05 Ingleside
06 Sinton
12 Taft
14 Rockport
18 Laredo Gateway
19 Laredo Seven Flags
20 Laredo
21 Laredo Next Generation
22 Laredo Daybreak
26 Corpus Christi Padre Island
29 Port Lavaca

Complete Schedule

Governor Russell writes . . . . Let's Make Dreams Real

We had a Rotary Foundation Training Seminar in Kingsville on July 19. About 60 people heard first-hand testimony from two Rotary Foundation beneficiaries. Jennifer Waldren who was an Ambassadorial Scholar to Chile told of her experiences and how much she had gained from the experience. Carla Munoz, a member of our Group Study Exchange to Germany, echoed the sentiment.

Noel Bajat, Regional Rotary Foundation Zone Coordinator, spoke on the future vision of the Rotary Foundation.

Seventy-five percent of the money from the District Raffle will go to the Rotary Foundation where the PolioPlus funds will be matched giving a big bang for the buck. All clubs should have their tickets. The tickets are $10 apiece or 10 for $90. In addition to the automobile there will be prizes for clubs and individuals. Thanks to Barry Lobell at 361-779-0175 or for coordinating the raffle. We are having the drawing earlier this year, so we can start benefiting from the money raised. We have much more flexibility with these funds than we do with funds returning from the Rotary Foundation.

PDG Jorge Verduzco, Rotary Youth Exchange Committee Chair, has scheduled training and support for all interested clubs to development a successful Youth Exchange Program and to provide the students of our region a chance of a lifetime experience to go abroad as Ambassadors. To learn more about the Youth Exchange Program please make plans to attend the following sessions on August 4. Jim Deuser, District Youth Exchange Training Officer, will make a presentation at noon at the Laredo Embassy Suites. That evening at 6:00 PM he conduct a workshop at the IBC bank, 1200 San Bernardo Avenue, Laredo. Contact number is 956-790-6525.

Please start making your plans to attend the District Conference, April 23-26, at the Radisson Hill Country Resort near Sea World. This will be a family friendly event, so get the whole family together to take advantage of this outstanding bargain--$114 per night!

Thank you,

Gov. Russell Cain and Cherre

Preserving history is important

Congratulations, DG Russell, District Officers, Club Presidents, and Rotarians we have made the commitment to be of Service Above Self as Rotarians in 2008-09. As District 5930 Historian, Elva Short is honored to continue Jerry Robbins efforts in preserving our District history. Therefore, feel free to e-mail, fax or mail information you wish to preserve to her. Remember, preserving history is important and the time to do it is now when details are readily available. Submitted by Elva Short.

Mission Rotary Club learns about CASA

The Rotary Club of Mission didn’t miss a beat starting the new 2008-09 year off with their first program.

Anissa Samilpa CASA of Hidalgo County, Inc., http://www.casaofhidalgo.com/, brought eye-opening information to the Club. The two guest speakers spoke about Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for children and they were Elma Torresmutt – Development Director and Anissa J. Samilpa – Volunteer Coordinator. Their office is located at 1001 South 10th Avenue in Edinburg.

CASA represents the best interest of abused and neglected children in the foster care system to provide each child a safe, permanent, and nurturing home.

Court Appointed Special Advocates are trained volunteers involved in helping the courts deal with the overwhelmingly difficult and costly increase in child abuse cases in Texas. The CASA volunteer is the most dependable person in the abused child's life and provides an independent voice for each child.

Want to stand up for a child and volunteer? Call: (956) 381-HOLD Interested in donating to help a Hidalgo County child? (956) 381-HOLD

Show your support of kids and CASA by purchasing a Texas Lone Star specialty license plate. Texas license plate application: http://www.texascasa.org/new/pdf/LSP_app.pdf Submitted by Francis Ciancarelli.

Third Honduras work-project planning underway

Preparations for the third trip to Trujillo, Honduras, next February are underway. Our proposed projects include the construction of nine classrooms at four schools, latrines at three schools (MGA*), four power projects (MGA), and 150 more computers (MGA). We will also be shepherding a water filtration project for Barrio Cristales through the MGA process. That MGA will be applied for by District 5830 (Northeast Texas) and is looking for local funds for the match. Our total proposed budget for 2009 is $110,000.00. So we need your help!! Please consider including us in your budget...for school construction or for the local match for an MGA project. We are also recruiting volunteers to join us next February for 9 day work crew stints...volunteers pay their own expenses. *Matching Grant Application

, Port Isabel Rotary Club, is available for a presentation to your club.

HANDS TO HONDURAS-TRUJILLO 2009 PROPOSED PROJECTS

SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION

Our goal is to build nine new classrooms at four schools, all with electricity.

Escuela Jairo Ayala--Guadalupe Carney--$9,500.00 (two classrooms)
This school has 659 students utilizing 8 classrooms. It is extremely overcrowded. The school is made of old barn board that is extremely termite infested. We hope to build two new 20x30 classrooms for this school.
Escuela Elvira Tome, Moradel (Pech)--$9,500.00 (two classrooms)
We built them a new kindergarten in 2008. They currently have a two classroom school in the village and wish to utilize that as a community center. We propose building them two new 20x30 classrooms.
Escuela Reforma, Rio Claro--$8,500.00 (two classrooms)
This school has 120 students utilizing two existing classrooms and is extremely overcrowded. We propose building them two new 20x25 classrooms.
Escuela Reforma, Rio Claro--$4,500.00 (new kindergarten)
Their kindergarten is currently held in a private home and has 20 children attending. We propose building them a new 20x20 kindergarten.
Escuela 3 de Febrero, Monte Cristo--$8,500.00 (two classrooms)
This school has 205 students in 3 existing classrooms and is also extremely overcrowded. We propose building them two new 20x25 classrooms.
Escuela Taufick Bendeck, Barrio Buenos Aires--$1,500.00 (plus playground)
We will replace the roof over one classroom and replace their old playground equipment.

POWER PROJECTS

In February, 2009, we propose providing power to three communities and upgrading the power supply to one school. We will be applying for matching grant funds for the power projects.

Cunda--$10,297.81
In February, 2008, we built a new school in Cunda. This community has 20 houses, 1 store and 1 school. There are approximately 100 people in the community. We propose bringing power to this community from a power supply on the main road bypassing the community. Utilizing other funds we will wire the school. The school already has conduit in the walls. This is an Hispanic community. We will also wire the new school at a cost of $400.00.
Moradel—Pech Indian Village--$13,832.58
In February, 2008, we built a new kindergarten with latrines for this Pech Indian village. This community has 17 houses, a new kindergarten, two existing classrooms in a building that will become a community center once we build them two new classrooms next year, a cultural center, a restaurant and two cabanas for tourists. There are approximately 103 people living in this community. We have already provided them with monies to wire the new kindergarten. A new housing development located in front of the Pech village will bring power within one pole of the new kindergarten. We will tie into this power line to serve 15 of the 17 homes in the village (2 of the houses are too remote to be cost effective).
Caribbean Mission--$6,651.23
This Black community was originally created after Hurricane Mitch by a Canadian Church. For reasons that are still unclear (the claim is the church did not like the way the homes were constructed and pulled out) power was never provided to the 31 houses, 1 church and 1 school. Whatever the reason, the community is without power and feels abandoned. We will wire the school from other funds at a cost of $300.00. Power lines run past the community.
Guadalupe Carney--$6,215.89
The community of Guadalupe Carney has electricity. The school even has electricity. However, the power lines supplying the school are incredibly inadequate-scary. The classrooms are made of wood and termite infested. It is a disaster waiting to happen. We will be building them two new cement block classrooms near the existing structures. We will upgrade the power supply and provide power to the new classrooms—as well as wire the new classrooms. There are 659 students utilizing the 8 existing classrooms….extremely overcrowded. It is a Black community that has demonstrated against their treatment/neglect by the government with blockades of the only road into Trujillo.

LATRINES

Disposal of human waste is a major problem in Honduras. Schools often are the primary location for latrines in a community….they are heavily used. The latrines at three schools are extremely inadequate, in need of supplementation, or should just be replaced. The total cost for the latrines should be $4,800.00 . We will be applying for Matching Grant Funds for these latrines.

Cunda--$1,600.00
I have had the displeasure of using the existing latrine at the new school we built in Cunda. We propose replacing it with three new latrines.
Rio Claro--$1,600.00
The existing latrines are old and in a state of major disrepair. The tank is full—there are no “honey” wagons. As with old outhouses in the USA, you just move the building after the tank is full….this is not possible with cement block latrines. We propose replacing the existing latrines. There are 120 students in the school.
Guadalupe Carney--$1,600.00
This is an impossible situation…659 students utilizing 3 latrines. Despite the current condition of the latrines….three more are needed.

COMPUTERS--$6,352.50

In 2008, we distributed 153 computers to 16 schools along the north coast of Honduras. Sixty-one of them were for schools in or around Trujillo. We have requests from 11 schools this coming year for 136 computers and will need 14 other computers in reserve for computers that did not survive the year or for last minute requests. Castaway Computers in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, provided us with used Pentiums (II-IV) delivered to Trujillo loaded with licensed Microsoft software including educational programs at a cost of $42.34 each . We will be applying for Matching Grant funds for this project.
Schools receiving the computers:

Technical Institute, Trujillo 20
Escuela Franciso Morazan, Honduras Aguan 15
Escuela 3 de Febrero, Monte Cristo 10
Escuela Reforma, Rio Claro 10
Escuela Modesto Rodas Alvarado, Ilanga 15
Escuela Jairo Ayala, Guadalupe Carney 15
Escuela Elvira Tome, Moradel 6
Escuela Lidia Handal, Honduras Aguan 10
Escuela Urma Castillo, Jerico 10
Centro Basica, Capiro 15
Escuela Esteban Guardola, Chapagua 10
Replacements for 2008 or TBD 14

JOINT DISTRICT WATER PROJECT REQUEST

In 2008, we provided funds for the construction of a 26,000 gallon storage tank to provide water to the 750 households in Barrio Cristales—a Black community). District 5830 has expressed interest in sponsoring an MGA for a community slow sand filtration system and 14,000 gallon storage tank for clean water costing close to $50,000.00. We have pledged $504.00 toward this project.

SUPPORT COSTS

In order to make “it” all happen, we must rent vehicles, buy gas, and provide cell phones. We also make plaques recognizing donors and provide flags for the Trujillo Rotary Club to exchange with us. These costs add up…to $20,000.00 in 2008. We have budgeted $17,000.00 for 2009.

WORK TRIP TOTAL EXPENSES - $109.851.81 Submitted by Tom Plumb.

Having seen the schools in progress and having attended the inauguration of two schools, Mary Curtis applauds these continuing efforts.

She has asked her club members and the School of Education faculty and staff at UTB to please collect extra, no longer used mouse pads for these Trujillo computers. She is also working on creating a "Mobile Library" for the schools to share. She asks all members of District clubs to collect mouse pads and children's books (Spanish). She will be happy to collect them from a club meeting.

Freer Rotary Club honors Dr. Blanton

Freer Rotary Club Assistant District Governor Norman Jenkins presented a special certificate of appreciation to Dr. Belia Blanton on June 24, 2008, on behalf of the Wheelchair Foundation. In honor of Dr. Blanton, she has supported and worked with students and has been the sponsor for Rotary Four Way Test Speech Contest which is part of the school program.

Kingsville honors four

At its annual membership meeting and installation banquet on June 24, the Rotary Club of Kingsville honored four local Rotarians for their exceptional contributions to international friendship and understanding.

Rotarians Clyde Allen, Marlen Murphy, Ricki Cunningham, and John Howe were recognized as Paul Harris Fellows in appreciation for their contributions of $1,000 each to the Rotary Foundation. Allen and Murphy, who had previously been inducted as Fellows, were acknowledged for making additional $1,000 contributions to the Foundation.

Paul Harris Fellows are named “in appreciation of tangible and significant assistance given for the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations between peoples of the world.”

Incoming Club President Frank Ureno observed that his four colleagues were selected to receive this recognition in special appreciation for the ways in which their lives exemplify the humanitarian and educational objectives of the Rotary Foundation. Rotary is perhaps best known for its long-standing partnership with the World Health Organization, whose joint efforts have virtually eliminated polio from around the globe.

Rotary International was founded in 1905 in Chicago by attorney Paul Harris and three business associates. There are today more than 1.2 million Rotarians who are active in local Rotary clubs in over 200 countries of the world. The Rotary International motto, Service Above Self, conveys the humanitarian spirit of the organization, which is exhibited through meaningful community and international service projects.

North Harlingen Rotary Club Presents National Award

Ellie Santa Ana and Emily Reyes The North Harlingen Rotary Club has presented its first internationally recognized Rotary Award to a department supervisor at Rio Grande State Center/South Texas Health Care System. At a ceremony held at the Camelot Lodge during the club's Tuesday meeting Ellie Santa Ana was presented the Rotary Award for Vocational Excellence by President Emily Reyes.

Ellie Santa Ana received her award in recognition of career long excellence in performing her assigned duties at the state operated multiple medical facility. She first displayed exceptional professionalism as the Executive Assistant to the facility Clinical Director and assisting all of the physicians with their sometimes-complex administrative requirements.

Just over two years ago when the Center experienced a period of dysfunctional performance in the administration of its Community Relations Department and Volunteer Services, Santa Ana was reassigned to head those operations. As the Director of Community Relations, she was assigned to a position for which she had no prior training or experience. The promotion, made by Superintendent Sonia Hernandez-Keeble was based solely on her knowledge that Ellie Santa Ana had always produced a quality work product, regardless of assignment.

In the two years she has led her Community Relations Department staff, Ellie Santa Ana has planned and held a gala 50th Anniversary Celebration of the organization's Out Patient Clinic, a unit that provides medical treatment, medications, and other health care for more than 50,000 working poor and indigent people every year. That event brought out state, county, and local officials, plus a standing-room-only audience. She coordinated one of the best-attended and organized Fiesta Ranchera ranch parties in the decade long history of that event. New volunteers were recruited and placed to work on a variety of projects around the hospital campus. Most important of all, under the Santa Ana leadership volunteers and donors who were no longer active were visited on a one to one basis. Many renewed their support of the facility. She also organized a volunteer and donor appreciation banquet that was heralded as a quality event that returned even more members of the Valley community to hospital support.

About at the half-way point in the massive department rebuilding project, Ellie Santa Ana retired, having completed more than 20 years of service. But, she felt her work was not yet complete, so as soon as eligible, she returned to RGSC/STHCS and her duties as Community Relations Director. She continues in that role today.

The Rotary Awards Committee considered all of these factors when she was named as North Harlingen Rotary Club's first recipient of the Rotary Award for Vocational Excellence. Submitted by Thomas Segel.

Micro lender speaks to Southside Corpus Christi

Janie Barrera Janie Barrera, Founding President and CEO of ACCION Texas, was the featured speaker at a recent meeting of Corpus Christi Southside Rotary. One of the nation’s largest micro lenders, ACCION Texas manages a microloan portfolio in the United States valued at over $17 million.

Through loans and services, ACCION helps small business owners strengthen their businesses, stabilize and increase their incomes, create additional employment and contribute to the economic revitalization of their communities.

Headquartered in San Antonio with an office in Corpus Christi, this nonprofit organization provides business loans from $500-$50,000 to both start-up businesses and existing businesses for such things as working capital, equipment purchase, and building expansion or renovations, specializing in loans to those with limited access to traditional bank credit.

Several local businesses have benefited from the ACCION Texas/Corpus Christi Interest Buy Down Program, a partnership program between ACCION Texas and the City of Corpus Christi, where small business owners can obtain a loan with an interest rate as low as 5.5% regardless of their credit rating. Under the program, the small business owner must agree to create a full time job for their business within 24 months of receiving a loan.

A charter member of the San Antonio Mission Trail Rotary Club, Ms. Barrera enjoys speaking to area Rotary clubs. Contact Janie Barrera at 210-226-3664 to schedule her as a speaker for your club. Submitted by Marilyn Spencer.

Mission welcomes Nana

Scenes from the the arrival ceremony of “Nana” from Taiwan, July 14, at the Harlingen Airport. Nana is the Mission Rotary Club’s Long Term Rotary Youth Exchange Student for the 2008-09 Rotary and academic school year. Submitted by Francis Ciancarelli.

Laredo Daybreak holds Officer Installation Banquet

Jesse Hernandez and Jorge Verduzco On July 11 the Laredo Daybreak Rotary Club held its officers and directors installation banquet. This event sponsored by Commerce Bank of Laredo was held at the beautiful lobby of Commerce Bank on IH 35 and Mann Road.

The installing officer was PDG Jorge Verduzco. The new officers include; Jesse Hernandez--president; John Kidd--president elect, Aaron Canales--Treasurer, Terri Gonzalez--Secretary, and Ernesto Lopez--the perpetual Sergeant at Arms.

The new administration is eager to get many projects for this upcoming year underway said Jesse Hernandez, incoming President. Submitted by Daniel Guevara.

Port Lavaca learns about the Paul Harris Society

Albert Perez, District 5930 Governor Russell Cain, and Steve Marwitz, Port Lavaca President, pose after Albert made an excellent presentation on Paul Harris Fellows and the Paul Harris Society. Contact Albert if you would like a presentation for your club. Submitted by Jan Regan.

Mission plans to see Ambassadorial Scholar off in August

More than 750 university students from some 60 countries have been selected to study abroad during the upcoming 2008-09 academic year through the Rotary Foundation’s Ambassadorial Scholarship program. The program is designed to bridge cultures and encourage goodwill. The scholarships are one of Rotary’s leading efforts to promote world peace and understanding.

District 5930’s committee selected three worthy candidates, from a field of applicants, to participate in our Ambassadorial Scholarship program. They are:

Donna Marie Swanson, endorsed by the Rotary Club of Mission
Norma Alicia Alejandra Padrón, endorsed by the Rotary Club of McAllen North
Erica Alexandra Chimelski, endorsed by the Rotary Club of Southside Corpus Christi

Ambassadorial Scholarships provide students the opportunity to study in one of the almost 200 countries and geographical regions where Rotary Clubs are active. While abroad, scholars speak to Rotary Clubs and Districts, schools, civic organizations, and other forums where they function as “ambassadors of goodwill” and participate in community service projects.

Ms. Swanson will be attending Queen’s University located in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was her first choice institution and region for her studies. She said “What great honor to be chosen to represent such a well-known service organization like Rotary! I am so grateful for this opportunity. As an Ambassadorial Scholar I hope to play an active role in fulfilling Rotary’s vision of promoting goodwill and understanding through service. Focused on humanitarian service, personal diplomacy, and academic excellence, the university-level program has sponsored more than 38,000 Rotary Scholars since 1947.”

The Ambassadorial Scholarship Program is the largest privately funded international service program with over 800 recipients each year from 70 countries. In Rotary international (RI) 2007-08 funded this program at a cost of $15 million US dollars!

The Rotary Club of Mission’s President Dan Ogletree and all the club members wish Ms. Swanson a safe journey, and productive year of studies abroad. We hope that her role as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar is rewarding for her as well as those whose life she touches. Submitted by Francis Ciancarelli.

Laredo Gateway is ready to host German exchange student

Laredo Gateway Rotary Club will host Lucas Kehse from Germany as part of the Student Exchange Program, 2008-09. He is fluent in German, English, and Latin and is looking forward to learning Spanish. Lucas is a very dynamic youngster. Some of his favorite subjects are history and religion. His favorite sport is basketball and he also enjoys bike riding and playing the piano in his free time. One of his favorite subjects is interpretation of old text. Lucas is from the town of Dortmund, a major city in Nordrhein-Westfalen with a population of 600,000. The main industries involve coal and steel, which play a mayor role in the city’s economic growth. Lucas is no stranger to travel. He has been very fortunate to visit abroad with his family to Canada, Spain, Italy, France, England, Austria, Denmark, Netherlands, Andorra, Portugal, Belgium, and Switzerland; and now is looking forward to visiting Laredo!

Gateway Rotary thanks their volunteers for the enthusiasm that they have demonstrated. They have complied with all District requirements and all positions had been filled: host families, counselor, public relations, etc. The committee is outstanding and Lucas will have an extraordinary experience in their beautiful City of Laredo. Committee members are:

1st. Host Family: Frank Ramirez
2nd Host Family: August, Grace Ramos
Counselor: Kai Yang
Volunteer: Lisa Rogerio
Volunteer: Ramon Claveran

Lucas is scheduled to arrive in August. Club members have been asked to prepare a welcome card or letter for his arrival. As a club, they welcome and appreciate everyone’s ideas. Submitted by Herlinda Garza.

C-Span Campaign 2008 bus visits Northwest Corpus Christi

The Northwest Corpus Christi Rotary Club hosted the visit of the C-Span Campaign 2008 bus to the Calallen area of Northwest Corpus Christi with an open meeting at Joe Cotten's Barbeque in Robstown to which students of the Calallen ISD and business people from the area were invited. The response was impressive on the part of the members and the community. C-Span staff members made a presentation about C-Span followed by an extensive tour of the bus. The Club also took advantage of the occasion to provide membership information brochures to everyone attending. The Northwest Club is small but assertive and is a good example of what any Rotary club can do.

As part of their commitment to education, the Rotary Club of Corpus Christi Northwest hosted the C-SPAN Campaign 2008 Bus Stop in Robstown at Joe Cotten’s Barbeque on Wednesday, July 9th. An impressive response from members, students, and business people of the community made the event a real success. Many familiar with the C-SPAN School Bus or Book TV buses, will appreciate their transformations into the Campaign 2008 buses meant to emphasize and educate students, teachers, and voters about the political process.

Among the visitors to the Campaign 2008 bus stop were Past District Governor George Dawson, Nueces County Commissioner Peggy Banales, four honor students from Calallen High School. and members of the Interact Club. All of the students were impressed by the technology and what goes on “behind the scenes” to produce a C-SPAN interview on the Campaign bus. Tim Olmeda of the Nueces County Record Star interviewed students and visitors about the bus.

During the extensive and informative tours on the bus, Doug and Steve illustrated the different ways that other media outlets can influence and bias the delivery of content about an event. The emphases of the presentations were about the unbiased nature, freedom from ratings or government funding. Steve Devoney and Doug Hemming Steve Devoney Media Specialist and Doug Hemmig Marketing Representative for C-SPAN delivered an informative presentation about the different avenues of C-SPAN programming and various resources available. Doug tried to stump the crowd with a question about the meaning of the acronym C-SPAN, but Rotarian Arturo Almendarez correctly identified C-SPAN as Cable Satellite Public Affairs Network. “Most journalists operate on the 5 W’s, - What, When, Where, Why and How. C-SPAN is not interested in the Why, we leave that up to the viewer,” said Steve Devoney. “If we were rated, we would be off the chart!” Steve and Doug enjoy Joe Cotten’s Barbeque, explaining how other C-SPAN staffers back in Washington, D.C., were envious of their planned trip to the legendary BBQ establishment.

Steve Devoney and Doug Hemmig welcome another opportunity to visit South Texas, hopefully to award a student winner in the studentcam.org contest. See www.studentcam.org. Doug challenged Rotary clubs to encourage students to participate in the studentcam.org competition and then invite the Campaign bus down for the award recognition. Bill Westfall and Doug Hemmig discuss the different teacher resources available free at www.cspanclassroom.org.

According to the C-SPAN website, http://www.c-span.org/schoolbus/index.asp, the Campaign 2008 bus is a mobile production studio capable of multi-media demonstrations, video taping interviews of authors, journalists, and students, such as a number of interviews conducted at the Keach Library during their visit to Robstown, or live programs like C-SPAN’s Washington Journal. Doug Hemming explained that Mike Huckabee, Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Governor Bill Richardson, and Cindy McCain were among those interviewed on the bus. From the C-SPAN Campaign 2008 bus MySpace page, http://www.myspace.com/campaign2008bus, the bus has hosted more than 40,000 students and nearly five thousand teachers along the Road to the White House tour started in January of 2007. Other quick facts about the bus can be found at http://www.c-span.org/schoolbus/about.asp. Submitted by Mike Carlisle and PDG George Dawson.

Southside Corpus Christi Builds Ramps
By Lari Young and Jamie Pyle

Many balmy Saturday mornings in the Coastal Bend members of the Rotary Club of Southside Corpus Christi can be found with hammers and saws in hand building wheelchair ramps for those in need of special assistance. The project started a few years ago when a disabled gentleman named Mr. Peterson was living in a mobile home and needed a ramp. The Flour Bluff Rotary Club had an established ramp project and they built Mr. Peterson a ramp. In 2001 the Rotary Club of Flour Bluff was dissolved and five of their members joined the Rotary Club of Southside Corpus Christi.

At a Southside Rotary Club meeting later that year an attorney appeared with a check from Mr. Peterson's estate for approximately $3,000. This amount was willed to the club to provide funds to build ramps for other people in need in appreciation for the ramp Mr. Peterson had received. To honor Mr. Peterson’s bequest, the Southside Rotary Club board decided they wanted to continue the project and name it after Mr. Peterson. Thus the Peterson Ramp Project was born.

To learn the ins and outs of ramp building, the Southside Corpus Christi Club decided to team with St. Marks Episcopal Church. The club provided funding for materials from their charitable account, after Mr. Peterson’s bequest was exhausted, and club members helped build the ramps. After learning the ropes, members of the Rotary Club of Southside Corpus Christi decided to branch off and build ramps on their own using their own equipment and manpower. The club continues to emulate the perfected method that the St. Marks Episcopal Church volunteers had developed.

Southside Rotary Ramp Chair Jamie Pyle reports that from the time the club started building ramps on their own The Rotary Club of Southside Corpus Christi has built four ramps for the community. The Club plans to continue the Peterson Ramp Project into the future and enjoy more fellowship and pride in how Rotary continues to benefit those in need.

Is it Christmas in July?

The Rotary Club of Freer is sending care packages to our local military troops stationed overseas. They dubbed the project, "Christmas In July", and when Santa learned of our endeavors, he was more than happy to lend a hand. In lieu of a sleigh, Santa rode in the back of a pickup truck decorated with large, wrapped, gift boxes on the tool box, flags, and yellow ribbons, a Christmas wreath on the front grill, stuffed bears sitting on blue and red bandanas made into a tree skirt, along with lots of decals, balloons, and bows. This pickup was an entry in the Freedom Fest Parade in Freer on July 5. Submitted by Ann Jenkins.

Harlingen plans an active year

The Rotary Club of Harlingen’s 2008-09 Board, under President Alan Johnson has already been restructured into the new Rotary model. Their club has several worthwhile and exciting projects in progress and planning stages for this Rotary year.

They continue to collect used cell phones and recycle them. This accomplishes two goals; it keeps the used phones out of land fill and generates income for one of our international projects: La Escuela de Club Rotario, which they sponsor in Matamoros. To date they have recycled over 500 cell phones and raised $263.00 intended to be used toward landscaping for the school to minimize the prevalent, heavy dust.

Two other international projects their club is working on are sponsoring a school outside Monterrey and organizing the first International Youth Summit.

The Monterrey school project consists of providing bicycles for students to get to school as well as providing re-cycled computers and printers the school desperately needs. The parents of these students must sign an agreement to keep their children in school allowing them to complete their education. Their club is planning a visit to the Monterrey Rotary Club and this school in December.

The International Youth Summit is still in the planning stages and is scheduled for April 2009 on South Padre Island. The conference will invite 60-75 youth from Rotary Interact Clubs from the Rio Grande Valley as well as northern Mexico. This day and a half long event will address concerns of the youth and be organized by the youth, supervised by adults. There is a 10-person committee planning this event led by Allen Aleshire. The website dedicated to this project is: http://www.borderyouthsummit.com

Their annual fundraisers will be the Fifteenth Annual Shrimp Festival, February 19, 2009, and their Sixth Annual Golf tournament, October 15, 2008.

They continue to support PolioPlus and the Adoption Awareness Program started by Lionel Betancourt and sponsored by their neighbor club in San Benito.

Ricky Leal, their Program Coordinator is lining up a great year of programs that will continue to keep them aware of the many individuals, events, and issues affecting lives in the Rio Grande Valley. Submitted by Meg Jorn.

Jim Presley receives 45-year pin

Josh Wilson and Jim Presley During the Rotary Club of Corpus Christi Northwest meeting held on July 16th, President Josh Wilson presented Rotarian Jim Presley with an additional Paul Harris Fellowship pin. In addition, Josh recognized the milestone that Jim Presley reached, 45 years of perfect Rotary Club attendance. Jim has visited club meetings from the East Coast to the West Coast, Canada, and Mexico. He would actually check the Rotary International listing of club meeting locations, so he could coordinate his trip itineraries to make up his club meeting attendance at noon. Jim once used a two-hour leave from a hospital stay to ensure he would not miss a Rotary club meeting and preserve his perfect attendance. One thing Jim sees as one of the most wonderful things about Rotary is the fact you have friends around the world. If you have any car problems on a trip, you can look up a Rotarian in the local area, and then seek help or advice about car repair for instance. “You are never in a strange town where you do not have a friend,” said Jim Presley. Submitted by Mike Carlisle.

Next Generation shows vitality

The Laredo Next Generation Rotary Club is indeed the youngest club in the city of Laredo and District 5930. It all began as a great idea by Javier Compean and it became a reality by January 2008. Initial members were about 8 to 10 per meeting but in a couple of months they have grown to almost 50 members with a great diversity of professions and fantastic personalities. The Laredo Next Generation Rotary Club’s main priority is to encourage higher education to our next generations in Laredo with a vision for a Scholarship Project of “Literacy and Technology for Generations to Come.” Many exciting events have already taken place this year and they are looking forward to many more years to come.

● March 2008 -- Easter Baskets Project for the Doctor’s Hospital Pediatric Cancer Unit-donated by the members of the Next Generation Rotary Club.
● May 2008 -- Coca Cola Drive Fundraiser to raise money for our “Literacy and Technology for Generations to Come” Scholarship Project.
● June 2008 –- Rotary Charter Reception at Paseo Real.
● Upcoming Events:

o Bowl-A-Thon for “Literacy and Technology for Generations to Come”—Tuesday October 21, 2008. If you are interested in being a team sponsor please contact our Treasurer Luz Serna at (956) 286-6974 for more information.
o Golf Tournament – coming soon.
o Casino Night – coming soon.
o Guitar Hero – coming soon.

The Laredo Next Generation Rotary Club meets every Wednesday at Hal’s Landing from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Join them for a great time! Submitted by Carmen A. Pompa.

Laredo honors Vikki Carr

The newly elected president of the Laredo Rotary Club, Eduardo Gonzalez, announced Grammy award winner, Vikki Carr, as the latest Paul Harris fellow. “Through her work Ms. Carr exemplifies the motto of Rotary Service Above Self’,” Ed Gonzalez stated.

Carr's civic work includes a scholarship foundation specifically for Mexican -American students and has contributed more than $250,000 to further education. Ms. Carr will receive the award at a banquet at the Laredo Country Club on Saturday, August 9, 2008, at 6:00 PM. Anyone wishing more information may call Catalina Zaragoza at 956-790-8049.

Many more Make Dreams Real projects are being planned by the Laredo Rotary Club. One such project is the “Say sí to books at Lauro Aguirre Elementary” in Nuevo Laredo. The Laredo Rotary Club will make a concerted effort to collect money for books in Spanish and English to donate to this school and therefore establish a rich and meaningful library for all the students. Submitted by Juanita R. Lira.

Club interest items

Assistant District Governor Norman Jenkins installed Carlos Montemayor as new Club President of the San Diego Rotary Club July 1.

Past District Governor John Bedgood of the Alice Rotary Club conducted the Freer Rotary Club installation of new officers on June 24, 2008. Shown (L-R) are Assistant District Governor and past president Norman Jenkins, John Bedgood, New Club president Ann Jenkins, President Elect Linda Barcus, Vice-President Arturo Martinez and Secretary/Treasurer Beverly Little.

The Edna Rotary Club is proud to announce that Jim Moser is the recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow and Melissa Koop is Rotarian of the Year. Their 2008-09 officers are Billy Bob Hale - President, Melissa Koop - President Elect, Clay Kolle - Treasurer and Brenda Blue - Secretary. The Valentine's Dance and Auction is their club's largest scholarship fundraiser - raising $10,000 for scholarships at their last event. The Rotarian's in charge of this year's event are Melissa Koop, Lois Drushel, Valerie Novian, and Carol Ann Lee.

The Rotary Club of Corpus Christi 2008-09 Board of Directors and Officers were introduced to the club on July 10, 2008. Dick McCracken, a past president of the club and father of the president, Kevin McCracken, conducted the introductions. Kevin is a third generation Rotarian of the club.

(From left to right.) Directors Andy Crocker, Bill Hennings, Johnny Cotten, and Rocco Montesano; Sgt At Arms Casey Hannigan; Treasurer Jerry Spence; Secretary Pat Townsend; Past President Gail Hoffman; Vice President Terry Dahlman; President Kevin McCracken. At the podium, Program Chair Dick McCracken. (Not pictured.) Directors Richard Bonner and Bruce Hoffman.

Bea Hanson, Gail Hoffman, Art Zeitler At the last meeting of the Rotary year, President Gail Hoffman presented the honored club awards. Bea Hanson was presented the Spirit of Rotary Award for her sustained, unstinting, and unusual dedication to the ideal of Service Above Self. Art Zeitler was presented with the Rotarian of the Year Award for his extraordinary service to the club, District 5930, Rotary International, and his community, state, country, and world. (From left to right.) Spirit of Rotary Award recipient, Bea Hanson; President Gail Hoffman; and Rotarian of the Year Award recipient Art Zeitler.