the first grade classrooms across Beaumont and share the love of reading and delivering a book for every child to keep for their very own. You want to be a part of this.
Sign up to take part in "Rotary Goes to School!" Instead of the normal lunch meeting on Wednesday, March 23, you'll enjoy a truly rewarding visit with a young child.
Volunteers should arrive by Noon at the school office. Bring a photo ID in order to clear a security check if needed. You will be given a Dr. Seuss hat and escorted to the classroom where you will find the books ready to be shared with each child.
Thanks to Rob Glassey for planning and promoting a Rotary After Hours at Jerry Nelson's Hill Country on Thursday, February 25. A good crowd of Rotarians and friends gathered and shared some great appetizers with lively conversation and laughter!
Rotary After Hours: A Lovely Evening on the Neches!
Whether this is your first trip or you've been many times, you are sure to enjoy this Rotary After Hours which will take you on a cruise down the Neches River on a pleasant early spring evening.
Mark your calendar and plan to reserve your spot on the Ivory Bill on Thursday, March 24for a two-hour tour. Snacks and drinks will be available. Tickets are $10 per person and we can only take 35 people (spouses and guests are welcome), so don't delay.
The party is growing! Ten places are reserved to date. WITHOUT 35 PAID RESERVATIONS, WE MUST CANCEL THE TRIP. DEADLINE FOR RESERVATIONS IS 8:00 A.M. on TUESDAY, MARCH 15.
We send wishes for a quick recovery to our friends and fellow Rotarians who have been ill, had or are facing surgery, or just need our thoughts and prayers. We hope you are better soon!
Gene Arnold
Lee Freeland
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Please let us know if you or another Rotarian should be included in our weekly good wishes article!
Wearing your Rotary pin is a great way to show your pride in being a Rotarian and it is a terrific way to strike up a conversation about Rotary to a potential new member.
Lapel pins and Women in Rotary pins are for sale at each meeting for only $5. Get yours soon!
Earlier this month, students from the Kelly Interact club visited Calder Woods, delivered homemade Valentines and played bingo with the residents. Their effort brought smiles to many and demonstrated again that Rotary Has Heart!
Our guest on Wednesday was Cody Guedry from the Beaumont Police Department. Cody’s talk was entitled “Myth and Facts: Gun Control Laws in Texas”. He started his presentation by pointing out that in 1871, the State of Texas passed a law making it illegal to carry a concealed handgun. It wasn’t until 1995 that a new law was passed that overturned the prior law and allowed licensed individuals to carry a “concealed” handgun with the appropriate license.
In 2016, another law was passed that allowed “open carry” with the appropriate license. Contrary to popular belief, Texas is one of the last States to allow open carry. According to Cody, 44 other States already allowed open carry. In addition, several States go further than the State of Texas, by making it the constitutional right of their citizens to carry guns without any permit or license.
According to Sgt. Guedry, their department has not received any calls or complaints by citizens complaining about individuals openly carrying firearms. He reminded us that you still have to be over 21 years of age and cannot have been convicted of a felony in order to own a gun. In addition, there are still many rules (even if you do have a license for a gun) that you must abide by. For example, there are certain areas such as schools, polling stations, courtrooms, secure areas of the airport, etc. where you cannot carry a gun even if you do have a concealed handgun license. If you enter any of these areas carrying a gun, you will be violating the law and could go to jail.
Individuals legally carrying handguns also pose potential problems for police. For example, if an individual is pointing a gun at another person, the police officers won’t not know if it is a hostage situation, or a private citizen trying to help catch a bad guy. Cody stressed it is important for individuals to do exactly what the police tell them, without making any sudden moves, or shielding their gun from view.
Businesses are allowed to put up signs stating that they do not allow concealed handguns on their premises. The signs, warning that no guns are not allowed, have to use specific language and be printed in both English and Spanish. If an individual enters a premises with a gun after passing such a sign, the individual would be violating the law.
Sgt. Cody’s speech was interesting and timely, given that the open carry law is still new and not all details are widely known.
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.
WELCOMING OUR NEWEST ADVERTISER:
THANKS TO OUR CURRENT AND RENEWING ADVERTISERS:
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 as in the weekly RotaryGrams that reaches every Rotarian and a number of non-member subscribers.
For $600 per year, your company's ad will run continuously on the homepage and on every subsequent page of the website. (New subscribers missed having their ad at work during January of this subscription year so join now for $550 for February - December 2016.)
If you would like to pay in quarterly or semi-annual installments, please phone the Rotary office so we can accommodate your needs.
To see your company ad on the website, phone the Rotary office!
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