Join us for our next monthly meeting on January 14, 2025 at noon via Zoom.  We will hear vocational talks from several members "Build Better Friendships" as part of the Rotary Four-Way Tesst of the Things we Think, Say, and Do.    

POSTPONED UNTIL JANUARY. On January 26, 2024 we will have a social at Mutiny Wine Room in the Houston Heights area.  Anyone in the Houston area is welcome to attend.  It will be BYOB or Buy Your Own Drinks (not bring your own).  They have a special Paella meal and I will need to know how many plan to order this special.  In early January you will receive an invitation to this event.  Please rsvp or Robin Charlesworth, Club Director, at 970-880-0960 (text or call).  

 

Where:  Mutiny Wine Room

1124 Usener St.

Houston, TX. 77009

 

Time:  4:00 - 6:00 pm

During the Holiday Season, many members contributed to serving our communities by donating food, toys, clothing and more to those in need.  PDG Ed and Robin Charlesworth donated to send toys for the children in Ukraine who are orphans from the war.  Stan Edwards delivered Christmas gifts to children in some of the poorest villages in Guatemala.  Jake Stein bought gifts for two 11-year old twin girls to have a nice Christmas.  Anais Watsky supported the toy drive at Northwest Assistance Ministries.  President Brittany Johnson also took her children shopping to support another family.  I'm sure there are more who generously gave to others this season, too.

 

PDG Nick Giannone has enjoyed time with his daughter's family and attended the Rotary Club of McKinney.

 

Ruby Powers had family fun with bike rides (son has a new bike!) and the Color Factory which she highly recommends with lots of sensory excitement and photo ops.

 

Dick Robie celebrated his 48th wedding anniversary with his lovely wife Barbara who is also a Rotarian.  Congratulations!

 

Traveling Rotarians:  Dree Miller has recently been to Brazil and then met husband and Rotarians  Mike Miller in Turkey.  Tara Zaafran enjoyed holiday travels to Egypt.  Ed and Robin Charlesworth had a White Christmas in Lake City, Colorado.  Robert Stein and Jake Stein had fun skiing at Monarch Pass in Colorado and the younger family members attended Ski School.  Chase Neilsen took his family to the magical experience of DisneyWorld.  President Brittany Johnson planned an amazing trip to Great Britain and various parts of Lapland with the family.  Alexis Campestre is traveling to Italy with his three sister.

 

Chopin Kiang - Made great use of leftover puff pastry which was homemade for Christmas and created a stromboli to be shared with his wife, Joan.  He created a birthday fundraiser on Facebook for Peace and Justice Network of Montgomery County, Inc.

 

 PDG Ed and Robin Charlesworth hosted the College of Governor's meeting on December 19th with dinner drinks, fun & fellowship and the meeting was led by DG Nancy Anderson. 

 

Linda Caruso and husband John held a book drive to support the projects of Protus Onyango in Kenya. 

 

Valerii Iakovenko is to be congratulated on receiving the corporate "Oscar" for his company's contributions to the development of the state's (Pennsylvania) drone industry - a Futurology Tech Award from elevatePA Corporate Blue Award or Ellie Award granted by the Pennsylvania  Drone Association.  Valerii maintains his business DroneUA and now also has a USA branch called Futurology.

 

RI President Stephanie Urchick volunteered to build the Rotary Rose Bowl Parade float.  This brings back fond memories of two couples in our club who volunteered  in earlier years  - the Caruso's and the Charlesworth's.  The theme this year is "On the Road with Rotary".  Our presence in the parade spotlights the work we do globally to bring positive change and uplift communities, showcasing the reach and significance of Rotary's worldwide efforts.

 

 

 

5:15 PM:  Registration & EXPO Tables Open

5:30 PM:  Train Rides of the Safari Texas Ranch Event Center begin!

5:30 PM to 6:15 PM:  Major Donor & Bequest Society Reception & Donor Recognition Event  - *See details below to discover how you can be invited to this Reception)

7 PM - 9 PM:  Dinner & Presentation by Stephanie Urchick, President of Rotary International

 

"Regular Table for 10"  :  $1,000  (Includes Expo Table)

  Individual Tickets:  $150/person

 

The Rotary e-Club of Houston has secured one table for this event and the following members are confirmed:  

PDG Nick Giannone & Fabiola, Evelyn Traylor, Ruben Santos, Glenda Guzman Macal, Leenette Wilke, Protus Onyango, PDG Ed Charlesworth and Robin and our exchange student.

 

We can continue to accept names and see if we may complete another table of 10.  It is a savings of $50/ticket.

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Your generous contributions to The Rotary Foundation are essential to securing and growing Rotary programs throughout the world. We recognize donors to express our gratitude for your commitment

When your cumulative donations reach $10,000 you become a Major Donor and can choose to receive a crystal recognition piece and a Major Donor lapel pin or pendant. 

When you make a commitment for future gifts of $10,000 or more to The Rotary Foundation, you’ll be invited to join the Bequest Society.

 

Thank you for your patience as we are learning a new billing program which will simplify our collections for dues and other events.  It gives us the option of paying monthly or one lump sum.  On January 1 we pay our second payment for dues to Rotary International.  If you have made a decision to leave our club, please notify Charles Mickens, Secretary, today to be removed from the active member list.  Otherwise your dues will be billed for our annual $300.  Some have already paid - thank you!  Others may not have received more than one notification, and we are working on that so you will be billed in January.