For those of us that have been affected by Hurricane Harvey, I'll pray for you and your family safety. In time like these, I encourage you all to reach out to fellow Rotarians for help or to check-up on them and let them know someone out there is thinking about their safety. The magnitude of this hurricane destruction has not ended, and there's still tornadoes warning out there. If you need information and it's not an emergency, please call 311 hotlines. Below is a link to shelters if you need to evacuate on foot.
Simon Sinek presents a simple but powerful model for how leaders inspire action, starting with a golden circle and the question "Why?" His examples include Apple, Martin Luther King, and the Wright brothers -- and as a counterpoint Tivo, which (until a recent court victory that tripled its stock price) appeared to be struggling.
Every since I've joined Rotary in 2012, there's always a new theme that aims to create a vision for Rotary that year. As a Rotarian, I try to incorporate those themes into my philosophy as a Rotarian over the years to enhance my vision, and serving others. This year our Rotary theme is "Rotary: Making A Difference," and I invite you to incorporate every Rotary theme you had been a part of, and embrace yourself to be called "Rotarian" by making a difference.
"Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared." - Buddha
My vision this year is to create more opportunities for all members to be engage, and interact with each other. If you're new to Rotary, please don't hesitate to ask for help, and voice your opinion if there's something we could do to improve your experience in Rotary. We can only be a great club if everyone participates, talks, listen, and learn from each other. I started in Rotary knowing nothing except "The 4-ways test," but I did my research, talk to other Rotarians, browse through Rotary.Org, and try to connect other Rotary resources and this is how I've learned to become a Rotarian.
For those of us that are seasons Rotarian, please reach to our new Rotarian and be a mentor. I encourage you all to be the candle for one another, and together we can all become a blazing flame.
I look forward to making a difference with you all!
PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO READ THE STORIES WE ARE SHARING WITH YOU THIS MONTH! Thank you!
We had a fantastic first general meeting! Thank you all who joined us that Saturday morning!
Michael Bell from Rise Against Hunger demonstrates how food packages are made to help ends worldwide hungry at our Rotary E-Club of Houston general meeting.
Watch the video below...
Video posted on our Facebook page.
Michael Bell from Rise Against Hunger demonstrates how food packages are made to help end worldwide hunger at our Rotary E-Club of Houston general meeting on 7/15/17.
He is Community Engagement Manager from Rise Against Hunger and was here to talk about his organization. This is the same organization that attended our Rotary International Conference in Atlanta and collaborates with Rotarians to put together over 100,000 food packages.
Rise Against Hunger is an international hunger relief organization that distributes food and life-changing aid to the world’s most vulnerable, mobilizing the necessary resources to end hunger by 2030.
Our Rotary club wants to create a (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) committee! Led by our e-club Rotarian and WaSRAG Ambassador Isis Mejias.
At the last Water Summit in Atlanta this year, Isis spoke about the lessons learned during her trip to Uganda under GG1515222. The lack of access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) affects women disproportionally, due both to biological and cultural factors. In addition to meeting women’s needs around menstrual and sexual and reproductive health, WASH is also essential for their social and economic development, contributing towards gender equality and the comprehension of their rights.
During the summit, Isis emphasized that:
- Women in the community need to be empowered to talk about menstruation in schools. There is still embarrassment to talk about menstrual hygiene.
- Distribution of sanitary pads in schools can sometimes enable embarrassment. lt's important that girls who receive these kits feel it is not because they're poor but because it's a solution smart and sharp girls choose. This is also an important leadership opportunity. Girls should contribute something toward kits so they feel invested in the solution.
During the conference, Isis met Charlie Ruth Castro, who is a member of the E-Club of Sogamoso, Colombia, and an advocate for education and opportunities for women. Charlie is the head of the group “Fundación Mujeres Con Derechos” (www.mujeresconderechos.org), an organization focused on empowering girls and women to understand their human rights.
As an effort to initiate activities for the WASH committee, they have been talking about the possibility of having e-clubs discuss these ideas (partnering with the e-club of Sogamoso and the WASH e-club) to collaborate on the topic of WASH and Women. There is no project being discussed, just the idea that we could all discuss this issue.
If anyone has a particular interest in this topic, or simply wants to participate in the committee, let Isis know by emailing her at isis.mejias@gmail.com and she'll include you in the conversation.
Isis Mejias is our eClub of Houston's 2017-18 International Chair as well, so feel free to send her a line regarding any committee questions and suggestions. Thanks!
A great way to share information about your vocation is to give a classification talk or presentation at a club meeting.
We would like to invite ALL eClub of Houston members to share a brief Classification talk thru a short video, images and/or text sent to our Newsletter Editing team and to be published in our future 2017-18 newsletters. Thank you! When a lawyer named Paul Harris, a coal dealer, a mining engineer, and a merchant tailor first met in 1905 in Chicago, they gave birth to Rotary and, by the nature of their diverse occupations, to the association’s most distinctive feature – the classification principle. Today, the classification principle, though modified, remains a cornerstone of Rotary.
Upon joining Rotary, you are lent a classification by the Board of Directors to reflect your occupation or primary source of income. By limiting active membership by classifications, each club becomes a cross-section of the business and professional life of the community it serves. Also, the classification principle makes sure that no one profession or business becomes the dominant force within the club.
Another benefit of the classification system is that representatives of many fields are brought together, providing the opportunity for Rotarians to broaden their knowledge of the contemporary workplace. This, in turn, enables Rotarians to fulfill one of the basic obligations of vocational service – recognizing the worthiness to society of all useful occupations.
The guidelines below are designed to help you prepare and give a good presentation.
Preparing your Classification Talk/ Presentation Write an outline of points you want to cover. Go from general characteristics of your career field to the specific duties involved in your particular job today. Examples might include:
Why you chose your particular business or profession
Parts of your job you find most rewarding and most difficult.
Forecast employment opportunities in your field for the coming decade.
Advice you would give persons entering your career field.
How your profession is being impacted by technology, government regulations, and environmental factors.
Ethical issues you face at work, and how the Rotary 4-Way Test and the Rotary Code of Conduct helps you deal with them.
Know your Rotary Audience
Rotary is a professional business service culture based on farming or cultivating relationships and not hunting for business. This means that Rotarians are not there at a meeting to be “pitched” or sold to. The purpose behind a Rotary Classification Talk / Presentation is to first educate your audience about your profession and to demonstrate your credibility through your knowledge of your vocation. Once Rotarians are comfortable with you and have gotten to know you, they will engage in professional business relationships with you or assist you in building your business. Always keep in mind, The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:
FIRST. The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;
SECOND. High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying of each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society;
THIRD. The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian’s personal, business, and community life;
FOURTH. The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.
Presenting your Classification Talk/ Presentation
Speak clearly and in an audible tone – stick to your prepared text or outline
Use hand movements sparingly –avoid nervous habits such as coughing or twitching.
Maintain eye contact with your fellow Rotarians and always face your audience.
Avoid the urge to rush though your 3-5 minute talk or 20-30 min presentation to “get it over with.”
Try to relax as much as possible and put genuine emotion into your voice.
Visuals such as PowerPoint can enliven your talk. Be sure equipment is at our meeting place with a technician familiar with your plans. The Rotary club coordinator can be helpful at the time of your equipment set up before the meeting.
How you share information about your profession is up to you! Relax and enjoy your opportunity to educate your fellow Rotarians about your vocation.
The snowflakes landing on the windows as we inched down the high mountain pass road in our white Toyota Land Cruiser were deafening. Not a word had been uttered for some time, but being little more than an earthly, humanly construct, time seemed increasingly irrelevant. My thoughts would meander, like the snow across the windshield, shifting from grief to confusion to despair, and then quickly shifting back to grief, as the wind would suddenly kick up and throw what snow had managed to stick to the windshield, far into the white space beyond my blurred field of vision.
...“Click, Click,” pulled me out of the whiteness. “Click, Click,” continued, as my father’s best friend shuddered the Land Cruiser to a stop in the thick, slushy snow, and reluctantly pressed the lever down to signal a left turn. Finally. Something other than white; a freshly plowed black road. I wasn’t sure what to make of it. The whiteness of the previous five or six hours had come to envelope my very core, like a cold, wet blanket. The stark black of the road sliced through the whiteness as the events of the day began to permeate and drip into my subconscious. My mind fought back the welling of confused emotion. We turned onto the road, and my Mom, in the front passenger seat, bleakly murmured to the four blond-headed kids sitting in the backseat to put their seat belts on, and as we turned, the quiet whiteness surrounded me once more.
I lost my father in an avalanche on December 30, 1997, at the top of Guanella Pass, Colorado. I was 11 years old at the time, but I remember this day as vividly as if it were just yesterday. This day is not only the day that my sisters and I lost my father, and my mother lost her husband, but it is also on this day that our household income dropped 75% with no measurable drop in our daily living expenses. As you can imagine, our standard of living would have taken a significant reduction at this point had it not been for the meager amount of life insurance coverage provided by my father’s employer at the time.
Today, although we are still grateful for the stop-gap measure provided us by the life insurance policy of my father’s previous employer, the life insurance benefit has been all but exhausted; raising four kids on a teacher’s salary will do that! As I help my mother with her financial plan and preparing to enter the next stage in her life, retirement or at least semi-retirement, it is apparent that she will need to work longer than she would like (if her health allows), and that her “retirement” might not be so retired, with part-time work and a reduced standard of living—no trips to Hawaii on that budget!
This is the lesson that I share with new families, especially those with children and other dependents: Get TERM LIFE INSURANCE – it is affordable and it is like a parachute: You hope you never need it, but when you do, you are sure glad you have it.
The begging questions:
What exactly isterm life insurance? – a contract between you and the insurance company that says, essentially, you give us a fixed number of dollars each year (or monthly), for, let’s say, the next 25 years, and if you die during that period, we will pay a “death benefit,” or fixed number of dollars, to your listed beneficiaries (aka your spouse/kids).
Where do I start? – start with the internet and browse a few of the top providers for a quick free quote. I visited a top provider while writing this blog post and received a quote in less than 10 minutes. Next surf the internet or call a trusted advisor or expert a free consultation to learn more about the basics of insurance and how to protect your loved ones’ financial wellbeing.
How much do I need? –This question is best answered with a look at your entire financial picture. Often people will engage in this endeavor without guidance. Although admirable, another parachute analogy is in order: Would you rather jump out of an airplane after consulting with someone who has done it over 10,000 times, or, are you comfortable with strapping on the parachute and jumping out without any initial consultation from a professional in the industry?
4)What other forms of insurance should I consider as the primary breadwinner in my household? –Again, this question is best answered in the greater context of your complete financial picture. We highly recommend you speak with a financial planning professional that operates in a fiduciary capacity. Some other important types of insurance to consider in your role as primary breadwinner:
a.Disability Insurance
b.Final Expense Insurance
c.Whole Life/Permanent Insurance
5)Who can I speak with to learn more? –It is recommended that you speak with a fiduciary financial advisor. According to Cornell Law School, Wex Legal Dictionary, “A fiduciary duty is the highest standard of care. The person who has a fiduciary duty is called the fiduciary, and the person to whom he owes the duty, is typically referred to as the principal or the beneficiary.”
Posted by Quentin Wodon, Guest author on Jul 31, 2017
Apart from volunteering their time, another way through which Rotarians contribute to service projects is by giving money. This can be done through the Rotary Foundation, as well as through club foundations or the clubs themselves. Rotarians also pay dues for their membership. In some clubs these dues may be high, especially if weekly meetings involve lunches. In other clubs the dues may be lower. By adding up what Rotarians give to Rotary and their membership dues one can get an estimate of the overall cost of membership. Calculating this cost is important. Clubs should be aware of their cost of membership and they should regularly assess whether this cost is appropriate or too high. This exercise was done in my district through the membership survey already mentioned in previous posts (as before, for details see my book on Rotary).
Cost of Membership
So, what is the cost of membership in my district? On average, according to the survey this cost came up to $2122 per year per Rotarian, of which a bit more than half was for dues and meals (most clubs meet for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and charge for meals whether Rotarians attend the meeting or not, but there are exceptions). The rest consisted mostly of donations. Specifically, the survey suggested that about four in five Rotarians gave to their club or club foundation with an average gift of $409 per year. Three in four gave to the Rotary Foundation (of Rotary International) with an average contribution of $386 per year.
These estimates do not include other potential costs, such as the cost of participating in annual district conferences, the conference of Rotary International, and a number of other events such as Christmas dinners, installation diners at the club or district level, club fellowship events, etc. So in my district the average cost of membership is likely to be of the order of $2,500 or more, and for those who are able to give generously, it is likely to be substantially higher...
...Note also that I use the term “cost” here in a generic way. If Rotarians were not members of Rotary, they would still probably give to other charitable organizations. Similarly, while Rotarians volunteer with Rotary, they also volunteer with other groups and the survey documented some of that. All this implies that while not being a member of Rotary might help to save on dues and the cost of meals, it might not generate a “cost saving” equal to the estimated overall cost of membership as calculated here, simply because donations might then be channeled through other organizations. At the same time Rotarians are likely to assess the value proposition of membership in part in function of the way they perceive the overall cost of membership to be – considering both dues and donations (even if those are voluntary). Therefore it does make sense to estimate the cost of membership in a comprehensive way...
In the next post in this series, I will discuss what Rotarians think is working very well in their club, and what may not be working as well.
Source: ROTARIAN ECONOMIST. Analysis and Commentary for Service Above Self
Posted by Michael Bucca, Guest Author on Jul 31, 2017
Passion is infectious, and that couldn’t be more true about Rotary!
I spent a wonderful year of my life leading a great group of people. I say it because I really mean it. The joy and pleasure that being president of my club brought to me is immeasurable. It caused Rotary to become a part of who I am forever.
This deep belief about Rotary had an incredible side effect, the members started feeling that way too!
Our club members believe the club is doing well. Our members believe they have a purpose in the club and in Rotary. They also believe they are a part of a worldwide organization, not just a sleepy lunch meeting in town. They have made Rotary a part of who they are.
I’m not talking Kool-Aid drinking, corporate yes people either. I am talking about people who live the ideals of Rotary and try their best to contribute. Members who give it their all to get new members, increase the club’s visibility, and make a difference in the community.
The results were incredible: a 260 percent increase in Foundation giving, a 23 percent increase in membership, a 9 percent increase in fundraising. Plus, an unknown, huge percentage increase in community visibility. The best result: a vibrant and fun meeting that I wish could be bottled up and shipped in a package to any organization that wanted such a culture.
Reflecting on my presidency, I now understand that this belief system starts with the club’s leader. If you believe in Rotary and talk about it with passion and vigor, your members are going to do the same thing.
While you’re president, to the members of your club, you are Rotary!
By: Michael Bucca, past president of the Rotary Club of Central Ocean – Toms River, New Jersey, USA
Posted by Susanne Rea via Lizette Odfalk on Jul 31, 2017
THE WORLD’S GREATEST MEAL TO HELP END POLIO.
The idea is very simple. You and/or your Rotary club can arrange an event at any time.
By joining together in a world-wide event, Mmany have greatly enjoyed international fellowship via wgmeal.com All monies collected go straight to the Rotary Foundation/End Polio Now account with full credit going to your club.
Last July, our Rotary eClub of Houston organised our first WGMeal by creating a virtual event with great success! It is something we are looking forward to duplicate this year. More soon!
LET’S JOIN TOGETHER TO ERADICATE POLIO.
“As long as polio threatens even one child anywhere in the world, all children — wherever they live — remain at risk. The stakes are that high.” Bill Gates
This funding initiative is the Joint Project of the RC of Cairns Sunrise, D.9550, Australia and the RC of Hounslow, D.1140, England. PDG Mukesh Malhotra and PP Susanne Rea set up this idea to help end polio around food, fun and fundraising…
· SMALL (TWO PEOPLE HAVING LUNCH) TO LARGE LAVISH DINNERS · A STREET BBQ TO A ROMANTIC DINNER ON VALENTINE’S DAY · VIRTUAL MEALS · SPECIAL COLLECTIONS AT FRUGAL MEALS IN PLACE OF A ROTARY CLUB’S REGULAR MEALS · MEAL TIME RAFFLES AND AUCTIONS
WGMeal EVENTS HAVE BROUGHT IN SMALL AMOUNTS OF $10 UP TO $10,000 WGMeal EVENTS HAVE BEEN REGISTERED BY INTERACT, ROTARACT, ROTARY, AND INNER WHEEL CLUBS, AS WELL AS BY INDIVIDUAL ROTARIANS AND NON-ROTARIANS
JOIN US NOW WITH A VIRTUAL MEAL: "EACH $10 YOU DONATE BECOMES $30 WITH THE BILL & MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION AND THAT FUNDS UP TO 50 VACCINES" SUSANNE REA.
HOW TO ORGANIZE A WGMEAL EVENT IN 4 STEPS!
Step 1: PLAN AN EVENT – A MEAL, DINNER OR VIRTUAL MEAL TO RAISE MONEY FOR
Step 2: FILL OUT THE “BEFORE EVENT” FORM ON THE WGMeal WEBSITE
Step 3: HAVE YOUR EVENT, ENJOY, HAVE FUN, TAKE PICTURES, RAISE FUNDS AND SEND THEM TO THE ROTARY FOUNDATION’S END POLIO NOW PROGRAM
Step 4: FILL OUT THE “AFTER EVENT” FORM ON THE WGMeal WEBSITE
$18,000 Hole-in-one Closest to the hole Bubba Hole $20 Mulligans $5 Door Prizes Raffle Lunch
Join us Monday, August 7th at the Clear Creek Golf Club as we host our 4th annual golf tournament. Funds raised support projects benefiting youth in the Spring Branch School District.
Who benefits? SBISD students in need of financial support to attend college - to be the first grads in their families. Various other charities you've seen on these pages over the years. AND YOU! Take a day in the sun with friends and clients, while doing some good. Contact Carter Franklin for details, Carter.Franklin@SBCGlobal.net
About
The Rotary Club of Memorial-Spring Branch is a group of local business people and volunteers dedicated to helping people here and around the world.
General Information
Our Club meets at the Houston Racquet Club at noon on Fridays. The cost for lunch is $20. You are invited to attend. We are an inclusive club and welcome new members.
Great! The Membership Application is found on our website (www.rotaryeclubhouston.org). Complete the application and press send, it will arrive to our club Membership Chairman Adriene Miller (adriane0303@aol.com).
On the membership application you will be asked if you have attended two Rotary e-Club of Houston meetings on-line. Look for the Weekly Program and either view the video or read the article, then go to the tab for Weekly Meeting beneath the banner of the page and submit the attendance form to receive credit.
If you have any questions, please email Adriane Miller (adriane0303@aol.com) . We look forward to getting to know you and working together on service projects wolrdwide as we live our Rotary Motto of "Service Above Self".
Adriane Miller
Membership Chair 2017-18 Rotary e-Club of Houston, Texas, USA
To pay your membership dues: By credit card, please click on the PayNow yellow link on the left side of the home page. By check: Please mail it to Alexis Campestre, Club Treasurer 2017-18,(address TBA soon) and just submit your application from our online blue button here on top of our website!
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?
Thank you for our patience as I resume my volunteer assignment as your newsletter editor! During the month of July I was on a 26-day cruise with PDG Ed Charlesworth, my loving husband, and then moved to Lake City, Colorado to manage our lodge. Our lodge is in the most remote county in the continental United States, and the internet service is unreliable and inconsistent on a daily basis. I will do my best to get back into the routine of publishing our newsletters for our international membership. It is challenging, such as writing and researching an article for two hours only to loose it earlier this week due to interruption of internet service. I with to thank fellow Rotarian Liz Odfalk for her efforts to provide the newsletter last month while I was away. Our Rotary e-club of Houston is dynamic and we need everyone to find their niche on a committee. If you would like to assist with the newsletter, please contact me at 970-880-0960.
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President Elect & Editor
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Treasurer
Past President
Community Service Chair
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International Service Chair
New Generation Chair
Public Relations and Marketing
Membership Chair
E-Club 501c3 Foundation Chair
Rotary Foundation Chair
t, Isis emphasized that:
rt to initiate activities for the WASH committee, they have been talking about the possibility of having e-clubs discuss these ideas (partnering with the e-club of Sogamoso and the WASH e-club) to collaborate on the topic of WASH and Women. There is no project being discussed, just the idea that we could all discuss this issue. 
ng Rotary, you are lent a classification by the Board of Directors to reflect your occupation or primary source of income. By limiting active membership by classifications, each club becomes a cross-section of the business and professional life of the community it serves. Also, the classification principle makes sure that no one profession or business becomes the dominant force within the club.
Always keep in mind, The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:
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y father in an avalanche on December 30, 1997, at the top of Guanella Pass, Colorado. I was 11 years old at the time, but I remember this day as vividly as if it were just yesterday. This day is not only the day that my sisters and I lost my father, and my mother lost her husband, but it is also on this day that our household income dropped 75% with no measurable drop in our daily living expenses. As you can imagine, our standard of living would have taken a significant reduction at this point had it not been for the meager amount of life insurance coverage provided by my father’s employer at the time.
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