RotaryGrams for January 21, 2026 (Jan 21, 2026)

If you are attending in person, we ask that you use this link to make a reservation by January 19, 2026.

Dana Edgar has served as the Coordinator of the Fire Museum of Texas since September 2021, providing leadership focused on community collaboration, public safety education, and cultural preservation. She is a graduate of Port Neches–Groves High School, a connection that continues to shape her commitment to serving the region and investing in its future.

Prior to joining the Fire Museum, Dana served the City of Beaumont in multiple capacities with the Beaumont Police Department, including community relations and Public Information Officer responsibilities. In this role, she supported departmental communications, public awareness campaigns, community engagement initiatives, and special events that helped strengthen transparency and build trust between the police department and the community. She collaborated closely with city leadership, media outlets, and community partners to promote public safety messaging, highlight departmental initiatives, and support crime prevention and outreach efforts. Her work increased public visibility of key BPD programs such as Cops and Kids, the Pink Patrol Program, and Taking a Break with BPD, while also improving internal and external communication and reinforcing community-focused policing efforts.

Even prior to her time with the Beaumont Police Department, Dana brought with her a degree in Radiological Sciences and more than 19 years of experience in healthcare and executive leadership. Her career progression from clinical practice to Director of Operations and Director of Marketing established a strong foundation in operations management, strategic planning, marketing, and organizational leadership. These experiences continue to shape her leadership approach, which is grounded in service, accountability, and measurable community impact.

In her role at the Fire Museum of Texas, Dana has strengthened partnerships with local schools, fire departments, first responders, and community organizations to expand children’s fire safety education and prevention programs. These collaborations have increased access to hands-on learning experiences, school-based outreach, and family-centered programming that promote fire awareness and life-saving skills. In addition to serving the public, these programs have created meaningful opportunities for firefighters to connect directly with the community they serve.

Under her leadership, the museum has received significant recognition, including being named “Best of the Best” Museum by the Beaumont Enterprise in 2022, as well as national honors from USA Today, ranking Top 5 Best Roadside Attraction in 2024 and Top 3 in 2025. These community-driven initiatives have contributed to a 74% increase in visitor attendance, with 54% of visitors traveling from national and international destinations to downtown Beaumont. As a result, the Fire Museum of Texas has become both a trusted educational partner and a featured tourist destination for the City of Beaumont.

Most recently, Dana has led the reorganization and full cataloging of the museum’s inventory, significantly improving tracking, preservation, and exhibit planning processes. She has also developed a comprehensive strategic plan outlining growth and fire service community engagement over the next five to ten years. This forward-thinking approach continues to strengthen the long-term viability of the Fire Museum of Texas while promoting the Beaumont Fire Department and honoring the fire service as a whole.

Outside of her professional work, Dana remains deeply connected to the community she serves. She enjoys traveling with her son, Chael, and her husband, Ryan Edgar, a Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputy, and values spending time with family while supporting the first responder community both personally and professionally.

Invocation

Chris Ayers

Owner and Broker

Ayers-Patton, LLC

Pledges

Arne Almquist

Managing Director/Founder

Islington Arbour Media

Introduction of Guests

Jennifer Gregory

Human Resource Officer

Beaumont Housing Authority

Introduction of Speaker

Mary Pat Jones

Tax Partner

Lawrence, Blackburn, Meek & Maxey

Please volunteer for Head Table responsibilities through the

sign-up by clicking HERE.

January

21	Dana Edgar, Beaumont Fire Museum
27	Board of Directors Meeting- Foundation of SETX at 11:30 AM
28	Randolph G. Russell, American Author and Historian

The Rotary Club of Beaumont is pleased to announce its scholarship to be awarded to two high school students graduating in 2026.

The application must be completed by all students wishing to be considered for a Rotary Club of Beaumont Scholarship. The Scholarship Committee will review all applications and recommend to the Board those two students whose academic success, leadership potential, and community service activities demonstrate a commitment to “Service Above Self.”

Specific requirements can be found on the application which is available through the link below.

Deadline for application is March 2nd, 2026. Only applications that are completed and received by the deadline will be considered. A copy of this application is available HERE.

We will be assembling layette bags as a service project for expecting and new mothers in Honduras. A sign-up link will be provided for one-hour volunteer shifts that will be happening February 12, 2026.

Volunteers in the early shifts will help open boxes, sort items, and organize supplies into groups. Volunteers in the later shifts will assemble the items into layette bags and prepare them for shipment.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY 2026

Meal & Ticket Information:

Rotarians, may attend using a regular meal ticket or a $20 meal ticket if they plan to eat.
Non-Rotarians may purchase meal tickets for $30.
Reserved sponsored tables are available for individuals and organizations wishing to support the event.
Click HERE to purchase a Non Rotarian meal or to purchase a Sponsorship table.

We would love for you to join us at Rotary After Hours on February 5 at 5:30 PM at Elsa's. It’s a great opportunity to network, catch up with fellow members, and enjoy a relaxed evening of conversation and camaraderie. We look forward to seeing you there!


Jay Wilson, Sr. January 20	Diane Bass January 21	Mary Ellen Robertson January 21

Kate Carroll January 21	Cindy Jeanis January 23	Stephanie Shoemaker January 25


Joe Domino Jan. 19, 2005 21 years	Paul Eddy Jan. 20, 2010 16 years	Craig Lively Jan. 20, 2010 16 years

Rakesh Korpal Jan. 25, 2023 3 years	Tyrus Doctor Jan. 25, 2023 3 years	Jacqueline Gunner Jan. 23, 2024 2 years

January 14, 2026

RYLA Returns

Program review by: Josh Davis

The Rotary Club of Beaumont meeting welcomed new members and guests, opened with an invocation, led by Fabiana Baum, pledges led by Raymond Begnaud, and introduction of guests by Tyler Marceaux.

Upcoming events, including Rotary After Hours and the Rotary Has Heart program in February, were highlighted. Rotary After Hours will be on Thursday February 5 at Elsa's Greek Grill. Rotary Has Heart will be split into two days this year, February 11 and 12. The nonprofit part of Rotary Has Heart will take place on February 11, while the assembly of layettes will take place on February 12 at the Rotary office.

Gigi Mazzola and Michael Perez introduced the RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) program. They presented an in-depth overview of RYLA’s impact, sharing how the leadership camp helps high school students grow in confidence, communication, teamwork, and leadership over a two-day experience. Students from several local schools attended the meeting to reflect on how the program motivated them to serve their schools and communities. One participant, Chloe Uchendu, was selected to return as a counselor.

Photographer: Tim Sudela

Jan 21, 2026 12:00 PM

Dana Edgar

Beaumont Fire Museum

Jan 28, 2026 12:00 PM

Randolph G. Russell

American Author and Historian

View entire list

International Women's Day 2026
2355 Interstate 10
Mar. 11, 2026 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time (UTC-05:00)

View entire list

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