Club Information
Welcome to our Rotary E-Club of Houston!
e-Club of Houston

Service Above Self

We meet In Person & Online
Tuesdays at 12:00 PM
3rd tuesday of month on your computer
Your place
Anywhere Worldwide, TX
United States of America
Monthly newsletter; Board of Director meetings monthly - Second Tuesday @ Noon; Speaker Series monthly - Third Tuesday @ Noon Service Above Self - Service projects - ANYTIME
Join Us Online [Login to view details]
District Site
Bulletins
Venue Map
SAVE THE. DATE - HOLIDAY PARTY
On Thursday evening the 4th of December, we plan to have a hybrid meeting to celebrate the holidays with our exchange student from Brazil.  This will. be a dinner at SAM's Seafood & Steaks (12758 Grant Road, Cypress,  Texas. 77429)..  Please rsvp to Anais Watsky at 281-467-9449 or awatsky@icloud.com.  Spouses are welcome.  We will begin to socialize at 6:30 pm, and plan on the event lasting until about 8:00 pm.  It will be a great opportunity to get together both in-person and to meet more of our club members online (Zoom, of course!).  We will have a short program to share "GOOD NEWS", meet our exchange student, and recognize some deserving Rotarians,  Dress - "Holiday Casual".  
 
If you want to join us via Zoom to hear our short program, please join us at 6:45 pm CST.  The link for the meeting is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2813704200?omn=81814580589
ROTARY DUES - $300 for 25-26
How to pay your Rotary Dues - Use the QR code below or Venmo (@RotaryeClubofHouston).  Here you may enter the amount of your payment.  Our board is keeping the annual dues at the rate of $300 the same for the Rotary year 25-26.   Or you may mail your check to Edward Charlesworth, Treasurer, 11407 Hylander Dr., Houston, Texas 77070.  
 
 If you join another club, they most likely will want to confirm your status before the transfer may be approved.  Withdrawal from our club must be in writing to our Board of Directors.  There will not be a refund of dues during the Rotary year and dues must be current to leave our club in good standing.
 
If you have decided to leave our club, please do so prior to December 27 or the.club will have to pay your dues to Rotary International.  If you are not currrent on dues, then this is a burden to our club.  Please notify Charles Mickens, Secretary, of your intent to leave the club.  
COMMUNITY SERVICE UPDATE
December 2025 / January 2026
 
The holiday season is getting into full swing during these special months of the year. We have many blessings and gifts to share as Rotarians actively engaging in our communities. Our Houston E-Club community service theme for December & January is “Goods and Presents for the less fortunate” – Concentrating our service efforts to make the lives of those less fortunate more comfortable as we go through the holiday season. Our club focuses on the areas and people noted below in this season of giving. For those outside Houston look for similar needs and support opportunities in your community …. These opportunities are everywhere this time of year.
  • Coats & Blankets for the homeless
  • Holiday cards for elderly (Nursing Homes) & lonely individuals
  • Toy Drives for Needy Families
Additional focus should also be given to the global perspective provided through Rotary International. The RI focus for the months of December and January are:
  • December – Disease Prevention & Treatment Month
  • January – Vocational Service Month
Be proactive and represent Rotary wherever you are and please do so often!
Update on Global Grants

Though, I am a Rotarian of the Houston e-club, I also serve as the Rotary District 5890 Global Grants Chair and the Vice President of the Inter-Country Committee between USA and Mexico.  As a result of my roles, I support multiple global grants each year. 

  1. Rotary Cares: Global Grant approved

This project aims to enhance the medical capabilities of Jain Mission Hospital (JMH) in Karnataka, India, by providing essential equipment for their use in 

1. Monitoring patients in ICU / Ward / in Emergency

2. ENT Surgeries, 

3. Beds for patients ICU, ward and OPD

JMH, overseen by Jain Mission Trust, Bengaluru, and supported by philanthropists and organizations like Rotary International, was inaugurated on June 14, 2021, with a mission to ensure equitable access to high-quality healthcare for underprivileged communities in Chikkaballapur and its surrounding areas.

  1. Clean Water for all: Grant submitted to TRF and awaiting approval

Our Project is to provide water storage tanks (Rotoplas) of 1100 liters, for 100 families in the Ramón Pérez neighborhood, located in the city of Reynosa Tamaulipas, where piped water arrives only one day a week, and the idea is that they are installed and provided with this water container, which will be refilled every time the water arrives at their neighborhood. or failing that, it could be filled with rainwater as well, if necessary, the project is the purchase of 100 rotoplas, for 100 houses in the neighborhood.

This project is being implemented with Rotary District 4130, primary point of contact is Ms. Esmeralda Chimal -Rizzo (Rotary Director Salvador Rizzo’s wife). They needed expert advice and I am serving as their International Rotary Partner

  1. Club House Ghana: Draft stage

Houston e-club led global grant proposal, in its early stages, led by President Elect ML and Anais.

What's Happening
Anais Watsky & ML Brookshire are working together on revisions to the Global Grant 2683772 located in Oyarifa - Accra (Ghana) and our club has donated $1,000 toward this Mental Health project.  The host club is Rotary Club of Koforidua in Accra and our club is the International Sponsor.  Please ask your Rotarian friends in other clubs for the appropriate contacts in International Service to request funds for supporting this project.
 
Ruby Powers has begun teaching another semester at South Texas College of Law Houston and  conducted a Webinar for the ICC USA-Ukraine on Immigration Options & Updates.  Thank you, Ruby, for your commitment to "Service Above Self"!
 
Brittany Johnson just spent a month in Hawaii for a new sales position with Marriott.
 
Robin Charlesworth planned (with the President, Marsha Hunt, Secretary, Barbara Leger, and National Director, Claudine Schooley) the 5th Anniversary Celebration of the formation of the ICC  USA-Ukraine and has served on this national committee since its inception. She is now Vice-President of ICC USA-Ukraine and serves on the National Committee which coordinates all countries with ICC connections with many different countries in the USA.
 
An engagement was recently announced for two of our members - Congratulations to Glenda Guzman Macal and Ruben Santos!  These two are also very involved with the Rotary Youth Exchange program in our district.
 
Valerii Iakovenko presented to the ICC USA-Ukraine international group of Rotarians about his drone business and it has prduced 300,000 new jobs in the USA.  He has applied for extending his immigration status but the paperwork got delayed and he has had to leave the USA and temporarily live in London,
 
PDG Bob and Jamie Hauser have been traveling extensively.  Bob met with an unusual encounter with a young drug addict resulting in serious injuries in a robbery attempt.  We wish him the best for recovery!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Program:  How we'll stop polio for good
As the Assistant Director-General of the World Health Organization’s Polio and Emergencies Cluster, Bruce Aylward works to ensure that polio stays under control and that the world is prepared to respond to health crises.  Polio is almost completely eradicated. But as Bruce Aylward says: Almost isn't good enough with a disease this terrifying. Aylward lays out the plan to continue the scientific miracle that ended polio in most of the world -- and to snuff it out everywhere, forever.  Listen for his nod to Rotarian volunteers.
 
 
Eradicating polio is the hope and dream of Rotary International.  Let's see this through to the finish line!  Did you know that President Nick Giannone and his wife along with PDG Ed Charlesworth and Robin Charlesworth (all members of Rotary e-Club of Houston) have been to the slums in India to volunteer to administer  polio drops to help in this effort?  We ask that all members make some contribution toward "End Polio Now" in addition to supporting our Rotary Foundation.
Register your Community Service
On our ClubRunner website you may now register your volunteer hours and donations to community organizations.  Click on the Member area and select Volunteers in the top blue bar.  Next, select Member Hours Report.  Here you may enter your activity of volunteering.  Our Community Service Char, Robert Stein, will capture this information to report to the board each month.  Please give it a try and if you need some help reach. our to either Robert Stein or to Robin Charlesworth.  We know our club members have  much to share and now this is an easy way to report back to our club just what you are doing.  Our Rotary motto of "Service Above Self" is adopted by all of us and we are interested in learning about. your good deeds.
Fundraiser - KROGER'S or City Market
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.
 
We have received a check for about $31.00 for the second quarter of the calendar year.  We need to get more members registered for our club to earn more money.

*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.
 
Since our club hopes to support worthy service projects, yet we don't have a strong track record with fundraising, we ask that you support our Roary club with. your purchases while grocery shopping.
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.  Community Service -   Time & talents or $ donations (Please enter your activity on our website)
4.  Reach out and call a fellow club member to build better friendships.
 
Upcoming Events & Speakers
Past Speakers
Neal Kassanoff
Oct 21, 2025
Bahale Arts Development Center in Maseru, Lesotho
Michael Caruso
Sep 16, 2025
View entire list...
Custom Pages
Rotary International News
United Nations and Rotary celebrate 80th anniversary of UN charter

Leaders affirm their organizations’ historic, enduring relationship

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Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays:
  • Brandon Johnson
    December 11
  • Anais Watsky
    December 16
  • Charles Mickens
    December 25
  • Chopin Kiang
    December 26
  • Marcia Natali de Assis Allgayer
    December 26
Spouse/Partner Birthdays:
  • Giselli Rossoni Lemos
    December 18
Anniversaries:
  • Ed Charlesworth
    Robin Charlesworth
    December 7
  • Robin Charlesworth
    Ed
    December 7
  • Dick Robie
    Barbara Robie
    December 28
Join Date:
  • Debra Harper-LeBlanc
    December 1, 2006
    19 years
  • Lisa Frederick
    December 10, 2022
    3 years
  • Chopin Kiang
    December 31, 2021
    4 years
  • Ed Socha
    December 31, 1998
    27 years
Meeting Responsibilities
Jan Vocational. Talks
Speaker
Miller, Adriane
 
Speaker
Stein, Jake
 
Speaker
Powers, Ruby