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Welcome to our Rotary E-Club of Houston!

Service Above Self

We meet In Person & Online

Tuesdays at 12:00 PM

3rd tuesday of month on your computer

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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

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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 recently offered 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 week in Miami for the Connect Marketplace for three days of powerful networking, professional development, and idea sharing. She represented the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa which is located in Palm Springs, CA.

Robin Charlesworth is planning (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.

ROTARY DUES - $300

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.

Rotarian of the Year 24-25

Congratulations to our President Nick Giannone for being recognized as Rotarian of the Year by Past-President Brittany Johnson! "In recognition of your outstanding dedication, leadership, and commitment in stepping up as President-Elect on short notice. Your steady guidance and selfless service have made a lasting impact on our club and we honor you with admiration and appreciation for a true Rotarian." Nick also encouraged our club members to donate to The Rotary Foundation by matching points to promote advancement to the Paul Harris level of giving. Now we look forward to his leadership as President in the new Rotary year!

Welcome New Member - Ed Pettit

Welcome to our new active member, Ed Pettit who has been approved by our Board of Directors. He is a transfer from the Houston Skyline Rotary Club which meets in downtown Houston. Ed is a Past President of that club. His classification is Urban Planner and he is now pursuing his. doctorate degree which led to his decision to transfer to our club. for increased flexibility. Ed and Robin Charlesworth first home hosted him sixteen years ago when he visited Houston from Botswana where he worked with adolescents dealing with AIDS. Robin also volunteered with him at Project Cure to sort medical supplies.He has over a decade of experience in designing, implementing, and evaluating development projects domestically and internationally. He is also spotlighted as our speaker in this newsletter with a Ted Talk. Listen and you will get to know him even better. Welcome to the Rotary e-Club of Houston!

Ted Talk - How Microgrids Can Save Lives and Power the Future | Ed Pettitt | TEDxThird Ward

When Hurricane Beryl hit Houston’s Third Ward, Ed Pettitt witnessed firsthand how seniors and low-income families were left stranded without electricity, air conditioning, or even water—revealing how power outages don’t impact everyone equally. In this talk, he explores how energy poverty is a global crisis, with life-threatening consequences from underserved neighborhoods in the U.S. to remote communities abroad. Pettitt introduces community microgrids as a transformative solution that can decentralize power, lower energy costs, and give control back to local residents. Through a partnership between the Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice at Texas Southern University and the Clean Energy Fund of Texas, he shares a bold, justice-centered vision for a future where no one is left in the dark. Ed Pettitt is a doctoral candidate in Urban Planning and Environmental Policy at Texas Southern University. He serves as a Graduate Research Assistant with the Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice in Houston, where he focuses on equitable energy transitions and community resilience. Ed played a key role in securing a $156 million EPA Solar for All grant to expand community solar, energy efficiency, and microgrids. This initiative will benefit Historically Black Colleges & Universities, Minority Serving Institutions, Tribal Colleges & Universities, and adjacent low-income, energy-burdened communities across the United States—serving as a model that can be replicated globally. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.

This is the first TedTalk shared by one of our own members! Well done, Ed!

Community Service Goals

Our Houston E-Club community service theme for July is “Beat the Heat” – Concentrating service efforts to make the lives of those less fortunate more comfortable as the summertime & heat kicks into high gear.

Two areas of specific needs are shown below with connection opportunities to volunteer and help in the Houston area. For those outside Houston look for similar needs and support opportunities in your community …. These needs are everywhere at this time of year. Be proactive and represent Rotary wherever you are and please do so often!

Fans & A/C for the elderly
- TXU & Interfaith Ministries - https://www.imgh.org/im-and-txu-energy-work-to-bring-box-fans-to-seniors/
Food support for out-of-school children
- No Kid Hungry - https://www.nokidhungry.org/what-we-do/school-community-meals

Additional focus should also be given to the global perspective provided through Rotary International. The RI focus for the months of June and July are:

July – Maternal and Child Health Month

HELP TEXAS HILL COUNTRY WITH FLOOD RELIEF EFFORTS

Our Board of Directors approved a $250 donation to Disaster USAide for clean-up from the flood debris

Be proactive and represent Rotary wherever you are and please do so often!

District Governor Tom Kelchner's Club Visit

On August 12 we will join with Rotarians in the Greater Houston Veterans and Patriots Rotary Club and the HobbyAirport Rotary Club. The multi-club meeting will start at noon, and there will be a social which begins at 11:30 am. The meeting will be held at the Bighorn Restaurant 2300 Smith Ranch Rd, Pearland, TX 77584, USA. We will also be publishing a zoom link when it becomes available. DG Tom says, "Our presentation will focus on the initiatives and goals we have laid out for the year. We will have other team members with me who will speak to specific initiatives, e.g. Interact, Polio, Membership, etc." We will honor the District Governor with a $250 Polio Plus donation to The Rotary Foundation. We encourage all of our members to save this date and make a strong showing for our club to hear DG Tom speak. We appreciated his personal visit to our club's Installation of Officers!

What's Happening

Isis Meijas - Safe travels. to Taiwan for a meditation retreat - you don't really need the beauty rest but some R. & R (rest and recreation)!

Maria Allgayer and PDG Adauto Lemos visited in person in Vitoria, Brazil earlier this month. Adauto shared, "we shared one of those unforgettable Rotary moments - a warm embrace between friends, partners, and brothers united by a common mission and a dram of a happier humanity."

Graduate Season - We have three members who celebrated two graduations each this month. Congratulations to the Grads and their support teams - MLBrookshsire, Tara. Zaafran, and Protus Onyango.

Congratulations to PDG Nick Giannone and Fabiola as they are the proud new grandparents of their second grandchild!

Ruby Powers celebrated another birthday although wouldn't you agree that she simply doesn't age! Her office staff arranged a sweet celebration (yes, with cake!)

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.

Major Focus Areas of Rotary

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,

November 2025

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Member Birthdays:

Robert Stein

November 4
Brandon Murden

November 20

Join Date:

Armand Kambou

November 1, 2011

14 years

Jan Vocational. Talks

Speaker

Miller, Adriane

Speaker

Stein, Jake

Speaker

Powers, Ruby

Service Above Self

November 2025

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