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.
If you are attending in person, we ask that you use this linkto make a reservation by Monday, November 11, 2024.
Captain Inga Almquist began her military career in 2016, when she was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant upon completing the Air Force ROTC program at the University of Cincinnati. She received her initial flight training at Randolph AFB in San Antonio, Texas, receiving specialized training and certification as an MQ-9 pilot in the Formal Training Unit at Holloman AFB in Alamogordo, New Mexico.
Following her training, she served on active duty with the 867th ATKS (Attack Squadron) at Creech AFB, Las Vegas, from 2018 to 2023, receiving several certifications and upgrades, including Flight Lead (Strike), Mission Commander, and Instructor Pilot. Before leaving the squadron, she served as Chief of Current Operations.
From 2023-2024, she moved to the Persistent Attack and Reconnaissance Operations Center at Creech AFB, where she served as a Mission Director, leading an operation responsible for forecasting weather and providing satellite frequency allocation for MQ-9 squadrons across the globe.
She is currently serving at March ARB in Riverside, California, as an MQ-9A Pilot Instructor and Assistant Director of Operations for the 492 ATKS, 49th Operations Group, Air Education and Training Command. As an instructor, she instructs USAF and Joint procedures for basic and advanced combat missions, including Intelligence/Surveillance/Reconnaissance (ISR), Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR), Close Air Support (CAS), as well as strike coordination tactics in support of operational unit and COCOM (Combatant Command) requirements.
Captain Almquist holds a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Northern Kentucky University, and a Master of Science in Information Science from the University of North Texas. She is married to Captain Guy Todaro, a test pilot at Edwards AFB.
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November 13, 2024
Invocation
Lynn Castle
Executive Director
Art Museum of Southeast Texas
Pledges to USA & Texas Flags
Lee Potter
Owner/President
American Air Systems, Inc.
Introduction of Guests
Cheryl Bilyeu
Catering Coordinator
Retired
Introduction of Speaker
Arne Almquist
Managing Director/Founder
Islington Arbour Media
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Please volunteer for Head Table responsibilities through the
(pictured: President Michael Perez with our newest Rotarians)
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CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR ROTARY UNIVERSITY GRADUATES!
At the meeting on November 6, 2024, Diane Bass awarded two members from Rotary University with a Bachelor of Rotary Science degree.
Congratulations to our newest graduates, Jeannette Fresne and Tessa Myers!
If you are not aware, you should know even long-time Rotarians can earn advanced degrees. Who is the next Master of Rotary Science or Ph.D. degree candidate?
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SHOW YOUR COLORS FLAG PROJECT
Thank you to each Rotarian who volunteered November 11, 2024 for our Flag Project. We appreciate all of our subscribers and Rotarians who help make this a great fundraiser.
To all of our Veterans, thank you for your service.
Dan Jeans and Paula
Kym Johns
Steve Shoemaker
Pat Anderson
Amanda Ellis
Phil Dunlap
Eddie B. Arnold
Chuck Heare
Shawn Javid
Lynn Castle & Kris
Deborah Drago
Cindy Cherry
Tim Sudela
Jacques Gagne
Allan Higgins
Dana Timaeus
Terri Potter
Lee Potter
Lane Olson
Robert Kocot
Brad Brown
Carolyn Fernandez
Harvey Zernial
Joey Kressman
Paul Koester
Michael Perez
John Lee
Jennifer Gregory
Gigi Mazzola
Kate and Rod Carroll
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VOCATIONAL EXCELLENCE AWARD
The Rotary Club of Beaumont’s Vocational Excellence Awards honor individuals who go above and beyond in their professions, exemplifying “service above self” through exceptional service, honesty, and kindness. This year's awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday, December 4.
We invite you to nominate deserving individuals who have made a positive impact in their work. Click on the nomination form below and submit it by November 20, 2024. Join us in celebrating those who make a difference in our community!
Nominate someone who embodies vocational excellence and give them the opportunity to be recognized by our community!
Join us as we do a can drive for Some Other Place. Bring your can goods each Wednesday to our meetings then join us November 26 at Some Other Place for a volunteer opportunity.
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ROTARY CHORUS
The Rotary Chorus is preparing for another great performance at our Holiday Party! Join us November 14 for our next rehearsal.
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POLLINATOR GARDEN
The Rotary Club of Beaumont, in partnership with the Spindletop Rotary Club, the City of Beaumont, and the Convention and Visitors’ Bureau, is building a pollinator garden at the Nature Center in Tyrrell Park.
As a first step, volunteers from both Rotary Clubs will assemble planter boxes at the Nature Center on November 16th from 9:00 am to noon, at Tyrrell Park. A total of eight (8) planter boxes, measuring 6 ft x 3 ft x 3 ft will be stationed across the front of the Nature Center and will hold pollinator friendly plants.
While the planters will be constructed in November, the actual planting of flowers will occur in March of 2025. All activities will be done by members of the two Rotary Clubs.
There is a limit of 20 spots. Volunteers must be able to bend, lift, hammer, etc. This will require some physical strength.
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Sharon Almquist
November 11
Joe Domino
November 13
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Fred Kristiansen
Nov. 13, 1974
50 years
Leonard Juncker
Nov. 14, 1979
45 years
Juan Zabala
Nov. 12, 2003
21 years
Gary Troutman
Nov. 17, 2010
14 years
Leslie Harrison
Nov. 16, 2011
13 years
Jay Wilson
Nov. 12, 2014
10 years
Michele Cobb
Nov. 12, 2014
10 years
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PROGRAM REVIEW
November 6, 2024
Dr. Jaime Taylor
President, Lamar University
By Debbie Maxwell
Juan Zabala introduced our speaker: Dr. Jaime Taylor, president of Lamar University. Dr. Taylor received his Ph.D. and M.S. in engineering from the University of Tennessee Space Institute, his B.S. in physics and mathematics from Austin Peay State University and an A.A.S. in industrial engineering technology from Nashville State Technical Institute. Dr. Taylor had positions at other academic institutions prior to becoming President of Lamar University in 2021.
Dr. Taylor reviewed some facts about Lamar, such as an increase in appropriations, an increase in participation at athletic events and the events being more successful, as well as focusing on the academics serving the Gulf Coast area. He reviewed a long list of very successful graduates of Lamar in a wide field of expertise, including building of the Panama Canal, CBS sports newscaster, creating the wands used in metal detectors, CMA inductees, artist whose work is on display at art centers internationally, business owners, etc. He was proud to announce that currently the university is #1 in Texas with the largest percentage increase in students of the 38 public universities in Texas. This fall 2024 enrollment is the largest with nearly 18,000 students.
Along with President Michael Perez calling the Rotary meeting to order, were the following serving on the head table: Invocation by Jeanette Fresne, pledges led by Helen Lou, and welcoming guests by John Rollins. Reminders were announced for the Flag Project on November 11 and requesting nominations for RYLA. Diane Bass presented two Blue Badges, to Jeanette Fresne and to Tessa Meyers. Uliana Trylowsky introduced two new members, Sherry Barrow and Joby Johns. Dena Hughes announced the Salute to Excellence recognition coming up December 4th with nominations due November 20. Amanda Ellis announced a community service project of a Food Drive for Some Other Place with donations due by November 26.
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