Home Page | Rotary e-Club of Houston

More about SCRYE

Mission Statement: The mission of SCRYE is to promote and facilitate Rotary International Youth Exchange for our member districts. We will fulfill our mission through goals as objectives as follows:

1. Ensure that our member districts are thoroughly prepared to do youth exchange.

2. Ensure that our member districts comply with all minimum standards.

3. Help our member districts enlighten students concerning global issues.

4. Help our member districts engage in dynamic committees and active personal networks.

5. Give our member districts great training and tools through innovation, involvement and the latest technology in all available media.

6. Present great conferences that deliver outstanding fellowship, powerful inspiration, and effective motivation.

7. Recognize, nurture, and support our member districts diversity.

8. Achieve great two-way communication with all entities involved in our member districts programs.

9. Improve what we do by listening to, learning from, liaising with, or partnering with. regulatory agencies, Rotary International, other conferences, our member districts, Rotarians, and. students.

10. Engage and manage our change, including organizational and structural change, at a thoughtful and appropriate pace.

11. Maintain our financial stability through a balanced fee structure, quality membership and wise g growth.

12. Measure all our decisions and actions to improve Rotary Youth Exchange as a whole.

Note: Our club is strongly represented in our District Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) Program. Special thanks to the following who serve on this committee: Leenette Wilke, Anais Watsky, Akin Olufowoshe, PDG Nick Giannone, Ruben Santos, Glenda Mecal and Evelyn Traylor.

RYE INFORMATION SESSION - OCT 13

The final RYE Information. session for prospective students and their parents will be held on October 13 from 6:30 pm to 8:00n pm.

Both short-term and long-term exchange programs will be discussed. If you know of a high school junior or senior who may be interested, please pass along this information. The must have an interest to explore the world, learn a language fluently, and meet lots of people. Register at www.RYEHOUSTON.COM

Important Dates: October 25, 2024........................Preliminary Application Due

November 15, 2024....................Club Interviews Due

December 6, 2024......................Medical & Dental Forms Due

January 11-12, 2025...................RYE District Interviews

What's Happening -

Ruby Powers - Congratulations, Ruby! "Exciting News! My book Power Up Your Practice is finally out and available on Amazon!"

Harish Krishnarao - Already busy with grants as the District 5890 Chair, Harish is instrumental in re-activating the ICC USA-Mexico with blessings from DG Nancy Anderson. Our district application has already been submitted, and with the addition of a minimum of two additional USA districts a Chartering event may be determined. Rotarian Patrick Lesley will be our District. Representative. Robin Charlesworth is also attending some planning sessions to lend a hand as she has served on ICC USA-Ukraine since 2020. There are seven district governors from Mexico who are committed and an in-person planning meeting was conducted at Zone Institute. The group will consist of rotary districts dedicated to working together on grants to fund worthwhile service projects, and cultural exchanges to grow and learn as Rotarians work together with common goals.

Evelyn Traylor - Serving as District 5890 Mental Health Chair, Evelyn has been busy. presenting program throughout our district to various Rotary clubs. She was also the main speaker at SCRYE (Southern Conference Rotary Youth Exchange) meeting recently held in Fort Worth, Texas. SCRYE consists of 37 Rotary districts that cover 37 states.

ML Brookshire - More good news for Clubhouse Ghana. Nominated for West Africa as an official 2024 nominee for "Best Initiative Using Music t6o Improve Health & Wellbeing". Congratulations on this nomination!

Eunice Mbarika - Condolences on the loss of her father who will be buried tomorrow in Cameroon, October 12th.

From Your Club Foundation Chair

As your Foundation Chair, I've decided to lead by example this month and commit to becoming a Paul Harris Fellow to start off with. I implore each of you to make some pecuniary goals towards your passion for Rotary. Let's declare our loyalty--Let's declare our interest--Let's declare our commitment. I appreciate you all, and I hope that you can inbox me about the specific area unto which you want to donate a hundred dollars. I'm counting on each of you and we shall talk more in your inbox.

SAVE THE DATE - FRIENDSGIVING SOCIAL

Mark Sunday, November 17 at 5:00 pm on your calendars. We will have an in-person social event to meet our exchange student from Taiwan. At the same time, we will also have an on-line zoom social meeting for our members who can't join us in person. If you are in Houston, please join us at a restaurant to be determined and published in next month's newsletter. We will also have a sign up sent to each member to register for either the in-person meeting in Houston or the virtual meeting to be held at the same time. This format will be shared the same as for our meeting notifications. Click on the link and register your interest in attending.

Community Service Opportunities

Our Houston E-Club community service theme for October & November is “Food for the Needy & Veteran Support” – Concentrating service efforts to make the lives of those less fortunate more comfortable as we head into the Thanksgiving season. Three areas of specific needs are shown below with connection opportunities to volunteer and help in the Houston area. For those outside Houston look for similar needs and support opportunities in your community …. These needs are everywhere this time of year.

Operation Turkey - https://www.operationturkey.com

Operation Gratitude – Care packages for active-duty service and first responders
- Homepage - Operation Gratitude
Veterans Day Event and support – letters to vets & active-duty service members

Additional focus should also be given to the greater perspective provided through Rotary International. The RI focus for the months of October and November are:

October – Economic and Community Development
November – Rotary Foundation Month

Be proactive and represent Rotary wherever you are and please do so often!

Robert Stein

Speaker Series - Tuesday Noon October 15

Commentary - Concerns about Social Media & Youth

Dr. Johann D’Souza earned both a PhD and Masters degree in Clinical Psychology from the
University of Houston on a Presidential Fellowship after receiving a prior Masters degree from
Boston University in Psychology and Bachelors degree from University of Dallas in Theology.
His research publications focus on the psychological benefits of hope and optimism. He is a
research affiliate at Harvard’s Human Flourishing Program, a coach for OptimalWork, and the
host of the Virtuous Leaders podcast which highlights inspiring examples of moral and
professional excellence.
He is the founder of Values First Therapy, where he offers modern psychology with traditional
values. He specializes in helping high achievers achieve peak performance and overcome
anxiety or OCD by using science-based strategies from cognitive behavior therapy.
Short Bio
Dr. Johann D’Souza is a clinical psychologist and founder of Values First Therapy, where he
offers modern psychology with traditional values. He specializes in helping high achievers
achieve peak performance and overcome anxiety or OCD.
In addition, he hosts the Virtuous Leaders podcast to highlight inspiring examples of moral and
professional excellence.

https://zoom.us/j/93551069892

Inspiration - An Everyday American Hero

It is time for all who are able to step up and serve as an "Everyday Hero". There are so many opportunities to help others if we simply open our eyes to see and take a moment to try and understand those in need around us. You may ask yourself, "But what can I do?" It really only takes time to be considerate of others and recognize the needs of others. If you desire to help recent victims of hurricanes Helene and Milton, there are ways you may help as outlined by DG Nancy Anderson.

1. Donate money to the impacted Rotary Zones 33/34 directly.

https://www.rizones33-34.org/disaster-recovery/

2. Donate to the Florida Rotary Districts Relief Fund directly

https://rotaryfl.org/

3. Donate to Disaster Aid USA for cleanup assistance indicating which storm you would like to direct your dollars toward.

Hurricane Helene Relief https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=HC788D7WEG6LW
Hurricane Milton Relief https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=U9ZAXL82BB34W

4. Volunteer to answer phones for Crisis Cleanup as part of Disaster Aid USA. (most needed at this time)

One effective way for families in need to seek assistance is by registering their needs on Crisis Cleanup. Crisis Cleanup is a free service provided to communities following a disaster, aimed at assisting non-profit organizations in navigating the aftermath and identifying families in need of assistance. In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, over 23000 individuals called the Crisis Cleanup Hotline to request assistance from non-profit organizations serving in the area.

One way you can assist families affected by the storm in Milton is by volunteering as an operator with Crisis Cleanup. We anticipate a high volume of calls from storm victims in the days and weeks ahead, and we want to help them by shining the light on their needs so that others can respond.

You can assist from your home any day between 8 AM and 7:30 PM central time. There's no need to schedule a shift, as you can work whenever you have the time. All you need is a computer and internet access, and the training is available online, in both English and Spanish!

You will need to register as a volunteer with Disaster Aid USA @ https://volunteer.disasteraidusa.org/ and create an account.

I'd also like to share the following video of Andy Greenfield, Founder of the Greenfield Everyday Heroes Foundation. This foundation began in 1995 and encourages and supports high school students who had been dealt more than their share of life challenges. They celebrate students who have risen above their circumstances.

Rotary may present unexpected opportunities that may seem insignificant, yet later we may realize the impact we actually had on others. When PDG Ed Charlesworth gave his governor speeches, he often included a story about a mother needing to go to the hospital. However, she had a five-year old at home and needed someone to care for him while she took car of her personal health care needs. A Rotary club president called upon a club member to assist. He was asked to go to the home and take them to the hospital and remain with the child during the doctor visit. The child waiting patiently and then asked the Rotarian, "Mister, are you God?" He was shocked and asked the child why would he ask such a thing. The child replied that his mother said "Only God can help us now."

Our acts of kindness may take the simple act of driving someone to the doctor and providing child care, it may involve sharing of our good fortune monetarily by donating to a worthy cause, or it may involve volunteering in food drives, clean-up operations, packing medical supplies, tutoring a student, donating blankets or hygiene supplies to the homeless, and the list goes on infinitely. Be an Active ROTARIAN, and take part in making this world a better place, enhancing health and education of others, providing vocational training, and promote peace in this world so desperately in need of people willing to help their neighbors near and far.

Song lyrics/chorus from "Everyday American Hero" by David Munyon:

He's just an everyday American Hero

Just like Uncle Harry and your Uncle Joe

He don't have all the answers and some he don't know

But he does the best he can

An everyday American Hero

"Sound of Freedom" Movie - District Event

On Friday Night, 11 October, at 6:30 PM, a special showing of the Movie "Sound of Freedom" will take place at the AMC Houston 8 Theatre. This event is being sponsored by Rotary International District 5890's Empowering Girls and Women Peace Committee ,,, and is being held on The International Day of the Girl. The purpose for this event is two-fold:

a) Raise awareness of the Child Sex-Trafficking Problem in the U.S. (Houston being one of the central hubs of this activity), and

b) Raise funds for two of the most successful and dedicated (local) NGOs that are addressing Public/Civic Awareness and Victim Rescue and Recovery.

Stan and Susan Galanski are two of the Director Level Sponsors and have 16 seats set aside for our guests to attend this event. If you are interested in learning more about this serious problem (across our city and in our neighborhoods), and would like to attend as one of our guests, please get back to me soonest (via a reply email or my cell phone), as the seats will be assigned on a first come/first serve basis.

If you are not able to acquire one of these free seats, and are still moved to attend the movie and show support for our local advocates, please follow the directions cited in the attachments to obtain a ticket via on-line payment. I invite you to come out and show your support for the people who are "in the trenches" each day trying to make our neighborhoods safer and protecting our youth. Members of NTZ and Unbound-Now Houston will be in attendance and willing to field your questions before or after the movie.

Feel free to pass this invite on to a friend whom you think would be interested in this subject and/or attending.

Stan Galanski

Assistant Governor, Rotary District 5890 (2023-2026)

Ambassador, Rotary Action Group - Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (2024-)

Vice President, Rotarian Wine Appreciation Fellowship (2014-)

Aide to Past RI President, Trustee (2024-2028)

Past President, Rotary Club of Space Center (2021-2023)

713.301.0721

Global Grant Donation of $2000

What is a Global Grant?

Global grants have a minimum budget of $30,000 and a maximum World Fund award of $400,000. Grant sponsors can use a combination of District Designated Funds (DDF), cash, and/or directed gift and endowed fund program award spendable amounts to fund a global grant. The Foundation will provide an 80 percent World Fund match for all DDF contributions. There is no minimum World Fund match. Both the district or club in the country where the activity is carried out and the international partner district or club must first become qualified before applying for a global grant.

To be approved, your application must clearly describe how your project, scholarship, or vocational training team:

Is sustainable — include plans for long-term success after the global grant funds have been spent
Includes measurable goals
Aligns with one of Rotary's areas of focus
Responds to real community needs — any club or district that applies for a global grant to support a humanitarian project or a vocational training team must conduct a community assessment first and design the project based on what they learn through that assessment.
Actively involves Rotary and community members
Meets the eligibility requirements in the grants terms and conditions

Applications are accepted throughout the year and are reviewed as they're received.

Global Grant 2458184 “Let me walk again with prosthetics”

The Rotary e-club of Houston has donated $2,000 toward this global grant sponsored by the Rotary Club of Ciudad Juarez Oriente (D-4110) and the Rotary Club of Los Lunas (D-5520). This grant has been approved by Rotary International in the amount of $40,800 USD. This grant was introduced to our club by Salvador Gonzalez. He is a member of our club and lives in El Paso, Texas.

Community Service

As we start our new Rotary year focused on providing "Service Beyond Self", we look to align our activities with important events in our communities.

September – Education Focused - Back to School
Member participation and documentation of efforts to support education activities & initiatives.
School supply donations to local schools
Book Drive – Link with Stan & Kim Edwards (E-club Member) – Hearts for Guatemala
Book and Electronics drive - Link up with Protus Onyango (E-club Member) - Lanterns for Light
Teacher Support through Amazon (teacher wish lists)
getyourteachon.com – Amazon – “Clear the list.”
Please support and be active through these focused opportunities in your communities.

Robert Stein

What's Happening - Members Only

Isis Meijas - "I got married!" Congratulations to our Past President, Isis!

Chopin Kiang - On the mend - still recovering from several hospitalizations but doing better. May you continue to become stronger and healthier!

Lynette Wilke - Invited to speak to Rotarians in India about Certification of Rotary Youth Exchange Program and How to Build a Successful Rotary Youth Exchange Program. She will be traveling with PDG Sonny and Rashmi Sharma.

Dick Robie - Supported Harvest for the Hungry at their 4th fundraiser. "In Texas, 1 in 7 people, including 1 in 4 children, struggle with hunger everyday. Together, we can make a difference by providing fresh and free produce to struggling families within our community." - Feeding America Several of our club members have volunteered at Harvest for the Hungery in the past. It is located on 61 acres, in Freeport, Texas, where farm-to-table fruits, vegetables, honey, eggs, fish, and other healthy foods are grown. Every year, Harvest for the Hungry secures thousands of pounds of healthy farm-to-table food that goes to local communities and partners that serve the residents in Brazoria, Fort Bend, Harris County, and others.

Anais Watsky - Selling raffle tickets (need not be present to win) for the 7th Annual Charity Golf Tournament benefitting Hope Center Houston. Drawing date is September 23 at 6:00 pm. $10 each or 6 tickets for $50. Hope Center provides resources for men and women experiencing homelessness. The program nurtures the body with breakfast, lunch, laundry, showers, and clothing, while assisting with medical and mental health needs. Life-skills classes, counseling, AA, and referrals to support efforts to transition off of the streets are offered along with prayers, Bible study, and chapel to encourage and support spiritual needs. Services also include a medical clinic, county health services, mail service, Wifi and computer access, allowing guests to conduct job searches and connect with family. Hope Center is located at 821 Peakwood, Houston, Texas 77090.

Protus Onyango - Requests donations for his nonprofit organization, Lantern for Light Foundation. Currently building a Digital Library in Sega, a rural village in Kenya. The construction is already 90% completed and a shipping container will soon be sent with laptops or desktop computers (must have internet capability), tablets or kindles, leadership books, entrepreneurial books, and spiritual books.

ML Brookshire - Recently contacted by BBC World Service for an interview about Clubhouse Ghana to create a documentary. This nonprofit's mission is "Ending social and economic isolation for people with mental illness by growing the number and quality of Clubhouse rehabilitation programs worldwide."

Valerii Iakovenko - Participated in a roundtable discussion on "From Detection to Action: Drones and Agriculture in the United States" and "Fleet of millions: Ukrainian secrets of mass production of drones" at the Commercial UAV Expo with the first Ukrainian Pavilion to participate in this world's largest UAV industry event in Las Vegas.

Program: Grit: The power of passion and perseverance

Why you should listen

In her late 20s, Angela Lee Duckworth left a demanding job as a management consultant at McKinsey to teach math in public schools in San Francisco, Philadelphia and New York.

After five years of teaching seventh graders, she went back to grad school to complete her Ph.D. in psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, where she is now an assistant professor in the psychology department. Her research subjects include students, West Point cadets, and corporate salespeople, all of whom she studies to determine how "grit" is a better indicator of success than factors such as IQ or family income.

What others say

“Angela Lee Duckworth's research validated and furthered my beliefs in the keys to success for individuals, teams and a business. While intelligence is required, Angela demonstrated that the determining factors for success were perseverance, hard work and a drive to improve.” — Shabbir Dahod, Forbes

Following this talk, you may opt to go to ted.com and search for this talk to take a survey: How much grit do you have?

New Fundraiser - KROGER"S

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.

*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.

We just received our first check from Krogers on October 1st!

District Movie Night - "Sound of Freedom"

Rotary District 5890's "Empowering Girls & Women Peace Committee" Movie Night!

You are invited to a viewing of the movie, “SOUND OF FREEDOM” PG-13

Friday, October 11, 2024

AMC Houston 8, 510 Texas St. Houston, TX 77002

Event Sponsorships Available!

Come join us for an exciting movie night featuring "Sound of Freedom" at AMC Houston 8! Get ready for a thrilling experience with your fellow Rotary members.

This PG-13 movie will keep you on the edge of your seat and support two 501c(3) charities UnboundNow and NTZ|No Trafficking Zone raising awareness for human trafficking. Don't miss out on this in-person event - it's going to be a blast!

For individual tickets, please pay online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rotarydistrict-5890s-movie-night-sound-of-freedom-pg-13-tickets-906433616347.

Be An Event Sponsor!

Click here to view and download the Sponsorship Opportunities Form.

For any other sponsorship levels mail completed form and check made payable to “The University Area Rotary Club Foundation”: Mr. Dick Stabell Rotary Club of University Area P.O. 980834 Houston, Texas 77098.

Please email your high-resolution logos to: sonya.heath@gmail.com, Subject line: Logo

All sponsorships must be paid and names provided by October 1, 2024 to meet print deadlines.

The Peace Committee of Rotary District 5890 sincerely appreciates your support.