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.
If you are attending in person, we ask that you use this linkto make a reservation by Monday, October 28, 2024.
Chief Tim Ocnaschek brings more than 39 years of law-enforcement experience to the city. He attended his first police academy and served as a military police officer while on active duty with the United States Air Force. After transitioning to reserve military status, he worked as a reserve police officer, dispatcher, and police officer for the city of Live Oak, Texas. In 1992, he came to the Beaumont Police Department, where he continued his military career while promoting through the ranks of BPD. In 2007, in addition to police duties, he was appointed as the Emergency Management Coordinator for the City of Beaumont and is responsible for the recognized program that Beaumont continues to enjoy today. He retired from the military in 2018 as an E9 Chief Master Sergeant, with 33 years of service. In July 2024, he was appointed from the rank of Captain to become Chief of Police.
Chief Ocnaschek is a Certified Emergency Manager through the State of Texas and holds an international certification through IAEM. During his 17 years as the Emergency Management Coordinator, he led the city through several nationally declared disasters. He served on the SWAT team for 24 years, both as an Operator and Commander. He holds an Associate’s Degree from the Community College of the Air Force, a Bachelor’s degree from Lamar University Beaumont, and a Master’s degree from Midwestern State University.
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October 30, 2024
Invocation
Tish Cornell
Vice President of Marketing
CommonCents Credit Union
Pledges to USA & Texas Flags
Micheal Perez
Business Development
AGY Transport LLC
Introduction of Guests
Dena Hughes
CEO
TAN Healthcare
Introduction of Speaker
Roy West
Mayor
City of Beaumont
Please volunteer for Head Table responsibilities through the
The Board of Directors meets monthly and the meetings are open to all members. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, November 19. If you would like to attend the lunch meeting, please make a reservation in advance with the Executive Director.
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Meet the Newest Rotarians
in the Club!
Mary Pat Jones
Tax Partner, Lawrence, Blackburn, Meek & Maxey
Proposed by Stephanie Shoemaker
Classification: "Business Services-Accounting"
James Guzman
Corps. Officer Jefferson County, TX
The Salvation Army
Proposed by Paul Koester
Classification: "Salvation Army-Officer
(pictured: President Michael Perez with our newest Rotarians)
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30 SOMETHING
Our "30 Something" program Chairs, Bobbie Applegate and Stephanie Shoemaker, would like to invite you to the first "30 Something" gathering of the year hosted by Jay Wilson at the Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce (lunch will be provided) on Friday, Nov 1, from Noon-1:00pm.
Many years back, someone in our club asked... "how many new members do we have in the Club at any given time?" Someone replied... "We always have about 30 something new members." Thus, the term... "30 Something" was born!
It has been awhile since we have done this, but this gathering will take place periodically throughout the year as an opportunity for newer members to gather and learn more about the club while having an opportunity to ask questions - sort of an informal "sophomore orientation." It will be a relaxed and informal setting.
Come and enjoy this time of fellowship and engagement!
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WINE DOWN WITH ROTARY
Thank you to Tish Cornell for chairing Wine Down With Rotary and her committee for hosting such a great event this past Friday evening. We also want to thank our sponsors for helping making this possible.
Photography by Tim Sudela who always takes the best photos of our events!
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MEMORIAL RESOLUTION WILL BE PRESENTED
Since the earliest days of the Rotary Club of Beaumont, it has been a tradition to record the passing of a member into Club history with the writing of a Memorial Resolution to document his/her service and contributions. The reading of the Resolution is an opportunity to reflect on the good deeds and significant impact the Rotarian had on the Club and the community. The formally printed document is given to the family members, added to the Club's archives, and entered into the records of the Tyrrell Historical Library.
On October 23, the club will recognize the life of former Rotarian Charlie Weinbaum, a member of the Rotary Club of Beaumont since 1949. The Resolution will be read by fellow Rotarian, Cynthia Wolf.
His Rotary Classification was "Honorary." Charlie passed away on January 13, 2023.
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ROTARY CHORUS
The Rotary Chorus is preparing for another great performance at our Holiday Party! It is not too late to join. This past Thursday, they enjoyed an evening of practice and had the pleasure of hearing from Lamar's Barbershop Quartet under the direction of James Han.
The Rotary Club of Beaumont, in partnership with the Spindletop Rotary Club, the City of Beaumont, and the Convention and Visitors’ Bureau, is building a pollinator garden at the Nature Center in Tyrrell Park.
As a first step, volunteers from both Rotary Clubs will assemble planter boxes at the Nature Center on November 9th and 16th from 9:00 am to noon, at Tyrrell Park. A total of eight (8) planter boxes, measuring 6 ft x 3 ft x 3 ft will be stationed across the front of the Nature Center and will hold pollinator friendly plants.
While the planters will be constructed in November, the actual planting of flowers will occur in March of 2025. All activities will be done by members of the two Rotary Clubs.
There is a limit of 20 spots for each day. Volunteers must be able to bend, lift, hammer, etc. This will require some physical strength.
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Chad Mason
October 28
Paul Skinner
October 29
Rakesh Korpal
October 29
Robert Kocot
October 30
Toby Castro
October 31
Dean Conwell
October 31
Henry Venta
November 3
Ty Coudrain
November 3
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Tim Sudela
Oct. 28, 2009
15 years
Dan Jeans
Oct. 28, 2009
15 years
Joe Fisher
Nov. 1, 1981
43 years
Jane Burns
Nov. 2, 2010
14 years
Stephanie Harris
Nov. 1, 2023
1 year
Fatima Javed
Nov. 1, 2023
1 year
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PROGRAM REVIEW
October 23, 2024
Dr. Hannah Wunsch
Professor and Author
By Tim Sudela and Joanne Brown
The October 23 meeting of the Rotary Club of Beaumont featured an ‘End Polio Now’ presentation assembled by Rotary District 5910 Polio Chair, Jay Wilson. The program included a few remarks from Rotarians who are married to polio survivors. Linda Domino provided a brief history of the way the Polio virus affected her husband, Joe who served as club President in 2019-2020. Phil Dunlap provided a few remarks about his wife Georgia’s revelation that she had polio when she was very young.
The guest speaker (via zoom) was Hannah Wunsch, Distinguished Professor and Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Anesthesiology at Weill Cornell Medicine. She was introduced in a recorded video by polio survivor and Chicago gourmet, Ina Pickney. Dr. Wunsch works as a doctor in cardiothoracic ICU at New York Presbyterian Hospital, and is the author of the recent book, The Autumn Ghost: How the Battle Against a Polio Epidemic Revolutionized Modern Medical Care. Hannah provided an overview of the various ways polio affects patients and some of the early treatments. On April 12, 1955, America received news that Dr. Jonas Salk had developed a vaccine against Polio. Rotary International took on the task of eradicating Polio in 1987. This monumental effort has seen significant progress. In 1988, there were 350,000 cases of polio in 125 countries. In 2023, there were only Jay Wilson reminds us that we are one plane ride away from bringing the disease back to the US.
Sherree Pierce opened the meeting with the invocation, Lee Potter led pledges to the American and Texas flags, and Robert Kocot introduced meeting guests. Prior to the program, Cynthia Wolf provided a Memorial Resolution to past club President, Bill Clark.
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