President John Mayfield rang the bell to start the meeting at 12:04 PM. He then invited Dave Hartman to lead the invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and the song Grand Ol’ Flag, led by Arnold Oliver.
During the meeting, we had the pleasure of wishing Monica Horton, Josh Phillips, and Sheldon Wang a Happy Birthday. All three were fortunate to receive a cinnamon roll from Judy Koetter. Judy had three remaining cinnamon rolls, which were auctioned off to Cara Sauceda.
We were saddened to hear of the passing of Jake Munholland’s mother. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Munholland family during this difficult time. Tommy Richardson announced that Noros Martin is recovering well from knee surgery.
As a reminder, if you still have a red badge, please check with Tina Williams or John Deason to see what is necessary to obtain your blue badge. John, the Red Badge Sheriff, is in town and is eager to help make our club 100% blue badge as soon as possible. Greg Brownfield has discount cards for the Boy Scouts—see him if you’re interested in getting one.
During the brag bucket, money was collected from John Mayfield, Cara Sauceda, Josh Phillips, and Dave Hartman. John bragged on Colton for helping him find the right surgeon for his eyelid. Cara bragged on the Leadership Wichita Falls Program. Josh shared that his daughter is second all-time in scoring at Legacy High. Dave conveniently forgot his wallet and had to take a loan from Lisa Stephens-Musick to brag on Benay Ayers and John Deason for their work on Rotary Park.
Josh Phillips then introduced our program, “Zavala Dancing,” which was presented by Esly Pimentel. Esly is the Executive Director of Zavala Wichita Falls. The Zavala organization was founded in 2001 when Chuck Neale and Carroll Wilson recognized the growing Hispanic population in Wichita Falls and the need for greater Hispanic involvement in leadership. They held a community meeting in 2002 to identify barriers and ways to engage the Hispanic population, which led to the formation of a steering committee later that year. This group, which included various community leaders, adopted the name Zavala Hispanic Cultural Initiative, honoring Lorenzo de Zavala, a significant Texan figure. Zavala became a project fund of the Wichita Falls Area Community Foundation in 2003, received official recognition from the Texas Secretary of State in 2003, and became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2006.
Over the years, Zavala has been actively involved in the community through various collaborations, including with Vernon College, Midwestern State University, and the Wichita Falls Public Library. It has hosted cultural events like the Zavala Latin Festival and the Hispanic Leadership Banquet, which celebrates achievements and provides scholarships. Taco Fest, originally created in response to a racist comment, is now an anti-racism fundraiser for the Zavala Hispanic Initiative. The event features local taco vendors, with proceeds supporting scholarships and educational programs for youth in Wichita Falls. Additionally, Zavala offers programs like Zavala International Dance and works with local organizations to promote bilingual literacy, arts, and education, including helping students with FAFSA and post-secondary preparation.
Esly then focused on the Zavala International Dance program. The goal is to provide an extracurricular activity without additional costs to families. The program costs about $500 per participant. Currently, there are 30-40 dancers involved. The program supports physical and mental development, stress relief, and self-expression. It also teaches teamwork, communication, and aids in social interaction. The Zavala Dancers can be found at events hosted by Zavala throughout the year.
The meeting concluded with President John presenting the speaker's gift and leading the club in the Four-Way Test.