SAVE THE DATE:  MAY 20, 2025 @ NOON.  Please join us to hear our Rotary Exchange Student for 2024-2025 share about her year in Houston, Texas as compared to her life in Taiwan.  She. will share about her adjustment to school, American family life, sports, and social life.  Her year is about to come to an end and our club has enjoyed hosting once again.  She is a long-term exchanee student, meaning that she arrived last year in August to spend one year of high school in the USA.  Host families are needed to support this program as well as Rotarians who will share the effort with transportation to various Rotary events as host families are not always in Rotary.  We look forward to her presentation!

 

Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2813704200?omn=89590915786 

Meeting ID: 281 370 4200 

 

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The Rotary Foundation requires a minimum pledge of $30,000 to approve a global grant.  The Rotary Club Juarez Oriente acquired $40,000 and received the global grant approval for prothestics needed in the state of Chijuahua in Mexico.  This Rotary Club is committed every year to continuing this project and it was our first time to participate thanks to our member Salvador Gonzalez who lives in El Paso, Texas.   The Rotary e-Club of Houston contributed $2,000 toward this project.  Additionally, eight clubs in District 5520 and one club from San Diego made contributions as well as two Rotary Districts who committed DDF (District Designated Funds) from D5520 and D5340.  The cost for the upper prosthesis is  $3,250 US and the cost for the lower prosthesis is $2,474 US.  There are also expenses with rehabilitation training.  The candidates are selected by three members including a doctor.  The candidates for prosthetics are young men and women who can work once they get their prosthesis.  During the Rotary year 24-25, 44 prosthesis have been provided.  

 

The Rotary Club of Juarez Oriente (D4110) began this project in 2014.  To date, 191 prothesis have been provided. Rotary clubs have donated a total of $115, 005 US since the first project.  Another major partner in this project is FECHAC, a non-profit, non-partisan, independent and autonomous grant-making foundation in Chihuahua.  They have contributed a total of $236,558 US since 2014.

 

Shout out to Salvador Gonzalez - thanks for monitoring this project and assuring that the global grant is successful!
 

Valerii Iakovenko is our active member from Ukraine and he will be in Houston next week for meetings.  His wife, Sasha Afanasieva, was our Open World Moderator for the first visiting Energy Team.  They will both be in Houston and have invited anyone interested in attending the Wednesday evening meeting to register with the QR code shown below.  Attending will be Ed and. Robin Charlesworth, Ed Socha, and Debbie Brinen with her son.  The more, the merrier and perhaps we could adjourn for a drink in the bar afterwards if you have time.

 

In times of uncertainty, leaders have a responsibility to inspire hope. Sharing hard-won wisdom, business leader Ken Chenault talks about what it takes to enact positive, enduring change -- and why it's more important than ever to invest in responsible innovation that uplifts people and centers equality and fairness.

Our condolences are extended to Ruby Powers on the recent loss of her father who had been in hospice near Lee's Summit, Missouri.  Ruby share that she is reminded of what truly matters - "having your people to support you and being there to support them when it's crucial."   "Plus you reflect on how you have lived your life ad to minimize regrets."   Despite her grieving, she continues to remain active professionally and as a volunteer.  On Monday, she presented via zoom to the Rotary ICC USA Ukraine group about immigration concerns and has offered to conduct a Webinar for Ukrainians seeking more information (date to be determined).  Thank you, Ruby! Know that we all are thinking of you and your family as you continue to help others.

 

We continue to send well wishes for our members who are struggles with personal health issues including Chopin Kiang (struggling with AFIB), and Ed Socha (recovering from two leg surgeries after a bad fall).

 

We bid farewell to Lynette Wilke who has recently retired and has chosen to join a traditional club, Rotary Club of Lake Houston.  We will continue to see her at district events and youth exchange events.

 

Protus Onyango is celebrating the graduations of two sons, one from LSU and one from Tomball Memorial High School.  He just picked up his sister who came from Kenya to attend the celebrations.  Btw - he is still collecting books for the library project in Kenya.

 

Another graduation this week celebrated Jake Stein's son who just completed Pre-Kindergarten.  Also attending the graduation and dinner afterwards were Robert Stein, Ed and Robin Charlesworth. 

 

ML Briley is in the midst of fundraising for Clubhouse Ghana.  Wishing much success!  http://www.gofundme.com/ML4LyfeFoundation or Zelle 516 902 4011

 

Harish Krishnarao is in the trenches with global grants and will be attending DG Tom Kelchner's Installation.

 

Ruben Santos and Glenda Guzman are dedicated to Rotary Youth Exchange and attended the District Conference and will be attending DG Tom Kelchner's Installation.

 

Evelyn Traylor recently held a virtual Mental Health Summit, May 10th.  Following up next month with a link so all may view.  A new Mental Health Task Force is being formed by Evelyn for the district.

 

President Brittany Johnson has demonstrated her leadership skills not only for Rotary this year, but also with Junior League and The Walsh Elementary School Foundation Fundraising Event.

 

We want to know what you are doing and enjoy learning more about our members.  Share your news with Robin Charlesworth @. 970-880-0960.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

May 20 - Monthly Meeting - Our speaker will be our Rotary exchange student from Taiwan who will wrap up her year.  She will tell us about her school year, sports, friendships,  and host family experiences.  12 noon on Zoom (see link above)

 

May 21 - Special panel discussion with Valerii Iakovenko at a side event of the Ukrainian Delegation at XPONENTIAL 2025, 5:30 - 7:30 PM,  3040 POST OAK  BLVD., Houston, Texas.   "Powered by Fleet of Millions:  Ukrainian Breakthroughs in Drone Mass Production.  Learn about field-proven Ukrainian tech:  scalable, localizable, and saving U.S. time and money.  Followed by Networking.  Must register prior to the meeting with  QR code.

 

June 14 - Installation of DG Tom Kelchner 6:00 - 10:00 pm @ Hyatt Regency Baytown - 100 Convention Center Way, Baytown (Individual tickets $125)

 

June 21-25 - Rotary International Convention in Calgary, Canada

 

                 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm  Board of Directors Meeting