Being an active Rotarian not only involves commitment to  the Rotary motto, "Service Above Self", but also a commitment to support our club with payment of annual dues.  Our dues are structured to pay for Rotary International dues, Rotary District 5890 dues, and a small amount for club operations.  We will be sending invoices soon in the amount of $200.  Please pay promptly.  We will also be exploring a method to automatically renew membership annually to make it easier for everyone.  

Professional development is an integral part of membership in Rotary.  Did you know that once you have set up your My Rotary account on the Rotary International website, there are many courses available for you to explore.  Simply login to your My Rotary account, select Learning & Resources, and then select Professional Development.  There you will find topics such as:  Becoming an Effective Facilitator; Building a Welcoming Community for People with Disabilities; Building Consensus; Building Strong Intergenerational Relationships; Committing to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; Deliver a Speech; Leading a Team; Leading Change; Leading Effective Committees; Managing a Training Session; and more.  These topics in leadership and professional development may be useful in your business world as well as the Rotary world.

Rotary International Convention was exciting and many met new friends, learned more about Rotary, and volunteered to make welcome more than 12,000 Rotarian visitors to the RI Convention in Houston, Texas.  Following were seen during the convention from our club:  President Dick Robie, Wind Nguyen,  PDG Ed Charlesworth, Robin Charlesworth, Bhuvana Krishnan, Ruby Powers, Anais Watsky, Chopin Kiang, Linda Blench, Harish Krishnan, Lynette Wilke and Ed Socha, Isis Meijas, Alfred Adjokatcher, Adriane Miller, Mike Miller, and Robert Stein and Akin Olufowoshe.  This list include those seen in the House of Friendship or in meetings, and also those attending our Host Hospitality Dinner.  Special thanks and appreciation goes to President Dick Robie, Chopin Kiang, Robert Stein, and the Charlesworth's for sponsorships!  Also, we appreciate all who attended and helped entertain our guests at The Silos.  Our musicians, Ashley Orlando and Dan Fenn, provided great entertainment with a surprise performance by President Dick's granddaughter, Grace.  Next year's RI Convention will be held in Melbourne, Australia.

 

Jake Stein has moved to Port Arthur and will be traveling to Mexico soon for a vacation.

 

Dree Miller has completed her fun at Main Theatre in the production of Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter. And then she went on to be seen in a Lifetime TV Show TextMeWhenYouGetHome, the Hannah Anderson episode.  It was her second time in a true-crime show for Lifetime.  

 

Stan Edward made an appearance in the USA from Guatemala, but missed the RI Convention.  Let us know when you are in H-town!

 

Valeriy Iakovenko is busy with a growing drone business, facilitating "drones, robots and agriculture".   He is working on advancing an innovative field where technology becomes accessible to every farmer.    Despite the war in Ukraine, he is leading his company with new partnerships and growing employment opportunities.  The drones are quite efficient such as spraying the crops when manpower is severely limited.

 

***Send your vacation plans for summer, business news, recognitions, etc. to Robin Charlesworth for future publications, please, so we will have some news to share about our members.  robinech1952@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

The ICC Ukraine-USA (InterCountry Council) has a new project proposed to submit to ROTARY INTERNATIONAL for a Disaster Relief Grant.  We have supported the delivery of medical supplies and medications, and now want to help develop new jobs for about 5 Ukrainians to create their own tourniquets.    We want to purchase the equipment to manufacture effective tourniquets with 3-D models, producing a press mold ($6,700 USD) and purchasing materials and accessories ($3300 USD).  The tourniquets will be provided free to Ukraine's rescuers, medics and volunteers.  This will help save lives.  

 

The press-mold will produce parts for up to 200,000 tourniquets.   The demand has been quite high, especially on the front lines.  The production cost will be reduced to about $3.30 USD as opposed to current purchase prices ranging from $14 - $40 USD as well as long delivery times for quality products.  

 

Our Rotary District 5890 has submitted a Disaster Relief Grant for $25,000 to deliver medical equipment in partnership with Medical Bridges.  The second Disaster Relief Grant for $25,000 shall be in partnership with Project Cure to send more medical equipment.  Tourniquets remain in high demand and the European market has been nearly depleted.  Thus, majority of sourcing if from USA.  

 

If you want to help with this grant, please donate to our club's Foundation account.  If you have questions, please contact Robin Charlesworth, D5890 District Representative for ICC-Ukraine.