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.
Everyone attending is asked to join the meeting using Zoom.
The link to the meeting will be emailed to you on Tuesday afternoon.
MEETING PREVIEW
June 15, 2022
"The Coral Reefs of Texas and Louisiana"
Kelly Drinnen
Education and Outreach Specialist
Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary
Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, off the coasts of Texas and Louisiana, was designated in 1992 to protect some of the healthiest coral reefs in the world. The unlikely location of these beautiful reefs at East and West Flower Garden Banks, in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, led to further studies of surrounding reefs and banks to find out what kinds of marine life lived there and how they might be connected. This led to the addition of Stetson Bank in 1996, and in 2021 an additional 14 banks became part of the sanctuary. More than 30 years of exploration in this region have shown us the importance of conserving and protecting these coral reefs, coral communities, and deep coral habitats.
Kelly Drinnen joined the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary team in August 2004. As Education and Outreach Specialist, she is responsible for developing, revising and maintaining many of the communication tools used to share sanctuary information with the public. She also conducts workshops and presentations. Kelly holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish from James Madison University and has over 30 years of experience with informal science education, including Education positions at Moody Gardens and Sea World of Florida, as well as two years as a fourth grade teacher in South Houston. Kelly comes from a family full of educators and likes to say she has "teaching in her genes." This, coupled with her love of the ocean, and wildlife in general, led her to a career in marine science where she gets to share her interests in two languages and meet people from around the world. Kelly is also a certified scuba diver and has occasionally assisted with offshore research and monitoring activities.
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Head Table on June 15
Invocation
Henry Venta
Professor of Management, College of Business
Lamar University
Pledges to USA & Texas Flags
Tish Cornell
Vice President of Marketing
CommonCents Credit Union
Introduction of Guest Speaker
Dana Timaeus
Managing Partner
The Timaeus Law Firm
Please volunteer for Head Table responsibilities through the sign-up at:
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 July 1, each member must be up-to-date on his/her dues to the Club no later thanJuly 1, in advance of the July 1 assessment by Rotary International.
If you are currently a member yet your January-June 2022 dues are unpaid, please contact the Executive Director immediately to speak about payment options. If your January 1 dues were not paid on time or if you have not responded to the emails sent to you or the phone call messages, you were sent a letter by certified and registered mail with the past due invoice and the new July 1 invoice. If your dues remain unpaid on Monday, June 27, the Board of Directors will take action at the monthly meeting on June 28 and you will be terminated in bad-standing which means you are ineligible for membership in this or any other Rotary Club until your past due amount has been paid. You are required to pay both invoices or be terminated on June 30.
Beginning with the July 2022 invoice, members will be billed dues of $400 and the room assessment fee of $70 for an ANNUAL period of July - June. The annual amount is due by July 1. Members may choose to continue to pay semi-annually, but a second invoice will not be issued in December for the January payment. Only a reminder statement will be sent to you in December, requesting payment of the remaining balance by January 1.
Electronic invoices were sent to all members who are in good-standing and do not have instructions for other payment procedures in place. If you requested to have a printed invoice mailed to you, it was mailed to you. 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 do not have a credit card on file, 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. Additionally, if you wish, you can make arrangements with the Executive Director to have your charge card processed for your dues in regular installments until the account is paid in full.
If you did receive your invoice, have questions, or wish to change your membership status, call 409-842-1913. Thank you.
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Meet the Newest Rotarians in the Club!
President Brad Brown welcomed three new members to the Club last week. Two were able to attend the meeting; one new member was unable to stay for the meeting following Orientation.
Meet Matthew Lighty who is an Associate Attorney with Wells Peyton Partain Baldo & Lighty, LLP. He was proposed by Zach Celeste, who has already recruited him to serve on a committee in the new year. Matthew is a Beaumonter who is eager to serve in the community through Rotary. He and his wife Morgan are parents to daughter Mia and are looking forward to the birth of their second child, due on July 4th. Matthew enjoys reading, playing chess and racquetball, running, hiking and swimming. Oh, and not to be overlooked, Matthew is PE Joanne Brown's nephew.
Emily Ross, Director of Community & Culture at New Path Therapy & Wellness, was born in Boston, Massachusetts and grew up in the nearby community of Weymouth. She graduated form University of Massachusetts and Boston College. Emily has a passion for promoting and serving the local community, and is looking forward to how she can do so through Rotary. She is very interested in increasing awareness of mental health issues and suicide prevention, and is a contributing author to two international bestselling books. Emily was proposed for membership by Rotarian Misty Fountain.
Annette Harmon-Edwards was proposed by Virtue Alexander. Professionally, Annette is the Recruitment and Retention Coordinator for Court Appointed Special Advocates of Southeast Texas. She serves on the board of Adult Protective Services and instructs in the area of financial literacy.
Make sure you introduce yourself and welcome these three new members to the Rotary Club of Beaumont!
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PLEASE VOLUNTEER FOR FLAG PROJECT!
If you are able to help with the "Show Your Colors" flag project on Monday, July 4th-Independence Day, please volunteer with Pat Anderson.
Volunteering for this project is a wonderfully patriotic way to start your own personal recognition of these days of great significance. You will complete your route long before any Fourth of July celebrations begin!
Don't be concerned if you have not served as a flag volunteer before. You will be paired up with another person or team of people who have experience. You will have a great time being a part of this effort!
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Rotary Goes to the World Series of Beep Baseball
Play ball! On Wednesday, July 27, 2022, instead of attending the weekly Rotary Club meeting, Rotarians will serve as base judges or switch operators for the 2022 World Series of Beep Baseball being held in Beaumont! Come join the fun! (Don't worry! The duties of each position will be explained to you.)
There are still a lot of slots open when help is needed. Sign up for a slot or two or plan to spend the day! Volunteers will be given a t-shirt to wear so please indicate your size when signing up.
Do you know that when asked why they aren't a Rotarian, many people say that no one has asked them to join!
Haveinvited someone to become a Rotarian?
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Congratulate those who earned membership in
The President's Club!
Explain to someone why you are a Rotarian,
and why he/she should be too!
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Victor Zaloom
June 14
Shawn Javed
June 15
Athena Mathews
June 19
Roger McCabe
June 20
Shannah Quinn
June 20
Wesley Shipley
June 20
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ROTARY ANNIVERSARIES
We celebrate your
membership in our Club!
John Bullard
June 13, 2018
4 years
Van Greer
June 16, 2004
18 years
Mary Poole
June 19, 2013
9 years
Diane Bass
June 20, 2012
10 years
Karyn Husbands
June 20, 2012
10 years
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PROGRAM REVIEW
June 8, 2022
“The Salt Bayou Watershed Restoration”
Michael Rezsutek
Project Leader
Upper Coast Wetland Ecosystem Project
by Kara Timberlake
From Pennsylvania to Kansas to Southeast Texas, Michael Rezsutek has experienced more than a few different natural environments. With a love of working outdoors and ecology, Michael earned his Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Houston. In 2001, he joined the Texas Parks and Wildlife department as the Wetlands and Waterfowl Biologist for the Upper Coast Wetlands Ecosystem, which covers Chambers, Jefferson, Liberty, and Orange counties.
In 2015, Michael became the Projector Leader for the Upper Coast Wetland Ecosystem Project that administers the project which is responsible for the wetlands management and restoration of 33,000 acres of state wildlife management area in Chambers, Harris, Jefferson, and Orange counties.
Michael explained that the coastal marshes of the Texas Central Coast act as an important buffer for storm surges and are a key part of recreational tourism. Additionally, these marshes are integral for fish and wildlife and protecting existing communities. Unfortunately, as Michael extrapolated, wetlands are declining in both quantity and quality due to natural and man-made causes.
Summing up the conservation challenges, Michael said the three causes "form a powerful punch." These challenges include marsh loss and conservation (caused by human activities and natural processes), land use changes (brought about by industrialization along the coast), and global relative sea level (caused by rising water levels in oceans and land subsidence).
Therefore, a plan was proposed to maintain ecological functions and help to reverse the decline. In 2013, the Salt Bayou Watershed Restoration Plan was developed to combat issues attacking the marsh and restore the Salt Bayou wetland. Partners include Jefferson County Engineering, Drainage District 6, Texas Parks & Wildlife, US Fish & Wildlife, Ducks Unlimited, Texas General Land Office and more.
The watershed restoration approach can be broken down into three parts: installing inverted siphons on McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge and J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area, adding the Keith Lake Fish Pass modification project, and restoring the dune and beach ridge complex.
Michael explained the success of these initiatives. The siphon project was completed in June of 2020, the beach ridge project had a 3-mile test project completed in 2017 with funding available for the rest of the project with a goal to kick it off this summer. The Keith Lake Fish Pass project was completed in March of 2015.
While there is still more work to be accomplished, Michael emphasized that the Salt Bayou Watershed Restoration Plan was a hopeful start to restoring the marshes.
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Rotary operates
President Brad Brown welcomed three new members to the Club last week. Two were able to attend the meeting; one new member was unable to stay for the meeting following Orientation.
If you are able to help with the "Show Your Colors" flag project on Monday, July 4th-Independence Day, please volunteer with Pat Anderson. 
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