This year the start for our bikeride moved from Chappell Hill to Brenham High School and the WC Fairgrounds. This meant that we had to re-route the ride. Some of the routes were new, but portions of the route were on the same roads as the old routes.The bad weather held off with the exception of a few light sprinkles, but mostly the weather was near-perfect: cloudy cool and light winds. The big new thing for our ride this year was the affiliation with the BPMS150 ride. We got "Recommended Ride" status which meant that we were listed on the BPMS150 website as a Recommended ride. There are over 12,000 riders on the BPMS150 and that means they all had an opportunity to find us through that website. We don't have the final figures, but we had around 1200 riders. Many had never ridden our ride and we heard a lot of positive feedback from riders. Attached are some photos from the ride.

 

At our meeting on July 12, Jim Kite gave us an update on the situation on Nicaragua where the country is in crisis. As a result of years of corrupt practices by president Ortega, he has angered the elderly, the students, the business community and even his own party. over 300 people have been murdered during peaceful protests by Ortega's men. As a result, the whole country's roads have been blocked off and no trucks or shipping can bring supplies into the country. Some supplies can be flown in, but can't be distributed because all major highways are blockaded. As a result people can't get medical treatment and many who already live hand-to-mouth are starving.Jim says that we can help by sending money that can be wired-in so that basic foods can be purchased from local farmers within the country and distributed through back roads in small pickups, off of the main highways to people who need it. This can be done through the 501C3 organization Hope and Relief International that Jim and other Rotarians set up several years ago to help build schools and hospitals in Nicaragus. If Rotarians Want to help they can send money to Jim payable to HOPE AND RELIEF INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION 10700 Gerke Rd, Brenham, TX 77833.

For more information on the crisis: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-44779257

Curt Podeszwa, Director; Carey Council, President Elect; Lea Wie, Secretary; Gene Young, Director; Gena Wilimitis, Director; Cathy Boeker, Director; Lowell Ogle, Vice President; April Thompson, Director; Brice Milliorn, President; Carmen Cuneo, District Governor; William Grote, Director; Christi Yackel, Director and Page Michel, Past President. Not present: Barbara Wilganowski, Sergeant-at-Arms.

 

This year, The Rotary Club of Washington County raised $56,375 for charities in Washington County. Shown at the 6/7/18 meeting are the representatives of organizations receiving donations from the Rotary Club of Washington county. The organizations are: Adam's Angels Ministry, New Beginnings, Camp for All, Heritage Society of WC, Washington-on-the-Brazos Junteenth Heritage Celebration, WC Summer Feeding Program, Bread Partners, Boy Scouts of America, Habitat for Humanity, and Volunteer Services Council BSSLC.

On Monday May 7, 2018 the Rotary Club of Washington County awarded scholarships in the amounts of $1,000 to six seniors at Brenham High School.

Shown here is Rotary Club President Page Michel with the six recipients.  left to right: Carter Yackel, Bailey Grunder, Kevin Pham, Page Michel, Grace Beisert, David Quiroz, Addison Thielemann. Congratulations and Good Luck!

On Saturday August 5th, 2017 The Rotary Club of Washington County partnered with the Child Protective Service to host an Adoption Fair at the St Paul's School. The Adoption Fair brings together parents who are wanting to adopt, with kids who need a home and someone to love and care for them. The children are older and because of their age, are not as adoptable. At the Fair, the parents can interact with the youngsters in an informal, fun atmosphere.

See the photo journal for more images of the Adoption Fair.

 

	Adam’s Angels* BISD Foundation* Boy Scouts* Boys and Girls Club* Bread Partners Brenham Children’s Choir* Brenham Heritage Museum Camp for All* Clean Water Projects CPS Adoption Fair* Disabled Veterans Faith Mission Game Changers* Girl Scouts* Guerrero Eye Clinic Habitat for Humanity Here I Am Orphan Ministries* Heritage Society of Washington County		Hospice Brazos Valley Interact Scholarships* Job Partnerships-WC Main Street Local History Day* MBLA-DG* Miracle Farm* Morning Glory Ranch* New Beginnings* Nicaragua (Children of the Dump Scholarships)* Pink Angels Polio Plus* Project Graduation* Rotary House Senior Center of WC Teacher of the Year Award Unity Summer Camps* Volunteer Services Council WC Food Coalition*