Join us on Zoom for the Speaker Series this Thursday at 6:30 pm (CST) to hear Kim Rogers speak about Hearts for Guatemala. Donations for the project are mounting and plans are in progress to build a library. Several club members will be making a site visit at the end of January, 2023. We have applied and been approved for a district grant, too. Of course, not everyone can go in person. Join us to find out how things are progressing and perhaps how you can help. Giving Tuesday raised $1,100 for this project.
Some have still not paid dues for this Rotary year. The annual dues are $200. We need to cut-off those who have not paid or have not notified us on December 18, 2022. The reason for the hard deadline is that we have already paid both RotaryInternational and RotaryDistrict 5890 for July 1 - December 31, 2022. Our roster of names at the end of the calendar year is how Rotary International will base billing for January1 - June 30, 2023. We will have to pay for every name on the list. If you have chosen to leave our club, please put it in writing to our Club Secretary, Charles Mickens (ccmickens@gmail.com). And if you have not paid, we will still need a check for $100 to cover what we have already paid in dues. We hope everyone will remain in the club, and recognize that there is a season when each member has more time to give of their time, talents, or donations. Sometimes life just get too busy and your time for volunteering may be limited. That's o.k. Just please keep us informed. All we ask is(1) read the newsletter once monthly, (2) visit our website to check the calendar, make donations, catch-up. Pick up the phone and call another member at your leisure.
Questions should be directed to PDG Ed Charlesworth (charlesworth@stresscontrol.com).
Come one, come all in person or on zoom to our Annual Holiday Party on Sunday, December 18th, at the home of Ed and Robin Charlesworth (11407 Hylander Dr., Houston). Casual holiday attire and bring some appetizers or desserts to share. Beverages will be provided. You may also bring your donations of blankets or jackets for distribution to the needy. Robert Stein, Community Service Chair, will take these items for sharing with the less fortunate.
We would love for our members who reside too far away to attend in person to join us from 2:30 - 3:30 pm (CST).
Zoom ID# 834 5216 7397
One tap mobile +13462487799, 83452167397# US (Houston)
Traveling Rotarians- Dr. Nick Giannone and Past President Dick Robie exploring AbuDhabi; Chopin Kiang is cruising with his wife, Joan, celebrating their 31st Anniversary; Anais and Buddy Watsky are off to the Bahamas with grown kids and grandkids; Ed and Robin Charlesworth are exploring more of South America and Antarctica; Isis Meijas visited Chicago see her dad; President Brittany and family dad fun at DisneyWorld, Ruby Powers experienced an awesome conference in Vegas- American Immigration Lawyers Association Business School of Immigration Attorneys as a conference committee member and speaker on the Modern Workplace..
Holiday fun in Houston - Wind Nguyen sold out of his photography offerings at the Art & Eats Festival, a portion of which will support foster children; Lynette Wilke took a break from volunteering with Rotary Youth Exchange for their family tradition of attending The Nutcracker; Jake Stein hosts his father, Robert Stein, his wife Carol, and parents-in-law, Ed and Robin Charlesworth for annual Christmas Dinner at Brenner's.
Rotarians at work - Isis Meijas is working on a new WaSH global grant to be implemented in Brazil.
The WASH Rotary Action Group was formed in 2007 by a group of Rotarians, recognized by Rotary International, and focused on WASH projects. Since then it has facilitated many hundreds of projects – helping clubs find partners, ensuring sustainability, stressing the importance of a needs-driven approach, and developing best practices. We encourage a holistic, integrated approach in which water is not the end in itself, but is rather the means to a better life and livelihood in the community. Most importantly, WASH Rotary Action Group links water and sanitation to improved hygiene, better health, and empowerment of the community – especially women, irrigation and agriculture, education and literacy and, ultimately, child mortality. Also, Anais Watsky and Ruben Santos interviewed prospective outbound exchange students for next school year. The Charlesworth's donated office space for them to conduct the interviews.
Cristal Montanez remains involved with Hope for Venezuelan Refugees Soup Meal Program which procured and delivered more than 6,805.93 kg pf locally produced commodities and distributed 10,522 hot soup meals.
Salvador Gonzalez is planning a global grant with Rotary Club Juarez Oriente (D4110) to provide prosthetic legs to amputees of scare economic resources.
Sympathy is extended to Stan Edwards on the loss of his grandmother. He and Kim returned stateside to attend her funeral in California. Additionally, Stan and Kim are getting closer to their wedding celebration in Antigua which will be February 1, 2023.
Welcome to the newest member of the Rotary e-Club of Houston - Lisa Frederick! Lisa lives in Kingwood just north of Houston and commutes into downtown Houston for work as a legal analyst. She has several friends who are active Rotarians and has been inspired by their contributions to others. She will be inducted officially as a member during the holiday party, with visiting Rotarians Sonya Heath, Irene Hickey and Lindsay Kroll. Robin Charlesworth has known Lisa for several years as they have skied together in Crested Butte, Colorado on trips organized by Irene Hickey, Lisa has already participated in a Rotary Friendship Exchange to France last year. She is "pup mom" to 4 precious King Charles spaniels. She also has one grown daughter and one married son,
In the Houston region, 50% of homelessness is caused by an economic crisis (job loss, bills become higher than earnings), debunking common stereotypes that homelessness is overwhelmingly caused by substance use – which actually accounts for less than 10% of homelessness locally (from Coalition for the Homeless). The 2022 Homeless Count & Survey shows that we can expect to see 3,223 people experiencing homelessness at any given moment in the Houston region. We all see the homeless begging on street corners in our various cities or tents set up in parks or under freeways. How did their lives lead to homelessness, we may ask ourselves. What can we do? First, we can become better educated on the issues surrounding homelessness. Then we can proceed to donating, volunteering, or even advocating for these individuals or families.
Becky Blanton planned to live in her van for a year and see the country, but when depression set in and her freelance job ended, her camping trip turned into homelessness. In this intimate talk, she describes her experience of becoming one of America's working homeless.
Our own Active Rotarian, Chopin Kiang, has shared on the club's WhatsApp that in 1984 he stood in food lines in North Las Vegas at the Catholic Social Services "receiving the blessings of hot meal and a hot shower". At that time, Chopin was a working homeless school teacher living in a car on the streets of Las Vegas for four months. Chopin shared, "I don't ever want to forget the dread and sense of hopelessness which many of our neighbors in our midst are going through every moment of their 24-hour day and night." He has shared his cooking talents (6 pans of Kielbasa Mushroom Bellpeppers Egg & Cheese casseroles) partnering with Compassionate Care United to serve hot meals to the homeless in Conroe, Texas.
These two personal stories demonstrate how hope and community support can change lives. Many fine individuals, once successful with secure housing and employment, may succumb to unexpected life changes. Yet, these same folks can benefit from our encouragement and support, even becoming citizens who are committed to helping others. We are thankful for the opportunity to know Chopin in our Rotary club and honored to follow his example of generosity of giving to those in need,
This holiday season is upon us and we encourage all Rotarians to find their passion for giving, Happy Holidays!
The Four-Way Test is a nonpartisan and nonsectarian ethical guide for Rotarians to use for their personal and professional relationships. The test has been translated into more than 100 languages, and Rotarians recite it at club meetings.
Of the things we think, say or do:
First, Is it the TRUTH? Second, Is it FAIR to all concerned? Third, Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? and Fourth, Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
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