Stories

All right, all right, all right !!! One of my favorite meals is a Top Notch hamburger. There are a few things I just don’t want to give up! Coffee, chocolate and a great hamburger are right up there.

The Lakeway/Lake Travis Rotary Club annual Rise Against Hunger Event was a great success. Fifty-five Rotarians, friends and family members worked together to package ready to cook meals on May 8. Rotary also presented a check for $4500 to Rise Against Hunger. 

Have you ever watched the Rose Parade in awe, admiring the dazzling floats? Did you know that every decoration—from colorful petals to intricate seed designs—is 100% natural, with no artificial materials used?

A great turnout from the Rotary Club of Austin-Southwest for a Saturday morning of closet cleaning at Common Ground ATX. This place offers affordable housing to those who can’t qualify elsewhere (recently out of prison or coming in off the streets).

The catastrophic failure of a water treatment plant in Marlin, Texas led to the unthinkable once again. No water! Absolutely not a drop to drink for this community of 5,460. No water for drinking, cooking, bathing, cleaning. 

Most of you are aware of the club’s 5 areas of service:

• Club
• Vocational
• Community
• New Generation
• International

May is a significant month in the Rotary calendar as we place a spotlight on Youth Services. Our commitment to developing young people aligns with Rotary’s mission of cultivating leadership, promoting education, and building strong communities. As we look forward to the upcoming Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) event in the first week of July, we encourage all members to participate in and actively support our youth-focused initiatives.

We’re cruising through the Roadster Rockstar Challenge, but there’s still plenty of time for your Club to hop in and make some noise! This challenge is your chance to boost your visibility, celebrate your members, and show your community the impact of Rotary. And the best part? The tasks are simple, fun, and incredibly rewarding! Deadline is June 1st. 

Bastrop completed a very successful fundraiser on Saturday with its 3rd Annual Clay Shoot Tournament. The event was great fun, the weather was perfect, and our hosts, the Fayette County Gun Club, were professional and generous!

E Club Rotarians on April 12, 2025, joined with Rotarians of Rotary Club of Austin, Rotary Club of NxNE and others to partner with Rise Against Hunger to create over 20,000 meals that will have impact on people around the world who are in desperate need of food. It was a great way to make a difference in the world.

Saturday, May 17, 2025 – The Rotary Club of Marble Falls is excited to announce its first-ever 0.5K Fun UN-Run, a lighthearted event designed for everyone who wants the thrill of a race—without all the extra effort! In fact, running is strictly prohibited! This fun-filled “run” (or leisurely stroll) will take place on Saturday, May 17th at 800 Third St., Marble Falls, TX, starting at 11:00 AM, with all proceeds benefiting local Rotary Initiatives.

April was Environmental month but Rotarians believe in service all year and together we can all make a big impact taking care of each other by taking care of our Earth. It’s not too late to plant a tree and native plant butterfly /bird garden. Let’s reach 5870 goal of one tree planted somewhere for each club.

The Caldwell Rotary Club along with Caldwell Police Chief Barnes and Officer Kaleb Hairston are pictured with work out equipment housed in the Caldwell Volunteer Fire Department. Over the past several years of the Annual Law Enforcement Banquet, the Caldwell PD has been using the funds they are awarded from the Rotary sponsored event to purchase various weights and work out equipment for their officers to use.

ARC and Harker Heights Rotary Club Unite for Annual Clothing Drive to Support the Homeless Harker Heights, TX – In a heartwarming display of community spirit and service, the Association of Responsible Citizens (ARC) partnered with the Harker Heights Rotary Club for a meaningful service project on March 27th, 2025. The two organizations came together to sort and organize their annual clothing donations for individuals experiencing homelessness in the local area.

69th Annual Talent Show was held at Mexia High School on March 14th. Contestants were from Mexia school district and ranged for second grade to seniors in high school.

Austin Westlake is coordinating with the Westlake Chamber of Commerce on Saturday to help clean up Westlake.

On Thursday, 3 March, The Flatonia Rotary Club celebrated Early Act First Knight.  EAFK is a character building program for grades Pre-K through 5th, and has been sponsored by The Rotary Club of Flatonia since 2017. There are 5 ceremonies held annually at the Flatonia Elementary School.

The Caldwell Rotary in partnership with Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital had an overwhelming number of dogs and cats at our annual Rabies Clinic held on April 2, 2025 in Caldwell, Texas.

South Austin Rotary Club to the rescue! The Clothes Closet at Common Ground ATX, a facility that provides housing and support services for individuals transitioning out of homelessness or incarceration, was in dire need of organizing.    

World Immunization Week is fast approaching on 24-30 April. This is a critical time to raise awareness about the importance of immunization and the safety and effectiveness of vaccines.

Why do we believe so strongly in this? Rotary made a promise to the children of the world with the launch of the PolioPlus program in 1985 that we would eradicate polio from the world. Thanks to vaccines and the incredible support of Rotary members like you, polio cases have been reduced by 99.9%.

We have our final Grants Management Training Seminar (GMTS) on April 19th, 2025 on Zoom. Both the GMTS and GMTS Renewal sessions are available. Check this page to see if you qualify for the 1 hr session. Must register in advance to receive the Zoom link. GMTS Renewal starts at 8AM and GMTS 9AM.

District 5870 is igniting the spirit of giving with two incredible opportunities that support the Rotary Foundation’s Annual Fund-SHARE. Your participation not only fuels impactful grants and scholarships but also offers exciting incentives for clubs and individuals alike.

As we turn our focus to this month's theme—environmental sustainability—we are reminded of our collective responsibility to safeguard the planet for future generations. At the core of Rotary's mission is the spirit of service, and embracing environmental stewardship is essential in fulfilling this mission.
 

Our Rotary District's Youth Exchange program was recently recertified after a two-year hiatus as we regrouped.  Virginia Craig, District 5870 Youth Exchange Officer has been working tirelessly with Rotary International (RI) to regain our certification and her hard work paid off this past week when we received notice that we have been reinstated.

Calling all Rotarians! The Rotary Club of Bastrop County invites you to participate, either with a team, or as individual shooters at their 3rd ANNUAL SPORTING CLAY SHOOT on April 26th at the Fayette County Gun Club. Cost is $125 individual/ $500/team of 5. Click to Register.

We’re cruising through the Roadster Rockstar Challenge, but there’s still plenty of time for your Club to hop in and make some noise! This challenge is your chance to boost your visibility, celebrate your members, and show your community the impact of Rotary. And the best part? The tasks are simple, fun, and incredibly rewarding!

Here’s a quick pit stop reminder of the four challenge levels:

Over the last year, the Rotary Club of Marble Falls and District 5870 have partnered with the Rotary Club of Corpus Christi and District 5930 in South Texas to participate in the building of a Rain Garden at Sarita Elementary School, close to Baffin Bay. This is a Global Grant project under the Rotary Foundation’s Environmental Area of Focus. Other partners include District 4130 from Mexico and District 5580 in Minnesota and Canada. 

To foster a love of reading is one of the greatest gifts we can provide the children in our community. The Rotary Club of Temple has found a unique way to provide consistent access to a variety of books at several elementary schools. On Saturday, March 22nd a dozen Rotarians spent the day assembling and installing new Little Libraries. There are now eight new Little Libraries in four different school districts.

Historic Downtown Marble Falls, 0.5K race starting at 11:00 a.m., 800 3rd St., Marble Falls, Tx. Saturday May 17, 2025 Be a part of Marble Falls' most legendary race - NO RUNNING REQUIRED! Sign up today!

On Saturday, March 22nd, thirteen North by Northeast Austin Rotarians and family and friends volunteered at the St. Louis Catholic Church food bank in north Austin. The volunteers packaged up food and handed it out to those in need in the community

On March 24th, the Texas Rotaract, The Rotary Club of Austin University Area and the Austin Cosmopolitan Rotary Clubs came together in a joint service project to make 70+ snack packs for The Other Ones Foundation! Over 25 members of the 3 clubs met at the University of Texas and assembled the packs while having a great time.

Making Good Dirt is Service above Self! Why should you compost? While the first answer you might think of is that we compost to reduce waste, it’s more than that. By turning organic material into compost rather than sending it to landfills, you're helping reduce your carbon footprint.

The Bastrop Club met at the Austin Sleep in Heavenly Peace warehouse in Austin bright and early Saturday morning, March 22, to complete its first "bed build!" We were joined by friends and family and are very grateful to the "red shirt" guidance from the Round Rock and Georgetown Clubs. The crew sawed, drilled, sanded, and stained the pieces and parts needed to assemble 10 bunk beds.

Caldwell Rotary will sponsor in conjunction with the Texas A&M Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences College their annual FREE rabies clinic. Scheduled for April 2, 2025 from 2-6pm at the Burleson County Fairgrounds, the public is invited to bring their dogs and cats for free rabies vaccination provided by Boehringer Ingelheim.

The Rotary Club of Austin hosted a thank you lunch for the counselors and children at the Helping Hand Home of Austin, a treatment facility for severely abused children who have been removed from their homes. The children receive psychiatric treatment as well as schooling to get them ready for a new ”forever” happy home.

Flatonia Rotary members are taking action to raise awareness, funds, and support to end polio, a vaccinepreventable disease that still threatens children in parts of the world today. With polio nearly eradicated, Rotary and its partners must sustain this progress and continue to reach every child with the polio vaccine. Without full funding and political commitment, this paralyzing disease could return to polio-free countries, putting children everywhere at risk.

It is always a good day when an individual decides to join our Rotary Club and is welcomed to become part of our “Service Above Self”. We strive to have them become Rotarians, and not simply members, and join in the club culture of making a difference in our community and in the world. We celebrate with them as they become Paul Harris fellows and move into leadership positions. 

The Rotary Club of Round Rock Sunrise used our 2024-25 DAP grant funds to purchase and assemble mobile shelving units for the Central Texas Table of Grace! The Table of Grace is a nonprofit organization that offers emergency services to children in the foster care system.

Texas is facing a growing water crisis due to drought, population growth and declining water supplies. Rotarians know service above self can be the little things like:

• Shorter showers with low-flow shower heads 
• Turning off water while brushing teeth
• Using dishwasher and washing machine with full loads 
• Planting drought resistant plants (xeriscaping) 
• Using mulch to retain moisture. 
• Using drip irrigation Watering early morning or late evening to minimize evaporation. 
• Rainwater harvesting 

We can all make a difference in little ways.

A few years ago, through our connection with Trudy Marshall of the Rotary Club of Pflugerville, we embarked on a journey that has profoundly impacted a young girl’s life. Trudy, who spends half her year in Uganda building libraries through her organization Libraries of Love, identified a critical need: sponsoring children's education, as public schooling in Uganda isn't free.

The Women of Marble Falls Rotary Club ROCK their $10,000/Casino Night fundraiser!

The Rotary Club of Austin did a clothes collection for the UT Student Clothes Closet and donated a whole carload full of clothes.  The UT students can pick out  business attire from the closet free of charge. This gives the students clothes suitable for job interviews.

Join us for District Assembly - Club Leadership Orientation on Saturday, April 5th, an essential event designed to equip you and your club for the upcoming Rotary year. Whether you're stepping into a new role or seeking to deepen your understanding, this orientation will empower you to create a vibrant and engaged experience for your members. Cost is $25. Click to Register.

The Rotary Club of Cedar Park - Leander joined forces with Feed My Starving Children to pack food for children globally affected by hunger. Collaboratively, they packed 390 boxes, contributing to the betterment of our world🌎!!

As we dive into this month's theme dedicated to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), we are reminded of Rotary International’s commitment to creating sustainable and long-term solutions that benefi t communities worldwide. Access to clean water and adequate sanitation is more than just a necessity—it's a cornerstone of public health that fosters economic growth, educational opportunities, and community development.

Marble Falls is over the rainbow with our training at PETS!

Marcella Ann Ng, made history as the first African American woman pilot in the United States Armed Forces. A trailblazer in aviation, she broke barriers and shattered racial and gender stereotypes, paving the way for future generations of women and people of color in the military and aviation fields.

During the recent Amplify Austin campaign, South Austin took action to support clean water initiatives in Laos by partnering with TerraClear. The club committed to a 1:1 match for donations up to $1,000, effectively doubling the impact of every contribution.

Itasca Rotary Club meets with leadership of the Itasca High School Interact Club. Energetic conversation and excitement about the future. Joining Rotarians Loren Odle, Joe Marek and Rod Henry are Interact officers Sair Watson, Treasurer, Joseph Gurrisqueta, President, Kathy Viruetta, Secretary, Ezra Britt, Vice President.

We are pleased to announce effective February 14th, 2025, there is a new Chapter of the Rotary Means Business Fellowship. “RMB Austin Metro”, Charter #247. The Austin Metro area encompasses Austin, Pflugerville, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Leander and Georgetown.

The Rotary Clubs of Austin and Killeen hosted a military family for a special R&R in Austin this weekend. The Sonesta Hotel Bee Caves provided a two-night stay with breakfast each morning & Rotary Killeen arranged a free rental car from Toyota Killeen and provided gas money.

Texas is globally important for birds. Nearly 2 billion birds pass through Texas.

As dawn breaks over Georgetown, David, a dedicated EMS First Responder, readies himself for another day of uncertainty. The emergency call blares, and within moments, he is in motion—racing to save lives, bringing hope in the face of crisis. Each shift presents new challenges, from lifting patients onto stretchers and navigating tight stairwells to making split-second, life-or-death decisions.

Rotarian Faith David of E-Club leads our Faith4Kids. We are collecting backpack, school supplies and hygiene kits to be shipped to Liberia and given to impoverished children.

The Rotarians of Caldwell celebrated the 120th year of Rotary International and the 90th of their local club on February 18th, 2025. All living former Presidents of the Caldwell club were invited and honored at a special luncheon held at the Caldwell Civic Center

The Rotary Club of Marble Falls proudly presented a $1,000 grant to St. Frederick African American History Museum Chairman Bessie Jackson to support critical building improvements at its future location, 301 Avenue N, Marble Falls, TX. The funds, presented by Rotary Club President Russell Sander alongside Rotarians Lorinda Peters, Carol Barton, and Mike Hodge, will be used to enhance the building’s insulation and flooring.

Rockdale's 11th annual Casino Night was held Saturday, February 8, and it was a record setter! The funds raised will fund scholarships for area high school seniors, communal literacy, intermediate school character-building curriculum (7 Mindsets), leadership camp for local teens, Christmas for senior citizens, and many other community projects.

The Marble Falls D.A.P. grant project at Highland Lakes Family Crisis Center was the news of the day on February 13th! The PlayScape and rubber mulch around the yard for the kids at the HLFCC was much needed and will give them a place to play and escape!

Each club was challenged at the beginning of this Rotary year to do an Environmental project and the year is closing soon. If your club has not yet done a project, this month is a great time to plant a native tree.

Every December, members of the Rotary Club of West Austin host a Christmas Shopping Spree for 20 deserving students from Wooldridge Elementary School. J.C. Penney has welcomed our club for this event for the last 20 years.

On Feb 8th the Shiner Rotary hosted it first ever Rotary Romp at the historic Wied Hall between Shiner and Hallettsville. The goal of the event was to raise money for local scholarships.

Helen Keller once said, "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." In your Rotary club you are never alone, you have the potential to do so much good, and that good is most often manifested in your club’s Service Project.

We're excited to announce some valuable new additions to our Public Image Resources page that will help streamline and enhance your club's outreach efforts.

Belton's Rockin' Rotary is back at Schoepf's BBQ and will feature Back in Black, the ultimate AC/DC Tribute Band!! Kicking off the night will be Scratch 3 offering a dose of high-octane Rock 'n' Roll from the 80s and 90s. Join us for a night of great music, big energy, and a variety of auction items during this Belton Rotary Club fundraising event.  

We are now accepting applications for 2026 Rotary Peace Fellowships! We hope you will join us in promoting the peace fellowship opportunity within your communities and enlisting the help of club members across your district to find qualified candidates. 

The Marble Falls Rotary Club's DAP Grant project will take place on February 14-15 at the Highland Lakes Family Crisis Center. The club will replace the existing mulch with durable rubber mulch and refinish the playscape to enhance safety and longevity for the children.

The Rotary Club of Killeen Heights (RCKH) invites you to support our upcoming 5th Annual Spring Classic Charity Golf Scramble held on Friday, April 4, 2025, at Stonetree Golf Club in Killeen. Over 150 neighbors, friends, and community leaders will come together for this signature event to raise funds for RCKH-driven community service projects. 

As we embark upon February, a month dedicated to Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution, it's the perfect time to reflect on our ongoing efforts to foster peace and address the root causes of conflict within our communities and beyond. Let us strive to be proactive in promoting understanding, resolving disputes, and supporting initiatives that contribute to a more peaceful world.
 

Get ready for an incredible evening as Rotary Districts 5870 and 5840 come together for the Celebration of Districts on May 2-4 at the Embassy Suites in San Marcos! This event is all about fellowship, friendship, and fun, and we’re taking it to the next level with an exciting Casino Night.

In June 2024, then-Rotary Club of Killeen Heights President Becky Isbell initiated a program to recognize the service and sacrifice of all of the Rotarians who previously served as Presidents of the club. The club elected to purchase and install commemorative bricks representing each Past President in the entryway of General Robert M. Shoemaker Founder’s Hall on the campus of Texas A&M University-Central Texas in Killeen, which is the venue where the club has met since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.

February is International Boost Self-Esteem Month. According to the Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology (2009), self-esteem is confidence in one’s worth, abilities, or morals. It includes beliefs about oneself and emotional states. In short, it is how you feel about yourself. Although self-esteem starts to develop in childhood, it evolves and changes throughout life based on your environment and life experiences.

Bastrop Club celebrated District 5870 Foundation successes January 25 with many other area clubs. The club was proud to have 12 people attending, the largest contingent in many years. Attending the Gala is a signal recognizing that the Rotary Foundation is a major force in doing good in today’s world, and that Foundation giving is an important part of being a Rotary member.

The Marble Falls Rotary Club proudly hosted its annual Career Day for local high school juniors and seniors! This exciting event gave students the opportunity to explore over 12 career fields, including Animal Science, Engineering, Finance, Entrepreneurship, Real Estate, and more.

The Rotary Club of Austin-Southwest has been involved in the matching grant program of Rotary International for years. However, due to the smaller size of our Club and the modifications in the matching grant program that require thousands of dollars to fund a program, it has not been possible to individually participate in the matching grants program for several years. We have missed these international projects with our Mexican partner clubs.

The Austin NxNE Club has been raising money for the past 8 years for refugee families. We receive our family through the iACT organization.