Univ Area Delivers Fire Truck to Tampico
Posted by J. Irene Hickey
on Sep 07, 2010
Under the leadership and guidance of outgoing president Art Bautista and the hard work and tireless efforts of dedicated club members, the Rotary Club of the University Area (RCUA) brought to fruition an undertaking that truly defined generosity and caring across borders. It began with a simple request for help and ended with a dream fulfilled; a beautiful concert played by many generous musicians.
Jacques Cousteau once said, "It takes generosity to discover the whole through others. If you realize you are only a violin, you can open yourself up to the world by playing your role in the concert."
In November 2009, a delegation from the Tampico Campestre Rotary Club visited Houston and gave a presentation to both RCUA and the Houston Fire Department, in which they described their club's project to update the City of Tampico's Fire Department. They were in need of updated fire trucks and fire equipment (Tampico is a sister city to Houston).
RCUA, with the help of new member Captain Homero Ponce, was able to purchase a used ladder fire truck from the Wharton Fire Department.
A few months after the purchase of the first truck, a second fire truck, this time paid for by the Tampico Rotary, and acquired from the Burton Voluntary Fire Department, became part of the family. Over the course of several months, President Art Bautista generously donated both his mechanical skills and the use of his repair business, to bring both trucks up to full running order.
In concert with the purchase and repair of the trucks (which was no small endeavor on its own), Capt Homero Ponce-Lopez, a member of RCUA, worked with the Houston Fire Department and the Houston City Council to obtain a donation of three 18-wheeler containers of surplus fire fighting equipment, courtesy of the City of Houston.
In May 2010, the original request for help became a dream fulfilled with the delivery of both of the trucks and the equipment to the Customs Staging area in Pharr, TX (for permitting prior to crossing the border to Mexico). It took two separate trips to get the trucks there, but by May 1st, both had arrived at the staging area.
RCUA volunteers, including Jim Moers, Bill Baker, Art Bautista and Gerry Rein, had quite the experience driving the trucks (on two separate trips) to Pharr; their laughter and smiles evident in the pictures of their adventure.
As this rotary year closes and the new beginnings and challenges of the new year lie ahead, the fulfillment of this particular project leaves RCUA members with warm memories and new friendships forged over borders and many miles. They worked together and created a true concert of generosity, which played well to the Rotary 4-way test. All in all, a very good year.
In November 2009, a delegation from the Tampico Campestre Rotary Club visited Houston and gave a presentation to both RCUA and the Houston Fire Department, in which they described their club's project to update the City of Tampico's Fire Department. They were in need of updated fire trucks and fire equipment (Tampico is a sister city to Houston).
RCUA, with the help of new member Captain Homero Ponce, was able to purchase a used ladder fire truck from the Wharton Fire Department.
A few months after the purchase of the first truck, a second fire truck, this time paid for by the Tampico Rotary, and acquired from the Burton Voluntary Fire Department, became part of the family. Over the course of several months, President Art Bautista generously donated both his mechanical skills and the use of his repair business, to bring both trucks up to full running order.
In concert with the purchase and repair of the trucks (which was no small endeavor on its own), Capt Homero Ponce-Lopez, a member of RCUA, worked with the Houston Fire Department and the Houston City Council to obtain a donation of three 18-wheeler containers of surplus fire fighting equipment, courtesy of the City of Houston.
In May 2010, the original request for help became a dream fulfilled with the delivery of both of the trucks and the equipment to the Customs Staging area in Pharr, TX (for permitting prior to crossing the border to Mexico). It took two separate trips to get the trucks there, but by May 1st, both had arrived at the staging area.
RCUA volunteers, including Jim Moers, Bill Baker, Art Bautista and Gerry Rein, had quite the experience driving the trucks (on two separate trips) to Pharr; their laughter and smiles evident in the pictures of their adventure.
As this rotary year closes and the new beginnings and challenges of the new year lie ahead, the fulfillment of this particular project leaves RCUA members with warm memories and new friendships forged over borders and many miles. They worked together and created a true concert of generosity, which played well to the Rotary 4-way test. All in all, a very good year.