Officers ready for Rotary Year 2013-14

                The Rotary Club of Rosenberg held its officer installation banquet last week with former Rotary District 5890 Governor Jon Eiche conducting the ceremony.

                The Rosenberg club will have four of its members share presidential chores through the oncoming Rotary year, which officially begins July 1, 2013.

                Four former club presidents will share the duties of president, with Ginger Johnson taking the reins in July. She will be followed by Gary Finch, Mark Vogler and Hurley Johnson

                Other officers include, Bradley Stavinoha, president-elect and membership chairman; Mary Servantes, vice president; Enrique Ramon, treasurer; Bob Haenel secretary and public relations chairman; Hurley Johnson, sergeant-at-arms and president, fourth quarter; Tom Stavinoha, Rotary Foundation chairman; Darren McCarthy, service projects chairman; and Phil Hamman, past president.

                Ron D. Burton, who is from the Rotary Club of Norman, Okla., will serve as the 2013-14 Rotary International President. His theme is “Engage Rotary, Change Lives.”

                Three Rotarians were honored for perfect attendance, including Stephen Oldmixon (29 years), Gary Finch (26 years) and Mary Servantes (14 years).

Hugh Conway and Joyce Vasut were named Paul Harris Fellows. Paul Harris founded Rotary International in Chicago, Ill., in 1905. Paul Harris Fellows receive the honor for contributing to the Rotary Foundation, an entity that provides grant funds for club projects worldwide.

                Rotary International is also renowned for helping to eliminate polio throughout the world. The deadly disease has been narrowed to about three to four countries with some areas remaining at risk.

                Rosenberg Rotary Club was founded in 1950. Each year the club holds a Gun Raffle to raise funds for the club’s Project Dictionary. The club donates a personal dictionary to every third-grade student in Lamar CISD, Needville ISD and some private schools.

Its other big fundraiser is the annual Gumbo Fest, held in February at the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds. That event enables the club to present scholarships to students from Terry High School, George Ranch High School and Needville High School.

Several other contributions go to programs or organizations in the area. In the past few years, the club has donated funds to help build an accessible playground in Rosenberg’s Seabourne Creek Park; helped construct a stage for the Needville Harvest Festival; and made various other donations throughout the community.

In the coming Rotary year, the club is seeking a Rotary District 5890 matching grant to benefit Camp Cloud in Kendleton.

The past two years, the club also has hosted international exchange students from France and Brazil.

The Rotary Club of Rosenberg meets at noon Wednesdays at the Fort Bend Country Club in Richmond.

In the photo:

  Past District 5890 Governor Jon Eiche, center, installed the new officers of the Rotary Club of Rosenberg Wednesday, June 19. Four people will share the presidency this year, including Ginger Johnson, first quarter; Gary Finch, second quarter; Mark Vogler, third quarter; and Hurley Johnson, fourth quarter. Shown are, from left, Bob Haenel, secretary and public relations; Enrique Ramon, treasurer; Gary Finch, president, second quarter; Eiche; Tom Stavinoha, Rotary Foundation; Ginger Johnson, president, first quarter; Hurley Johnson, sergeant-at-arms and president, fourth quarter; and Phil Hamman, past president. Not pictured are Bradley Stavinoha, president-elect and membership; Darren McCarthy, service projects; and Mark Vogler, president, third quarter.