The District 5870 Central Texas "End Human Trafficking Campaign" will be hosting the Global Connections International Human Trafficking Trailer for 10 days throughout our district as we bring AWARENESS to human trafficking to the forefront. The Global Connections International mobile education experience provides human trafficking awarenesss and prevention information. The campaign will kick-off at the Foundation Gala on January 29 at the Sherton Austin-Georgetown Hotel and Conference Center. Learn More
District Kicks-Off End Human Trafficking Campaign This Month
Every year since 2010, January has been proclaimed as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Take time in January to learn more about human trafficking and action steps your Rotary Club and each Rotarian can take to prevent human trafficking.
I hope that each of you had a Blessed and Joyous Holiday with family and friends. There is no time better spent than with those we love. As we start the down side part of the Rotary Year, 2021-22 I have to say, “There will be NO down side to it.” There is a lot planned with:
District Service Projects-End Human Trafficking, Empower Girls, Benches, Fighting Hunger
Leadership training- Grant Training, District Assembly
It is my distinct honor and privilege to formally announce that Doug Smith of the Rotary Club of Temple-South is now officially our District Governor Nominee-Designee and will serve as our Governor for Rotary Year 2024-2025. Doug is a great Rotarian who is dedicated to the mission of Rotary International and will serve our District well. Please join me in congratulating Doug on his selection as our 110th District Governor.
Selection of District Governor Nominee for 2024-2025 Rotary Year
With rising tensions around the world there is a rising desire for peace. It’s what we all want instead of the conflict emerging in neighborhoods, communities, around the nation and throughout the world.
The Rotary, worldwide, has pursued the eradication of polio. Water for the Navajo Indians in Arizona is a Texas District 5870 project that is in process. Members of Rotary are addressing the problems of human trafficking.
The Rotary Club of Temple-South spent their final meeting of 2020 surrounded in the spirit of giving as members purchased 40 blankets and personalized Christmas cards to provide warmth and cheer to the residents of the Brookdale Senior Living home in Temple
South Austin Rotary supports a soup kitchen at a 170 bed transitional housing facility in southeast Austin. Christmas day there saw a big splurge meal for more than 100 residents and some folks living in some nearby homeless camps.
Rotary District 5870 Central Texas is proud to announce the charter of the Rotary Club of Elgin, TX! All Rotarians are invited to attend the official Charter Celebration on Friday, January 21st at 6PM-8PM at the Firewild On Main, 201 N Main St, Elgin, TX. Tickets are $35 which inlcuded a plated meal. DG Beverly Luedke is the featured speaker. Click to Register.
You're Invited Attend the Elgin Rotary Charter Celebration
For 21 years, the Sun City Club, in partnership with the Georgetown Fire Department, served up breakfast with Santa while raising funds to support gift giving and holiday food for families in need in our community.
Flatonia Rotary Club celebration of 82 years “Service Above Self” was held at the last Rotary meeting of the year. Chartered on 4-Dec-1939. Warm wishes from Suren Poruri, Assistant Governor, RI District 3150, from India was shared with the club.
The Marble Falls Daybreak Rotary partnered with CASA and CPS on November 13th to sponsor a special Adoption Day Event for children who were about to be joined into their forever families!
January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. As you recall, our District Governor called on every club to conduct a Service Project, preferably in January, relating to Ending Human Trafficking (EHT).
Join us at the District 5870 Central Texas Foundation Gala on Saturday January 29, 2022, 6:00 pm, at Sheraton Austin Georgetown Hotel & Conference Center, 1101 Woodlawn Avenue, Georgetown, TX 78628.
District 5870 presented a $10,000 check to the Central Texas Food Bank last week. Because the real cost of food to our local food pantries goes for transportation, the money will actually be directed to specific local food centers for these costs.
The Cameron Rotary Club sponsored a very successful Painting for Polio event on November 20th. You've never seen such lovely Christmas trees and reindeer as at our party.
Rotary is first and foremost a service organization dedicated to helping the needy and misfortunate around the world. Over the years, many of our members have under taken hands-on service, both locally and an internationally, to further the object of Rotary without any thought that they were doing something extraordinary.
Bastrop County Rotary is holding a Collection Food Drive to support local food pantries on Dec. 18th from 9AM to 5PM at the First National Bank main office in Bastrop (489 SH 71).
Last call for reduced rate! The deadline to register at the reduced rate is fast approaching. You have until 15 December 2021, so sign up and pay today to take advantage of significant savings.
You have the power to increase people's understanding of Rotary by showing your members as people of action - telling and showing the public how you make a positive difference in your community.
Tis the season for joy, thankfulness and giving. We as Rotarians celebrate this season it seems all year round with all that we do in so many ways. I have been so blessed to be a part of this Rotary family and to be a part of all that we do, not only in our own backyards but around the world……a little bit like what Santa Claus does. Hummm….I never thought of it like that.
Wishing you and yours a most Blessed and Wonderful Holiday Season and Thank You for being one of “Santa’s Elves”.
The Marble Falls Daybreak Rotary partnered with CASA and CPS on November 13th to sponsor a special Adoption Day Event for children who were about to be joined into their forever families!
Rotary International President Shekhar Mehta has challenged every Club to plan and host at least one practical and action-oriented Rotary Day of Service during the 2021-22 Rotary year.
Hat's off to the Holy Trinity Interact Club for their recent Box of Joy Service Project! They sent out shoe boxes of presents for kids in need. The Club is sponsored by Temple South Rotary.
Holy Trinity Interact - Box Of Joy Service Project
The Rotary Club of Temple-South honored our first responders on October 28 serving lunch and goodies to the men and women of the Temple Police Department and the Temple Fire and Rescue at the Temple Central Fire Station.
Save the date of Saturday, Dec. 11 for the Rotary Club of Georgetown - Sun City's DRIVE BY WITH SANTA! The first 500 kids will receive "goodie bags" with treats!
On Friday, November 19, 2021, the Killeen Rotary Club manned our yearly drop off station for the Killeen Food Care Center. In addition, our club donated $1500.00 to help feed those in need in our community. Past DG Rex Weaver, met with the Director of the Food Care Center, Raymond Cockrell, to present the check.
Taylor Rotarian Regina Jo Carlson led a recent effort to collect pieces of luggage filled with personal care items for women being served by an area domestic violence shelter.
Austin-Southwest Rotary volunteers twice a month at El Buen Samaritano Food Pantry. This past week was Diaper handout with the food (thanks Austin Diaper Bank). Lots of nutritious food & diapers given out!
Local Ambassador and friend of Rotary International, Erin Rigsby, will donate 15% of all orders placed at the link below before November 12th to The Rotary Foundation - PolioPlus. It's the perfect time to purchase Christmas gifts that give back! https://bit.ly/RotaryNoondayImpact
Any questions about your order or how to share Noonday Collection with your friends, email Erin.Noonday@gmail.com
Mark your calendar for Saturday, January 29, 2022 for our Foundation Gala at the Sheraton Austin Georgetown Hotel & Conference Center. Registration opening soon!
Happy November and welcome to Rotary Foundation Month!!! It is hard to believe that we are already through 1/3 of our Rotary year…..it TRULY has FLOWN by!!!!
We have lots to celebrate this month so hang on to your hats.
On November 1, we kick off our first District Wide Project with the presentation of $10,000 to the Central Texas Food Bank. I encourage each of you individually as well as a club to go out and serve in your local food pantry throughout the holiday season.
Tamale Seasonis here again, and The South Austin Rotary Club has a great way for you to get Tasty Tamales delivered straight to you or a loved one... and MAKE A DIFFERENCE at the same time!
South Austin Club members gathered at Todos Juntos Learning Center this month to continue our work for creating a safe outdoor learning space and play area at Todos Juntos Learning Center in South Austin. They built a sandbox, installed sun coverings a new slide and painted crosswalks.
Our club kicked off Polio Plus with a Back to School and New Member Social in August at Bear King Brewing in Marble Falls! We held an “Arm and a Leg” ticket purchase to have a “CHANCE TO WIN” half the collection!
The Whiteclay Arts Makerspace was cosponsored by Districts 5930 and 5870 in late Rotary year 19-20 and after some COVID delays , the grand opening was this month. Several Native American artists from the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota have been working in the facility for several months and the participation ramp up is going well as is the international marketing on the project’s website.
The Rotary Club of Austin did a Wishlist Collection Drive for Safe Place in Austin on Sat. Oct. 23 and we collected about $1800 worth of baby items, kitchen equipment, sports equipment, cleaning products, bedding and gift cards. This was a fun and safe project for our members to help our community.
Come join us on Nov. 7 at the 5th Annual Georgetown Field of Honor®in San Gabriel Park with special guest, Rotary International President Shekhar Mehta and first lady, Rashi to attend the Opening Ceremonies. This is an exciting opportunity for Rotarians all across Central Texas to see and hear our R.I. President in person!
The Rotary Club of Central Texas had a successful mobile food drive on October 20 in Austin. Members and Several Rotary clubs, neighbors and friends brought food and stayed to visited in lawn chairs under trees. It became a party as the truck was filled and taken to St Luis food pantry.
The Rotary Club of Round Rock-Sunrise was honored to participate in the City of Round Rock's annual Play for Fall event on Friday, October 15, 20201 at the Play for All Abilities park in Round Rock Texas.
In the early 1960’s, Rotary International urged Rotary Clubs to find ways to encourage service among youth, foster their active interest in the community and offer opportunities for them to develop as leaders.
We are so excited to announce... A SPECIAL episode on EMPOWERING WOMEN & GIRLS on Thursday, NOV. 4th @ 4pm. Our Rotary International President, Shekhar Mehta, has challenged Rotarians around the world to get involved in finding ways to Empower WOMEN & GIRLS. We hope that you will join us in this opportunity! Click to Register.
An E-Club is a full-fledged regular Rotary Club. We have a board and officers. We support the foundation, have local and global service projects, believe in the 4 way test, participate on the district level, and meet regularly.
ROCKDALE, TX, SEPTEMBER 29, 2021 – Vision Historic Preservation Foundation was the guest presenter at the Rockdale Rotary Club lunch on Tuesday, September 28th.
Corsicana Rotary Club participated in Navarro College 75 Anniversary Legacy Parade. Corsicana Rotary Club celebrates its 100 year anniversary along with other local businesses with legacy status.
Rotary Participates in Navarro College Legacy Parade
’Incredible! Fantastic! Absolutely entertaining! High energy and audience engagement! Definitely a 5-Star evening.’ These are just a few of the words used to describe the Rotary Club of Temple’s fundraising evening, The Killer Dueling Pianos, held September 3 at the Cultural Activities Center in Temple,” said Rotary club president Rod Henry.
During these days, there are folks who are really in need of food. Please help us gather nonperishable food and get it to the people who need it. Check your own pantries and see if you can share, ask your neighbors, co-workers, HOA, neighborhood, friends, and relatives and let’s get food to hungry people!
On Thursday, 30 September 2021, The Flatonia High School Interact Club had a service project to clean up the frontage road north of I-10 between FM-609 and State Hwy 95 for the “Adopt-A-Highway” program.
Members of Waco Sunrise Rotary Club and Lake Brazos Rotary Club met with other volunteers to put up walls, frame the front porch, and wrap a Habitat House for a local Waco family. The home is just one of 7 planned by Waco Habitat for Humanity during 2021.
Sir Cass kicked off the beginning of EAFK at Jarrell Elementary and let the kids know how Knights use their armor. Jarrell Elementary is sponsored by the RC of Georgetown Sun City.
Your Membership Team is excited to announce the new “Grow Rotary Central Texas Challenge” for 2021-2022. The Challenge is designed to lead you to become a healthy and vibrant club, while attracting new members and engaging current members. Each level contains resources and tools to help you Grow Rotary!
SERVICE ABOVE SELF and the work of Rotary begins in the community. As we celebrate “Economic & Community Development Month” this October, let us all focus on the impact that we as Rotarians make throughout not only our own communities but the world.
We are excited to continue our long tradition of collecting Coats for Kids Southwest in conjunction with the Travis County West Rural Center. The West Rural Center is a non-profit run by volunteers that supports the Travis County Community Center in Oak Hill.
The Rotary Club of Harker Heights-Satellite’s Rotary 2021-2022 1st Quarter Project was to conduct, for the 2nd Year in a row, a community involved project to raise funds and donations of pet supplies & money for the Harker Heights Pet Adoption Center.
In an effort to attract new members who may not be a fit for the traditional Rotary club and to bring back former Rotarians who have left due to financial, work, or family conflicts, Rl has created new club formats that will appeal across a wide range of interests and lifestyles, including the Passport Clubs.
Rotary Club of Austin-Southwest: August Gave Us a Chance at a Trifecta of Service. As the start of school approached this month, Austin-Southwest Rotary had not one but three opportunities for service and jumped on it.
Members of the Rotary Cosmopolitan Club worked at Pecan Springs Elementary in East Austin last Saturday to create sensory paths designed by one of their members, David to calm down students as they walk the path when they are out of control. The various textures on the path redirect the brain waves and give the students a chance to refocus their emotions.
On Saturday at 10am the Marble Falls Rotary commemorated its 19th Day of Remembrance Ceremony. Lorinda Peters, President of the Rotary Club of Marble Falls opened the ceremony.
Rotarians Linda Tyler and Sophie Downs highlighted the importance of having a native plant butterfly garden during the September Rotary Meeting as an important way to support the environment. They are shown working in the Butterfly Garden at Pecan Springs. The garden was designed by Linda Tyler and planted by Rotarians and teachers.
Green Steps - Supporting the Environment with Butterfly Garden
Taylor Rotarian Regina Jo Carlson is leading the charge to collect new or gently-used luggage filled with hygiene items for victims of domestic abuse in an area shelter.
Sir Cass speaks to pre K-5th get ade students of Flatonia Elem. School about the 2021-2022 Early Act First Knight character education program. This is the sixth year that FISD has participated in this program, sponsored by Rotary Club of Flatonia.
The Rotary Club of Northwest Austin invites everyone to join them as they memorialize the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attack and the 2,977 lives lost at a tribute 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11.
“Sept. 11 was a terrible day in our country’s history, but following the attacks Americans rallied as never before in unity and in support of our great nation,” Club President Rick Hoffman said. “We believe this spirit of unity is needed more than ever.
“On this day, no matter political or other beliefs, we are one -- we are Americans,” he added.
This will be the 21th ANNUAL CAR GIVEAWAY sponsored by the Rotary Club of Lakeway/Lake Travis. The grand prize is a 2022 Cadillac CT4 Sedan or a XT4 SUV !
The members of the University Area and Cosmopolitan Rotary clubs showed up on Saturday at Pecan Springs Workday along with students from Concordia. Everybody worked together to pull weeds in the butterfly gardens, create Sensory Paths and beautify the grounds to make learning outside fun! Service Above Self for our students in East Austin.
Rotary Clubs Help Austin’s Pecan Springs Elementary Staff Work On Unique Learning Centers
As we Rotarians roll into September, Rotary International celebrates Basic Education and Literacy Month…..and as I see it, how appropriate since school is starting. District 5870 is very well known for all that we do to support our youth and their education.
Now that school has started again, the students in our EAFK schools are learning their character traits again and will soon be celebrating the honorees in school ceremonies.
The Rotary Club of Caldwell Club President, Andrew Peters (Caldwell ISD Superintendent) was was chosen as the Texas A&M College of Education Human Development and Good Neighbor Partnerships Excellence in Action award winner.
Thank you for supporting Rotary International/The Rotary Foundation (TRF)! Because of your dedication to Doing Good in the World and your donation to our Foundation, we achieved more in the last Rotary year (2020-2021) than ever before. Click photo to play video.
We are excited to announce the rollout of our new Public Image Super-Star Challenge! The Super-Star Challenge was designed to help Clubs increase their public image skill set. The more you promote your Club, the better the chances are at increasing your membership. It is a win-win all around!
District 5870 is offering the following to any Rotarian who is already a Paul Harris Fellow but not yet a Paul Harris Fellow +8:
Using a pool of Foundation Recognition Points, we will match contributions of new cash made to the Annual Fund-SHARE during Rotary Year 2012-21 on a 1-to-1 basis in amounts of $250 to $500 for any active Rotarian in District 5870 who is not yet a Paul Harris Fellow +8. Please note: These matches are limited to one per donor and will be processed on a first come, first served basis.
World Polio is October 24, 2021. As World Polio Day, October 24th, approaches, all District 5870 clubs should be planning a way to celebrate the SUCCESS of Rotary International and its fight to eradicate Polio from the face of the earth.
Congratulations to Alan Reyes Gonzalez who was awarded a Vocational Scholarship for 2021-2022! "To me this scholarship means that I don’t have to worry as much about not being able to continue paying for my education". He was sponsored by the Rotary E-Club of Central Texas.
Congratulations to Alejandra Garrido who was awarded a Vocational Scholarship for 2021-2022! "This scholarship means to me that the hard work, devotion, and love I put into my career will always take me far and shape me into the great nurse I will be one day. " She was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Temple.
Congratulations to Alex Fahrenthold who was awarded a Vocational Scholarship for 2021-22. He was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Bastrop County. " Welding has been something I have been passionate about since I was 13, and getting this scholarship will allow me to pursue my dream of being a professional welder. I am incredibly thankful for this opportunity and I highly encourage others to pursue this opportunity as well.
Gordon R. McInally, a member of the Rotary Club of South Queensferry, Lothian, Scotland, is the selection of the Nominating Committee for President of Rotary International for 2023-24. He will be declared the president-nominee on 1 October if no challenging candidates have been suggested.
McInally lauded Rotary’s ability to adapt technologically during the COVID-19 pandemic, saying the approach should continue and be combined with the best of our past practices as Rotary seeks to grow and increase engagement.
Calling all Rotaract students! You are invited to join us on September 19 at 4PM for a pool party and bbq to cool off, eat, and meet your fellow Rotaractors in central Texas. Engage, collaborate, and learn how your district can support you! RSVP: to Serita Lacasse (512) 470-3943 or serita.lacasse@gmail.com
In professions where there is a constant need to keep existing customers and to add new customers, the generation of new LEADS is a critical factor in finding new customers.
Join us on August 28th at 9:30AM-12:30PM for a Virtual Membership Training Seminar! All Rotarians are welcome to come and learn the newest and greatest trends in attracting, engaging and retaining members.
There is definitely excitement in the air……my District wide tour of clubs has begun and Rotarians are extremely excited to be getting back together. As we celebrate Membership & New Club Development Month there are lots of plans being made for service in communities throughout the District and this is AWESOME.
Mark your calendar for the Foundation Virtual Traning Seminar that will be held on Saturday, August 28, 2021 at 9:30AM to 12:30PM. Whether you are a multi-year experienced Foundation Chair or new to the job, there will be something for you. Open to all Rotarians!
Join us for our Public Image Virtual Training Seminar on Saturday, August 21, 2021 at 9:00AM to 12:00PM. Open to all Rotarains! We encourage Clubs to have at least one member attend the training.
Congratulations to Grant Barta who was awarded a Vocational Scholarship for 2021-2022. "This scholarship will greatly help me advance myself in education of linework, but also help ensure that everyone who relies on electricity is taken care of."
The Rotary Club of West Austin (RCWA) has traditionally (for probably at least two decades) done a major charitable activity each December called the Christmas Shopping Spree. Well, that was what we had hoped would happen this year, but the pandemic disrupted our event.
Congratulations to Ameila Thomason who was awarded a Vocational Scholarship for 2021-2022. “This scholarship is a blessing and a reminder that the community cares. It provides me with the ability to have more support and an to focus more on my educational goal.”, said Amelia.
When one endeavors to participate in service, they experience a number of benefits. Serving others generates, a stronger sense of purpose and elevated meaning in life, improved mental and physical well-being and increased emotional intelligence, formation of higher developed and more resilient social bonds, and an increased sense of meaningfulness to name just a few.
The Rotary Club of Marble Falls hosted an Electronics Recycling Fundraiser Thursday, June 17th thru Saturday, June 19th. We had a great turn out by the community who brought everything from mouses and monitors to cables and components to be boxes up and recycled.
We are delighted to announce that the meals from Rotary Club of Marlin and Rise Against Hunger Experience on 3/13/2021 have been shipped in a container totaling 285,120 meals from the Rise Against Hunger Houston warehouse.
Our Rotary Club of Bastrop County will be involved in events on July 4th and Labor Day events which have several purposes including raising the visibility/awareness and illustrating the relevance of our Rotary Club as well as Rotary in our community.
Our only fundraiser this year for scholarships was a great success thanks to our Sponsors, club members , Adam Willmann our President and Donors! We gave out $18,000 in scholarships to seniors in Bosque County schools.
As part of an effort to advance the awareness for the needs of families within the Cedar Park Community, Reveal Resources Center in January 2020 began helping families meet their diaper needs, and in partnership with the Austin Diaper Bank receives 6,000 diapers a month to serve approximately 240 babies each month.
For the past seven years, Wilsonart, LLC (“Wilsonart”), the Temple Rotary Club, the Temple Public Library, the Temple Independent School District (“TISD”), and the Belton Independent School District (“BISD”) have literally been taking all of us to school.
President Simon Garza presiding over the first in person regular South Austin Rotary meeting since the pandemic shut us down. We were back at the Red Robin with our attentive waiter Josh.
Over the next ten months, I want to take you to some very special places (via pictures) that are near and dear to Rotary and to District 5870. Some I have truly visited and some, I will have visited by some magical feat of magic.
“Serve and Change Lives”…..these four words could not represent Rotary better and Rotary International President Shekhar Mehta could not have chosen a better Theme for 2021-22.
The Rotary Club of Austin-Southwest and the Rotary Club of South Austin and friends worked together in the heat this past week to build a wheelchair ramp for a disabled gentleman who desperately needed it to leave his home.
The Rotary Clubs of Austin and Killeen gave the Alvarado military family from Ft. Hood a complimentary weekend in Austin. The Killeen Rotary arranged a rent car through Toyota and gave the family spending money.
The Rotary Club of Taylor and Congressman John Carter’s office recognized Dennis Richter for 50 years of perfect attendance at the Rotary Club of Taylor’s meeting on June 3.
Rotarians: As we enter into the last month of the Rotary Year, I pause to reflect on the past eleven months and the whirlwind we all experienced. The year for me began on our patio. There on a windy June day, I was sworn in to be District Governor of 5870.
The Staying Connected Zoom Series is Back! Join us for a SPECIAL End-of-Year episode on Friday, June 25th at 12PM. Our special guest is 2021-2022 Rotary International President Shekhar Mehta will join us from India! Registration is required to receive zoom link.
The Rotary Club of Marble Falls would like to Congratulate Mark and Terry Stracke on being awarded the Rotary International Legacy Award and Thank them for their One Million Dollar Legacy Donation.
For 8,000 years humans have been enjoying wine. On May 23rd, Rotovinos continued that tradition as we gathered at the beautiful home of President Tina and Dan Ady
On April 30th, Killeen Heights Rotarians and the staff at Palo Alto Middle School, in Killeen, Tx, teamed up to wrap, label and present a book bundle to some outstanding students hand picked by the principal.
On Friday, May 21st Killeen Heights #RotariansAtWork installed our first Free Little Library at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Texas 703 N 8th St, Killeen, TX 76541. Each child will get a book to read, share and return for a new one. Rotary is changing lives one book, one day, one child at a time.
District 5870 Membership Growth Top Performer award presented to Rotary Club of Marlin, Marilyn Martin, President. Presented by Richard Schneider on behalf of District 5870 Governor Rick Stacy in recognition of the club’s outstanding efforts on exceeding the District member growth goals in 2020-2021.
Marlin Rotary Club Membership Growth Top Performer
Marble Falls Daybreak Rotary is preparing for its 18th Annual Rotary Sporting Clay Shoot on Saturday, August 21, 2021! The shoot will be held at Copperhead Creek Shooting Club, located about 7 miles East of Marble Falls, TX., within Hidden Falls Adventure Park (7030 E. FM 1431, Marble Falls TX, 78654). We are looking for Sponsors and Sporting Clay Shooters for this Fundraising Event that supports Youth and Charities in our area.
Austin SW Rotary Club donated $250 to both Oak Hill Elementary and Patton ElementarySchools for a "bank" for students who are unable to purchase books when the schools hold their Book Fairs. In that way, all students who want to purchase a book of their very own to take home, can do so.
Austin Southwest Rotary Supports Book Fairs at Oak Hill and Patton Elementary Schools
The Rotary Club of Austin received an RI foundation award at the District Conference in recognition of over 1 million dollars donated to the foundation for educational and humanitarian missions.
Rotary Club of Austin Receives an RI Foundation Award
At the Rotary District 5870 Conference of Clubs, there were four Rotary clubs honored by District Governor Rick Stacy for their Community partnership with Austin ISD and Pecan Springs Elementary in East Austin. These clubs were E Club of Central Texas, Austin Cosmopolitan, University Area Rotary and the Rotary Club of Austin.
The Lakeway/Lake Travis Rotary Club has recently launched its Member Minute program! A Member Minute is a short video interview of a Member who tells their Rotary story.
Saturday May 15th the Interact Club Students place flags in the front of homes in Flatonia to honor Arm Forces Day. Interact helps with the flag program “Flags Over Flatonia”.
Flatonia Interact Students Place Flags for Arm Forces Day
While many were celebrating Star Wars Day on May 4th, Hutto Rotary was celebrating service. For 2 years, the Hutto Rotary Club has partnered with the Keep Hutto Beautiful Foundation & the City of Hutto to Adopt & keep clean the downtown streets in Hutto.
This year , the Austin Rotary Scholarship committee spent months gathering applications from high school seniors pursuing further education. They were interviewed and selected and the committee chose thirteen students to receive a total of $60,750.
The story of this Rotary peace initiative begins shortly after the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., on August 9, 2014. A Rotarian by the name of Ron Swain recruited a group of Georgetown, Texas, citizens and asked, “What would we have to do to ensure that this doesn’t happen in our city?”
Congratulations to the following Clubs for completing all 5 levels of the Public Image All-Star Challenge: Austin, Austin Cosmopolitan, Bastrop County, Hutto, Lakeway/Lake Travis, E-Club, Killeen Heights, South Austin, Marble Falls and Taylor.
Dignitaries and Rotarians from around the area joined in the party on Saturday, May 1, to celebrate the Rotary Club of Taylor’s first 100 years in the community.
On Tuesday, May 4, 2021, the Caldwell Rotary Club and the Texas A&M College of Veterinary of Medicine worked collaboratively to offer a free rabies clinic. The event was held at the Burleson County Fairgrounds from 3pm to 7pm. 80+ dogs and cats from the community were vaccinated at no cost to the owner.
It is my distinct honor and privilege to formally announce that Bob Crouch of the Rotary Club of Killeen Heights is now officially our District Governor Nominee and will serve as our Governor for Rotary Year 2023-2024. Bob is a great Rotarian and good friend who I know to be exceptionally well prepared for the job! Please join me in congratulating Bob on his selection as our 109th District Governor.
After more than nine months of recruiting, the new Texas Hill Country Rotary Passport Club acquired the necessary number of charter members (20-plus). We had 22 total charter members in our application) when we submitted it to Rotary International two weeks ago. We have been greatly assisted in this process by the leadership of the recently chartered North Austin Metro Rotary Passport Club (first Passport club in the district) and District Governor Rick Stacy and Monique Hodges, Corsicana Rotary, both of them members of the District 5870 New Membership Task Force.
The Rotary Club of Bastrop County plans to host a BBQ Festival Event in on Sep 3-5, 2021. This includes a “sanctioned BBQ competition, fundraising, Fun, and Information event” with goals of having a major event in Bastrop, raising funds (primarily for local organizations and projects), fun, and information activities.
A first-of-its-kind traveling exhibit showcasing the ultimate sacrifice of military and first responders who’ve died from wounds in the War on Terror since September 11, 2001 until today was at the Marlin City Park Pavilion on Thursday, April 29th through Wednesday, May 5th.
Flatonia President Larry Haas and President-Elect Gerald Freytag, on Thursday. April 22 removed the old roof and decking, replaced rotted supports and replaced old facia with hardie board siding. The City of Flatonia pool storage building will be another service project that will help the community.
After the Rotary Club of Austin heard from Alan Graham, the founder of Mobile Loaves & Fishes and Community First, our club learned that the residents love to watch DVDs so our club purchased a variety of movies to donate to the Community First lending library.
SOUTH AUSTIN Rotary club member Mickie Powers happily smiling after purchasing a month’s supply of disposable plates to serve meals at the soup kitchen that the club, as well as individual club members, have generously supported.
The Rotary Club of Taylor on April 9 was a huge success. Thanks to organizing Rotarians Ryan Stiba and Austin Brown, the Club has more money to spend on its Rotary Scholars Banquet, scholarships and community projects.
On April 9th, Killeen Heights Rotary held our 2nd round of CLUSTER MEETINGS. Rotarians gathered at 5 socially distant, COVID-19 mindful locations for breakfast, fellowship & networking.
The Rotary Club of Marble Falls worked on a joint service project with fellow Rotarians from District 5890 during their District Conference at Horseshoe Bay Resort.
Twenty-one high school seniors in McLennan County are being recognized for their volunteerism and service in the 41th annual Youth Citizenship Awards sponsored by the Rotary Club of Waco and the Tribune-Herald. The students are usually honored at a spring luncheon held by the Rotary Club, but for the second year COVID-19 is limiting recognition to a socially distanced award presentation. They will be recognized at a drive-thru reception Monday at the Lions Den.
District Governor Rick Stacy interviews grandson Nolan about the KALAHARI ADVENTURE. He has experienced Kalahari first-hand and wants to share his take on the venue. Must watch! don't miss out on all the fun to be had at DISTRICT CONFERENCE MULTI-EVENT BASH on May 14-16! Click image to play video. To register: https://bit.ly/3rnuA8g
DG Rick Stacy Poolside Chat with Grandson Nolan About the Kalahari Adventure
District Governor Rick Stacy is pleased to announce the formation of District 5870’s newest Rotary Club, the Austin North Metro Passport Club. This initiative is one of the goals he announced early In the Rotary year to address the declining member base in District 5870.
Austin Southwest Rotary held a workday at the Will Hampton Library in Southwest Austin in March. In the past, the Club put in a trailhead, prepared a Learning Tree area for outdoor classes and maintains a gazebo at the Library built by a club member, Ross Baldwin. These projects were initiated as the Club’s Centennial project when Rotary International celebrated its 100th anniversary sixteen years ago.
On March 26th, Killeen Heights Rotarians met at Palo Alto Middle School, in Killeen, to sort, inventory, label, and shelve books for the school. This is the final component of our DAP Grant project for the 2020-2021 Rotary year.
The Rotary E Club and the staff at Austin’s Pecan Springs Elementary are creative a butterfly garden for the students. The classes have painted cinder blocks for the borders and will plant and maintain plants that attract butterflies and enhance the beauty of the school grounds.what an exciting partnership project.
Thank you players and sponsors for making Killeen Heights Rotary’s March 5th Spring Classic a success! This event raised over $25,000 for scholarships and service projects in our community!
The Killeen Heights Rotary service project on March 13th, included constructing four Little Free Libraries. Next, the children of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Texas will paint 🎨 the libraries and fill with new books. The Free Libraries and books project is an investment in our most precious resource...our children.
Mike Carr, 2020 Toastmasters World Champion, will be the featured speaker at the upcoming District Assembly and Leadership Training event on Saturday, April 10th. The event will be held virtually and will begin at 8:30 am and concluding with the featured speaker at 12 noon.
The Austin Cosmo club is thrilled to announce the beginning of an incredible, global project. The building of a library bus (bibliobus) in partnership with the Rotary Club of Tsimbaroa in Antananrivo, Madagascar.
Rotary International, which comprises more than 35,000 clubs with 1.2 million members in 200 countries and geographic regions, was big enough to be a major partner in the eradication of polio, the largest health initiative ever undertaken!
The Rotary Club of Taylor invites the community, especially those interested in service to their community, to its 100th anniversary celebration on Saturday, May 1.They plan to put its motto, “Service Above Self,” into action to celebrate its 100th anniversary.
The Rotary Club of Marble Falls hosted its first in person meeting for 2021 on Thursday, March 18th at Johnson Park. Flat Bottom Boys Pizza catered the lunch, serving a variety of personal sized wood fired pizza for everyone to enjoy.
Rotary Club of Taylor is ready to celebrate spring by getting golfers on the green. “Our annual golf tournament helps us support students and community projects all year long,” Club President Regina Carlson said. “We hope after the year we’ve had that golfers and the community are ready to get outside and play.”
The Rotary Club of La Grange recently held a stuffed animal and snack drive for the Children's Advocacy Center Serving Bastrop, Lee, and Fayette Counties. The Center provides Forensic Interviews, Victim Advocacy, Therapeutic Services and facilitation free of charge. The Center was in need of new stuffed animals to give to kids who are coming to be interviewed to see if they have experienced some form of abuse. A cuddly friend sometimes helps to make that journey easier, and hopefully less traumatic.
Twelve Members of the Rotary Club of Northwest Austin, including PDG Jim Henry, assembled on Monday afternoon, March 8, at Springwoods Park in Northwest Austin, to prepare 21 FiT Kits for distribution at two Round Rock ISD schools. Josh Reeley, Vice President of Youth Services for the Rotary Club of Northwest Austin, organized the effort, funded by a District 5870 DAP Grant.
Fellow Rotarians: I hope that this Newsletter finds you all in good health and good spirits. The winter storm was a devasting event. Texas suffered greatly with loss of lives, infrastructure damage, personal property damage, and just a general interruption to our already interrupted Covid affected lives. Texas Governor Abbott has declared all of the 23 counties in our Rotary District “disaster area”. So, in the midst of searching out Covid vaccinations and keeping safe distances, Mother Nature gives us one more hurdle to climb. This leads us back to Rotary…….
On February 13, the Austin Cosmopolitan Rotary Club expanded their global reach by partnering with the Rotary Club of Adana Guney, Turkey as twin clubs. Twin clubs, or sister clubs, are two clubs from different countries that form a long-term relationship to promote international understanding and goodwill and carry out service projects in their communities. To participate in this partnership, sign up for the Cosmo newsletter: austincrc.org
Austin Cosmopolitan Rotary Club Joins Forces with RC of Adana Guney, Turkey
Your District Membership Team will be hosting a Membership Forum on Saturday, 27 March 2021 from 9:30-11:30 AM via Zoom. We will be sharing ideas on how to be a healthy club with engaged members and creative and flexible meetings and projects. Click to register.
Fellow Rotarians: We announced last week of the passing of PDG Clift Price. He was such a great person and great Rotarian. There will be a virtual public memorial service in his honor at 3PM on Saturday, March 6, 2021. The link and livestream will be available at tumcaustin.church/funerals . There would be no better way to honor his contribution to Rotary than to show our respect and support for his family by participating. To really appreciate PDG Clift Price's long, varied, and accomplished legacy, please take time to read his full Obituary at this link: https://legcy.co/2PizTI2
The line of cars usually starts to wind around the block about 30 minutes before the food pantry at El Buen Samaritano opens. The first day the pantry was open after Austin thawed out from the historic storm and the city was again semi-functional, the line of cars carrying families in need of food and water started two hours before opening.
Come join us in celebration at our Multi-Event Bash on May 14-16 at the Kalahari Resorts & Hotel in Round Rock, TX. We are taking a full year of missed opportunities and consolidating into one big weekend of ROTARY FUN!! This is a family fun event .. so bring your kids and the grandkids!
We invite you to join us for the "Rotary Club of Killeen Heights Spring Classic" Golf Event March 5, 2021 at 9am at Stonetree Golf Club, Killeen to support vocational grants, scholarships and service projects in our community. For player Registration or Sponsorships visit: www.khrspringclassic.com or contact Daniel Hall at dhall@bgctx.org
The Rotary Club of Lakeway/Lake Travis has been busy this month with delivery of meals and food coupons to all hospital and clinic staff to acknowledge the dedication and heroism of these frontline health care workers.. not only during COVID but also during our ice storm last week.
Delivering Meals and Gratitude for our Health Care Workers
On Friday, Feb 19, the city of Pflugerville reached out from its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to its Rotary Club. FEMA would deliver 7000 cases of water to be distributed. Could the Club provide volunteers to assist with the distribution?
The Shiner Rotary Club was honored to have had the opportunity to donate to Anna’s Angels this past Christmas season. Anna’s Angels help with the needs of many local families at Christmas time.
The Rotary Club of Austin put up these hero signs at our three EAFK sponsored elementary schools in Austin ( Pecan Springs, Dawson, Hart) to remind the teachers that we know they are essential workers and that we value the important work they are doing for our kids.
Is there something standing between you and Rotary? Is that Rotary mojo you had a year ago dwindling or gone? Are you torn between being safe and being isolated? Are you frustrated with the knowing there is a vaccine waiting for you, you just don’t know when or where it is? Are you missing the friendships and fellowship that comes with being active in your Rotary club? Well, join the club friend, I am in the same boat with you!
The presentation of Paul Harris Fellow (PHF) Recognition is The Rotary Foundation’s way of expressing its appreciation for a substantial contribution to its humanitarian and educational programs. It is named for founder Paul Harris, a Chicago Lawyer who began Rotary International with three business associates in 1905.
President-elect Shekhar Mehta encourages members to be changemakers and announces his theme for the 2021-2022 Rotary year, Serve to Change Lives. Learn more: http://on.rotary.org/3j6bVuc
Although 6:45am rolls around early to arrive to help at El Buen Samaritano Food Pantry, members of the Austin-Southwest Rotary saw clients’ cars already in line waiting for the parking lot grocery box delivery to open at 8:00am.
Rotary E-Club of Central Texas gave away 520 Virginia Pine Tree seedlings as an effort to help save our world. Club members gave Virginia Pine seedlings to anyone who would care for them at locations in Austin and Bastrop.
One out of four children in Bastrop County goes hungry according to the Bastrop County Emergency Food Pantry. So the Rotary Club of Bastrop County is donating $2000 to help feed them.
The District Membership Team will be holding a quarterly District Membership Orientation, on Monday February 1, 2021 6:30PM to 7:30PM CST on Zoom. It's open to all new Rotarians as well as anyone who just wants a refresher of Rotary. Please share this training with your members. Must register to receive Zoom link.
The orientation is not a replacement for the Club Membership Orientation but serves as a way to bring together all of our new members to the District and offer a background of Rotary along with providing an introduction to the District organizational structure and operations. Please register here
Let's party like it's .... 2019! MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW for our "Multi-Event Bash" on May 14-16, 2021 at the Kalahari Resorts & Conventions in Round Rock Texas. You won't want to miss this party!! We are consolidating a year full of missed opportunities in to ONE BIG WEEKEND BASH. Foundation Dinner & Conference of Clubs & being back together. More details coming soon.
The Rotary Clubs of Austin-Southwest and South Austin joined forces to build a 54-foot wheelchair ramp in conjunction with Texas Ramp Project of Travis County.
The Rotary Club of Austin-Southwest partnered with the S.W. Travis County Rural Community Center to help supply coats for the children of their clients for Christmas.
Save the date of Saturday, January 23rd from 9AM-12PM for our Virtual Mid-Year Public Image Booster Training. This is a free event and open to all Rotarians. Click here to register.
Our first Grants Management Training Seminar will be held on Saturday, January 16, 2021 on Zoom. Both the 3hr and 1hr sessions are available. This is a free event however you must register to receive the Zoom link. Click to register.
The Rotary Club of La Grange has been busy spreading some holiday cheer! They collected gifts and almost $2000 in monetary donations from members for the Fayette County Child Welfare Board. These gifts will go to local children currently in foster care or in placements with family members.
The Global Grant Scholarship Committee chaired by Katherine Logue of the RC of Waco met in December to interview four candidates. Candidates came from the RC’s of Waco, Austin, and Killeen Heights. All candidates were very qualified.
Each year, Rotary awards up to 130 fully funded fellowships for leaders from around the world to study at our peace centers to become peacemakers. Your club can nominate one of these leaders.
Monday, 14 December was absolutely a spectacular evening with 16 Killeen Heights Rotary Club members and 6 guests for a total of 22 participants caroling at the Rosewood Retirement Community for the 37 residents from 6:00pm to 7:00pm.
Amidst a myriad of different Rotary Club activities, a Christmas parade is a new No. 1. The Marlin Christmas Parade 2020 theme was “Spirit Of Christmas.”
Calling all Rotarians!! Volunteers are needed for the District "Rise Against Hunger" Service Project on February 20, 2021 in Marlin at the Marlin Men’s Association Building.
In my opinion, it is only fitting that December of each year, Rotary designates as Disease Prevention and Treatment Month. What our organization does for humanity is a gift indeed. A gift of life to so many. To many more, a gift of improved quality of life and less suffering for those that need our help the most. We believe strongly that good health care is a basic right for everyone. It is estimated that over 400 million in the world can’t afford or don’t have access to basic health care.
Please join us: Friday, December 11th at 4pm for our Virtual District Wide Holiday Party... come festive and ready to laugh, have some fun, and get into the Holiday Spirit!
Calling all Public Image ROCKSTARS!! The first level of the PUBLIC IMAGE ALL-STAR CHALLENGE is all about strengthening your Club brand. For Level 1 - submit your Club's Rotary Master Branded Logo (most of you already have this) and a Club #Hashtag.
Some brands are recognized around the world just by their logos. When people see the logo, they instantly know what it means and what to expect from the product. Building that kind of visual recognition requires effort, including years of using a logo widely and consistently. Companies work at this because earning that global recognition benefits their business.
Street Books ATX serves people who cannot frequent libraries easily. Patrick Crowley, director, takes his mobile unit to places people have a hard time checking out books.
On Nov. 7th, some members of the Rotary Club of Killeen Heights met at a business in Downtown Killeen to assemble 54 breakfast bags which included fruit, water and a snack bar.
On November 21, 2020, the Rotary Club of Killeen Heights participated in the Wreaths For Vets event preparing more than 11,000 wreaths alongside hundreds of volunteers.
On November 7, 2020, Killeen Heights Rotary Club teamed up with the Rotary Club of Geogetown at their “Field of Honor” 1,700 flag event at San Gabriel Park to honor our veterans, members of the military, and our first responders.
On November 20, 2020, the Killeen Heights Rotary Club held their annual 2020 FOOD FOR FAMILIES DRIVE from 6:30am to 6:00pm. Past President Jim Bondi presented a check donation of $2,176 to Food For Families/Food Care Center.
As we continue to move through this COVID-19 pandemic, our Rotary Club of Killeen Heights continues to make great contributions to our community through various Rotary service projects and initiatives.
Rotary Club Cedar Park Leander donated a car to a single mom in their community!! It was presented by Moriah Eberhart during a charity event with Deb's Dream, Inc on Oct 24, 2020.
Northwest Austin Rotary making a difference this holiday by providing for all of the food needs for Families in Transition (FIT) kids in Pond Springs Elementary School for the Thanksgiving Break.
This project provides “Rotary Club of Bastrop County” support of the “In the Streets Hands Up High” program https://www.itshuh.org/. This valuable community services program provides support of people (including veterans) with challenges such as homelessness, addiction, food, and employment.
The Rotary Club of Austin made an impact volunteering at the Central Texas Food Bank. Members packed up 16,000 meals in record time! This was the perfect event to mask, glove and socially distance for the benefit of others!
The registration for the Central TexasFoundation Gala on Saturday, February 13, 2021 at the Austin Marriott North in Round Rock is now open. Our guest speaker is , Past R.I. Director & The Rotary Foundation Trustee-Elect, Larry Lunsford. Tickets for the Foundation Gala $85. Table purchase is available (seats 6). To register:https://bit.ly/rotary5870 Click here for more details.
Way to go Rotarians!! We received the award winning Annual Fund and Total Giving Champ for 2019-2020 in Zone 25B and the highest percentage of EREY in the Zone and 12th out of 530 Districts in the World!!
Rotary Club of Austin decided to honor some of our front line heroes in a unique way during this pandemic at the Georgetown Field of Honor event. Over 1700 flags are set to fly the week of November 7-15 to honor, thank or remember those we believe in or have lost. This is the 4th annual Field of Honor® to be held again this year at San Gabriel Park in Georgetown!
Mark your calendar for Saturday, February 13, 2021 at 7PM for our Central Texas Foundation Gala at the La Frontera Marriott in Round Rock. Registration opening soon!
It's TAMALE TIME at Rotary Club of South Austin!! Order your Holiday Tamales NOW for delivery the weekend of Dec. 12th! For more information on all of the amazing projects that this fundraiser allows us to do year round & TO PLACE YOUR ORDER please visit https://southaustinrotary.com/page/tamales
On October 24, 2020, Killeen Heights Rotary Club and Operation Stand Down Central Texas teamed up to assist homeless veterans and their families in the surrounding Central Texas community.
The Rotary Club of Killeen Heights and the Brick & Forge Taproom, Killeen’s newest restaurant, joined forces to raise funds in support of World Polio Day. The fundraiser was at the Brick & Forge Taproom, 2901 E Central Texas Expressway Killeen, on October 22nd, 4 pm – 8 pm.
Killeen Heights Rotary Club holds 1st Cluster Meetings of the year. Rotarians gathered at 5 socially distant, COVID-19 mindful locations for breakfast, fellowship & networking with friends and new members.
The North by Northeast Rotary Club partnered with the E-Club for our Rise Against Huger project that we held on October 3rd at the Casa Chapala Mexican Restaurant in North Austin. We had 20 Rotarians from the North by Northeast Rotary Club (10), E-Club (4), Northwest Austin Club (4), Austin Club (2).
Today, the country of Serbia has the highest COVID-19 rate of any of the seven Balkan countries along the Adriatic, west of the Balkan Mountains. With COVID cases surging in Europe to the west and Romania to the east, Serbia is in a precarious situation.
Rotarians in Taylor sure were happy there were a lot of hungry people on Oct. 13 as their chicken fried steak fundraiser raised almost twice what they expected.
Killeen Heights Rotary Club, Ebony Todd and Morgan Matlock of the Killeen Heights Satellite Club meet up with other #RotariansAtWork to continue a partnership with the Killeen Food Care Center filling bags and restocking the shelves for local families in need.
On Friday, October 9, 2020 The Rotary Club of Marble Falls presented a $15,000 check completing it's 3 year $45,000 grant commitment for the purchase of walk in coolers to The Helping Center of Marble Falls.
Every year, Rotarians and Rotaractors across the globe mobilize for World Polio Day to raise awareness about eradicating polio for good. If we stay committed, polio will be the second human disease ever to be eradicated.
Pecan Springs EAFK Service students with the help of the Rotary Club of Austin and Cosmopolitan Rotary collected over 200 toys in the Spring for a community project.
The Rotary Club of Austin-Southwest joined the Travis Co. Constables of Precinct 4 in SE Austin in a campaign to sign people up for the census and distribute PPE's and information about Covid-19.
Rotary Club of Marlin held its initial meeting (adhering to social distancing and health requirements against the coronavirus pandemic) on July 1, 2020, presided by Dr. Marilyn Martin.
The Lakeway/Lake Travis Club is adapting to how they meet and how they serve the community in light this COVID era. The club continues to meet both in person and virtually, allowing for broader participation.
The Rotary Foundation is the charitable arm of Rotary International. It was founded in 1917 by Rotary's sixth president, Arch C. Klumph, as an endowment fund through which Rotarians could "do good in the world." It has grown from an initial contribution of $26.50 received from the Rotary Club of Kansas City to more than $4.4 billion in total assets.
The South Austn Rotary Members organized a BIG South Side welcome for the Todos Juntos Learning Center as they settle in to their new south locaton with a DAY OF SERVICE and a RENOVATED PLAYGROUND!
On September 11, 2020, Killeen Heights #RotariansAtWork pack 54 daily meals to feed our homeless friends in need at the Moss Rose Community & Development Center in Killeen, Texas.
The Paul Harris Society recognizes Rotary members and friends of The Rotary Foundation who elect to contribute $1,000 or more each year to the Annual Fund, PolioPlus Fund, or approved global grants.
Marlin’s President Marilyn Martin headed up the response (almost overnight) to the need of 40 masks by a local nursing home! Almost immediately, a request for 37 additional masks was received. Again, Rotarians will step up.
Last year the Rotary Club of Marlin needed assistance helping Children’s Protective Services office with simple supplies for domestic violence victims. Rotary Clubs throughout the area and local members stepped up and helped.
We want to CELEBRATE & WELCOME your new Rotary Member! We will provide you with a graphic that can be shared on your Social Media Pages and we will also share the graphic on the District FB page!
Waco Rotary Club Member and Past President, Chris DeCluitt, is a faithful contributor to The Rotary Foundation. He became a Paul Harris +6 last year ($7,000 in total giving). He received a lapel pin at each level, from his original Paul Harris Fellow through his PHF +6.
These desk supply goody bags will be delivered to the staff of Pecan Springs Elementary next Friday to wish them a great year from the Rotary Club of Austin.
Rotarians from the Killeen Heights Rotary Club and from the Harker Heights Rotary Club joined forces and helped bag and shelve groceries at the Killeen Food Care Center.
The Covid-19 pandemic has created a great deal of pressure on many families to have adequate food and many area pantries are being overwhelmed. Rotary E-Club invites all Rotarians. and friends to join in a mobile food drive on September 30, 3-7 p.m. at 8207 SUMMER SIDE DRIVE, Austin 78759. You can help feed the hungry!
The Rotaract Giving Certificate is a new pilot program. to encourage Rotaractors to give to The Rotary Foundation. Rotaract clubs will receive a special certificate, signed by The Rotary Foundation trustee chair, when at least five members of the club contribute a minimum total of $50 or more to The Rotary Foundation over the Rotary year.
Every year, Rotary International recognizes the top Rotaract projects around the world in the Rotaract Outstanding Project Awards. One club and multi-club group receiving top honors will each be awarded US$1000 to support their projects. Nominations are now open!
Instead of going ALL day on ZOOM... we have decided to split the training into 2 Segments. *NOTE: You MUST Register for EACH segment in order to receive the zoom link! (No more zoom-bombing for us!)
Jennifer E. Jones, a member of the Rotary Club of Windsor-Roseland, Ontario, Canada, has been nominated to become Rotary International’s president for 2022-23, a selection that will make her the first woman to hold that office in the organization’s 115-year history.
Congratulations to District 5870 for it’s tremendous two-year run! Our district finished #11 in the world (out of 541 districts) in Annual Fund per capita giving in RY 2018-19, and #12 in the world in Annual Fund per capita giving in RY 2019-20. Not too shabby for a relatively small district in the middle of Texas.
Congratulations to 10th Grader Anthony Corpus who completed his Eagle Scout Award by rebuilding the wooden boxes around the flower beds in the front of Pecan Springs Elementary School! It was a fine example of perseverance During difficult circumstances and giving back to his community.
In Texas, Rotarians can be all too aware of the controversies surrounding school textbook choice, with quarrels notoriously centered on the degree of emphasis to give to selected historical figures and even whether or not to allow use of a single word to describe the defenders of the Alamo. Required texts are changed out every few years.
This initiative helps Rotarians connect their business with Rotarians, find assistance for challenges both professional and personal, and access career advice and leads. It's Rotarians helping Rotarians! Check it out now. www.therotarynetwork.org
Members of the Rotary Club of La Grange volunteered to distribute food at the AMEN Food Pantry in July. High temperatures and the pandemic caused the food pantry to be short volunteers and local Rotarians stepped up to help.
Killeen Heights Rotary started the year with a service project at the Boys and Girls Club. They sorted and shelved somewhere around 500 books, for a total of 18 service hours!
Congratulations to PDG Rich Kaye! He was appointed by PRIP John Germ, Chair-elect of The Rotary Foundation’s Board of Trustees, to serve as the Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator (RRFC) for Region 36. The region is comprised of the 23 districts that are in Zones 25b and 29.
The West Austin Rotary Club was awarded our first Global Grant from Rotary International in June 2019. The grant was made to support water and sanitation projects in two rural Nicaraguan communities – El Aulo and Nueva Jerusalem.
The Rotary Club of Austin candidate Marta Hererra has been awarded a Global Grant Scholarship of $32,500 for conflict resolution studies at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Congratulations to all 15 clubs that recevied the "Public Image Rockstar Club Award"! Each of these clubs will receive a Public Image Rockstar banner. We held a drawing the day of the awards for the top three clubs:
I am honored to come to you this morning from Angel Fire, New Mexico. As we gather to celebrate our dynamic clubs of District 5870, we take time to pause to remember and give thanks for 21 of our own who have died over the past 14 months. (Watch Video)
The Lakeway/Lake Travis Rotary club in partnership with the Ladies of charity (LOC) have announce their 2020 Scholarship Awards. This year 5 Lake Travis High School Students were awarded $6,000 each, for a total of $30,000 to the college of their choice.
Rotary International has created a new area of focus: supporting the environment. This new area of focus to support the environment will give Rotarians and Rotaractors even more ways to bring about positive change in the world and increase our impact. Learn more: https://on.rotary.org/3i4zNxl
Lakeway/ Lake Travis Rotary Club started a local community project to support local businesses and honor first responders throughout the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.
South Austin Rotary provided breakfast to the APD South Station and Sunset Valley PD as way to show their support. The 6 o’clock-ish hour was decided upon because there is a shift change and that way the people coming off and the people coming on would both get to participate in the enjoyment of the food.
The Rotary Club of Flatonia has completed its District Assisted Project (DAP) for the Rotary year, 2019-2020. Club President, Bernie Satterwhite, chose this project in early 2019, even before his year started July 1, 2019.
The Rotary Clubs of Temple, Temple South, and Belton have joined efforts with the Temple Biomedical and Health District to provide surgical masks to Baylor Scott & White in Temple.
Reveal Resource Center is a nonprofit food pantry and clothes closet serving over 400 low-to-moderate income families weekly. This represents 1,300 to 1.500 people. Rotarian Linda Starnes serves as the pantry’s Executive Director. Linda commented, “each week Real Resource Center distributes 15,000 to 20,000 pounds of food with the help of volunteer ‘servants’.
Twenty-five high school seniors in McLennan County were recognized for their volunteerism and service in the 40th annual Youth Citizenship Awards sponsored by the Rotary Club of Waco and the Tribune-Herald.
It is my distinct honor and privilege to formally announce that Shannon Coleman of the Rotary Club of Pflugerville is now officially our District Governor Nominee and will serve as our Governor for Rotary Year 2022-2023. Shannon is a great Rotarian and good friend who I know to be exceptionally well prepared for the job! Please join me in congratulating Shannon on her selection as our 108th District Governor.
Selection of District Governor Nominee for 2022-2023 Rotary Year
Rotary District 5870 Central Texas presented Baylor Scott & White Health a check Tuesday in the amount of $29, 994.50 to be used for much needed Personal Protection Equipment for staff and personal of its local hospitals and clinics during this COVID 19 pandemic.
On Friday, May 22, 8 volunteers from the Rotary Club of Austin-Southwest met at the Central Texas Food Bank to sort frozen foods to go to Distribution Centers.
Round Rock Rotarian Jen Henderson wanted to do something to honor the frontline healthcare workers, so she reached out to fellow Rotarian Jeremy Barclay, the CEO of St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center, to see how she could help.
Together we serve! Together we Fight Hunger! On May 20, 2020, Rotary Club of Pflugerville members partnered with the Circle of Hope Community Center and Central Texas Food Bank to help distribute food to people in need at the Circle of Hope Mobile Food Pantry.
Lakeway/Lake Travis Rotary rolled out their First Responder/Community Support Program starting with the Lakeway and Bee Cave Police Departments. Every Wednesday they will purchase meals for First Responders from a local business.
Lakeway/Lake Travis First Responder/ Community Support Program
Killeen Heights Rotary collected and donated over $1,000 of supplies to AWARE Central Texas and the Coryell County Rainbow Room. These great agencies stand in the breach to support and assist victims of family violence and child abuse;
District 5870 has contributed a total of District Designated Funds of $111,102 to Covid-19 related activities. We created and funded a District DAP Grant in the amount of $61,102. We were awarded from The Rotary Foundation a District Disaster Response Fund Grant in the amount of $25,000.
We as Rotarians, must try our best to live up to this year’s theme of Rotary Connects The World. More importantly we must first continue to connect with each other. Our District has created a a series of Zoom Meetings so we can continue this connection: Zoom Series - Staying Connected every Friday at 4PM.
The Rotary Club of Austin awarded over $50,000 in scholarships last Tuesday to deserving students in the Austin Texas area. What makes this program special this year is the chair of the program, Vlad Bahrencu (pictured).
The Rotary Club of Round Rock loves their BBQ from Pok-e-Jo’s each week. However, in this time of COVID-19 there are more important needs here in our community.
Northwest Austin Rotary found a way to not only provide service during Covid-19 but to support a local business as well. They purchased meals for healthcare workers from Austin Catering. For which, they are delivering approximately 64 meals every Friday to St. David’s Main and St. David’s Round Rock until the end of May.
South Austin Rotary has been helping a soup kitchen in South East Austin at South Austin Market Place transitional housing facility that houses more than 170 people in a high risk environment.
Nor Rain nor Shine nor Snow nor CoVID 19 could stop the Rotary Club of Temple-South from Service. The Rotarians of the Temple South club participated in two separate projects to support Families In Crisis Central Texas, a domestic violence shelter for battered women and children, during the pandemic.
Rotary Club of Killeen Heights and its Satellite Club are providing humanitarian aid to their local community amidst the coronavirus. The Clubs volunteer biweekly with the Killeen Food Care Center, a local food bank.
Join this live event on Saturday, May 2, 2020 at 10AM to hear stories of hope, inspiration and gratitude from Rotarians, Rotaractors and friends of #Rotary from across the globe as they share what they are doing to help their communities. The telethon will also showcase how our polio eradication infrastructure is helping to combat COVID-19. The goal is to raise more than $1 million dollars! To watch, visit facebook.com/rotary or on.rotary.org/ytlive2may. Here is how you can participate:
The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed our healthcare system to its limits. We can take action now through a citizen volunteer opportunity called Volunteer Surge! Rotary Clubs across the country are partnering with Volunteer Surge to recruit one million volunteers to participate in a new program that provides training online, for free, to become a Telehealth Worker or a Community Health Worker. Rotarian founded nonprofit The Global Impact Group is leading this effort. Click here to join the effort called Volunteer Surge!
Here is a list of potential service projects that can be done during the Covid-19 pandemic:
Join the CAR PARADE at St. David's Round Rock Medical Center every Monday night, at 6:30PM. Your support is needed to cheer on medical workers and patients! https://www.facebook.com/StDavidsparade/
Rotary Club of Temple-South is collecting essential supplies like cleaning supplies, diapers and paper towels/toilet tissue for Families in Crisis. If you would like to donate, please take to Fast Signs/Papergraphics on 31st Street and drop in the box outside.
Volunteer at SENIOR ACCESS - need financial support and volunteers to shop for seniors
Service for a fellow Rotarian - who is quarantined and needs help with meals/groceries & pharmacy. Check your members.
Stocking clothes closets or food pantries
Distribution from the same entities
Shopping for neighbors or friends
Church or other programs helping seniors or those subject to virus
Delivering food, medicine, etc to nursing homes, senior centers
Write a note to thank your local nurses, and healthcare workers
Join Rotary International as they host "Connect with the (Online) Rotary World" on Apr 28, 2020 3:00 PM CDT. Click to register.
Rotarians and Rotaractors everywhere are proving that being physically isolated doesn’t mean being disconnected. People are embracing new ways to connect using technology — smartphones, webcams, and the internet. Find out more in our upcoming webinar, which will feature members who are leading their clubs and districts in the move to virtual connection.
Rotary Club of La Grange has been busy creating smiles this week. They delivered lunches to many essential businesses in their community as a show of support and a "Thank You" for all that they do. Providing just a bit of joy in these most unusual times.
Our Zoom Meeting for this week will be this Friday, April 3 at 4:00 PM. We are moving it back one hour in hope of accommodating those who are still working. Our main topic this week will be: Adding Value to Your Club Zoom Meetings!
School systems across the nation scramble to find virtual learning solutions as the Coronavirus spreads, and those in nursing homes and assisted living facilities become more isolated as their regular family visits are canceled. The pandemic separates us, but letters can span the distance, both easing isolation and unfolding new learning experiences. Connecting students to elder Rotarians through handwritten letters provides students with new opportunities to expand their creative writing skills, while also learning a little bit of history from their pen-pals.
The Rotary Club of Marble supports the youth in the community by mentoring two Interact Clubs. Each of the Interact clubs provide lunch for our club once each year as a fundraiser.
The Rotary Club of Round Rock was proud to volunteer & support a Community-wide effort to fill backpacks for students to have food over the Spring Break Holiday. In 1.5 hours 1500 backpacks were filled with 11 tons of food by volunteers from the Round Rock Community. Great to see our community in action and to represent Rotary as People of Action!
Round Rock Supports Backpack Coalition Spring Break Kit Build
Georgetown is getting a mural that will include the Field of Honor. The mural will be on the Gus’s Drug building at 702 E. University Ave. The word "Georgetown" on the mural will depict recognizable locations in Georgetown, including the Rotary sponsored Field of Honor:
We are all facing such uncertain times at this point in our lives. No one could ever imagine what our world, nation, state and communities would be going through at this time. We have no idea how long this will last. Many communities have ordered their population to shelter in place and if not so ordered to avoid contact with others as much as possible and maintain social distancing.
At this time, we as Rotarians, must try our best to live up to this year’s theme of Rotary Connects The World. More importantly we must first continue to connect with each other. Our District is beginning a series of Zoom Meetings so we can continue this connection. Zoom is an online group meeting platform that allows us to all log in via a link and see each other face to face. We can chat, share ideas, view presentations and watch videos together within this platform and we want to be able to share this with each of you!
Rotary International just announced that the Rotary International Convention, scheduled for 6-10 June 2020, in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, has been canceled in response to the ongoing threat of COVID-19. Read more at riconvention.org
Today your District Conference Committee met via conference call and it was decided we are going to cancel the District Conference scheduled for May 1-3 in Boerne, Texas. This was done in response to the National State of Emergency declared by President Donald Trump and the State of Disaster declared by Governor Greg Abbott on March 13, 2020. It was also done based on the CDC recommendation that all events of 50 or more be cancelled for a period of eight weeks, which would include our conference numbers and dates.
The COVID-19 coronavirus is affecting every aspect of our lives in real time, and this puts Rotarians in an unfamiliar place. As People of Action, we are most comfortable when we are fully engaged in the world – moving freely, meeting openly, and offering helping hands. These are very difficult times for people who, like us, are at our best when we are learning, growing, and serving—together.
We are also leaders in our communities, and these times call for leadership. In many ways, this also is our time. We have proven abilities to reach out and collaborate to offer immediate help to people in need at a rapid pace. These are precisely the skills needed all over the world today. The global effort against COVID-19 depends on actions taken in every country. Rotary has the unique ability to help improve those efforts in every community and every country.
The Rockdale Rotary Club is proud to support and contribute to The Early Act First Knights at our Rockdale Intermediate Campus every year. The character building program has been embraced by our campus administration and has been proven to be very effective. This program doesn’t just prove to be positive and effective with our 3rd – 5th graders but it also effects their parent, grandparents, siblings and anyone the students have contact with.
The students at Pecan Springs Austin in K-2nd came to library to dress up in career costumes and talk about what they want to be when they grow up. BookSpring took a picture of each child in their career outfit and printed them. The kids decorated a frame for the pictures to go on with a letter to their parents about ten books they will get to take home in May for summer reading. This program was funded by Austin University Area Rotary.
Since my e-mail of three days ago so much has happened regarding the coronavirus issue. I know you have all been swamped with information about this but I feel it is necessary to update you on some issues and upcoming events.
First, the membership seminar scheduled for this Saturday, March 21 has been cancelled. It will be scheduled for a time to be determined in the future. Second, we have a grant management seminar scheduled for April 4 in Temple. I have been in contact with our district foundation team and they are working diligently about conducting this event via zoom, webex or some other on-line platform.
The health and safety of our members are our top priorities. We are closely monitoring the outbreak of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) and continuously assessing its potential impact on our operations, meetings, trainings, and other events.
Due to the rapidly changing nature of this situation, I encourage you to use your discretion when it comes to club and district meetings and events, and Rotary programs and activities. Canceling or postponing meetings or Rotary-related travel might be appropriate. Even if events are held as scheduled, some people may choose not to take part.
Come learn what DGE Rick Stacy has planned for Rotary 2020-21 and get Club Leader Training at District Assembly on Saturday, April 18 at Central Texas College. Cost is $25. Click here to register.
Last night, I was the program for the Club Rotario Oriente de Tuxla meeting in Tuxla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, Mexico. I spoke entirely in Spanish about Rotary Foundation Interim visits and led a problem solving exercise in Spanish about the strengths (Fortalezas) and challenges (Desafios)
Books for Me is a great program offering free books to students at Pecan Springs Austin. Our Rotary volunteers from Austin, University and EClub volunteer to help the librarian do arts and crafts with the students about animals and then they help the students pick out a book that becomes their “forever” home reader. This helps create a love for reading with the students and a community service opportunity for our volunteers.
The Rotary Clubs of Killeen and Austin have found ways to thank our military with special weekends at Austin hotels once a month to give the family quality time together in a fun place-Austin. This is through Operation Vacation Ft. Hood in partnership with Rotary, Hyatt Regency, County Line and Visit Austin. The Guico family spent a complimentary weekend @ the Hyatt Regency with all kinds of special services including a specially baked cake from the staff. The County Line on the Lake hosted their Saturday family style bbq dinner. Austin Rotary gave them passes to Austin Park n Pizza and Rotary Killeen arranged a rent car. It was a very special way to thank a soldier.
What an amazing time our our Roarin' 20's Casino Party! We had some great food, wonderful entertainment with Marilyn, enjoyed some fun gambling, and gave away so many great prizes!
The Rotary Club of Austin-Southwest is partnering with the locally initiated “Start Up Kid’s Club” with a $5000 grant and by providing member volunteers to mentor in the afterschool program for budding entrepreneurs.
Rotary Club of Yoakum successfully delivered 116 bears to Driscoll Children's Hospital in Corpus Christi on Monday, February 10. This hospital averages 100 children per day, but the average increases during a busy "flu season".
A renovation to a Central Texas shelter is helping families overcome hardships and benefiting the community. Killeen Heights Rotary Club allocated over $19,000 of a District Assistance Program (DAP) grant to help in renovating and refurbishing the Families in Crisis kitchen and dining area.
A grand 25,700 meals packed at Rise Against Hunger event hosted by the Rotary Club of Austin this past weekend! Way to go all Rotarians, families and volunteers!
Last month, The Rotary Club of Cedar Park-Leander completed their DAP project. They chose to support local literacy by helping a Title 1 school in their district by purchasing and distributing books. Once the books arrived, they sorted them by grade level and put stickers inside indicating they were gifts from the Rotary Club.
The students at Pecan Springs got to learn about caving today from Cave Sim. They experienced pulleys to get in caves, cave rescue, cave crawl spaces and even got to go inside a man-made cave with stalagmites and Cave surprises. This project was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Austin and Cosmopolitan in conjunction with AISD. What a fantastic experience for these students and hands on science.
The Rotary Clubs of Austin & Killeen along with the Hospitality Industry have found a way to honor a military Ft. Hood soldier every month for the last fifteen years. This family as part of Operation Vacation,Sgt. Ashley Prince, her military husband Harmer and their daughter, Aubrianna spent last weekend in Austin hosted by the Hilton Garden Inn Airport. Their meals were comped: gift bags with entertainment packages and snacks were delivered and County Line on the Hill provided them with an “all you can eat” BBQ dinner with all the trimmings. The family felt like royalty and knew they were truly appreciated. Thank a soldier!
The Rotary Club of Northwest Austin is a proud partner and co-sponsor for the PACT Little Red Bag Project Community volunteers are invited to join PACT and the Rotary Club of Northwest Austin on Saturday, February 8 from 11am to 1pm at the Hill Country Bible Church Gymnasium, 1214 Ranch Rd 620 N in Austin.
“Rotary is not just a club that you join, it is an invitation to endless opportunities. We believe that our acts of service, big and small, create opportunities for people who need our help. Everything we do opens another opportunity for someone, somewhere,” said President-Elect Holger Knaack.Therefore, the theme for year 2020-21 is -- Rotary Opens Opportunities.”
On Jan 14, Jeff Matera, Asst District Govenor, presented Daybreak Past President, Neal Kennedy, with two prestigious Awards from the Rotary Foundation for his Presidential year, 2018-2019.
Operation Vacation provided the Searcy family with a holiday weekend full of fun and great memories. In partnership with Rotary Clubs of Austin & Killeen, The Austin Hotel Lodging Association and County Line Restaurants, SSG Searcy and his family of three had a suite at the new JW Marriott Hotel with meals and access to all the downtown attractions.
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
A big round of applause to the Lakeway/Lake Travis Rotary Club for their FOOD DRIVE at H-E-B. They helped to sell 392 meals, almost $2000 worth! That is a lot of meals that help feed many families and children in their community.
The application deadline for District Vocational Scholarships is April 30, 2020. These scholarships are meant for students who live in one of the 23 counties that comprise District 5870 and are planning to study at a community college or technical school located in one of these 23 counties; or in an adjacent county if that school is closer or a more economical option than a school located in a District 5870 county.
La Grange Rotarians were hard at work at the Fayette County Texas Habitat for Humanity project. Several members helped to dismantle ramps between two homes that will be moved and go to local families.
Attend the first Grants Management Training in Bastrop! January 18th the first GMTS will be held at the Bastrop Library. We will have the one hour (9:15-10:15) and the 3 hour (10:15-1:15) training back to back due to space limitations. To participate in Foundation programs your President Elect and one other club member must attend GMTS. Click to Register
Mark your calendar on January 25, 2020 for the Branding and Public Image Training Day held at the Georgetown Public Library, Hewlett Room 402 W. 8th St, Georgetown from 9AM to 2PM. All Rotarians are welcome to attend! This is a FREE event however, we ask that you register as we are providing lunch. For more details on this event and to register: click here.
Bravo to the Rotary Club of Temple-South! 17 members of the club got up early on New Years Day for a community service project at Feed My Sheep, a ministry located in downtown Temple that provides a hot meal and sack lunch to needy and homeless people each day. 100+ people received a chili lunch prepared and served by club members. What a great way to start the new year!
Members of South Austin Rotary constructed dignity bags to pass out to people living on the street and others in need. The bags contained basic hygiene, snacks, socks, water, etc. By the time all the members finished the bags, there were over 200!
More than 300 Rotarians and their friends showed up at the Bastrop Convention Center on November 23, 2019, to celebrate the Bastrop Club’s annual Men Who Cook fundraiser. 2019’s theme was “Men Who Cook - International Edition”, and each chef chose a dish from a different country’s cuisine to prepare.
The Waco Rotary Club has partnered again this year with the YMCA of Central Texas, Junior League of Waco and Waco ISD Education Foundation to distribute a personalized book to every kindergarten, first and second grade student at each elementary campus in the district.
Conflict and violence displaced more than 68 million people in the past year, and half of those are children. We refuse to accept conflict as a way of life. Rotary projects provide training that fosters understanding and provides communities with the skills to resolve conflicts.
The Rotary Club of Austin Southwest was excited to supply over 200 coats for the SW Travis County Teddy Bear Christmas. Thanks to BancorpSouth, Boone elementary school, SW Family Fellowship Church and Oak Hill elementary school for putting out barrels to collect coats. We were gratified that we could help kids warm with new coats this winter!
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project is an investment in our most precious resource...our children.
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