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Welcome to our Rotary E-Club of Houston!

Service Above Self

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Tuesdays at 12:00 PM

3rd tuesday of month on your computer

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Anywhere Worldwide, TX
United States of America

Monthly newsletter; Board of Director meetings monthly - Second Tuesday @ Noon; Speaker Series monthly - Third Tuesday @ Noon Service Above Self - Service projects - ANYTIME

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What's Happening

Chopin Kiang has been shopping and cooking meals for homebound seniors which has been very much appreciated.

Linda Caruso has returned from a European river trip with her husband John.

Attorney Ruby L. Powers speaking at a free CLE with the Mexican American Bar Association of Houston, appearing on Houston Public Media with Craig Cohen to discuss the Supreme Court's TPS cases affecting 1.3 million people, presenting at NeoSummit 2026 on building a law firm legacy around purpose and civic responsibility, and wrapping up her Law Practice Management course at the University of Houston Law Center — the last class of law school for many of her students.

Harish Krishnarao remains busy fundraising to support various global grants.

Ed and Robin Charlesworth hosted a mental health program on April 26th in their home for Interactors called "Managing your Self" by Randy Guttenberger.

Nick and Fabiola Giannone are busy with grandchildren following their stint as President's Representative Aides during District Conference.

Daniel Castro is having fun with a new puppy.

Anais Watsky has been busy organizing a Silent Auction for

Brittany Johnson, Brandon Johnson and Jake Stein are wrapping up baseball, soccer, and lacrosse seasons with their children and are planning summer activities.

Brittany Johnson just chaperoned a 3rd grade field trip to the U.S. Treasury's Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Fort Worth, Texas. All US currency is printed here and at a facility in Washngton, DC.

Chad Hasty (past member) died suddenly in his sleep at age 43 and our sympathy is extended to his family and his father (Michael Hasty) who was also a past member of our club. Chad was a West Texas conservative radio host who was living on a ranch in Lubbock, Texas.

Veterans Village Project - Completed!

Our club applied for a District Grant to support homeless veterans at the Tunnel to Towers Veterans Village. Supplies were purchased by Ed and Robin Charlesworth at Costco, Ross, and Famous Footwear. Our club's budget was $2500. Purchases included food snacks and beverages for their Snack Pantry. which had been empty for two weeks. The Work Force program assists the veterans with resume writing and dressing for job interviews. We purchased clothing items including shirts, variety of shoes (sandals, tennis shoes, work shoes and dressier shoes), and belts. The facility now has nearly 20 female Veterans our of the 150 who are receiving assistance. Rotarians who helped with delivery of these items were Linda Caruso and her husband John, Chopin Kiang, Robert Stein, Ed and Robin Charlesworth. Please see photos on our club's WhatsApp.

May Zoom Meeting - May. 26, 2026

Our Rotary Exchange student will be making her report to our club on 5/26/26. She has exams on 5/19/26 which why we are changing our meeting date. She leaves for home (Brazil) on June1st. She is an excellent exchange student, and I know you will enjoy hearing about her exchange in our District. She has lived with two host families, attended District Conference, All-Club meeting, RYLA, and district-wide youth exchange activities. She is really a delightful young lady and has represented our club well. I hope you will join us!

Zoom club meeting, 5/12/26, at Noon.

Topic: Rotary eClub meeting Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2813704200?omn=88966801627

Flags for Fallen Veterans

Flags for Fallen Vets is dedicated to ensuring American Flags are placed at each Veterans Headstone at All National Cemeteries each Memorial Day. This year for Memorial Day we will be honoring Section T & T1 of the Houston National Cemetery To effectively complete this humbling task we will need 75 volunteers on the 25th of May 8:00AM. Additionally, volunteers will be needed on Saturday, May 31 at 8:00AM. I will be the section lead and can be contacted 713-824-7135 or bobg.5890@yahoo.com.

We will be starting to place the flags at 9:00 but suggest you arrive early due to limited parking. Please register and bring your family, kids and grandkids are welcome.

is the link to register:

https://rotaryclubofgreaterhoustonveterans.org/event/2026-flags-for-fallen-vets/

Please remember to bring a philips head screw drive and a measuring stick to measure 12" for the headstone.

Looking forward to seeing everyone there on May 24, to place the flags and again on the 31st to remove the flags.

Bob Gebhard PDG

District Governor 2013-2014

Co-Founder Rotary Club of Greater Houston Veterans

Chair Operation Turkey

Chair District Veterans Committee

Rotary Quilt Project/Fundraiser

Fellow Rotarians,

I once heard someone speak of his grandmother’s creative use of scraps of cloth from a myriad of sources as diverse as silk and burlap. These scraps alone were not “big enough” to protect and warm her children or grandchildren on cold winter nights, but when combined these diverse scraps could form a beautiful quilt and provide comfort from the cold.

Rotary’s strength lies in its diversity—like scraps of fabric that, when combined, create a meaningful and powerful quilt. Individually, each member’s passion—whether in health, education, youth mentorship, disaster relief, or community service—may seem small, but together they form a greater impact through “Service Above Self.” This unity across different backgrounds, professions, and beliefs creates a collective force for positive change. To symbolize this, the Rotary e-club of Houston and District 5890 Interactors are collecting Rotary t-shirts to create a commemorative quilt for District Governor Tom, with an additional quilt to be auctioned or raffled in support of Rotary projects. We invite you to contribute one or two Rotary t-shirts or consider a financial donation to help bring this project to life. Our goal is to present a symbolic humanitarian quilt to DG Tom and to have an extra one to raffle, with the proceeds going to Rotary projects. Please send one or two t-shirts for a quilt to PDG Ed Charlesworth, 11407 Hylander Dr., Houston, TX 77070. You can also bring them to District Concert in Galveston, and we will have a table to accept them there. Call PDG Ed (281-890-8575) if you have an interest in this project and we hope that we can present future District Governors a similar quilt to celebrate their dedicated year of service to our District and for making the world a better place. Together, we can create a lasting symbol of our shared service, unity, and impact.

Raffle tickets may be purchased on our website. Go to Events to find the information on tickets.

District Installation Dinner

LEAD. CONNECT. INSPIRE.

Save The Date so you can join us for this special event where we'll install our 2026-2027 District 5890 Officers, including District Governor Elect Camille Hamilton!

Friday, June 26th

6 PM to 9 PM

Northgate Country Club
17110 Northgate Forest Drive
Houston, TX 77068
United States of America

You are invited to join us for a night of celebration at our Installation Dinner for our incoming 2026-2027 District 5890 Governor, Camille Hamilton, and her Presidents, Assistant Governors and District Leadership Team.

Enjoy an evening that celebrates the beginning of a new Rotary year plus fellowship with Rotarians and guests from across the district!

For questions, contact:

Jennifer Clark - Click Here to send her an email

Craig Bogner - Click Here to send him an email

Link to Register: https://tomballrotaryclub.com/event/d5890-installation-banquet/

Houston - The World Cup is Coming!

Houston is gearing up for one of the biggest sporting events in the world — and Rotary District 5890 is right in the middle of the action.

As the FIFA World Cup 2026™ prepares to bring Canada, Mexico, and the United States together in a historic tri-nation tournament, Houston has launched the Art of Soccer initiative — a citywide celebration uniting local artists, businesses, and soccer culture ahead of the games. Custom-designed soccer balls are appearing at venues throughout the Houston region, each one telling a unique story while supporting lasting legacy programs focused on youth development, sustainability, and human rights.

ROTARY'S SOCCER BALL IS ON THE MOVE!

We're proud to announce that Rotary District 5890 has joined the Art of Soccer campaign in partnership with the FIFA World Cup 26™ Houston Host Committee! Click here to learn more.

Our custom-designed Rotary ball is more than a work of art — it's a statement of purpose. Featuring District 5890 Polio Plus Champion Rylan Morrison and representing Rotary's Avenues of Service, the ball embodies what our district stands for: compassion, action, and community. This soccer at is touring Houston to raise funds for legacy programs that "Grow the Game" for underserved youth, protect our planet, and to champion human rights.

Special thanks to PDG Nancy Anderson for all of her work to make this piece of art a reality!

The ball was on display at POST Houston and will be making its way to Jesse H. Jones Rotary House and additional stops across the city in the weeks ahead.

GROWING THE GAME, CHANGING LIVES

Funds raised through the Art of Soccer campaign support legacy programs aligned with three powerful goals:

Growing the Game — expanding soccer access for underserved youth across the Houston region
Protecting Our Planet — advancing environmental sustainability in sport and community
Championing Human Rights — using the global platform of the World Cup to spotlight dignity and equity for all

These goals mirror Rotary's own longstanding commitments — making this partnership a natural and meaningful fit for our district.

END POLIO. UNITE FOR GOOD. SNAP A PIC!

When you spot our Rotary ball out in Houston, take a photo and tag Rotary District 5890 on Facebook! Every share helps spread the word about Rotary's mission to end polio and uplift communities near and home.

Together, we're proving that the beautiful game and the spirit of service go hand in hand.

Follow Rotary District 5890 on Facebook for updates on where the Rotary ball will appear next. Visit rotary.org/polio to learn more about Polio Plus and how you can support the effort to make the world polio-free.

#ArtOfSoccer #FIFAWorldCup2026 #RotaryD5890 #EndPolio #ServiceAboveSelf #UniteForGood

Photos below feature our Rotary District 5890 "Art of Soccer" Ball which was on display at The Post.

Club Officer Installation (Hybrid) - June 14th

On June 14, 2026 we will hold our annual club installation meeting at the Charlesworth's home at 11407 Hylander Dr., Houston, TX 77070. We will begin with "Meet & Greet" at 2:00 and have our business meeting at 3:00 pm to install officers. We may continue to socialize together until 5:00 pm. ML Brookshire will be installed as President for the Rotary Year 2026-27 with DGE Camille Hamilton presiding as the Installing Officer. We still have a few Board positions open and must fill them prior to this date. We are seeking a President-Elect (must attend PETS training Feb 25-28, 2027 for Lone Star PETS @ DFW), Membership Chair, and Community Service Chair. Please respond to ML if you would be willing to serve. Board meetings are held monthly via zoom.

District Conference in Galveston - Fun with Friends!

The annual Rotary 5890 District Conference was held on April 30 - May 3, 2026 at Moody Gardens Hotel, Spa & Convention Center. Our club was well represented with eight members in attendance. Sir Billy Dorsey was busy with AV/sound support throughout the conference. President Nick and Fabiola Gianone (one of our newest members!) were tasked with serving as President's Aides. Ruben Santos and Glenda Guzman-Santos spent their time supervising the Rotary Youth Exchange students who also performed the traditional flag ceremony. PDG Ed and Robin Charlesworth set up tables for Intercountry Committees (ICC) and the quilt fundraising project in the House of Friendship; additionally, they were voting delegates during the Business Meeting of th4 conference. Also attending were Evelyn Traylor and Ed Socha.

Registration is already underway for next year's District Conference to be held in Waco April 8 - 11, 2027. The theme is. "Our Journey with. the Spice. of District 5890". Save the dates for next year!

Community Service

Spring is a time of renewal, warmer weather and for refocusing our efforts for doing good!

The Houston E-Club community service theme for May is Youth Service Month. More than 350,000 young people every year develop leadership skills and a desire for community service through Rotary youth programs. During Rotary Youth Service Month in May, Rotary members celebrate these future leaders’ impact on the world. The R.I. Board of Directors is encouraging clubs and districts to support the attendance of young leaders at local, district, regional, and international Rotary event. You are encouraged to think about how to do this to engage Interactors, Rotary Youth Exchange students, RYLA participants, and alumni in your club or district.This is an opportunity for our E-club to increase visibility in our communities while focusing on some KEY Rotary Areas of global service. Please spread the word and participate locally, individually in the name of rotary, and join our club in targeted events to demonstrate ACTIVE volunteerism making the world and our local communities a better place. We actively support the Klein Forest Interact Club, facilitated a new penpal program for students to communicate with each other between USA and Ukraine, and our monthly speaker for May is our Rotary Youth Exchange student. If you want to support youth activities, you may earmark a donation for a specific program such as sponsoring Camp RYLA, donations for the sashes given to Interact Seniors, sponsoring summer camp for Ukrainian students who have lost a parent to war, and purchase of Christmas presents for Ukrainian orphans. If you have additional ideas to support and encourage youth, please share your ideas with the new Board of Directors.

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.

Fundraiser - KROGER'S or City Market

We all buy groceries and now our dollars spent at Kroger's will return a portion to our Rotary club. We have become a part of the NPO (Non-Profit Organization) Kroger Community Rewards Program. If you are already part. of this program, it is possible to change your designated charity. How?

Visit http://www.kroger.com. Once logged into their Kroger account, search for ROTARY E-CLUB OF HOUSTON, TEXAS USA either by name or BG564 and then click Enroll. New users will need to create an account which requires some basic information, a valid email address and a rewards card. If you previously participated in this reward program, you may now change your choice to Rotary e-Club of Houston.

We have received a check for about $31.00 for the second quarter of the calendar year. We need to get more members registered for our club to earn more money.

*Customers must have a registered Kroger rewards card account to link to your organization.
*If a member does not yet have a Kroger rewards card, please inquire at the customer service desk at any Kroger

NOTE: REMEMBER, purchases will not count for our organization until after our members register their rewardscard.
Participants must swipe their registered Kroger rewards card or use the phone number that is related to their registered Kroger rewards card when shopping for each purchase to count.

The monies earned here will be deposited into our club foundation account to be used solely for service projects.

Since our club hopes to support worthy service projects, yet we don't have a strong track record with fundraising, we ask that you support our Roary club with. your purchases while grocery shopping.

Designing Your Rotary Experience

GET INVOLVED IN WAYS THAT MATTER TO YOU

Rotary offers benefits for people of all ages and backgrounds. From learning more about the world to learning more about yourself, you can grow by engaging with Rotary’s global network and the array of activities, programs, and interest groups that Rotary offers.

When you get involved in Rotary you expand your perspective by honing your skills, learning from professionals, making new connections, and making a difference in your community and around the world.

We know that each member has a unique combination of interests, skills, and talents, and so each member will be attracted to different activities. This guide describes the options you can choose from to personalize your Rotary experience and get involved in ways that matter to you.

Following is a blueprint of how to participate in Rotary and engage as a Rotarian:

ATTEND CLUB MEETINGS AND EVENTS.

Introduce yourself to members in your club to get
to know them better. Being genuinely interested in others shows people you value them, and these small interactions can lead to lasting friendships. Our e-club offers a Speaker Series monthly on the third Tuesday at noon. See the website calendar for information on the program. On the calendar we will also post district events such as fundraisers, all district activities, special events, Rotary training programs. social activities, etc.

CREATE A MY ROTARY ACCOUNT.

When you register for a My Rotary account and create a profile, you can access Rotary’s online tools and locate and connect with members near and far using the Find a Member tool. If you need assistance, do not hesitate to ask one of our board members. This is very important to give you easy access to donating to the Rotary Foundation, finding a list of active global grants needing partners, Rotary training, Rotary interest stories, and more.

ATTEND DISTRICT MEETINGS AND EVENTS.

Clubs are grouped into more than 500 districts worldwide. By connecting with other clubs and leaders in your district, you can learn how to get involved in Rotary beyond your club and make a greater impact.

GET INVOLVED WITH CLUB INITIATIVES.

Volunteering to take part in a project, attend a meeting, or serve in a club role, such as being on a committee, will let you work with others in meaningful ways and contribute to your club’s impact. You can also suggest speakers from service and project partners or from other organizations that share Rotary’s values. Ask your club how you can help. We encourage you to share YOUR ideas and find a "job" within our club.

VISIT ANOTHER CLUB.

You can locate Rotary and Rotaract club meetings to attend using the Find a Club tool. You might think of ways to collaborate on club activities or hear of an idea you want to try with your club. Visiting other clubs fosters new connections and inspiration. You will always be welcome in any club around the world, and while traveling may make new friends, hear interesting speakers and learn how Rotary participates in their community.

JOIN A ROTARY FELLOWSHIP.

Meet others with similar interests by joining a Rotary Fellowship, an international group of people with a common hobby, identity, culture, or vocation. This is a fun way to make friends and explore a pastime or profession. We have several club members who have joined the Rotary Wine Fellowship.

JOIN A ROTARY ACTION GROUP.

These include people around the world who have expertise and passion in a particular area, such as economic development, education, the environment, or safe water. Join a Rotary Action Group to share your knowledge, develop your skills, and make professional and personal connections. One of our members, Isis Meijas, initiated WASH-RAG (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Rotary Action Group). Additionally, there are three groups dedicated to promoting peace - Peace, Refugees, Slavery Prevention. Other groups focus on fighting disease - Addiction Prevention, Alzheimer's Dementia, Blindness Prevention, Blood and Organ Donation, Diabetes, Mental Health Initiatives, etc.

PARTICIPATE IN A ROTARY FRIENDSHIP EXCHANGE.
Experience different cultures and build international understanding and friendships. This program for Rotary members and friends prioritizes cultural immersion, international service, or vocational exchanges. Friendship Exchange participants take turns hosting one another in their homes and clubs. The Charlesworth's. have enjoyed several memorable trips as part of Rotary Friendship Exchanges with South Africa, Estonia, New Zealand, and Germany.

SUPPORT YOUR CLUB.

You can help your club thrive by offering your expertise and skills through serving as a club officer, as a committee member, or in another role.

PARTICIPATE IN LOCAL SERVICE ACTIVITIES.

Find out what projects your club, neighboring clubs, and your district are working on and volunteer for one or more. Work with partners or conduct a community assessment to identify projects that would benefit your local area. Robert Stein, Community Service Chair, suggests areas of focus for project themes each month. In addition, we occasionally share projects of other Rotary clubs and they always appreciate more helping hands. In our e-club we mostly have individual efforts rather than club planned projects due to our wide distribution of members across state lines and even other countries. Robert would like to capture the time spent by our members in donating time and talent or money donated to community projects.

PARTICIPATE IN INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS.

Many clubs partner with clubs in other parts of the world to address a need in one of their communities. Together, they have more time and funding, as well as the expertise of members, partners, and Rotary program alumni to bring about sustainable, positive change. Find a project and get involved. We have club members who are engaged with international projects in Guatemala, Ghana, Ukraine, Venezuela, and more.

JOIN THE EFFORT TO ERADICATE POLIO.

Raise awareness about Rotary’s work to end polio, donate to the PolioPlus Fund, or volunteer for a National Immunization Day. Post about polio on social media or include a link to endpolio.org in your email signature. Write to us to learn about upcoming trips for NIDs. We ask each member to donate $50 or more to eradicate ate polio each year in addition to a donation to the Rotary Foundation,

May 2026

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Member Birthdays:

ML Brookshire

May 8
Nick Giannone, MD

May 11
Michael Miller

May 17
Valerii Iakovenko

May 22
Ed Pettitt

May 25

Jan Vocational. Talks

Speaker

Miller, Adriane

Speaker

Stein, Jake

Speaker

Powers, Ruby

Service Above Self

District Installation Dinner

ROTARY'S SOCCER BALL IS ON THE MOVE!

GROWING THE GAME, CHANGING LIVES

END POLIO. UNITE FOR GOOD. SNAP A PIC!

May 2026

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