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Welcome to the Rotary Club of La Porte! Our mission is to provide service to others, promote integrity, and foster understanding, goodwill, and peace through the Object of Rotary, Avenues of Service, and The Four-Way Test.

Monthly Theme: Membership and New Club Development

2026 Reverse Draw planned for Oct. 22 at Sylvan Beach Pavilion

Join us for an evening of fun from the Roaring '20s at our 2026 Rotary Club of La Porte fundraiser, the "Speakeasy" Reverse Draw! The event is planned for Thursday, Oct. 22, at Sylvan Beach Pavilion in La Porte. Tickets are $150 and include admission and dinner for two, drinks, and an entry into the Reverse Draw, with the top prize $10,000 in silver! Sponsorships are also available. For more information, contact your favorite Rotarian, event chair Brenda Thompson at 281-380-1291, or sponsorship chair Mason Peres at mason.peres@gmail.com.

2026-27 officers installed at June 26 banquet

The Rotary Club of La Porte installed its 2026-27 officers at the June 25 banquet held at Monument Inn. Outgoing President Nelson Rodriguez was honored for his outstanding leadership during the 2025-26 year.

Rotary Club of La Porte recognized by La Porte ISD

The La Porte ISD Board of Trustees recognized the Rotary Club of La Porte as an outstanding community partner during the Jan. 13 Board meeting. For the 2025-26 school year, the club has contributed over $54,000 to activities that impact La Porte ISD students and staff, including scholarships for graduating seniors, sponsorship of the Rotary District Teacher of the Year Awards, purchase of student projects at the La Porte Livestock Show and Rodeo Auction, and gift cards for classroom supplies for all new teachers. In addition, the club serves as a Partner in Education with the James H. Baker Sixth Grade Campus, sponsors the Early Act Club program at seven campuses, and sponsors the La Porte High School Interact Club. Club members also devote countless volunteer hours to helping with these projects.

In front from left are Rotarians Terri Cook, Ray Yellig, Bob Pizzitola, Brenda Thompson, Susan Passmore and Rick Helton. In back are Superintendent Dr. Walter Jackson and Board members Jeff Martin, Russell Schoppe, Mason Peres, Melissa Crutcher, Karen Wheeler-Hall, Dee Anne Thomson and Danny Hanks. Jackson, Martin, Peres, Crutcher and Wheeler-Hall are also Rotarians.

Rotarians help with Habitat for Humanity project

Members of the Rotary Club of La Porte worked with Habitat for Humanity Jan. 10 to paint the exterior of a Habitat home being constructed in La Porte. Thank you to Sonja Baumgardner, Dennis Cima, Bob Pizzitola, Brenda Thompson and Ray Yellig for your "Service Above Self"!

Rotary Fiesta Reverse Draw set for Oct. 9

Join us for the 2025 Rotary Fiesta Reverse Draw, which is set for Thursday, Oct. 9, at 5 p.m. at Sylvan Beach Pavilion. This marks the 33rd year for this event, which is the annual fundraiser for the La Porte Rotary Foundation.

Tickets are $125 and include a Mexican dinner for two, loteria games, and entry in the Reverse Draw. Only 400 tickets will be sold. The holder of the 400th ticket sold will win a $10,000 travel adventure. Purchasers of the 399th and 398th tickets drawn will win $4,000 and $1,000 in Visa gift cards, respectively.

Contact your favorite Rotarian for tickets or message us on our Rotary Club of La Porte Facebook page for more information. We hope to see you there!

Rotary and Gateway support new teachers

The Rotary Club of La Porte and Gateway Office Products teamed up to provide more than 80 new teachers and professionals with $100 Gateway gift cards for their new classrooms and offices. This outstanding tradition helps welcome educators to La Porte ISD as part of the La Porte-Bayshore Chamber of Commerce's New Teacher Luncheon, which was held on July 31 at LPISD's Legacy Complex. The Rotary Club was also a Gold Sponsor for the event.

Rotary helps provide students with school supplies

The Rotary Club of La Porte was among the many community partners who helped to provide La Porte ISD students with school supplies this year. Through participation in the July 25 Fill the Bus school supply drive and the Aug. 9 Back to School Bash, Rotarians helped to get the school year off to a great start for our community's children.

In addition to the Rotary Club of La Porte, sponsors included the City of La Porte, La Porte Police Department, La Porte Emergency Medical Services, La Porte Office of Emergency Management, La Porte Fire Department, La Porte ISD, La Porte-Bayshore Chamber of Commerce, Bay Area Council on Drugs and Alcohol (BACODA), Agape Centric, La Porte Local Emergency Planning Committee and the La Porte Community Civic Club.

Club presents Rotary Teacher of the Year Awards

La Porte ISD's Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year were recognized with the Rotary Club of La Porte's Teacher of the Year Awards at the district's May 15 Service Awards celebration. Rotarians were on hand to present Cheryl Prantle, teacher at Leo A. Rizzuto Elementary School, and Beck Neal, teacher and coach at La Porte High School, with checks for $8,000 each at the event. Prantle and Neal, who were selected from among the LPISD Campus Teachers of the Year by a community committee, will now continue in the competition for Region 4 Teachers of the Year. Congratulations!

RYLA students share experiences

Members of the La Porte High School Interact Club who participated in the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards camp in February attended the Rotary Club of La Porte's May 21 meeting to tell about their experiences. The Interact Club, under the leadership of Tiffiny Vaughn, is sponsored by Rotary. Club members enjoyed hearing about the meaningful activities in which they took part as well as their positive feedback about the trip. From left are Yuliet Gutierrez, Valeria Flores, Desiree Garcia, sponsor Tiffiny Vaughn, Joseline Luna, Samantha Flores, Sara Jennings and Aleyna Ramkisson. Not pictured is Addison Steffers.

Banquet honors La Porte ISD EarlyAct students

EarlyAct Club members from six La Porte ISD campuses were celebrated at the annual EarlyAct banquet sponsored by the Rotary Club of La Porte May 20 at First United Methodist Church. The group heard from Frank Nance, chairman of the EarlyAct program; Derick Meadows, president of the club; Dr. Walter Jackson, La Porte ISD superintendent of schools; Christina Thralls and Kristina Reff, parents of EarlyAct members; as well as EarlyAct sponsors and students.

Sponsors presented selected awards to outstanding Interact members. Clubs are currently at Jennie Reid Elementary School, James H. Baker Sixth Grade Campus, La Porte Elementary School, Lomax Junior High School, Bayshore Elementary School and Heritage Elementary School, with College Park Elementary School and La Porte Junior High School to come on board in 2025-26.

Special thanks to First United Methodist Church and OxyChem La Porte VCM for helping to make the event a success.

Rotary Club of La Porte welcomes new members

Rotary Club of La Porte President Derick Meadows, left, congratulates members who have joined the club over the past year. Each gave a classification speech at the March 26 meeting. From left are Ray Yellig, Shawn Kominek, Scott Pullig and Dennis Cima.

Rotary surprises Baker Sixth Grade Campus staff with treats

Rotary Club of La Porte representatives dropped by the James H. Baker Sixth Grade Campus April 10 with bundtlet cakes for the staff as a treat on STAAR testing day. The club serves as Baker’s Partner in Education through La Porte ISD.

Rotarians support La Porte Livestock Show and Rodeo Auction

La Porte Rotarians enjoyed the evening at the April 10 La Porte Livestock Show and Rodeo Association’s Annual Auction as we showed our support for our hard-working and talented La Porte ISD students. Thanks to our community for your support of the Rotary Club and this outstanding LPLSRA event!

Rotarians attend District 5890 All-Club Celebration

La Porte Rotarians visit with Assistant District 5890 Governor Ken Wimbley, center, at the District 5890 All-Club “Denim and Diamonds” Celebration this evening at the Safari Texas Ranch. From left are Brenda Thompson, Terri Cook, Susan Passmore and Derick Meadows. With the theme “Magical Ride on the Rotary Express,” the event featured addresses by District 5890 Governor Nancy Anderson and Rotary International President Stephanie Urchick.

Rotary sponsors four new EarlyAct clubs

The Rotary Club of La Porte continues to demonstrate its commitment to the young people of our community with the addition of four new EarlyAct Clubs in La Porte ISD schools this school year.

Rotarians serve breakfast to Baker staff

Members of the Rotary Club of La Porte served breakfast to the James H. Baker Sixth Grade Campus staff on their first day back at work after the holidays, Jan. 6.

October is Polio Awareness Month

October is Polio Awareness Month, and the highlight will be World Polio Day on October 24th.

Sponsorships, tickets still available for Reverse Draw

Sponsorships and tickets are still available for the 2024 Rotary Club of La Porte's Octoberfest Reverse Draw, which will be held on Oct. 19 at the Lomax Arena.

Recognition for Fill the Bus Support

Tonight at the LPISD Board of Trustees meeting, our Rotary Club was recognized for its service during various parts of the 2024 Fill the Bus program. Thank you to all the club members who helped with this program this year.