Stories

                The Rotary Club of Rosenberg members are busy selling tickets for the club’s annual Gun Raffle. Proceeds from the raffle will fund the club’s annual Dictionary Project.

                For the past six years, the Rosenberg Rotary Club has presented a personal dictionary to every third-grade student in Lamar CISD and Needville ISD as well as some area private schools. This will be the fifth year the Dictionary Project will be funded by the Gun Raffle.

                “There is nothing more delightful than to see the smiles on these kids’ faces when we give them a personal dictionary,” said Ginger Johnson, club president. “For many of these students, this may be the only book they own.”

                Raffle tickets are $20 each and the club always has held the event to 30-to-1 odds. If enough tickets are sold to warrant an additional prize, the club will add another item. The drawing will be held at the club’s regular meeting at noon Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2013 at the Fort Bend Country Club.

                This year, the guns are provided by Carroll’s Gun Shop in Wharton. Any of the gun prizes from Carroll’s may be exchanged for other merchandise sold at Carroll’s.

The prize list also features an Enchilada Dinner for 25 with $60 for drinks, donated by Rosa Rita’s Restaurant in Needville; a Barbecue Dinner for 10 with $60 for drinks, donated by The Swinging Door Restaurant in Richmond and on FM 359; and a morning and evening hog hunt for three along the Brazos River Bottom in January/February plus a $25 Gift Card to Schulze’s BBQ in Rosenberg.

                The year’s event also includes a Champion M-22 Guns Safe.

Guns on the list this year include: a Weatherby Vanguard S2 25-06; a Stoeger Condor 12 ga O/U; a Taurus PT 111 9mm Handgun; a Remington 870 12 ga Pump; a Remington 870 20 ga Pump; a Rossi Trifecta 20 ga/243/22; a Savage Axis 270 w/3x9 Scope; a Stoeger Condor 20 ga O/U; a Ruger 10/22 22 LR w/Laser; and a Taurus PT740 Slim Handgun.

                Tickets are available from every member of the Rotary Club of Rosenberg. For additional information or tickets, contact Tom Stavinoha at 832-363-7373 or Ginger Johnson at 832-526-2726.

Preparing for this year’s annual Gun Raffle are, from left, President Ginger Johnson, Joyce Vasut, Enrique Ramon, Hurley Johnson and Gary Finch.

                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.

Caption:

Past Rotary District 5890 President John 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.