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June 18 will be the annual presentation of awards and appreciation to club members.  Please attend.
 
June 25 will be President Chad's Swan Song.  You don't want to miss this one!
Speakers
Jun 04, 2014
Candyce Tompkins, CTE Prog. Coordinator, Region 5
Texas House Bill 5: Implementation and Implications
 
Jun 11, 2014
Alana Inman, Manager, Sam Houston Regional Library
What Can you Learn at the Library and Research Center?
 
Jun 18, 2014
President Chad Blanchard
Recognizing Club Leadership
 
Jun 25, 2014
President Chad Blanchard's Swan Song
 
Jul 02, 2014
Installation of President Vernon Pierce
and Club Leadership
 
Jul 09, 2014
Luke Legate, Texas Oil and Gas Association
Texas Oil & Gas
 
Jul 16, 2014
The Honourable Paula Caldwell St-Onge
Consul General of Canada on the Canadian-USA Trading Partnership
 
Jul 23, 2014
Cory Crenshaw, District Attorney, Jefferson County
 
View entire list
Upcoming Events
Show Your Colors Flag Project
Jun 14, 2014 at 5:00 AM
 
Board of Directors Meeting
The Beaumont Club
Jun 24, 2014 at 11:45 AM
 
Show Your Colors Flag Project-Independence Day
Jul 04, 2014 at 5:00 AM
 
Board Meeting with District Governor Don Taylor
Jul 29, 2014
 
Sponsors

Munro's Uniform Services

Coldwell Banker Southern Homes

Classic Chevrolet

Wathen DeShong & Junker, L.L.P.

Mason Construction, Ltd.

Interested in being a sponsor?
Download the website sponsorship guide
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Click here to sign up!
ROTARYGRAMS
June 4, 2014
Vol. 101, No. 49    
 
MCM Elegante' Hotel
2355 IH-10 South, Suite 213
Beaumont, TX   77705
 
Telephone: 409-842-1913
Stories
This Week's Program
PROGRAM PREVIEW
June 4, 2014
"House Bill 5: Implementation and Implications"
Candyce Tompkins
Region 5 Education Service Center
 
"The Texas House of Representatives passed House Bill 5...with broad bipartisan support.  The legislation, authored by Public Education Committee Chairman Jimmie Don Aycock (R – Killeen), improves education in three critical ways: It gives students more flexibility to explore their individual interests as they prepare for higher education and the workforce; it reduces the burden of standardized tests, which play too large a role in our education system; and it provides new measures to make our schools more accountable." (exerpt from The Vindicator, Liberty County)
 
As the Career & Technical Education Program Coordinator for Region 5 Education Service Center, Candyce Tompkins has spent the last year delivering and preparing for the implementation of House Bill 5. She currently works with 36 districts to ensure that the bill is implemented and carried out smoothly. 
 
Candyce Tompkins was born and raised in Hamshire, Texas where she currently resides. She graduated from Hamshire-Fannett High School and received her Bachelor’s degree in 1996 from Lamar University. She earned her Master’s in Educational Technology Leadership from Lamar University in 2004.
 
Read more...
Head Table & Menu
Head Table and Menu for June 4

Invocation:

Michael Perez
Executive Director
Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club of Beaumont

Pledges to the USA & Texas Flags:

Glenn McWherter
Wealth Management
J.P. Morgan Chase Bank

Introduction of Guests:

Nakisha Myles
Communications Specialist
Beaumont Independent School District
Menu: salad bar, vegetable soup, blackened catfish, chicken marsala, penne pasta, green beans, assorted pastries and desserts, tea and coffee
President's Initiative

President's Initiative: RING MY BELL!

All weeks remaining in the Rotary year are filled with donors for the "Ring My Bell" campaign.  Thank you for your support of this fundraising effort benefiting the Beaumont Rotary Foundation.
Bell Ringer on June 4
Rob Glassey
Co-Owner/General Manager
Armour General Contractors
 
Calendar of Events
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
(and meeting make-ups)
JUNE
June 11 New Member Orientation, 10:45 a.m. in the Embassy Room of the Elegante'
June 14 "Show Your Colors" Flag Project for Flag Day
June 16 Foundation Board of Trustees meeting
June 24 Board of Directors, 11:45 a.m. at the Beaumont Club
 
Save the Date!
DON'T MISS!
 
June 18
will be the traditional 
"Salute to Leadership"
meeting. 
 
Please attend to recognize all those who have contributed to make the year and the Club so successful.
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Dues Invoices Sent
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROMPT PAYMENTS!
 
Invoices for July - December 2014 dues were sent electronically on June 2.  Those being sent a printed invoice should find it in the mail before the end of the week.   Payment is due no later than July 1.
 
These statements are being sent 30 days in advance of the deadline date.  For future billing cycles, the Board has decided that invoices will be sent 45 days prior to the payment deadline in order to allow sufficient time, especially for those who process payment through their business.
 
Your prompt payment saves on administrative costs and allows for the efficient payment of RI assessments.  
Invoices for July-December 2014 dues were sent electronically to all active members on June 2.  Please check your email for it.  If you did not receive the invoice, you will want to check your "spam" folder or phone the office.
 
Please make note that payment is due by July 1, as the club is invoiced by Rotary International for dues on that date. 
 
Your payment can be processed through the online secure payment center on the homepage of the website in the right column.
 
If you need a paper copy of your invoice sent to you or your company's accounting department, please contact the office at 842-1913 for assistance.

 
 
Read more...
Board Action
BOARD ACTION
The Board of Directors approved a classification change.
 
Joe Domino
from: Public Utilities-Electric
to: Public Utilities-Electric - Retired
 
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International News
International Convention is Underway Down-Under!

The 2014 Rotary International Convention is going strong in Sydney, Australia!  You can follow all the events and read of the experiences by following #ricon14 on Twitter.  Becky & Chuck Mason and Vernon Pierce are attending, representing the club as our voting delegates.  Moreover, there is a very large delegation from District 5910 enjoying the experiences along with 18,000 Rotarians from 4,149 Clubs.
 
Feed the Polio Pig!
FEED THE POLIO PIG!
You heard the recent devastating news that Polio has spread and cases have been confirmed in 10 countries.  We can't allow this dreaded disease to take control again.  Rotary Clubs around the globe are stepping up to help with additional financial resources.  
 
One small way you can help is to donate your change and coins to the Polio Pig which will be "visiting" every meeting.  Dollar bills and your checks to The Rotary Foundation are accepted too!  
 
Rotary After Hours
Posted by Barry Bryant
Rotary After Hours Attracts Crowd
The beautiful evening weather and fun location drew a crowd of Rotarians on Thursday evening, May 29.  Luke's relaxed atmosphere was the perfect setting for the lively conversation, great food and drinks and good friends! 
 
 
Perfect Attendance
Is It the Truth?
It is always a very special day when we have the opportunity to recognize club members for contributions to the successes of the year.  We also recognize those who have managed to earn Perfect Attendance for the year either through meeting attendance or attending a makeup event.  Did you submit a makeup for every meeting you missed?
 
As we assure that no one is omitted in error, please help us by reviewing the list.  If you think your name should be included and it is not listed here, please call the Rotary office right away as we may have overlooked makeups that were submitted.  Please help us correct our error.   (Reminder:  you must have been a member of the club for one full year to be eligible.)
 
Pat Anderson Craig Lively
Bobbie Applegate Charles Locke
Gene Arnold Becky Mason
Larry Beaulieu Chuck Mason
Chad Blanchard Roger McCabe
Ron Borel Sharon McCabe
Barry Bryant Ted Moor, III
Jane Burns John Neely
Lynn Castle Tim O'Halloran
Cindy Cherry John Paschall
Phil Dunlap Michael Perez
Ed Edson Vernon Pierce
Craig Escamilla John Quigley
Lee Freeland Alan Sampson
Brenda Gray Tim Sudela
Roy Huckaby John Weitzel
A. Jay Johnson Michael Wolf
Fred Kristiansen  
 
Show Your Colors Flag Project
"Show Your Colors"
 
 
Those who volunteered for the flag project on Memorial Day receive our sincere appreciation.  
 
They were:
Pat Anderson, George Pate, John Neely, Dan Jeans, Gene Arnold, Alan Sampson, Danielle Faraci & husband Dominick, Ross Jones, Joe Evans (coworker of George Pate), Rene Greenwald, Ken Arola, Lane Olson, Scott Droddy, Roger Bemis, Tim Sudela, Scott Hatcher, Rob Glassey, Steve Gilbert, Shannon Williamson, Fred Kristiansen, Travis Brewer, Leonard Juncker, Sharen Kirksey, Brad Brown, Chad Blanchard, Slate Babineaux, David Heinz, David Locke, Major Estrada, Troy Aaron, and Harland Merriam.
 
Plan now to help with Flag Day on Saturday, June 14!
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Thank you!
Thanks Expressed  
Those who enjoy the photo albums from meetings have certainly noticed quite an improvement in the photo quality lately.  For the last two months, Rotarian Nakisha Myles has taken on the task of being the club's official photographer at weekly meetings.  With her own professional camera equipment, she has been able to capture some great shots. Check them out and you will enjoy them too!
 
Birthdays

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Carolyn McGuire
June 3
Mike Ireland
June 5
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Read more...
Sympathy Extended
Our sympathy is extended to
 
Bel Lamb
on the loss of her mother
 
Isabel "Ibby" Morian
 August 10, 1918 - May 27, 2014
 
 
Did You Know?
 
 
 
(There is audio with the video.)

To help raise much-needed funds and public awareness for the global effort to eradicate polio, Rotary has collected more than 100,000 messages of support from celebrities, world leaders, and regular “folks next door,” all of whom have added their names and photos to “The World’s Biggest Commercial,” an ever-growing public service announcement on the End Polio Now website that also received Guinness World Record recognition as Largest Photo Awareness Campaign. 

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Read more...
Program Review

PROGRAM REVIEW

 May 28, 2014

"Beaumont Welcomes the First New Plant in Decades"
Frank Choufoer
President, OCI Beaumont
by Rotarian John Neely
 
Our Rotary Speaker on May 28, 2014 was Frank Choufoer, representing the new methanol project with O.C.I of Beaumont. Frank was introduced by Jim Rich.
 
Mr. Choufoer opened with remarks about how welcomed he has felt since he arrived in southeast Texas over three years ago. He elaborated on how excited he is to be part of this new project for OCI and our region.  Mr. Choufoer then showed a presentation about OCI, their product-line and global involvement.
 
OCI began in Egypt as a construction company. They employ 72,000 persons globally, and handle methanol and similar products. This new project will be located on 514 acres on the Neches River (DuPont).  Actually, there is enough landmass there to house three plants. OCI is investing $1 billion for this endeavor, the largest greenfield methanol plant in North America.
 
The OCI production of methanol covers three areas: one-third of their methanol goes into construction, housing, fiber boards, etc., another third goes to energy, and the remaining third to chemical products such as aerosols.
 
Mr. Choufoer explained to Rotarians why Beaumont was chosen to be the site for the new facility.
  • low-cost of the product
  • low-cost of production
  • manageable costs to transport
  • ideal geographic location for global distribution
THE game-changer is methanol in gasoline.  Mr. Choufoer explained that many countries around the globe have made the inclusion of methanol in gasoline possible. In some locations, methanol in gasoline is required yet the United States lags far behind. The bureaucracy​ involved in obtaining approvals and permits from our EPA has slowed the progress of this project. Frank stated that proposals which formerly took 2-3 months for EPA-approvals has now been extended to 18-months.
 
During the question/answer portion of his talk, Dan Jeans, Executive Director for the H.O.W. Center, asked a critical question that was probably on the minds of many: "How many full-time jobs will this project bring to our region?" Mr. Choufoer stated that one OCI Plant would employ approximately 120 full-time employees, in addition to the 60 administrative and clerical positions and those in the main office. If there were more than one plant, there would be another 50 positions in the administrative office and 120 at the additional plants.
 
Frank complimented our regional leaders, including Judge Jeff Branick and Jim Rich, for the progress that has been made. He further acknowledged Governor Rick Perry and TCU for their encouragement and support.
 
What a blessing it will be when the EPA approves this project!
 
Office: 409-842-1913 admin@beaumontrotaryclub.org Fax: 409-842-5613