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.
Sign into the meeting between 11:30 and Noon to enjoy social time with other members before the meeting begins at Noon.
MEETING PREVIEW
March 17, 2021
“Bringing You the Luck of the Irish
on St. Patrick's Day 2021”
Conny Ovesen
District 1160 Governor
Ireland
As the saying goes, "It's St. Patrick's Day! Everyone is Irish today!" And you are in for a meeting like no other! On Wednesday, March 17, we are travelling virtually to join with the Rotary clubs of the entire "Green Isle" for a celebration of St. Patrick's Day. All seventy-two clubs in Ireland are part of the same Rotary District and under the leadership of District Governor Conny Ovesen. With Ireland in Covid lockdown, they are excited to join us in Texas and share the St. Patrick's Day festivities with us. At last count 50 or more Rotarians of D1160 are planning to join us at Noon which will be 5:00 in the evening in Ireland. They will share a special Gaelic greeting, some history and a special Irish "yarn" that you won't want to miss. Of course, it's not a party without music so Rotary Ireland singer Murray McDowell will share his musical talent with us.
You are welcome to wear your favorite green St. Patrick's day outfit or you might put on your western shirt and wear your cowboy hat because through conversations, it sounds like they may be expecting to see Texans in our familiar attire too! You are welcome to have a glass of your favorite beverage to raise as we toast with our new friends, but you should know Conny has already told us they don't have green beer in Ireland.
We have expanded our Zoom capacity for this meeting because the Rotarians of Ireland are really excited to meet you, so there is no limit to the number of people who can join the meeting this week. Please don't miss it and share the link with other people you know who would like to go to a St. Patrick's Day party in Ireland!
See you at Rotary! This is truly going to be your lucky day!
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Virtual Head Table for March 17
Invocation:
Terri Potter
Executive Assistant to the President
Market Basket Corporate
Pledge to USA Flag:
Debbie Maxwell
Registered Nurse
CHRISTUS - St. Elizabeth
Introduction of Guest Speaker:
Deborah Drago
Executive Director
Southeast Texas Nonprofit Development Center
Special Closing:
Amanda McAfee Ellis
Business Development/Commercial Lending
Education First FCU
If you would like to serve on the head table at a date in the future, please sign up online at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904054ba5a62fa3f49-head or phone chair, Mandy Clayton at 409-718-7056 or email arclayton@lit.edu
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CALENDAR OF ROTARY EVENTS
(Club events & opportunities for meeting makeups)
For the health and safety of members, CLUB MEETINGS WILL CONTINUE WEEKLY USING ZOOM until further notice.
March
23
Board of Directors monthly meeting; 11:30 a.m.; as a hybrid meeting
25
Assembly of layette bags for Nicaragua, Elegante Ballrooms
4:00 team to move supplies from office to Ballroom;
4:30 team will organize and prepare the items for the bags
5:30 p.m. will be bag assembly
29
"Show Your Colors" flag project as makeup for February 15 delivery
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BOARD ACTION
The following action was taken at the February Board of Directors meeting:
approved the classification of "Business Services-Marketing" for Rebekah Maxwell who is now full time Marketing Consultant with ReStep Marketing;
rescinded the termination of Slate Babineaux that was previously announced;
accepted the resignation of Ashley Thornton, with regrets as she has moved from Beaumont.
In addition to membership matters, the Board approved the date of March 29 as the alternate for posting "Show Your Colors" flags that had to be cancelled on February 15 due to the ice storm that hit the state.
The Board also formally accepted the proposal made by President Cindy Cherry that the Club become the sponsor of a N.E.S.T. at our BISD Partner School - Martin Elementary. The project has been discussed since Lamar University started the program which stands for Navigating Excellence Success and Triumph. The learning labs engage students in the "love of learning" and especially focus on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, & Math). We will begin the planning stage right away and will ask for your financial support so the NEST at Martin can become a reality for the students with some learning opportunities for every student.
Lastly, regarding the Club's meeting opportunities amid the Covid pandemic, the Board is encouraged by the downward slide in the number of cases diagnosed in Beaumont and find that a positive indication that it will soon be "safe" for members to gather together again for Rotary meetings. At the Board's March meeting, they will consider the Covid illness rates and make a final decision on the beginning of HYBRID meetings, tentatively scheduled to begin on April 7th. Hybrid meetings mean those who are completely comfortable with meeting in person - still with some restrictions in place - will be able to do that at the Elegante, and those who are not yet comfortable with being in close proximity to others, especially unmasked while eating, may choose to continue to meet by using the Zoom platform and your computer at home or work. With technology available to us, we will be able to merge the two meetings into one and those on Zoom will see the meeting that is going on live in the Elegante Ballroom. Stay tuned for confirmation of the date of the first hybrid Rotary meeting.
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It is Time to Complete the Layette Project! SAVE THE DATE!
Come join us to work together on our annual Layette Project for the women and infants in Nicaragua! We will get together on Thursday evening, March 25th and assemble the bags. We need a small but good team of strong volunteers from 4:00 until 4:30 to lift very heavy bundles and move boxes from the Rotary Office to the Ballrooms. Then we need about 10 people from 4:30-5:30 to prepare the items that will be put into each bag. The jobs will be like rolling baby shirts and towels, putting liquids in plastic, cutting packages of two nail clippers, and more. At 5:30 p.m., all other interested Rotarians are invited to take part in the bag assembly.
Social distancing will be practiced and face masks are still required. If you are comfortable with these arrangements, please join us!
The "Show Your Colors" flag project delivery scheduled for Monday, February 15 in recognition of Presidents Day was cancelled due to the blizzard-like temperatures and freezing rain received. The delivery has been rescheduled for Monday, March 29, and volunteers are needed. Please volunteer if you are able by phoning or texting Pat Anderson at 409-782-4057.
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President-Elect Brad Brown became the newest Paul Harris Fellow in the Club. President Cindy Cherry was happy to present his PHF recognition to him at a meeting of the two recently.
PE Brad is busy preparing for the 2021-22 Rotary year to begin in July and is eager to hear from Rotarians who are interested in taking on a leadership position next year. If there is a Lane or a committee that interests you, give Brad a call and let him know.
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We send good wishes to
Cheryl Bilyeu
for a quick recovery following surgery.
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Bobbie Applegate
March 17
Jimmy Simmons
March 17
Kenny Kraemer
March 22
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ROTARY ANNIVERSARIES!
We celebrate your
membership in our Club!
John B. Quigley
March 16, 1983
38 years
Wayne Holland
March 20, 1991
30 years
Hannah LeTulle
March 20, 2019
2 years
Sam Fazio
March 21, 1984
37 years
Mitchell Templeton
March 21, 2018
3 years
Thomas Williams
March 22, 1989
32 years
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Rotarians, we really need you to become a part of the weekly meeting! We need volunteers for leading the invocation and the pledges. Please consider volunteering! 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.
Suzi Howe is currently Rotary International Chair of Zone 29 which consists of 23 Rotary districts and runs from Canada down through most of Texas, skipping Oklahoma, and continuing through Central America, and then into Venezuela and Columbia. Her term is for two years (2020-2022).
She started in Rotary while she was building her private Montessori school in 1992. Several of those who helped her build the school were in Rotary and suggested she become involved. Within six months of joining the Space Center Rotary Club, she was serving on her club’s board. She continued her involvement in Rotary throughout her career as an owner and operator of her school until her retirement in 2019. While serving as president of her club, Suzi began looking for an international service project for her club, which led to her exposure to a much wider horizon of service projects she would become involved with in Rotary. One project involved the construction of a kidney dialysis facility in Nicaragua which still stands today. Another was working with at-risk children in the Houston area that achieved significant results. She also has been significantly involved in the drive to eradicate polio and has chaired a dinner event that raised $3.8 million for The Rotary Foundation.
Since her retirement, Suzi has become even more involved in Rotary and has served as a RI training leader and as a member of the Leadership Development and Training Committee. In addition to serving as a Rotary Zone Director, she is also a host committee advisor for the 2022 Rotary International Convention to be held in Houston. She has received just about every award possible in Rotary and is member of the Arch Klumph Society and Bequest Society.
Her advice for those that want to make a difference in Rotary is to become involved, volunteer for service projects, keep your eyes open for new service opportunities, surround yourself with good people, don’t micro-manage your teams, identify potential leaders and mentor those you identify for leadership positions.
Suzi's goal is to be recognized for what she has accomplished in Rotary for the deed itself, not because she is a woman.
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Link to the Zoom page which includes this and all the recorded meetings for January- March 2021.
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Come join us to work together on our annual Layette Project for the women and infants in Nicaragua! We will get together on 
President-Elect Brad Brown became the newest Paul Harris Fellow in the Club. President Cindy Cherry was happy to present his PHF recognition to him at a meeting of the two recently. 
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