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Welcome to our Rotary E-Club of Houston!

Service Above Self

We meet In Person & Online

Tuesdays at 12:00 PM

Monthly on your own computer

Your place
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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Monthly Program - An Exchange Student's Year in Review

SAVE THE DATE: MAY 20, 2025 @ NOON. Please join us to hear our Rotary Exchange Student for 2024-2025 share about her year in Houston, Texas as compared to her life in Taiwan. She. will share about her adjustment to school, American family life, sports, and social life. Her year is about to come to an end and our club has enjoyed hosting once again. She is a long-term exchanee student, meaning that she arrived last year in August to spend one year of high school in the USA. Host families are needed to support this program as well as Rotarians who will share the effort with transportation to various Rotary events as host families are not always in Rotary. We look forward to her presentation!

Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2813704200?omn=89590915786

Meeting ID: 281 370 4200

One tap mobile +13462487799,,2813704200# US (Houston) +12532050468,,2813704200# US

Community Service - May

The Houston E-Club community service theme for May is Beautification – Concentrating service efforts to improve the indoor and outdoor surroundings in our communities. It can be as simple as taking an arrangement from your flower garden by a nearby care facility or as complex as participating in a habitat for humanity housing project or local church initiative to improve an elderly or disabled neighbors’ home. 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.

Additional focus should also be given to the global perspective provided through Rotary International. The RI focus for the month of May is:

May – Youth Service Month

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. Jeff Pickard, event chair will be the section lead and he can be contacted 832-720-9743 or jeffpickard.serve@gmail.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.

Here is the link to register:

https://rotaryclubofgreaterhoustonveterans.org/event/flags-for-fallen-vets-2025-1/

Looking forward to seeing everyone there on May 25, to place the flags and again on the 31st to remove the flags.

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

Welcome New Member. - Deborah Brinen

New Member Debbie Brinen

Our newest member is Deborah Davis Brinen who is employed by Exxon Mobile as a chemist who also works in marketing internationally. She recently moved to Tomball, Texas and needed a new Rotary club. Previously she has been in several other clubs within Rotary District 5890 and was referred to us by DG Nancy Anderson. She chose the e-club because. "It is a great fit for a Rotarian who travels for business." She is married and has three children. She is already engaged in our District Sex-Trafficking Committee and enjoys hosting exchange students. She is eager to meet our club members and has already attended District Conference.

May 21 - Meet Valerii Iakovenko in Houston

Valerii Iakovenko is our active member from Ukraine and he will be in Houston next week for meetings. His wife, Sasha Afanasieva, was our Open World Moderator for the first visiting Energy Team. They will both be in Houston and have invited anyone interested in attending the Wednesday evening meeting to register with the QR code shown below. Attending will be Ed and. Robin Charlesworth, Ed Socha, and Debbie Brinen with her son. The more, the merrier and perhaps we could adjourn for a drink in the bar afterwards if you have time.

Update on International Service

The Rotary Foundation requires a minimum pledge of $30,000 to approve a global grant. The Rotary Club Juarez Oriente acquired $40,000 and received the global grant approval for prothestics needed in the state of Chijuahua in Mexico. This Rotary Club is committed every year to continuing this project and it was our first time to participate thanks to our member Salvador Gonzalez who lives in El Paso, Texas. The Rotary e-Club of Houston contributed $2,000 toward this project. Additionally, eight clubs in District 5520 and one club from San Diego made contributions as well as two Rotary Districts who committed DDF (District Designated Funds) from D5520 and D5340. The cost for the upper prosthesis is $3,250 US and the cost for the lower prosthesis is $2,474 US. There are also expenses with rehabilitation training. The candidates are selected by three members including a doctor. The candidates for prosthetics are young men and women who can work once they get their prosthesis. During the Rotary year 24-25, 44 prosthesis have been provided.

The Rotary Club of Juarez Oriente (D4110) began this project in 2014. To date, 191 prothesis have been provided. Rotary clubs have donated a total of $115, 005 US since the first project. Another major partner in this project is FECHAC, a non-profit, non-partisan, independent and autonomous grant-making foundation in Chihuahua. They have contributed a total of $236,558 US since 2014.

Shout out to Salvador Gonzalez - thanks for monitoring this project and assuring that the global grant is successful!

What's Happening

Our condolences are extended to Ruby Powers on the recent loss of her father who had been in hospice near Lee's Summit, Missouri. Ruby share that she is reminded of what truly matters - "having your people to support you and being there to support them when it's crucial." "Plus you reflect on how you have lived your life ad to minimize regrets." Despite her grieving, she continues to remain active professionally and as a volunteer. On Monday, she presented via zoom to the Rotary ICC USA Ukraine group about immigration concerns and has offered to conduct a Webinar for Ukrainians seeking more information (date to be determined). Thank you, Ruby! Know that we all are thinking of you and your family as you continue to help others.

We continue to send well wishes for our members who are struggles with personal health issues including Chopin Kiang (struggling with AFIB), and Ed Socha (recovering from two leg surgeries after a bad fall).

We bid farewell to Lynette Wilke who has recently retired and has chosen to join a traditional club, Rotary Club of Lake Houston. We will continue to see her at district events and youth exchange events.

Protus Onyango is celebrating the graduations of two sons, one from LSU and one from Tomball Memorial High School. He just picked up his sister who came from Kenya to attend the celebrations. Btw - he is still collecting books for the library project in Kenya.

Another graduation this week celebrated Jake Stein's son who just completed Pre-Kindergarten. Also attending the graduation and dinner afterwards were Robert Stein, Ed and Robin Charlesworth.

ML Brookshire is in the midst of fundraising for Clubhouse Ghana. Wishing much success! http://www.gofundme.com/ML4LyfeFoundation or Zelle 516 902 4011

Harish Krishnarao is in the trenches with global grants and will be attending DG Tom Kelchner's Installation.

Ruben Santos and Glenda Guzman are dedicated to Rotary Youth Exchange and attended the District Conference and will be attending DG Tom Kelchner's Installation.

Evelyn Traylor recently held a virtual Mental Health Summit, May 10th. Following up next month with a link so all may view. A new Mental Health Task Force is being formed by Evelyn for the district.

President Brittany Johnson has demonstrated her leadership skills not only for Rotary this year, but also with Junior League and The Walsh Elementary School Foundation Fundraising Event.

We want to know what you are doing and enjoy learning more about our members. Share your news with Robin Charlesworth @. 970-880-0960.

Program: How Great Leaders Innovate Responsibly

In times of uncertainty, leaders have a responsibility to inspire hope. Sharing hard-won wisdom, business leader Ken Chenault talks about what it takes to enact positive, enduring change -- and why it's more important than ever to invest in responsible innovation that uplifts people and centers equality and fairness.

Enjoy this TedTalk from February, 2022 with Ken Chenault presenting at TED@BCG.

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.

Major Focus Areas of Rotary

Mark your Calendars

May 20 - Monthly Meeting - Our speaker will be our Rotary exchange student from Taiwan who will wrap up her year. She will tell us about her school year, sports, friendships, and host family experiences. 12 noon on Zoom (see link above)

May 21 - Special panel discussion with Valerii Iakovenko at a side event of the Ukrainian Delegation at XPONENTIAL 2025, 5:30 - 7:30 PM, 3040 POST OAK BLVD., Houston, Texas. "Powered by Fleet of Millions: Ukrainian Breakthroughs in Drone Mass Production. Learn about field-proven Ukrainian tech: scalable, localizable, and saving U.S. time and money. Followed by Networking. Must register prior to the meeting with QR code.

June 14 - Installation of DG Tom Kelchner 6:00 - 10:00 pm @ Hyatt Regency Baytown - 100 Convention Center Way, Baytown (Individual tickets $125)

June 21-25 - Rotary International Convention in Calgary, Canada

June 29 - 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Rotary e-Club Foundation Meeting @

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm Board of Directors Meeting

3:00 pm - 5:00 pm Officer Installation for 25-26 & Club Social

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.

*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,