Happy Thanksgiving!
Join us on a captivating global journey as we explore Thanksgiving traditions around the world! From the familiar feasts of North America to the vibrant celebrations in Asia and Europe, this video takes you on a cultural adventure, comparing and contrasting diverse harvest festivals.
 
We hope each and every one of our members will enjoy Thanksgiving Day with family and friends!  Be safe if you are traveling, and may all your recipes be true to delightful memories of Thanksgivings past as traditions are valued.  Blessings to all and celebrate!
 
 
Rotary Board of Directors Meeting - December 10
The next monthly meeting of the Board of Directors of our club will be on December 17, 2024 at noon via zoom.  If you are not on the board you are always welcome.  Please contact Stan Edwards for the login and/or Brittany Johnson if you have an agenda item prior to Sunday, December 15.   During this meeting we will need to address those who have not yet paid dues and consider dropping memberships prior to the end of December.  If we do not drop those who have not paid the club will incur additional expenses for dues paid to Rotary International.  If you desire to disconnect from our club, please give your notice in writing to President Brittany Johnson or Charles Mickens, Secretary.
December Social - December 15
On December 15, 2024 we will have a social at a wine bar in the Houston Heights area at 5:00 pm.  Anyone in the Houston area is welcome to attend.  It will be BYOB or Buy Your Own Drinks (not bring your own).  Many have calendar events bumping into each other, especially during December.  Please rsvp to Robin Charlesworth, Club Director, at 970-880-0960 (text or call).  More details to follow soon on our club WhatsApp and December newsletter.  If you are not on WhatsApp, please let me know as it is a good tool for us to inform our members of Rotary information,  planned events, and member news.
December Meeting - December 17 @ Noon
We will not have a speaker in December, but will have a holiday social online to get to know each other better.  Prior to the meeting, we ask that you share your favorite holiday recipe to be compiled into a Holiday Cookbook for all of our members.  We have an international membership and may find a few new and interesting items to try in our own kitchens.   Please email your recipes to Robert Stein as follows:  rwstein58@gmail.com.  Be sure to write Rotary eclub Recipe in the subject line.  Please submit your recipes by noon of December 10th.  Our compilation will be shared with all active club members.
What's Happening
On November 17, 2024 we had a successful social event to meet our exchange student from Taiwan.  We met at Sam's Seafood and Steaks in NW Houston and enjoy getting to know each other.  We had 14 at the table including the following members:  Linda Caruso, Anais Watsky,  Olivia Hernandez, PDG Nick Giannone, Protus Onyango,  Ruben Santos,  Glenda Guzman Macal, Robin Charlesworth and PDG Ed Charlesworth.  Additionally, we had the following guests in attendance:  John Caruso, Buddy Watsky, Geovanni  (Olivia's husband), and Fabiola Giannone and, of course, our exchange student. 
 
Ed Socha - Recovered from a broken leg earlier this year and still teaching three Real Estate courses at the University of St. Thomas in Houston.  He surprised his students with a "Pizza Thanksgiving" before their holiday break.  He has been teaching at the University of St. Thomas for 15 years.
 
Olivia Hernandez -   Life has been at a fast pace - She is working as in-house counsel for a petrochemical company and traveling frequently to Paris.  She got married to Geovanni and moved to new digs.  Congratulations on your marriage!
 
Sidik  Ibrahim -  Had serious health issues due to a stroke.  Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers as he continues to recover and regain strength.
 
Joanna Herr and Stan Edwards and four others - Exploring Laguna Lachua.  Lachua Lake is a karstic lake nearly circular in shape and likely to be a cenote or doline.  The water has a slightly suphurous smell.  The name means "the fetid water".  It was an hour hike to the laguna, but an easy hike.  These two members reside in Antigua, Guatemala.  Joanna will be speaking about clean water projects in March, 2025.
 
PDG Bob and Jaime Hauser -  Congratulations on both of these new members, albeit experienced Rotarians,  completing the entire Camino de Santiago!  They have stories to share and are working already to put together a power point presentation.  We look forward to learning more about their challenges and experiences along the Camino!
 
 
 
 
 
 
A letter shared from Ukraine
as always everything is very bad in Ukraine, including Kyiv, it is already cold in Kyiv, we survive every day, 8-12 hours a day without electricity, no heating, water, internet, bad communication it continues terrible with Russian ballistic missiles of all types and drugs, too much damage, dead, injured among civilians, elderly people, women, children and soldiers and houses, shops, nurseries, churches, schools, thermal and hydro plants destroyed.
Can we consider the project if possible with your club, your friends, your entourage to support by your finance  for  St. Nicholas and the Christmas holidays
Ukrainian children refugees, orphans released, saved from the occupied areas of Ukraine from the regions of Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhya, Dnipro, Sumy, Kherson, Donetsk, Lugansk, Chernigiv. Our Rotary Club Kyiv Balzac, Ukraine already takes care of 579 children and their mothers from all over Ukraine in 5 refugee centers. We continue to buy them food, hygiene products, things for writing, drawing and the first things necessary for the Winter, clothes
With all my Rotarian Friendship,
Volodymyr Pylypenko President Founder Rotary Kyiv Balzac Ukraine
whats app gsm +380506499043
 
If you would like to give to brighten the holidays for some of these Ukrainian children, please donate via PayPal on our website and designate your purpose as "Ukrainian children".  All donations must be received on or before December 7, 2024.  
All Club Meeting - January 30, 2025
Join Us As We Welcome Stephanie Urchick, 2024-2025 President of Rotary International at our
Rotary District 5890 "A Magical Ride on the Rotary Express" All Club Gala
Thursday, January 30, 2025
Safari Texas Ranch, 11627 FM 1464, Richmond TX 77407
 
Attire:  "Denim to Diamonds"
EVENT SCHEDULE
5:15 PM:  Registration & EXPO Tables Open
5:30 PM:  Train Rides of the Safari Texas Ranch Event Center begin!
5:30 PM to 6:15 PM:  Major Donor & Bequest Society Reception & Donor Recognition Event  - *See details below to discover how you can be invited to this Reception)
7 PM - 9 PM:  Dinner & Presentation by Stephanie Urchick, President of Rotary International
 
"Regular Table for 10"  :  $1,000  (Includes Expo Table)
  Individual Tickets:  $150/person
 
The Rotary e-Club of Houston has secured one table for this event and the following members are confirmed:  
PDG Nick Giannone & Fabiola, Evelyn Traylor, Ruben Santos, Glenda Guzman Macal, Leenette Wilke, Protus Onyango, PDG Ed Charlesworth and Robin and our exchange student.
 
We can continue to accept names and see if we may complete another table of 10.  It is a savings of $50/ticket.
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*DISCOVER HOW YOU CAN BE INVITED TO THE PRIVATE RECEPTION & RECOGNITION CEREMONY FOR "MAJOR DONORS" & "BEQUEST SOCIETY" MEMBERS OF THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
Your generous contributions to The Rotary Foundation are essential to securing and growing Rotary programs throughout the world. We recognize donors to express our gratitude for your commitment
What is a Major Donor?
When your cumulative donations reach $10,000 you become a Major Donor and can choose to receive a crystal recognition piece and a Major Donor lapel pin or pendant. 
What is a Bequest Society Member?
When you make a commitment for future gifts of $10,000 or more to The Rotary Foundation, you’ll be invited to join the Bequest Society.
If you are interested in becoming a Major Donor, Bequest Society Member, Arch Klump Society Member or Legacy Society Member, please contact our District 5890 Rotary Foundation Committee Chair, PDG Eric Liu at EricLiu5890@gmail.com.
 
We look forward to seeing you on January 30th!
Sandra Liu
Rotary District 5890 All Club Committee Chair
SandraLiu5890@gmail.com
New Fundraiser - KROGER"S
We all buy groceries and now our dollars spent at Kroger's will return a portion to our Rotary club.  We have become a part of the NPO (Non-Profit Organization) Kroger Community Rewards Program.  If you are already part. of this program, it is possible to change your designated charity.  How?
Visit http://www.kroger.com. Once logged into their Kroger account, search for ROTARY E-CLUB OF HOUSTON, TEXAS USA either by name or BG564 and then click Enroll. New users will need to create an account which requires some basic information, a valid email address and a rewards card.  If you previously participated in this reward program, you may now change your choice to Rotary e-Club of Houston.

*Customers must have a registered Kroger rewards card account to link to your organization.
*If a member does not yet have a Kroger rewards card, please inquire at the customer service desk at any Kroger

NOTE:  REMEMBER, purchases will not count for our organization until after our members  register their rewardscard.
Participants must swipe their registered Kroger rewards card or use the phone number that is related to their registered Kroger rewards card when shopping for each purchase to count.
 
The monies earned here will be deposited into our club foundation account to be used solely for service projects.
 
We just received our first check from Krogers on October 1st! 
Designing Your Rotary Experience
GET INVOLVED IN WAYS THAT MATTER TO YOU 
Rotary offers benefits for people of all ages and backgrounds. From learning more about the world to learning more about yourself, you can grow by engaging with Rotary’s global network and the array of activities, programs, and interest groups that Rotary offers.

When you get involved in Rotary you expand your perspective by honing your skills, learning from professionals, making new connections, and making a difference in your community and around the world.

We know that each member has a unique combination of interests, skills, and talents, and so each member will be attracted to different activities. This guide describes the options you can choose from to personalize your Rotary experience and get involved in ways that matter to you.

Following is a blueprint of how to participate in Rotary and engage as a Rotarian:

ATTEND CLUB MEETINGS AND EVENTS.

Introduce yourself to members in your club to get
to know them better. Being genuinely interested in others shows people you value them, and these small interactions can lead to lasting friendships.  Our e-club offers a Speaker Series monthly on the third Tuesday at noon.  See the website calendar for information on the program.  On the calendar we will also post district events such as fundraisers, all district activities, special events, Rotary training programs. social activities, etc.

CREATE A MY ROTARY ACCOUNT.

When you register for a My Rotary account and create a profile, you can access Rotary’s online tools and locate and connect with members near and far using the Find a Member tool.  If you need assistance, do not hesitate to ask one of our board members.  This is very important to give you easy access to donating to the Rotary Foundation, finding a list of active global grants needing partners, Rotary training, Rotary interest stories, and more.

ATTEND DISTRICT MEETINGS AND EVENTS.

Clubs are grouped into more than 500 districts worldwide. By connecting with other clubs and leaders in your district, you can learn how to get involved in Rotary beyond your club and make a greater impact.

GET INVOLVED WITH CLUB INITIATIVES.

Volunteering to take part in a project, attend a meeting, or serve in a club role, such as being on a committee, will let you work with others in meaningful ways and contribute to your club’s impact. You can also suggest speakers from service and project partners or from other organizations that share Rotary’s values. Ask your club how you can help.  We encourage you to share YOUR ideas and find a "job" within our club.

VISIT ANOTHER CLUB.

You can locate Rotary and Rotaract club meetings to attend using the Find a Club tool. You might think of ways to collaborate on club activities or hear of an idea you want to try with your club. Visiting other clubs fosters new connections and inspiration.  You will always be welcome in any club around the world, and while traveling may make new friends, hear interesting speakers and learn how Rotary participates in their community.

JOIN A ROTARY FELLOWSHIP.

Meet others with similar interests by joining a Rotary Fellowship, an international group of people with a common hobby, identity, culture, or vocation. This is a fun way to make friends and explore a pastime or profession.  We have several club members who have joined the Rotary Wine Fellowship.  

JOIN A ROTARY ACTION GROUP.

These include people around the world who have expertise and passion in a particular area, such as economic development, education, the environment, or safe water. Join a Rotary Action Group to share your knowledge, develop your skills, and make professional and personal connections.  One of our members, Isis Meijas, initiated WASH-RAG (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Rotary Action Group).  Additionally, there are three groups dedicated to promoting peace - Peace, Refugees, Slavery Prevention.  Other groups focus on fighting disease - Addiction Prevention, Alzheimer's Dementia, Blindness Prevention, Blood and Organ Donation, Diabetes, Mental Health Initiatives, etc.

PARTICIPATE IN A ROTARY FRIENDSHIP EXCHANGE.
Experience different cultures and build international understanding and friendships. This program for Rotary members and friends prioritizes cultural immersion, international service, or vocational exchanges. Friendship Exchange participants take turns hosting one another in their homes and clubs.  The Charlesworth's. have enjoyed several memorable trips as part of Rotary Friendship Exchanges with South Africa, Estonia, New Zealand, and Germany.

SUPPORT YOUR CLUB.

You can help your club thrive by offering your expertise and skills through serving as a club officer, as a committee member, or in another role.

PARTICIPATE IN LOCAL SERVICE ACTIVITIES.

Find out what projects your club, neighboring clubs, and your district are working on and volunteer for one or more. Work with partners or conduct a community assessment to identify projects that would benefit your local area.  Robert Stein, Community Service Chair, suggests areas of focus for project themes each month.  In addition, we occasionally share projects of other Rotary clubs and they always appreciate more helping hands.  In our e-club we mostly have individual efforts rather than club planned projects due to our wide distribution of members across state lines and even other countries.  Robert would like to capture the time spent by our members in donating time and talent or money donated to community projects.

PARTICIPATE IN INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS.

Many clubs partner with clubs in other parts of the world to address a need in one of their communities. Together, they have more time and funding, as well as the expertise of members, partners, and Rotary program alumni to bring about sustainable, positive change. Find a project and get involved.  We have club members who are engaged with international projects in Guatemala, Ghana, Ukraine, Venezuela, and more.

JOIN THE EFFORT TO ERADICATE POLIO.

Raise awareness about Rotary’s work to end polio, donate to the PolioPlus Fund, or volunteer for a National Immunization Day. Post about polio on social media or include a link to endpolio.org in your email signature. Write to us to learn about upcoming trips for NIDs.  We ask each member to donate $50 or more to eradicate ate polio each year in addition to a donation to the Rotary Foundation,  

 
Read more...
To Do List for Active Rotarians
 
1.  Read the newsletter and listen to the TedTalk (counts as a meeting credit).
2.  Update your own Biography on ClubRunner.  If you have already written yours, please read about another club member to get to know them better.
3.  Notify Robin Charlesworth or Wind Nguyen if you are not on the club's WhatsApp group.
4.  Community Service -   Donate to a clean water project or to  "End Polio Now".
5.  Reach out and call a fellow club member to build better friendships.
 
"All Aboard" The District 5890 Express Train to our 2025 District Conference
MAY 1-4, 2025 at the Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center in College Station
OUR DESTINATION:  TEXAS A&M HOTEL AND CONFERENCE CENTER
Overlooking Kyle Field, the Doug Pitcock '49 Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center is located on the beautiful and historic Texas A&M campus. Housed in a striking glass tower across from Kyle Field and near the Memorial Student Center, the hotel and conference center provides stunning accommodations. 
 
Go to the Rotary District 5890 website to "Register to Attend District Conference" and  "Link to Hotel Room Reservations"
 
Hotel Room Rates:  
$159 (King),  $169 (Double Queen),  $219 (Suites)
..........
Texas A&M Hotel's Reveille's Canine Pals - this is a dog friendly hotel for $50 non-refundable deposit.
..........
District Conference Registration Fees:
$299/pp - April 29, 2024 -Jan 31, 2025
$399/pp - February 1, 2025 - May 1, 2025
Spouse/Guest of Rotarian (non-Rotarians) Price:  $195/pp (no additional discounts allowed)
District Conference Registration Includes: 
Welcome Reception at George Bush Presidential Library
Five (5) District Conference Meals
Multiple Hospitality Suites with Free Cocktails & Mocktails nightly!
Events includes "First Friday in Bryan" - Live music, family-friendly activities in Historic Downtown Bryan.
 
Upcoming Events & Speakers
Past Speakers
Jenna MacEwan and Joanna Herr
May 21, 2024
Water4Life Global
Melissa Ramon - Amaanah
Apr 16, 2024 12:00 PM
Refugees in Houston
View entire list...
Custom Pages
Rotary International News
A Rotarian astronaut lives her out-of-this-world dreams

Rotary member and astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti dreamed of space travel since she was a kid. Now, she’s sharing the cosmic awe with her fellow earthlings

Service Above Self
View More...
December 2024
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