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.
Captain Charles LaHaye, Jr. graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, N.Y. in 1988 with a dual degree in Marine Engineering and Marine Transportation. He began sailing aboard coastwise tankers and earned Master Mariner credential within 8 years of graduation. He was accepted into the Sabine Pilots apprenticeship program in 2000, and in 2002, was commissioned a Texas State Pilot for Sabine Bar, Pass, and Tributaries. He has served as Boat Superintendent, Vice President, and currently, Presiding Officer of the Sabine Pilots Association.
Captain LaHaye will give a presentation on Texas State Pilots and provide an update on the waterway deepening project.
* * * * * * *
Head Table for December 5
Invocation:
Chuck Mason
President
Mason Construction, Ltd.
Pledges to USA & Texas Flags:
Teri Hawthorne
Executive Director
The Arc of Greater Beaumont
Introduction of Guests:
John Rollins
Public Relations/Community Impact Director
United Way of Beaumont & North Jefferson County
Introduction of Speaker:
Vernon Pierce
Retired
Would you like to take part in the weekly meetings in a more active role? Don't wait to be asked. Volunteer for one of the weekly assignments! Choose your role and a date that is convenient. Contact Lynn Hill at 409-781-3291 or lynnhillbd@gmail.com.
* * * * * * *
CALENDAR OF ROTARY EVENTS
(Club events & opportunities for meeting makeups)
DECEMBER
4
Rotary Chorus rehearsal; 6:00 p.m. 1665 Thomas Road
5
Election of new Board and Foundation Board members during the Club meeting; must be present to vote
7
"Show Your Colors" Flag Project for Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day (makeup for September 11th delivery)
8
Community Service Project: Ringing the Red Kettle bell for Salvation Army at Parkdale Mall (Main Entrance), 9:00 - 6:00 p.m.
10
Rotary Chorus rehearsal; 6:00 p.m. 1665 Thomas Road
12
Deadline to make a reservation for the Rotary Holiday Party; call the Rotary Office (842-1913)
13
RYLA Orientation for those attending Camp in January; 5:30 p.m.; Monsignor Kelly Catholic High School
18
Board of Directors meeting; 11:45 a.m.; Art Museum of Southeast Texas; all are welcome to attend; please make a reservation by calling 409-842-1913
18
Holiday Party (counts as the meeting for the week); reservations must be made by December 12; cost is $50 per person; spouses/guests invited.
19
No meeting at the Eleganté.
26
No meeting; happy holidays!
JANUARY
2
No meeting; Happy New Year!
* * * * * * *
BOARD ACTION
At the November 27 meeting of the Board of Directors, the membership changes listed below were approved.
Three members were terminated:
Troy Aaron -moved from the area for business
Beakal Alemayehu - working out of the area
Jerre Croley - changed employment
Three new membership proposals were approved:
Kevin King, District Executive, Boy Scouts of America Three Rivers Council
Classification: “Associations – Scouting”
Proposed by Tim Sudela
Robert Kocot, Market President, First Financial Bank, N.A.
If you object to these proposals, please submit your reason to the board in writing within 10 days of November 28.
* * * * * *
Election for 2019-2022 Board of Directors and Board of Trustees
On Wednesday, December 5, the membership will elect four Rotarians to serve on the Club's Board of Directors and one new trustee for the Beaumont Rotary Foundation. The newly-elected will serve for a three-year term beginning July 1, 2019.
The Nominating Committee selected qualified candidates who appear on the ballot (sample below).
You must be present at the meeting on December 5 to cast a ballot, according to Pat Calhoun, acting Sergeant-at-Arms, who will oversee the election.
Click on the image below to view the ballot in full screen.
As you consider your vote, please remember that according to the Club bylaws, a person must have been elected to a 3-year term on the Board of Directors to be selected to serve as Club President. Article 3, Section 4 reads: ".. the president-nominee shall have been a director elected by the membership at some time previous to his or her election." In other words, you could be voting for a future club president!
* * * * * * *
Service Above Self
You hear it everywhere - that ding-a-linging at the doorway of a business.
Every year, nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army in the form of meals, shelter, after-school programs, job referrals, youth shelter intervention programs, rehabilitation services, and more. The gifts you help collect through the Red Kettle will enable these local Salvation Army programs and services to continue providing help and hope to those in need.
For a number of years, the Rotary Club of Beaumont has been one of the many organizations that tend a booth at Parkdale Mall and participate in the collection process. It is a demonstration of "Service Above Self."
Steve Gilbert is our Chair and asks you to sign up in advance for the hour(s) you can help on Saturday, December 8.
We need you! Please go to the online sign-up or add your name to the paper list at the meeting this week, or phone the Rotary Office (842-1913) to volunteer an hour. Thank you.
On Tuesday, December 18, Rotarians will gather together with spouses and friends for the special fun of the annual Holiday Party. The traditional event will begin at 6:00 p.m. at the Lamar University Reception Center on the eighth floor of the Mary & John Gray Library. The food will be delicious and the fellowship and fun is guaranteed to be even better. The cost id $50 per person, with a cash bar available. Reservations are required by Wednesday, December 12. You may make a reservation at the weekly meeting or online BY LINKING TO THE EVENT PAGE HERE.
The Rotary Chorus, with professional accompaniment and direction, will perform some holiday selections for your enjoyment, and the traditional announcement of the Club's President Nominee will be made at this event. Plan to join your Rotary family for a wonderful holiday celebration!
Remember when the annual Holiday Party also included gift-giving for a local community need? This year is no exception to that tradition. We will be collecting items needed by the Beaumont Rainbow Room for children (infants to 12 year olds) who have been removed from their home due to abuse or neglect. The agency needs new items of clothing (matching top and bottoms, please), formula and baby food, small stuffed toys, children's books, blankets/quilts, Pak-n-Plays, car seats, toiletries, infant/toddler booster seats, cleaning supplies, and Walmart gift cards. Donations do not need to be gift-wrapped, and will be accepted at the Holiday Party, at the weekly Rotary meeting, or in the Rotary Office (Suite 213 in the Elegante Hotel.)
This Holiday Party on Tuesday, December 18 is replacing the Wednesday, December 19 meeting. Therefore, there will not be a meeting at the Eleganté on Wednesday, December 19.
* * * * * * *
* * * * * * *
DUES INVOICING AND THE BILLING CYCLE
Rotary operates financially at the club, district, and international levels. Dues, along with contributions to the Beaumont Rotary Foundation, support the work done at each level. Dues are billed to the individual at the club level, andthe club pays District and International dues on behalf of every member who is on the membership roster on January 1 and July 1.
In order for the club to pay dues to Rotary International on January 1, each member must be up to date on his/her dues to the Club no later than December 31, in advance of the January 1 assessment by Rotary International.
If your July 1 dues are still unpaid at the time the Board of Directors meets on Tuesday, December 18, you will be terminated in bad-standing, meaning you are ineligible for membership in this or any other Rotary Club until your past due amount has been paid.
In order to make it as convenient as possible for you to submit a timely payment, the Board of Directors has requested that the invoices be sent to members 30-45 days in advance so that each member has adequate time to budget for the expense, process payment, and assure that the invoice is paid by December 31, 2018.
Electronic invoices will be sent this week. If you requested to have a printed invoice mailed to you, it should be received within the week. Please phone the office or email admin@beaumontrotaryclub.org to request a different method of billing or payment. Members with a credit card on file will receive a receipt by email when your card has been charged, or you will be contacted if your credit card information needs to be updated.
If you wish, you can submit your credit card information to be kept on file so that payments are processed for you in advance of the deadline each time.
If you wish, you can make arrangements with the Executive Director to have your charge card processed for your dues in installments until the account is paid in full.
If you do not receive your invoice, have questions or need to change your membership status, call 409-842-1913. Thank you.
* * * * * * *
Lauren Brooks
December 4
Michele Cobb
December 4
James Fuller
December 4
Craig Hatcher
December 5
Chad Blanchard
December 6
Fred Kristiansen
December 6
Josh Smith
December 6
Robert Turner
December 6
Chris Ayers
December 8
Evelyn Lord
December 8
* * * * * * *
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.
Alicia McKibbin
If you know of others who should be added to this list, please advise the office staff at 409-842-1913.
* * * * * * *
Spotlight on Rotarian
The Symphony of Southeast Texas is proud to announce Maestro Chelsea Tipton II, Conductor and Music Director, has been chosen to conduct the Houston Symphony on Monday evening.
The city of Houston is honoring the late former President George H.W. Bush with a public memorial tribute Monday, December 3, 2018 at Hermann Square downtown.
Maestro Tipton is proud to be a part of the Celebration of Life of the late former President Bush. “It is a distinct honor to assist my friends in the Houston Symphony as they honor their dear friend in a musical tribute. The Bushes were good friends of this orchestra.”
* * * * * * *
* * * * * * *
Would you like to serve some delicious wine at a holiday party? Need a hostess gift? Or a gift for a neighbor or friend?
We have a few bottles of both red and white wine left from Wine Down With Rotary and we are making them available for a minimum donation of $20. Please call the Rotary office at 409-842-1913 if you are interested in purchasing.
* * * * * * *
PROGRAM REVIEW
November 28, 2018
"The Texas General Land Office and Continuing Recovery from Harvey"
George P. Bush
Texas Land Commissioner
by Chuck Heare
George P. Bush, Texas Land Commissioner oversees the Texas General Land Office, supervises the Veterans Land Board, the Permanent School and University Funds, The Alamo, the historic archives of Texas, and the protection of the Texas coastline. He is ultimately responsible for seeing that our veterans receive the benefits they've earned, he works to protect private property rights, he oversees the investments in the funds which support our public schools and universities, and he manages the state lands that produce considerable amounts of oil and gas, which generate significant revenue.
Commissioner Bush spoke to Rotary primarily about the status of the Land Board's efforts to assist victims of last year's disaster—Hurricane Harvey. Hurricane Harvey affected 49 counties, dumping 34 trillion gallons of rainwater over Texas and Louisiana. The storm directly affected 30% of Texas' population, causing $125 billion in damages to homes, businesses, and infrastructure.
He also discussed the stages of recovery after a disaster: emergency response, short-term housing, and long-term housing. In partnership with FEMA, funds were provided for home repairs for 15,666 homes. Additionally, 2,850 trailers were provided for temporary housing in the short-term recovery effort.
With regard to long-term recovery, Texas has been provided $5.024 billion in aid from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Texas General Land Office oversees the distribution of those funds as follows: $1.15 billion to the City of Houston, $1.11 billion to Harris County, and $2.7 billion to the other 48 counties affected by Hurricane Harvey. Six regional offices are opening in Jefferson, Orange, and Hardin counties where victims can go to apply for funds to help recover from this disaster. Commissioner Bush was here to celebrate the opening of those offices as well as speaking to our club.
To learn more about how Disaster Recovery works for Texans visit recovery.texas.gov.
.png)
.jpg)
.jpeg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.gif)
You hear it everywhere - that ding-a-linging at the doorway of a business.
.jpg)
Rotary operates.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.JPG)
.jpg)
)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Would you like to serve some delicious wine at a holiday party? Need a hostess gift? Or a gift for a neighbor or friend?
