As we step into January 2026, we begin the year focusing on Vocational Service Month, celebrating how our skills and careers bring meaningful impact to communities through service.
In December, just before Christmas, I had the privilege of visiting several of our clubs across the district. From Idabel and Antlers, Oklahoma, to Pittsburg, Paris, and Clarksville, Texas, the passion and commitment of our Rotarians were truly inspiring. These visits reflect the very heart of Rotary — clubs united in service, fellowship, and action.
Vocational Service calls on every Rotarian to work with integrity and contribute their expertise to the problems and needs of society. Learn more in An Introduction to Vocational Service and the Code of Conduct.
When Rotarians and communities unite for a global day of service, the impact is profound. Together, we address real needs, strengthen bond, and inspire hope, creating meaningful change and a shared sense of purpose and pride.
Save the date and start planning your project today!
Join Rotarians across the world for an “Epic Day of Service” on Saturday, May 16, 2026. This is just not another Saturday – it’s a day to unite for a greater good.
Let's Celebrate The Rotary Foundation and District 5830 Rotarians
Saturday, February 21, 2026 5:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. CST Paris Conference and Event Center, next door to Home2 Suites by Hilton 3143 NE Loop 286, Paris, Tx. 75460 - $60.00 per person - Deadline to Register: February 11, 2026 - Click here to register
As we enter this season of gratitude, reflection, and service, I continue to be inspired by the heart and spirit I see across our district. Each club or event I have visited—whether in Texas, Oklahoma, or Arkansas—has shown me that Rotary’s strength is the power of community, the impact of shared service, and the hope we offer to others through our collective action.
As we enter the Holiday season full swing, I hope all of you have peaceful and joy filled celebrations however that may look. It's a time to focus on gratitude and thanks and I am especially appreciative of all my Rotary friends both near and far.
November is a time for reflection and gratitude — and in Rotary, it’s also a time to celebrate The Rotary Foundation, the heart of our good works around the world. Every clean water well, every polio vaccine, every scholarship, and every peace initiative begins with your generosity to the Foundation.
Last year, District 5830 achieved a record-setting $452,305 in giving, and this year, our goal is to surpass $500,000. If each Rotarian in our district gives $40 per month through June, we will exceed our target and continue to lead Zones 30–31 in per capita giving.
Please visitmy.rotary.org/donate to set up recurring giving and explore Rotary’s Areas of Focus — from promoting peace to protecting the environment. Every contribution brings hope to communities in need.
Every second of every day, a Rotarian is putting service above self, turning a visionary idea into lasting change, and proving that doing good in the world starts with action. That action is fueled by The Rotary Foundation.
November is our chance to celebrate the incredible impact we create globally and locally through the Foundation, and to commit to securing that future.
October is a month full of meaning for Rotary. It is officially recognized as Economic and Community Development Month, a time when we reflect on how our projects help grow stronger local economies and create opportunities for families and communities.
But October also gives us a special global moment: World Polio Day on October 24. District 5830 joins Rotarians everywhere in reaffirming our promise to the world: to End Polio Now.
Thanks to your steadfast support, we are closer than ever to eradicating this disease, but the work is not done. This is our chance to highlight Rotary’s impact and raise awareness and funds to finish the fight.
I hope this message finds you well and energized for a busy and impactful October! As your Public Image Director, I’m excited to share key opportunities this month that can amplify our shared mission: eradicating polio worldwide and strengthening our communities through Economic and Community Development initiatives.World Polio Day falls on October 24, and this is our chance to illuminate Rotary’s unwavering commitment to a polio-free world. I encourage each club to align its activities and fundraising with Rotary International’s Polio Eradication Initiative.
I am Tammy Haas from the South Tyler Rotary Club and very honored to represent our district in this capacity. This is a new role for our district to have. My passion is Peacebuilding and for those I have met across our district I appreciate your enthusiasm for this role I have taken on. A special thanks to our DG Damon for supporting me in this. Peace is truly possible and especially when you realize it's a part of every area of focus within Rotary. I have done presentations at several of our Rotary Clubs about the Peace Pole Project and my vision of this role. If you would like me to do a presentation please reach out to me.
September is Basic Education and Literacy Month in Rotary. This observance reminds us that one of the most powerful gifts we can offer the world is the ability to read, write, and learn. Education is the foundation of opportunity, and our work in this area has the potential to transform lives and unlock possibilities for generations to come.
As Rotarians, we know service takes many forms. Sometimes, it provides clean water; other times, it awards scholarships or supplies books; often, it shows up in our communities with open hands and willing hearts.
As Public Image Director, I’m excited to help our clubs leverage September’s emphasis on Basic Education and Literacy to amplify Rotary International’s mission on all public-facing platforms. Basic Education and Literacy is not only a core service priority but also a powerful storytelling lens that can showcase Rotary’s impact, engage communities, and attract new supporters.
The District’s Disaster Relief Committee is continuing its formation. Our purpose is clear: to help Rotarians be better prepared for disasters, to work alongside local and state agencies when needed, and to provide the necessary funds, supplies, and support to alleviate human suffering after disasters.
Congratulations to Michael Newman, Past President 2018-2019 Rowlett RC & 2023-2024 Carthage RC, who has been selected by the District 5830 Nominating Committee as District Governor Nominee Designate. He has been selected to serve as D-5830 District Governor during the 2028-2029 Rotary Year.
Michael has been a Rotarian for over 10 years. He first joined as a member of the Wylie East Fork Rotary Club in 2014. He transferred to the Rowlett Rotary Club in 2016 and to the Carthage Rotary Club in 2021. Michael is currently serving as the Treasurer for the Carthage Rotary Club.
Fostering Growth Through Foundation Giving and Global Initiatives
As we embrace August’s focus on membership growth and club development within District 5830, I want to highlight a powerful catalyst for expanding our reach and strengthening our impact: Foundation Giving. Contributions to the Rotary International Foundation do more than fund local projects—they ignite global initiatives that can inspire new members and elevate our clubs’ influence in our communities.
August is Membership and New Club Development Month, and what better time to reflect on the heartbeat of Rotary—our members. Every handshake, every project, every new idea starts with you. Membership isn’t just about numbers—it’s about impact.
This month’s issue of Rotary magazine captures that spirit beautifully, highlighting how “growing Rotary” means expanding our reach, deepening our service, and welcoming the energy of new voices. I encourage you to explore the inspiring stories—from adaptive diving to mental health initiatives and economic empowerment. Read the magazine here: Rotary – August 2025
As we step into August, our focus shifts to a vital aspect of Rotary’s growth: Membership and New Club Development. Building a vibrant, engaged Rotary community depends on how effectively we promote our clubs and attract new members.
Reflecting on Your Club’s Public Image
Ask yourself: How does your club communicate its value to potential members and the broader community? Are you clear about your goals and the messages you want to share? A strong public image is essential to attracting new members and inspiring current members to become ambassadors for Rotary.
It is time to celebrate you and your clubs for an outstanding 2024-25 Rotary Year at the District 5830 Conference at the Museum of Red River in Idabel, OK!
Mark your calendar, register now and reserve your cabin or room for a weekend in Idabel Oklahoma.
During the conference we will be celebrating the success of individual Rotarians and their clubs with the Rotarian of the Year, Club of the Year, Club Excellent Awards and other recognitions.
The new Rotary year is officially underway, and what a strong foundation we have laid already.
Last Rotary year, District 5830 was recognized by Zone 31 as a "shining star" for our outstanding membership growth and new clubs added. That’s an incredible achievement and a testament to the energy, creativity, and commitment of Rotarians across our district.
Truly our greatest blessing is being born in the United States of America and too often we take for granted our incredible country and the lifestyle it provides.
In my lifetime, I have never known anyone who was struck by Polio. Being vaccinated in first grade was a requirement due to the virus being spread so easily and the magnitude of this devastating virus.
It is with great enthusiasm and a deep sense of honor that I introduce myself as your Public Image Director for 2025-2026. I am truly excited to serve alongside you all as we work to elevate the visibility and impact of Rotary District 5830.
My goal this year is to support each of our clubs in aligning their public image with the core values of Rotary International, as well as the inspiring goals set forth by our District Governor.
We just returned from an unforgettable and action packed 5 days at the Calgary Rotary International Convention. An International Convention is deep dive into Worldwide Rotary for all at all levels of involvement. Best yet, we have an International Convention Scheduled for Minneapolis, Minnesota May 27-31, 2028! Review your Calendars now and plan to attend.
While the Rotary Convention was a significant end to a momentous year, the Rotarians in District 5830 made it the terrific year it was. Our final numbers are still out, but Pamela Stewart, our Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator, said it really well: “To date, you beat your best total Annual Fund and Annual Fund Per Capita since at least 2012-13; [your] best total Endowment since at least 2012-13; and [your] best Total Giving since at least 2012-13.
I am truly honored and exhilarated to step into the role of District Governor for this new Rotary year. As I begin this journey, my heart is filled with deep appreciation for the path paved by Immediate Past District Governor Jeff Johnston and the many servant leaders who have shaped our vibrant district. With humility and hope, I look forward to all we will accomplish together in 2025–2026.
It is time for nominations of emerging leaders from our District for service as District Governor. The new DG Nominee Designate will serve as DG for the 2028-2029 Rotary Year. Our District 5830 needs talented and effective leaders for our District to continue to achieve our goals and grow in service to our communities and the world. I am asking each of you to take a serious look around your Club, your Area Clubs, and the District for potential candidates to nominate for this worthy office.
Time has FLOWN BY. During the past year, I have logged almost 31,000 miles performing District 5830 and Rotary International activities, training and visits. As your 2024-2025 District Governor, I have been blessed to visit every District 5830 Rotary club at least once and have also tried to make a number of the special events throughout the District - - - just because, my term is officially expiring, I am NOT DONE visiting and working with our many clubs!
Rotary year 2024-2025 has been a great year and we have collectively and individually achieved a lot:
Time is flying - - - I have now served ELEVEN MONTHS as your District Governor! Time is passing fast, but we are getting a lot done!
During the past eleven months, we have continued to emphasize Rotary International President, Stephanie A. Urchick, challenge for ALL Rotary Zones to grow by FOUR CLUBS and have a net gain of 100 Rotarians during her calendar year of 2024-2025. With ONE month to go, we have TWO new Rotary Clubs in place and TWO MORE in the pipeline! ! We have increased membership from about 1350 to about 1470 Rotarians - - - great job by ALL of OUR CLUBS!
It has been a singular honor to serve as your Director of TRF Programs this past 3 years. As we approach the end of another most successful Rotary Year, it is appropriate to call out those who helped make our work with the Rotary Foundation successful. That of course begins with DG Jeff Johnston and his encouragement and leadership style. Next we need to thank Shirley Pinnix-Evans our District Administrator who keeps us on track, and our PDG John Jetter who has been my right hand and always available not only in his assigned position as head of the TRF Grants Subcommittee but also guiding us through and assisting with learning modules for LSPETS as well as make-up PETS and District Training Assembly.
Celebrating Progress and Preparing for the New Rotary Year
As we approach the end of another Rotary year, it’s the perfect time to pause and reflect on the incredible progress we’ve made together. District 5830 has experienced meaningful membership growth this year, thanks to the passion, persistence, and relational approach of our clubs. Whether you brought in new members, re-engaged past ones, or focused on retention, your efforts are building a stronger, more vibrant Rotary.
But our work doesn’t stop here—because Rotary never stands still.
Ten Months Down! With the month of April passing, I have now served TEN MONTHS as your District Governor! Time is passing fast, but we are getting a lot done!
Rotary International President, Stephanie A. Urchick, challenged ALL Rotary Zones to grow by FOUR CLUBS and have a net gain of 100 Rotarians during her calendar year of 2024-2025. With two months to go, we have THREE new Rotary Clubs in the pipeline and have increased membership from about 1350 to about 1470 Rotarians - - - great job by ALL of OUR CLUBS!
May is Youth Services Month, and there is not a more fitting backdrop against which to measure the recent success of our Legacy Dinner and the successful ongoing Matching Points Campaign to increase the number of Paul Harris and Paul Harris + Members in our District. Simply stated, all District 5830 Rotarians need to be proud of their support of Rotary and The Rotary Foundation and its various Avenues of Service. Our work, though impressive, is not done. There are still water wells to be dug so children have safe water to drink, children who need shoes and clothing for school, children who are without nourishment save the backpacks provided to them for weekends making learning easier the following School Day, and many more.
On May 10th at the District 5830 Training Assembly in Mineola, Tiffany McPherson Damskov, District Public Image Chair presented "Empower Your Clubs with Winning Public Image Strategy,"
Is your Rotary Club effectively telling its story? Does your community know the impact you’re making?
In this session, titled Public Image Chairs, committee members, and club leaders received practical, actionable guidance to:
On Friday evening, April 25, 2025, at Holly Tree Country Club in Tyler, 48 contributors joined together to celebrate the successful Legacy Campaign held by District 5830 Rotarians. The evening opened with an enjoyable hospitality hour with entertaining piano music and lots of great conversation as Rotarians from all across Northeast Texas came together to celebrate. There was a continuous slide show with a wide variety of both local and international projects that have been supported by our clubs. There was another slide show that thanked each donor for their donation or commitment to The Rotary Foundation. DG Jeff Johnston welcomed everyone to get the party started.
Rotarians, this column for April is on Leadership.
Our District 5830 has sent trainers, mediators, and participants to LoneStar PETS, we are hosting a Local or makeup PETS this weekend in Mt. Pleasant, we have held a very successful Foundation Dinner in Tyler, completed RYLA and will shortly have the 4-Way Speech Contest as well as our first Legacy Dinner that Ted Huffhines and his committee have fully subscribed with local, caring Rotarians. Later this Spring will have the District Training Assembly. That list does not include events held on the club level or the good both our Clubs and the District perform in our communities and in the world.
MARCH has been a very fast month! With NINE months under “my belt” since taking office on July 1, I’m officially THREE QUARTERS through with my District Governor 2024-2025 year of service - - a lot has happened in NINE months and I’m honored to serve as District 5830 Governor! Our forty-one clubs have grown by two with the addition of a) The Tyler Food Bank Rotary Club and b) the “East Henderson companion club”; which is sponsored by/supported by the Rotary Club of Athens. We are still counting the NEW MEMBERS included in these new clubs as well as the additions experienced in many of our District 5830 Clubs - - we definitely are on track to achieve our Rotary International “Presidential Challenge” of adding at least 100 new members during 2024-2025!
Celebrating the Success of Lone Star PETS in DFW, Dear Rotary District 5830 Rotarians,
I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who made this Lone Star Presidents-Elect Training Seminar (LS PETS) in Dallas-Fort Worth an outstanding success. The 4-day event was held from February 27th – March 2nd at the DFW Hyatt Regency Hotel. There were over 600 Rotarians that attended the event! From informative sessions to inspiring conversations, our time together has prepared us to lead with renewed energy, purpose, and camaraderie in the upcoming Rotary year. If you are an incoming President Elect (PE) or President Nominee (PN) for your club and were unable to make it to LS PETS, I encourage you to attend our District Local PETSat the Mt. Pleasant Country Club on April 5, 2025, from 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
2025 - - TWO Months Down! February 2025 - - - shortest month of the year and also the FASTEST for District 5830. Did everyone remember to BUY that valentine? A card? Candy? The full deal with Card, Candy, and Flowers? ? As Rotarians we are so, so blessed and with the “service above self” focus, Valentine’s Day was a great way to prove our “worth” to family, friends, and other Rotarians!
January was “Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention Month”. With the 2025 USA Political changes - - - whether GOOD or BAD, it still a time for change and HOPEFULLY, we have started 2025 with a renewed focus on BUILDING PEACE and RESOLVING CONFLICT!
2025-2026 Rotary International Theme " Unite For Good" A few take aways from the President Elects who attended Lone Star PETS.
"This has been a wonderful weekend!" PE Suzy Weaver, Cedar Creek Lake R.C. "Lone Star PETS has given me a much broader view of the impact we as a small Rotary Club can have on the world and the importance of each and every member." PE John Dollarhide, Mineola R.C.
Your District Team has just returned from LoneStar PETS. It was incredible! PDG Carolyn Franks did a superb job of emceeing the Saturday Dinner and will be Operating Chair in 2026. DGE Damon Donnell did an excellent job of leading us and introducing 2025-2026 initiatives and goals and DG Jeff Johnston, DGN Diane Kavanaugh, PDG Mike Groom, Trudy Williams, Landon Forbes, Pamela Walters, and I enjoyed working with our Presidents Elect and introducing and facilitating the learning modules. DA Shirley Pinnix-Evans kept us on track.
I had the pleasure of visiting the Cedar Creek Lake Rotary Club to share a program on Public Image at the Club Level and how it directly impacts Membership, Sponsorships, Club Health, and Community Engagement. Public Image is more than just branding—it’s about effectively telling your club’s story, attracting new members, and securing support for your projects.
An exciting night of awards, food, fun and engaging speakers was enjoyed by approximately 180 District 5830Rotarians and guests this past Saturday at the wonderful Hollytree Country Club in Tyler, Texas! Host Clubs were The Tyler Rotary Club, South Tyler Rotary Club and Longview Rotary Club. The clubs worked together to create a beautiful, decorated venue in which to celebrate the Rotary Clubs' achievements in 2023-2024.
January 2025 came as a blur! Taking down all the Christmas and New Years’ stuff, putting away gifts, returning to “normal” - - at least for those of us that put off all the packing and stacking until after January 1. How many New Year Resolutions did you make? How many are still in progress thirty-one days later? We all have great intentions and SOME of YOU are great at following through! Congrats on any and all progress!
Were you as successful this year as you wanted? For those of you who love to read, please add the New York Times Best Seller, Four Thousand Weeks - Time Management for Mortals to your must read list.
The author of The Power of Regret, Daniel H. Pink, succinctly describes the work. “[It] will prompt you to rethink your worship of efficiency, reject the cult of busyness, and reconfigure your life around what matters.”
Reconfiguring our lives around what matters as Rotarians is a great thought as we move to a new year and analyze both our personal Visioning and that of our clubs from the past year. We all did Visioning, right?
Congratulations to Silfida D. Gomez-Coleman, 2021-2023 Past President of the Texarkana International Rotary Club, who has been selected by the District 5830 Nominating Committee as District Governor Nominee Designate. She has been selected to serve as D-5830 District Governor during the 2027-2028 Rotary Year.
December 2024 brought LOTS of RAIN to D5830, but no snow flakes! Thankfully, we didn’t have the flooding and storm damage that we suffered last year - - - December was probably the BUSIEST month in 2024 - - - at least for me as DG - - - after a busy Thanksgiving, we pushed through all the planning, buying, decorating and experiences of the Christmas season - - - has everyone “packed up” the decorations yet? ? WE haven’t at our house, but will add those tasks to the growing year end 2024 stuff to complete.
The District 5830 Legacy Campaign- "What's your Rotary Legacy?", is full steam ahead! There have been multiple club presentations and conversations regarding how you can leave a lasting legacy that will help make a difference. Rotarians all across 5830 are stepping forward and determining how they can make, either an outright gift or a bequest that will change lives of the most needy. I encourage every Rotarian, young and not so young, to ask yourself the question above and decide what your answer will be.
November and Foundation Month is officially behind us but with all the needs present especially at Christmas time, we can never stray too far from our support of The Rotary Foundation.
To bring that home, December is Disease Prevention and Treatment Month. Past Rotary International Director Floyd Lancia has just posted the Polio Headlines for November 27th, and they show an increase to 78 casesfrom 12 cases in all of 2023. The need for what we do has never been greater.
Without Rotarians like us combining our efforts to overtake and defeat dreaded diseases we should shudder to think of the outcome.
Fall has finally arrived, weather has changed, but the Summer heat continues to hang on a few more days - - - November was another busy month for everyone - - - Fall sport activities, marching bands & parades, art & craft events, car shows and TONS of school stuff for all - - - - as well as WORK and HOME activities.
In November, I visited Big Sandy, Mount Pleasant, Pittsburg, Paris United, Texarkana International, Texarkana Oaklawn, Texarkana Sunrise, and Texarkana Wilbur Smith Rotary Clubs. The comradery, energy, openness and Rotarian Spirit of our District 5830 Rotary Clubs continues to amaze me - - - as I’ve said each month, we are so blessed by the Rotarians in District 5830!
Take part in this transformative, one-of-a-kind event and experience the Magic All Around at the 2025 Rotary International Convention in Calgary, Canada 21-25 June 2025.
Deadline for early registration is December 15, 2024.
Rotarians, October was a busy month for the Foundation with World Polio Day, but November will be busier!
November is Rotary Foundation Month, and it gives us a wonderful opportunity to focus our attention on the many great things our Rotary Foundation assists us in doing to make our world better, not only for our communities, but also for those across the world impacting people we may never meet.
Apparently ALL the months are busy - - - October was another busy, busy month for everyone - - - more sport activities, marching bands & amp; parades, and TONS of school stuff for all - - - - as well as WORK and HOME activities. In October, I visited Wills Point, Jefferson, Marshall, Gladewater, Kilgore and Canton Rotary Clubs. The comradery, energy, openness and Rotarian Spirit of our District 5830 Rotary Clubs continues to amaze me - - - we are so so blessed by the Rotarians in District 5830! All the clubs have worked hard to elect club officers, establish 2024-2025 goals, plan fund raising projects, and welcome me with wide open arms! Many thanks to all the visited clubs - - - - with 27 visits completed, I have only 14 more visits planned for the “initial round” of DG visits for 2024-2025.
Rotarians, WORLD POLIO DAY gives us a one-day focus: ENDING POLIO.
Our recent birthday celebration of the dedication of PDG Shirley Griffin to ending Polio was a superb success resulting in the ability to vaccinate 75,000 more children against this dreaded disease. We wish all could have celebrated at PDG Shirley’s birthday party, but the importance of saying thanks can not be ignored when the latest report from past RI Director Floyd Lancia shows the latest Polio Case Count has reached forty (40), with 21 from Pakistan and 19 from Afghanistan. That is up from six (6) in 2021, and seven (7) in 2023.
September was another busy, busy month for everyone - - - sport activities, marching bands, and TONS of school stuff for all - - - - as well as WORK and HOME activities.
In September, I visited Carthage, Cedar Creek Lake, Mineola, Leaders in Service, Sulphur Springs and Clarksville Rotary Clubs. I continue to be amazed at the comradery, energy, openness and Rotarian Spirit of our District 5830 Rotary Clubs! All the clubs that I have visited have worked hard to elect club officers, establish 2024-2025 goals, plan fund raising projects, and welcome me with wide open arms! Many thanks to all the visited clubs - - - with 20 visits completed, I am essentially half way through the planned “initial round” of DG visits for 2024-2025.
August was a busy, busy month for everyone - - - last minute vacation time before school starts, busy work activities and many, many Rotary opportunities to serve. A group of thirteen District 5830 Rotarians and friends traveled to on-going mission work in Guatemala to assist with health screens, review potential new projects and celebrate completion of new facilities provided by joint efforts of Domestic and International Rotary Clubs. PDG Carroll and Longview Rotarian Mary Greenwaldt led the group which included two physicians - - - a Dentist (Dr. Carter Hallmark from the Rotary Club of Cedar Creek Lake) and an Orthodontist (Dr. Mike Scott from the Rotary Club of Longview). Many “follow-up” presentations have already been requested by District 5830 Rotary Clubs to hear more about the awesome “service efforts”.
It is time for nominations of emerging leaders from our District for service as District Governor. The new DG Nominee Designate will serve as DG for the 2027-2028 Rotary Year. Our District 5830 needs talented and effective leaders for our District to continue to achieve our goals and grow in service to our communities and the world. I am asking each of you to take a serious look around your Club, your Area Clubs, and the District for potential candidates to nominate for this worthy office. You know what it takes to do this job well. Please consider who you might nominate. Once identified, contact those individuals and gauge their interest in serving. A nomination form and a list of the District Governor’s responsibilities and qualifications we emailed to all the Active District 5830 Rotarians.
A few weeks back Ava and I attended the Cedar Creek Lake Celebrity Waiter Dinner during which a former RotaryExchange Student spoke. He had previously also attended RYLA and was completely connected to Rotary after that first experience and much more so later. He was quite erudite, but from his comments, was not always. Rotary gave him life changing opportunities and redirected his goals.
Happy August! Our Rotary theme for the month of August is Membership & New Club Development. I love that this theme is so early in the Rotary year. One of the best ways to ensure the message and magic of Rotary is carried on for years to come is by welcoming new members to join the cause.
Two wise men are known to have spoken about the importance of having a Vision of the future: “Rotary is not an organization for retrospection. It is rather one whose worth and purpose lie in future activity rather than past performance.” Paul Harris, Founder of Rotary International
“If you don’t know where you are going, chances are you will end up someplace else.” Yogi Berra, American Baseball Professional
Not only did you make a huge impact on lives within your communities through your money, blood, sweat and tears, you made a difference in lives internationally through your generous gifts to The Rotary Foundation, and I can’t thank you enough!
District 5830 Rotarians, you surpassed the $150 per capita goal to The Rotary Foundation Annual Fund in 2023-24, AND you passed the $50 per capita PolioPlus goal toward eradicating polio!
It takes you! Last month DG Jeff Johnson quoted IPDG Karen Maines asking, “are we there yet”?? DG Jeff went on saying we can all agree that we are not “there yet”, but we are so much closer because of the leadership of Rotarians like you! In numbers from your District 5830 Foundation Team here is what that looks like for DG Karen’s 2023-24 Year:
The 2023-2024 Rotary year has begun and we have started our District Governor visits. In July, I visited the South Tyler Rotary Club, Atlanta Area Rotary Club, Jacksonville Rotary Club, and Rotary Club of Longview. To say, “I’m impressed” is just not good enough - - - each of the visited clubs are very unique and vary in size from small to large (by our District numbers). At each of the club visits, the club “board of directors” met with me before the club assemblies and provided updates on goals, accomplishments, fundraising plans, and progress on “club visioning”. I look forward to the remaining 37 visits that have been scheduled for the remaining months of 2024.
Rotary needs to expand it's reach by becoming more visual in our communities. The Texarkana International Rotary Club now has a rolling billboard community service vehicle identifying club projects and our joint four club Rotary Flag Project. We feel our flag business can grow and possibly identify a few like minded service oriented prospective members through Rotary Awareness. We plan to use this vehicle with all club projects and some flag routes, parking it overnight at key locations throughout Bowie and Miller Counties.
Texarkana International Rotary Club Community Service Vehicle
Rotarians, We are launched into a New Rotary Year under new leadership of DG Jeff Johnston and these next few weeks will be a time to Celebrate our Successes under IPDG Karen Maines as well as Commit to continued momentum under DG Jeff.
Your 2024-25 Club Project Grant proposals are in and approved and the closing reports from last year are awaiting Rotary Foundation final review. Thanks go to PDG John Jetter for his dedication to The Rotary Foundation.
DID you see that train? During the 2023-2024 Rotary year, immediate PDG Karen Maines utilized the Rotary International Theme: “Create Hope in the World” to energize and grow the vision of Rotary in District 5830. Last month, Karen asked “are we there yet”?? We can all agree that we aren’t “there yet”, but we are so much closer because of the leadership of Karen, the District 5830 Assistant Governors, District Administrator Shirley Pinnix-Evans, and the many Rotarians of our district. MANY THANKS to Karen and her team!
A deer in the headlights. I’m sure that was exactly the impression I gave at my first couple of club events a year ago, but, I was greeted by so many friendly faces that I quickly began looking forward to every trip. Did you know that every club in our District has its own unique personality? Some of y’all are quirky; some, all business; and most are just going to have fun at everything you do.
First, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude for all the efforts this past year to learn, promote, and become more Rotary Brand Compliant! Clubs have done an amazing job, but we aren’t done yet! I am excited to introduce a new initiative for Rotary District 5830 during Jeff Johnston's year as District Governor - achieving 100% Brand Compliance!
We are at year end. It has been a pleasure serving you, but we have much more to do!
Your CPG Ending Grant Reports are due. (They were due on June 1st.) We still have one or two out so please check and help get these in to Rotary5830@gmail.com today!
New CPG Rotary Grants are also now due. (They were due on June 1st.) If your Club wants to use the Funds they contributed to District Designated Funds (“DDF”) through the Annual Fund now is past the time to fill out the CPG Forms and send them to Rotary5830@gmail.com. To see what you are giving up check https://rotary5830.org/documents/en-ca/ebef4a88-5cee-4336-8ef0-25c59a536751/1/. It’s almost too late and time is running out but check and call if there’s a question.
ARE WE THERE YET??? The universal cry from the back seat youngsters, often just as the journey begins, but we can’t stop until we reach our destination. In the Rotary world, many leaders are asking the same question- “How much farther?”. The good news is, most Rotary leaders I’ve talked to, including myself, have thoroughly enjoyed the journey and are sad that it’s coming to an end soon.
June is designated Rotary Fellowships Month to recognize the importance of international fellowship and goodwill among Rotarians with similar recreational and vocational interests, promote increased participation in fellowships, and increase understanding of this program.
BE A ROTARIAN, EVERY DAY! Promoting Rotary by living by the Four-Way-Test should be simple! Another effective way you can promote Rotary is by wearing your pin to spread awareness about our organization. At the recent District Assembly, I had the opportunity to discuss the importance of finding your favorite Rotary pin and wearing it every day.
We have just finished an incredible District Conference where we heard from two Rotary International Directors, and a Rotary International Past President.
Were you there?
All of us are aware of difficulties that can be encountered in traveling to district events, but it truly is important to support your leaders and their efforts to show Rotary beyond the Weekly Club level.
“CELEBRATE GOOD TIMES--- COME ON!!” Some of our younger members may not remember the chart-topping 1980 song by KOOL AND THE GANG, but I couldn’t get that song out of my head this past weekend at the HOPE IN THE HEARTLAND District Conference in Durant, Oklahoma. It all began Friday night at a Fish Fry dinner/reception/party; continued Saturday morning and afternoon with amazing speakers; we celebrated our Foundation accomplishments Saturday evening; and wrapped up Sunday morning with a Remembrance Ceremony and farewell presentations. Wow!
CONGRATULATIONS PDG JUDY GUTHRIE for receiving the Citation For Meritorious Service Award!
The District-Wide Community Service Project is this weekend!
1. Each participating District 5830 Rotary Club can determine the place and time of service. If you cannot participate this weekend, you may select a different day, as long as photos and reports are submitted by May 16th.
2. Clubs should document their service project through photos, videos, and written reports and post them on social media. Send reports to Tiffanydamskov@yahoo.com by May 16th.
Championship season is upon us. Everywhere I go, someone is talking about the Final Four and the upcoming Championship game. Just to make it to the final 16 teams is apparently a big deal and something those teams should be proud of and celebrate.
Our District 5830 Rotary club teams are in our own “Sweet Sixteen”, and I hope each one is proud of what you’ve accomplished this “season”.
In April Rotary International focuses on the Environment.
Will you make a difference?
Are you a volunteer for your Club’s projects that aid the environment?
Thinking about that Theme for a moment, if you are going to help as a Rotarian making a difference in preserving and improving the Environment, why would you not want to use the Rotary Foundation?
The Rotary Theme for March is Water, Sanitation and Hygiene.
Thinking about that Theme for a moment, if you are going to help as Rotarian making a difference in the lives of others, why would you not want to use the Rotary Foundation?
AAAACHOOO! It must be SPRING! And, if it’s spring, it’s SPRING TRAINING TIME. Right now, Major League Baseball teams all across the country are attending Spring Training. Even the Texas Rangers are hard at work training for the upcoming season.
But “Why?” you say… “Why do the Rangers need to train? They’re the World Champions, right?”
In a world that has become increasingly digitized and virtual, the importance of in-person interactions cannot be overstated. It is crucial to recognize the significance of connecting with our colleagues, friends, and potential new members.
Have you registered for the "Hope in the Heartland" Joint District Conference with Districts 5750, 5770 & 5830 on April 26 - April 28, 2024? Friday night is optional with live music, fish fry, table games, and lots of visiting with old friends and making new friends.
By registering now, it gives the conference committee a better idea of how to plan a successful conference. There is lots of free time for you to explore Durant, Ok.
Hello, February— when we celebrate Valentine’s Day on the 14th and Rotary’s 119th Birthday on the 23rd. February is also Rotary’s Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention Month. It’s no surprise that Rotarians are some of the best at finding ways to build peace and understanding between people from very different backgrounds, cultures, traditions, and languages. Rotary is a global peacebuilding team!
February is Rotary’s Peace Building and Conflict Resolution Month.
Thinking about that Theme for a moment, the real question is will our presence in Rotary make a difference?R I President Richard L . Evans (1966-67) put it this way. “It sometimes seems that we live as if we wondered when life was going to begin. It isn’t always clear just what we are waiting for but some of us sometimes persist in waiting so long that life just slips by finding us still waiting for something that has been going on all the time. There is no reason to doubt good intentions, but when in the world are we going to begin to live as if we understood that this is it.
Last Month we discussed the importance of intentional giving and completing what we began with a strong finish.
We need your help! The Holidays have passed and we are back to business. What you can do that makes the most difference now is to ask for reports from your Club Foundation Chair and Committee and make certain your President Elect and President Nominee register for and attend Lone Star PETS and/or our 5830 local PETS in Mount Pleasant.
Happy New Year! 2024 is here. A fresh start and endless possibilities. How many of you made resolutions for 2024? Some of my 2024 resolutions are reruns from 2023! I did achieve a few of my 2023 goals, and I realized that those were the ones where I’d gone beyond hoping, and actually made a PLAN. Funny how that works!
It is a pleasure to serve 5830, DG Karen Maines and each of your Clubs.
After 6 months have passed, our focus should now be on what has been accomplished with our CPG grants thus far in this Rotary Year and what has been collected for The Rotary Foundation to ensure a continuing source of funds for Grants 3 years from now.
A Memorial Service was held for Thomas Wayne Arnold December 1, 2023 at the First Methodist Church in Gilmer Texas. PDG Wayne served as 2003-2004 District 5830 Governor.
“It’s the most wonderful time of the year!”… we can expect to hear that holiday song a few times in December. Sometimes, it feels like “the most hectic time of the year”. So many things to do! In addition to all of the things on our personal lists, our Rotary clubs are super busy, as well, with service to our communities through toy drives, food distribution events, bell ringing, gift wrap parties, and dinners for those in need, to name just a few.
As we think of the Holiday Season with November’s cooler weather, please also remember November is Foundation Month!
Our fun with family and friends over the Holidays also needs to consider the good that gifts made to the Rotary Foundation can accomplish. Our active involvement of our time, talent, and treasure through the help of the Rotary Foundation truly changes lives.
Change. It seems to be all around us, especially this time of year. Change of seasons. Change in the weather. Changing leaves. Changing sports champions. The time change.
Change can be scary, or make us uncomfortable. Maybe it’s the uncertainty of change, the not knowing what is to be. Remember the changes after 9/11, or since Covid.
Of course, change is inevitable, and in fact, necessary. We can’t stay unchanged. Imagine always being 6 years old. Forever. Think of the things you’d never experience.
Thank you District 5830 for a fantastic Rotary year and thank you Rotary Club of Athens for planning and hosting our District Conference in Athens. Congratulations to Texarkana International Rotary Club under the leadership of Sil Gomez received the Club of the Year Award. Accepting the award was Club President Melvin Fagan.
DGN Damon Donnell received the Rotarian of the Year Award.
Record number of clubs received the Rotarians Citation Awards, Congratulations to all who received well-deserved awards.
Register now to celebrate with IPDG Carolyn Franks a successful 2022-2023 Rotary Year. Awards will be given to clubs and individuals that have done an outstanding job this year. Click here to registeras soon as possible. Registration will close on October 6, 2023 to allow us time to plan for the event.
As we enjoy cooler fall weather and move into October, please remember October 24 th is World Polio Day! The best plans for celebrating World Polio Day are made well in advance, so now is the time to quickly make or review plans and to let your officers know that all this needs to be considered in late August or early September next year.
Congratulations to Diane Kavanaugh who has been selected as District Governor Nominee Designate. She has been selected to serve during the 2026-2027 Rotary Year.
It is easy to take basic education and literacy for granted, but many are not so fortunate and as with other basic rights we accept as true and assume will always be present, if we do not contribute to and support basic education and literacy, it can disappear. That is one reason our dictionary project is so important to children and the reason for the support many Clubs in our District 5830 show for Club Project Grants placing books in schools and libraries, available to children.
The temperatures may not feel like it, but we are rapidly approaching Fall. Schools have started back, football games have begun, and I’m visiting our District Rotary clubs one-by-one. I want to thank the Rotary Clubs of the Atlanta Area, Jacksonville, Longview, Longview Greggton, Troup, Sulphur Springs, Gilmer, Overton, and Lindale for their warm reception and fellowship. My intention this year as I make the rounds as District Governor is to CELEBRATE our clubs and their many and varied accomplishments. Rotary is Creating Hope in East Texas through these hard-working club members and their partners in their communities. Go, Team, go!
It's hard to believe that only two months have passed since the start of our Rotary year, but we're already witnessing significant progress and positive changes. Our collective efforts have not gone unnoticed, and I am thrilled to share our achievements so far.
One of the major improvements we've noticed is a surge in engagement on social media platforms.
Our goal is to strengthen the capacity of communities to support basic education and literacy, reduce gender disparity in education, and increase adult literacy. We support education for all children and literacy for children and adults.
Congratulations to Diane Kavanaugh, 2020-2021 Past President of the South Tyler Rotary Club, who has been selected by the District 5830 Nominating Committee as District Governor Nominee Designate. She has been selected to serve during the 2026-2027 Rotary Year.
Pursuant to the District’s Bylaws, specifically Article II – District 5830 Committees, the Nomination of Diane Kavanaugh will be held until September 30th to permit any challenges or re-nominations and will thereafter become final at midnight on September 30, 2023.
It’s August, and just about everyone is talking about the HEAT, and with good reason, since it affects everyone. August is also the perfect month to talk about ROTARY, and celebrate our Rotary clubs, our members and the good we do in the community and around the world. In the August heat, we can focus on Rotary Membership and New Club Development.
Our Rotary year is now begun, and Officers are busy working with their respective Rotary Club boards, and Rotarians are engaged in Club Projects.
As each of you guide your clubs this year remember good planning and execution yields great results. That is especially true in Rotary Foundation giving.
We are already one month into the Rotary New Year. I don't think it's an accident that this month's theme is Membership & New Club Development! As Rotarians we should focus on membership early in the year, and often throughout the year. Membership Growth and Retention are what will help drive everything we do!
Last call for DGND applications for DG Nominee Designate who will serve as DG for the 2026-2027 Rotary Year.
Our District 5830 needs talented and effective leaders for our District to continue to achieve our goals and grow in service to our communities and the world. Please contact DA Shirley Pinnix-Evans at rotary5830da@gmail.com for an application and list of District Governor’s responsibilities and qualifications.
It’s great to be back with y’all after a truly superb Rotary International Convention in Melbourne, Australia followed by a unique opportunity to experience the Outback with new as well as old friends traveling with our IFFR (Flying Rotarians) Rotary Fellowship.
Congratulations and WELL DONE to PDG Lee Montgomery. He has served District 5830 well in the position of Membership Chair. I appreciate all he's done and look forward to carrying the torch into the new Rotary year and beyond.
Wow! July 1st is here, and suddenly it’s a new Rotary year. A new beginning. A time to celebrate what our District and clubs have achieved this past year, and to look forward to doing even more to share Rotary within our communities and beyond. Really making a difference!
I’m thrilled to be serving District 5830 as Governor for the next 12 months, and I’m looking forward to visiting the clubs and meeting as many 5830 members as I can.
I am excited to introduce myself as your new Rotary District 5830 Public Image Director. My name is Tiffany Damskov, and I am thrilled to be joining you on this amazing journey of serving our communities through Rotary.
My name is Jacqueline Meadows and I am your new District Youth Exchange Officer. I wanted to challenge each club to build their youth exchange foundation within their club. So, you may ask why? What does it take to get started? Maybe you have done this before. The good news is that we are part of a multidistrict Rotary Youth Exchange Program called South Central Rotary Youth Exchange (SCRYE).
A service to celebrate the life of PDG and Rev. Bill Hedges will be held in the Quitman First United Methodist Church sanctuary on June 19, 2023, beginning at 1:00 p.m. A reception for family and friends will follow in J.O.Y. Hall.
Passing the Torch - PDG Lee Montgomery, June 2018-June 2023 D-5830 Membership Chair
AG Landon Forbes, 2023-2024 D-5830 Membership Chair
Some of our members may have served in the Armed Forces of the United States. To them and all connected to any military service, I want to THANK YOU for YOUR SERVICE, as we recently membered Memorial Day. One of the traditions of many service organizations was the “Hail and Farewell” where new folks were heartily greeted and departing members were bid a fond farewell. As outgoing Membership Chair for the District, I want to say a hearty WELCOME to your new DISTRICT MEMBERSHIP CHAIR LANDON FORBES.
Rotarians, this note comes to you from 30,000 feet as Ava and I head to Melbourne for the Rotary International Convention.
Celebrating life as a Rotarian you truly owe it to yourself to attend one or more R I Conventions to completely immerse yourself in the Rotary Universe.
Besides developing new ideas for service, your presence can inspire others to further embrace the service they can provide with you as a mentor.
Remember the old song “Make new friends and keep the old?” June is Rotary Fellowship Month. What a great way to make new friends from around the world and get your “old” Rotary friends to join you. There are fellowships for just about any interest you can imagine. I personally belong to the International Rotary Fellowship of Musicians and the Rotary Wine Appreciation Fellowship. I know we have members who are part of the International Fellowship of Flying Rotarians. Go to www.rotary.org/fellowships for more information. This would make a great club program!
Our District Training Assembly will be LUCK-Y for incoming club officers and members. Zig Ziglar said that LUCK is LABORING UNDER CORRECT KNOWLEDGE. Well, register now for the DTA so you get the knowledge needed for a successful Rotary Year 2023-24. Sign up for TRACK 3: MEMBERSHIP AND PUBLIC IMAGE.
Rotary believes in developing the next generation of leaders. Our programs help younger leaders build leadership skills, expand education and learn the value of service.
District 5830 Rotarians, it is a pleasure to serve you as your District Foundation Chair.
We are now in the fourth quarter or homestretch for our 2022-23 year and we want to shine! In our District there are currently ten (10) non-giving Clubs. That has reduced our per capita giving to the Foundation Annual Fund to ½ of last year.
The Rotary theme for May is Youth Service. Our district has a long history of empowering youth through Interact, Rotaract, RYLA and Youth Exchange. Our Interact members usually assist with Rotary club projects and get to see adults serving in many ways. The RYLA experience is an amazing weekend of leadership activities. If you have had the pleasure of taking students on Friday and then picking them up on Sunday you immediately see the difference the weekend made.
PDG Bill Hedges (2005-06) has recently been diagnosed with Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer. Bill has been an active Rotarian since 1996. Since retiring as a pastor from the United Methodist Church ministry in 2004, he became a resident of Quitman and member of the Quitman Rotary Club.
Many clubs in D5830 are in the process of choosing their Matching Club Projects for the 2023-2024 Rotary Year. Please consider opportunities to do an International project with your project. You can also do to or more projects with some projects being local and one or more being an International project. There are International projects for as little as $300 all the way up to the $7,000+ range. If your club is interested in doing an International project, or collaborating with other clubs to do one, please contact International Service Chair, PDG Ted Huffhines, and we can discuss options that fit your desires and budget. You may ask, “Why would my club want to an International project?
Congratulations to the Rotary Clubs of Kilgore, Lindale and Longview which recently completed Club Visioning events! One of the common themes was the need to have better engagement of new members by having more formalized NEW MEMBER ORIENTATIONS to better onboard, educate, engage and strengthen retention.
Rotary shares an interest in protecting our common legacy: the environment.
We are committed to supporting activities that strengthen the conservation and protection of natural resources, advance ecological sustainability, and foster harmony between communities and the environment.
Annual PRCA Rodeo to be held April 21 and 22 in Longview, Tx.
The Longview PRCA Rodeo (Rodeo) began as a cooperative effort between a local radio station, KYKX 105.7 and Andrews Rodeo Company. In 1997 the radio station was sold to a new investment group and could no longer produce the rodeo. Sammy Andrews approached the Longview (Greggton) Rotary Club of Longview, Texas, Inc. (Greggton Rotary) to take over the production of the Rodeo.
Rotary International's monthly theme for April is Maternal and Child Health! Every day mothers risk their lives giving birth and millions of children die each year from treatable, preventable causes. At least 7 million children under the age of five die each year due to malnutrition, poor health care, and inadequate sanitation.
Rotary International's monthly theme for April is Environment.
Rotary members are tackling environmental issues the way they always do: coming up with projects, using their connections to change policy and planning for the future.
Enjoy Rotary and have fun! Practicing our 5th prong of the 4-Way Test, March was a wonderful Rotary experience bracketed by Lone Star President Elect Training (PETS) the end of February (23rd-25th) at the DFW Hyatt and the 5830 Local PETS in Mt. Pleasant on March 25th. Between these bookends in March we celebrated International Women’s Day and many clubs revisited the contributions of the first women invited into our fellowship.
When our Rotary team visited Guatemala in October of last year, we went to a small village in the far north of the country. The village is Uaxactun’, (pronounced WASH-AC-TUN’). The people there are hard working and industrious. They have been taught sustainable agricultural methods and are employing those techniques to earn livelihoods through exported products that are grown in the jungle/forest around their village.
As I write this we have completed a most successful District Foundation Banquet and a most successful Lone Star PETS (LSPETS). If you missed either it is truly your loss. The networking at both was incredible, and while they were both different types of events, if you were absent you missed a chance to celebrate your work in Rotary, the successes we have achieved, and the lives we have impacted.
MEMBERSHIP MINUTE PRAYING AND PLANNING…for MEMBERSHIP??? Well, the title might sound a bit out of place, but think about it for a second. Praying takes you to a quiet place…a place to clear out the myriad of daily thoughts—a place to reflect on what matters, what’s important and what you can do about it. Get yourself “right” first and then it’s easier to help others…whether it’s your friend, spouse, children or your Rotary Club. While you’re at it, pray for your club, your members and your club’s health.
I love PETS! I just attended my 9th PETS and came back loving Rotary more. I realized it is like the before and after difference in the students we send to RYLA. They aren’t sure what they are going to be doing or learning when they go and they can’t stop talking about their experience when they get picked up on Sunday. I wish everyone could have that Rotary experience. There are many other Rotary ways to get that feeling such as the Rotary International Convention, Rotary mission trips to another country, serving in our communities with food distribution, wheelchair ramp building and so many others.
January 2023 has truly been a blur as we readied for the Rotary Foundation Banquet. As this goes to press, we have 140 registrants and rising. And reviewing DGND Damon Donnell’s PowerPoint and Video on the Tornado Disaster Relief, and the PowerPoint on Heart 2 Heart, and the Club and Global Grants in Guatemala, all truly underscore a favorite saying by Past RI President John Germ: “What we do is not about the money, it is about the lives we change and the good we do.”
Come celebrate with us February 4th in Longview on what we as Rotarians do locally and globally, changing lives, impacting the unborn, and making our world a more loving, peaceful, and safer place for all.
Why do members love rotary? Ask 2 or 3 at each meeting. Guests would learn why members are in Rotary. Membership and Public Image chairs could get creative and develop other ideas/initiatives!
Here is a great NEW resource to GROW ROTARY! Check out the links!
“Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.” We sing this as we close some of our Rotary meetings. It always makes me feel good, but then I don’t think about it after we leave the meeting. Let’s make this our challenge to ourselves and to our Rotary Clubs. Rotary’s focus for February is peacebuilding.
In response to the November tornado, Idabel Rotary has been awarded a grant for $25,000 as a Disaster Relief Grant from the Rotary Foundation. The grant was administered through District 5830 which covers NE
As we close out 2022 and begin 2023, we are only halfway through our Rotary Year.
It’s easy to become distracted after a great beginning, but your focus and intentionality is needed for a great finish. After all we still have our District Rotary 2 for 1 Match Paul Harris Campaign, Rotary International Assembly that DGE Karen Maines will be attending, our Foundation Banquet, and Lone Star PETS all happening within just over a month.
Registration in open for the D-5830 Foundation Banquet on February 4th . Click here to register and "Read more" for the basic details.
Do football teams play without a goal lines or goal posts? Do they take the field without a game plan? Do they remove the yard lines or send the “chain gang” home? Then why do Rotary clubs try to maintain or grow membership without goals, plans or measure their progress??
“Of all the hundred and one ways in which men can make themselves useful to society, undoubtedly the most available and often the most effective are within the spheres of their own occupations.” Paul Harris in The National Rotarian, January 1912.
This is the month we focus on Vocational Service. This is the contribution of your vocational talents to solving the problems of society and meeting the needs of the community.
December is the month we focus on disease prevention and treatment. Of course, Rotary is most known for our efforts to eradicate polio. Our district is pushing hard to raise more money and awareness by holding World Polio Day events and fundraisers and by becoming members of the PolioPlus Society. If you have not yet made this commitment of $100 a year until the World Health Organization declares this disease eradicated, please consider this now!
District 5830 Rotarians, you have seen PDG Tom DeWitt is Chairing a Paul Harris 2 for 1 Match Points Campaign December 1st – January 29th. There is more about that under his column in this newsletter. If you are considering donations to charity there are several options to consider, and all are under The Rotary Foundation.
Andrea and I wanted to take a few moments to thank Henry Moy, Vickie Smith, and Stephen Ratcliff with the Museum of the Red River along with the members of Idabel Rotary Club for all their work making the conference run smoothly. A special “Thanks” goes to the 2021-2022 District 5830 Conference Committee for assistance in planning the event. The museum is a hidden gem and I encourage you to visit it if you have not toured the museum. It was very disappointing to us that COVID hit our family and we were not able to attend but we left it in good hands with the Event Committee and District Leadership Team.
“Rotary International District 5830 values the unique differences among our leaders and membership and we have a commitment to promoting a welcoming and inclusive culture within the clubs across our district. We believe that our shared commitment to service in an inclusive environment fosters collegiality, advances our central mission, and reinforces the principles conveyed in the 4-Way Test.”
November is the month we focus on The Rotary Foundation. Our foundation has continually received Charity Navigator’s Four-Star rating, which is its highest rating. Since Arch Klump came up with the idea in 1917 of setting up an endowment that began with a $26.50 donation. It has grown to more than $1.5 billion with a goal of assets and commitments for future gifts to total $2.025 billion by 2025.
It is a pleasure to serve 5830, DG Carolyn Franks and each of your Clubs.
Coming into this position after all (or most of all) the Final Reports from last year’s District Grant Projects were received from 5830 Clubs required our team to scramble a bit as some reports were not signed, a few had information left off the final reports, and some had unused funds not yet returned to the District.
Rotary International members and our foundation work to strengthen local entrepreneurs and community leaders, particularly women, in impoverished communities.
We provide training and access to well-paying jobs and financial management institutions.
How recently have you thought about positive outcomes with money you go personally invested?
How about with money you invested with The Rotary Foundation?
We were all asked to join Rotary, but has anyone asked you to give to The Rotary Foundation? If not, please consider this your call to action.
Many of us are accustomed to the terms time, talent, and treasure, and they reinforce and summarize the intentional acts required to support what we love and that in which we believe.
Greetings from Chattanooga, Tennessee, and the Zones 30 & 31 Governor training and Zone Institute!!!
What an exciting event to learn, update and revisit Rotary friends!!
One of the guests was our District’s Membership coordinator at Rotary International, Haris Sofradzija. He shared some updates on your club using Rotary Membership Leads.
When any person interested in learning more about Rotary goes to Rotary.org and fills in an inquiry, they become a Rotary Lead. The lead, including their profile, is sent to the District to dissemination to the club officers, assistant governors and district leadership, so we can reach out to the person to give them more information about the club and, most importantly, come visit.
“As no individual who shirks his community service can lay justifiable claim to being a well-rounded citizen, so no Rotary club of today which is indifferent to the welfare of the city in which it is established measures up to the stature of full-grown Rotary clubs.” A quote from Paul Harris in the November 1915 Rotarian. October is Economic and Community Development. Wouldn’t Paul Harris be amazed at the scope of Rotary’s involvement now focused on this area?
As I travel to my club visits, I am delighted by the club activities focused not only locally but in communities all over the world. Even the smallest clubs are making a big difference. Thank you!
Inbound Rotary Youth Exchange students arrived on August 9th and 10th and will be here for the entire school year. They are both being hosted by the Cedar Creek Lake Rotary Club and attending Mabank High School. They will be attending the District Conference in Idabel, OK on October 8th and the SCRYE Winter Conference in Tulsa, OK January 27th thru 29th. Cecile and Giorgio will also participate our RYLA program.
Two thoughts: First: A word about GROWTH: Think about the Rotary theme for September and ask potential members to visit your club that are involved in literacy and basic education. In many of our District towns, the school district is the major employer. How many teachers, aides, librarians. Sunday school teachers and parents would be excited to support the causes of literacy and education? IMAGINE the potential candidates for membership!!
Second: A word about RETENTION: There is no need to improve on what our RI President Jennifer Jones says, so read or reread her wisdom here: Putting members first
Come to the 2021-2022 District 5830 Conference and have fun, celebrate your successful Rotary Year, plus Explore the Museum of the Red River. Click here to learn more.
Our keynote speaker is Enrique Garcia, a Heart2Heart Advocate from Guadalajara, Mexico.
You do not want to miss all that Idabel, Okahoma has to offer plus visit with old friends and make new Rotary friends. Click Here to Register
All, our district conference is fast approaching. Highlights include a wine and cheese social on Friday evening and then a pick and choose slate of events on Saturday morning followed by our typical luncheon at noon. Our planned time to adjourn is Saturday at 2:15.
As the excitement of our new Rotary Year builds and we make plans to attend the Zone Conference in Chattanooga in late September and the 5830 District Conference at the Museum of the Red River in October, it’s time to also renew our commitments to support the service we do through The Rotary Foundation.
Our available funding for Club Project Grants this year is $53,637. That’s up from $49,214 last year and it is all due to our generous and can do attitude in supporting The Rotary Foundation and its programs. Tom DeWitt is fond of reminding all of us that the path to ensure the availability of these funds is the Paul Harris Society and all of us can join for less than $3 per day.
Congratulations to Damon Donnell, Past President of the Athens Rotary Club who has been selected by the District 5830 Nominating Committee as District Governor Nominee Designate. He has been selected to serve during the 2025-2026 Rotary Year.
Damon joined the Rotary Club of Athens, Texas, in March 2013 by the nomination of late 173rd District Judge, Hon. Jack Holland. Damon is the immediate past 94th president of the Athens Rotary Club and most recently serves as the District 5830 Disaster Recovery Planning Chairman.
For everyone, everywhere, literacy is, along with education in general, a basic human right.” This quote from Kofi Annan speaks to Rotary International’s September theme of basic education and literacy. I am very proud of District 5830’s participation in education and literacy. Every one of our clubs in some way work with their local schools in the 3rd grade dictionary donations, scholarships, backpack giveaways and many other donations to our children. Our district also joins with other districts and Rotary International to improve conditions in our global communities so children there can have a safe and sanitary place to learn.
More than 775 million people over the age of 15 are illiterate. That’s 17 percent of the world’s adult population.
Our goal is to strengthen the capacity of communities to support basic education and literacy, reduce gender disparity in education, and increase adult literacy. We support education for all children and literacy for children and adults.
“Leadership is not about titles, positions, or flowcharts. It is about one life influencing another.” John C Maxwell
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” John Quincy Adams
It’s been said many times that Rotarians are leaders, and I believe it. As leaders, let’s recognize August as Rotary Membership month and lead others to Rotary so they can dream more, learn more, do more and become more!
We in Rotary District 5830 are Blessed in having many unsung heroes who when asked, step into needed leadership positions and quietly perform the service required. Many times, that occurs without fanfare and, sometimes, sadly without thanks and praise.
Ingrid Self is such a leader! When asked by PDG Ted Huffhines to assist on the District Foundation Committee, she quietly and expertly stepped into the role and served as a grant writer and sometimes grant creator for our District Rotary Foundation Grants.
August is Membership and New Club Development Month, a time for Rotary leaders to focus on the most important part of our organization, our members. We need to attract new members, engage them and retain them.
Attract: Think about visiting new businesses, new neighbors and friends. You have to ask! Create a welcoming culture for all to know they are valued.
Engage: Ask them what committees or projects interest them.
Retain: Remember that if you want responsible Rotarians, you give them responsibilities!
Angela and I recently had the opportunity to travel to Kenya for a two week trip that combined multiple service opportunities with also touring with local Rotarians to identify potential projects. These projects are wide ranging in size, but each one will be extremely impactful in the lives of some very needy families. The people we met were very warm and friendly. They were grateful for our coming to visit and talk about the needs they have. Kenya is about half the size of Texas, but has roughly twice as many people.
In the second year impacted by COVID, District 5830 posted a POSITIVE growth!! Out of 17 districts in our Zone 31, we were one of six districts to post a gain. Congratulations and thanks to all the clubs making the commitment to GROW!
5830 Rotarians, we have just finished our Rotary 2021-2022 year! In Hollywood terms it’s almost a wrap! But how it turns out now is completely up to you and your superb generosity!! As club members we are viewed on many levels: the involvement we have serving others in our communities, the nation, and the world; the legacy of service we leave to others; and the ability we have to communicate to others and act as agents of change carrying on our ideals through the Object of Rotary and our Core Values; and, The Rotary Foundation is our ever present partner helping fund the good we do.
Welcome to a new Rotary year! July is New Leadership Month and we have a lot to celebrate in our clubs and our district. I know a lot of Rotarians are keeping their leadership positions, but let’s welcome our new leaders and thank those who have served and those who are still serving. There is so much knowledge in our leadership and I am truly thankful for it!
June is designated Rotary Fellowships Month to recognize the importance of international fellowship and goodwill among Rotarians with similar recreational and vocational interests, promote increased participation in fellowships, and increase understanding of this program.
Matching Points Campaign Update - It is not too late to double your money!
As of May 26th the totals for the matching points campaign are over 21K for the Annual Fund and 15K for Polio Plus. The opportunity will continue thru June 30, but for donations to be included in the year end report for each club and the district we suggest that all donations be processed by 6/15.
Rotary June Theme is Fellowships Paul Harris once wrote, “The foundation upon which Rotary is built is friendship, on no less firm foundation could it have stood.” As I write this, Andrea and I just came back from Memphis, TN where I attended Zone training to be a regional Rotary leader. We made new friends and created new relationships which we both look forward to enjoying and using to do the good work of Rotary. While in Memphis, I made the comment to our group that Rotary is all about relationships at every level of our organization – with these relationships we make things happen to better our world.
As you are now well aware, Zones 30 & 31 are in a middle of a fundraising campaign for Our Rotary Foundation that will impact immediate needs and longer term needs worldwide. Rotarians will long be remembered for the good we are doing and your personal donation will determine the amount of good we can do.
The best example of addressing immediate needs is the outpouring of donations for the Ukraine refugees. The Disaster Relief Fund has received over $10.4 million for this purpose. Every district in our two zones has participated.
When I think of youth services in Rotary, the first thing that comes to mind are the many wonderful experiences my wife, our children and I have experienced by hosting two foreign exchange students. One was a young man from Brazil that lived with us for a year about 25 years ago. Our children were still at home and Fred became a brother to them. A few years ago, he came back to Texas to officiate at our daughter’s wedding here. He had become an ordained Baptist minister while living in Brazil.
Rotarians have always taken a sincere interest in helping to prepare the next generation – with programs and projects that help with health and education and lead the way to world peace and understanding. Beyond this fact, young people are also the future of our organization if we choose for Rotary to survive and thrive beyond our lifetime.
Are you taking advantage of the Member Engagement Initative? Congratulations to Carthage Rotary Club and Pittsburg Rotary Club for holding a social event for new members, guest, and existing members.
District 5830 will give $100 to the first 15 clubs that can forward receipts and a short description of a CLUB ENGAGEMENT activity they hold from APRIL 1 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2022!!
Our Rotary theme for April is maternal and child health. Sadly, saving mothers and children has become disturbingly important due to recent events in Ukraine. Current estimates put the number of Ukrainians who have left their country due to the war at 4 million people, with half of them being children. The United Nations estimates that 6.5 million people have been displaced within Ukraine and The International Organization for Migration estimates that more than 12 million people in Ukraine are stranded in areas under attack or cannot leave due to security risks. These numbers total more than 22 million people in a country with a population of over 41 million people. Many Ukrainian cities lie in ruins due to bombing. Another very disturbing fact is that there were 200,000 Ukrainian children scheduled to receive the polio vaccine and those vaccinations were halted due to this war.
During the 2022 D-5830 Foundation Banquet, IPDG Jack Welge presents PDG Ted Huffhines the District Governor of the Year Award.
District 5830 is blessed to have extraordinary caring and supportive leadership from the club level through the Past District Governors and Governors Line.
DG Mike Goom recognized one of our outstanding leaders in District 5830 and presented PDG Lee Montgomery with the Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service.
Many of our district leaders, our presidents-elect, presidents-nominee and Rangers just returned from Lone Star PETS where we enjoyed fellowship, training, and renewed inspiration to continue to do the good works of Rotary. PDG Ted Huffhines commented to me that PETS is his favorite event in Rotary, seeing our eager new leaders share new ideas to keep our clubs vibrant while making new friends. I find his statement to be so true. I still enjoy friends I made at my first PETS more than 20 years ago. This was our first live PETS in two years and it was GREAT. I encourage all of you to become president of your club so that you may have the chance to enjoy this extraordinary Rotary event where you can grow personally, make new friends and reacquaint with old friends.
When people have access to clean water and sanitation, waterborne diseases decrease, children stay healthier and attend school more regularly, and mother can spend less time carrying water and more time helping their families.
Through water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programs, Rotary's people of action mobilize resources, form partnerships, and invest in infrastructure and training that yield long-term change. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
The 2022 Foundation Banquet will be an in-person event held on the eighth floor of the ETBU Marshall Grand in downtown Marshall, Texas. This fabulous location is the new meeting space of the host Marshall Rotary Club and offers amazing views of the area as the highest location in Harrison County. This event will celebrate the amazing generosity and impact of donors from our District, both individually and our clubs. We will have the chance to hear from “American Health Hero,” Dr. Bert Hirschhorn, who is a recognized expert in treating cholera and providing oral rehydration therapy.
February is the month of Valentines...the month of hearts, flowers, chocolates and LOVE!! Rotarians also show their LOVE of their community by providing many needed service projects.
Lone Star PETS, at the end of February, is really about LOVING your community and your Rotary club. Sure, PETS prepares PE's to lead their clubs and deepen their understanding of Rotary, but it is much more.
Conflict resolution is not necessarily about the answers that you receive but the questions that you ask. Before resolution of any problem can be had, one has to fully understand the issues that are creating the conflict. The starting point in conflict resolution is to understand your antagonist’s position and to clearly inform your antagonist of what your issues are. Analyzing this context of the four-way test reveals the following.
It’s SOOOO easy to GROW your club….just set a GOAL and encourage each member to introduce one guest to Rotary—per month or per quarter—you WILL grow!!!
What is your club’s WHY?
Normal attrition: Rotary statistics show that every club loses about 10% of its membership each year due to job changes, illness, relocations, death, disinterest or lack of a role in the club…and list goes on.
More hands/less work: Make it easier for your present members to perform service projects and fund rasisers.
Has your PE and PN registered for Lone Star PETS leadership training February 24, 2022 -February 28, 2022 at the Hyatt Regency DFW Airport, 2334 North International Parkway, Dallas, TX?
REGISTER NOW at www.lonestarpets.org and hotel rooms in the discounted room block are filling fast.
Vocational is defined as relating to a vocation, an occupation, or employment. Whereas, service is defined as the action of helping or doing work for someone. For most of us, we spend our adult lives focused on attaining success (however we personally define success) in the employment, profession, or vocation we engage in. Whereas, in Rotary when it comes to vocational service, our focus is on: 1) adherence to and promotion of the highest ethical standards in all occupations, including fair treatment of employers, employees, associates, competitors, and the public; 2) the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations, not just those that Rotarians engage in; and 3) using our vocational talents to solve the problems of society and meeting the needs of our communities. So, we as individuals tend to focus on our inner goals whereas in Rotary, we focus more on outer goals which will do good works in the world. In Rotary, we use our expertise, our experience, and knowledge to improve the lives of those not as fortunate as us.
Wine and cheese!…Rotary and Fun!…Perfect Pairings!!
As we approach the end of year holidays many clubs will have special programs of music, entertainment and other socials. Invite friends, family members and co-workers to enjoy the FUN and fellowship of Rotary. Hey, it’s a “perfect pairing”!!
Congratulations to our 24 clubs that have had POSITIVE GROWTH so far this year!! Your district has grown from 1447 members on July 1st to 1500 members at the end of November. A birdie told me today that Pittsburg add 4 new members today!
To say we are living in turbulent times would be the understatement of the year, perhaps decade, century? How much of this turbulence is the result of misinformation that is directed towards all of us, seeking to divide us? And what we need now more than ever are institutions upon which we can depend. Our institution of Rotary is now 106-years old and so many of the clubs that I have had the privilege to visit here in District 5830 are now over 75-years old which tells me that our Rotary institutions are VERY DEPENDABLE. I submit we owe our success to our ability to join together, tune out misinformation, enjoy one another’s company, and address problems in our communities and world, such as disease prevention and treatment.
Disease prevention and treatment is one of the Rotary Foundation Areas of Focus. And for good reason. The health and vitality of a person, a family and a community can be seriously impaired by what in many cases is a preventable disease. Disease prevention is really a keystone to progress in other areas as well because of the interplay with other areas of focus like Water and Sanitation and Maternal & Child Health.
Club membership is CLIMBING in 2021!!! Thanks to numerous clubs having new members join, District 5830 is in the LEAD for Zones 30 and 31 attendance growth. Rotary International shows D5830 growing by 56. According to our numbers, the new member count should be 61, so RI will be catching up with our numbers shortly. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!
Would you like to ENERGIZE your club and find the FORCE to attract new members? Suggest you contact Sam Scroggins, our Visioning coordinator.
District 5830 is ramping up its efforts to conduct Rotary Visioning Events for every District Club within the next year. DG Mike Groom has made this one of his prime objectives. To date in 2021, four Visioning Events have been completed. To increase the pace, more trained Facilitators are needed. To help fulfill this need, a Zoom training session on Visioning Facilitation, led by the RI Zone 30/31 Visioning Coordinator, Glen Vanderford, has been scheduled for December 6, 2021. All Assistant District Governors have been invited to participate in the session. An invitation has also been extended as a refresher program for those already trained as a District Visioning Facilitator.
November always celebrates The Rotary Foundation in the Rotary International World. World Polio Day has just passed, and Rotarians are able to focus on the good they can do through The Rotary Foundation (TRF). TRF is the engine which drives all the good we do. Whether it is giving dictionaries to local third graders, buying bicycles for children for Christmas, supporting your local food bank, or a host of other local projects, Rotarians make a huge difference in their local communities. TRF also allows us to do significant work internationally. In 2020-21, over 2,000 Global Grants valued at $130M were completed around the world. Your support of TRF helped provide clean water, medical care, economic development, education, and promoted peace in places around the globe.
In 1919, the year the Marshall RC was officially chartered, they began meeting downtown atop the Hotel Marshall when it was constructed in 1929. This was the hub of the vibrant city located just a block from the Harrison County Courthouse. In the late 1960’s the hotel closed and the club was forced to meet in various locations around town. After four decades, the vacant and dilapidated hotel was donated to East Texas Baptist University. ETBU quickly began a Capital campaign and raised funds to renovate the building. It now is called the Marshall Grand and is home to the ETBU College of Nursing which is ranked Number One in the State of Texas.
Pictured: Marshall Rotary Club President Hannah Luce.
Save the Date! LoneStar PETs’ leadership team is planning for an in person training February 24, 2022 through February 27, 2022 at the Hyatt Regency DFW Airport, 2334 North International Parkway, Dallas, Tx.
Registration is open at www.lonestarpets.org and hotel rooms in the discounted room block are filling fast. Pre-training began early September so if your club has not elected your President Elect, please do so as soon as possible. The Pre-training will get your President Elect and President Nominee prepared for the fast tract training in February 2022.
Rotary’s monthly theme for November is the Rotary Foundation. I will share some outstanding facts about our Foundation. It is now over 100 years old and since it’s formation, the Foundation has spent more than $4 billion on life-changing sustainable projects. It is one of a select group of charities that merits Charity Navigator’s Four-Star rating. Arch Klump, in 1917, proposed setting up an endowment for the purpose of doing good in the world. His idea, and an initial contribution of $26.50 set in motion a powerful force that has transformed millions of lives around the globe. You see, when we give to the Foundation, we give hope to our world – not only abroad but at home as well.
"If we can conquer space, we can conquer childhood hunger." Buzz Aldrin
"We can all make a difference in the lives of others in need, because it is the most simple of gestures that make the most significant of differences." Miya Yamanouchi
Our virtual 5830 District Conference held October 16th was an opportunity to learn, grow, and experience the joy 5830 Rotarians have given to others this past 2020-2021 Rotary Year. Go to District 5830 Website's (YouTube Link) or click here to discover an enjoyable 2 1/2 hours of learning, and find out about our new initiatives in Guatemala and Mexico. If you missed Past Rotary International Director, Floyd Lancia's presentation on Eradication of Polio you will want to view the 24 minute video. Celebrate with us as we announced Cedar Creek Lake Rotary Club as Club of Year and Past Atlanta Area Rotary Club President, Fern Porter as Rotarian of the 2020-2021 year; and learn about the difference each and everyone of you made as Rotarians with your prayers, your presence, your gifts, and your action this pandemic year.
FALL IS HERE! DON’T LET MEMBERS DROP LIKE LEAVES!!
Our District membership numbers are up!! RI reports are pending, so I will give you numbers later.Why do members often leave Rotary? A BIG reason is lack of involvement…they don’t feel a sense of purpose. Does your club have an ENGAGEMENT plan?? Hand in hand with getting a new member is getting them involved quickly. Are they assigned to a Service Project? A Fund Raiser? How about being a greeter for a month to get to meet other members? Attend a board meeting?
October in Rotary is Community Economic Development month. When I think of community economic development, I reminisce about growing up in Houston, Texas in the 1960’s and 70’s. What a vibrant town and economic juggernaut it was (and still is, I might add). I firmly believe Houston owed its economic success and vibrancy to several things. The first is Houston’s leaders didn’t get in your way in pursuing opportunities.
Congratulations to Jeff Johnston, Past President of the South Tyler Rotary Club who has been selected by the District 5830 Nominating Committee as District Governor Nominee Designate. He has been selected to serve during the 2024-2025 Rotary Year.
Pursuant to the District’s Bylaws, specifically Article II – District 5830 Committees, the Nomination of Jeff Johnston was held until September 30th to permit any challenges or re-nominations. No challenges or re-nominations have been received so the nomination was final at midnight on September 30, 2021.
Our 5830 District Conference on October 16th is a chance to learn, grow, and experience the joy you have given to others this past year. Click Here Now to Sign Up and send in your $25 and kick back for an enjoyable ½ day of learning and interaction with friends. Find out about our new initiatives in Guatemala and Mexico. Celebrate with us as we announce the Club and Rotarian of the 2020-2021 Year. And, learn about the difference you (each and everyone of you) have made with your prayers, presence, gifts and action this pandemic year.
IPDG Jack Welge, District Conference Chair
Register Now for District 5830 VIRTUAL District Conference
The Rotary Clubs of Winnsboro and Henderson led the way for the first two months in member growth! Winnsboro grew by 75%, adding 6 new members. Henderson grew by 64% adding 14 new members from their club’s membership growth plan mentioned last month. Other new members are in the pipeline. As a District, 18 clubs have had growth since July 1!!! Many held steady. Only about 10 clubs saw slight decreases. Overall the District grew from 1,447 to 1,482.
September is basic education and literacy month in Rotary. Following are some interesting statistics retrieved from Wikipedia. The world literacy rate for all males is 90% whereas for females the rate is 82.7%. Developed nations have an overall rate of 99.2%, with south and west Asia having 70.2% and sub-Saharan Africa at 64.0%. These statistics are dated 2016 but we can see that, in keeping with President Shekhar’s emphasis on improving the lives of girls and women, we need to increase access to education for females worldwide, especially in Africa.
Are you a Business or Professional leader in your community, seeking to make a difference in the world around you?
Rotarians are passionate people driven by the ideal of service. As a part of Rotary, you get to network with and give back to communities around the globe. District 5830 is made up of 46 clubs and approximately 1400 members across NE Texas, SE Oklahoma, and SW Arkansas.
South Tyler President, Beth Blaisdell said, “Our club visioning workshop helped us collaborate as a team to define our direction and goals for the next several years. The visioning team of 15 reported to our club members at our weekly meeting, sharing our vision results. The enthusiasm and commitment from our club has South Tyler Rotary on a very positive path for community service.”
According to District 5830 Visioning Chair, Sam Scoggins, there are three measures of success for club's that complete a Vision. (Click on read more for details)
Shirley Griffin, a Polio Survivor and a Past District Governor of Rotary International District 5830 and member of the Rotary Club of Longview, Texas, was awarded the prestigious International Service Award for a Polio-Free World by Rotary International Directongvir Suzi Howe at the Rotary Club of Loew meeting on August 17th. Her award was one of three in the entire world.
The Mateka Children’s Home Water Well is known as Arron’s Well, in Memoriam of Rotarian and former President Aaron Lemmon of Athens, TX and President Elect of Prosper, TX. Aaron passed away in January. Aaron and Damon Donnell, at the time, PE of Athens Rotary discussed partnering in late 2020 to form an international service project to drill water wells in Kenya as one of Rotary core focus areas: Clean Water and Sanitation.
Message from DG Mike Groom and Chair of the District 5830 Nominating Committee, IPDG Jack Welge
Congratulations to Jeff Johnston, Past President of the South Tyler Rotary Club who has been selected by the District 5830 Nominating Committee as District Governor Nominee Designate. He has been selected to serve during the 2024-2025 Rotary Year.
Pursuant to the District’s Bylaws, specifically Article II – District 5830 Committees, the Nomination of Jeff Johnston will be held until September 30th to permit any challenges or re-nominations and will thereafter become final at midnight on September 30, 2021.
After having officially visited nine of our clubs in the month of July, my faith, not only in Rotary but also humankind, has been revitalized. There are so many good, good people in this organization who I have had the pleasure to meet and so many more that I look forward to meeting.
Click below "Read More" for DG Mike's complete newsletter.
Henderson Rotary Club is excited to welcome 11 new members! They are expecting to induct 3 more new members in the next few weeks. That’s a 50% + increase in membership! Ask PDG & Membership Chair Lee Montgomery for details. (d5830leem1617@gmail.com)
Congratulations, Jacksonville Rotary Club for being the first club for District 5830 to attain 100 percent participation in the Paul Harris Fellow ("PHF") Contest. Tom Trimble, President of Jacksonville Rotary Club presented a check to DG Mike during his official visit on July 21st.
The Visioning Process has been widely implemented throughout Rotary to help individual clubs to establish long range plans that are in line with Rotary International’s global strategic priorities: “Increase our Impact, Expand Our Reach, Enhance Participant Engagement, and Increase Our Ability to Adapt”.
District Governor Groom, who is himself a trained and experienced Facilitator, is encouraging all District 5830 Clubs to conduct a Visioning Event over the coming year. To do so, please contact the District 5830 Visioning Chair, Sam Scroggins, via email at scroggins789@gmail.com.
PDG Tom DeWitt receives "The Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service Award."
The Citation for Meritorious Service recognizes individual Rotarians who have demonstrated outstanding, continuing active service to The Rotary Foundation for more than one year. Examples are:
•Service on Foundation committees at the club, district, or international level
• Participation in Foundation grants or programs
•Support of Ambassadorial Scholars, Rotary Peace Fellows, Group Study Exchange teams, or vocational training teams. (Financial contributions, however notable, are not relevant considerations.)
Club members Shalonda Adams and PDG Carroll Greenwaldt were the 2021 Unity Honors award recipients. The Unity Honors award is given by the Longview Unity and Diversity Committee and is a lifetime achievement award that recognizes the humanitarian efforts of those who are working at the forefront of diversity and equality in our community. The late Jimmy Isaac who was also a member of the Rotary Club of Longview was honored for his membership in and work with the Unity and Diversity Committee.
Congratulation Shalonda Adams and PDG Carroll Greenwaldt
July is new leadership month and as we kick off our new Rotary year, I am mindful of all the wonderful leaders we have and have had here. IPDG Jack Welge and his team had a miraculous year, they carried us through the nightmare of COVID-19 by adapting to earth-shattering events and changing and finding new ways to keep us participating and involved. We cannot thank them enough. Another wonderful leader, PDG Robert J. Thompson from District 6170, inspired us on Saturday at our annual District Officer Installation to UNITE TOGETHER, whosoever and wherever, so that we can serve to better lives. (Pictures taken at the event can be found on the District 5830 Photo Album .)
Our theme for the new year given to us by Rotary International President Shekhar Mehta is “Serve to Change Lives”. What an appropriate theme for this moment in time – it gives us inspiration and hope as we carry our Rotary banner forward.
“HOW TO DOUBLE YOUR CLUB IN 60 MINUTES OR LESS” is the title of Henderson’s PE David Higgs’ pamphlet. My take: How a 20 member club added 20+ members in one fell swoop.
At the District Assembly, PE David was inspired to grow his club and took that opportunity to rope in co-conspirators PDG John Henson and PDG Carroll Greenwaldt. They planned and printed invitations for members to hand out to a special meeting, with the luncheon paid by the club. Their officer installation on June 17th was their special meeting, but you can use any meeting for this invitation. The goal was for each member to invite at least 5 guests that would make good members.
The Rotary Foundation’s recognition of PDG John Jetter with the The Rotary Foundation Distinguished Service Award comes after PDG John's years of work on Club, District, Zone and International Projects. Time is always inadequate to appropriately thank a Rotarian with a heart for service.
Briefly the award recognizes those who have demonstrated exemplary service to the Rotary Foundation and have received the Citation for Meritorious Service at least 4 years prior.
On R I Awards requiring 11 areas of achievement, John is in the rarefied air of having achieved more than that required and more than the proposal for the award would allow.
Pictured left to right: IPDG Jack Welge, PDG John Jetter, and Freida Jetter
Mike Groom was born in Austin, Texas and was raised in Houston, Texas. He is both a practicing certified public accountant (38 years) and lawyer (32 years). Mike currently resides in Mabank, Texas with his wife of 33 years, Andrea Myntti-Groom. Mike and Andrea have a son and daughter and two grandsons, all of whom they cherish deeply.
Mike has served as President of the Rotary Club of Cedar Creek Lake twice and in his second term, the Rotary Club of Cedar Creek Lake was awarded the Bill Campbell Award as the most outstanding club in District 5830. Mike joined the Rotary International in 1988 He joined Rotary Club of Cedar Creek Lake in 1997 and has served in virtually every role in his club. Mike is a RI Foundation Major Donor, member of the Paul Harris Society and a Rotary Foundation Benefactor. Mike believes in community service and has served as a director in the North Houston Greenspoint Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club of Cedar Creek Lake, Cedar Creek Non-Profit Housing, Inc. (Genesis Center), Henderson County HELP Center, the Henderson County Library and as a Trustee of the Presbyterian Hospital of Kaufman. He has also served as an officer and committee member for a number of community organizations.
Mike and Andrea enjoy travelling, salt-water fishing, hunting in the Texas hill country, ranching and rooting for the Texas Longhorns.
Mike Groom was born in Austin, Texas and was raised in Houston, Texas. He is both a practicing certified public accountant (38 years) and lawyer (32 years). Mike currently resides in Mabank, Texas with his wife of 33 years, Andrea Myntti-Groom. Mike and Andrea have a son and daughter and two grandsons, all of whom they cherish deeply.
Mike has served as President of the Rotary Club of Cedar Creek Lake twice and in his second term, the Rotary Club of Cedar Creek Lake was awarded the Bill Campbell Award as the most outstanding club in District 5830. Mike joined the Rotary International in 1988. He joined Rotary Club of Cedar Creek Lake in 1997 and has served in virtually every role in his club. Mike is a RI Foundation Major Donor, member of the Paul Harris Society and a Rotary Foundation Benefactor. Mike believes in community service and has served as a director in the North Houston Greenspoint Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club of Cedar Creek Lake, Cedar Creek Non-Profit Housing, Inc. (Genesis Center), Henderson County HELP Center, the Henderson County Library and as a Trustee of the Presbyterian Hospital of Kaufman. He has also served as an officer and committee member for a number of community organizations.
Mike enjoys travelling, salt-water fishing, hunting in the Texas hill country, ranching and rooting for the Texas Longhorns.
Introducing 2021-2022 District Governor Mike and Andrea Groom
Pictures are worth a thousand words! Lake Charles, Louisiana still needs help recovering from devastating floods. More rain fell in Lake Charles, Louisiana, on Monday than during the two damaging hurricanes last year.
According to Kenneth Larry Agee, Rotary District 6200 Disaster Committee Chair, the biggest need currently is volunteers to help gut houses. "It is slow going with 4 or 5 people instead of 20 to 30." After cleanup, many homeowners will be needing supplies to help rebuild as many did not have flood insurance. A few of the neighborhoods have been there for 50 years, are not in a flood zone, and never flooded before so a lot of expense is coming out of pocket.
Needed are skilled tradesmen like drywallers, and carpenters willing to donate time. Needed also are donations.
All our 43 clubs in Rotary District 5830 will be saying “Hail and Farewell” as they honor outgoing club presidents and incoming presidents this month. It is our ROTARY NEW YEAR’S!!
So, here are a couple of tips to for the Incoming Presidents and Membership Chairs.
"You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending." C. S. Lewis
Famous author C. S. Lewis’ gave great advice! Thanks to our incredible 5830 membership and Leadership Team, we finished strong!
We gave service to those in need through COVID Food Neediness Grants from The Rotary Foundation secured for us by IPDG Jim Finstrom and PDG Ted Huffhines; we gathered safely to pack and deliver food through Food Banks helped along by PDG Carroll Greenwaldt; we participated in both District and Global Grants and our Clubs continued service projects in their communities. When our Clubs were unable to meet in person, we conducted virtual meetings with many thanks to P.I. Dir. Sarah Fox and our dedicated group of Assistant Governors. Ava and I enjoyed visiting with all of you whenever and wherever we met.
District 5830 has had a very productive Matching Points Campaign with over $50,000 towards the Annual Fund and $20,000 given towards Polio Plus over the past two months. We have extended the campaign through June 20th. This will allow any Rotarians who wish to make a yearend donation the chance to do so and receive matching points. We are still working towards exceeding $100 per capita, so every donation counts. I encourage every Rotarian and every club to dig deep and be generous as you support the Annual Fund AND Polio Plus! Your donations allow your club to do local projects through our Club Project Grants. They also allow our District to support Global Grants in worthwhile projects around the globe. This is what makes Rotary International the Number One service organization in the world!
Congratulations to the winners of the Rotary District 5830 Four-Way Test Speech Contest that was held in Mt. Pleasant, TX on April 10, 2021. This year's theme was: How does Rotary Open Opportunities with the Rotary 4-Way Test? The top three presenters were awarded $1,000, $750, and $500, respectively. A big "Thank You" goes to Amy Hinton, District 5830 4-Way Test Contest Chairman, for organizing the event. We also appreciate Mt. Pleasant Rotary Club for sponsoring this event for the last few years. Additional "Thanks" goes to Judd Marshall, Bobby Rice, and Larry Cannaday, members of Mt. Pleasant Rotary Club who assisted on the day of the event.
Pictured from left to right: DG Jack Welge; Ethan Jones, Longview High School, First Place; Kace Murphy, Kilgore High School, Second Place; and Taryn Thurman, Mt. Pleasant High School, Third Place.
Keri Perot Vance, President of Carthage Rotary Club wants to brag on her club a bit! "As my year as president winds down, I just can’t believe all the fun we have had!" On 4/9/21 some of our members helped unload an 11,000 pound food truck to give to local community members in need.
On April 24, 2021, they helped orchestrate "Tunes & Tails" a Crawfish Boil and Live Music outside The Esquire Theater. The purpose of that event was to help save Carthage “local arts”.
Our District Training Assembly was held May 1st at First United Methodist Church in Longview, Texas. Our 68 attendees were enthusiastic and attentive. DGE Mike Groom expresses his sincere thanks to all of our attendees and our volunteers who made this a very successful event. The roundtable discussion and breakouts were engaging, as shown by the questions posed by Rotarians in attendance.
Pictured left to right: DG Jack Welge, DGN Carolyn Franks, PDG Judy Guthrie, PDG Lee Montgomery, IPDG Jim Finstrom, PDG Carroll Greenwaldt, and DGE Mike Groom
April showers bring May flowers--COVID closedowns bring Rotary renewals!
More clubs are opening in-person attendance. Thank goodness!
Rotarians, please have your RYLA campers and PARENTS come to a Rotary meeting soon. DGND Karen Maines, an 14-year RYLA leader, reported to the District Training Assembly on the recently completed VIRTUAL RYLA (Part 1).
The campers met online and had a great time. By all accounts, they are pumped and can't wait for the live experience this fall. So, NOW is the time to strike while the enthusiasm is high. The parents should be invited to join Rotary!!! Consider having your club pay their first semi-annual dues (giving them 6 months free (trial) membership!) so they can learn what Rotary is all about and especially how we support youth programs like the one their child is enjoying.
Congratulations to PDG Carroll Greenwaldt for receiving the Service Above Self Award!
DG Jack Welge presented the award at D5830's Training Conference on May 1, 2021. Rotary's highest honor recognizes Rotarians who demonstrate Rotary's motto, Service Above Self, by volunteering their time and talents to help others. The award is internationally competitive and is granted to no more than 150 Rotarians worldwide each year.
Pictured: Mary Greenwaldt, PDG Carroll Greenwaldt and DG Jack Welge
Pictured are Rotary District 5830 Council of Governors (PDGs) that were able to attend the District 5830 Training Assembly and the COGs Semi-Annual meeting.
Back Row: PDG Lee Montgomery, PDG Carroll Greenwaldt, PDG Ted Huffhines, PDG John Henson, IPDG Jim Finstrom & PDG Phil Bandel.
Front Row: PDG Judy Guthrie, PDG Shirley Griffin, PDG John Jetter, and PDG Tom DeWitt
Pictured are PDG, DG and GLine that attended the Council of Governor meeting on May 1, 2021.
Back Row: PDG Lee Montgomery, DGND Karen Maines, PDG Ted Huffhines, PDG John Henson, IPDG Jim Finstrom, PDG Phil Bandel
Middle Row: PDG Carroll Greenwaldt, PDG Judy Guthrie, PDG Shirley Griffin, PDG John Jetter, PDG Tom DeWitt, DGN Carolyn Franks
Front Row: DG Jack Welge and DGE Mike Groom
The Governor’ s Advisory Committee, also known in R.I. as the Council of Governors, is made up of all active past R.I. officers in the district. The committee meets as often as determined by the Governor, with the suggestion that there be at least two formal meetings in the year. The Council of Governors serve as advisors.
Past District Governors, District Governor and GLine
On April 15, 2021, Jack Welge, District Governor of Rotary District 5830, inducted two new members of the Clarksville Rotary Club. Rotarian Rob Rowley sponsored new member, Talisha Alsup, who is the Administrator of Clarksville Nursing Center. Rotarian and club president, Mickey Allen sponsored new member, Catana Yarnell, who is the Director of The Hub Community Center. Shown in the photo are from left: Rob Rowley, Talisha Alsup, Rotary District Governor Jack Welge, Catana Yarnell and Mickey Allen.
On April 15, 2021, Jack Welge, District Governor of Rotary District 5830, presented Paul Harris Fellow plus pins to members of the Clarksville Rotary Club who attained an additional recognition level of giving to The Rotary Foundation in 2021. The recognition, named after the founder of Rotary International, recognizes Rotarians for their contributions to The Rotary Foundation. Shown in the photo from left are Paul Hines, Paul Allen, District Governor Jack Welge, Nancy Brem and James Vaughan, Jr. Not shown in photo is Alan Hale.
Clarksville Rotary Club's Celebration Makes the Local News
This is a Special Invitation from Tyler Rotary Club for their Centennial Celebration June 5, 2021! Register from the following link: https://forms.gle/untCMox6Ka5fHiEZ8
The Rotary Club of Tyler - Centennial Celebration RSVP
5830 Rotarians: we are two months away from our new Rotary year! In Hollywood terms, it’s almost a wrap! But, how it turns out now is completely up to you. As Club members, we are viewed on many levels: the involvement we have serving others in our communities, the nation, and the world; the legacy of service we leave to others; and the ability we have to communicate to others and act as agents of change carrying on our ideals through the Object of Rotary and our Core Values.
You have all impressed me and our District Team by the work done through your Clubs in each of your communities, but it is now urgent that you record your service and the goals you have achieved in Rotary Club Central. If you do not, it is as though it never happened.
Remember President Holger Knaack’s goal was to have all clubs be Citation Clubs. Most, if not all, 5830 Clubs should now qualify.
The last two months of the Rotary year are always jammed with activity. District Training Assemblies, District Conferences, Club Fundraisers, New Governor Installations, and just as importantly, sending in your Club and Personal Donations to The Rotary Foundation before June 30th! Every year, your District Foundation team works diligently to remind Club Presidents and Club Foundation Chairs to make their donations. This is the time for Clubs to make sure each member donates so the Club will be an EREY Club - Every Rotarian, Every Year. This is a distinction that receives recognition from TRF and is a worthy goal for every club. It requires a $25 or more donation to the Annual Fund from each member. The longtime goal for all Rotary Clubs is to be a Sustaining Club: $100 per capita. We have a large number of Clubs who accomplish this goal every year. Many clubs have done this for many years.
District 5830 Rotary Clubs are doing great work in their communities. Click Here to go to the Rotary International District 5830 Facebook Page to see what is happening in our district!
District Happenings (Link to District Facebook Page)
May your club be blessed with Showers of New and Renewed Members in April!
It looks like more folks are able to get the various Covid19 vaccines and we will soon be getting back to “normal”, or truly a “NEW normal”. Be ready to capitalize on the OPPORTUNITY to REOPEN your Rotary club.
Not sure how to make that happen??—get Membership MOTIVATION by doing a QUICK CHECK of www.rotary.org, then MyRotary, Learning & Reference Tab/Learn by Topic, then Membership. Read more for the 3 EASY steps that you’ll LOVE!
Full Steam Ahead! We are just a little over 75 days from the end of our 20-21 Rotary Year and from all appearances we are headed for a strong finish. Take a minute and congratulate yourself and the Rotarians next to you for continuing forward in friendship, fellowship, and service against a pandemic and significant adversity. You’ve earned more than congratulations.
And now we have just what we need in time to truly make a great contribution, vaccines and States open for business. You can sense the mood change! The Sporting Clays Fundraiser by Texarkana Sunrise last Friday was fun, well attended and raised plenty of money for reinvestment in the Texarkana and Nash communities. Its success is followed by the District 4 -way Speech Contest in Mt. Pleasant, Bullard’s 1st Annual Sporting Clay’s Event, Longview-Greggton’s PRCA Rodeo, South Tyler’s Reed Franklin Spaghetti Supper, and our District PolioPlus “Fun” Raiser on May 22nd at Rowdy Ranch in Gilmer. Come out, have fun, support Rotary, the Foundation, PolioPlus, and your communities. See you there!
District 5830 started their two-month long Matching Points Campaign on April 1st. This is a wonderful opportunity for every Rotarian to gain additional Paul Harris Fellow recognition. I strongly encourage everyone to take part and make a donation of $100 or more! If you have questions about why this is important, please take a look at all the good that is done by Rotarians locally and abroad through The Rotary Foundation.
Your generous support helped fund over $300 M in grants during 2019-2020. These grants provide for literacy and education, build local economies, fight disease, save mothers and children, promote peace, and provide clean water. Most of the time these grants help people you and I will never meet, but they also provide coats and shoes for local school children, build parks, provide food to the food insecure, send kids to RYLA, and provide college scholarships in communities across our district. Please be generous in your support for the Annual Fund and Polio Plus. You are making a difference!
“Attention: Club Leaders – this year’s district training assembly is scheduled for Saturday, May 1 at First United Methodist Church in Longview, Texas located at 400 North Fredonia ( Fredonia at Whaley Street). It will begin at 8:30 AM and conclude at 2:30 p.m. This will be a LIVE EVENT and all attendees will be requested to take necessary safety precautions including distancing and wearing face masks. Club presidents, secretaries, treasurers, foundation chairs, membership chairs, public image chairs, international service chairs, and Rotaract/Interact chairs are encouraged to attend. Grant certification training will be covered, too and club presidents and foundation chairs are encourage to begin work on their club project grant applications now so that they can be reviewed and completed at this assembly. Cost is $25 which includes lunch. Your district training team looks forward to seeing you there.”
Take just a minute and ask yourself why you joined Rotary? Most of us come back with “I was asked”. But why did you respond? Or why did you pursue asking about Rotary until you were proposed for membership? What makes you and all Rotarians so different and driven to perform service?
The reason this is so important relates to membership and the sustainability of our organization. If we can not describe why we are here, we are also at a loss to tell others why they should join. And it goes further. If we can not explain why we joined and what makes us who we are, we may also be much less likely to stay, and to support The Rotary Foundation, which is the chief engine driving the global work we perform.
District 5830 was NUMBER ONE in Per Capita Giving and in Polio Plus Giving for 2019-2020! This District and our Rotarians have stepped up and generously supported our Foundation and its programs even during the challenges of the pandemic. This has helped maintain a strong trend that has been in place for several years, and WE NEED IT TO CONTINUE!
District Foundation team will be holding a Matching Points Campaign from April 1st through June 1st
John F. Germ, a member of the Rotary Club of Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA, and past chair of the International PolioPlus Committee, was President of RI in 2016-17.
For Rotary to thrive, Germ says, members must face current and future challenges and opportunities with "passion, enthusiasm, perseverance, and above all, integrity."
"I envision Rotary boldly and creatively engaging the success of polio eradication, membership and identity issues, strengthening clubs, work with youth – our future lifeblood, and the creation of critical, strategic partnerships," says Germ. "The 2016-17 Rotary Year was a tremendous opportunity for Rotary International and the Foundation partnership, unified and thriving, on all levels, via the six areas of focus."
Germ says no one should ever have to ask, "What is Rotary?"
This is the title of one of the best pamphlets that Rotary has produced in recent times. It’s short, to the point and packed with great ideas!
Soon, President Elects will be in the first virtual Lone Star PETS and will discuss how their club can be a VIBRANT CLUB. Among many characteristics of a vibrant club, MEMBERSHIP GROWTH is probably the BEST indicator of VIBRANCY.
Are your club members “sold” on Rotary? Do members not only accept but BELIEVE in Rotary’s ability to open new opportunities by networking/connecting with other individuals, clubs and districts for doing service? Do they support The Rotary Foundation? Are the members SOLD on YOUR CLUB as THE place for fellowship, meeting community leaders, and growing personally and professionally?
Celebrate ROTARY on the 23rd—Rotary’s 116th Birthday! A view from Zones 30 and 31: As you know, District 5830 is part of Zone 31. Our monthly membership report shows 71.43% of our clubs have a membership goal in MyRotary. Check your stats, and add your clubs membership goals. Goals can INSPIRE and FOCUS your activities. We started the Rotary year with 1,536 members and are now at 1,468, a 4.43% drop. We have a 33% female membership and almost a 9% “under 40” membership. Of note is the retention stat: we went from 92% to 88.7%. Now is a good time to review club ENGAGEMENT guidelines to make sure members feel connected, have service roles, and feel valued. Does EACH member have a significant role in the club?
Pine Tree High School Interact Club sponsors Tiffany Caldemeyer and Susan Curtis want their students to learn how it feels to help others without expecting anything in return.
Message from Rotary District 5830 International Convention Chair, PDG John Henson
I am sure that all of you have heard by now that the 2021 Taipei Convention has been changed to a Virtual Convention due to the ongoing challenge with the Covid-19 situation.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION. “RI will refund Convention Registrations and Hotel Deposits will be returned, so relax and wait for the news.”
The 2022 convention will be held---HOUSTON, TEXAS!
Due to the constraints of COVID-19, our RYLA camp has been postponed and adjusted to a hybrid format for 2021. Campers will attend a virtual session on April 24 where they will meet their teams, hear from engaging speakers, participate in various activities, and getting started on their RYLA journey. During the weekend of Sept 18-19, students will attend a 1-day session in person at Clements Scout Ranch where they will get to meet their teammates face-to-face and enjoy many of the traditional aspects of camp, including low- and high-ropes elements.
If you would like to join the RYLA staff, please apply online (even if you already did earlier this year) at ryla5830.com/staff.
Questions can be directed to our operations team at info@ryla5830.com.
Message from District 5830 RI Convention Chair, PDG John Henson
It gives me some sadness to report out Taipei Convention will now be virtual. For those of you who looked forward to journeying with Rotary to explore the world and opportunities for Friendship, Fellowship, and Service in the warm hospitality of Taipei, to experience the diverse cultures represented there as Rotarians worldwide gathered, we will need to wait a bit. Next year is the Houston R. I. Convention, and it is followed by Melbourne, Australia.
In preparing for this month, and the new year, and the rest of our 2020-21 Rotary Year, I was drawn back to PRIP Richard Evans remarks from the Niece Rotary Convention: "It sometimes seems that we live as if we wondered when life was going to begin. It isn’t always clear just what we are waiting for but some of us sometimes persist in waiting so long that life just slips by finding us still waiting for something that has been going on all the time. There is no reason to doubt good intentions, but when in the world are we going to begin to live as if we understood that this is it. This is life. This is our time, our day, our generation, our one chance to do something for someone else. …What in the world are we waiting for?"
"This is all we've got." PRIP Richard L Evans (1966-67) Speech to RI Convention in Nice, France.
The message is still accurate, on point, and sums up our current condition.
Time for 2021 Resolutions, and from where I perch, my observations and thoughts turn to engagement, retention and flexible meetings. We have lost a number of good Rotarians since July 1, however some clubs have gained membership. Clubs holding onto and growing members are still in service to their community and giving members a purpose for staying with Rotary. If members feel they are wanted, needed and have a purpose, they will stay connected.
District Governor Welge has made it a priority for all clubs in District 5830 to complete the Visioning process and establish long range plans in keeping with Rotary International’s (RI’s) Strategic Priorities and Objectives:
Increase our Impact
Expand Our Reach
Enhance Participant Engagement
Increase Our Ability to Adapt
RI and DG Welge are not asking Club’s to do something that they have not done themselves: RI’s Vision Statement reads “Together we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.” The District’s Vision is “District 5830 Leaders promote the Core Values of Service, Fellowship, Diversity, Integrity, and Leadership, resulting in Rotary Clubs that are Growing, Vibrant and Engaged; filled with Rotarians passionate about Service.”
It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of PDG James "Jim" Fitzgerald.
Jim was born on Monday, October 12, 1936 in Stamford, TX to Ennis and Mary (Lawrence) Fitzgerald. From an early age he was fascinated and loved working with machinery and tools. By the age of 8, he spent his free time learning the skills of carpentry alongside his father. At Abilene High School (in Abilene, TX), he was active in Track & Field and shop. But it was the sassy personality of a certain young red head, by the name of Georganna Lee, that caught his eye and captured his heart. The couple spent many 'dates' riding his Triumph Trophy motorcycle along the open roads of Abilene.
On November 24, 1954 Jim and his High School sweetheart, Georganna Lee were married. It was a quintessentially warm and sunny Texas day. Together, they raised three wonderful children: David, Kenneth, and Melody. Life was busy with a young family to support. During the day, while Georganna managed the children and the household, Jim was busy at Bell Helicopter fabricating parts. The evenings were filled with night school at the University of Texas at Arlington. In 1968 he received his BA degree.
For the 12th consecutive year, The Rotary Foundation has received the highest rating — four stars — from Charity Navigator, an independent evaluator of charities in the U.S.
The Foundation earned the recognition for demonstrating both strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency. Only one percent of the organizations Charity Navigator evaluates have received 12 consecutive 4-star evaluations.
"Attaining a 4-star rating verifies that The Rotary Foundation exceeds industry standards and outperforms most charities in your area of work", says Michael Thatcher, president and chief executive officer of Charity Navigator. "This exceptional designation sets the Foundation apart from its peers and demonstrates to the public its trustworthiness."
The rating reflects Charity Navigator's assessment of how the Foundation uses donations, sustains its programs and services, and practices good governance and openness.
Pittsburg Rotary Club presented a $1,000.00 check to the Rotary Polio Plus Campaign in support or World Polo Day. Each club member wrote a $25.00 check to show their support.
The Tyler Rotary Clubs are preparing for their Annual Christmas Parade on December 5, 2020.
As we dodge around COVID-19 with PPEs and full social distancing, it’s important to not forget meaningful family and Club traditions surrounding Christmas, most especially increasing joy in those around you.
This is a time to remember angel tree giving, Coats for Kids (even if you missed the original drive before Thanksgiving), bicycle assembly, and gifts from clubs, charitable organizations, or just anonymously from you. One of the most meaningful Christmas gifts Ava and I gave were the 2 bicycles we purchased for some of her students back when she was working for Longview ISD. The kids' moms were really surprised, and we swore them to secrecy, but I can only imagine the joy when Christmas morning arrived.
Lone Star PETS was hosted online for 2021. Many D5830 leaders were in attendance, but if you missed out, you can watch key sessions with the links below.
How does Rotary Open Opportunities with the 4-Way Test?
Rotary District 5830 Four - Way Test Speech Contest will be held Saturday, April 10, 2021 at Mt. Pleasant Independent School District, 2230 North Edwards, Mt. Pleasant, Tx. A big " Thank You" goes out to Amy Hinton with Mt. Pleasant Rotary Club for chairing the event again this year.
The topic of Membership at the virtual District Conference October 31st created some lively discussions among the participants. Next are some of the chat comments that give us all some great ideas.
Membership Types and Dues Structures
Attracting RYLA Parents as Members
Flexible Meeting Types
Read more to see how clubs are currently attracting new and diverse membership.
I want to thank everyone who participated in and attended the District 5830 Conference. If you missed it, you missed some good presentations. Virtual reality is a challenge, but we can use it to grow Rotary and develop as Rotarians. Please let us know your thoughts so that we can integrate them into future virtual programs.
- IPDG Jim Finstrom
A special thank you to our conference speakers. Read More to see those speakers and our award winners!
Ava and I have now completed our first visit to all but 11 Clubs in our District. What we found is uplifting and echoed recently in the Awards Ceremony presided over by IPDG Jim Finstrom at our District Conference.
We are an Action District!
When presented with the problems occasioned by COVID-19 restrictions, our clubs saw opportunities, continuing to meet and perform service. While our Clubs were idled, most met virtually through Zoom, continued their fundraisers such as Flag Programs, and held service projects, all with appropriate safeguards.
Congratulations to Karen Maines, Past President of the Longview-Greggton Rotary Club who has been selected by the District 5830 Nominating Committee as District Governor Nominee Designate. She has been selected to serve during the 2023-24 Rotary Year.
Pursuant to the District’s Bylaws, specifically Article II – District 5830 Committees, the Nomination of Karen Maines was held until September 30th to permit any challenges or re-nominations. No challenges or re-nominations have been received so the Nomination was final at midnight on September 30, 2020.
Ours is the opportunity to empower Rotarians to change our world.
Remember that October is Economic and Community Development Month, October 5 -11 is Rotary Alumni Reconnect Week, and October 24th is World Polio Day. That’s a lot for one month, but it underscores what we can do to change lives when we come together in friendship, fellowship, and service.
Ava and I have now seen over half of our District clubs. We are grateful for the opportunity to share our vision of Rotary, a combination of old and new, where we continue to honor traditions such as perfect attendance yet embrace E-Clubs and Satellite Clubs and other new club models coming together to open opportunities.
After much thought and discussion it has been decided to change the conference agenda so that all participants have the opportunity to participate in all the sessions.
The majority change is to not to offer breakout sessions. Please pre register at your earliest convenience if you have not already registered.
(Click Here to Register) No fee for the Conference; however, a contribution of $25.00 or more will be appreciated.
Deadline to register for the District Conference is Wednesday, October 28, 2020.
Keynote Speaker - Eradicating Polio - Rotary International Director Floyd Lancia
John Oakley Childs of Tyler went to be with his savior on August 18, 2020 in the comfort of his home surrounded by his family. A memorial service was held Thursday, August 20, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. in the Green Acres Baptist Church Chapel, with Dr. David Dykes, Rev. Warren Culwell, and Rev. Woody Woodward officiating. A private burial took place prior to the service at Rose Hill Cemetery.
As in past years, we encourage you to include members from your District at the EMERGING ROTARY LEADERS SEMINAR. This year this event will be virtual providing a no cost option for those Rotarians considering serving as Governor in the future. Even though there is limited space, please invite up to ten (10) Rotarians from your district.
The Emerging Rotary Leaders Seminar is designed to provide potential leaders in Rotary with a forum to learn about leadership at the district level and beyond and to consider their options for future service including information on serving as District Governor. ERL Seminar participants will gain insights from some of the most effective leaders in Rotary International in an interactive, engaging format that includes networking, idea sharing, Q & A and mentoring with Past District Governors from across Zones 30 and 31.
The event will be held in two (2) sessions on Friday, September 25, 2020 from 2pm till 4pm and Saturday, September 26, 2020 from 9am till 11 am Central Standard Time. Please email Megan Law megan@okrotary.com to register. After registering you will receive the Zoom login for both sessions a few days before the event.
Rotary International District 5830. which encompasses Northeast Texas and Southeast Oklahoma, awarded a $17,000 disaster grant on August 12, 2020 to the East Texas Food Bank and $3,500.00 to Harvest Regional Food Bank on August 19, 2020. In addition to the donation, area Rotarians from the District volunteered to package meal kits for use in After School Snack Programs. Thank you to all the Rotarians who joined the fight against hunger!
Although Membership Growth is a year round part of Rotary, I hope each club also took time during August Membership Month to celebrate the current members. It's never too late, so think about having members offer Vocational Talks to give new members new insights, celebrate Rotary anniversaries, member birthdays, plan a club social, take a club survey to learn what existing members would like the club to do.
Thanks to you, Rotary members have been making a difference at a time when communities need our help more than ever. We know that donors like you are people of action, and your support is changing lives where it’s needed most.
Please " Save the Date" of Saturday, October 31, 2020 and sign up when you receive an email letting you know that the zoom registration is opened.
You will be asked to pre-register and select two breakout sessions you will attend. There will be no fee to attend, but I do request that you make a donation to the Foundation and/or Polio Plus of at least $25.00 or more. Please let Shirley know how much you contributed so we can publish the total donation made. Bring a snack to enjoy as you participate in the conference. You will have plenty of time after the conference for Halloween.
Congratulations to Karen Maines, Past President of the Longview-Greggton Rotary Club who has been selected by the District 5830 Nominating Committee as District Governor Nominee Designate. She has been selected to serve during the 2023-24 Rotary Year.
Karen is the 2020-21 Rotary Alumni Chair of District 5830 and serves on the RYLA Board of Directors. Karen also serves on the Arts! Longview Executive Committee and is Secretary of the Board of Directors. She is a member of the Longview Executive Committee of 100 Women Who Care, and on the City of Longview Walk of Honor Committee, as well as the City of Longview Police Training Advisory Committee.
August has been a momentum-filled month, perfect for a Rotary, People of Action news release.
First, we received news of the selection of Jennifer Jones of the Rotary Club of Windsor-Roseland, Ontario, Canada, as the first woman selected for the Presidency of Rotary International. She will serve during the Rotary Year 2022-23.
Next, the Nominating Committee of District 5830, chaired by IPDG Jim Finstrom, selected Karen Maines of the Rotary Club of Longview-Greggton as the DGN Designate, to serve as District Governor during Rotary Year 2023-24.
Each club in District 5830 has been faced with challenges during COVID-19. Our approach to staying connected with each other as well in the communities we serve has shifted. Flexibility, along with trying new techniques, will enhance our chances of success. The following are avenues to achieve our goal of staying connected and portraying District 5830 as “The Action District”.
Have you tried Zoom,YouTube,Facebook? For assistance with setting up these platforms please contact Sarah Fox at District5830pr@gmail.com.
Visioning 2.0 is expected to be rolled out in the fall of 2020.
It is hoped that every Rotary Club in the world has the same objective: to become a vibrant organization that engages all its members, conducts meaningful projects, attracts new members, and is willing to try new ideas. Click on "Read More" to learn how Visioning can benefit your club and updates on the current District 5830 Visioning Program.
The President of clubs that are interested in participating in the Visioning 2.0 Pilot should contact the District Visioning Chair, Sam Scroggins, at scroggins@peoplescom.net. Rotarians interested in serving as Visioning 2.0 Facilitators should also contact Sam or their club’s Assistant Governor.
District 5830 Foundation Chair Ted Huffhines, IPDG Jim Finstrom, and DG Jack Welge are excited to announce the recent approval of the $25,000 Food Security Grant. Huffhines and Finstrom made application for the grant in late April. Notification of approval was received in mid July as more funds became available to The Rotary Foundation.
We wanted to share some basic advice regarding managing a hybrid meeting, based on the experience of the Upper Arlington Rotary Club, which has been conducting hybrid meetings since June 2nd and has given us permission to share this with you. The following are some tips they shared for using videoconferencing in a hybrid Rotary Club meeting:
August is Membership Month, which means it’s time to celebrate your Rotary club, your members, and the good you do in your community and around the world.
An updated My Rotary that’s faster, easier to navigate, and accessible on your mobile devices launches later this month. What can you expect from this improved site? Quite a bit.
Marshall Rotary Club President, Jerry Pye welcomes DG Jack Welge to Marshall Rotary Club. July 30, 2020 was DG Jack's 1st Official Visit during his 2020-2021 Rotary Year. Please contact DA Shirley at rotary5830da@gmail.com if your club has not scheduled DG Jack visit.
"It sometimes seems that we live as if we wondered when life was going to begin."
"It isn’t always clear just what we are waiting for but some of us sometimes persist in waiting so long that life just slips by finding us still waiting for something that has been going on all the time."
"There is no reason to doubt good intentions, but when in the world are we going to begin to live as if we understood that this is it. This is life. This is our time, our day, our generation, our one chance to do something for someone else. This is the life in which the work of this life is to be done. This is it. Whether we are thrilled or disappointed, busy or bored, givers or takers, this is life. Its all we’ve got and it’s passing. What in the world are we waiting for?" "This is all we've got." PRIP Richard L Evans (1966-67) Speech to RI Convention in Nice as related by PRIP Rick King.
If you are viewing this District 5830 Website using any device other than a computer, you will need to scroll past the stories to see other important information. Click on READ MORE to view each article in its entirety. Click the YouTube icon to view recorded training sessions. Click the Facebook icon to see District Facebook posts.
Tips on viewing information on the District Website
A big Rotary thank you to all outgoing club officers for their service in 2019-2020. We are excited to see the enthusiasm of the incoming presidents and officers. Make it a great Rotary year! Keep reading for requested action!
It is that time of year when we look for nominations for emerging leaders in our District to be nominated to serve as District Governor. The new DG Designee will serve as DG for the 2023-2024 Rotary year.
The interviews for the DG Designee will be held on August 15, 2020 in Longview. The deadline to submit an application is August 2, 2020.
IPDG Jim Finstrom welcomes District 5830 Rotarians to the 2020-2021 Installation of District Officers and awarded certificates of appreciation to the District Leadership Team.
PDG Pamela Stewart installed DG Jack Welge as the 2020-2021 District 5830 Governor.
There were approximately 80 Rotarians that attended the event with masks and social distancing.
Please go to the District Photo Album to review the all the pictures taken at the event.
A Big "Thank You" goes out to PDG and Foundation Chair Ted Huffhines who inducted 2020-2021 Texarkana Sunrise Rotary Club Officers on June 23, 2020 at Silver Star Smokehouse. Landon Forbes is Sunrise Rotary Club President.
Sarah is a native Texan, born in Victoria. Her family relocated to Cedar Park, Texas where she graduated as the Alpha Class of Vista Ridge High School. Sarah received her BA in Business from The University of North Texas, and continued her education with Western Governor’s University to complete her MBA in Healthcare Management.
Robert Nelson Secretary, Dub Hirst Membership, Chris Russell Treasurer, Christy Turner President, Damon Donnell President Elect, Anthony Chiles Vocational, Jason Smith Club Service, Charlie Tidmore Event. and not pictured is Jami Ivey Foundation.
On June 25, 2020, the Tyler Sunrise Rotary Club (TSR) held it's end of the year gala and celebration at one of your members residences.
Thanks to PDG and Membership Chair Lee Montgomery for Installing the Club Officer. Greg LaMay was installed as the 2020-2021 Tyler Sunrise Rotary Club President.
In Rotary, July is a time of new beginnings, a time to reconnect with each other across distances and differences and to respond to change, a time to show Rotary Opens Opportunities.
From PDG and RI Convention Promotion John Henson, "I hope you have or will register for the Taipei Convention next year. From what I have read, the city of Taipei is a great place to visit, going to be a great convention."
PDG Judy Guthrie installed Gary George as President of Pittsburg Rotary Club. Gary is shown with outgoing President, Kay Green. Kay presented Woody and Karen Ray and Ian and Wibke Griffin with Paul Harris Fellows.
Pittsburg Rotary installation of officers on June 24.
The District 5830 matching Points Campaign, which ran from May1st through June 15th, was a smashing success! DG Jim Finstrom and District Foundation Chair Ted Huffhines are extremely proud and grateful for the hundreds of very generous Rotarians in the district who took advantage of the MPC and gave to The Rotary Foundation.
Pictured: Angela and PDG and Foundation Chair Ted Huffhines
We are now entering the final 15 days of the Paul Harris Points Match Challenge and the last thirty days of this troubled Rotary Year. The month of May saw us generate $30,000 in donations to The Rotary Foundation from our individual members and clubs in District 5830.
REMEMBER; every dollar ($100 or more) you give to TRF, during the campaign, either to the Annual Fund (where District Project Grant Funds come from) or Polio Plus (to be matched by the Gates Foundation) will be matched accelerating your completion of your Paul Harris Fellowship or an advancement of it.
And those of you whose gifts have to date been less than $100 still have time to make an additional contribution to qualify for the match. We can do this together!
Canton Rotary Club President, Sandra Plaster led her Club on Memorial Day by putting out American Flags in honor of the men and women who died while serving in the U. S. military. Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971.
PDG Shirley Griffin remembers the tears streaming down her mother’s face in 1951 as she rubbed the legs of Griffin and her older brother, trying to ease the pain brought on by polio.
“The pain was unbelievable — you’ll remember that pain,” said Griffin, who was 9 at the time. “My mother really didn’t know whether she would have two children or not because it was such a bad virus.”
Years later, fighting polio is still a part of Griffin’s life as she works tirelessly to help eradicate the virus. Griffin, a member of the Longview Rotary Club, also is a past district governor.
What a beautiful afternoon it was on Thursday, May 28, 2020! The Rotary Club of Kilgore was able to drive to the home of Gordon Reed and surprise him with being named the Rotarian of the Year 2019-2020. Gordon has 35 years perfect attendance in Rotary and loves Rotary. He was also presented with his Paul Harris +7 pin which shows his commitment to the Rotary Foundation and the good that Rotary does worldwide. He was presented certificates, posters and signs, helium filled balloons, flowers, and a chocolate cake and cookies, and had his family to help with the celebration. We want to thank the Rotary Club of Henderson for being represented also. Gordon would makeup missed meetings at the Henderson club. This was such a wonderful afternoon celebrating one of our faithful members. Congratulations, Gordon Reed!! Your Rotary club loves you.
Oaklawn Rotary Club purchased lunch from a locally owner restaurant Julie's Deli and had it delivered to Hospice of Texarkana to show appreciate for their work in the community during the Covid-19 crisis. This is an on going effort by the club to support local non-profiles and local restaurants.
Texarkana Oaklawn Rotarians at Work in the Community
Congratulations to Longview’s Rotary Clubs, participating with the National Guard, Longview Police Department and East Texas Food Bank, through whom 1525 families were served!
Ava Welge from Longview Rotary Club is pictured with the National Guard volunteers.
I thank each one of you for what service you have provided to and through your Rotary Clubs this past Rotary year. Internationally, we have reduced the Polio numbers and are gaining. Please donate liberally to PolioPlus, and take advantage of matching Paul Harris points until June 15th. The end of that disease is in sight. Stay in touch with each other, and renew friendship in a responsible manner, with social distancing and masks in mind. Be safe in all your endeavors. Take advantage of the online training, and participate in the International Convention online as instructions come to us. Having been to several International Conventions, I assure you that your participation will be a blessing to you. I look forward to becoming a PDG and will be glad to attempt to assist any of you with your goals this coming year, if you will contact me. We are going forward with excellent leadership, and I can attest to the work that Jack Welge and the DG line are accomplishing. We will succeed wonderfully if we keep our Service Above Self and govern our conduct and decisions by the Four-Way Test. Finally, let us keep each other in our prayers. God bless.
President Elects are encouraged to honor their club’s work with a Rotary Presidental Citation. Further, President Elects are reminded to have their 5 member Membership Committee appointed and Membership goals entered into Rotary Club Central. Beginning 1 July, it will be easier than ever for Rotary clubs to set and report goals for the Rotary Citation.
In 2020-21, you’ll be able to go into Rotary Club Central and choose goals that are relevant to your club. You’ll need to achieve at least 13 goals out of 25 to receive the citation. While a few of the goals are data-generated, such as membership numbers and Rotary Foundation giving, most of them you can report by marking “Achieved” in Rotary Club Central.
Greetings! We are encouraging all of our Rotarians here in the community to help spread the word about the 2020 Census and making sure that everyone takes the time to self-respond as soon as possible to save the Census walkers from coming to your door. Below is a link to a handy brochure to share with your respective clubs, organizations and groups. We would appreciate it if you would help to spread the word. Thanks for your efforts! https://2020census.gov/content/dam/2020census/materials/partners/2020-01/Fact_Sheet_for_Civic_Organizations.pdf Let’s make it count!
Message from District 5830 Leadership - 2020 Census
Rotary Fellowships are international groups that share a common passion. Being part of a fellowship is a fun way to make friends around the world, explore a hobby or profession, and enhance your Rotary experience.
How do I join a fellowship?
Fellowships are open to Rotarians, family members, and program participants and alumni. You can contact a fellowship directly by using the links below.
We are all returning to business as usual, checking on our friends and fellow Rotarians at club meetings and events, and emerging from battling a pandemic as we approach the end of our Rotary Year in June.
Due to the continuing threat of COVID-19, many plans are still on hold, many events have been postponed or canceled, and even our Rotary International Board has voted to meet only through virtual (phone and online) meetings through December. Rotary executive’s travel has been discouraged, canceled, or severely restricted.
That brings us to the question of how we celebrate being Rotarians in fellowship and service and how we keep our Clubs and District moving forward, continuing to make an impact in our communities and in the world.
Many thanks to all who made our 5830 District Training Assembly Zoom Seminars this past month possible.
Our training journey began with Allyson Barnes of the New Orleans Mid-City Rotary and NOLA Rotaract on April 4th with her presentation on Rotaract and Rotary Partnerships, and Karen Maines, President of Longview-Greggton Rotary, and Gai Bennett, President of the Rotary Club of Longview on Increasing Membership and Having Fun in Rotary the Easy Way.
We then covered Opportunities for Service Through The Rotary Foundation and Heart To Heart with PDG Ted Huffhines;
Gai Bennett, President of the Longview Rotary Club and other Rotarians were on hand working with New Beginnings Baptist Church, the Texas Army National Guardsmen plus their local Police Officers to distribute food from the East Texas Food Bank.
Well, here we are in the last two months of our Rotary year and in the midst of a pandemic. Illness and death are still not decreasing steadily as medical experts indicate, and we should maintain our caution and social distancing. I visited with Floyd Lancia yesterday, and he tells me that RI wants us to avoid in-person meetings until the end of 2020. This a great opportunity for us to continue exploring and utilizing online meetings with platforms such as Zoom, which has been used successfully for training in our District and throughout the world and is being used successfully for club meetings and engagement. Please give this all the thought, and more, that you would give to in-person meetings. AND, as we near the end of the Rotary year, it is of utmost importance that we review our foundation and Polio-Plus donations as clubs and individuals.
PDG, VG, & District 5830 Foundation Chair Ted Huffhines announces "The Rotary Foundation Matching Fund Program" from May 1st through June 15, 2020. In an effort to encourage Rotarians in District 5830 to make contributions to the Annual Fund & Polio Plus of The Rotary Foundation in this Rotary Year, there will be a matching points campaign for all donations equal to or in excess of $100 from May 1st until June 15th. We realize many have been adversely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, but we want to incentivize your donations as we strive to reach $100+ per person in our District.Donations must be for $100 or more to either Annual Fund or Polio Plus
The Rotary Club of Longview was chartered on May 1, 1920. They are 100 years old on May 1, 2020. They had to postpone their Grand Centennial Celebration due to the COVID - 19 pandemic but they will reschedule!
Why did Jefferson Rotary Club fly American Flags on March 26th.
March 26 was National Spinach Day, National Epilepsy Awareness Day, and National Nougat Day!
Epilepsy Awareness Day - Purple Day. Epilepsy Awareness Day on March 26th aims to increase the public's knowledge of a neurological conditions affecting nearly 50 million people world wide.
Oaklawn Rotarians At Work - Shawn Davis ( wearing blue Rotary t-shirt) and Brad Bailey picked up food from Big Jake's BBQ and delivered the food to LifeNet Employees. This is an effort the club is doing where they take the funds they would normally spend on our Club's lunch meeting and spend it at a locally owned restaurant to provide lunch for a local non profit. Thanks Shawn and Bran, both in leadership at Texarkana Independent School District.
Members of Texarkana Oaklawn Rotary Club at Work in the Community
Russell Sparks a member of Texarkana Oaklawn Rotary Club and Owner of Hightech Signs volunteered to make yard signs to sell as a fundraiser to help local frontline heroes (police, fire dept, EMT’s). Russell also delivered hygiene product for students to some of our local middle/junior high schools. Each school district will decide how to distribute the product donated to their students. Club Members Carla Dupree, Principal at Texas High School,reported they have already distributed some of the hygiene products they received.
To order your 18"tall and 24" wide yard sign for Frontline Heroes. Contact Hightech, 3502 New Boston Road, Texarkana, Tx. 75501 at 903-939-8999 or click on the Facebook link:
The Rotary Club of Tyler (RCOT) was chartered on May 1, 1920, with 25 members. It was the fifth club chartered in Northeast Texas and was one of only 530 clubs in Rotary International.
Centennial Club President Dr. D. M. Edwards says "Rotary Club of Tyler leads the way." What would it take to change the world? Rotary Club of Tyler members believe it starts with a commitment to the Rotary motto “Service Above Self” and continues through donations of volunteer time and financial support to numerous charitable causes.
Ideas for staying connected during social distancing
During this time of physical separation and social distancing, it’s more important than ever to keep our social connections, says Ingrid Waugh, Assistant Rotary Coordinator and Past Governor of District 9920. Members stay because of the connections they make in their clubs and districts. Our relationships are paramount and we need to strengthen the ones we have, in addition to building new ones. What might this look like in our changed world?
Let's start a conversation! Let's think about what we can be doing or thinking about in anticipation of getting back to whatever the new "normal" will be as we reopen the economy.
I've never been the sharpest knife in the drawer, but have been good at identifying folks with diverse skills to tackle problems and come up with win/win solutions to personal and communal challenges. What are the steps that your organization should use to start the ramp up process for your business or organization?
Almost 200 million days of school attendance are lost every year because of the lack of proper sanitation. Many diarrhea cases in children result from transmission of disease in schools rather than at home.
“A school is a place where children should feel safe, not a place where they are susceptible to infection,” says Lizette Burgers, senior adviser of UNICEF’s Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Schools program.
But the message at the World Water Summit on 4 June in São Paulo was positive: Rotary members and their clubs can make schools healthier places through programs that provide clean water and better sanitation.
As we get closer to the new Rotary year beginning July 1st, I wanted to make each of you aware of the various options available for DG Club Visits that were discussed at Lone Star P.E.T.S.
Your Club PE should be receiving an email from me shortly describing the available visits in detail.
Briefly, they are:
1. The Regular Rotary Club Meeting Visit, just like we’ve always done. I will visit your regularly scheduled club meeting and give a presentation after the meal. I will also want to visit with the Board Members prior to or after the meeting.
Exactly one month ago, many of us were at Lone Star P.E.T.S. at the DFW Hyatt Regency, visiting and enjoying preparing for our Rotary 2020-2021 year. The District Training Assembly and its speakers were all scheduled for April 4th at the First Christian Church in Tyler, and all was moving smoothly as expected.
Flash forward 30 days, and due to a virus that first surfaced on the other side of the world, we have moved all foreseeable District events and many club events to online meetings. But the incredible part is that all is still moving smoothly, as expected. We are, after all, still Rotarians. Our ability to adapt and to continue to serve may be our strongest trait.
Robert Bunch, Co-Owner of BWI Companies along with wife Becky Bunch cook breakfast for First Responders, Monday, Wednesday and Friday beginning in March 25, 2020.
Robert and Becky Bunch are members of Sunrise Rotary Club in Nash, Texas. Other Sunrise Rotarians that help out when they can are Steve Collier, Doug Bowers, Landon Forbes, Terry Davis and Steve Rogers. Due to the COVID -19 Pandemic the locally owned, Texas Chuck Wagon Restaurant is only allowed to provide takeout orders. BWI under the direction of Robert Bunch is a great example of "Service Above Self".
BWI & Companies provide breakfast for First Responders
Debora Valeria Lucca holds her daughter, Oriana Saucedo, following an infant hearing test at Hospital Raul F. Larcade in San Miguel, Argentina. Hearing test equipment was paid for in part by Matching Grant 66672.
Rotary makes high-quality health care available to vulnerable mothers and children so they can live longer and grow stronger.
We expand access to quality care, so mothers and children everywhere can have the same opportunities for a healthy future. An estimated 5.9 million children under the age of five die each year because of malnutrition, inadequate health care, and poor sanitation — all of which can be prevented. For more information click on the following link:
Thank you to the 2020 Lone Star P.E.T.S. Rangers that worked very hard to make the event an success! Thank you AG Barbara Turner- Cedar Creek Lake RC, Paul Allen - Clarksville Rotary Club and Sarah Fox- Longview Greggton Rotary Club for making District 5830 proud!
On Sunday, March 15 the members of the Rotary Club of Marshall participated in a local church’s project, Hearts for the Hungry. Members served a home cooked meal to about 25 homeless adults and 5 youth. This was a true example of Service Above Self.
From the District 5830 Leadership Team, we report with great sadness the passing of District 5830 (583) Past District Governor Charles Tullis, 1978-79. He was a former member of the Rotary Club of Longview and served as President 1973-74.
Here we are in the midst of a pandemic none of us anticipated and having to practice social distancing and self-quarantine. It strikes me that our international theme "Rotary Connects the World" is particularly appropriate to address this challenge. We can stay connected through social media and programs like Zoom. Let us challenge our younger members to guide us in that regard and set up virtual monthly meetings for us. Also, please sign up for the District Training Conference this weekend, April 4th. Instructions are on the District website, or contact our District Administrator, Shirley, and she will help you. And let us remember that Rotary's monthly theme this month is "Maternal and Child Health" and address that as a club this month. Some small project with "Service Above Self" in mind may make all the difference in the life of a child and mother somewhere locally or in the world. I pray that this will be behind us soon, and we can go forward with more energy than ever. Limiting the spread of the virus is the key.
Rotary International just reported that District 5830 LEADS ZONE 31 in member growth!! At times like these we need something to celebrate—so pat yourself on the back (no one else!!)!! Oh sure, you can send congratulatory emails to your club officers and members.
Specifics, you ask? Our 3.29% growth since July 1, 2019 outdistanced ALL our other 16 co-districts growth, the top three being 1.86%, 1.5% and 1.03% in growth. Although it is not a real competition, it does give us perspective to know we ARE heading in the right direction in reaching out, inviting people to check out Rotary and bringing them onboard. Although we are up by 24 members, we still need 82 to reach GOAL!
My thanks personally and on behalf of the District to all P. E.s and P. N.s who attended Lone Star P. E. T. S. While possible to train for club leadership outside of P.E.T.S., it is next to impossible to build the type of friendships and relationships and synergy in one-on-one training. If you’ll pardon the sports analogy, it’s the difference between a coach cheering a team on to victory at halftime and talking to one key player at halftime. You now have the tools and know the keys players to assist you in achieving the Club Citation and more during your year.
Our District Leadership exists for you. Please use us when needed, and have a fun and successful year!
Rotary Club of Tyler had all six students who attended RYLA Camp provide insight and share their experiences with their members. These students, 4 from John Tyler High School; John Tyler - Julia Argote, Francisco Leon, Miguel Bailon, and Christopher Clark; 2 from All Saints Episcopal School Sarah Huckabee and Ben Kiblinger were probably the most outstanding participants we have had in many years.
Read more about their: RYLA Program, Carter Blood Care Service Project and Rotary Club of Tyler Paint by Number Project
DGE Jack Welge kicks off the District 5830 Meeting at Lone Star PETS 2020 welcoming 29 President Elects and 7 President Nonimee.
Rotary is Family! DGE Jack thanked DG Jim Finstrom, IPDG Judy Guthrie, PDG & VG Ted Huffhines, DGN Mike Groom, DGND Carolyn Franks, PDG Lee Montgomery and PDG Carroll Greenwaldt for their help and participation as they facilitated and led session topics. Additional District support was acknowledged for PDG John Jetter who represented the District as 2020 Lone Star PETS Operating Chair, and District Adminstrator - Shirley Pinnix-Evans for teaming up with PDG Jetter co-presenting/teaching two Thursday night sessions on MyRotary and Rotary Club Central. Our DGE hopes you enjoyed the M&M’s at PETS. His goal: MAKE MEMBERSHIP MEANINGFUL!
RI President Holger Knaack visited District 5830 President Elects and President Nominees on Friday, February 27, 2020 at Lone Star PETS.
Please review additional pictures taken at PETS on the District Photo Album. If you have a picture that was taken at PETS please send to Shirley at rotary5830da@gmail.com. It will be added to the Photo Album.
Texarkana Juniors and Seniors who participated in RYLA from 4 area schools hold Rotary coins in the shape of the Rotary cog. It has the "4 way test" printed on it.
PDG, VG and Foundation Chair, Ted Huffhines presented Donna Sharp, Beth Blasidell and Diane Kavanaugh with their Paul Harris Society Chervon at 2020 Lone Star PETS.
February 5, 2020 Gilmer Rotary Club introduced Lane Burks as the student of the month from Ore City High School. Pictured are Lane Burks, Junior at Ore City High School; Denise Burks, parent; and Lisa Wright, Counselor at Ore City High School.
The Rotary Club of Paris United Happy Smiles Dental Program has been serving the children in Lamar County elementary schools since 2008. The club supplies portable dental sets, equipment and materials in order to provide dental exams for all Lamar County 2nd grade students – approximately 550 students. Several local dentists and staffs support the program. They perform the exams and apply sealants as needed. This is the only dental exam some students receive. The schools, parent and students have been very appreciative.
Paris United Rotary Club Partner with Local Dentists
West Bowie County Rotary Club members are " People of Action" as 10 volunteers picked up 15 bags of trash and a spool of twine that was completely unraveled.
Early Spring Greetings to District 5830 Rotarians. Our monthly Rotary theme is Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene. Let us look around us for a service project recognizing the theme, and then share the idea with all. March 9 - 15 is Rotaract Week. I ask each club in the District to reach out to a Rotaract Club nearby, thank them for the service they do, and invite them to join one of your meetings, as they are able. March 31st is the deadline to pre-register for the Rotary International Convention in Honolulu. I encourage you to come if you can. The Lone Star PETS training for 2020-2021 officers was excellent, as always. As near as I could tell, everyone attending left excited to put new ideas into practice at their clubs. And please save the dates October 30-31 for the District Conference which will be held in Jefferson. You will receive more information soon. Keep up the good work.
All three Rotary Clubs in Longview are featured in the March/April issue of local lifestyle magazine, Charm. For the first time, all three Longview clubs have women presidents.
President Gai Bennett of the Rotary Club of Longview, President Karen Maines of the Longview Greggton Rotary Club and President Christina Hollwarth of the Longview Midtown Rotary Club are gracing the cover of this local lifestyle magazine. As the Rotary Club of Longview celebrates its 100th anniversary, this issue will feature the impact Rotary has had on Longview and the evolution and growth of these local clubs.
Rotary Rules!
As the magazine highlights ," This isn't your grandfather's Rotary.
The Rotary Club of Longview Centennial Celebration is postpose due to the current COVID-19 situation.
This is a very disappointing turn of events, but the members believe it is the right decision at this time.
Current ticket holders will be contacted individually regarding commuting their tickets to the new date or refunding tickets. We will keep you posted on the new date as soon as one is determined. We will reschedule! Look there is no way we are not going to have a huge party celebrating our 100 year mark!
PDG Tom DeWitt introduced and presented Patrick Mahoney sign to Larry Lundsford, Past RI Director who served as our guest speaker for the 2020 District 5830 Foudation Banquet.
DG Jim Finstrom presents a gift of appreciation to Larry Lundsford who spoke on G - P - S (Growing Rotary, Partnering and Serving).
IPDG Judy Guthrie awarded the "Bill Rains" Award to Amanda Folmar, Past President of South Tyler Rotary Club during the Foundation Banquet on February 8, 2020. The award is presented to the District 5830 Rotarian that is outstanding in Membership, Foundation Giving, Public Image and Leadership. Congratulation to Amanda who is a well deserved recipient of the Award!
IPDG Judy Guthrie also awarded the Top Three Per Capita Giving Awards for 2018-2019
*Third Place was Texarkana Sunrise Rotary Club, Club President Steve Collier- 2019-2020 Club President Mary Wormington accepted the Award.
* Second Place was Carthage Rotary Club, Club President Doug Spradley- 2019-2020 Club President Mary Moss accepted the Award.
* First Place was Marshall Rotary Club, Club President Jay Webb- 2017-2018 Club President Louraiseal McDonald accepted the Award.
Please view the District Photo Album to look for your picture!
Membership is Up!! Membership is Down!! Ugh?? From July 1st through Feb 15th, 33 of 43 clubs added129 new members! Yea! But we also lost 129 members! WHAAAT? Thanks to readmitting a couple of former members, we are up a NET 2 total! See why there needs to be a constant focus on membership. The average club lost is 10% a year. Do you have a membership PLAN to gain back that loss AND GROW?
Texarkana-Oaklawn Rotary awarded $600 donations to 11 nonprofits in the area on February 18. Representatives from each organization attended to receive the donation which they can use where most needed. The $6,600 was raised in the fall at Oaklawn’s annual Draw Down event. The Club’s President is Jennifer Stuart who is pictured on the far right. The recipients included: Caddo Area Council of Boy Scouts; CASA; Domestic Violence Prevention; Habitat for Humanity; Harvest Regional Food Bank; Hospice of Texarkana; Main Street Texarkana; Mission Texarkana; Opportunities Inc.; Randy Sams’ Outreach Shelter; and the local chapter of Vietnam Veterans.
Texarkana Oaklawn Rotary Club Donates to Local Non-Profits
Clean water, sanitation, and hygiene education are basic necessities for a healthy environment and a productive life.
When people have access to clean water and sanitation, waterborne diseases decrease, children stay healthier and attend school more regularly, and mothers can spend less time carrying water and more time helping their families.
Do you LOVE Rotary? February gives us a perfect pairing to celebrate: Valentine’s Day the 14th and Rotary’s 115th birthday on the 23rd . Why not have a celebration of both and promote membership development around these annual milestones? Even though the 23rd is on Sunday, have a special program the week before or after. Get a Rotary birthday cake and INVITE GUESTS for a special program on your signature service project and fund raiser. Tell them about your club’s impact on your community and the world. So much to tell…so little time! Many hands make light work, so won’t you join us?!! Invite your mayor to attend to present a declaration of (your town’s) Rotary day for your club on February 23rd and get social media/newspaper/tv coverage to build recognition. Any other bright ideas?!
With bloody conflicts raging in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and parts of Central Africa, the message of nonviolence and reconciliation that nations worldwide will observe on 21 September demands more urgent and collective attention.
In 2001 the United Nations designated the September date as an annual International Day of World Peace "to be observed as a day of global ceasefire and nonviolence" according to a General Assembly resolution.
Hello District 5830: February is upon us, and I hope to see as many of you as can make it at the District Events set out and described in this newsletter. I believe the more you attend, the more you will grow and mature in Rotary and enjoy it. Our District membership is up 30 members in the past 12 months. If we can increase 3 members per club during 2020 we can have 10% District membership growth. If that is less than your club goal, please reach your goal. If not, please make it your goal, and go to work enthusiastically! And, please review your progress toward receiving the Citation, making sure your progress is reported, and work hard toward completing the requirements.
The Rotary Club of Longview Centennial Celebration is scheduled for Saturday, May 9th at the Summit Club in Longview. Tickets are $100 and are available on Eventbrite. Here is link to their Facebook Event page. https://www.facebook.com/events/200217104496108/
The Rotary Club of Kilgore, TX provides a pair of shoes and a pair of socks to all students of Kilgore ISD who qualify to receive free school supplies. If the parents would like for their children to receive the shoes and socks, a Rotarian will measure the student’s feet.
Rotary Club members were present for the entire school registration process of two to three days who measure the student’s feet to determine what size shoe the student will need and to have a good starting place for fitting the student’s feet.
The Clarksville Times published a photo and press release regarding the 2019-2020 Club Project Grant awarded to the Clarksville Rotary Club.
Shown in the photo from left to right are Dan Meehan, Rotary Club Past President, James Vaughan, Jr., Rotary Club Secretary-Treasurer, Roy Stringer, Family Council of CNC, Holly Cooper, Family Council of CNC, receiving a grant check from Bow Willis, Rotary Club President, Paul Hines, Rotary Club Foundation Chair, and Christie Ussery, Rotary Club member.
Texarkana Sunrise Rotarians joined Coalition for the Homeless for their Annual Chili Cookout event. Sunrise Rotarians were dressed as superheroes to support their Community and serve the delicious chili made by Sunrise Rotarians Becky Bunch.
The Rotary Club of Cedar Creek Lake was honored to be able to increase the number of school aged children they were able to help shop for and provide with winter clothing. This year, they shopped for 150 children and allocated $150 per child. We discreetly coordinate with our area’s school counselors to identify children in need. Over the course of 7 calendar days in November, we garner support of over 200 volunteers (Rotarians and non-Rotarians) to help us shop for these children.
In our 24th year of RYLA 5830, staff and campers are gearing up for another life-changing experience at Clements Scout Ranch in Athens, TX. With two sessions of camp, February 7-9 and 21-23, RYLA will host over 200 students from across the district for team building, outdoor activities, group discussions, and more in order to promote the 8 leadership traits of integrity, team building, communication, problem solving, planning, decision making, trust, and self-esteem.
DGN Mike Groom recently attended the annual SCRYE Winter Conference in Tulsa, OK and discovered some new things in Youth Exchange. On one front, SCRYE, once again, has partnered with World Experience Scholarships (WES) to provide scholarships to outbound youth exchange students from SCRYE member districts who need financial assistance in order to participate in Youth Exchange. Scholarship amounts will be determined on an individual basis by the WES Scholarship Selection Committee and will range from $500-$2,000. Applications are being received now with a deadline of April 15, 2020.
DG Jim Finstrom is pictured with Henderson Rotarians with a combined length of service of 150 years.
From left, Bill Preston (48 yrs.), Tony Wooster (50 yrs.), you, and Foy Brown (52 yrs.). All have served the club as President and other offices.
Brown and Wooster have served the City of Henderson as Mayors, and Preston as a Councilman. These three members have been responsible for 12 Paul Harris Fellows being presented to themselves, family members, and various individuals.
District 5830 Annual Foundation banquet is Saturday, Feburary 8, 2020. Deadline to register is February 3. This is the event where we celebrate the success of the District's efforts to support The Rotary Foundation Annual Fund and Polio Plus. Past RI Director Larry Lunsford from Kansas City will be our guest speaker and all New Paul Harris Fellows, PH advancements and Club successes will be a highlight of the event.
As usual we will be offering a Paul Harris Raffle opportunity for those wanting to leverage their giving in a fun drawing and those contributing in increments of $100 will receive matching points even if they don't win one of the raffle awards.
Longview Rotary Club's Rotarians, Colby Dickson and Joni Cobb were on hand to lend a hand at Longview's Homeless Resource Day. Wiley and Colby assisted in the Point-in-Time homeless census and Joni helped at the check in desk.
According to DGE Jack Welge, Rotary International Assembly was a fantasic experience and the ability to share it with Rotarians worldwide was indescribable. THE 2020-2021 PRESIDENTIAL THEME "ROTARY OPENS OPPORTUNITIES".
Pictured from left to right: Ava Welge, DGE Jack Welge, 2020-2021 International President Holger Knaack and wife Susanne,
District governors-elect say they are ready to make the most of Rotary after learning the 2020-21 presidential theme, Rotary Opens Opportunities, at the International Assembly.
RI President-elect Holger Knaack encouraged the leaders to take advantage of the many options that Rotary provides to create change in the world.
“Rotary is not just a club that you join. It is an invitation to endless opportunities,” Knaack said Monday, 20 January, at the annual training event held in San Diego, California, USA. “It opens opportunities to serve in a project as big and historic as End Polio Now and also in a small community project, where you just plant a tree. ... Everything we do opens another opportunity for someone, somewhere.”
Happy New Year to all District 5830 Rotarians and good luck with your resolutions. For those that have not entered your club Presidents-Elect on ClubRunner, please get those names to Shirley ASAP. Continue to get your work on the Citation completed early, and work on increasing membership, keeping diversity and flexibility in mind. I saw International President Mark Maloney riding on the Rotary float in the Rose Bowl Parade and was thankful to be a Rotarian, wishing I was there. Forge forward, and let me know if I can help. Thank you.
THE CONCEPT OF VOCATIONAL SERVICE The Object of Rotary is a philosophical statement of Rotary’s purpose and the responsibilities of Rotarians. The concept of vocational service is rooted in the second object, which calls on Rotarians to encourage and foster: • High ethical standards in business and professions • The recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations • The dignifying of each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society
Congrats to 19 clubs for adding 53 new members in the first 6 months of the Rotary year. Interestingly 66% of those 19 clubs had set club membership goals! However, due to some losses, the overall net new membership in the District is up 19 for a total of 1568. Take away: Goals work!! Goals increase the focus of leadership and club members and make it fun! If your club has not set it’s membership goal in MyRotary, please do so ASAP!!
Those clubs gaining membership the last 6 months include the following: BIG SANDY, CEDAR CREEK LAKE (+6), CLARKSVILLE, HENDERSON, JEFFERSON, KILGORE, LONGVIEW, MALAKOFF, MARSHALL (+6), MINEOLA, MT. VERNON, OVERTON, PITTSBURG, QUITMAN, SOUTH TYLER, TEXARKANA SUNRISE, TEXARKANA WILBUR SMITH, WEST BOWIE AND WILLS POINT.
Texarkana Sunrise Rotarians at work in the Commumity.
1. Serving snacks at the Nash Cub Scout Award Ceremonies.
2. Ringing the Salvation Army Bell -pictured are Rotarians Steve Rogers and Terry Davis- other Rotarians participated are: Sunrise Rotarians Laura Jacobs, Jennifer Studdard, Ralph Waits and Shirley Pinnix-Evans.
3. Adopting Nash Elementary School families. The individuals members purchased Christmas presents for the children and Food Baskets for the Families for Christmas.
1. Twenty-two members/family helped ring bells on Saturday, December 21 at local Wal-Mart. Janna Davis (right) and daughter Izzy.
2. The Paris Kiwanis Club and Paris United Rotary Club accepted "The Turkey Stuffing Challenge". Both service clubs delivered 1,750 boxes of stuffing to Downtown Food Pantry.
Pictured Left to Right: Denise Kornegay, President of Kiwanis Club of Paris; Alan Hubbard, Director of the Downtown Food Pantry; and Alex Fowzer, President of Rotary Club of Paris United
PDG & VG Ted Huffhines and DGN Mike Groom are available for giving Heart 2 Heart programs. Mike and Andrea went to Mexico for the annual Heart 2 Heart pilgrimage. They were in Mexico from 11/13/2019 to 11/20/2019 along with nearly 30 other Rotarians from Zones 30 and 31.
The Heart 2 Heart Program is a cooperative effort between Rotarians primarily in the "Heart of America" (Zones 30 and 31) and in the "Heart of Mexico" (Districts 4170 and 4140) and The Rotary Foundation to provide humanitarian service, primarily through matching grant projects. The next regular project visit is scheduled for November 4-11, 2020. There is also a medical mission trip to Tlaquepaque from 2/8/2020 to 2/15/2020.
We in Rotary need your skills and leadership. Serving as the President of your Rotary Club is one of the most important and enjoyable roles in Rotary International and our Lone Star President Elect Training Seminar (P.E.T.S.) helps make your Rotary Club President year easier and more effective.
Lone Star P.E.T.S. ( Feb. 27-March 1, 2020) is the largest multi-district P.E.T.S. in Rotary International. Ten Rotary Districts from Texas and Oklahoma come together to plan, prepare, and present club leadership essentials.
1. Marshall High School Interact Members distributed candy to over 750 youth at the local Annual Halloween Festival in downtown Marshall. 2. In November, the Marshall High School Interact Club celebrated their 2nd Anniversary with over 25 members. During the month of December, member decorated doors at the local nursing home.
Texarkana Oaklawn Rotarian George Moore is being named as the Texarkana ISD 2020 Hall of Fame recipient. George will be retiring from Texarkana Independent School District in 2020. Not only has he been a major asset to the local school district, he has also been a major asset to Oaklawn Rotary Club.
Texarkana Oaklawn Interact Club's signage tell the story of how we can work together to make a difference in the world. Texarkana Arkansas High Interact Club is very active in their community.
Tyler Rotary Clubs continue to participate in the Tyler Christmas Parade to show the community that they care and communicate awareness of the continued fight against Polio.
It is time to notify your School District with the date and location of 2020 Rotary District 5830 Four-Way Test Speech Contest. A big "Thank You" goes out to Mt. Pleasant Rotary Club, President Adeel Malik and the club members for agreeing to host the event. Thank you!! Amy Hinton with Mt. Pleasant Rotary Club who will Chair the event again this year. The District contest will be held on April 25, 2020 at Mount Pleasant Independent School District Administration Building, 2230 North Edwards, Mt. Pleasant. The speeches must develop the year's theme: " How will the Four-Way Test of the things we think, say and do help successfully connect you to your community at home and to the world?"
Message from District 5830 Foundation Chair - PDG & VG Ted Huffhines:
District 5830 will hold its annual Foundation Banquet at Northeast Texas Community College (between Pittsburg and Mt. Pleasant) on February 8th. Our keynote speaker will be Past RI Director for Zones 30-31, Larry Lunsford. Larry and his wife Jill are presently serving as Aides to RI President Mark Daniel Maloney and his wife Gay. Larry is a wonderful Rotarian who will inspire all of us in our efforts to serve more effectively. We will also recognize all of our new Paul Harris Fellows and Paul Harris Plus Rotarians. We will recognize our Clubs for their Rotary Foundation Giving in 2018-2019, and we will hear about opportunities for service in Mexico City. Cost is $40 per person.
The Tyler Rotarians would like to send you a special invitation to Tyler Rotary Centennial Celebration on May 2, 2020, Hollytree Country Club, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
For additional information, please contact Holly Lewis at tylerrotaryaa@outlook.com or 903-714-4472.
New to this newsletter is a section on Membership that will appear going forward. The intent is to keep you up-to-date on trends, successes and tips on membership ATTRACTION and ENGAGEMENT! Remember those terms!!
THANKS to all who attended the Nov 2nd Membership and Foundation Seminar in Tyler. (If you ask PDG Ted Huffhines, he would say it was the Foundation and Membership Seminar, but hey, it's my article. Ted can call it what he wants in his article-wink wink!) Our LIVELY group exchanged numerous ideas on growing membership, including but not limited to, Strengthening Your Club, Flexing & Innovating, Satellite Club opportunities, and the Zone initiative to GROW ROTARY! More to come.
I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving and will have a Merry Christmas. Please note that the last day for early registration for the International Convention and reduced rates is December 15th. Review your progress on the Citation, and see that accomplished goals have been reported to RI. I am down to my last three Club visits and looking forward to the new year. Thank you for all the service you performed this year and your planning for the new year.
October 31, 2019, The Clarksville Times, publicized Clarksville Rotary Club's observance of World Polio Day on October 24.
In an effort to raise awareness, funds and support to end polio, Rotarians in the 35,000 clubs worldwide annually observe World Polio Day on October 24. Polio is a vaccine preventable disease, which still threatens children in parts of the world today. In 1985, Rotary International launched PolioPlus, the first and largest internationally coordinated private-sector support of a public health initiative with an initial fundraising target of $120 million.
Texarkana International Rotary Club meets on Monday night. During one of their regular scheduled meetings, they packed 13 boxes for Operation Christmas Child as their November International Service Project. They had so much fun packing the boxes. The boxes will soon be on their way to the distribution center to bless 13 children in counties all over the world.
Texarkana International Rotary Club November Service Project
DG Jim Finstrom speaks at the 39th Annual Officers Appreciation Luncheon sponsored by Texarkana's Four Rotary Clubs- Wilbur Smith, Oaklawn, Sunrise and International. The Keynote Speaker was Brian A. Crawford, Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Willis-Knighton Health System. Texarkana, Texas Mayor Bob Bruggeman and Texarkana, Arkansas Mayor Allen Brown presented the Officers of the Year chosen by the 9 Departments that were represented. Approximately 250 Officers, Rotarians and Elected Officials attended the luncheon.
Texarkana's Four Rotary Clubs honor First Responders
Do you know what the significance of December 15, 2019 is in the Rotary world?
This is the last day to register for the 2020 Honolulu Rotary Convention and receive a discount! Have you registered? If not, WHY??? From what I am seeing on the Rotary website, this is going to be one of the most exciting conventions in recent memory. AND it is in Hawaii!!!!
If you have never attended a convention, this is an excellent choice to be your first. Not only is the convention going to be outstanding, but the location is one of the top go to places in the entire world. So, you can “kill two birds with one stone.”
Important message from DGE Jack Welge! Calling all Rotary Club Leaders and Board Members, Rotary needs your skills and leadership. Serving as the President of your Rotary Club is one of the most important roles in Rotary International. It is a most rewarding time in your life. Whether attending as a President Elect or President Nominee coming to your role as multi-year Rotary Board Member or as a recent volunteer, Lone Star President Elect Training Seminar (P.E.T.S.) from February 27, 2020 - March 1, 2020 helps make your Rotary Club President year easier and more effective.
The Clarksville Times published the winner of the 2019-2020 Club Project Grant.
The members of the Clarksville Rotary Club contribute annually to The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. A portion of funds contributed by Rotary clubs are returned by The Rotary Foundation to the Rotary International District to which the local club is assigned. Rotary Clubs are then entitled to apply for a matching club project grant from their District Grant Committee to assist with a local or international project. The local club matches the amount of the grant requested in the application.
Mineola Rotarians had a wonderful time participating in the Annual Salute to Veterans Parade in Downtown Mineola. Pictured holding the Rotary Banner are: Jim Albritton and Jim Bailey
Pictured holding the single Rotary Flag is: Steve Ogueri
Denise Hurst and JP 2 Judge Janae Holland are handing out candy. Greg Hollen was the parade Judge.
We believe good health care is everyone’s right. Yet 400 million people in the world can’t afford or don’t have access to basic health care.
Disease results in misery, pain, and poverty for millions of people worldwide. That’s why treating and preventing disease is so important to us. We lead efforts both large and small. We set up temporary clinics, blood donation centers, and training facilities in under served communities struggling with outbreaks and health care access. We design and build infrastructure that allows doctors, patients, and governments to work together.
The Rotary Club of Longview continued its years old tradition of assisting with the Longview Thanksgiving Food Drive this November. Past President James Roberts who serves on the board of the Food Drive organizes the club’s participation each year which includes a sizable cash donation that helps provide turkeys and hens along with the nonperishable items. For several years the club has moved its regular Tuesday noon meeting the week of Thanksgiving to the Food Drive location at Maude Cobb Convention Center where the Rotarians help sort food donations, check in donation recipients and help them gather and load their food boxes.
The annual Food Drive served 858 families in this, it’s 35th year.
Texarkana Sunrise Rotary Club and Habitat For Humanity of Texarkana partnered to refurbish a Nash Resident's home.
Pictures front row: Rotarian and Nash Mayor Robert Bunch, Sunrise Club President and Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity Mary Wormington
Back row: Rotarian and Nash City Manager, Doug Bowers and Rotarian Becky Bunch. Other Rotarians participating in the painting project not shown in the pictures are as follows: Ralph Waits, Landon Forbes, Steve Colliers, Steve Rogers and Shirley Pinnix Evans.
On November 8, PDG and District Foundation Chair, Ted Huffhines mesmerized Longview Greggton Rotary Club with his Foundation Magic Show. Per Club President Karen Maines, " No club members disappeared."
Foundation Magic Show visits Longview Greggton Rotary Club
I look forward to November for: (1) my last five club visits; (2) Interact Week November 4 - 10 with Anniversary of Interact on November 5; and (3) Foundation Month coupled with World Polio Month. We had a good meeting in Tyler last Saturday discussing foundation and membership, and I received good comments from attendees about ideas exchanged and learned. Let's keep up the energy working on the Citation, Membership, and support for the Foundation and Polio Plus. I am thankful for the opportunity to put Service Above Self and thank you for sharing that goal. Keep up the good work.
IPDG Judy Guthrie is recognized at the November 2, 2019 Membership and Foundation Seminar for the "Second Highest Net Gain" of members in Zone 31 in 2018-2019.
IPDG Judy was very proud to announce the 20 Clubs in District 5830 that received the 2018-2019 Citation Awards.
1. Atlanta with 2 Presidential Distinction Awards-President Jerry Porter, 2. Cedar Creek Lake with 3 Presidential Distinction Awards-President-Greg Cooley 3. Clarksville-President-Richard Meehan 4. Gilmer with 2 Presidential Distinction Awards-President Pete Herrman 5. Henderson with 2 Presidential Distinction Awards-President Andy Vinson 6. Idabel with 2 Presidential Distinction Awards-President Jerry Ellis 7. Kilgore with 1 Presidential Distinction Award-President Jerry Camp 8. Longview Greggton with 2 Presidential Distinction Awards-President Scott Brunner 9. Longview Midtown with 2 Presidential Distinction Awards-President April Barker 10. Longview with 3 Presidential Distinction Awards-President Dietrich Johnson 11. Marshall with 1 Presidential Distinction Award-President Jay Webb 12. Mt. Pleasant-President Bob Hourahan 13. Paris with 2 Presidential Distinction Awards-President Andrew Cobb 14. South Tyler with 3 Presidential Distinction Awards-President Amanda Folmar 15. Texarkana Wilbur Smith with 2 Presidential Distinction Awards-President Cindy Marsh 16. Texarkana International-President Marion Houff 17. Texarkana Oaklawn with 3 Presidential Distinction Awards-President Stefanie Brazile18. Texarkana Sunrise with 1 Presidential Distinction Award-President Steve Collier 19. Tyler Sunrise with 3 Presidential Distinction Awards-President Jo Dobbs 20. Tyler with 2 Presidential Distinction Awards-President George Roberts, Jr.
The Membership and Foundation Seminar was a tremendous benefit for those in attendance. Many attendees attested to such as they provided "take away" comments and compliments at the end. The engagement of the attendees was fabulous. Those who attended left with the knowledge and skills necessary to grow their club membership and increase support for doing good in the world and supporting the efforts to eradicate polio through the Rotary Foundation. About 60 members from over 20 clubs met at Tyler's First Christian Church for the event.
PDG and District Rotary Foundation Chair Ted Huffhines was joined by PDG Pamela Stewart from Louisiana and PDG Allen Morgan from Arkansas, both Zone officers for The Rotary Foundation, to lead the four Foundation breakouts. PDG Lee Montgomery led the Membership seminar classes with the students teaching each other.
Paul Harris Society members were recognized for their faithful generosity.
From left to right: Louraiseal McDonald, DG Jim Finstrom, Beth Blaisdell, Linda Sartor, Karen Maines, PDG Bill Hedges, PDG Fay J Durrant, Jerry Porter, Danny Carpenter, PDG Ted Huffhines
This is a group picture of the Sabine High School Interact Service Organization officers and sponsors with the certificate and banner that we presented to them on Thursday, October 31, 2019. The Rotary Club of Kilgore is very honored to be able to sponsor this wonderful group of young people.
New Interact Club sponsored by Kilgore Rotary Club
CNBC has ranked The Rotary Foundation No. 3 in its annual list of Top 10 Charities Changing the World in 2016. The list includes some of the largest and highest-rated charities that help women, children, the poor, and the environment throughout the world, according to Charity Navigator, and that maintain high standards of financial health, accountability, and transparency of reporting.
On October 12, 2019 West Bowie County Rotary Club organized their 4th Annual Half
Marathon Run the Rail Event. Tobias Daniel our first runner! He Brad ran from New Boston to De Kalb and back to New Boston again to do a whole marathon - 26.2 miles. Wow! They are very grateful to Bates-Rolf Funeral Home and Texarkana Funeral Homes for sponsoring our race. Thank you so much for your generosity!
West Bowie County Rotary Club's Run the Rail Event
Texarkana Sunrise Rise Rotary Club is proud to co-sponsor Nash Cub Scout group for the second year with BWI Companies.
Pictured from left to right: Caddo Area Council District Executive-Taylor Joyce, District Executive-Emily Eudy, Sunrise Club Treasurer-Shirley Pinnix- Evans, Sunrise Club President- Mary Wormington, Caddo Area Council Scot Executive-Anthony Escobar , and Owner of BWI Companies-Robert Bunch.
The City of Carthage made a proclamation on October 24, 2109 as World Polio Day. The Carthage Rotary Club made the newspaper and posted Polio Plus awareness information on their Facebook page.
Cedar Creek Lake Rotary Club is proud of their annual Klothes for Kids Project. This project will help 150 students in seven local schools from Mabank. They had approximately 53 volunteers that helped with this project including Interact Students and donated approximately $22,500.00 to the project.
Congratulations and a BIG Thanks to ALL that helped make this our most successful Klothes for Kids in our club's history! "It took a village!"
Pittsburg Rotary Club members celebration World Polio Day!
The Pittsburg Rotary assisted by the Pitt Rotary Interact Club handed out dictionaries to the third graders in the Primary School, Wednesday, Oct. 16. Beginning on the left and around the table is Melissa Sierra, Evelyn Ponce, McKenna Wood, Rachel Miner, Gloria Miner, Fernanda Garcia, Mahiro Itchimura, Madison Moore. The club also donated ear-phones for the reading classes, as there were not enough to go around to all the students.
REMEMBER the Fallen. . . HONOR those who Serve. . . TEACH our children the value of Freedom.
On Saturday, December 14, 2019 at 11:00 AM, The Rotary Club of Gilmer Texas (TX0767P) will be Sunset Memorial Park to Remember and Honor our veterans by laying Remembrance wreaths on the graves of our country's fallen heroes. Each wreath sponsorship is $15.
Rotary Club of Wills Point held their annual Adoption Day at Wit’s End earlier in October. This is an annual event to match foster children with adoptive parents. We had a large turnout of both children and potential adoptive parents. Many people expressed appreciation to Rotary for holding this event.
Rotary participating in Wills Point’s Annual Boo on the Bricks Celebration. They held a raffle with a cruise as the grand prize. This event helped raise $1,000 to be donated to Polio Plus. Rotarian David Cartwright (left) and Interact Club Administrator Lisa Zelnick (right)
Karen Maines is a Registered Dental Hygienist in Longview, Texas, a passionate local city volunteer and 2019-20 President of the Longview Greggton Rotary Club.
"What's an iron lung?"
This question was asked of me last week -- by a long-time health professional in her 40's. I admit that I didn't say anything for a second. At first, I thought she was joking around, but then it sank in that she honestly had no idea what I was talking about.
After I thought about it later, it made more sense that, due to her age, she wouldn't know about iron lungs, or about Polio.
Miss Texas Chandler Foreman at the Golden sweet potato festival.
Miss Texas Chandler Foreman pictured at a “meet and greet” luncheon at the Golden Homestead, taking time to visit with local East Texas Rotarians following Golden Sweet Potato Festival parade on Saturday, October. 26, 2019. Pictured are PDG Bill Hedges, Golden Homestead owner Tony Pegues , Miss Texas and Greg Hollen.
Your District Governor has been trying to get all clubs visited and thanks to you for the reception received to date. Rotary does connect us to people we would never have otherwise met, who are more like us than any we ever could have known. I have shared a Rotary International Proclamation regarding Rotary's work to eradicate polio worldwide and seek public support and commend the clubs I have visited to make this public. I will get the proclamation to the clubs I have not yet visited so that it might be used for World Polio Day or World Polio Month. Please continue to work as a club to obtain the Citation and accept our District Administrator Shirley's offer to train you when needed. Please note the dates for events in this newsletter, and plan accordingly. Keep up the good work to serve above self and implement the Four-Way Test.
– Beau Poteet presenting a donation to Gerald and Lyn Haney of Men and Ladies of Honor, a faith-based organization that counsels our youth in combining powerful weekend camps and weekly one-hour discipleship meetings.
– Past club President, Scott Caloss, being recognized for his service (Scott Caloss on left, club President Beau Poteet on right)
– Club President Beau Poteet with guests Assistant DG Barbara Turner and District Governor Jim Finstrom
– Beau Poteet with guest speaker Huy Nguyen, Golf Pro at Links at Land’s End.
– David Cartwright with guest speaker Anna Dodd, Medical Mission Trip to Africa
– New member, Doug Mullin – David Cartwright, Herschel LyBrand, Doug Mullin, and James Brown
The Rotary Club of Paris United hosted a FUN fundraiser for ladies on September 19th at the Love Civic Center in Paris, Texas. Girls Night Out was a night of food, fun, fellowship and bingo games to win designer purses. Approximately 600 women participated. There were 25 sponsors for the event this time. This was the second Girls Night Out event hosted by Paris United. The first was held in March 2019 and was such a success we decided to do it again this Fall. The club raised over $20,000 for our various local programs as well as to contribute toward polio eradication.
Paris United Rotary Club Girls Night Out Fundraiser
The Marshall RC supported the Harrison County Literacy Council Corporate Spelling Bee in early September. The emcee for the event was Marshall Rotarian, Molly Hollis, and another Rotarian, County Judge Chad Sims, served as one of the judges. The club team represented us well. This was a spirited and fun event that pulls our community together.
Attention: President Elects, President Nominees, Assistant Governors, and Rangers, Save the Date! Registration begins November 1st. Register early! Hotel Rooms are Discounted only while Block availability lasts.
On Monday, October 14, 2019, Bullard Rotary Club will have their 6th Annual Golf Tournament at Eagle's Bluff Country Club, 700 North Eagles Bluff Blvd., Bullard, Texas. The event will benefit: Bullard Kid's Park, Rotary International Foundation, Community Thanksgiving Meals and additional projects in the Bullard Community. Contact Bryan Willis at 903-316-7699 or bullardrotarytx@gmail.com.
Athens Rotary Club Annual Golf Tournament will be October 28, 2019 at Athens Country Club. For details on the event please contact Club President Jason Smith at revjbsmith@gmail.com.
Membership and Foundation Seminar will be held on November 2, 2019 at First Christian Church of Tyler, 4202 South Broadway Avenue, Tyler, Texas 75701. The church is located on the NE Corner of South Broadway and Loop 323. Registration will start at 8:30 a.m. and sessions will begin at 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. The cost of the training is $15.00 per person and will include a light breakfast, Chick-fil-A lunch, and seminar materials. The dress will be Rotary casual. Registration deadline is October 31st by 5:00 p.m.
All Rotarians are invited with special emphasis on Club Officers, Club Membership and Foundation Committee members.
The sessions promote membership attractions, flexibility, innovation along with sessions on ways to support the Rotary Foundation and International Service.
On September 18, 2019, Sunrise Rotarians from left to right: Ralph Waits, Mary Wormington, Doug Bowers, Steve Collier, Patty Collier, Landon Forbes, Shirley Pinnix-Evans and Terry Davis distribute 120 Dictionaries to all the 3rd Graders at Nash Elementary School.
Texarkana Oaklawn Rotary Club's Interact Club members from Arkansas High School with Interact Advisor Tonya Dunphy and Russell Sparks members of Oaklawn Rotary Club volunteered at the Alzheimer's Assocation, Walk to end Alzheimer's!
Every Rotary club and the district must file a 2018 tax return for FYE 6-30-2019. File a Form 990, 990-EZ or 990-N (depending on your gross revenue total).
If you have lost your tax exemption (there are four clubs in the district) file Form 1041 if you are not incorporated. (It is due October 15, 2019.) File Form 1120 if your club is incorporated. (It was due September 15, 2019.)
On Tuesday, December 10th at The Belcher Center on the Campus of LeTourneau University in Longview The Longview-Greggton Rotary Club will present Keith and Krystn Getty in concert with their Irish Christmas Show beginning at 7PM that evening. Tickets may be purchased via www.Belchercenter.com. The Gettys are renown musicians and songwriters and will provide a wonderful evening of entertainment that will put us in the Christmas Spirit.
Save The Date " Dec. 10th" Longview Greggton Annual Fundraiser
Message from PDG & District Polio Plus Chair Shirley Griffin, "World Polio Day is October 24, 2019 and I would like to encourage each of the clubs in the District to have some kind of fundraiser for Polio Plus. November is Polio month and this will give us additional opportunity to hold an event or fundraiser for Polio Plus efforts. Our goal is to rid of this disease." The fight is not over we currently have 62 new cases in Pakistan and 16 cases in Afghanistan! It is not too late to make what could be your most important financial contribution to the POLIO ERADICATION campaign!
As your District Governor, I am happy to report that club visits are going well with 19 completed.
I want to commend the Marshall Club's recent 100th Anniversary celebration with International President Mark Daniel Maloney and his gracious wife, Gay, attending. Mark addressed the club, recognizing the historic importance of service as a 100-year attribute of the club and challenging the Club to continue with another 100 years of the same.
Next, considering the storm damage from Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas and America's east coast, I challenge each club to "connect the world" and participate in providing relief to the victims of the storm.
So you have now attended the convention and had a fantastic time, picked up lots of new ideas, met lots of new Rotarian friends and picked up tons of information, Rotary pins, tee shirts etc. from the House of Friendship. What’s next? After all you are in Hawaii (many of us the first time and probably the last for some of us) you don’t want to take all the time and money to attend the convention and then turn around the next day and go home!!!!
Tip # 2 from PDG John Henson. "Okay, last month I shared with you about registering, securing a hotel, purchasing your Home Organizing Committee event tickets, information about the house of friendship and plenary sessions."
"So you have arrived at the airport in Honolulu and low and behold you see a table where you can pick up your name badges for the convention. They have been doing this the past couple of conventions and it works great if you happen to be there when they are open. But just because you have picked up your name badges for you and your group, there is more to do. After checking into your hotel you will still need to go to the convention center, locate the registration room –the sergeant at arms will be more than happy to show you the direction—once at the registration room, you will be able to pick up your HOC tickets as well as a goodie bag for you and your group. This is the only place where you can pick all of this up, so get it done as quickly as possible. If your club has designated you as a voting delegate, you will need to locate that booth and show your credentials and get your badge showing you are a voting delegate."
For those of you who have attended an International Convention, these hints may be old hand, but for the first or second time attendee, I hope these will help you get the most out of the convention.
The very first thing you need to do is REGISTER and do that today!!!!!! CLICK HERE TO GET MORE INFORMATION I am not sure what the break is financially, but do know that it is less expensive today than it will be in a few weeks/months. If you have attended a convention previously, then most of your information will still be in the system, and if you have a ClubRunner account and you have set up your personal account with Rotary International, then all your information will be in the system.
IPDG Judy Guthrie and Rotary International President Mark Maloney made the front page of The Marshall News Messenger. RI Mark Maloney was the Guest Speaker as Marshall Rotary celebrate 100 years. Approximately 240 Rotarians and guest attended the event.
Marshall Rotary Club President Barbara Judkins presents Marshall Club Banner to RI Mark Maloney and First Lady, Gay Maloney. Other specials guest include Rotary Zone Director, Floyd Lanica and Congressman Louie Gohmert.
IPDG Judy Guthrie with Rotary International President
Jefferson Rotarians delivered dictionaries bright and early Friday, August 30, 2019 to Third Graders at Jefferson Elementary and Cypress Bend Elementary schools. This project, as well as the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, helps Rotary promote literacy in Marion County.
With the beginning of a new Rotary year, and summer coming to an end, I hope that you are relaxed and recharged for the busy season ahead. District events like Membership and Foundation Training and Foundation Dinners are fast approaching. I have included some resources below to help kick start your fundraising efforts.
Rotary Foundation Basics e-learning module As Rotarians and leaders, you have access to Rotary's online Learning Center which offers several courses to assist you in your leadership role.
Texarkana Sunrise Rotary Club is behind Boy Scout of America Caddo Area Council Scout Executive, Anthony Escobar. Sunrise welcomes Anthony Escobar as he update the Rotarians on the success of the pilot Cub Scout Program at Nash Elementary School. Sunrise Rotary Club and BWI Companies will sponsor 32 Cub Scouts for the 2nd year beginning in October 2019.
Texarkana Sunrise RC and BWI Companies 2nd Year to Sponsor Cub Scout Group
More than 775 million people over the age of 15 are illiterate. That’s 17 percent of the world’s adult population.
Rotary's goal is to strengthen the capacity of communities to support basic education and literacy, reduce gender disparity in education, and increase adult literacy. We support education for all children and literacy for children and adults.
Pittsburg Rotarians had a workday to replace damaged flags for display around Camp County and Pittsburg for special national holidays. The repair team is pictured L-R, Sabin Warrick, Vee Couch, AJ Mason, Mike Reynolds, Shawn Kennington, Vernon Rowe, Gary George, Eric Fruin, Jim Archer, Harold Holyfield, Chris Lummus.
PDG Bill Hedges worked at the month long A&M Fish Camp in Palestine, Tex. cleaning up cabins for the 2019 Freshman Class. With broom in hand he joined other volunteers in this worthwhile task. For non-Aggies, Fish Camp is a 4-day extended orientation program that takes place at Lakeview Conference Center in Palestine, Texas.
Fish Camp is led by A&M students who are passionate about making the first year of college a success for freshmen!
Every counselor has valuable personal experience, so they can offer advice about classes, College Station, and anything else you need as you begin your journey as an Aggie!
Rotarians and Lions working together at the KISD One Stop registration helping students get ready for the beginning of school. Lions taught the Rotarians how to check the students vision and Rotarians measured the feel of students for a new pair of shoes and socks.
Rotary Club of Kilgore and Lions Club work together
CAROLYN FRANKS is a native of Pittsburg, Texas and a graduate of Pittsburg High School and the University of North Texas. District Governor Nominee Designate Carolyn Franks will hold the District Governor position from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023.
From 1987-1998 she taught choir and piano at Pittsburg ISD where she started the piano program which still is being taught today at Pittsburg Jr. High and High School.
She currently serves on the boards of the Camp County Historical Commission, the Pittsburg-Camp County Library, the Pittsburg-Camp County Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Pittsburg Rotary Club and the 20th Century Study Club.
2019-2020 Leadership Team at the COG Meeting on August 3, 2019 in Longview, Texas.
Back Row left to right: PDG Carroll Greenwaldt, PDG Lee Montgomery, PDG John Henson, DG Jim Finstrom, DGE Jack Welge, PDG Tom DeWitt, PDG Dr. Phil Bandel, PDG Jim Archer, PDG & VG Ted Huffhines,
Front Row left to right: DGND Carolyn Franks, PDG John Jetter, PDG Fay J. Durrant, IPDG Judy Guthrie, PDG Jo Ann Parkman, PDG Shirley Griffin, Attended not pictured: DGN Mike Groom
Congratulation to Pittsburg Rotary Club Past President Carolyn Franks for being selected as the 2022-2023 District Governor.
District Leadership Team at Council of Governors Meeting
Stan Kent and his wife Nancy, along with three horses, moved to Sulphur Springs, Texas over several months in 2014. Stan had retired from the school district in Wichita, Kansas, located a large ranch with a stable (to which he later added riding arena) in the Sulphur Springs area, and started the next phase of his life. He remarks: ‘June was probably NOT the best time to start the move to Texas!’
Now is the time to register for RI Convention 2020. You will see beautiful scenes, fantastic food and activities and most importantly wonderful fellowship with your Rotary International Family. Register today! http://www.riconvention.org/en
A Rotary Young Professional Special Event 21 & Up.
Thank You! Tyler Police Department for setting a great example and having fun with the Tyler Kiddos. This was Splasher Grand Opening at Bergfeld Park in Tyler.
•1,206,501 ROTARIANS, which is an increase of 11,394 members since 1 July.
•35,663 CLUBS (down 18 from 1 July). Starting new clubs expands our reach and increases our capacity for service around the world. We know that for many clubs, flexibility has proven a great way to address the varied needs of club members.
•Women now make up 23 percent of our membership, an increase of about 1 percent since 1 July.
•The information in Rotary Club Central suggests that the majority of our members are between ages 50 and 69, though accurate percentages are hard to gauge because 41 percent do not include their age in their membership profiles.
The Rotary Club of Mineola donated 20 Live Oak Trees to Iron House Square in Mineola and this was tree watering day. " Teaching our future generation to care for our park."
PDG, VG and District Foundation Chair, Ted Huffhines was in New Orleans at a Zone Training Meeting. Ask PDG Ted about his "Magic Show". I understand the "Magic Show" explained how District (club) Grants and Global Grants are funded.
Interact students participated at the monthly Texarkana Opportunities residents special needs dance sponsored by the Arkansas Elks Lodge. The Interact Club has attended this dance for the last 6 years and been able to develop some amazing friendships.
Interact Students at work at a two day event to raise money for Texarkana Detective Holly Smith.
Let us keep membership in mind this month and finish forming our club membership committees. Get them working with diversity in mind, and plan an event to invite potential members. We had great Zone Training in New Orleans last month that featured Innovation and Membership and Foundation growth. The program was innovative, and you could see the result of hard work under Chairman Floyd Lancia. I encourage assistant governors who were not there and club presidents and presidents-elect to go to the Zone Training on August 9 - August 10 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. http://www.rizones30-31.org/) I believe you will not be sorry you went. Also, keep World Polio Day, October 24th, in your plans, and support Polio Plus. The end of polio is near, and the needs for inoculation are challenging. We want to remember a successful campaign. Come to the Marshall Clubs 100th Anniversary celebration on August 24th which features International President Mark Daniel Maloney. You will enjoy meeting and hearing him. Make sure you register soon. I look forward to seeing you at my club visits.
Did you know that the Rotary Club Of Marshall Texas will be celebrating 100 years of Rotary service this coming August 24th, or, that, among the hundreds of projects initiated by the Marshall club, one of the most profound was having the courage to induct two women (Carolyn Abney and Patti Harris) into Rotary as probably the the first two woman in Texas to be inducted into Rotary in August of 1987, and one of those two women, Patti Harris will be present at this celebration event?
The theme of our centennial banquet is "Celebrating a Century of Changing Lives in Marshall and Beyond". Rotary International President , 2019-1920, Mark Maloney will be our speaker, and his wife, Gay, who is a Rotarian as well, will be present.
Born the oldest of four children in Davenport, Iowa on November 20, 1943, Jim was raised in Aurora, Illinois. He graduated from Cornell College, Mt. Vernon, Iowa in 1965 and SMU Law School, Dallas, Texas in 1968.
After practicing law in Dallas, Texas for many years, in 1985 he moved to Jefferson, Texas where he continues his practice. Jim served as District Attorney from January 1993 to December 2004 in Marion County, Texas. In the summer of 2018 Jim was honored for having practiced law for 50 years.
On June 29, 2019 in Jefferson, Texas, District 5830 Leadership Team was installed as the District Officers for 2019-2020. The District Leaders were challenged to support DG Jim Finstrom and Rotary International President Mark Maloney theme "Rotary Connects the World".
PDG Carroll Greenwaldt inducts and congratulates District 5830 2019-2020 DG Jim Finstrom.
DG Jim Finstrom congratulates IPDG Judy Guthrie on a successful year and presents a framed art piece of IPDG Judy's Rotary Theme. All the pictures taken at the event will be placed on the District Photo Album.
The West Bowie County Rotary Club was out along State Highway 8 south of New Boston picking up trash. Pictured is West Bowie Club President Kevin Cauley and Robin Dalby.
Lindale Rotary Club and Lindale American Legion give back to Lindale kids with an Fishing event. Funds raised at the Lindale Wild Game Dinner helps support projects like this. Guest appearance by PDG Lee Montgomery.
Lindale Rotary Club & Lindale American Legion Joint Project
Texarkana Oaklawn Rotary Club makes a generous donation to Texarkana, Tx Parks & Recreation to purchase additional picnic benches for the Rotary Splash-Pad at Spring Lake Park.
During the joint end of year celebration of Texarkana's 5 local Rotary Clubs, Oaklawn Rotary Club member Winford Dunn was honored as he celebrates 50 years as a Rotarian!
Pictures from left to right: Oaklawn Rotary Club President, Jennifer Stuart, Winford Dunn, Past President Stefanie Brazile, PDG & Guest Speaker Lee Montgomery.
Well, I have been installed as your 2019-2020 District Governor and am eager to go forward. So that we might all receive the Presidential Citation, this month, let's begin by appointing or re-appointing an active club membership committee and an active Foundation committee, with each comprised of no less than five members. Don't forget to report the chairs to Rotary International. Respective goals could include an increase in club membership and an increased donation to both the Foundation and Polio Plus. I look forward to meeting with each of your clubs. Please let me know how I may be of service above self to you. We will connect Rotary with the world together.
I am extending my personal invitation for all District 5830 Rotarians to attend the Marshall 100th anniversary celebration on August 24, 2019, at 5:30 p.m. at the Marshall Convention Center in Marshall, Texas, with our International President, Mark Daniel Maloney, giving the keynote address.This will be a rare opportunity to personally meet and greet an International President, and I think you will love Mark Daniel Maloney. I specially invite members of the Jefferson, Longview, Tyler, and Carthage Clubs, which were begun by the Marshall Club. I would love to give him the biggest Texas welcome we can muster. Please register at MarshallRotary.org, and be a part of this exciting celebration.
South Tyler President, Amanda Folmar accepts the Bill Campbell Award from 2018-2019 DG Judy Guthrie at the 2019-2020 Installations of District Officers on June 29, 2019.
List of South Tyler Rotary Club Accomplishments click read more:
Texarkana Sunrise Rotary Club and BWI Companies, Inc. partnered in September 2018 to sponsor Caddo Area Council Scoutreach Pack 530 at Nash Elementary. Scoutreach Coordinator Sarah White, Intern Brianna Black and Program Aides, presented awards to the Pack at a year end celebration. Complete with the pledge, moto and fun snacks from Sunrise Rotary Club.
Texarkana Rotarians building America Flags on the 75th celebration of D Day. After 2 hours of building Amercian flags, Texarkana Rotary Club members Salute our Military. Texarkana's four Rotary Clubs deliver approximately 4700 flags six times a year to Businesses and Individuals. Displaying that many flags at one time on Holidays is a beautiful site.
District 5830 Rotarians enjoyed the 2019 Rotary International Conference in Hamburg, Germany. Rotarians had the opportunity to see some historial places like the remains of the Berlin Wall.
The Cedar Creek Lake Rotary Club is holding their 23rd annual Celebrity Waiter Event on AUGUST 17, 2019 at the CR Legacy Event Center, in Gun Barrel City. This is www.RotaryCCL.org main fund raising event each year. Please contact Cedar Creek Lake to sponsor a table or clickon the link below to purchase an individual ticket for $100.00 per ticket. Supporting KLOTHES FOR KIDS and the continuing effort to eradicate POLIO…
Registration for Marshall Rotary Club's 100 Celebration event on Aug. 24 is now open on the Marshall web site. Rotary International President's Mark Maloney will be the Guest Speaker.
Marshall, TX Rotary Club, was Chartered, August 1st, 1919. We will be "Celebrating a Century of Changing Lives in Marshall – and Beyond",at 5:30 PM, August 24, 2019, at the Marshall Convention Center, Marshall Texas
PDG John Jetter attended the triennial Rotary Council on Legislation as RI District 5830’s representative. The Council met at the Hyatt Regency Chicago April 14 to 18, 2019. The Council (one representative for each of 530 plus districts) considered 117 enactments of which 42 were adopted.
The 2019 Council on Legislation was not near as progressive as the 2016 Council. However, it did take some interesting actions.
The Councils actions will effect changes to The Rotary International constitution and bylaws and the Rotary club constitution and suggested bylaws. These changes will be effective July 1, 2019. Clubs should be aware that they will be required to adopt the new club constitution and review their bylaws to ensure conformity with the new constitutions and bylaws by July 1, 2019. When they become available, please download them from the Rotary International website.
Please click on “Read More” below to see John’s summary of the significant actions taken.
John wishes to thank the Rotarians of District 5830 for the opportunity to serve them as the district’s representative to the 2019 Councils on Legislation. Attending such Rotary events is always an eye opening and thought provoking Rotary experience!
Please feel free to call John with your comments or questions.
Atlanta Area club has been sponsoring a “Next Chapter Book Club” for the last 2 years. Members Sheri New, David Lester and Fern Porter have been encouraging these “reading challenged” adults to open up the world of books and discover new vistas! This year they read about cats who can walk through walls and horses that can soar over stiles. There have been fun moments of suspense as we read each week.
DGE Jim Finstrom Installation Luncheon for the 2019-2020 Officers will be on June 29, 2019 at the Jefferson Transportation and Visitor Center, 305 East Austin Street, Jefferson Texas 75657. CLICK BELOW TO REGISTER
Connor Lind, 2018-2019 District 5830 Global Scholar. Clubs can have a Global Scholar coordinator and all members can be on the lookout for possible students looking to pursue a Masters Degree in one of Rotary's 6 Areas of Focus. Applicants should be accepted by their college/university. Clubs can get applications and information at Rotary.org by searching Global Grants. Nominations can be sent to the District Administrator in the fall of 2019 or no later than January 31, 2020. PDG Lee Montgomery is available for assistance at d5830leem1617@gmail.com.
Rotary Fellowships are international groups that share a common passion. Being part of a fellowship is a fun way to make friends around the world, explore a hobby or profession, and enhance your Rotary experience.
How do I join a fellowship?
Fellowships are open to Rotarians, family members, and program participants and alumni. You can contact a fellowship directly by using the links below.
Well....those of you who didn't go on the Multi District Conference Cruise missed a really good time!! We had really good speakers, played games to win prizes, helped the District in Cozumel paint a school, had beautiful weather and wonderful food. All in all, everyone had fun! WE WERE ON A CRUISE Y'ALL and didn't spend all day in a meeting room. We had speakers on Friday and Sunday mornings plus a memorial service for Rotarians in our four Districts who had passed away this past year. We had games in the afternoons if you wanted to play.....hula hoop, shuffleboard, and bean bag throw (also known as corn hole). I'm proud to say that a Rotarian from 5830, Mary Moss and her husband Bill won the bean bag throw!! I hope the DGs following us will do something for their District Conferences that is as much fun as this one was and can manage to get as many good speakers as we had. Please see pictures of the fun on the District Website Photo Album.
Marshall Rotary Club sponsors Carthage Rotary Club. Even more relevant than that is the fact that Judy Guthrie is the 2018-2019 District Governor of District 5830. Judy was the first female member of the Rotary Club of Carthage, having joined in February of 2004! Written by: PDG Jim Fitzgerald
The flash back into the past requires that the stage be set. World War II had ended May 8, 1945, but the war in Japan was still raging.
A little over a month later, in the Sunday, June 17, 1945 edition of the Marshall News Messenger, Marshall club president, Gordon Boone, announced that several members of the Marshall and Center Texas Rotary clubs had met for the first meeting of the new Rotary club in Carthage, Texas, Friday June 15.
Well, it looks like this is my Swan Song! All I can say is that it has been a heckuva a ride! This past year will be one of the fondest memories I will ever have. I have seen people I haven't seen in a long time and met some very fine Rotarians whom I didn't know but can now call my friends. We have a great District with some amazing people who helped me out at every corner....for which I am eternally grateful. It is with a heavy heart that I say good bye; but you will see me again in the coming years as I don't intend to disappear! Yours in Rotary Service, Judy
Carthage Rotary Club members from left to right: Back row-Cindy Deloney, Nick Durham, Renee Nolen, Barbara Cordell, Joe Bostick, Jim Young, Tommie Smith, Randy Liedtke, Lynda Seidel, Ray Schieffer, Keri Vance, Front row- Lynn Vincent, Carson Joines, Ann Flowers, Bev Brown, Lincoln King and DG Judy.
Our annual 4 Way Speech Contest was a great success! We had 19 contestants this year and being a judge is becoming more and more difficult. These young people are just getting better and better. The First, Second and Third Place winners are pictured here. Congratulations to them and all the contestants for a job well done!
A big "Thank You" to Amy Hinton and the Members of Mt. Pleasant Rotary Club for hosting the event. In Rotary Service,
DG Judy
From Left to right: 3rd place winner Connelly Cowan from Mt. Pleasant, 1st place winner Jorgann Hulyerson from Cedar Creek Lake, 2nd place winner Brian Baird from Mt. Vernon.
Texarkana Teachers were honored on April 25, 2019 during the Texarkana Rotary Clubs' 26th Annual Cecil Phillips Teacher Appreciation Luncheon. Rotary International's theme for 2018-2019 is "Be the Inspiration" and guest speaker Johnny Key, the Commissioner of Education for the Arkansas Department of Education built upon that theme and spoke about the teachers who inspired him through his educational career. He also commended Texarkana's Teachers on remaining an inspiration in the classroom.
From left to right: Sunrise Rotary member and Luncheon Committee Member assisted DG Judy Guthrie with a gift of appreciation to Keynote Speaker Johnny Key.
From Left to right: Oaklawn President, Stefanie Brazile, Johnny Key, Oaklawn President Elect Jennifer Stuart and Oaklawn Secretary, Tonya Duphy.
During International Women's Day, Women shared stories of humanitarian service. District 5830 Leadership Team is adding "Our Polio Warrior, PDG Shirley Griffin to list of outstanding women.
PDG Shirley Griffin who was recently honored by our District 5830 for her leadership in raising over $750,000 over the last 10-15 years to eradicate Polio.
Left to right: Dr. John Griffin, PDG Ann Lee Hussey, PDG Shirley Griffin and DG Judy Guthrie
The Gilmer Interact Club will sponsor a 5k Color Run to benefit local non-profit Refuge International on Saturday, May 11, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. starting a Gilmer High School and finishing at the Gilmer Square for the Cherokee Rose Festival. The first 30 runners will receive t-shirts, $15.00 per runner.
For the second time in three years, the Interact Club of Hugh Boyd Secondary School in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, took the $500 grand prize in the annual Interact video contest, beating 88 entries from 33 countries.
It is my pleasure to announce that Ted Huffhines has been selected as District 5830 member to serve on the committee that will meet on September 15 - 30 to nominate the new Director for our Zone 31. Also, congratulations to Dr. Phil Bandel who will serve as our Member Alternate if Ted can't make it.
Congratulations to both of these outstanding Rotarians!!
In Rotary Service, DG Judy Guthrie
CONGRATULATIONS to IPDG Ted Huffhines and PDG Dr. Phil Bandel
Congratulation to Texarkana Oaklawn's Interact Club member, Kaitlyn Oliver, Arkansas High Senior, for being honored at the annual Leadership Texarkana Lunch with Leaders banquet. Kaitlyn was one of two recipients presented with a 2019 youth Wilbur Award for Community Leadership! Kaitlyn has volunteered numerous hours in our community and school through her involvement in Interact, Student Council and other school clubs. She has also attended several community leadership training.
Thank you IPDG Ted Huffhines for educating Texarkana's Oaklawn, Sunrise and Wilbur Smith Rotary clubs the week of April 15, 2019 about "Heart to Heart". Heart to Heart is Rotary's efforts in Mexico to improve schools
and healthcare in and around the city of more than 20 million people.
DGE Jim Finstrom welcomed 109 Rotarians to the 2019-2020 District Training Assembly that was held at the Mt. Pleasant ISD Administration Building in Mt. Pleasant, Texas on April 6, 2019. I believe everyone was energized with our Guest Speaker Mitty Chang's motivational presentation on Membership. A big "Thank You" goes out to Judd Marshall, Superintendent of Education for the Mt. Pleasant ISD and members of the Mt. Pleasant Rotary Club for all their help and support to make this an outstanding event.
Members of Cedar Creek Lake Rotary Club gathered in support of their home town girl, Riley Thompson of Mabank. Riley, who is only 16, made it to the final 14 on ‘American Idol. Unfortunately, Riley is out...but she’s staying strong with an extremely bright future.
Also fellow Rotarian, Cesar Castro passed away on April 5th. In honor of Cesar's memory all the Rotarians dressed in colorful clothing and costumes to honor a character..liked by all who know him; Cesar was really into the "pirate thing".
Honoring the memory of Cesar Castro and Local Home Town Girl
PDG Bill Hedges is with Emergency Response Coordinator at Alto, Tx tornado site. Volunteers helped with debris removal after three tornadoes swept through the City of Alto on April 16, 2019. The path of destruction was a quarter mile wide. Many house were demolished by the strong winds. Additional volunteers are still needed along with warehouse needs to serve the resident in Alto. Local logging truck operators and kitchen crews and food donation were plentiful.
The Rotary Club of Longview’s “ROTAVIEW” has been selected as the District 5830 Rotary Contest Winner for 1Q2019. ROTAVIEW is an excellent example a club bulletin that displays a positive image within its community, serves as a great means of attracting prospective members, and is very effective in communicating current information to its membership.
(You can find a copy of the winning entry “ROTAVIEW” on the District Website documents downloads.)
Rotary Club of Tyler President George Roberts greet more than 300 Students, Teachers and Guests at the Annual Young Citizens Awards Banquet the evening of April 16, 2019. Their Keynote Speaker was Phil Burks who thanks students for inspiring him to do his best as he hears of their many accomplishments and goals. Seated at the head table are (L) Rotary Club of Tyler Past-President David Jones, Rotary Club of Tyler President-Elect Dr. D.M. Edwards, Keynote Speaker and Founder & CEO of the Genesis Group Phil Burks, and Rotary Club of Tyler President George Robert. The banquet was held at the University of Texas at Tyler Ornelas Activity Center.
Bingo! The Paris Rotary Club’s first Women’s Night Out was a hit, raising more than $25,000 to support the organization’s various community service programs. The offering was a night of fun, fellowship and fundraising at the Love Civic Center on Thursday as hundreds of women came to play bingo for the chance to win one of several designer purses. Rotary Club President Andy Cobb said, "more than 500 tickets were sold prior to the event, far exceeding my expectations."
City of Tyler Mayor Martin Heines proclaimed February 23, 2019 as "The Rotary Club of South Tyler Day". Mayor Heines presented the proclamation to President Amanda Folmar at their March 4th meeting. City Council members Don Warren and Bob Westbrook, both members of our club are also shown in the picture. The proclamation coincided with the 114th anniversary of Rotary International.
when the Atlanta Area club hosted the recent event to raise grant money for a local teacher who tells how she will teach the 4-Way Test in her classroom. Interacters from Queen City High school assisted with parking and delivering glasses of water. Pictured are Fern and Jerry Porter, President of Atlanta Rotary Club with some of their friends. Music was provided by Randy Aterbaumer.
Texarkana Oaklawn Rotary Club's Rotarians support the Texarkana Harvest Regional Food Bank. Did you know that 1 in 6 people struggle with hunger in the Texarkana area and 1 in 4 of those people are children?
The Club's guest speaker, Doug Dietz spoke to the members about the role Harvest Texarkana Regional Food Bank plays across the communities in our regions. Harvest Regional Food Bank has been in Texarkana since 1989. Each year they help distribute approximately 3.2 million pounds of food through various programs. One of those programs is the Backpack Program.
During Jefferson Rotary Club's monthly Service Above Self Meet & Greet, President Brooke Bradley-LaFleur and future Rotarian, Tripp LeFleur presented DGE Jim Finstrom his Paul Harris Fellow +5 pin.
Rotary makes high-quality health care available to vulnerable mothers and children so they can live longer and grow stronger.
Rotary expands access to quality care, so mothers and children everywhere can have the same opportunities for a healthy future. An estimated 5.9 million children under the age of five die each year because of malnutrition, inadequate health care, and poor sanitation — all of which can be prevented.
Congratulations to Wilbur Smith Rotary Club's Four Way Test Speech contest winners. This year's theme is: Using the Four Way Test- How will you be an inspiration to your school and your community?
Upper left: 1st Place Winner - Adison Cummings from Arkansas High
Lower left: 2nd Place Winner - Thomas Stutton from Texas Hight
Upper right: 3rd Place Winner - Alydia Howard with Liberty Eylau
"We enjoyed meeting 2019-2020 International President Mark Maloney and listening to his energy-infused plans for 2019-2020 and connecting with other DGE's per our new theme "Rotary Connects the World." Jim" Finstrom, Dist. 5830 DGE.
Go to the Photo Album Library on the District 5830 Website to view additional pictures taken at PETS.
On February 23rd, District 5830 Rotarians gathered at the beautiful Northridge Country Club in Texarkana, TX for the 2019 District Foundation Banquet. Approximately 120 Rotarians, spouses, and guests shared a lovely meal. Very generous Rotarians who had attained their first Paul Harris Fellow award and additional levels were honored. Others were honored as new Paul Harris Society participants. Trey Smith of Longview was honored for his advancing in his Major Donor level to Level II. PDG Ted and Angela Huffhines were given a standing ovation for their generous support of the Rotary Foundation, achieving Arch Klumph Trustee’s Circle status.
The following were recognized for the PHF advancements: IPDG Ted Huffhines, DGE Jim Finstrom, Carolyn Franks, Amanda Folmar, Diane Kavanaughn, AG John Hart, Bill, DG Judy Guthrie, PDG Carroll Greenwaldt. Clubs were also honored for their Polio Plus and Annual Fund (SHARE) contributions in 2018.
The highlight of the evening was the keynote address by Ann Lee Hussey from Maine. Ann Lee shared her story as a Polio Survivor and then shared her experiences in being a global leader in the fight to eradicate Polio, having led or participated in over 30 National Immunization Days in various parts of the world. In each of these, millions and even 10’s of millions of children are immunized within the short space of a week to 10 days. Ann Lee’s address was truly spellbinding!
Presentation of Appreciation to Ann Lee Hussey - From left to right: PDG & Foundation Chair Carroll Greenwaldt, Ann Lee Hussey, DG Judy Guthrie
The Rotary Club of Paris United sponsored 12 Juniors from local High Schools and 2 student leaders from Paris Junior College to participate in RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Award) camp the weekend of February 22-24, 2019 in Athens, TX, along with approximately 90 other high school students from NE Texas. RYLA is an international program that was created by Rotary International to encourage strong leadership in youth. Young people selected for their leadership potential attend a weekend camp to develop and enhance leadership skills through activities conducted in an atmosphere of trust and respect.
Beds of Hope is a nonprofit that provides beds to children in the case of Child Protective Services in Gregg, Rusk, Harrison and Upshur counties. The children cannot be placed until they have a bed.
Beds of Hope was one of the recipients of funds raised by the Longview-Greggton club during our October concert fundraiser featuring Amy Grant. The money allowed the group to buy materials to build 40 beds.
During the Build Day, club members helped put together bed frames, prepare the wood pieces for the frames and help get them ready for transport. They also got a chance to work alongside some of the members of the Longview Midtown Rotary Club, who were also there for a service project.
Randy Sams Shelter was established as a homeless shelter by the Sams family in memory of their son. The shelter provides breakfast and dinner, along with separated sleeping areas for men and women. They also provide limited vocational training, life skills and counseling. Evening meals are provided by churches and other civic organizations, along with food donations from restaurants and food pantries. Residents are assigned case managers and are enrolled in 90 day programs of assistance.
At least 3,000 children die each day from diarrheal diseases caused by unsafe water, a grim reminder for Rotary members who make providing clean water and sanitation an organizational priority. While very few people die of thirst, millions die from preventable waterborne diseases, providing the impetus for our members to provide toilets and latrines and other clean water initiatives in underdeveloped countries. Members also teach these communities to maintain new infrastructure, and organize educational projects to promote hand-washing and other good hygiene habits.
Atlanta Rotary Club would like you to join them for a fun event! "Sip, Sip, Hooray" at O'Farrell Country Vineyards near Atlanta, March 22, 7:30-9:30 p.m. The cost is $50 for 2 people which will include a couple of glasses of wine, nibbles and music. Please RSVP by calling or texting Fern Porter at 903-691-9717. Please mail your check payable to Atlanta Rotary Club attention Fern Porter, 1231 FM 251 North, Atlanta, Tx. 75551. Deadline to send your $50.00 is March 14, 2019 . There is limited number of tickets available, so act quickly!
The profits from the winery event will benefit a teacher with a grant.
The Rotary Club of Paris United had a very enjoyable program during their meeting on Jan 31st presented by Debb Fleming and her Student Team(s) from Crockett Intermediate School in Paris, TX. “Paris Pride” is a program to increase access to Lamar County's history. The students are researching the history of chosen buildings and will link all our documented building's history with a QR Code attached to the building. They are raising money to purchase brass plaques to put on 6 of the downtown plaza buildings with the name of the building in 1917.
South Tyler Rotary member Tom Perkins was sworn into the Texas State Guard, taking command of 3rd Battalion, 19th Regiment which will be headquartered in Tyler. Rotarians there in support were Bob Westbrook, Jackie Cannon, Amanda Folmar, Mallory Mazarakes, and Sam Scarborough.
South Tyler Rotary Club had an off campus visit to Breckenridge Village. They were able to visit with the residents, had a panel discussion and toured the facility. Lots of fun! The top picture is South Tyler RC President Amanda Folmar, Steven Campbell the executive director for Breckinridge Village and our panel of speakers.
Caddo Area Council held a Recognition Banquet February 8, 2019 and honored Sunrise Rotary Club President Elect Mary Wormington and Nash City Mayor Robert Bunch and Co-Owner of BWI for co-sponsoring a new Club Scout Troop in Nash, Texas. They received the Caddo Area Council Whitney M. Young award that recognizes outstanding service by an adult for demonstrating involvement in the development and implementation of Scouting opportunities for from low-income backgrounds.
Congratulations to Longview Rotarian Allen McReynolds for a job well done obtaining the Texas Historial Commission Designation and Marker for Fisher Cemetery of Longview cemetery.
Wayne Collins was a dedicated member of the Mineola club. DG Judy Guthrie had the privilege of meeting him twice before he passed. In fact, DG Judy also met his daughter (pictured).
Message to Athens Rotary Club members and the Citizens of Athens, Texas from PDG John Henson, " I think I can speak for all of our 5830 Rotary Family when I say that our thoughts and prayers are with the citizens of Athens as they cope with the terrible accident that took the life of a middle school student and sent others to the hospital. To the members of the Rotary Club of Athens, we are with you."
Thoughts and Prayers are with the Citizens of Athens, Texas
District 5830 Inbound Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) student, Stella, had the opportunity to join nearly 200 other inbound students from across the globe in Tulsa, Oklahoma at SCRYE weekend. If you haven't had the opportunity to meet Stella yet, I hope you will before the end of her exchange year. She is not only a wonderful ambassador for Germany, but she is also a perfect ambassador for RYE. In addition to taking advanced placement courses at Pleasant Grove High School, Stella was part of the school's fall play. She is also part of the tennis team and has started track practice. Rotary Youth Exchange is a powerful program? If you would like more information on the RYE program please contact Rachel Trimble at RYE5830@gmail.com.
Texarkana Oaklawn Rotary Club donated $600.00 to Randy Sams from funds raised at their annual draw down.
The colder weather has seen an increase in people staying at the shelter, which is averaging 100-120 people per night currently. The Shelter will be utilizing the donation to buy 6 mattresses for cots that currently do not have mattresses, proving additional sleeping space.
Pictured left to right: Helen Diggs and Rotarian Carol Wilder
On January 23, 2019, James Upchurch of Texarkana told the Texarkana Sunrise Rotary Club the incredible story of landing at Iwo Jima in the spring of 1945 near the end of WWII. He was a Navy enlisted sailor on the USS Bollinger, a Navy vessel commissioned just one year earlier to carry 1500 Marines to battle. In 1944, Mr. Upchurch joined the Navy as a 16 or 17 year old youngster.
Pictured from left to right: Joe Warren, Sunrise RC member, Mr. James Upchurch, Past President Patti Collier
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.
HOW ROTARY MAKES HELP HAPPEN
Through our service projects, peace fellowships, and scholarships, our members are taking action to address the underlying causes of conflict, including poverty, inequality, ethnic tension, lack of access to education, and unequal distribution of resources.
I am sure you are aware that the RYLA Website has been experiencing problems. The RYLA Board of Directors send apologizes for any inconvenience. They are hopeful that the problems have been resolved. The District Club representative is Jeff Miller and he can be reached at 903-245-6202 or email pinevideo@mail.com.
Daniel Maloney, of the Club of Decatur, Alabama, USA, is the selection of the Nominating Committee for President of Rotary International for 2019-20. He will be declared the president-nominee on 1 October if no challenging candidates have been suggested. “The clubs are where Rotary happens,” says Maloney, an attorney. He aims to support and strengthen clubs at the community level, preserve Rotary’s culture as a service-oriented membership organization, and test new regional approaches for growth. "With the eradication of polio, recognition for Rotary will be great and the opportunities will be many,” he says. “We have the potential to become the global powerhouse for doing good.”
Rotary International's four Texarkana Rotary Clubs are hosting a Rotary Foundation Dinner on Saturday, February 23, 2019 from 5:00 until 8:00 in the evening at the Northridge Country Club to benefit the eradication of polio worldwide. Deadline to register is February 18, 2019. The 2019 Foundation Dinner is open to Non-Rotarians and Rotarians. PDG Ann Lee Hussey is our Keynote Speaker and she is traveling from South Berwick, Maine to share an important message about the Eradication of Polio. We want to make sure her message is shared with our community. This is a great time to invite those individual that want to see first hand what Rotary does Internationally and in our Communities.
Let me introduce you to 2019-2020 District 5830 Governor, Jim Finstrom, Jefferson Texas Rotary Club.. Born the oldest of four children in Davenport, Iowa on November 20, 1943, Jim was raised in Aurora, Illinois. He graduated from Cornell College, Mt. Vernon, Iowa in 1965 and SMU Law School, Dallas, Texas in 1968.
After practicing law in Dallas, Texas for many years, in 1985 he moved to Jefferson, Texas where he continues his practice. Jim served as District Attorney from January 1993 to December 2004 in Marion County, Texas. In the summer of 2018 Jim was honored for having practiced law for 50 years.
It is not too late to join us at the Rotary International Convention in Hamburg, Germany, 1-5 June. This issue of Convention News contains important program updates to help you plan your convention experience.
Texarkana Sunrise Rotary Club's President, Steve Collier and Past President, Patty Collier spent their Wedding Anniversary giving back to the Community by volunteering for the Salvation Army. That is " Service Above Self" for sure.
Other Sunrise Rotarians that participated in the community event but not pictured are as follows: Chad Carlile, Terry Davis, Dave Dutton, Shirley Pinnix-Evans, Steve Rogers, Katie Waits Shonkwiler, Karen Wall, Ralph Waits
Beckville Interact Club putting together bags of supplies to be handed out to the homeless.
Henderson Rotarians wrapping gifts for needy families. Gifts were provided for 12 children. The funds come from a "White Elephant" sale during one club meeting. The club has continued this project for many years.
December was a busy month for the Rotarians in Idabel, OK. They celebrated their 55 years of service along with Senior Santa shopping and gift wrapping dinner.
Events are as follows: Shopping Monday, Dec. 3, Dinner Dec. 5, Clubs 55th Birthday party Dec. 6. - 63 total gifts were taken to three nursing homes and Department of Human Services.
Please note that the registration for the Foundation Dinner is now open! The theme will be Mardi Gras and we are going to have a blast! There will be 2 cash bars plus hors d'ouvres and your choice of entrée. We have also blocked some rooms at the Hilton Garden Inn at a reduced rate. Go to upcoming events on the District Website for links to register for the dinner and reserve your hotel room. You can wear your favorite Mardi Gras Beads and/or Mardi Gras Mask!
Idabel, OK (December 14, 2018)— Idabel Rotary Club's submission to the 2019 Festival of Trees sponsored by the Museum of the Red River, was selected "Best Tree" in the "Civic and Social Clubs" category. Decorations included Rotary banners from clubs around the world. Other categories in the annual competition include businesses, school groups, and non-profits. Judges are chosen from each of the categories but are not associated with organizations who have entered a tree. There is also a "Peoples Choice" award from popular voting.
Vocational Service is one of Rotary’s Avenues of Service. A copy of a Power Point Presentation on Vocational Service is available on the District Website under download files.
Through Vocational Service we:
–Serve others by using our unique skills to address community needs
–Empower others through training and skill development
–Inspire others to act with integrity by following Rotary’s guiding principles
Message from Longview-Greggton RC President Scott Brunner: I hope all is well and everyone had Wonderful Holidays. I wanted to make sure that my fellow Rotarians knew that our club is moving to a new location. We will no longer be meeting at First Baptist Church in Longview. We will start meeting at the Hilton Garden Inn ,905 E. Hawkins Parkway, Longview, beginning with our January 4, 2019 meeting. We are set to be in the meeting room Pinehurst B.
Former U.S. solicitor general and independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr speaks to Rotarians at a luncheon organized by the Rotary Club of Tyler on Thursday, December 13, 2018. In August 1994, Starr became independent counsel responsible for overseeing several investigations involving the Clinton Administration, including Whitewater and the Monica Lewinsky scandal.
The Marshall Interact Club has definitely been busy “Being the Inspiration” in Marshall, TX. They had a float in the Fire Ant Festival parade. They distributed candy at the Annual Downtown Candy Fest. During International Interact Week, they collected and donated canned food items to Mission Marshall, local food pantry.
Congratulation to Junior Vice President Carl Raymundo, for being accepted for Rotary's RYLA Leadership Camp in Athens, Tx. This is a major accomplishment because only a select few Juniors are accepted.
In 1998, the Rotary Club of Marshall noticed there was a high rate of high school students quitting high school. The club decided to implement the Diploma Plus program. The 1st two students to complete the program graduated and attended college. April Spears has served as the Diploma Plus Chair for the past two years. She meets with the Diploma Plus students monthly and encouraging them to graduate from high school. She has truly “Been the Inspiration” in Marshall, TX. Thanks to her enthusiasm, encouragement and persistence, the students are scheduled to graduate in May 2019.
"Save the Date" District 5830 Foundation Dinner is February 23, 2019 at Northridge Country Club Texarkana, 120 Bill Rogers Drive, Texarkana, Tx. 75503. Keynote speaker is PDG Ann Lee Hussey.
PDG Hussey, Chairs the Polio Survivors and Associates, Rotarian Action Group and serves on the Reach Out to Africa Service Associates Subcommittee as a Functional Coordinator for Health Initiatives. She served as Zone 32 Coordinator for Health and Hunger for 2009-2010.
The Rotary Foundation transforms your gifts into service projects that change lives both close to home and around the world.
During the past 100 years, the Foundation has spent $3 billion on life-changing, sustainable projects. With your help, we can make lives better in your community and around the world.
The three quarterly winners for the District 5830 Club Bulletin Contest were Texarkana Sunrise (4Q17), Clarksville (1Q18), and Mineola (2Q18). Each of these Clubs were awarded 200 PHF points for their quality work. Prior to the October District Conference, the District’s ADG’s were asked to vote on the overall winner. The votes were very close with all three Club’s earning the same number of first place votes. The top bulletin then came down to the Club receiving the highest number of second place votes. Clarksville ‘s “The Gear” weekly bulletin prevailed and their Club was awarded 400 additional PHF points. Congratulations to all three Clubs.
DG Judy Guthrie recognizes those that made the 38th Annual Public Safety Officers Luncheon a success. There were over 300 in attendance to honor their Area Officers. Both Texarkana Mayor Bob Bruggeman and Arkansas Mayor Ruth Penney Bell announced the Winners and why they were selected as Officer of the Year. State Representative Carol Dalby introduced the Keynote Speaker Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge.
Tyler – The local Rotary International Clubs are accepting entries from public organizations, bands and other groups to participate in the 2018 Rotary Clubs of Tyler Christmas Parade. The parade will be held in downtown Tyler and begin at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 29.
Members of Henderson Rotary Club and Henderson High School Interact Club Members helped out with the painting. Their World Polio Day Event was Purple Pinkies for Polio.
The Rotary Club of Henderson and Keep Henderson Beautiful invites you to the lighting of "The Christmas Trees" at Lake Forest Park, December 1, 2018 at 5:00 p.m.
Henderson Rotary Club presents The Christmas Trees
To support World Polio Day, PDG Tom Dewitt educates the youth from Robert E. Lee High School about Polio Eradication and the Iron Lung that was on display.
Pictured left to right: Jackie Cannon, STR, Exec Dir Champions for Children, PDG Tom DeWitt, Hagar Patterson, STR, Mgr Miller’s Point Menswear
Special thanks to Dr. Dan Crawford for the opportunity to be involved with your students.
Congratulation to 2017-2018 District 5830 Governor, Ted and Angela Huffhines for "Outstanding Leadership." During the October Zone meetings, District 5830 received 1st Place in Polio Fund giving in the amount of $127,013.00 and 2nd Place in Annual Fund, Per Capita giving of $167.00. IPDG Ted and Angela were inducted into the Arch Klump Society.
IPDG Ted and Angela Huffhines honored at the October 2018 Zone Meeting
Congratulation goes to Louraiseal McDonald, Marshall Rotary Club who was chosen District 5830 Bill Rains Rotarian of the year for 2017-2018.
It is with great pleasure that IPDG Ted Huffhines was able to recognize the D5830 Bill Rains Rotarian of the Year for 2017-2018 at our recent District Conference in Longview. This year's recipient is Louraiseal McDonald, immediate Past President, of the Marshall Rotary Club. Louraiseal was instrumental in starting both an Interact and Rotaract Club this year.
During the Oct. 4, 2018, meeting of the Rotary Club of Paris United, District Governor, Judy Guthrie was the guest speaker. DG Judy is from the Carthage, Texas, Rotary Club. Excerpts from her speech are provided below.
Pictured from left to right: PDG Dr. Phil Bandel, DG Judy Guthrie, PDG Jo Ann Parkman, Club President Andy Cobb, and AG Susan Chapman.
For the 2018-2019 Rotary year, the Red River County Public Library will receive a $1,200.00 grant and has agreed to serve as the cooperating organization to work with the members of the Clarksville Rotary Club in a project which will offer artistic and cultural events and updated reading materials to the patrons of the library.
Shown in the photo is Rachel Ellsworth, Director of the Red River County Public Library.
Marshall Rotary Club President, Jay Webb assist PDG Shirley Griffin with her excellent program on why we should support the Eradication of Polio. As they say, " A picture is worth a thousand words!"
October 2018, Students of the Month! Club President Donna Meredith present awards to Athens IDS: Jaci Harris and Regan Bella; Athens Christian Preparatory Academy: Joshua Bass and Hayley Gaytan. Congratulation to Shirley Ward on a PHF +2.
In October, Tyler Rotary Club participated in the District Club Visioning Event. According to District Visioning Director, Susan Gill, "We even had our first International Skype attendee!"
The Rotary Club of Athens sponsored " An Evening with Talmage Boston" at the Texan Theater on Thursday, October 25, 2018 for support of World Polio Day and End Polio Now Campaign.
Club President, Donna Meredith introduces Mr. Boston a well-known Presidential Historian, Author and Baseball writer. Event sponsors: Citizens National Bank - Athens, Citizens State Bank- Athens, Prosperity Bank - Athens, and UT Health - Athens.
Thoughts from PDG John Henson, "A finer Rotarian may never come along. He will be greatly missed, but never forgotten." "I cannot remember how many times I called PDG Archie seeking his wisdom and advice, and every time he listened to my question, gave it some serious thought and then shared his thoughts. They were always straight to the point and always correct even if it wasn’t what I wanted to hear. He was that kind of leader."
"We have several things coming up this month!" stated DG Judy.
IPDG Ted’s District Conference is on October 19, and 20, 2018 at the event center in the Holiday Inn in Longview, Texas. For those that have not registered for the conference, please register by October 11, 2018 for food and seating preparations. You don't want to miss the fun and fellowship.
The District 5830 Bulletin Contest is back! There will be one club winner per each of the three contest periods. The winning Clubs will receive 200 recognition points. The overall winner will receive 400 recognition points. Please click on the link below for complete details of the contest guidelines.
Also...remember that 10/24 is World Polio Day. If you haven’t made plans for this event, there is still time to put something together. We have not finished this fight and we still need everyone’s participation! Don't forget about the opportunity to participate in the raffle that will qualify for citation points and all funds will be sent to the Rotary International for the benefit of the End Polio Campaign. This event is sponsored by Texarkana International Rotary Club. Click link for Raffle flyer: (https://clubrunner.blob.core.windows.net/00000050024/en-ca/files/homepage/end-polio-now-raffle/District-5830-Polio-Plus-fundraiser--1-.docx
Also...remember that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Ladies, remember to get your mammogram; Gentlemen, remind your wife, daughter, mother and female friends to do the same!
October 2018 Economic and Community Development Month
West Bowie Country Rotary Club members will deliver dictionaries to all the 3rd grade students in West Bowie County. This includes DeKalb, Hooks, Hubbard, Leary, Malta, Maud, New Boston, Red Lick, Redwater, and Sims. Pictured are the 3rd Grade Students from Redwater Elementary School that received their dictionaries.
Texarkana Sunrise Rotary Club members are ready to deliver 120 Dictionaries to Nash Elementary Third Grade Students. They placed Rotary labels in the Dictionaries during their 7:00 a.m. meeting time. Dictionaries will be delivered in October.
Pictured from left to right: Chad Carlile, Robert Bunch, Becky Bunch, Dave Dutton, Joe Warren, Patty Collier, Ralph Waits, Steve Collier, Doug Bowers, Terry Davis, Steve Rogers, Shirley Pinnix-Evans, Katie Shonkwiler
September 20, 2018 Athens Rotary Club sponsored Pints for Polio to support the End Polio Now Campaign. President Donna Meredith said, " It was a "Fun event for a great cause!"
Texarkana Wilbur Smith's President, Cindy Marsh and Scholarship Chairman, Skylar Rogers present a check for $500.00 to Chiquita Burks as part of the Wilbur Smith's Graduate Scholarship program.
South Tyler Rotary Club held their Club Visioning meeting at the Tyler Women's Building. Thanks to IPDG Ted Huffhines, AG Sam Scroggins, David Cartwright and Dietrich Johnson for facilitating. Thanks to South Tyler's Club President, Amanda Folmar, for assembling such a great group!
South Tyler RC successfully completed Club Visioning
DG Judy Guthrie would like to introduce and Congratulate District 5830 DGND Mike Groom.
Mike was born in Austin, Texas in 1956. He was raised in Houston and Spring, Texas for most of his life and graduated from UT Austin in Accounting. After working as a CPA for several years he realized what he didn't know about tax would fill volumes and decided to go to law school with an emphasis in tax law.
Pictured from left to right: Tyler Higgenbotham, Brandon Williams, President Craig Johnson, DG Judy, Logan Vaughan, Chaney Johnson, Brenda Sabbagh, Judy Jones and AG Nathan Reves.
Sulphur Springs Rotary Club Welcomes DG Judy Guthrie
West Bowie County Rotary Club’s would like you to participate in their big fundraiser October 13, 2018.
The Third Annual "Run the Rails" is being run from DeKalb, Texas, to New Boston, Texas, on the northeast terminus of the longest (130 miles) hike/bike trail in Texas. This year they will feature two and four person relays in addition to the traditional half marathon.
Friday, Sept 14. Idabel vs Valliant. Idabel won 54-47 ! Proceeds are used to fund the Idabel Rotary Scholarships.
Pictured left to right: Dennis Wilson, Linda Potts, Faye House, Jennifer Andrews, Carolyn White, Casey Meeks. Not shown: Ross Chandler and Corey Green.
Lindale Rotary Club will hold their 3rd Annual Celebrity Waiter Wild Game Dinner February 25, 2019. Sponsorship Options available as follows: $1,000 Platinum Sponsor, $500.00 Blue Sponsor, $250.00 Gold Sponsor, $100.00 White Sponsor, $50.00 Waiter Sponsor. For more information email Amanda Froebe at amanda.froebe.qsco@statefarm.com. The Event Flyer is posted on the District Calendar under the February 25, 2019 event under document.
Clarksville Rotary Club displayed the "Iron Lung" at the Red River County Fair September 19-20, 2018 to promote awareness of the efforts of Rotary International to eradicate polio worldwide. Shown in the photo working the booth, are club president, Dan Meehan and past president, Pam Bryant.
September 15, 2018, Pittsburg Rotary Club members along with DG Judy participated in Pittsburg Pioneer Days. This was an opportunity to promote awareness of the efforts of Rotary to eradicate polio worldwide.
Pictured from left to right: Emma Adams, Eunise Obregon, Past President Carolyn Franks, DG Judy and President Kay Green.
Come one, come all to Texarkana Oaklawn Rotary’s annual draw down and catfish dinner. Join us on October 23rd at 6pm at the Elks Lodge in Texarkana, AR. Tickets are $100 per couple, which includes 2 catfish dinners and one entry into the draw down. You may choose to purchase “insurance” for an additional $20, which allows your ticket to be thrown back in the mix for a second chance at winning.
September is Literacy Month for Rotary! September 8 was proclaimed as International Literacy Day by the UNESCO's General Conference in 1966. Since then, literacy celebrations have taken place annually around the world to remind the public of the importance of literacy as the matter of dignity and human rights and to work towards a more literate and sustainable society.
Congratulation to Mineola Rotary Club, 2nd Quarter 2018 Bulletin Contest winner. Mineola Rotary Club joins 4th Quarter 2017 Winner- Texarkana Sunrise Club and 1st Quarter 2018 Winner - Clarksville Rotary Club as the 2017-2018 Quarterly Winners. These clubs will compete for the 2017-2018 Best Bulletin and the winner will be announced at the District Conference October 19 - October 20, 2018 in Longview, Texas.
Members of the Idabel Rotary Club supports their community's "Stuff the Bus Project". They collected approximately $900.00 worth of school supplies for distribution to the Idabel Public Schools. Shown in photo- Jennifer Andrews, Jerry Ellis, Lindsay Campbell, Carolyn White and Linda Potts. Also helping with the project but now shown are: Mark Polson, Doug Brown, Glenda Rankin, Ross Chandler, Henry Moy and Faye House.
Other pictures available in the District Photo Library.
Tyler Sunrise Golf Tournment, October 15, 2018. 4-Man Scramble at Hollytree Country Club, 6700 Holly Tree Drive, Tyler, Tx. 75703. For more information contact Lauren LeGrave 903-393-6333. Registration form and detail information is available about the Golf Tournament can be found on the District 5830 Document section or click on link below.
On August 1, 2018, Stephanie Brazile, President of Oaklawn Rotary Club presented Mike Richardson with the "Outstanding Community Service Award". Who, though devotion and exemplary efforts, leads the Club's Flag Project. Mike's actions embody Rotary's motto of Service Above Self. Mike joined Rotary, April 7, 1977 and is Past President, Paul Harris Fellow and Sustaining Member. Congratulation Mike!!!
The Rotary Club of Cedar Creek Lake presented the 2018 Celebrity Waiters Fundraiser. The community leaders, business owners and city and county officials join club members to support Rotary. This event raises approximately $70,000 each year and goes back into the community, especially in support of the children. It was a fun party and raised lots of money with the help of their community.
Cedar Creek Lake Rotary Club President, Greg Cooley recognized Peggy Price and Andrea Pickens for being long time co-chairs for our Celebrity Waiter Event. (Go to District Photo Album for more pictures)
Gladewater Rotary Club and Gladewater Lions Club have joined together to build a Food Pantry. The free food is available in a depressed area of Gladewater. Both clubs will keep the pantry stocked for public use.
Joint Project with Gladewater RC and Gladewater Lions Club
Past Presidents, J. Keith Feille, Sam Moseley, Linda Endicott, Craig Vanbiber, Jim Fitzgerald,
Marshall President Jay Webb, IPDG Ted Huffhines, Milly Kay Johnston-Green and Daren Horton
For ninety-nine years, three weeks and one day they have been standing on the shoulders of giants. Soon they will join them celebrating a century of changing lives in Marshall and beyond.
Go to Marshal Website to get the rest of the story. (https://www.marshallrotary.org)
Reported by Tina Bell, Rotary District 5830 Youth Exchange Student, Stella Marie Theres Angerer, had the opportunity to visit District 5890 for a combined Inbound Orientation with their 18 Rotary Youth Exchange students from across the world. Stella is visiting this year from Germany and attending school in Texarkana. Stella is being hosted by the Rotary Club of Texarkana International Club. To learn more about RYE in District 5830 visit: https//rotary5830.org/sitepage/youth-exchange
Hugo Rotary Club completed their Club Visioning on August 21, 2018. President Colby Bryant said, "The leadership of the Hugo Club owes a deep thanks to the team who assisted the Club Visioning meeting in August. "
DG Judy Guthrie led the Annual Council of Governors meeting on August 18, 2018 at PDG Shirley Griffin's clubhouse in Texas. Back Row left to right: DGDN Mike Groom, PDG Carroll Greenwaldt, PDG Lee Montgomery, PDG John Henson, DG Judy Guthrie, PDG Tom DeWitt, PDG Jim Archer, IPDG Ted Huffhines, PDG Dr. Phil Bandel, DGN Jack Welge Front Row: PDG Jim Fitzgerald, AG Barbara Turner, PDG Shirley Griffin, PDG Fay J. Durrant.
The 3rd Annual Mt. Pleasant Rotary Golf Tournament will be held on Saturday, September 15, 2018 at Mt. Pleasant Country Club. Proceeds benefit the Rotary Club’s “Invest in Education” projects. For more information, see our Tournament Facebook page or www.mprotaryclub.org or call Buddy Marshall (903/466-2542) to get an entry form.
3rd Annual Mt. Pleasant Rotary Golf Tournament Sept. 15 2018
Texarkana Sunrise Rotary Club members are known for their " Community Service and the "Little Club that Can!". 93% of their members worked on the 2018 Stuff the Bus Project plus the club gave a financial contribution to Texarkana United Way for purchase of school supplies for the children in need in the area.
Texarkana Sunrise Rotary Club participates in the " Stuff the Bus"
In July, the Longview-Greggton Rotary Club distributed over $26,000 in proceeds from their annual PCRA Rodeo fundraiser. Bob Metzler, Chairman of the Longview Greggton Rotary Charities Inc. board, distributes checks to worthy local nonprofits.
Pittsburg Rotary Club members welcomes DG Judy Guthrie to Pittsburg during DG Judy's official visit. "The Pittsburg Rotary Club has just finished Club Visioning and is on a roll!" "Everybody is excited and enthusiastic!" ,stated DG Judy Guthrie.
Pictured are: Pittsburg Rotary Club board members.
Pictures: Pittsburg RC President Kay Green, DG Judy, and AG Nathan Reeves
Marshall Rotary Club Past President and Harrison County Extension Agent, Louraisel McDonald was recognized for the host of awards she received on the State, National, and Regional levels.
Pictured are Matt Garrett, Zephaniah Timmins and Louraisel McDonald.
Marshall Rotary Club Past President receives State, National, and Regional Awards
So far I have been to twelve clubs in our District 5830 and I am so impressed with what I have seen! All the clubs I have visited are vibrant, have all their goals lined up and are having fun! Rotarians are the most welcoming and warmest people I have ever met; of course I figured that before I even started this endeavor. The best part is that I get to meet so many more Rotarians than I did as an Assistant Governor.
During the month of August, I will be on the road again visiting one club (sometimes two) every day. If you haven't seen me yet, you will soon!!
DG Judy
August is Membership and New Club Development Month
At the District Governor's Official meeting in Jefferson,Texas, DG Judy Guthrie presented DGE Jim Finstrom with his Paul Harris Plus4 pin.
Jefferson RC President, Brooke Bradley - LaFleur presents DG Judy Guthrie a token of appreciation during the DG Official visit to Jefferson Rotary Club.
DG Judy Guthrie Official visit to Jefferson Rotary Club
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting program that mails free, high-quality books to children from birth until they begin school, no matter their family’s income.
Jefferson, Texas Rotary Club has made the Imagination Library one of their community project.
Message from 2018-2019 District 5830 District Governor Judy Guthrie, " I am so looking forward to this next year." DG Judy also states, " I anticipate that we will get a lot done and have fun doing it!"
Judy joined the Carthage, Texas Rotary Club in February, 2004 and was the first female in her club. She has served as Treasurer, Secretary (twice) and President in 2008-2009 and again in 2013-2014. She chaired the Dictionary Project, RYLA and the Scholarship Program for 10 years as well as the Hamburger Sales and Gold Tourament fundraisers. She served as her club's Foundation Chair in 2015-2016 and 2016-2017.
IPDG Ted Huffhines installs Longview Midtown Rotary Club's PE April Barber with congratulation to 2017-2018 President Vickie Boggio for a great year. Congratulations, Macie Wyers on receiving your Paul Harris Fellow tonight! What an incredible way to honor an excellent Rotarian who truly exhibits the Service Above Self motto! 🎉 Thank you to District 5830 for sponsoring this PH!
IPDG Ted Huffhines installs Longview Greggton incoming President Scott Bruner and congratulates outgoing President Ingrid Self on an outstanding year as President.
IPDG Ted said, "It was great to be with The Longview Greggton Rotary Club and install my good friend, Scott Bruner, as the president for 2018-2019. He will do a fantastic job! I also appreciate the outgoing president, Ingrid Self, for the wonderful job she did this past year!" Ingrid - you have truly “Made a Difference!”
IPDG Ted Huffhines and PDG Lee Montgomery congratulates South Tyler Rotary Club on a great year with Past Pres. Nancy Crawford. DG Judy Guthrie installs the new South Tyler President, Amanda Folmar, and looks forward to her superb leadership.
Great evening with the Jefferson RC at 5D Cattle Company as IPDG Ted Huffhines installed Brooke Bradley as the new club president. Great fun, fellowship and food! Small club making a huge difference!
Antlers Rotary Club held a purse raffle and raised $1364 for our school scholarship fund. The funds were presented it to Christina Williams, who was very excited!
Antlers Rotary Club also put together a breakfast homecoming weekend. They raised $1000 for our school’s PTO Door Lock Fund. This project is to add locks to each classroom door that can secure a door within a few seconds.
IPDG Ted Huffhines was very honored to install Marshall Rotary Club's next club president, Jay Webb, in his home club of Marshall! Jay will do an awesome job and “Be an Inspiration “ to all our members! Thanks to all who came out to support him. Great night for the Marshall Rotary Club!
Texarkana Wilbur Smith RC, Oaklawn RC, International RC and Sunrise RC celebrates together a very successful Rotary Year. PDG Tom DeWitt was the guest speaker and installed the new officers. Texarkana Emergency Center sponsored the event. (refer to District Photo Album for all pictures)
There were just a few over 25,000 Rotarians in Toronto, and over 15,000 have registered for the Hamburg Convention. PDG John Henson said, "If you have never attended a Convention, make Hamburg your first. If you do, I guarantee it won't be your last!!!!" (please refer to the District Photo Album for more pictures)
On June 16, 2018, PDG and Zone 31 Endowments/Major Gifts Advisor Pamela Stewart installs Judy Guthrie as 2018-2019 District 5830 Governor.
DG Judy Guthrie congratulates and honors IPDG Ted Huffhines for a successful 2017-2018 District 5830 Governor. ( please refer to the District Photo Album to see all pictures)
Rotary Club of Marshall's Club President, Louraiseal McDonald was presented with her Paul Harris Fellow plus 3 pin by D5830 IPDG Ted Huffhines and his wife Angela Huffhines. Vivian Lewis, Touch Points Chair, was presented with her Paul Harris Fellow. The Special Guest of the day were Marcus Sandifer & Ray Brady. They discussed "Local Highway Projects".
It is that time of year when we look for nominations for emerging leaders in our District to be nominated to serve as District Governor. The new DG Designee will serve as DG for the 2021-2022 Rotary year. As each of you well know, we must have talented and effective leaders for our District to make sure we continue to achieve our goals and grow in our service to the world.
The interviews for DG Designee will be August 18th in Longview. The deadline for nominations is August 7th.
We will end the 2017-2018 Rotary Year at the end of this month. Without a doubt, District 5830 has Made a Difference both locally and internationally on so many levels. Our District is made up of so many wonderful people who have a heart for service. Service above self is lived out every day. People are fed, clothed, sheltered, provided medical help, given resources to go to school, furnished with clean water, and cared for because of your hard work and financial support. I have been blessed to serve as District Governor this year and see your good works first hand.
Texarkana's Four Rotary Clubs current managed approximately 4500 American Flags. Prior to the each holiday the clubs work together to repair damaged flags and build new flags. In May, 18 Rotarians from Texarkana Sunrise RC, Wilbur Smith RC and International RC worked for 2 hours to get ready for Memorial Day. For more information about Texarkana American Flag Project please contact Shirley Pinnix Evans at spinnix10@aol.com.
Hello to all of you dedicated Rotarians across District 5830. June is the last month of the current Rotary year. We want to finish the Rotary year off strongly.
This note is to remind you and your Rotary friends of our commitment to Rotary through our support of the Rotary Foundation.
Your Annual SHARE Fund contribution is invested and essentially 100% goes to do the humanitarian work of Rotary across the Globe AND back at home through your Club Project Grant requests.
Annual Picnic for Opportunities Inc. Adult Residents: The Oaklawn Rotary Club was happy to join with the International Rotary Club (both of Texarkana) to host an annual picnic at Bobby Ferguson Park in Texarkana, Ark. We are so proud of the Interact Clubs (high school clubs sponsored by a local Rotary Club) from Pleasant Grove and Arkansas High! These students played games with about 50 adults who have special needs. We cooked 160 hot dogs and served all the fixins. The weather was pleasant and everyone had a great time! They look forward to next year.
Oaklawn RC's Annual Picnic for Opportunities, Inc.
The Director of Texarkana Resources presented a certificate to the Interact Club at Arkansas High which is sponsored by the Texarkana Oaklawn Rotary Club. The award is for Most Spirited Rest Stop at their recent Ark-La-Tex Challenge bike race fundraiser.
Rotary Club of Henderson partnering with the Master Gardeners and Habitat while planting trees to support 2017-2018 RI President Ian Riseley environmental project.
Congratulations to Stephanie Guck and Suzanne Zeid, Valedictorian and Salutatorian of Longview High School. Both of whom were honored as Rotary Student of the month by the Rotarian Club of Longview.
Keith Boles, Henderson RC's Youth Service Chair, presents Certificate of Achievement to Colby Stewart who wins Rotary Vocational Student of the Month. Alaura Goad wins Unicorn Student of the month.
Students greeted by Rotary Club of Tyler President-Elect George Roberts as they enter the stage to receive their awards.
Tyler, Texas (April 30, 2018) – More than 75 Tyler area middle school, high school, and college students were recently recognized at this year's Rotary Young Citizens Awards Banquet held April 19 at the University of Texas at Tyler Ornelas Activity Center. More than 300 guests attended the event this year.
DG Ted Huffhines is so impressed with the dedication and organization of the 28th Annual Longview Greggton Rodeo! Congratulation to Ingrid Self, Karen Maines, and the Greggton RC members.
April was a busy month as we had numerous clubs holding service projects and fundraisers around D5830. I had the pleasure of participating in a skeet shoot in Canton and playing golf with Cedar Creek Lake. I also was able to attend community recognition events in Tyler and Texarkana. I must say it is a blessing to serve as District Governor and witness all the good being done here in D5830. We also held our District Assembly near Pittsburg. We had just under a 90 Rotarians come to receive training and prepare for the upcoming year as club leaders. It was great to share ideas, discuss the ins and outs of Rotary, and fellowship with one another. Congratulations to DGE Judy Guthrie on a fine event! Thank you to all who attended and the Pittsburg RC for hosting!
The Membership Contest is in full swing and so far, Texarkana International, Tyler, and Henderson clubs hold slim leads. I encourage every club to really emphasize reaching out and inviting prospective members to your clubs!
The State of Rotary’s Membership -- presentation now available
Rotary’s members are our greatest assets. When our membership is strong, our clubs are more vibrant, Rotary has greater visibility, and our members have more resources to help communities flourish.
DG Ted Huffhines, shares pictures of the great club social with the Marshall Rotary Club. A " Big Thank You" to Linda and John Endicott for hosting the evening.
District 5830 Training Assembly was held April 21, 2018 at Northeast Texas Community College in Mt. Pleasant. A big "Thank You" goes out to Pittsburg Rotary Club's President Carolyn Franks and her team for hosting the event. DGE Judy Guthrie was very pleased with the attendance of 83 Rotarians that were eager to learn. On the picture to the left are Amanda Folmar who spoke about her passion for Interact and Rachael Trimble spoke on the Rotary Youth Exchange Program. Jill Bultemeier an Interact member was introduced and will be traveling to Germany to study.
According to our DG Ted Huffhines, we had a "Great day at the District 5830 4 Way Speech Contest hosted beautifully by the Mt. Pleasant Rotary Club on April 28, 2018. We are very proud of our participants across the District. Congratulations to winners: Caleb Snow, Benjamin Huegel and Melody Shannon. America is in good hands with these leaders of tomorrow."
One of the most profound moments in the history of the Rotary Club of Marshall Texas happened Thursday April 27, 1987, at 12:46 p.m., during the regular Meeting of the club, as reported by Laureen Tedesco of "The Marshall News Messenger". Two women were inducted into the club--- Mrs. Carolyn Abney, and Mrs. Patti Harris.
DG Ted Huffhines enjoyed time with Canton RC members at the Canton Rotary Club Skeet Shoot Fundraise. The funds provide scholarships for high school students at Buffalo Creek Shooting Range.
The 16th Annual Faux Paws Dog Walk was the brainchild of Karen Partee, wife of Bryan Partee, a Rotarian in the Marshall Rotary Club. Karen and Bryan were the adopted parents of two shelter-held Dachshunds who captured their hearts and filled their lives with joy and companionship.
The State of Rotary’s Membership -- presentation now available!
Rotary’s members are our greatest assets. When our membership is strong, our clubs are more vibrant, Rotary has greater visibility, and our members have more resources to help communities flourish.
In our new presentation, the State of Rotary’s Membership, you’ll learn who is joining — and who is leaving — and the opportunities we all have to make membership a top priority. We’ve designed this presentation to be shared: You can easily regionalize the speaker notes in this 15-slide PowerPoint to create a custom presentation for Rotarians. ( Contact DA Shirley Pinnix-Evans for more information )
Watch a recording of the presentation with narration on our Vimeo channel.
These benches were originally placed at the area now known as Telegraph Park, which was, at the time, a place for visitors to relax and enjoy the downtown scene, know as "Rotary Park".
There were 4 benches, in total. When the city took over that area and created the Telegraph Park, the benches were removed and stored at the Sheriff’s secure storage area. They had been pushed to the back of the building and moved, numerous times.
This is a busy time of year for clubs in District 5830. There are numerous projects and fund raisers going on all across our district. Rotarians are “Making a Difference” in so many ways, and it is very encouraging to see the hard work being done. We also have our District Training Assembly on April 21st at North East Community College in Mt. Pleasant. I encourage all clubs to be represented at this district wide event! Gather your club officers and come join in the excellent training that will be provided! DG Elect, Judy Guthrie, has a wonderful program planned! The last Saturday of the month, April 28th, we will be holding the District 4-Way Speech Contest in Mt. Pleasant at the MPISD Administration Building. This is a great opportunity to see some of the top students in northeast Texas as they share how living the 4-Way Test helps one Make a Difference! We owe a huge “thank you” to the Mt. Pleasant Rotary Club for hosting this event again this year.
Every club should have received the information on the Membership Contest we are holding over the last three months of the Rotary Year- April, May & June. Make every effort to grow your club over these last three months. We have cash prizes for the winners along with banners and plaques. Contact your Assistant Governor or myself if you need help in identifying potential new members or attracting potential new members for your club. We are eager to help! You can also go to rotary.org website or the rizones30-31.org website for additional assistance and ideas on membership. The contest is set up so that large and small clubs have the opportunity to win! Why shouldn’t it be Your Club that wins!
Idabel Rotary Club held their annual trash pick-up day on Saturday, March 24. The group collected 37 bags of trash, a tire, and a bucket along the south Bypass in Idabel.
Pictured are Rotarians, Linda Bell, Dennis Wilson, Kerri Eickel with daughter, Alyssa, Carolyn White, Corey Green, and Linda Potts. Also participating but not pictured were: Heath Green, Jerry Ellis, and Micheal McElroy.
Jay Webb, Lieutenant, Harrison County Sheriff's Office
Marshall Rotary Club, President Elect, Jay Webb gave weekly dramatic reading of Standing on the Shoulders, our dip into the written history of Marshall Rotary Club.
But first, Mr. Webb waxed a bit sappy on the topic of the regional PETS (President Elect Training Seminar), where he learned how to be the 2018-2019 Marshall Rotary President.
The following week the speaker was Dr. Christopher Medina and a few members of the Wiley College debate team.
Pictured: Christopher Medina, Jaeme Orfanos, Emmanuela Wade. Debaters Emmanuela Wade and Jaeme Orfanos read dramatic short pieces of their own choosing, and Rotarians agree that they were the most energetic and emotional speakers we've had in some time. The future speakers will have a hard time living up to the energy, thought, depth, and beauty of these performance?
DG Ted Huffhines addressed over 180 Teachers, Principals, Superintendents and Rotarians, Thursday, April 5, 2018 at Texarkana Rotary Clubs' 25th Annual Teachers Appreciation Luncheon. This year's Rotary International Theme is: "Making a Difference". Teachers do make a difference in the lives of our children everyday.
Keynote Speaker, Texas State Representative Gary VanDeaver asked the question to the audience of Educators, " Does what you say matter?" Rep. VanDeaver, told a true story of two young ladies that had the same first name. The rest of the story is yes, what you say does make a difference.
District Teachers of the Year
Left-right
Connie Green, Jamie Blain, Anne Formby, Cynthia Gauntt, Summer Gibson, and Franshicka Banks-Brown.
(Please refer to the District Photo Album for Campus Teachers of the year, etc.)
Jefferson Rotary Club accepts the challenge made by Ian H. S. Riseley, the 2017-2018 President of Rotary International. He challenged the members of Rotary Clubs worldwide to plant trees in their communities as a service project.
Throughout the school year, the Rotary Club of Tyler recognizes outstanding high school seniors from schools throughout the Tyler area.
The club has been honoring students for more than 20 years. The students are selected by the guidance counselors of each school for their grades, school involvement and community service. Tyler Rotarian Mary Burch presented each student to the club and shared their accomplishments, goals, and the college they plan to attend. Students are presented with a plaque as a token of appreciation. The students’ parents, principals and counselors were also present.
Lone Star PETS is the premier training event that prepares Rotary Club President-Elects for their year of service as President of their Rotary Club in Texas and Southern Oklahoma. There were approximately 800 Rotarians that attended the LoneStar PETs in Dallas, Texas March 1 - March 4, 2018.
District 5830 Leadership Team:
DGE Judy Guthrie, said, "The 2018-2019 PETS at the DFW Hyatt went extremely well. It was very well attended and I think everyone enjoyed themselves and learned a lot in the process. We also had 33 people stay for the Sunday Foundation Certification". We are definitely “The Action District”. "The speakers were again Top Notch....informative but still entertaining. I sat in on one of the Saturday morning breakouts sessions and was very impressed. Not only were the facilitators good, but the PEs in the room really participated." "All in All, I would say it was the best PETS I have attended."
PDG Bill Hedges, Pres. Steve Straznicki, Sam and Martha Scroggins, and Becky Crump joined community volunteers to put on the Pilot Club’s Special Olympics Track Meet for over 200 athletes from NE Texas schools.
Bill Burnett, President of the Rotary Club of Cedar Creek Lake, was recently honored by the Daughters of the American Revolution with their Excellence in Community Service award. Bill serves as chairperson for the local HUD Housing Board and as a board member with Forever Families, a faith based program for women who have been incarcerated or coming from drug rehab programs.
Ian H. S. Riseley, the 2017-2018 President of Rotary International, challenged the members of Rotary clubs worldwide to plant trees in their communities as a service project. The Clarksville Rotary Club recently planted Shumard Oak trees in three city parks: Fireman’s Park, Grove/3rd Street Park and Cheatham Hill Park on Magnolia Street. Rotarians shown planting one of the four trees designated for Cheatham Hill Park on Magnolia Street are: Front row from left: Bow Willis, Ben Black, Rotary Club President, Donna Jessee and David Lee. Back row from left: Dan Meehan, James Vaughan, Jr., John McPeters and Rob Rowley.
Clarksville Rotary Club Tree Planting Project March 2018
Please join DG Ted Huffhines and all the PDGs in Rotary District 5830 to express our deepest sympathy to PDG Carroll Fletcher on the passing of his loving wife Gracie.
Funeral services will be Thursday, March 15, 2018, 2 p.m., at First Baptist Church in Marshall with Dr. Hollie Atkinson, and Dr. Ryan Berryhill officiating. The family will receive friends from 1-2 p.m. preceding the service at the church. Interment will be at Yates Memorial Gardens in Scottsville.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made in her memory to First Baptist Church General Fund.
The Rotary Club of Marshall Texas accepted the Challenge of 2017-18 Rotary International President, Ian H.S. Riseley, to develop projects with Rotaract and Interact Club support and collaborate with community partners and local experts by planting a tree for every member of the club. The goal was to PLANT A TREE by Earth Day, April 22, 2018. Since it was organized in 1919, The Rotary Club of Marshall Texas has been a strong supporter of education for boys and girls of Marshall and Harrison County.
On Tuesday, March 6th, Rotary Club of Marshall President Louraiseal McDonald and Rotary Club of Marshall member David Robertson distributed 116 dictionaries at William B. Travis Elementary to 3rd grade students. Also, during the months of March and April other Rotary Club of Marshall members will distribute an average of 800 dictionaries to other 3rdgrade students in Marshall, TX and Hallsville, TX.
A large crowd of Rotarians gathered to celebrate the Rotary Foundation, recognize District 5830’s 2017 contributions and Global Humanitarian work, to be inspired by Past RI Director Brad Howard, and to honor those who have generously contributed to the Rotary Foundation in the calendar year 2017.
New Level 1 Major Donors ($10,000 in lifetime giving) were Charlie Tidmore from Athens, R. Michael Groom from Cedar Creek Lake, DGN Jack and Ava Welge from Longview, and PDG Lee Montgomery from South Tyler. New Level 2 Major Donors ($25,000 Lifetime giving) were PDG Shirley and Dr. John Griffin from Longview and DG Ted and Angela Huffhines from Marshall. New Level 3 Major Donors ($50,000 Lifetime giving) were PDG Phil and Dee Bandel from Paris United.
Texas Country Ford presented checks from their Drive One Program. A check for $6000 was presented to the Winnsboro Rotary Club of which the Interact Club received half. Rotary uses the money for student scholarships each year, and the WHS Interact Club presented $1500 each to Memorial Middle School and Winnsboro Elementary School for playground improvements. In addition, Texas Country Ford presented an additional $3,060 to Winnsboro Elementary School for their participation in Drive One for Your School.
Winnsboro RC and Interact Group receives $6,000.00
Lindale Rotary Club Celebrity Waiter Wild Game Dinner was a great success! They raised 50% more than their last year's event, which was their first year. The members of the Lindale Rotary Club learned a lot and are looking forward to tailoring their event even more for their audience in Lindale. The Event has been embraced by their community. The main purpose of the Event was to raise Rotary awareness in the area and this event is helping them to make major strides. Three attendees have shown interest in Lindale RC since the Wild Game Dinner. DG Ted Huffhines and PDG Lee Montgomery served as celebrity waiters and did an awesome job helping to promote Rotary and lending us a hand. Amanda Folmar with the South Tyler club came with her family also. The support we have received from the district membership is an encouragement. We are looking forward to next year! ( More event pictures are located at the District Photo Album Library.)
I want to congratulate the Athens RC, President Anthony Chiles, and District Foundation Chair PDG Carroll Greenwaldt for a wonderful Foundation Banquet celebration! We heard a very inspiring message from Past RI Director Brad Howard, and we celebrated our club giving, Paul Harris Fellows and Major Donors. Carroll also gave an excellent presentation on the various international projects going on in Guatemala and Honduras. The meal, entertainment, and fellowship was excellent as usual!
I am excited to report that District 5830 had an excellent turnout for Lone Star PETS in Dallas this past weekend. 40 President Elects and Nominees joined with District leaders and nine other Districts in preparation for the next Rotary year, 2018-2019. DGE Judy Guthrie provided the district training and attendees heard from numerous RI leaders including Past RI Presidents Rick King and Ron Burton and Past RI Vice President Jennifer Jones. They each challenged the incoming PE’s to “Be the Inspiration” and lead their clubs in service, fellowship and supporting the RI Foundation.
The next training opportunity will be APRIL 21st in Mt. Pleasant at North East Texas Community College for the District Assembly. All club officers and other interested members are strongly encouraged to attend. Registration will be available on the District 5830 website on or before March 12, 2018.
The Rotary Club of Cedar Creek Lake was named the Organization of the Month during the February Cedar Creek Lake Area Chamber of Commerce networking luncheon. The Rotary club gave almost $60,000 back to the Cedar Creek Lake community in 2017 and over $750,000 since 1996. Shown accepting the award is Rotary President Bill Burnett (center) and is surrounded by other Rotarian members, several who are members of the Chamber.
Cedar Creek Lake RC was named Organization of the Month
The Rotary Club of Cedar Creek Lake, in conjunction with Boy Scout Troop 333, helped plant over 5000 trees at Camp Trevor Reese Jones outside of Athens. It was misty rain most of the day but everyone remained in good spirits. In 2017 the original trees were sold off and the trees planted this time will be harvested after about twenty years. Selling of the trees help support the district that Troop 333 resides.
The individual in the maroon shirt holding the shovel is Rotarian Carter Hallmark, who is also a scout leader for Troop 333.
On February 22, 2018, the Rotary Club of Marshall celebrated Rotary International 113th Birthday. During the celebration, the Marshall Lions Club made a tribute to the 96 year old Rotary Club of Marshall recognizing the excellent service work they have accomplished locally and internationally.
Cody Holloway, Marshall Lions Club President, and Patrick Owens, Marshall Lions Club members attended the celebration.
For additional pictures go to the Photo Library on the District Website.
Kilgore Rotary Club's 2018 Rotary Youth Leadership Award participants address the group Wednesday, including (from left) Maria Morales, Carlos Muniz, Kali Bynog, Perla Vazquez, Brandon Fugler and Jayme Butts.
Students coming back from RYLA camp often describe how the weekend helped them overcome their natural shyness.
Kilgore Rotary Club President, Terry Booker plants an American flag Thursday's during the civic organization's prep for President's Day Monday, February 19, 2018.
Years in the making, Rotaract has arrived in Marshall Texas! Organized last December, the Rotaract Club of Wiley College, sponsored by The Rotary Club of Marshall, has already completed a project in support of the hurricane ravaged Houston area, and assisted the Marshall club in preparing 900 dictionaries for distribution to all of the third-graders of Harrison County. Way to go Wiley Rotaractors. (For additional group pictures go to the District Website Photo Album)
Marshall RC's Wiley College Rotaract Up And Running
The Cedar Creek Lake Rotary Club donated $15,000 to the Trinity Valley Community College Foundation Friday, February 16 to establish a new scholarship fund for Kemp, Mabank, Eustace and Malakoff high school graduates to attend TVCC.
The Rotary Club of Cedar Creek Lake General Scholarship Fund will award scholarships of $1,000 per semester for 1 year to new freshman students who graduate in the top 50% of their class. 10 scholarships will be awarded to students pursuing an Associates of Arts degree and 5 scholarships will be awarded to students pursuing an Associate of Applied Science degree or Workforce program. The first 15 scholarships will be awarded for the Fall 2018 semester and recipients may reapply for a second year, provided they maintain a 2.0 GPA and remain enrolled full-time.
Cedar Creek Lake Rotary Club invites you to their 15th Annual Rotary Benefit Golf Tournament on April 20, 2018. Registration 10:00 am, Lunch 11:30 am: Shotgun Tee-off 12:30 pm
PLACE: Pinnacle Golf Club, 200 Pinnacle Club Drive, Mabank, Texas
ENTRY FEE: $100.00 per person/$400.00 per Team before April 20 (Includes green fees, cart, lunch, dinner, practice balls, one putting string and two mulligans per person)
Pricing on day of Tournament is $125.00 per person/$500.00 Team
Send Check to: Rotary Club Foundation of Cedar Creek Lake, PO Box 1658, Mabank, TX 75147
Hugo Rotary Club wants to invite you to their Annual Fundraiser " Kelly Miller Circus".
Shows are at 2:00 p.m.and 4:30 p.m. April 21, 2018.
Prior to the event the tickets are: Adults $10.00 and Children $7.00
Day of event the tickets are: Adults $13.00 and Children $8.00
The goal is to sell 500 or more tickets. Profits of the event are used for college scholarship. No animals in the circus this year, so it is like the shows in Vegas. While you are in Hugo don't miss the Elephant sanctuary.
Hugo RC invites you to their " Kelly Miller Circus" on April 21st
On Saturday, Feb 17, 2018, members of the Rotary Club of Marshall (10 Rotarians, 2 spouses, 3 children of Rotarians), Marshall Rotaract (7) and Marshall Interact Club (4) and RYLA youth (1) met at the 1st United Methodist Church in Marshall for a "Dictionary Label Social". The main goal of the event was for everyone to place Rotary labels in dictionaries. The 900 dictionaries will later be distributed to all 3rd grade students in Marshall and Hallsville. Another goal was for friendships and mentorships to be formed. Due to the unity of teamwork and fellowship, all 900 dictionaries had a label within 30 min.
The Rotary focus for the month is Peace and Conflict Resolution. This theme is very relevant here at home and around the world. As Rotarians we can help promote peace by the way we help solve problems in our communities and by how we serve others. It is very evident to me that the Rotarians in 5830 effectively promote peace with all that we do. By following the 4-Way Test as we live our lives, we model peace and goodwill to our families, friends, and communities.
I recently visited two clubs in our district and both had multiple members point out that one of the strongest characteristics of their clubs was that they were all friends. When Paul Harris started Rotary in 1905 that was what he was looking for- “friendship,” it is exciting to see clubs where friendship is a major focal point. They have fun together and they serve together!
We have an excellent opportunity for “Fun” on Saturday February 10th at the District 5830 Foundation Banquet. This is an opportunity to see friends from across 5830 and to make new ones. You don’t want to miss it! I want to thank the Athens Rotary Club, President Anthony Chiles, and District Foundation Chair PDG Carroll Greenwaldt for all the work they have done to prepare for this wonderful evening. You still have time to register on the District website: rotary5830.org
On March 17, 2018, the Rotary Club of Longview is having a "Luck of the Draw Draw-Down". There will be a fun filled night of dinner, drinks, dancing and drawing down to the winning ticket. The Luck of the Draw fundraiser supports a variety of Longview Rotary’s international and local projects, foremost is the End Polio Now campaign. This event also supports Longview club’s project to provide clean water in Central America where children suffer from waterborne diseases, and their mission is to continue to provide much needed hospital equipment and instrumentation to the Obstetrics and NICU units of hospitals in Guatemala. Locally, their mentoring programs through Partners in Prevention and their high school scholarship endowments are funded by The Luck of the Draw. So buy a ticket, enjoy the evening and do some good through Rotary.
It’s that time of year again…the Lindale Rotary Club is hosting our Wild Game Dinner! Last year was their first year and it was a great time and wonderful fundraiser for the club. If you would like to attend this year, we would love to have you! Tickets are $25 each, $10 for youth. We will have many raffle items, games and a separate ATV raffle…we will even have games and raffle items for the kids. They hope to see you there! Please see the attached flyers for more information. Let them know if you have questions or would like to reserve tickets or a table. Tickets sold out quickly last year so don’t wait!!
Celebrity Waiter Wild Game Dinner will be Monday, February 26, 2018 from 6:00-8:00 pm at Lindale Junior High Cafeteria GPS Address: 15000 Woodsprings Road)
Tickets available: Amanda Froebe State Farm, 1401 South Main St., Lindale, Tx 903-882-5333- Tickets: $25 per person Kids under 6 Free Youth (7-15) $10
January 31, 2018, Longview Midtown Rotary Club participated in Club Visioning.
Club Visioning events are well underway in District 5830! Five clubs have taken advantage of this fun, interactive and creative strategic planning process and one has agreed to schedule in March/April. We appreciate the leadership of Longview Greggton, Marshall, Cedar Creek Lake, Gilmer, Longview Midtown and Quitman for participating in Club Visioning.
Call or email Susan Gill to discuss scheduling and details, so your club can reap the benefits of preparing their road map to the future with Club Visioning. 903-918-2900smazgill921@gmail.com
On January 15, in commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, members of the Texarkana International Rotary Club volunteered at Harvest Regional Food Bank. The holiday is not only for celebration and remembrance of the life and legacy of Dr. King, but a day of service.
The club has volunteered for the past three years boxing groceries for needy families. Harvest Texarkana Regional Food Bank has helped fed families in Northeast Texas and Southwest Arkansas for over 25 years.
Marion Houff is the club’s president. The club meets every Monday at 6:00 p.m in the Summerhill Road Winery, Texarkana, Texas.
Idabel Rotary Club's September Student of the Month was Isabella Murray. Isabella marched in the New Years Day Parade in London, England with the all American Cheerleaders. Isabella Murray is currently a Senior at Idabel High School. In her spare time, she loves to compete in pageants, serve as the IHS Varsity cheer teams Captain, and volunteers around her community as much as possibly. Some of her volunteer work this year includes, participating in the McCurtain County Christmas Council Food Drive, donated items to the Adopt an Angel program, gathered non perishable items for victims of hurricane Harvey and Irma, traveling to Muskogee to sing Christmas Carols to the patients in the Veterans Affair Hospital, and served Thanksgiving lunch to the residents at Memorial Heights Nursing Home . Isabella is also very active in her high schools Key Club, National Honor Society, and Native American Club. Isabella currently attend Kiamichi Technology Center of Idabel, where she is enrolled in the Health Careers 2 program. Through that program she is able to be inducted into National Technical Honor Society and HOSA Future Health Care Professionals. Isabella is currently the first student from Kiamichi of Idabel to hold a State Officer Position in HOSA.
Atlanta Area Rotary began their Tree Planting Project on Saturday, January 20th at 10:00 AM at McNoble Harper Park. Their project has grown to about 50 trees vs. 25 members. They have chosen the Atlanta two City Parks. They were able to get a $250 grant to help pay for the trees and other supplies.
Left to right: Fern Porter, David Lester, Marvin Weems, James Stewart, Mr. Stringer, Mandi Stringer. Kneeling is Christy Clements and her two children. Not Pictured is Atlanta President, Jerry Porter who was busy digging the holes for the trees. A big "Thank You" for Mandi's husband and Christy's two girls for helping out!!! ( click "read more" to see Atlanta Rotarians and their family at work )
Barry Rassin, of the Rotary Club of East Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas, is the selection of the Nominating Committee for President of Rotary International for 2018-19. He will be declared the president-elect on 1 September if no challenging candidates have been suggested.
As president, Rassin aims to strengthen our public image and our use of digital tools to maximize Rotary’s reach. “Those who know what good Rotary clubs do will want to be a part of it, and we must find new models for membership that allow all interested in our mission to participate,” he says. “With Rotary more in the public eye, we will attract more individuals who want to be part of and support a membership organization that accomplishes so much good around the world.”
2018-19 RI President Barry Rassin announces his presidential theme, Be the Inspiration, at Rotary's International Assembly.
2018 District 5830 Foundation Banquet was held February 10, 2018 at Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, Athens, Texas. The Event Chair was PDG and District 5830 Foundation Chair Carroll Greenwaldt. The event's Club Liaison was Anthony Chiles, President of Athens Rotary Club. A "Big Thank You" goes out to all the Athens Rotary Club members for a Wonderful Event.
A large crowd of Rotarians gathered to celebrate the Rotary Foundation, recognize District 5830’s 2017 contributions and Global Humanitarian work, to be inspired by Past RI Director Brad Howard, and to honor those who have generously contributed to the Rotary Foundation in the calendar year, 2017.
New Level 1 Major Donors ($10,000 in lifetime giving) were Charlie Tidmore from Athens, R. Michael Groom from Cedar Creek Lake, DGN Jack and Ava Welge from Longview, and PDG Lee Montgomery from South Tyler. New Level 2 Major Donors ($25,000 Lifetime giving) were PDG Shirley and Dr. John Griffin from Longview and DG Ted and Angela Huffhines from Marshall. New Level 3 Major Donors ($50,000 Lifetime giving) were PDG Phil and Dee Bandel from Paris United. (refer to the District Photo Albums for additional pictures)
White Hat Awardees were PDG Phil Bandel from Paris United, PDG Fay J. Durrant from Texarkana International, DG Ted Huffhines from Marshall, and PDG Charles Whiteside from Kilgore.
Thanks to the Athens RC host of the event. ( Please refer to the District Photo Album for more pictures)
I trust each of you had a wonderful Christmas and New Years holiday break. As we enter the second half of the Rotary year, I hope all of us will continue building the relationships with-in our clubs and searching for new prospects to join our Rotary family. Growth is critical to maintaining a healthy club. New members bring new friendships, new ideas and additional resources for doing good in the world.
I applaud the many clubs that have started new Interact and Rotaract clubs this year. These efforts will allow more service to be done in our communities, create new prospects for Rotary in the long-term, and provide opportunities for us to invest in the lives of young people. If your club has not started an Interact or Rotaract club, I challenge you to do so!
RYLA will be coming very soon. This is another wonderful opportunity to invest in young people and help build their leadership skills. Please be timely and intentional at getting your RYLA candidates signed up and transported to camp.
Rotarians in Quitman enjoyed “Stories from Christmas Past” as each shared their most memorable events.
Martha Scroggins decorated the Quitman Rotary Club meeting for Christmas.
Members told personal stories of Christmases Past, including the burnt turkeys, lumpy gravy, and I’ll-fitting clothes. One with several older brothers heard “Don’t worry, you’ll grow into them”.
The Sunrise Rotary Club of Texarkana recently planted 14 trees, one for each member of the Club, in the Nash Industrial Park in support of this year’s 1.2 million tree planting challenge by Rotary International’s President, Ian Riseley of the Nation of Australia. The Sunrise Rotary Club, which meets on Wednesday mornings at 7:00 a.m. at the Texas Chuck Wagon in Nash, is one of five clubs who meet in the Texarkana and New Boston area. Rotary, whose motto is “Service Above Self” is committed to serving our local community as well as important international community projects.
The Rotary Club of Marshall really knows how to "Make a Difference." On Wednesday, December 27th, Louraiseal McDonald, club president, presented a $4000 check on behalf of the club to the Mission Marshall Food Pantry Director, Misty Scott. The money will be spent at the East Texas Food Bank. According to Mrs. Scott, “this is the equivalent of $12,000 spent at a local grocery store. This order of $4000 at the East Texas Food Bank is about 700 pounds of food. Roughly 300 families of 4 can be served and should last for approximately 4 days.” A huge thank you goes to DG Ted Huffhines for being available for the presentation.
December 9, 2017 | Texarkana, Arkansas and Texarkana, Texas Police Departments held their annual shop with a cop event. Texas side officers shopped with children at Target while Arkansas side officers were at Walmart. Both departments arrived at the stores with a long convoy of police vehicles with their lights and sirens blaring.
Texarkana Sunrise Rotary Club participates annually in the Shop with a Cop Program. Sunrise Rotary President, Patty Collier, said, "I would just say that it was fun and orderly chaos on shopping day! The Police & Firefighters were great! Glad to be a part of the program". Assistant Governor Ralph Waits encourages all his Area Rotarians to participate in this worth while cause.
Interact is a service-based club for young people between the ages of 13 and 18. Interact clubs give young people the opportunity to serve their community with meaningful projects, meet new friends, and have fun! Their goals include: developing leadership skills, person integrity, respect for others and ourselves, understanding the value of hard work and service, and fostering fellowship and goodwill throughout the community. Interact Clubs meet these goals by being self-governing and self-supporting. The students have to find ways to fundraiser and plan to ensure their service projects succeeds and has a positive impact on the community. However, they do have some help! Rotarians from local Rotary Clubs mentor Interactors by offering guidance, and donating resources to service projects that clubs take on!
Pres. Greg Hollen, Ken Pearce and others welcomed community residents as paper, cardboard, plastic and cans were dropped off at Walmart in Mineola. Upper Sabine River Recycling transports the material every 3rd Saturday of the year.
2017 is the 30th anniversary of Women in Rotary. To honor this occasion the Rotary Club of Cedar Creek Lake held a special program in honor of their women members and women members in all Rotary Clubs.
The program was presented by Andrea Pickens seated center front row in the attached picture. Women represent over 30% of the club's membership.
Cedar Creek Lake RC 30th Anniversary of Women in Rotary
On Thursday, December 7th, the South Tyler Rotary, Sunrise Rotary and the Rotary Club of Tyler held its annual joint Bike Build at Pollard United Methodist Church. The three clubs have collaborated for several years to assemble bikes for local children. Seaborn Nesbett, a member of the Sunrise Rotary and Pollard United Methodist coordinates the event for the three Rotary clubs. This year, over 75 bikes were assembled by Rotarians in less than an hour. A good portion of the bikes were sponsored by individual Rotarians.
The popular event is a family affair, as many Rotarians bring their families to help assemble the bikes. From South Tyler, we had sixteen members and thirteen family members or guests participate in the build. We also had nine Interact Club members participate.
The month of December emphasizes Disease Prevention and Treatment across the Rotary world. This certainly fits in District 5830 as we have recently completed our PolioPlus Truck Raffle! I want to first thank all of the clubs and individual Rotarians who sold or purchased their tickets and supported this district wide fundraising project! The District raised just over $60,000 which will be matched by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation 2 x 1 for a total of $180,000! These funds will help provide vaccines for well over 300,000 children! This will truly Make a Difference as we pursue the eradication of polio! I also want congratulate Richard Emerson of the Longview Greggton club for winning the new Ford F-150 Pick-up Truck! The Atlanta Area, Idabel, Jefferson, Longview Greggton, Marshall, Texarkana International, Texarkana Oaklawn and Texarkana Sunrise clubs sold 100% or more of their tickets!
Thousands of people flooded downtown Thursday night, November 30, 2017 for the annual Tyler Christmas Parade, sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Tyler. Families, many wrapped in blankets, lined the streets to watch the parade, standing or sitting on the curbs or in foldout chairs. Over 130 groups and individuals from the community participated in this year’s parade with floats and displays of Christmas cheer.
2016-2017 District 5830 and District 6190 Joint "I've Got Talent" District Conference was held in Shreveport, La. November 10 & 11, 2017
District Conference Wrap Up
- Club and District Honors -
- Member Recognition -
Go to the Home Page Photo Album for all the Conference Pictures
District Conference 2017 was one of a kind! Sorry that so many missed it. Those in attendance enjoyed the opportunity to visit Shreveport to network, meet some vibrant young Rotarians, dance and enjoy the music of the Hurricane Levee Band, take advantage of a series of classes, hear inspiring words from the RI President’s Representative Melissa Ward, participate in Rotary Leadership Institute and dozens of other cool aspects of our joint conference with District 6190 representing 33 clubs in northern Louisiana.
Pictured left to right: 6190 DG 2017-2018 Paula Weaver Gates, RI President Representative and PDG for District 7190 Melissa Ward, 5830 DG 2017-2018 Ted Huffhines, 5830 IPDG Lee Montgomery.
November 16th was "Joel Campisi Day'' in the city of Texarkana, USA.
After 17 years the Chairman of the Texarkana USA Flag Project for the Texarkana Rotary Clubs, Joel Campisi, has retired and received a certificate from the cities at the Wilbur Smith Rotary Club meeting last Thursday. Mayor Ruth Penney Bell read a proclamation Thursday afternoon officially naming Joel Campisi Day.
“Campisi as chairman,” Bell said, “has had an indelible impact on the area economically and physically with all the flags he's built and placed around Texarkana. It is beautiful and uplifting to see our streets and homes lined in flags and patriotism 6 times a year. His hugely impactful, behind-the-scenes efforts to make a difference in this community are highly admirable.”
The following was a facebook posting from one of the Teachers at Sabine Elementary School about the Kilgore Rotary Club Dictionary Project.
The Kilgore Rotary Club gave a dictionary to every second grade student at Sabine Elementary. Those kids were so very happy! I had to give the kids some free reading time, so they could “read” their dictionaries. Many students were using the sign language chart to teach themselves sign language. Some kids located the maps and state information. There were a few students who started at the first page and started reading one page after another. We have been working with prefixes and suffixes. The kids were so excited to see them listed in the dictionary. Computers and technology are great, but there is nothing like holding your own book in your hands. I had to keep reassuring those babies that those dictionaries now belonged to them and they could take them home. Thank you so very much Kilgore Rotary Club! Your generosity is greatly appreciated and you brought joy to my entire class today!
The Rotary Club of Cedar Creek Lake recently sponsored two of their Rotary members to take part in a water project in Honduras.
Working with District 5830 and the Rotary Club of Lake Wells, Florida, Jay Eckert and Cesar Castro traveled to Honduras with Rotarians from other clubs to participate in the water project and in helping with several other building projects. The two will be putting together a power point presentation to present to the club later.
Picture: Rotary President Bill Burnett, center, is shown presenting Jay Eckert, left, and Cesar Caste with club trading banners to present to the local Rotary Club while in Honduras.
Rotary of Cedar Creek Lake recently held their annual Klothes for Kids event in which winter clothing for over 75 children was purchased. Because of the number of children involved from two different schools districts it took three days to complete the project. Each child was paired up with two to three adults to help them shop. Although the club organized and funded the project, it is considered a community wide project in which over a 170 volunteers from the local Cedar Creek Lake community; churches, clubs, etc.came together to make it happen. The local Mabank High School Interact Club provided a number of students to help out. Rotary of Cedar Creek Lake "Super Hero" volunteers were also there to help out. Pictures: Children posing with the bags of clothing they received and a group picture of some of the volunteers.
Cedar Creek Lake Rotary Annual Klothes for Kids Event
Marshall High School students plan to do more recruiting according to Stacy Adams, Marshall RC Interact Leader. Stacy made the initial contact with Marshall Independent School District in October to start a new Interact club at the high school. Marshall RC has several Members lined up to be Interact Counselors, and the club now has over 25 member signed up.
What is Interact? Interactors take action, build international understanding, and make new friends around the world. They develop leadership skills while they discover the power of Service Above Self, and find out how serious leadership can be seriously fun!
This was an environmental project that allows local citizens to recycle items that would end up in landfills, dumb in unauthorized areas, etc. A large commercial paper shredder, truck mounted, was provided along with a large truck to haul off electronic items, TVs, computers, etc. Large dumpsters were also provided for other items citizens needed to rid themselves of. The Rotary Club and Interact Club worked together to make this a successful project.
Pictures: Recyclable electronics being loaded and truck mounted shredder.
November is Rotary Foundation month, and we have the opportunity to educate and support the engine that drives our organization. Money given to The Rotary Foundation is used to provide education, literacy, vaccines, clean water, promote peace and micro-economies. The money given to our Foundation has more power than money given to most charities. Your dollars go towards improving the lives of people you may never meet in places you may never go somewhere in the world. The Foundation is rated fourth in the world by the Navigator Charity monitoring organization. You can be confident in your dollars going toward solving the problem. This is the power of Rotary as local clubs join together to solve problems all over our planet. I encourage every club board to hold a Rotary Foundation program in the next few months and set a goal to increase your clubs giving to the Foundation over last year. I encourage every Rotarian to donate to the Foundation before the end of 2017. I challenge each club to be an EREY club- Every Rotarian Every Year, and to increase the number of Sustaining members- those who give $100. We truly do Make a Difference when we join together and support The Rotary Foundation!
Members of the Rotary Club of Tyler share their receipts to show the contributions they gave in recognition of World Polio Day.
Tyler, Texas (October 26, 2017) – Events among thousands are held this week by Rotary clubs across the globe to recognize World Polio Day on October 24. Members of The Rotary Club of Tyler are among millions reaching out this week of World Polio Day to raise awareness, funds and support to end polio – a vaccine preventable disease that still threatens children in parts of the world today.
Rotary Club of Tyler members made additional personal donations in observance of World Polio Day and donated $742.00 to Rotary International’s program, Polio Plus. To further support the cause, The Rotary Club of Tyler members, through a Rotary District 5830 fundraiser, also donated an additional $5,200 to end polio.
Many of Marshall's community groups and organizations united together for a time of networking and fellowship at the first Linking Leisurely event Tuesday at the Marshall Convention Center. "The whole concept of this was to get everybody together that had a volunteer base and in that volunteer base to introduce what you do in the community".
Rotary Club President elect Jay Webb said, "And the community would have the opportunity to say, "I like that, or I'm interested in that." Rotary President Louraisel McDonald said the event was inspired by suggestions made by Rotary International President Ian Riseley to help unite the club with other community groups.
"We as a club thought it would be neat if we had not just a simple networking event, but we also wanted other local organizations (to attend) so the community can know about different organizations and what they have to offer," McDonald said.
Quitman Rotarians rolled up their sleeves to prepare, cook and deliver spaghetti dinners to provide funds for the District 5830 water well project.
President, Steve Straznicki, ADG Sam and Martha Scroggins, PDG Bill Hedges and Troy Robinson spear-headed the event. More than a hundred meals were served for those eating in and takeouts. The club plans to repeat this event next Spring.
On October 12, 2017, Texarkana Wilbur Smith Rotary Club, Oaklawn Rotary Club, Sunrise Rotary Club and International Rotary Club had their 37th Annual Public Safety Officer Appreciation Luncheon. This special event was founded by the late, Texarkana Rotarian Cecil Phillips. This year's Rotary International Theme is “Making A Difference” and all the First Responders make a difference every day. The 2017 Public Safety Officers of the Year were: Texarkana,Texas Fire Department, Firefighter John Taylor; Texarkana, Arkansas Fire Department Captain Ray West; Bowie County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Randall Baggett; Miller County Sheriff’s Department Investigator Thomas Whitt; Texarkana, Texas Police Department Officer Cliff Harris; Texarkana, Arkansas Police Department Officer Nathan Lavender; Arkansas State Police Trooper First Class Ernesto Echevarria; Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Stephen Munger and Trooper Chad Turner.
Award-winning artists Natalie Grant and Danny Gokey will ring in the holiday season together again this year on the Celebrate Christmas Tour, presented by Medi-Share, a national healthcare-sharing organization. Following a successful run of Christmas dates in 2016 where they performed for multiple sell-out crowds, Natalie and Danny will co-bill their popular Christmas tour again this season, sharing the stage each night in a fully integrated set. A six-time Grammy nominee and five-time Dove Award-winning Female Vocalist of the Year, Natalie Grant and eight-time Dove nominee and two time K-LOVE Male Artist of the Year (2016 and 2017) Danny Gokey are a quintessential vocal pairing, setting the stage for an unforgettable Christmas experience.
The Carthage Rotary Club displayed Rotary 5830 Iron Lung next to their booth at Potlatch. The Rotary Club and its partners have worked for several decades to vaccinate children and help eradicate polio.. According to the endpolio.org, the organization and its partners have reduced polio cases by 99.9 percent world wide since 1988. There are now only three countries where polio is found regularly.
The iron lung, pictured with District Governor Elect and Carthage Rotary member Judy Guthrie, was used as a tank respirator that could help people breathe until they were able to breathe on their own.
Members of the Carthage Rotary Club sold turkey legs and other items during Potlatch.
Kilgore Rotarians donated $3,300 to Rotary District 5830, the local club's part of an international effort to eradicate polio – so far in 2017 there have only been 12 cases reported between two countries in the Middle East.
Helping fund the fight, “That's $100 for each of our members,” club president Terry Booker reported.
Tuesday, Oct. 24, is World Polio Day and the local civic organization is joining other clubs in the region, throughout the state, across the country and around the world in raising funds to fuel the ongoing eradication of the disease.
The Rotary Club of Mt Pleasant held its Annual Golf Tournament Saturday, September 23, 2017. More than 60 golfers enjoyed a beautiful day at Mt Pleasant Country Club while helping to raise funds for Rotary projects. The Tournament was led by Rotarians Bob Hourahan, Buddy Marshall, Jey Yancey, and a team of other Club members. Everyone is now looking forward
to next year's tournament!
Rotary Club of Mt Pleasant held its Annual Golf Tournament
I hope you are actively seeking opportunities to be engaged in Making a Difference in your communities. We have just had a group led by PDG Carroll Greenwaldt return from Guatemala where they saw the work done with the District 5830 Global Grant Hospital for Mothers and Children. This was a fantastic trip, and the people of Tekal, Guatemala and the local Rotarians were very appreciative of all that had been done to improve the quality of life there by your generosity. I encourage our clubs to reach out to Carroll for a program on this visit. We will have more local Rotarians heading down to Honduras later this month to participate in a local water project that will supply close to 1000 people with fresh running water. Again, your generosity is making a difference and improving the quality of life for people in desperate need.
I have really enjoyed visiting the clubs in 5830. As of today, I have made 39 of 44 visits. It is so very encouraging to see the commitment to helping others and service above self. It is inspiring to talk and discuss about ways to grow and attract new members. It is motivating to see and hear about the service you are doing locally. I am continually impressed with the ways you raise funds to help your club do good in the world! I want to say, “Thank You” for the hospitality and generosity you have shown to Angela and me.
This month’s Rotary focus is on Economic and Community Development. It is a great time to talk with your community leaders and identify some problems or challenges your community faces and put together a plan on how to address and correct these issues. Rotarians are leaders and problem solvers! We do this best when we collaborate and work together.
We will also celebrate World Polio Day this month- October 24th-. Please make every effort to hold some type of event, large or small, to increase the sharing of information about this ongoing battle and how we are truly this close //. So far, in 2017 there have been 11 new cases of polio worldwide. Last year, there were 37 cases.
Members of the Rotary Club of Cedar Creek Lake recently spent several days volunteering at Mabank Area Good Samaritan food pantry, one of the local food pantries they donate to. This food pantry serves over 700 people each month.
This is part of a program where the club visits activities they donate money or they have the activity come to a meeting to brief how they used a donation. Picture: Left to right - Bill Burnett, club president. members; Jay Eckert, Sean Medina, Ronnie Davis, and Carter Hallmark were volunteering one of the service days.
As West Bowie County Rotary Club wraps up their annual dictionary project in which they provide dictionaries to every third grader in West Bowie County, they would like to shed light on a special arm of our club, Hooks High School Rotary Interact Club.
The Hooks High School Rotary Interact Club consist of service minded high school students who serve their community through assisting West Bowie County Rotary with our projects as well as performing their own community service projects. Pictured above are members of the Hooks High School Rotary Interact Club delivering dictionaries to 3rd graders at Red Lick Elementary School.
"WOW!" Cedar Creek Lake's President Bill Burnett said, " The only expression I know to describe the Club Visioning Event the Rotary Club of Cedar Creek Lake just had with District 5830 facilitators. David Cartwright and his team made up of Louraiseal McDonald, Nathan Reves, and John Jetter did an outstanding job in getting attending club members involved. When the evening was over there was definitely excitement on what they felt their club could accomplish. Club President, Bill Burnett encourages every Rotary Club to hold a Club Visioning Event.
Cedar Creek Lake RC members participate in "Club Visioning Meeting"
It has been extremely inspiring as I have visited so many of our clubs across the district. The good works our Rotarians are doing or plan to do this year make me feel good to be working alongside each of you! Your support for school children, the hungry, and the less fortunate is so very uplifting. Besides the difference you are making in your communities, you also have fun together! Angela and I have seen how much members of the clubs like being together! I really believe this is one of the most attractive aspects of Rotary membership.
September is Rotary focus on Education and Literacy. Our clubs do this very well. From dictionaries for elementary students to scholarships for seniors and school supplies for the needy, we are all really involved with improving the educational opportunities for children and students in our communities. Continue to find opportunities and identify needs in your schools that your club can work to find solutions for. I challenge every club to find opportunity to volunteer in your schools. I’m confident every elementary school principal would love to have adults to come read to their students, or even better, listen to a youngster read to you. This type of service is invaluable to building confidence in young students.
With the start of a new school year, West Bowie County Rotary Club is giving a special dictionary to every third grader in our club’s service area just as we do every year. Third graders from the following schools will receive dictionaries over the next couple of weeks: New Boston, Leary, Maud, Simms, Hubbard, DeKalb, Hooks, Malta, Redwater, and Red Lick. Pictured below are third graders from Maud and Rotarian Kevin Cauley.
West Bowie County Rotary Club Distributes Dictionaries
Miss Texas, Margana Wood pictured with Gene Kennon, Lindale Rotary Club Member, presented the program to the Lindale Rotary Club. Miss Wood will participate in the Miss USA contest later this year representing the state of Texas.
Miss Texas, Margana Wood, Speaker for Lindale Rotary Club
Peggy Price of the Rotary Club of Cedar Creek Lake was recently awarded a "Life Time Achievement" Award by her club. Peggy has been a dedicated and active member for 22 Years, but future life plans recently required her to move from the area. Peggy has served in many capacities in the club, but her co-chair responsibilities for the "Celebrity Waiter" fund raiser was the one she loved most. This is the club's most important and successful fund raiser and was attended by over 280 people this year, raising over $40,000. To the right of Peggy is Andrea Pickens, " Celebrity Waiter" co-chair and Peggy's long time friend.
Peggy Price receives a "Life Time Achievement" Award
Texarkana Sunrise Rotary Club joined with the United Way of Greater Texarkana to pack backpacks for students returning to school in August. The United Way provides new backpacks and new supplies to area students with supplies that correspond to the local schools’ supply lists. This year’s goal is to provide backpacks and school supplies for 1600 students.
The Rotary Club of Cedar Creek Lake's Celebrity Waiter fund raiser was another smashing success. This year's theme was "Heroes and Villains" with guest dressing in costume to represent their favorite hero or villain. Supergirl was the costume worn by many of the women while Superman seem to be everywhere. This is the 21st year for the Celebrity Waiter fundraiser and by far the most profitable for the club.
There were 136 silent auction items donated that brought in over $9,700 and 28 live auction items sold for more than $28,000. Ticket sales and the different sponsors levels help bring the grand total collected to over $67,000. Special guest were DG Ted Huffhines and his wife Angela and PDG Carroll Greenwaldt District Director TRF Programs.
ROTARY CLUB OF TYLER recently had an action packed meeting. To begin the business portion, we presented a $2000.00 check for clean water projects to Danny Carpenter, chair of the Global Humanitarian Project Grants Subcommitee.
We also reminded everyone of the Polio Plus goal of $5,000 and mentioned the prizes: 2017 F150 Supercrew XLT; $2000.00 Amazon Gift Card; $1500.00 Best Buy Card; $1000.00 Bass Pro Shop Card; $500.00 Academy Gift Card. Everyone is on board and tickets are selling briskly. This goal is very doable so do it NOW!
For the program portion of the meeting, Robin Hood Brians kept us rockin' and rollin' and listening raptly as he sang, played the piano, and told stories of his 50 years in the music business of recording many of the popular artists.
On Saturday August 5, the Hawkins, Holly Lake Rotary Club hosted its annual Back – to – School Round Up at the recreation/education center of the Hawkins First Baptist Church. The Club bought and distributed school supplies to 150 Hawkins elementary students with their parents.
Partners and donors to this project included Ozarka, Fabco, City National Bank, Brookshires Grocery, Southside Bank, and First Baptist Church of Hawkins. Also participating in the event were the Boy Scouts, and volunteers from the First Baptist church of Hawkins. At the event, we held a fun walk for the children and a bicycle raffle. Prizes were donated by Credential Research, Raising Canes, Caldwell Zoo, Discovery Science Place, and Trinity Lutheran Church, TRW Trucking, Hawkins Farm and Auto, and from Lindsey Wilson with Century 21. Six bicycles were presented to 2 winners each in categories K-1, 2-3, and 4-5.
Terry Booker’s father-in-law was a Rotarian for more than four decades, and Alton Holt lived the Rotary motto: “Service Above Self.”
“Community leaders like him in over 4,000 clubs across America quietly found ways to help mothers and children, support education, promote peace, grow local economies, fight disease and provide clean water,” Booker praised. “I wanted to join the men and women in this area who also valued those issues, and I want to encourage others to join, too.”
In late-June, Booker accepted the Kilgore Rotary Club’s gavel from outgoing president John Lockman. His first month in the post quickly made way for one of the Kilgore Rotary Club’s busiest seasons – last week, the group held their annual August shoe drive in conjunction with Kilgore ISD’s One-Stop Registration.
The Marshall News Messenger reports on Marshall Rotary Club's first African American female President.
The Rotary Club of Marshall, Texas, installed its first African American female President - Harrison County's family and consumer sciences county extension agent, Louraiseal McDonald.
Louraiseal is excited about her term as President of Marshall Rotary Club. "I'll be the club's 98th President, sixth female President and the first African American female President, she said " What an honor."
"This club will be 100 years old in 2019" she added. "That's a major milestone."
The New Year for Rotary has started off with a bang! $1.2 Billion was pledged to finish the job to eradicate polio at last month’s Rotary International Convention in Atlanta. Rotary International pledged to raise $50 Million per year for the next three years and The Gates Foundation will match this with an additional $100 Million per year for a total of $450 Million pledged. In an effort to support this cause, District 5830 will be holding a raffle for 2017 F-150 Super crew Pick-up Truck along with some very nice additional prizes. We are asking each Rotarian to sell or purchase Four- $25 raffle tickets. Our target goal is raise $120,000 for Polio Plus by our District Conference on November 10th and 11th. This is very doable, and it will certainly make a tremendous impact on the eradication of this dreaded disease. Lives will be saved by our support! Tickets are being distributed the first few weeks of July and the selling of tickets will take place from July 15th until October 15th. Club Presidents and Foundation Chairs will be coordinating this effort at the local clubs. Each club will be credited for the money they raise.
DG Ted Huffhines says "You will hear more about Club Visioning when I come to your club. We were able to train 20 CV Facilitators this past weekend. This is an excellent opportunity to get your club reinvigorated and to develop a cohesive plan moving forward. It also allows for everyone to have input in what the club is going to do moving forward. A number of clubs are already getting scheduled to have the Facilitators hold a CV session for their club. Contact me to discuss getting on the schedule."
Dan Carpenter, a member of the South Tyler Rotary Club, has received the Rotary International’s Service Above Self Award. This award is RI’s prestigious honor that recognizes Rotarians who demonstrate Rotary’s motto, “Service Above Self,” by volunteering their time and talents to help others. The award is internationally competitive and is granted to no more than 150 Rotarians worldwide. To understand the significance of this award, it is important to note that Rotary International is comprised of 35,000 Rotary Clubs with 1.2 million members.
George Moore talks about the influence that Cecil Phillips had on him as a Rotarian during the Oaklawn Rotary Club's 50th anniversary celebration Tuesday in Texarkana. Moore joined the Rotary Club in 1988 and served as club president in 1990.
Mt. Pleasant Rotary Club hosted the 2017 Four Way Speech and Video Contests on April 1st. Rotarian Amy Hinton chaired the event and did a superb job organizing the facility, food and contest flow. She was ably backed by a host of club members. Thanks to the Mt. Pleasant ISD and Rotarian Judd Marshall, Superintendent, for allowing the use of their very spacious Administration Building.
Paris (TX) was the scene of The District Training Assembly on April 22. The First United Methodist Church was the perfect place for this type of meeting. (and yes, we began on time and adjourned ahead of time – 1:45 p.m.
(Just a few of the Paris Club members with DGE Ted Huffhines.)
The Marshall Rotary Club hosted a fabulous Rotary Foundation Dinner on Saturday, February 11th at the Marshall Lakeside Country Club. Social hour began at 5 p.m.; a seated dinner was served at 6 p. m. (Several said it was the best Banquet meal ever!); honors, awards, and presentations followed dinner, with one of the highlights being an address by Rotary International Past President Ron Burton. Other highlights were awards to Dan Carpenter and Shirley Griffin.
August is Membership and New Club Development Month, and it’s an exciting time for the entire family of Rotary! New changes to develop increased club flexibility and membership help you engage with Rotary in new ways. Now is the perfect time to connect with club members, develop a strategy to attract new members, and share how you activate Rotary’s programs for young leaders to engage the community.
Thirty years ago, today, Rotary started something big, really big. Thirty years ago Rotary began a war on Infantile Paralysis (POLIO). At the time I was almost fifty years old, had been a Rotarian less than five years with perfect attendance, and thought Rotary was a great civic club. It was great to be a Rotarian. To my surprise I learned that it was more than just a great civic club. It was an army, and it was declaring war on POLIO, and, whats more, I had been drafted.
The incoming governor of District 5830 was Al Glaess, from the Sulphur Springs Rotary Club; a doctor who was himself a victim, and survivor of the dreaded Polio virus. The incoming president of Rotary International was M.A.T. Caparas, from the Philippines. What they both knew and what I was about to learn was
The iron lung is ready for display by clubs for special events! Check the District Calendar for availability. Contact DA Shirley Pinnix-Evans to reserve the Iron Lung. rotary5830da@gmail.com
The multi-year effort to define and propose a Global Medical Project for a Hospital in the Northern area of Guatemala is REALLY MOVING! The project will provide critically needed Nursery, NICU, and Obstetrics equipment to the Hospital National de San Benito in the Peten’, Guatemala
District Membership Chair PDG John Henson recently attended the Zone Membership Seminar in New Orleans. Here are some great tips from one of the speakers, Thaddeus Rex.
Paul Harris was born April nineteenth. He was 36 years and 10 months old when he founded Rotary. He died January 27, 1947. How old was he when he died? To learn more about Rotary's rich history, sign up for the Rotary Global History Fellowship Newsletter.
During a conversation on membership retention and membership increase at a recent Rotary gathering, it became apparent that Rotary Fellowships are one of the best-kept secrets of our organization.
Engaging the Next Generation in Rotary: 5 Strategies for Growing Your Club with Young MembersAuthor Michael McQueen was a featured speaker at the Zone 30/31 Institute in Huntsville, Alabama.
A bold new chapter in the partnership between Rotary and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation aimed at eradicating polio was announced at the Rotary International Convention in Lisbon, Portugal, late last month. The joint effort, called End Polio Now – Make History Today, will support the 2013-18 Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan.
As we step into January 2026, we begin the year focusing on Vocational Service Month, celebrating how our skills and careers bring meaningful impact to communities through service. 
When Rotarians and communities unite for a global day of service, the impact is profound. Together, we address real needs, strengthen bond, and inspire hope, creating meaningful change and a shared sense of purpose and pride.
As we enter the Holiday season full swing, I hope all of you have peaceful and joy filled celebrations however that may look. It's a time to focus on gratitude and thanks and I am especially appreciative of all my Rotary friends both near and far. 
November is Rotary Foundation Month!
I hope this message finds you well and energized for a busy and impactful October! As your Public Image Director, I’m excited to share key opportunities this month that can amplify our shared mission: eradicating polio worldwide and strengthening our communities through Economic and Community Development initiatives.World Polio Day falls on October 24, and this is our chance to illuminate Rotary’s unwavering commitment to a polio-free world. I encourage each club to align its activities and fundraising with Rotary International’s Polio Eradication Initiative. 
On May 10th at the District 5830 Training Assembly in Mineola, Tiffany McPherson Damskov, District Public Image Chair presented "Empower Your Clubs with Winning Public Image Strategy,"
An exciting night of awards, food, fun and engaging speakers was enjoyed by approximately 180 District 5830 Rotarians and guests this past Saturday at the wonderful Hollytree Country Club in Tyler, Texas! Host Clubs were The Tyler Rotary Club, South Tyler Rotary Club and Longview Rotary Club. The clubs worked together to create a beautiful, decorated venue in which to celebrate the Rotary Clubs' achievements in 2023-2024. 
Congratulations to Silfida D. Gomez-Coleman, 2021-2023 Past President of the Texarkana International Rotary Club, who has been selected by the District 5830 Nominating Committee as District Governor Nominee Designate. She has been selected to serve as D-5830 District Governor during the 2027-2028 Rotary Year.
The Rotary Foundation transforms your gifts into service projects that change lives both close to home and around the world.
Maternal and Child Health Care is recognized as one of Rotary’s Seven Areas of Focus.
A deer in the headlights. I’m sure that was exactly the impression I gave at my first couple of club events a year ago, but, I was greeted by so many friendly faces that I quickly began looking forward to every trip. Did you know that every club in our District has its own unique personality? Some of y’all are quirky; some, all business; and most are just going to have fun at everything you do.
A Memorial Service was held for Thomas Wayne Arnold December 1, 2023 at the First Methodist Church in Gilmer Texas. PDG Wayne served as 2003-2004 District 5830 Governor. 
Congratulations to Diane Kavanaugh who has been selected as District Governor Nominee Designate. She has been selected to serve during the 2026-2027 Rotary Year.
PDG Bill Hedges (2005-06) has recently been diagnosed with Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer. Bill has been an active Rotarian since 1996. Since retiring as a pastor from the United Methodist Church ministry in 2004, he became a resident of Quitman and member of the Quitman Rotary Club. 
Annual PRCA Rodeo to be held April 21 and 22 in Longview, Tx. 
Rotary International's monthly theme for April is Maternal and Child Health! Every day mothers risk their lives giving birth and millions of children die each year from treatable, preventable causes. At least 7 million children under the age of five die each year due to malnutrition, poor health care, and inadequate sanitation.
When our Rotary team visited Guatemala in October of last year, we went to a small village in the far north of the country. The village is Uaxactun’, (pronounced WASH-AC-TUN’). The people there are hard working and industrious. They have been taught sustainable agricultural methods and are employing those techniques to earn livelihoods through exported products that are grown in the jungle/forest around their village. 
Our keynote speaker is Enrique Garcia, a Heart2Heart Advocate from Guadalajara, Mexico. 
As you are now well aware, Zones 30 & 31 are in a middle of a fundraising campaign for Our Rotary Foundation that will impact immediate needs and longer term needs worldwide. Rotarians will long be remembered for the good we are doing and your personal donation will determine the amount of good we can do.
The 2022 Foundation Banquet will be an in-person event held on the eighth floor of the ETBU Marshall Grand in downtown Marshall, Texas. This fabulous location is the new meeting space of the host Marshall Rotary Club and offers amazing views of the area as the highest location in Harrison County. This event will celebrate the amazing generosity and impact of donors from our District, both individually and our clubs. We will have the chance to hear from “American Health Hero,” Dr. Bert Hirschhorn, who is a recognized expert in treating cholera and providing oral rehydration therapy. 
Has your PE and PN registered for Lone Star PETS leadership training February 24, 2022 -February 28, 2022 at the Hyatt Regency DFW Airport, 2334 North International Parkway, Dallas, TX?
November always celebrates The Rotary Foundation in the Rotary International World. World Polio Day has just passed, and Rotarians are able to focus on the good they can do through The Rotary Foundation (TRF). TRF is the engine which drives all the good we do. Whether it is giving dictionaries to local third graders, buying bicycles for children for Christmas, supporting your local food bank, or a host of other local projects, Rotarians make a huge difference in their local communities. TRF also allows us to do significant work internationally. In 2020-21, over 2,000 Global Grants valued at $130M were completed around the world. Your support of TRF helped provide clean water, medical care, economic development, education, and promoted peace in places around the globe. 
In 1919, the year the Marshall RC was officially chartered, they began meeting downtown atop the Hotel Marshall when it was constructed in 1929. This was the hub of the vibrant city located just a block from the Harrison County Courthouse. In the late 1960’s the hotel closed and the club was forced to meet in various locations around town. After four decades, the vacant and dilapidated hotel was donated to East Texas Baptist University. ETBU quickly began a Capital campaign and raised funds to renovate the building. It now is called the Marshall Grand and is home to the ETBU College of Nursing which is ranked Number One in the State of Texas. 
Congratulations to Jeff Johnston, Past President of the South Tyler Rotary Club who has been selected by the District 5830 Nominating Committee as District Governor Nominee Designate. He has been selected to serve during the 2024-2025 Rotary Year.
The Visioning Process has been widely implemented throughout Rotary to help individual clubs to establish long range plans that are in line with Rotary International’s global strategic priorities: “Increase our Impact, Expand Our Reach, Enhance Participant Engagement, and Increase Our Ability to Adapt”.
PDG Tom DeWitt receives "The Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service Award." 
Club members Shalonda Adams and PDG Carroll Greenwaldt were the 2021 Unity Honors award recipients. The Unity Honors award is given by the Longview Unity and Diversity Committee and is a lifetime achievement award that recognizes the humanitarian efforts of those who are working at the forefront of diversity and equality in our community. The late Jimmy Isaac who was also a member of the Rotary Club of Longview was honored for his membership in and work with the Unity and Diversity Committee.
The Rotary Foundation’s recognition of PDG John Jetter with the The Rotary Foundation Distinguished Service Award comes after PDG John's years of work on Club, District, Zone and International Projects. Time is always inadequate to appropriately thank a Rotarian with a heart for service.
Mike Groom was born in Austin, Texas and was raised in Houston, Texas. He is both a practicing certified public accountant (38 years) and lawyer (32 years). Mike currently resides in Mabank, Texas with his wife of 33 years, Andrea Myntti-Groom. Mike and Andrea have a son and daughter and two grandsons, all of whom they cherish deeply.
According to Kenneth Larry Agee, Rotary District 6200 Disaster Committee Chair, the biggest need currently is volunteers to help gut houses. "It is slow going with 4 or 5 people instead of 20 to 30." After cleanup, many homeowners will be needing supplies to help rebuild as many did not have flood insurance. A few of the neighborhoods have been there for 50 years, are not in a flood zone, and never flooded before so a lot of expense is coming out of pocket. 
District 5830 has had a very productive Matching Points Campaign with over $50,000 towards the Annual Fund and $20,000 given towards Polio Plus over the past two months. We have extended the campaign through June 20th. This will allow any Rotarians who wish to make a yearend donation the chance to do so and receive matching points. We are still working towards exceeding $100 per capita, so every donation counts. I encourage every Rotarian and every club to dig deep and be generous as you support the Annual Fund AND Polio Plus! Your donations allow your club to do local projects through our Club Project Grants. They also allow our District to support Global Grants in worthwhile projects around the globe. This is what makes Rotary International the Number One service organization in the world!
Keri Perot Vance, President of Carthage Rotary Club wants to brag on her club a bit! "As my year as president winds down, I just can’t believe all the fun we have had!" On 4/9/21 some of our members helped unload an 11,000 pound food truck to give to local community members in need.
Congratulations to PDG Carroll Greenwaldt for receiving the Service Above Self Award!
Pictured are Rotary District 5830 Council of Governors (PDGs) that were able to attend the District 5830 Training Assembly and the COGs Semi-Annual meeting. 
Pictured are PDG, DG and GLine that attended the Council of Governor meeting on May 1, 2021.
On April 15, 2021, Jack Welge, District Governor of Rotary District 5830, inducted two new members of the Clarksville Rotary Club. Rotarian Rob Rowley sponsored new member, Talisha Alsup, who is the Administrator of Clarksville Nursing Center. Rotarian and club president, Mickey Allen sponsored new member, Catana Yarnell, who is the Director of The Hub
On April 15, 2021, Jack Welge, District Governor of Rotary District 5830, presented Paul Harris Fellow plus pins to members of the Clarksville Rotary Club who attained an additional recognition level of giving to The Rotary Foundation in 2021. The recognition, named after the founder of Rotary International, recognizes Rotarians for their contributions to The Rotary Foundation. Shown in the photo from left are Paul Hines, Paul Allen, District Governor Jack Welge, Nancy Brem and James Vaughan, Jr. Not shown in photo is Alan Hale.
District 5830 started their two-month long Matching Points Campaign on April 1st. This is a wonderful opportunity for every Rotarian to gain additional Paul Harris Fellow recognition. I strongly encourage everyone to take part and make a donation of $100 or more! If you have questions about why this is important, please take a look at all the good that is done by Rotarians locally and abroad through The Rotary Foundation. 
Pine Tree High School Interact Club sponsors Tiffany Caldemeyer and Susan Curtis want their students to learn how it feels to help others without expecting anything in return.
Due to the constraints of COVID-19, our RYLA camp has been postponed and adjusted to a hybrid format for 2021. Campers will attend a virtual session on April 24 where they will meet their teams, hear from engaging speakers, participate in various activities, and getting started on their RYLA journey. During the weekend of Sept 18-19, students will attend a 1-day session in person at Clements Scout Ranch where they will get to meet their teammates face-to-face and enjoy many of the traditional aspects of camp, including low- and high-ropes elements.
District Governor Welge has made it a priority for all clubs in District 5830 to complete the Visioning process and establish long range plans in keeping with Rotary International’s (RI’s) Strategic Priorities and Objectives:
It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of PDG James "Jim" Fitzgerald.
I want to thank everyone who participated in and attended the District 5830 Conference. If you missed it, you missed some good presentations. Virtual reality is a challenge, but we can use it to grow Rotary and develop as Rotarians. Please let us know your thoughts so that we can integrate them into future virtual programs. 
Congratulations to Karen Maines, Past President of the Longview-Greggton Rotary Club who has been selected by the District 5830 Nominating Committee as District Governor Nominee Designate. She has been selected to serve during the 2023-24 Rotary Year.
Ours is the opportunity to empower Rotarians to change our world.
John Oakley Childs of Tyler went to be with his savior on August 18, 2020 in the comfort of his home surrounded by his family. A memorial service was held Thursday, August 20, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. in the Green Acres Baptist Church Chapel, with Dr. David Dykes, Rev. Warren Culwell, and Rev. Woody Woodward officiating. A private burial took place prior to the service at Rose Hill Cemetery.
Each club in District 5830 has been faced with challenges during COVID-19. Our approach to staying connected with each other as well in the communities we serve has shifted. Flexibility, along with trying new techniques, will enhance our chances of success. The following are avenues to achieve our goal of staying connected and portraying District 5830 as “The Action District”.
IPDG Jim Finstrom welcomes District 5830 Rotarians to the 2020-2021 Installation of District Officers and awarded certificates of appreciation to the District Leadership Team. 
PDG Pamela Stewart installed DG Jack Welge as the 2020-2021 District 5830 Governor. 
A Big "Thank You" goes out to PDG and Foundation Chair Ted Huffhines who inducted 2020-2021 Texarkana Sunrise Rotary Club Officers on June 23, 2020 at Silver Star Smokehouse. Landon Forbes is Sunrise Rotary Club President.
I have a great suggestion, ATTEND THE ROTARY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION IN TAIPEI, TAIWAN!!!!!!!
Robert Nelson Secretary, Dub Hirst Membership, Chris Russell Treasurer, Christy Turner President, Damon Donnell President Elect, Anthony Chiles Vocational, Jason Smith Club Service, Charlie Tidmore Event. and not pictured is Jami Ivey Foundation.
On June 25, 2020, the Tyler Sunrise Rotary Club (TSR) held it's end of the year gala and celebration at one of your members residences.
PDG Judy Guthrie installed Gary George as President of Pittsburg Rotary Club. Gary is shown with outgoing President, Kay Green. Kay presented Woody and Karen Ray and Ian and Wibke Griffin with Paul Harris Fellows.
We are now entering the final 15 days of the Paul Harris Points Match Challenge and the last thirty days of this troubled Rotary Year. The month of May saw us generate $30,000 in donations to The Rotary Foundation from our individual members and clubs in District 5830.
Canton Rotary Club President, Sandra Plaster led her Club on Memorial Day by putting out American Flags in honor of the men and women who died while serving in the U. S. military. Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971.
Longview polio survivor works tirelessly to help eradicate disease: 
What a beautiful afternoon it was on Thursday, May 28, 2020! The Rotary Club of Kilgore was able to drive to the home of Gordon Reed and surprise him with being named the Rotarian of the Year 2019-2020. Gordon has 35 years perfect attendance in Rotary and loves Rotary. He was also presented with his Paul Harris +7 pin which shows his commitment to the Rotary Foundation and the good that Rotary does worldwide. He was presented certificates, posters and signs, helium filled balloons, flowers, and a chocolate cake and cookies, and had his family to help with the celebration. We want to thank the Rotary Club of Henderson for being represented also. Gordon would makeup missed meetings at the Henderson club. This was such a wonderful afternoon celebrating one of our faithful members. Congratulations, Gordon Reed!! Your Rotary club loves you.
Oaklawn Rotary Club purchased lunch from a locally owner restaurant Julie's Deli and had it delivered to Hospice of Texarkana to show appreciate for their work in the community during the Covid-19 crisis. This is an on going effort by the club to support local non-profiles and local restaurants. 
Congratulations to Longview’s Rotary Clubs, participating with the National Guard, Longview Police Department and East Texas Food Bank, through whom 1525 families were served!
Gai Bennett, President of the Longview Rotary Club and other Rotarians were on hand working with New Beginnings Baptist Church, the Texas Army National Guardsmen plus their local Police Officers to distribute food from the East Texas Food Bank. 
Why did Jefferson Rotary Club fly American Flags on March 26th. 
Oaklawn Rotarians At Work - Shawn Davis ( wearing blue Rotary t-shirt) and Brad Bailey picked up food from Big Jake's BBQ and delivered the food to LifeNet Employees. This is an effort the club is doing where they take the funds they would normally spend on our Club's lunch meeting and spend it at a locally owned restaurant to provide lunch for a local non profit. Thanks Shawn and Bran, both in leadership at Texarkana Independent School District.
Russell Sparks a member of Texarkana Oaklawn Rotary Club and Owner of Hightech Signs volunteered to make yard signs to sell as a fundraiser to help local frontline heroes (police, fire dept, EMT’s). Russell also delivered hygiene product for students to some of our local middle/junior high schools. Each school district will decide how to distribute the product donated to their students. Club Members Carla Dupree, Principal at Texas High School,reported they have already distributed some of the hygiene products they received.
The Rotary Club of Tyler (RCOT) was chartered on May 1, 1920, with 25 members. It was the fifth club chartered in Northeast Texas and was one of only 530 clubs in Rotary International. 
2020. 
Debora Valeria Lucca holds her daughter, Oriana Saucedo, following an infant hearing test at Hospital Raul F. Larcade in San Miguel, Argentina. Hearing test equipment was paid for in part by Matching Grant 66672.
Thank you to the 2020 Lone Star P.E.T.S. Rangers that worked very hard to make the event an success! Thank you AG Barbara Turner- Cedar Creek Lake RC, Paul Allen - Clarksville Rotary Club and Sarah Fox- Longview Greggton Rotary Club for making District 5830 proud!
On Sunday, March 15 the members of the Rotary Club of Marshall participated in a local church’s project, Hearts for the Hungry. Members served a home cooked meal to about 25 homeless adults and 5 youth. This was a true example of Service Above Self. 
DGE Jack Welge kicks off the District 5830 Meeting at Lone Star PETS 2020 welcoming 29 President Elects and 7 President Nonimee. 
Texarkana Juniors and Seniors who participated in RYLA from 4 area schools hold Rotary coins in the shape of the Rotary cog. It has the "4 way test" printed on it.
PDG, VG and Foundation Chair, Ted Huffhines presented Donna Sharp, Beth Blasidell and Diane Kavanaugh with their Paul Harris Society Chervon at 2020 Lone Star PETS.
February 5, 2020 Gilmer Rotary Club introduced Lane Burks as the student of the month from Ore City High School. Pictured are Lane Burks, Junior at Ore City High School; Denise Burks, parent; and Lisa Wright, Counselor at Ore City High School. 
The Rotary Club of Paris United Happy Smiles Dental Program has been serving the children in Lamar County elementary schools since 2008. The club supplies portable dental sets, equipment and materials in order to provide dental exams for all Lamar County 2nd grade students – approximately 550 students. Several local dentists and staffs support the program. They perform the exams and apply sealants as needed. This is the only dental exam some students receive. The schools, parent and students have been very appreciative.
West Bowie County Rotary Club members are " People of Action" as 10 volunteers picked up 15 bags of trash and a spool of twine that was completely unraveled. 
PDG Tom DeWitt introduced and presented Patrick Mahoney sign to Larry Lundsford, Past RI Director who served as our guest speaker for the 2020 District 5830 Foudation Banquet. 
IPDG Judy Guthrie awarded the "Bill Rains" Award to Amanda Folmar, Past President of South Tyler Rotary Club during the Foundation Banquet on February 8, 2020. The award is presented to the District 5830 Rotarian that is outstanding in Membership, Foundation Giving, Public Image and Leadership. Congratulation to Amanda who is a well deserved recipient of the Award!
IPDG Judy Guthrie also awarded the Top Three Per Capita Giving Awards for 2018-2019
Texarkana-Oaklawn Rotary awarded $600 donations to 11 nonprofits in the area on February 18. Representatives from each organization attended to receive the donation which they can use where most needed. The $6,600 was raised in the fall at Oaklawn’s annual Draw Down event. The Club’s President is Jennifer Stuart who is pictured on the far right. The recipients included: Caddo Area Council of Boy Scouts; CASA; Domestic Violence Prevention; Habitat for Humanity; Harvest Regional Food Bank; Hospice of Texarkana; Main Street Texarkana; Mission Texarkana; Opportunities Inc.; Randy Sams’ Outreach Shelter; and the local chapter of Vietnam Veterans.
Clean water, sanitation, and hygiene education are basic necessities for a healthy environment and a productive life.
Zones 30 & 31 will have a Paul Harris Society Blitz starting February 1, 2020 and ending April 30, 2020.
PDG & District Foundation Chair presents DGDN Carolyn Frank with a Paul Harris Society chevron.
The Rotary Club of Kilgore, TX provides a pair of shoes and a pair of socks to all students of Kilgore ISD who qualify to receive free school supplies. If the parents would like for their children to receive the shoes and socks, a Rotarian will measure the student’s feet.
South Tyler Rotarians celebrate 3 new Paul Harris Fellows and donate $1000 to Junior Achievement.
The Clarksville Times published a photo and press release regarding the 2019-2020 Club Project Grant awarded to the Clarksville Rotary Club.
Texarkana Sunrise Rotarians joined Coalition for the Homeless for their Annual Chili Cookout event. Sunrise Rotarians were dressed as superheroes to support their Community and serve the delicious chili made by Sunrise Rotarians Becky Bunch. 
he Rotary Club of Cedar Creek Lake was honored to be able to increase the number of school aged children they were able to help shop for and provide with winter clothing. This year, they shopped for 150 children and allocated $150 per child. We discreetly coordinate with our area’s school counselors to identify children in need. Over the course of 7 calendar days in November, we garner support of over 200 volunteers (Rotarians and non-Rotarians) to help us shop for these children.
DGN Mike Groom recently attended the annual SCRYE Winter Conference in Tulsa, OK and discovered some new things in Youth Exchange. On one front, SCRYE, once again, has partnered with World Experience Scholarships (WES) to provide scholarships to outbound youth exchange students from SCRYE member districts who need financial assistance in order to participate in Youth Exchange. Scholarship amounts will be determined on an individual basis by the WES Scholarship Selection Committee and will range from $500-$2,000. Applications are being received now with a deadline of April 15, 2020.
DG Jim Finstrom is pictured with Henderson Rotarians with a combined length of service of 150 years.
Longview Rotary Club's Rotarians, Colby Dickson and Joni Cobb were on hand to lend a hand at Longview's Homeless Resource Day. Wiley and Colby assisted in the Point-in-Time homeless census and Joni helped at the check in desk.
According to DGE Jack Welge, Rotary International Assembly was a fantasic experience and the ability to share it with Rotarians worldwide was indescribable. THE 2020-2021 PRESIDENTIAL THEME "ROTARY OPENS OPPORTUNITIES".
Texarkana Sunrise Rotarians at work in the Commumity.
Ringing the Salvation Army Bell -pictured are Rotarians Steve Rogers and Terry Davis- other Rotarians participated are: Sunrise Rotarians Laura Jacobs, Jennifer Studdard, Ralph Waits and Shirley Pinnix-Evans.
Twenty-two members/family helped ring bells on Saturday, December 21 at local Wal-Mart. Janna Davis (right) and daughter Izzy.
Mt. Pleasant Rotarians brings Holiday Cheer to a local Senior Citizen Community and made a donation to a local Non-Profit.
PDG & VG Ted Huffhines and DGN Mike Groom are available for giving Heart 2 Heart programs. Mike and Andrea went to Mexico for the annual Heart 2 Heart pilgrimage. They were in Mexico from 11/13/2019 to 11/20/2019 along with nearly 30 other Rotarians from Zones 30 and 31.
Club President Barbara Jundkins presents a check in the amout of $5,000.00 to Mission Marshall Food Pantry from The Rotary Club of Marshall. 
Texarkana Oaklawn Rotarian George Moore is being named as the Texarkana ISD 2020 Hall of Fame recipient. George will be retiring from Texarkana Independent School District in 2020. Not only has he been a major asset to the local school district, he has also been a major asset to Oaklawn Rotary Club. 
Texarkana Oaklawn Interact Club's signage tell the story of how we can work together to make a difference in the world. Texarkana Arkansas High Interact Club is very active in their community.
Rotary Club Choir sang Downtown Pittsburg at the "Home For the Holidays event" on December 7th.
A HUGE shout out to the many volunteers who showed up to help out serving food at Texarkana Randy Sams Homeless Shelter. 
Tyler Rotary Clubs continue to participate in the Tyler Christmas Parade to show the community that they care and communicate awareness of the continued fight against Polio. 
Pictured: Jim Albritton and Jim Bailey
Pictured: Steve Ogueri, Denis Hurst and JP 2 Judge Janae Holland Not pictured Parade Judge Greg Hollen 
October 31, 2019, The Clarksville Times, publicized Clarksville Rotary Club's observance of World Polio Day on October 24. 
Texarkana International Rotary Club meets on Monday night. During one of their regular scheduled meetings, they packed 13 boxes for Operation Christmas Child as their November International Service Project. They had so much fun packing the boxes. The boxes will soon be on their way to the distribution center to bless 13 children in counties all over the world.
DG Jim Finstrom speaks at the 39th Annual Officers Appreciation Luncheon sponsored by Texarkana's Four Rotary Clubs- Wilbur Smith, Oaklawn, Sunrise and International. The Keynote Speaker was Brian A. Crawford, Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Willis-Knighton Health System. Texarkana, Texas Mayor Bob Bruggeman and Texarkana, Arkansas Mayor Allen Brown presented the Officers of the Year chosen by the 9 Departments that were represented. Approximately 250 Officers, Rotarians and Elected Officials attended the luncheon. 
The members of the Clarksville Rotary Club contribute annually to The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. A portion of funds contributed by Rotary clubs are returned by The Rotary Foundation to the Rotary International District to which the local club is assigned. Rotary Clubs are then entitled to apply for a matching club project grant from their District Grant Committee to assist with a local or international project. The local club matches the amount of the grant requested in the application. 
The Rotary Club of Longview continued its years old tradition of assisting with the Longview Thanksgiving Food Drive this November. 
Past President James Roberts who serves on the board of the Food Drive organizes the club’s participation each year which includes a sizable cash donation that helps provide turkeys and hens along with the nonperishable items. For several years the club has moved its regular Tuesday noon meeting the week of Thanksgiving to the Food Drive location at Maude Cobb Convention Center where the Rotarians help sort food donations, check in donation recipients and help them gather and load their food boxes.
Texarkana Sunrise Rotary Club and Habitat For Humanity of Texarkana partnered to refurbish a Nash Resident's home. 
PDG Bill Hedges helping Operation Christmas Child in Quitman. Over 3,000 boxes from the East Texas area were sent abroad.
IPDG Judy Guthrie is recognized at the November 2, 2019 Membership and Foundation Seminar for the "Second Highest Net Gain" of members in Zone 31 in 2018-2019.
Paul Harris Society members were recognized for their faithful generosity.
This is a group picture of the Sabine High School Interact Service Organization officers and sponsors with the certificate and banner that we presented to them on Thursday, October 31, 2019. The Rotary Club of Kilgore is very honored to be able to sponsor this wonderful group of young people.
On October 12, 2019 West Bowie County Rotary Club organized their 4th Annual Half
our first runner! He Brad ran from New Boston to De Kalb and back to New Boston again to do a whole marathon - 26.2 miles. Wow! They are very grateful to Bates-Rolf Funeral Home and Texarkana Funeral Homes for sponsoring our race. Thank you so much for your generosity!
Gilmer Rotary Club's float won 1st place in the 82nd East Texas Yamboree. 
Texarkana Sunrise Rise Rotary Club is proud to co-sponsor Nash Cub Scout group for the second year with BWI Companies. 
Texarkana International Rotary Club members are busy labeling over 1300 dictionaries to deliver to area 3rd graders. 
Pittsburg Rotary Club members celebration World Polio Day!
The Pittsburg Rotary assisted by the Pitt Rotary Interact Club handed out dictionaries to the third graders in the Primary School, Wednesday, Oct. 16.
Rotary participating in Wills Point’s Annual Boo on the Bricks Celebration. They held a raffle with a cruise as the grand prize. This event helped raise $1,000 to be donated to Polio Plus. Rotarian David Cartwright (left) and Interact Club Administrator Lisa Zelnick (right)
Karen Maines is a Registered Dental Hygienist in Longview, Texas, a passionate local city volunteer and 2019-20 President of the Longview Greggton Rotary Club. 
Miss Texas Chandler Foreman at the Golden sweet potato festival.
Miss Texas Chandler Foreman pictured at a “meet and greet” luncheon at the Golden Homestead, taking time to visit with local East Texas Rotarians following Golden Sweet Potato Festival parade on Saturday, October. 26, 2019. Pictured are PDG Bill Hedges, Golden Homestead owner Tony Pegues , Miss Texas and Greg Hollen. 
– Beau Poteet presenting a donation to Gerald and Lyn Haney of Men and Ladies of Honor, a faith-based organization that counsels our youth in combining powerful weekend camps and weekly one-hour discipleship meetings.
– Past club President, Scott Caloss, being recognized for his service (Scott Caloss on left, club President Beau Poteet on right)
– Club President Beau Poteet with guests Assistant DG Barbara Turner and District Governor Jim Finstrom
– Beau Poteet with guest speaker Huy Nguyen, Golf Pro at Links at Land’s End. 
– David Cartwright with guest speaker Anna Dodd, Medical Mission Trip to Africa
– New member, Doug Mullin – David Cartwright, Herschel LyBrand, Doug Mullin, and James Brown
The Rotary Club of Paris United hosted a FUN fundraiser for ladies on September 19th at the Love Civic Center in Paris, Texas. Girls Night Out was a night of food, fun, fellowship and bingo games to win designer purses. Approximately 600 women participated. There were 25 sponsors for the event this time. This was the second Girls Night Out event hosted by Paris United. The first was held in March 2019 and was such a success we decided to do it again this Fall. The club raised over $20,000 for our various local programs as well as to contribute toward polio eradication.
The Marshall RC supported the Harrison County Literacy Council Corporate Spelling Bee in early September. The emcee for the event was Marshall Rotarian, Molly Hollis, and another Rotarian, County Judge Chad Sims, served as one of the judges. The club team represented us well. This was a spirited and fun event that pulls our community together. 
Attention: President Elects, President Nominees, Assistant Governors, and Rangers, Save the Date! Registration begins November 1st. Register early! Hotel Rooms are Discounted only while Block availability lasts.
Mt. Pleasant Rotarians welcome DG Jim Finstrom and Trisia Finstrom. 
On September 18, 2019, Sunrise Rotarians from left to right: Ralph Waits, Mary Wormington, Doug Bowers, Steve Collier, Patty Collier, Landon Forbes, Shirley Pinnix-Evans and Terry Davis distribute 120 Dictionaries to all the 3rd Graders at Nash Elementary School. 
Texarkana Oaklawn Rotary Club's Interact Club members from Arkansas High School with Interact Advisor Tonya Dunphy and Russell Sparks members of Oaklawn Rotary Club volunteered at the Alzheimer's Assocation, Walk to end Alzheimer's! 
PDG and Rev. Bill Hedges is honored by receiving the Touchpoint Pacesetter Award for his volunteer services.
Message from PDG & District Polio Plus Chair Shirley Griffin, "World Polio Day is October 24, 2019 and I would like to encourage each of the clubs in the District to have some kind of fundraiser for Polio Plus. November is Polio month and this will give us additional opportunity to hold an event or fundraiser for Polio Plus efforts. Our goal is to rid of this disease." The fight is not over we currently have 62 new cases in Pakistan and 16 cases in Afghanistan! It is not too late to make what could be your most important financial contribution to the POLIO ERADICATION campaign!
As your District Governor, I am happy to report that club visits are going well with 19 completed. 
Pictured from Left to Right are the DGND Interview Committee that interviewed and selected Carolyn Franks as District Governor for 2022-2023 
IPDG Judy Guthrie and Rotary International President Mark Maloney made the front page of The Marshall News Messenger. RI Mark Maloney was the Guest Speaker as Marshall Rotary celebrate 100 years. Approximately 240 Rotarians and guest attended the event. 
Jefferson Rotarians delivered dictionaries bright and early Friday, August 30, 2019 to Third Graders at Jefferson Elementary and Cypress Bend Elementary schools. This project, as well as the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, helps Rotary promote literacy in Marion County.
Carthage Rotarians preparing Dictionaries with stickers and flyers to distribute to the 3rd Graders in Panola County. 
Texarkana Sunrise Rotary Club is behind Boy Scout of America Caddo Area Council Scout Executive, Anthony Escobar. Sunrise welcomes Anthony Escobar as he update the Rotarians on the success of the pilot Cub Scout Program at Nash Elementary School. Sunrise Rotary Club and BWI Companies will sponsor 32 Cub Scouts for the 2nd year beginning in October 2019. 
PDG Bill Hedges volunteered with Dr. Harold Hedges installing a stone wall and stone in flower beds at Episcopal Camp Mitchell on Mt. Petit Jean, Ark. 
Pittsburg Rotarians had a workday to replace damaged flags for display around Camp County and Pittsburg for special national holidays. The repair team is pictured L-R, Sabin Warrick, Vee Couch, AJ Mason, Mike Reynolds, Shawn Kennington, Vernon Rowe, Gary George, Eric Fruin, Jim Archer, Harold Holyfield, Chris Lummus.
District 5830 Leadership attends Zone Training. 
Pittsburg Rotary Club members welcome DG Jim Finstrom and wife Tricia to their club.
PDG Bill Hedges volunteers at East Texas Food Bank in Tyler, Texas. This project is sponsored by the Tyler Rotary Club.
Rotarians and Lions working together at the KISD One Stop registration helping students get ready for the beginning of school. Lions taught the Rotarians how to check the students vision and Rotarians measured the feel of students for a new pair of shoes and socks.
CAROLYN FRANKS is a native of Pittsburg, Texas and a graduate of Pittsburg High School and the University of North Texas. District Governor Nominee Designate Carolyn Franks will hold the District Governor position from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023.
2019-2020 Leadership Team at the COG Meeting on August 3, 2019 in Longview, Texas. 
Stan Kent and his wife Nancy, along with three horses, moved to Sulphur Springs, Texas over several months in 2014. Stan had retired from the school district in Wichita, Kansas, located a large ranch with a stable (to which he later added riding arena) in the Sulphur Springs area, and started the next phase of his life. He remarks: ‘June was probably NOT the best time to start the move to Texas!’
Jerry Camp and Tom Sartor are ready for Day 2 of the Rotary Club of Kilgore Shoe Project. They measured 397 students for shoes. 
A Rotary Young Professional Special Event 21 & Up. 
Thank You! Tyler Police Department for setting a great example and having fun with the Tyler Kiddos. This was Splasher Grand Opening at Bergfeld Park in Tyler.
STATE OF ROTARY MEMBERSHIP As of 1 January 2019
The Rotary Club of Mineola donated 20 Live Oak Trees to Iron House Square in Mineola and this was tree watering day. " Teaching our future generation to care for our park."
PDG, VG and District Foundation Chair, Ted Huffhines was in New Orleans at a Zone Training Meeting. Ask PDG Ted about his "Magic Show". I understand the "Magic Show" explained how District (club) Grants and Global Grants are funded. 
Interact students participated at the monthly Texarkana Opportunities residents special needs dance sponsored by the Arkansas Elks Lodge. The Interact Club has attended this dance for the last 6 years and been able to develop some amazing friendships. 
Interact Students at work at a two day event to raise money for Texarkana Detective Holly Smith. 
Let us keep membership in mind this month and finish forming our club membership committees. Get them working with diversity in mind, and plan an event to invite potential members. We had great Zone Training in New Orleans last month that featured Innovation and Membership and Foundation growth. The program was innovative, and you could see the result of hard work under Chairman Floyd Lancia. I encourage assistant governors who were not there and club presidents and presidents-elect to go to the Zone Training on August 9 - August 10 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. 
The West Bowie County Rotary Club was out along State Highway 8 south of New Boston picking up trash. Pictured is West Bowie Club President Kevin Cauley and Robin Dalby.
Lindale Rotary Club and Lindale American Legion give back to Lindale kids with an Fishing event. Funds raised at the Lindale Wild Game Dinner helps support projects like this. Guest appearance by PDG Lee Montgomery.
Texarkana Oaklawn Rotary Club makes a generous donation to Texarkana, Tx Parks & Recreation to purchase additional picnic benches for the Rotary Splash-Pad at Spring Lake Park. 
Longview Midtown Rotarians hard at work helping their elderly neighbors by cleaning up backyards after storms hit their area. 
The Masonic Lodge in Pittsburg honored Rotarian Carolyn Franks with the Community Builders Award. 
During the joint end of year celebration of Texarkana's 5 local Rotary Clubs, Oaklawn Rotary Club member Winford Dunn was honored as he celebrates 50 years as a Rotarian! .jpg)
Well, I have been installed as your 2019-2020 District Governor and am eager to go forward. So that we might all receive the Presidential Citation, this month, let's begin by appointing or re-appointing an active club membership committee and an active Foundation committee, with each comprised of no less than five members. Don't forget to report the chairs to Rotary International. Respective goals could include an increase in club membership and an increased donation to both the Foundation and Polio Plus. I look forward to meeting with each of your clubs. Please let me know how I may be of service above self to you. We will connect Rotary with the world together.
South Tyler President, Amanda Folmar accepts the Bill Campbell Award from 2018-2019 DG Judy Guthrie at the 2019-2020 Installations of District Officers on June 29, 2019. 
Texarkana Sunrise Rotary Club and BWI Companies, Inc. partnered in September 2018 to sponsor Caddo Area Council Scoutreach Pack 530 at Nash Elementary. Scoutreach Coordinator Sarah White, Intern Brianna Black and Program Aides, presented awards to the Pack at a year end celebration. Complete with the pledge, moto and fun snacks from Sunrise Rotary Club. 
Texarkana Rotarians building America Flags on the 75th celebration of D Day. After 2 hours of building Amercian flags, Texarkana Rotary Club members Salute our Military. Texarkana's four Rotary Clubs deliver approximately 4700 flags six times a year to Businesses and Individuals. Displaying that many flags at one time on Holidays is a beautiful site. 
PDG John Jetter attended the triennial Rotary Council on Legislation as RI District 5830’s representative. The Council met at the Hyatt Regency Chicago April 14 to 18, 2019. The Council (one representative for each of 530 plus districts) considered 117 enactments of which 42 were adopted.
Atlanta Area club has been sponsoring a “Next Chapter Book Club” for the last 2 years. Members Sheri New, David Lester and Fern Porter have been encouraging these “reading challenged” adults to open up the world of books and discover new vistas! This year they read about cats who can walk through walls and horses that can soar over stiles. There have been fun moments of suspense as we read each week.
4 Way Test Speech Contest winners and sponsoring club.
Connor Lind, 2018-2019 District 5830 Global Scholar. Clubs can have a Global Scholar coordinator and all members can be on the lookout for possible students looking to pursue a Masters Degree in one of Rotary's 6 Areas of Focus. Applicants should be accepted by their college/university. Clubs can get applications and information at Rotary.org by searching Global Grants. Nominations can be sent to the District Administrator in the fall of 2019 or no later than January 31, 2020. PDG Lee Montgomery is available for assistance at 
Orval Pirtle Memorial Scholarships-- Athens
Ron Baugh Scholarship-Athens
Well, it looks like this is my Swan Song! All I can say is that it has been a heckuva a ride! This past year will be one of the fondest memories I will ever have. I have seen people I haven't seen in a long time and met some very fine Rotarians whom I didn't know but can now call my friends. We have a great District with some amazing people who helped me out at every corner....for which I am eternally grateful. It is with a heavy heart that I say good bye; but you will see me again in the coming years as I don't intend to disappear! Yours in Rotary Service, Judy
Our annual 4 Way Speech Contest was a great success! We had 19 contestants this year and being a judge is becoming more and more difficult. These young people are just getting better and better. The First, Second and Third Place winners are pictured here. Congratulations to them and all the contestants for a job well done!
From left to right: Sunrise Rotary member and Luncheon Committee Member assisted DG Judy Guthrie with a gift of appreciation to Keynote Speaker Johnny Key. 
During International Women's Day, Women shared stories of humanitarian service. District 5830 Leadership Team is adding "Our Polio Warrior, PDG Shirley Griffin to list of outstanding women. 
for our Zone 31. 
Also, congratulations to Dr. Phil Bandel who will serve as our Member Alternate if Ted can't make it.
Congratulation to Texarkana Oaklawn's Interact Club member, Kaitlyn Oliver, Arkansas High Senior, for being honored at the annual Leadership Texarkana Lunch with Leaders banquet. Kaitlyn was one of two recipients presented with a 2019 youth Wilbur Award for Community Leadership! Kaitlyn has volunteered numerous hours in our community and school through her involvement in Interact, Student Council and other school clubs. She has also attended several community leadership training.
Thank you IPDG Ted Huffhines for educating Texarkana's Oaklawn, Sunrise and Wilbur Smith Rotary clubs the week of April 15, 2019 about "Heart to Heart". Heart to Heart is Rotary's efforts in Mexico to improve schools
DGE Jim Finstrom welcomed 109 Rotarians to the 2019-2020 District Training Assembly that was held at the Mt. Pleasant ISD Administration Building in Mt. Pleasant, Texas on April 6, 2019. I believe everyone was energized with our Guest Speaker Mitty Chang's motivational presentation on Membership. 
A big "Thank You" goes out to Judd Marshall, Superintendent of Education for the Mt. Pleasant ISD and members of the Mt. Pleasant Rotary Club for all their help and support to make this an outstanding event. 
Members of Cedar Creek Lake Rotary Club gathered in support of their home town girl, Riley Thompson of Mabank. Riley, who is only 16, made it to the final 14 on ‘American Idol. Unfortunately, Riley is out...but she’s staying strong with an extremely bright future.
PDG Bill Hedges is with Emergency Response Coordinator at Alto, Tx tornado site. Volunteers helped with debris removal after three tornadoes swept through the City of Alto on April 16, 2019. The path of destruction was a quarter mile wide. Many house were demolished by the strong winds. Additional volunteers are still needed along with warehouse needs to serve the resident in Alto. Local logging truck operators and kitchen crews and food donation were plentiful. 
DG Judy Guthrie makes a surprise visit to Henderson Rotary Club!
City of Tyler Mayor Martin Heines proclaimed February 23, 2019 as "The Rotary Club of South Tyler Day". Mayor Heines presented the proclamation to President Amanda Folmar at their March 4th meeting. City Council members Don Warren and Bob Westbrook, both members of our club are also shown in the picture. The proclamation coincided with the 114th anniversary of Rotary International.
Donna Meredith, President of Athen's Rotary Club, congratulates the Rotary Students of the Month:
Everyone had a great time at O’FarrellVineyards 
Texarkana Oaklawn Rotary Club's Rotarians support the Texarkana Harvest Regional Food Bank. Did you know that 1 in 6 people struggle with hunger in the Texarkana area and 1 in 4 of those people are children?
The Club's guest speaker, Doug Dietz spoke to the members about the role Harvest Texarkana Regional Food Bank plays across the communities in our regions. Harvest Regional Food Bank has been in Texarkana since 1989. Each year they help distribute approximately 3.2 million pounds of food through various programs. One of those programs is the Backpack Program. 
Oaklawn Rotary Club celebrates their youth leaders that participates in the Character First Program. 
During Jefferson Rotary Club's monthly Service Above Self Meet & Greet, President Brooke Bradley-LaFleur and future Rotarian, Tripp LeFleur presented DGE Jim Finstrom his Paul Harris Fellow +5 pin.
Congratulations to Wilbur Smith Rotary Club's Four Way Test Speech contest winners. This year's theme is: Using the Four Way Test- How will you be an inspiration to your school and your community?
Congratulation to Rotary Club of Lindale on their successful Annual Wild Game Dinner. 
Trey Smith of Longview was honored for his advancing in his Major Donor level to Level II. 
PDG Ted and Angela Huffhines were given a standing ovation for their generous support of the Rotary Foundation, achieving Arch Klumph Trustee’s Circle status. 
The highlight of the evening was the keynote address by Ann Lee Hussey from Maine. Ann Lee shared her story as a Polio Survivor and then shared her experiences in being a global leader in the fight to eradicate Polio, having led or participated in over 30 National Immunization Days in various parts of the world. In each of these, millions and even 10’s of millions of children are immunized within the short space of a week to 10 days. Ann Lee’s address was truly spellbinding! 
The Rotary Club of Paris United sponsored 12 Juniors from local High Schools and 2 student leaders from Paris Junior College to participate in RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Award) camp the weekend of February 22-24, 2019 in Athens, TX, along with approximately 90 other high school students from NE Texas. RYLA is an international program that was created by Rotary International to encourage strong leadership in youth. Young people selected for their leadership potential attend a weekend camp to develop and enhance leadership skills through activities conducted in an atmosphere of trust and respect.
allowed the group to buy materials to build 40 beds.
Randy Sams Shelter was established as a homeless shelter by the Sams family in memory of their son. The shelter provides breakfast and dinner, along with separated sleeping areas for men and women. They also provide limited vocational training, life skills and counseling. Evening meals are provided by churches and other civic organizations, along with food donations from restaurants and food pantries. Residents are assigned case managers and are enrolled in 90 day programs of assistance.
Hugo Okahoma Rotary Club has 10 "Little Libraries" in the Hugo area. They just completed a collection of 3000 books to restock their libraries. 
The Rotary Club of Paris United had a very enjoyable program during their meeting on Jan 31st presented by Debb Fleming and her Student Team(s) from Crockett Intermediate School in Paris, TX. “Paris Pride” is a program to increase access to Lamar County's history. The students are researching the history of chosen buildings and will link all our documented building's history with a QR Code attached to the building. They are raising money to purchase brass plaques to put on 6 of the downtown plaza buildings with the name of the building in 1917.
South Tyler Rotary member Tom Perkins was sworn into the Texas State Guard, taking command of 3rd Battalion, 19th Regiment which will be headquartered in Tyler. Rotarians there in support were Bob Westbrook, Jackie Cannon, Amanda Folmar, Mallory Mazarakes, and Sam Scarborough.
South Tyler Rotary Club had an off campus visit to Breckenridge Village. They were able to visit with the residents, had a panel discussion and toured the facility. Lots of fun! The top picture is South Tyler RC President Amanda Folmar, Steven Campbell the executive director for Breckinridge Village and our panel of speakers.
Rotarians pictured took the off campus tour.
Caddo Area Council held a Recognition Banquet February 8, 2019 and honored Sunrise Rotary Club President Elect Mary Wormington and Nash City Mayor Robert Bunch and Co-Owner of BWI for co-sponsoring a new Club Scout Troop in Nash, Texas. They received the Caddo Area Council Whitney M. Young award that recognizes outstanding service by an adult for demonstrating involvement in the development and implementation of Scouting opportunities for from low-income backgrounds. 
Congratulations to Longview Rotarian Allen McReynolds for a job well done obtaining the Texas Historial Commission Designation and Marker for Fisher Cemetery of Longview cemetery.
Wayne Collins was a dedicated member of the Mineola club. DG Judy Guthrie had the privilege of meeting him twice before he passed. In fact, DG Judy also met his daughter (pictured).
District 5830 Inbound Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) student, Stella, had the opportunity to join nearly 200 other inbound students from across the globe in Tulsa, Oklahoma at SCRYE weekend. If you haven't had the opportunity to meet Stella yet, I hope you will before the end of her exchange year. She is not only a wonderful ambassador for Germany, but she is also a perfect ambassador for RYE. In addition to taking advanced placement courses at Pleasant Grove High School, Stella was part of the school's fall play. She is also part of the tennis team and has started track practice. Rotary Youth Exchange is a powerful program? If you would like more information on the RYE program please contact Rachel Trimble at 
Texarkana Oaklawn Rotary Club donated $600.00 to Randy Sams from funds raised at their annual draw down. 
On January 23, 2019, James Upchurch of Texarkana told the Texarkana Sunrise Rotary Club the incredible story of landing at Iwo Jima in the spring of 1945 near the end of WWII. He was a Navy enlisted sailor on the USS Bollinger, a Navy vessel commissioned just one year earlier to carry 1500 Marines to battle. In 1944, Mr. Upchurch joined the Navy as a 16 or 17 year old youngster.
Daniel Maloney, of the Club of Decatur, Alabama, USA, is the selection of the Nominating Committee for President of Rotary International for 2019-20. He will be declared the president-nominee on 1 October if no challenging candidates have been suggested.
Texarkana Sunrise Rotary Club's President, Steve Collier and Past President, Patty Collier spent their Wedding Anniversary giving back to the Community by volunteering for the Salvation Army. That is " Service Above Self" for sure. 
Beckville Interact Club putting together bags of supplies to be handed out to the homeless. 
Henderson Rotarians wrapping gifts for needy families. Gifts were provided for 12 children. The funds come from a "White Elephant" sale during one club meeting. The club has continued this project for many years. 
December was a busy month for the Rotarians in Idabel, OK. They celebrated their 55 years of service along with Senior Santa shopping and gift wrapping dinner.
On Monday, December 10, 2018, DG Judy Guthrie was honored to install four new members for the Mineola Rotary Club. Way to go Mineola Rotary Club!
Idabel, OK (December 14, 2018)— Idabel Rotary Club's submission to the 2019 Festival of Trees sponsored by the Museum of the Red River, was selected "Best Tree" in the "Civic and Social Clubs" category. Decorations included Rotary banners from clubs around the world. Other categories in the annual competition include businesses, school groups, and non-profits. Judges are chosen from each of the categories but are not associated with organizations who have entered a tree. There is also a "Peoples Choice" award from popular voting.
Former U.S. solicitor general and independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr speaks to Rotarians at a luncheon organized by the Rotary Club of Tyler on Thursday, December 13, 2018. In August 1994, Starr became independent counsel responsible for overseeing several investigations involving the Clinton Administration, including Whitewater and the Monica Lewinsky scandal. 
The Marshall Interact Club has definitely been busy “Being the Inspiration” in Marshall, TX. They had a float in the Fire Ant Festival parade. They distributed candy at the Annual Downtown Candy Fest. During International Interact Week, they collected and donated canned food items to Mission Marshall, local food pantry.
Congratulation to Junior Vice President Carl Raymundo, for being accepted for Rotary's RYLA Leadership Camp in Athens, Tx. This is a major accomplishment because only a select few Juniors are accepted. 
In 1998, the Rotary Club of Marshall noticed there was a high rate of high school students quitting high school. The club decided to implement the Diploma Plus program. The 1st two students to complete the program graduated and attended college. April Spears has served as the Diploma Plus Chair for the past two years. She meets with the Diploma Plus students monthly and encouraging them to graduate from high school. She has truly “Been the Inspiration” in Marshall, TX. Thanks to her enthusiasm, encouragement and persistence, the students are scheduled to graduate in May 2019.
2017-2018 Cedar Creek Lake Rotary Club President, Bill Burnett accepts the Bill Campbell Club of the Year Award. IPDG Ted Huffhines present the award to Cedar Creek Lake for their outstanding community projects and fundraisers. Pictured from left to right are: IPDG Ted Huffhines, AG Barbara Turner, 2017-2018 President Bill Burnett, 2018-2019 President Greg Cooley, DGND Mike Groom and Andrea Groom. Please click on the links below for a summary of Cedar Creek Lake Rotary Club projects and services.
Keynote speaker is PDG Ann Lee Hussey. 
Members of Henderson Rotary Club and Henderson High School Interact Club Members helped out with the painting. Their World Polio Day Event was Purple Pinkies for Polio. .JPG)
To support World Polio Day, PDG Tom Dewitt educates the youth from Robert E. Lee High School about Polio Eradication and the Iron Lung that was on display. 
Congratulation to 2017-2018 District 5830 Governor, Ted and Angela Huffhines for "Outstanding Leadership." During the October Zone meetings, District 5830 received 1st Place in Polio Fund giving in the amount of $127,013.00 and 2nd Place in Annual Fund, Per Capita giving of $167.00. IPDG Ted and Angela were inducted into the Arch Klump Society. 
Congratulation goes to Louraiseal McDonald, Marshall Rotary Club who was chosen District 5830 Bill Rains Rotarian of the year for 2017-2018. 
Texas Governor, Greg Abbott, receiving his BeTheInspiration pin from South Tyler Rotary Club President, Amanda Folmar. 
During the Oct. 4, 2018, meeting of the Rotary Club of Paris United, District Governor, Judy Guthrie was the guest speaker. DG Judy is from the Carthage, Texas, Rotary Club. Excerpts from her speech are provided below.
For the 2018-2019 Rotary year, the Red River County Public Library will receive a $1,200.00 grant and has agreed to serve as the cooperating organization to work with the members of the Clarksville Rotary Club in a project which will offer artistic and cultural events and updated reading materials to the patrons of the library. 
Marshall Rotary Club President, Jay Webb assist PDG Shirley Griffin with her excellent program on why we should support the Eradication of Polio. As they say, " A picture is worth a thousand words!"
October 2018, Students of the Month! Club President Donna Meredith present awards to Athens IDS: Jaci Harris and Regan Bella; Athens Christian Preparatory Academy: Joshua Bass and Hayley Gaytan. Congratulation to Shirley Ward on a PHF +2. 
During the Marshall Fire Ant Festival, members of Marshall Rotary Club sold raffle tickets to raise funds and promote Polio Eradication.
The Rotary Club of Athens sponsored " An Evening with Talmage Boston" at the Texan Theater on Thursday, October 25, 2018 for support of World Polio Day and End Polio Now Campaign. 
DG Judy Guthrie, Trish Finstrom, IPDG Ted Huffhines and DGE Jim Finstrom supporting Jefferson Rotary Club's 
" Pints for Polio Event." 
"I cannot remember how many times I called PDG Archie seeking his wisdom and advice, and every time he listened to my question, gave it some serious thought and then shared his thoughts. They were always straight to the point and always correct even if it wasn’t what I wanted to hear. He was that kind of leader."
West Bowie Country Rotary Club members will deliver dictionaries to all the 3rd grade students in West Bowie County. This includes DeKalb, Hooks, Hubbard, Leary, Malta, Maud, New Boston, Red Lick, Redwater, and Sims. Pictured are the 3rd Grade Students from Redwater Elementary School that received their dictionaries. 
Texarkana Sunrise Rotary Club members are ready to deliver 120 Dictionaries to Nash Elementary Third Grade Students. They placed Rotary labels in the Dictionaries during their 7:00 a.m. meeting time. Dictionaries will be delivered in October. 
September 20, 2018 Athens Rotary Club sponsored Pints for Polio to support the End Polio Now Campaign. President Donna Meredith said, " It was a "Fun event for a great cause!" 
Texarkana Wilbur Smith's President, Cindy Marsh and Scholarship Chairman, Skylar Rogers present a check for $500.00 to Chiquita Burks as part of the Wilbur Smith's Graduate Scholarship program. 
South Tyler Rotary Club held their Club Visioning meeting at the Tyler Women's Building. Thanks to IPDG Ted Huffhines, AG Sam Scroggins, David Cartwright and Dietrich Johnson for facilitating. Thanks to South Tyler's Club President, Amanda Folmar, for assembling such a great group!
Pictured from left to right: Tyler Higgenbotham, Brandon Williams, President Craig Johnson, DG Judy, Logan Vaughan, Chaney Johnson, Brenda Sabbagh, Judy Jones and AG Nathan Reves.
Friday, Sept 14. Idabel vs Valliant. Idabel won 54-47 ! Proceeds are used to fund the Idabel Rotary Scholarships.
Clarksville Rotary Club displayed the "Iron Lung" at the Red River County Fair September 19-20, 2018 to promote awareness of the efforts of Rotary International to eradicate polio worldwide. Shown in the photo working the booth, are club president, Dan Meehan and past president, Pam Bryant. 
From Left to Right: President-Bob Hourahan, Judd Marshall, Joe Denman, Buddy Marshall, Membership-Jey Yancey, DG Judy, Service-Malik Latif, Treasurer-Danny Muskrat, Secretary-Bobby Rice, Larry Cannaday, RYLA-Mike Hall. 
September 15, 2018, Pittsburg Rotary Club members along with DG Judy participated in Pittsburg Pioneer Days. This was an opportunity to promote awareness of the efforts of Rotary to eradicate polio worldwide. 
Members of the Idabel Rotary Club supports their community's "Stuff the Bus Project". They collected approximately $900.00 worth of school supplies for distribution to the Idabel Public Schools. Shown in photo- Jennifer Andrews, Jerry Ellis, Lindsay Campbell, Carolyn White and Linda Potts. Also helping with the project but now shown are: Mark Polson, Doug Brown, Glenda Rankin, Ross Chandler, Henry Moy and Faye House.
Other pictures available in the District Photo Library.
On August 1, 2018, Stephanie Brazile, President of Oaklawn Rotary Club presented Mike Richardson with the "Outstanding Community Service Award". Who, though devotion and exemplary efforts, leads the Club's Flag Project. Mike's actions embody Rotary's motto of Service Above Self. Mike joined Rotary, April 7, 1977 and is Past President, Paul Harris Fellow and Sustaining Member. Congratulation Mike!!!
The Rotary Club of Cedar Creek Lake presented the 2018 Celebrity Waiters Fundraiser. The community leaders, business owners and city and county officials join club members to support Rotary. This event raises approximately $70,000 each year and goes back into the community, especially in support of the children. It was a fun party and raised lots of money with the help of their community.
Cedar Creek Lake Rotary Club President, Greg Cooley recognized Peggy Price and Andrea Pickens for being long time co-chairs for our Celebrity Waiter Event. (Go to District Photo Album for more pictures) 
Gladewater Rotary Club and Gladewater Lions Club have joined together to build a Food Pantry. The free food is available in a depressed area of Gladewater. Both clubs will keep the pantry stocked for public use. 
Reported by Tina Bell, Rotary District 5830 Youth Exchange Student, Stella Marie Theres Angerer, had the opportunity to visit District 5890 for a combined Inbound Orientation with their 18 Rotary Youth Exchange students from across the world. Stella is visiting this year from Germany and attending school in Texarkana. Stella is being hosted by the Rotary Club of Texarkana International Club. To learn more about RYE in District 5830 visit: https//rotary5830.org/sitepage/youth-exchange
Hugo Rotary Club completed their Club Visioning on August 21, 2018. President Colby Bryant said, "The leadership of the Hugo Club owes a deep thanks to the team who assisted the Club Visioning meeting in August. " 
Texas. Back Row left to right: DGDN Mike Groom, PDG Carroll Greenwaldt, PDG Lee Montgomery, PDG John Henson, DG Judy Guthrie, PDG Tom DeWitt, PDG Jim Archer, IPDG Ted Huffhines, PDG Dr. Phil Bandel, DGN Jack Welge
Texarkana Sunrise Rotary Club members are known for their " Community Service and the "Little Club that Can!". 93% of their members worked on the 2018 Stuff the Bus Project plus the club gave a financial contribution to Texarkana United Way for purchase of school supplies for the children in need in the area.
In July, the Longview-Greggton Rotary Club distributed over $26,000 in proceeds from their annual PCRA Rodeo fundraiser. Bob Metzler, Chairman of the Longview Greggton Rotary Charities Inc. board, distributes checks to worthy local nonprofits. 
Pittsburg Rotary Club members welcomes DG Judy Guthrie to Pittsburg during DG Judy's official visit. "The Pittsburg Rotary Club has just finished Club Visioning and is on a roll!" "Everybody is excited and enthusiastic!" ,stated DG Judy Guthrie. 
Marshall Rotary Club Past President and Harrison County Extension Agent, Louraisel McDonald was recognized for the host of awards she received on the State, National, and Regional levels. 
At the District Governor's Official meeting in Jefferson,Texas, DG Judy Guthrie presented DGE Jim Finstrom with his Paul Harris Plus4 pin. 
DG Judy's visit to South Tyler Rotary Club on May 23, 2018
DG Judy Guthrie installs Marshall RC 2018-2019 Officers during her Official Club Visit.
Greg Hollen is the new Mineola City Alderman representing Ward 2, replacing Jack Newman.
2018-2019 District 5830 Leaders that attended Lone Star P.E.T.S. training March 2018.
IPDG Ted Huffhines installs Longview Midtown Rotary Club's PE April Barber with congratulation to 2017-2018 President Vickie Boggio for a great year. Congratulations, Macie Wyers on receiving your Paul Harris Fellow tonight! What an incredible way to honor an excellent Rotarian who truly exhibits the Service Above Self motto! 
🎉 Thank you to District 5830 for sponsoring this PH!
IPDG Ted Huffhines installs Longview Greggton incoming President Scott Bruner and congratulates outgoing President Ingrid Self on an outstanding year as President.
IPDG Ted Huffhines and PDG Lee Montgomery congratulates South Ty
ler Rotary Club on a great year with Past Pres. Nancy Crawford. DG Judy Guthrie installs the new South Tyler President, Amanda Folmar, and looks forward to her superb leadership. 
mpany as IPDG Ted Huffhines installed Brooke Bradley as the new club president. Great fun, fellowship and food! Small club making a huge difference!
Antlers Rotary Club held a purse raffle and raised $1364 for our school scholarship fund. The funds were presented it to Christina Williams, who was very excited!
IPDG Ted Huffhines was very honored to install Marshall Rotary Club's next club president, Jay Webb, in his home club of Marshall! Jay will do an awesome job and “Be an Inspiration “ to all our members! Thanks to all who came out to support him. Great night for the Marshall Rotary Club!
Texarkana Wilbur Smith RC, Oaklawn RC, International RC and Sunrise RC celebrates together a very successful Rotary Year. PDG Tom DeWitt was the guest speaker and installed the new officers. Texarkana Emergency Center sponsored the event. (refer to District Photo Album for all pictures) 
There were just a few over 25,000 Rotarians in Toronto, and over 15,000 have registered for the Hamburg Convention. PDG John Henson said, "If you have never attended a Convention, make Hamburg your first. If you do, I guarantee it won't be your last!!!!" (please refer to the District Photo Album for more pictures)
On June 16, 2018, PDG and Zone 31 Endowments/Major Gifts Advisor Pamela Stewart installs Judy Guthrie as 2018-2019 District 5830 Governor. 
Rotary Club of Marshall's Club President, Louraiseal McDonald was presented with her Paul Harris Fellow plus 3 pin by D5830 IPDG Ted Huffhines and his wife Angela Huffhines. Vivian Lewis, Touch Points Chair, was presented with her Paul Harris Fellow. The Special Guest of the day were Marcus Sandifer & Ray Brady. They discussed "Local Highway Projects". 
Texarkana's Four Rotary Clubs current managed approximately 4500 American Flags. Prior to the each holiday the clubs work together to repair damaged flags and build new flags. In May, 18 Rotarians from Texarkana Sunrise RC, Wilbur Smith RC and International RC worked for 2 hours to get ready for Memorial Day. For more information about Texarkana American Flag Project please contact Shirley Pinnix Evans at spinnix10@aol.com.
Hello to all of you dedicated Rotarians across District 5830. June is the last month of the current Rotary year. We want to finish the Rotary year off strongly. 
Annual Picnic for Opportunities Inc. Adult Residents: The Oaklawn Rotary Club was happy to join with the International Rotary Club (both of Texarkana) to host an annual picnic at Bobby Ferguson Park in Texarkana, Ark. We are so proud of the Interact Clubs (high school clubs sponsored by a local Rotary Club) from Pleasant Grove and Arkansas High! These students played games with about 50 adults who have special needs. We cooked 160 hot dogs and served all the fixins. The weather was pleasant and everyone had a great time! They look forward to next year.
Jefferson Rotary Club honoring the Veterans that paid the ultimate price for our Freedom.
The Director of Texarkana Resources presented a certificate to the Interact Club at Arkansas High which is sponsored by the Texarkana Oaklawn Rotary Club. The award is for Most Spirited Rest Stop at their recent Ark-La-Tex Challenge bike race fundraiser.
Rotary Club of Henderson partnering with the Master Gardeners and Habitat while planting trees to support 2017-2018 RI President Ian Riseley environmental project. 
Congratulations to Stephanie Guck and Suzanne Zeid, Valedictorian and Salutatorian of Longview High School. Both of whom were honored as Rotary Student of the month by the Rotarian Club of Longview. 
South Tyler Rotary Club members make Bergfield Park Clean Up project fun while doing community service. 
Keith Boles, Henderson RC's Youth Service Chair, presents Certificate of Achievement to Colby Stewart who wins Rotary Vocational Student of the Month. 
Alaura Goad wins Unicorn Student of the month.
Students greeted by Rotary Club of Tyler President-Elect George Roberts as they enter the stage to receive their awards.
DG Ted Huffhines is so impressed with the dedication and organization of the 28th Annual Longview Greggton Rodeo! Congratulation to Ingrid Self, Karen Maines, and the Greggton RC members..png)
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DG Ted Huffhines, shares pictures of the great club social with the Marshall Rotary Club. A " Big Thank You" to Linda and John Endicott for hosting the evening.
Jefferson Rotary Club celebrates at Don Juan's with Jefferson Rotarians honoring their April " Service Above Self" award winner Willie Turlington. 
South Tyler RC Spaghetti Dinner was an awesome fundraiser with incredible community support. Truly making a Difference in Tyler.
Texarkana Oaklawn RC presented $600.00 to following Texarkana, Ark, Texarkana, Texas and Liberty Eylau Middle Schools. 
District 5830 Training Assembly was held April 21, 2018 at Northeast Texas Community College in Mt. Pleasant. A big "Thank You" goes out to Pittsburg Rotary Club's President Carolyn Franks and her team for hosting the event. DGE Judy Guthrie was very pleased with the attendance of 83 Rotarians that were eager to learn. On the picture to the left are Amanda Folmar who spoke about her passion for Interact and Rachael Trimble spoke on the Rotary Youth Exchange Program. Jill Bultemeier an Interact member was introduced and will be traveling to Germany to study. 
According to our DG Ted Huffhines, we had a "Great day at the District 5830 4 Way Speech Contest hosted beautifully by the Mt. Pleasant Rotary Club on April 28, 2018. We are very proud of our participants across the District. Congratulations to winners: Caleb Snow, Benjamin Huegel and Melody Shannon. America is in good hands with these leaders of tomorrow."
One of the most profound moments in the history of the Rotary Club of Marshall Texas happened Thursday April 27, 1987, at 12:46 p.m., during the regular Meeting of the club, as reported by Laureen Tedesco of "The Marshall News Messenger". Two women were inducted into the club--- Mrs. Carolyn Abney, and Mrs. Patti Harris. 
( For more event pictures go to District 5830 Photo Albums)
The Rotary Club of Cedar Creek Lake's Interact Club of Mabank High School helped host a Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) event for Pre-K thru 5th graders.
President of the Rotary Club of Cedar Creek Lake, Bill Burnett, proudly flies his Rotary flag at his home.
Members of the Rotary Club of Cedar Creek Lake recently attended a fundraiser for Friends of Animals, a low cost animal neuter center.
DG Ted Huffhines enjoyed time with Canton RC members at the Canton Rotary Club Skeet Shoot Fundraise. The funds provide scholarships for high school students at Buffalo Creek Shooting Range.
Henderson Rotary Club recognizes Vocational Students. 
The golf tournament held by the Rotary Club of Cedar Creek Lake was a great success again this year. 
The 16th Annual Faux Paws Dog Walk was the brainchild of Karen Partee, wife of Bryan Partee, a Rotarian in the Marshall Rotary Club. Karen and Bryan were the adopted parents of two shelter-held Dachshunds who captured their hearts and filled their lives with joy and companionship. 
The State of Rotary’s Membership -- presentation now available!
Idabel Rotary Club held their annual trash pick-up day on Saturday, March 24. The group collected 37 bags of trash, a tire, and a bucket along the south Bypass in Idabel.
DG Ted Huffhines addressed over 180 Teachers, Principals, Superintendents and Rotarians, Thursday, April 5, 2018 at Texarkana Rotary Clubs' 25th Annual Teachers Appreciation Luncheon. This year's Rotary International Theme is: "Making a Difference". Teachers do make a difference in the lives of our children everyday. 
Keynote Speaker, Texas State Representative Gary VanDeaver asked the question to the audience of Educators, " Does what you say matter?" Rep. VanDeaver, told a true story of two young ladies that had the same first name. The rest of the story is yes, what you say does make a difference. 
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Jefferson Rotary Club accepts the challenge made by Ian H. S. Riseley, the 2017-2018 President of Rotary International. He challenged the members of Rotary Clubs worldwide to plant trees in their communities as a service project.
Throughout the school year, the Rotary Club of Tyler recognizes outstanding high school seniors from schools throughout the Tyler area.
The club has been honoring students for more than 20 years. The students are selected by the guidance counselors of each school for their grades, school involvement and community service. Tyler Rotarian Mary Burch presented each student to the club and shared their accomplishments, goals, and the college they plan to attend. Students are presented with a plaque as a token of appreciation. The students’ parents, principals and counselors were also present.
Lone Star PETS is the premier training event that prepares Rotary Club President-Elects for their year of service as President of their Rotary Club in Texas and Southern Oklahoma. There were approximately 800 Rotarians that attended the LoneStar PETs in Dallas, Texas March 1 - March 4, 2018. 
Quitman Rotary Club serving Special Olympics. 
Bill Burnett, President of the Rotary Club of Cedar Creek Lake, was recently honored by the Daughters of the American Revolution with their Excellence in Community Service award. Bill serves as chairperson for the local HUD Housing Board and as a board member with Forever Families, a faith based program for women who have been incarcerated or coming from drug rehab programs.
Ian H. S. Riseley, the 2017-2018 President of Rotary International, challenged the members of Rotary clubs worldwide to plant trees in their communities as a service project. The Clarksville Rotary Club recently planted Shumard Oak trees in three city parks: Fireman’s Park, Grove/3rd Street Park and Cheatham Hill Park on Magnolia Street. Rotarians shown planting one of the four trees designated for Cheatham Hill Park on Magnolia Street are: Front row from left: Bow Willis, Ben Black, Rotary Club President, Donna Jessee and David Lee. Back row from left: Dan Meehan, James Vaughan, Jr., John McPeters and Rob Rowley.
Please join DG Ted Huffhines and all the PDGs in Rotary District 5830 to express our deepest sympathy to PDG Carroll Fletcher on the passing of his loving wife Gracie. 
The Rotary Club of Marshall Texas accepted the Challenge of 2017-18 Rotary International President, Ian H.S. Riseley, to develop projects with Rotaract and Interact Club support and collaborate with community partners and local experts by planting a tree for every member of the club. The goal was to PLANT A TREE by Earth Day, April 22, 2018. Since it was organized in 1919, The Rotary Club of Marshall Texas has been a strong supporter of education for boys and girls of Marshall and Harrison County. 
On Tuesday, March 6th, Rotary Club of Marshall President Louraiseal McDonald and Rotary Club of Marshall member David Robertson distributed 116 dictionaries at William B. Travis Elementary to 3rd grade students. Also, during the months of March and April other Rotary Club of Marshall members will distribute an average of 800 dictionaries to other 3rdgrade students in Marshall, TX and Hallsville, TX.
A large crowd of Rotarians gathered to celebrate the Rotary Foundation, recognize District 5830’s 2017 contributions and Global Humanitarian work, to be inspired by Past RI Director Brad Howard, and to honor those who have generously contributed to the Rotary Foundation in the calendar year 2017. 
Texas Country Ford presented checks from their Drive One Program. A check for $6000 was presented to the Winnsboro Rotary Club of which the Interact Club received half. Rotary uses the money for student scholarships each year, and the WHS Interact Club presented $1500 each to Memorial Middle School and Winnsboro Elementary School for playground improvements. In addition, Texas Country Ford presented an additional $3,060 to Winnsboro Elementary School for their participation in Drive One for Your School.
Lindale Rotary Club Celebrity Waiter Wild Game Dinner was a great success! They raised 50% more than their last year's event, which was their first year. The members of the Lindale Rotary Club learned a lot and are looking forward to tailoring their event even more for their audience in Lindale. The Event has been embraced by their community. The main purpose of the Event was to raise Rotary awareness in the area and this event is helping them to make major strides. Three attendees have shown interest in Lindale RC since the Wild Game Dinner. DG Ted Huffhines and PDG Lee Montgomery served as celebrity waiters and did an awesome job helping to promote Rotary and lending us a hand. Amanda Folmar with the South Tyler club came with her family also. The support we have received from the district membership is an encouragement. We are looking forward to next year! ( More event pictures are located at the District Photo Album Library.)
The Rotary Club of Cedar Creek Lake was named the Organization of the Month during the February Cedar Creek Lake Area Chamber of Commerce networking luncheon. The Rotary club gave almost $60,000 back to the Cedar Creek Lake community in 2017 and over $750,000 since 1996. Shown accepting the award is Rotary President Bill Burnett (center) and is surrounded by other Rotarian members, several who are members of the Chamber.
The Rotary Club of Cedar Creek Lake, in conjunction with Boy Scout Troop 333, helped plant over 5000 trees at Camp Trevor Reese Jones outside of Athens. It was misty rain most of the day but everyone remained in good spirits. In 2017 the original trees were sold off and the trees planted this time will be harvested after about twenty years. Selling of the trees help support the district that Troop 333 resides.
On February 22, 2018, the Rotary Club of Marshall celebrated Rotary International 113th Birthday. During the celebration, the Marshall Lions Club made a tribute to the 96 year old Rotary Club of Marshall recognizing the excellent service work they have accomplished locally and internationally. 
Kilgore Rotary Club's 2018 Rotary Youth Leadership Award participants address the group Wednesday, including (from left) Maria Morales, Carlos Muniz, Kali Bynog, Perla Vazquez, Brandon Fugler and Jayme Butts.
Kilgore Rotary Club President, Terry Booker plants an American flag Thursday's during the civic organization's prep for President's Day Monday, February 19, 2018.
The Cedar Creek Lake Rotary Club donated $15,000 to the Trinity Valley Community College Foundation Friday, February 16 to establish a new scholarship fund for Kemp, Mabank, Eustace and Malakoff high school graduates to attend TVCC.
On Saturday, Feb 17, 2018, members of the Rotary Club of Marshall (10 Rotarians, 2 spouses, 3 children of Rotarians), Marshall Rotaract (7) and Marshall Interact Club (4) and RYLA youth (1) met at the 1st United Methodist Church in Marshall for a "Dictionary Label Social". The main goal of the event was for everyone to place Rotary labels in dictionaries. The 900 dictionaries will later be distributed to all 3rd grade students in Marshall and Hallsville. Another goal was for friendships and mentorships to be formed. Due to the unity of teamwork and fellowship, all 900 dictionaries had a label within 30 min..png)
It’s that time of year again…the Lindale Rotary Club is hosting our Wild Game Dinner! Last year was their first year and it was a great time and wonderful fundraiser for the club. If you would like to attend this year, we would love to have you! Tickets are $25 each, $10 for youth. We will have many raffle items, games and a separate ATV raffle…we will even have games and raffle items for the kids. They hope to see you there! Please see the attached flyers for more information. Let them know if you have questions or would like to reserve tickets or a table. Tickets sold out quickly last year so don’t wait!!
On January 15, in commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, members of the Texarkana International Rotary Club volunteered at Harvest Regional Food Bank. The holiday is not only for celebration and remembrance of the life and legacy of Dr. King, but a day of service. 
Angel program, gathered non perishable items for victims of hurricane Harvey and Irma, traveling to Muskogee to sing Christmas Carols to the patients in the Veterans Affair Hospital, and served Thanksgiving lunch to the residents at Memorial Heights Nursing Home . Isabella is also very active in her high schools Key Club, National Honor Society, and Native American Club. Isabella currently attend Kiamichi Technology Center of Idabel, where she is enrolled in the Health Careers 2 program. Through that program she is able to be inducted into National Technical Honor Society and HOSA Future Health Care Professionals. Isabella is currently the first student from Kiamichi of Idabel to hold a State Officer Position in HOSA. 
Barry Rassin, of the Rotary Club of East Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas, is the selection of the Nominating Committee for President of Rotary International for 2018-19. He will be declared the president-elect on 1 September if no challenging candidates have been suggested.
2018 District 5830 Foundation Banquet was held February 10, 2018 at Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, Athens, Texas. The Event Chair was PDG and District 5830 Foundation Chair Carroll Greenwaldt. The event's Club Liaison was Anthony Chiles, President of Athens Rotary Club. A "Big Thank You" goes out to all the Athens Rotary Club members for a Wonderful Event. 
The Rotary Club of Marshall really knows how to "Make a Difference." On Wednesday, December 27th, Louraiseal McDonald, club president, presented a $4000 check on behalf of the club to the Mission Marshall Food Pantry Director, Misty Scott. The money will be spent at the East Texas Food Bank. According to Mrs. Scott, “this is the equivalent of $12,000 spent at a local grocery store. This order of $4000 at the East Texas Food Bank is about 700 pounds of food. Roughly 300 families of 4 can be served and should last for approximately 4 days.” A huge thank you goes to DG Ted Huffhines for being available for the presentation.
December 9, 2017 | Texarkana, Arkansas and Texarkana, Texas Police Departments held their annual shop with a cop event. Texas side officers shopped with children at Target while Arkansas side officers were at Walmart. Both departments arrived at the stores with a long convoy of police vehicles with their lights and sirens blaring.
Interact is a service-based club for young people between the ages of 13 and 18. Interact clubs give young people the opportunity to serve their community with meaningful projects, meet new friends, and have fun! Their goals include: developing leadership skills, person integrity, respect for others and ourselves, understanding the value of hard work and service, and fostering fellowship and goodwill throughout the community. Interact Clubs meet these goals by being self-governing and self-supporting. The students have to find ways to fundraiser and plan to ensure their service projects succeeds and has a positive impact on the community. However, they do have some help! Rotarians from local Rotary Clubs mentor Interactors by offering guidance, and donating resources to service projects that clubs take on! .png)
Pres. Greg Hollen, Ken Pearce and others welcomed community residents as paper, cardboard, plastic and cans were dropped off at Walmart in Mineola. Upper Sabine River Recycling transports the material every 3rd Saturday of the year.
Thousands of people flooded downtown Thursday night, November 30, 2017 for the annual Tyler Christmas Parade, sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Tyler. Families, many wrapped in blankets, lined the streets to watch the parade, standing or sitting on the curbs or in foldout chairs. Over 130 groups and individuals from the community participated in this year’s parade with floats and displays of Christmas cheer.
The following was a facebook posting from one of the Teachers at Sabine Elementary School about the Kilgore Rotary Club Dictionary Project.
Rotary of Cedar Creek Lake recently held their annual Klothes for Kids event in which winter clothing for over 75 children was purchased. Because of the number of children involved from two different schools districts it took three days to complete the project. Each child was paired up with two to three adults to help them shop. Although the club organized and funded the project, it is considered a community wide project in which over a 170 volunteers from the local Cedar Creek Lake community; churches, clubs, etc.came together to make it happen. The local Mabank High School Interact Club provided a number of students to help out. Rotary of Cedar Creek Lake "Super Hero" volunteers were also there to help out.
Pictures: Children posing with the bags of clothing they received and a group picture of some of the volunteers.
Marshall High School students plan to do more recruiting according to Stacy Adams, Marshall RC Interact Leader. Stacy made the initial contact with Marshall Independent School District in October to start a new Interact club at the high school. Marshall RC has several Members lined up to be Interact Counselors, and the club now has over 25 member signed up.
Members of the Rotary Club of Tyler share their receipts to show the contributions they gave in recognition of World Polio Day.
Many of Marshall's community groups and organizations united together for a time of networking and fellowship at the first Linking Leisurely event Tuesday at the Marshall Convention Center. "The whole concept of this was to get everybody together that had a volunteer base and in that volunteer base to introduce what you do in the community". 
Service above self': 
Award-winning artists Natalie Grant and Danny Gokey will ring in the holiday season together again this year on the Celebrate Christmas Tour, presented by Medi-Share, a national healthcare-sharing organization. Following a successful run of Christmas dates in 2016 where they performed for multiple sell-out crowds, Natalie and Danny will co-bill their popular Christmas tour again this season, sharing the stage each night in a fully integrated set. A six-time Grammy nominee and five-time Dove Award-winning Female Vocalist of the Year, Natalie Grant and eight-time Dove nominee and two time K-LOVE Male Artist of the Year (2016 and 2017) Danny Gokey are a quintessential vocal pairing, setting the stage for an unforgettable Christmas experience.
The Carthage Rotary Club displayed Rotary 5830 Iron Lung next to their booth at Potlatch. The Rotary Club and its partners have worked for several decades to vaccinate children and help eradicate polio.. According to the endpolio.org, the organization and its partners have reduced polio cases by 99.9 percent world wide since 1988. There are now only three countries where polio is found regularly.
Kilgore Rotarians donated $3,300 to Rotary District 5830, the local club's part of an international effort to eradicate polio – so far in 2017 there have only been 12 cases reported between two countries in the Middle East.
The Rotary Club of Mt Pleasant held its Annual Golf Tournament Saturday, September 23, 2017. More than 60 golfers enjoyed a beautiful day at Mt Pleasant Country Club while helping to raise funds for Rotary projects. The Tournament was led by Rotarians Bob Hourahan, Buddy Marshall, Jey Yancey, and a team of other Club members. Everyone is now looking forward
As West Bowie County Rotary Club wraps up their annual dictionary project in which they provide dictionaries to every third grader in West Bowie County, they would like to shed light on a special arm of our club, Hooks High School Rotary Interact Club. 
"WOW!" Cedar Creek Lake's President Bill Burnett said, " The only expression I know to describe the Club Visioning Event the Rotary Club of Cedar Creek Lake just had with District 5830 facilitators. David Cartwright and his team made up of Louraiseal McDonald, Nathan Reves, and John Jetter did an outstanding job in getting attending club members involved. When the evening was over there was definitely excitement on what they felt their club could accomplish. Club President, Bill Burnett encourages every Rotary Club to hold a Club Visioning Event. 
Miss Texas, Margana Wood pictured with Gene Kennon, Lindale Rotary Club Member, presented the program to the Lindale Rotary Club. Miss Wood will participate in the Miss USA contest later this year representing the state of Texas.
Peggy Price of the Rotary Club of Cedar Creek Lake was recently awarded a "Life Time Achievement" Award by her club. Peggy has been a dedicated and active member for 22 Years, but future life plans recently required her to move from the area. Peggy has served in many capacities in the club, but her co-chair responsibilities for the "Celebrity Waiter" fund raiser was the one she loved most. This is the club's most important and successful fund raiser and was attended by over 280 people this year, raising over $40,000. To the right of Peggy is Andrea Pickens, " Celebrity Waiter" co-chair and Peggy's long time friend.
The Rotary Club of Cedar Creek Lake's Celebrity Waiter fund raiser was another smashing success. This year's theme was "Heroes and Villains" with guest dressing in costume to represent their favorite hero or villain. Supergirl was the costume worn by many of the women while Superman seem to be everywhere. This is the 21st year for the Celebrity Waiter fundraiser and by far the most profitable for the club.
ROTARY CLUB OF TYLER recently had an action packed meeting. To begin the business portion, we presented a $2000.00 check for clean water projects to Danny Carpenter, chair of the 
church of Hawkins. At the event, we held a fun walk for the children and a bicycle raffle. Prizes were donated by Credential Research, Raising Canes, Caldwell Zoo, Discovery Science Place, and Trinity Lutheran Church, TRW Trucking, Hawkins Farm and Auto, and from Lindsey Wilson with Century 21. Six bicycles were presented to 2 winners each in categories K-1, 2-3, and 4-5.
Terry Booker’s father-in-law was a Rotarian for more than four decades, and Alton Holt lived the Rotary motto: “Service Above Self.”
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Dan Carpenter, a member of the South Tyler Rotary Club, has received the Rotary International’s Service Above Self Award. This award is RI’s prestigious honor that recognizes Rotarians who demonstrate Rotary’s motto, “Service Above Self,” by volunteering their time and talents to help others. The award is internationally competitive and is granted to no more than 150 Rotarians worldwide. To understand the significance of this award, it is important to note that Rotary International is comprised of 35,000 Rotary Clubs with 1.2 million members.
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Paris (TX) was the scene of The District Training Assembly on April 22. The First United Methodist Church was the perfect place for this type of meeting. (and yes, we began on time and adjourned ahead of time – 1:45 p.m.
The Marshall Rotary Club hosted a fabulous Rotary Foundation Dinner on Saturday, February 11th at the Marshall Lakeside Country Club. Social hour began at 5 p.m.; a seated dinner was served at 6 p. m. (Several said it was the best Banquet meal ever!); honors, awards, and presentations followed dinner, with one of the highlights being an address by Rotary International Past President Ron Burton. Other highlights were awards to Dan Carpenter and Shirley Griffin. 
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Engaging the Next Generation in Rotary: 5 Strategies for Growing Your Club with Young MembersAuthor Michael McQueen was a featured speaker at the Zone 30/31 Institute in Huntsville, Alabama.
