Flatonia Celebrates 80 Yrs of Service Above Self

The Rotary Club of Flatonia was chartered by Rotary International on December 8, 1939 and held their official charter meeting on January 23, 1940. On Saturday, January 18, 2020,  Rotary Club of Flatonia shared its 80 years of service with their community with past memorabilia, current projects, music by The Mike Stroup Trio, beef stew lunch catered by Red Richter, and cake
The celebration was kicked off in the morning by a fun Color Walk in Flatonia’s 7-Acre Park, and hosted by the Flatonia High School Interact Club, a service organization, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Flatonia.  Following, at the American Legion Hall,  Mike Rush, news anchor for KVUE-TV, Austin, and emcee for the celebration, introduced Bernie Satterwhite, president of  Rotary Club of Flatonia, to welcome all.  Among the guests were Rotary District 5870 Governer Jim Henry,  AG Carroll Sharp, Fayette County Sheriff Keith Korenek, and Dr. D. Carl Dufner from San Antonio, grandson of Dr. Carl Dufner.  Dr. Carl Dufner was a member of the Rotary Club of Hallettsville, which sponsored the Rotary Club of Flatonia in 1939 to become a chartered club in Rotary International.   Bryan Milson, Mayor of Flatonia,  read a city proclamation, recognizing Rotary Club of Flatonia for its 80 years of “Service Above Self” and also expressed appreciation from the community.
 

Representatives from various local projects, sponsored by Rotary Club of Flatonia, were introduced, including Lora Cherry, Teacher Advisor for Interact, and Cass, “Sir Cass”, Garcia from Early Act First Knight (EAFK).  EAFK, founded by Randall Parr, is designed to partner with Rotary clubs.  It is a daily curriculum taught in elementary schools emphasizing the development of high moral character.  Sir Cass expressed his gratitude to Rotary Club of Faltonia for sponsoring EAFK in Flatonia Elementary School and how Rotary clubs, and their ideals. are the inspiration for our children in promoting virtues, such as Respect, Honesty, Compassion, Perservence, and Service.

The keynote speaker was Capt. Daniel Bursch, US Navy retired, and former NASA astronaut.  Bursch has logged over 227 days in space and was a mission specialist on STS-51 (1993), STS-68 (1994), and STS-77 (1996).  He was also flight engineer on the International Space Station (ISS) Expedition-Four (2001-2002).  Dan Bursch and fellow astronaut, Carl Walz, have one of the longest sigle flights for US astronauts: 196 days in space.  Bursch’s entertaining and inspirational message expressed how the relationship of international cooperation in today’s space program, correlates with the international relationships that Rotarians, all over the world, have to achieve their mission. 

“Today was a splendid success filled with appreciation and inspiration.  Rotary Club of Flatonia has been serving this community for 80 years,” stated Bernie Satterwhite, president of Rotary Club of Flatonia, “and it deserves to be recognized for its past as well as the present.  We appreciate the support and love that fellow Rotarians, families, and the community of Flatonia have shown us today, by celebrating with us on this momentous anniversary.”