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.
The weekly meeting on December 11 will be held at the Broussard's Centré located at 1775 Calder Avenue.
Meetings will resume at the MCM Eleganté Hotel in the Grand Ballroom on January 8, 2020.
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PROGRAM PREVIEW
December 11, 2019
"Texas Legislative Update"
Dade Phelan
District 21 State Representative
"Chairman Dade Phelan was born and raised in Southeast Texas. His fourth generation commercial real estate development firm owns and manages retail, industrial and office property in Texas and Arkansas. He received his bachelor’s degree in Government and Business from The University of Texas at Austin.
Phelan currently serves as Chair of the House Committee on State Affairs. He has previously served on the Natural Resources Committee as Vice-Chair, Calendars Committee, Appropriations Committee, Elections Committee and on the Select Committee on Ports, Innovation and Infrastructure.
Representative Phelan is one of three house members appointed to the State Water Infrastructure Fund for Texas Advisory Committee. The panel oversees the operation, function and structure of the state water fund and assists the Texas Water Development Board in achieving its goal of providing $27 billion in state water plan projects over the next 50 years.
Capitol Inside Magazine named Phelan one of the most outstanding freshmen in 2015 and in 2017 honored him again as the Most Valuable Sophomore member of the Legislature. Phelan has been named Legislative Champion by the Boys and Girls Club of Texas, Legislator of the Year by the Texas Apartment Association, Guardian of Small Business by the National Federation of Independent Business, Most Valuable Legislator by the Texas Association of Community Schools and a Fighter for Free Enterprise by the Texas Association of Business.
The American Council of Young Political Leaders selected Representative Phelan as one of seven United States foreign delegates to China and Taiwan. He traveled to Asia for diplomatic exchanges with China and Taiwan’s next generation of political leaders.
Mr. Phelan is two time Governor appointee to and former president of the Lower Neches Valley Authority."
- taken from house.Texas.gov
Dade will discuss what happened and did not happen in the 86th Texas Legislative Session and what to expect in the upcoming 87th Session.
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Head Table for December 11
Invocation:
Randy Shelton
Judge
279th District Court
Pledges to USA & Texas Flags:
Cori Garcia
Agent
Farmers Insurance
Introduction of Guests:
Coby Roberts
Regional Vice President
Primerica
Introduction of Guest Speaker:
Ted Moor, III
Managing Director
Higginbotham Insurance
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. Link to the online signup systemor contact Jennifer Burch, Chair, at409-201-3016.
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CALENDAR OF ROTARY EVENTS
(Club events & opportunities for meeting makeups)
DECEMBER
14
Salvation Army Red Kettle Bell-Ringing; 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.; Parkdale Mall at the Food Court entrance
17
Board of Directors meeting, 11:45 a.m. at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas
17
Holiday Party; Amelia Farms and Market; 6:00 p.m.; make reservation and pay online or at meeting
18
No meeting; please attend Holiday Party as the meeting for the week
25
No meeting; Happy Holidays!
JANUARY
1
No meeting; Happy New Year!
10-12
Camp RYLA!
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ELECTION RESULTS ANNOUNCED
The election was certain to produce outstanding Rotarians to serve as Board members for 2020-23 because all candidates on the ballot were well-qualified and capable. Thank you to all for agreeing to serve if elected.
Acting Sergeant-at-Arms Randy Shelton announced the results at the conclusion of the meeting on December 4.
ELECTED TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
JOANNE BROWN
A member since May 4, 2016
Major Gifts Officer
Lamar University
DEBORAH DRAGO
A member since March 8, 2017
Executive Director
Southeast Texas
Nonprofit Development Center
ALLAN HIGGINS
A member since March 11, 2015
Branch Manager
ACME Brick Co.
GARY MONCLA
A member since January 27, 2016
President
Moncla Properties
ELECTED AS TRUSTEE OF THE BEAUMONT ROTARY FOUNDATION
Craig Escamilla
A member since June 30, 2008
Executive Director of
Retention & Student Success
Lamar University
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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 remain unpaid on Monday, December 30, 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. If your July 1 dues were not paid on time or if you have not responded to the emails sent to you, you will receive another copy of the past-due invoice along with the new January 1 invoice by registered mail within the week. To prevent termination, you are required to pay both invoices by December 17, the date of the next meeting of the Board of Directors.
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 30, 2019. Though the office staff was delayed in meeting that expectation this billing cycle, invoices will be sent electronically this week and your prompt payment is requested.
Members will notice a new charge on this and future invoices. In an effort to be consistent and fair with charges, all member invoices will have a Room Assessment fee added to the invoice. The Board of Directors set the amount of the charge to be approximately $1 per week to be assessed to all members so that everyone - whether attending or absent, whether eating or only attending to hear the speaker - will share equally in the cost of the physical arrangements and related expenses for the weekly meetings.
Electronic invoices will be sent to all who are in good-standing. 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 wish to change your membership status, call 409-842-1913. Thank you.
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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."
Stephanie Shoemaker is our Chair and Phil Dunlap is assisting her. They ask you to sign up in advance for the hour(s) you can help on Saturday, December 14. Many spots are filled but "the more, the merrier!" Please go to the online sign-up or add your name to the paper list at the meeting, or phone the Rotary Office (842-1913) to volunteer an hour. Thank you.
It's the most wonderful time for the year! To celebrate together is a special highlight of the season! There will be delicious food, fabulous music by the Rotary & Friends Chorus, and friends to share in the merriment!
Those in attendance get to hear first the announcement of who will become the 2021-2022 Rotary Club of Beaumont President. You don't want to miss!
This year, we will participate in the Home Instead Senior Care program which will be providing gifts to the seniors in the areas. Pick a tag from the tree at the Club meeting, purchase and bring that item to the Holiday Party. Please wrap the gift, put the tag on it and holiday elves will take care of the rest!
Please bring $20 to donate to the Beaumont Rotary Foundation and you will receive your choice of a nice bottle of wine. The wine is left over from Wine Down With Rotary. It is a perfect hostess gift for your next holiday party. Help us deplete our wine inventory while growing yours!
Reservations can be made at any of the Rotary meetings, by phoning the Rotary Office at 409-842-1913, or online through our event page. Members of the Rotary Chorus need to make a reservation also. Reservations need to be made by Wednesday, December 11 so don't hesitate!
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Volunteers from the Rotary Club of Beaumont assisted the Vidor Rotary Club, several church organizations, and "Strike Night" Friday, December 6th. Strike Night is a group dedicated to helping the homeless population of Beaumont. Tables and chairs were set up in the parking lot at the corner of Liberty and Magnolia in downtown and the volunteers helped hand out much-needed clothing, sleeping bags, tents, sleeping pads and blankets, hygiene kits, gloves and beanies. A hot meal was also served. Beaumont Rotary volunteers included Ted and Barbara Moor, Deborah Drago, Jennifer Burch, Gary Moncla, and John Lee.
The items collected at last Wednesday's meeting were all handed out to a very grateful group. A big thank you to everyone who donated and to those who volunteered and a huge thank you to John Lee for chairing this service project.
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Support the Beaumont Rotary Foundation
We encourage you to "shop local" first and whenever you can but if you are doing some online shopping, please sign up and use an Amazon Smile account. Anything purchased through AmazonSmile earns 0.5% for the Beaumont Rotary Foundation and all you need to do is shop as you normally do with Amazon.com.
It's easy to start a "Smile" account. Go to: https://smile.amazon.com/ and select the Beaumont Rotary Foundation to receive your donation. Afterwards, when you place an order, simply log-in through smile.amazon.com instead of Amazon.com for your purchases to earn money for the Beaumont Rotary Foundation.
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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.
Denise Berry
Roy Huckaby
Ray Baker (Angela Baker's husband)
If you know of others who should be added to this list, please advise the office staff at 409-842-1913.
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Our condolences are expressed to Rotarian
Charles "Chuck" Heare
on the loss of his brother
Dr. Bruce Robinson Heare
October 11, 1958 - December 6, 2019
May he rest in peace.
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Marcia Crone
December 12
Lori Higgins
December 12
Joyce Hafford
December 16
Trish Rumble
December 16
Ellen Zimmerman
December 16
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CELEBRATING ROTARY ANNIVERSARIES!
Your membership in our Club is important to us!
Doug Chase
December 9, 1998
21 years
Kevin King
December 12, 2018
1 year
Mike Stankovich
December 14, 2010
9 years
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PROGRAM REVIEW
December 4, 2019
"Shangri La: Dressed for the Holidays"
Rick Lewandowski
Director
Shangri Law Botanical Gardens
by Bobbie Applegate
Shangri La began as the private gardens of the Stark Family. Mr. Stark would invite the public to view the gardens every year. After his death, the gardens were unattended for the next fifty years. The Stark Foundation reconstructed and reopened the 253-acre gardens to the public in 1999.
Mr. Lewandowski estimated that the Gardens serve 175,000 per year on and off site. The Gardens are open from 9 – 5 Tuesday through Saturday. There are walking paths, the bird sanctuary and a trip down Adams Bayou which is extremely educational and amazing. The natural history and beauty of Shangri La is electrifying.
Education is the primary focus of the facility with over 215 programs. There are also signature events such as the Symphony of SE Texas and the Christmas show. The overall objective is to educate children and adults about their natural environment and environmental stewardship.
The Christmas show is two pronged. The first is to request people to bring non-perishable items for distribution to the needy. The second show includes a guided tour of the gardens with 46 community trimmed trees lighting the area. Santa is there for requests. Wreath and ornament making can also be part of your experience. Group tours are offered from 6 to 9 pm.
An extended question and answer period, due to late election results, was skillfully handled by Mr. Lewandowski with goodwill and a generous dash of humor.
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Rotary operates
You hear it everywhere - that ding-a-linging at the doorway of a business.
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