Governor Tom writes . . . .What can a small Rotary Club do?

The Ganado Rotary Club has 18 members. They hold two Bunco tournaments per year. This is a dice game that women usually play. There are about nine female members in their Rotary Club and they take off with this project. They make around $1,500 per tournament. They advertise in the paper, bank marquee, and local TV advertisement channel.

The Ganado Rotary Club also has two pork steak dinners per year, one during a home football game with the visiting crowd being offered plates along with home fans and another pork steak dinner on Super Bowl Sunday. The steaks cost them about $1 per steak, and the beans and rice salad cost about 80¢. They sell these plates for $6 and make about $4 per plate and will sell around 400 plates at each event.

They have a pancake supper/auction on the night of Open House at the school during national public school week. They sell pancakes and sausage plates for $4 and have an auction with about eight items. This will raise around $2,500 dollars.

They have a scholarship golf tournament in the spring that brings in about $3,500 with hole sponsors and entries.

They provided a meal for about 100 missionaries, who were in Ganado for a week, during the summer.

They make spaghetti. They give to the Jackson County Community fund to help buy animals from students at the county fair, sponsor a little league team, pick two families to provide a Christmas basket of food, sponsor one boy and one girl to send to boys/girls state each summer and they sponsor a community Easter egg hunt.

They even have time to attend a Rotary Club meeting each week.

Andy Bridges is Rotary Club president

Thank you,

Gov. Tom Moore and Carol

Paul Harris Dinner

Saturday, February 23, 2008 - McAllen - $50 per person

We will serve Medallions of Pork, Tossed Garden Salad, Double Layered Carrot Cake.

The vegetarians will dine on Stuffed Portabella Mushrooms with sun-dried tomato and roasted vegetable risotto, charred corn relish and grilled southwest vegetable medley; with Double Layered Carrot Cake.

Paul Harris, renown impersonator James Young of California, will be the featured Paul Harris speaker. He will be in 1930 garb on a an authentic stage setting. You will have the opportunity to have your photo taken with Paul Harris!

(956) 984-7900 (Wyndham room rate $65) McAllen - Say "Rotary"

Laredo Rotarians sponsor hockey game

The Laredo Rotarians sponsored a hockey game that featured DG Tom Moore and Mexican District 4130 District Gov. Jorge Garza Trevino. The Laredo Bucks hockey team won. Fortunately the two District Governors were on the same side!

For more information about the Rotary Hockey Game, contact Javier Compean.

Joanne and Billy Settles become Major Donors

At Victoria Northside Rotary Club's October 25 meeting, District 5930 governor-elect Russell Cain recognized Billy and Joanne Settles as Major Donors to the Rotary Foundation. The Foundation recognizes couples or individuals whose combined personal outright or cumulative giving has reached $10,000. All outright contributions made to the Foundation are included in this total, regardless of the gift designation.

Thanks, Billy and Joanne, for your continued dedication to the Victoria Northside Rotary Club and to Rotary International. Submitted by Joe Dahlstrom.

Bruce Bauknight walks in Paul Harris' tracks

Bruce Bauknight Paul Harris Christchurch New Zealand Bruce Bauknight, Victoria Rotary Club, discovered a legacy of Paul Harris' 1935 world trip promoting Rotary. While in Christchurch, New Zealand, and walking in the beautiful city park and lovely gardens his wife, Vicki, noticed the plaque next to a huge tree. Paul Harris planted the tree when he was there in 1935. Bruce sent his picture taken in front of the tree.

Without a doubt, Paul would have a philosophical comment about great things start small and will grow with nourishment and time. Submitted by Bruce Bauknight.

Interested in adopting a platoon?

For any Rotary club that is interested in supporting the troops there is a ton of information on AdoptaPlatoon website and clubs can apply to support a platoon of soldiers simply by applying on the website. A Rotary club can commit for a one-time support measure or to send care packages every two months or on a more committed basis of pledging to send support on a monthly basis. It's totally up to the club. They can also sign up right now for holiday support for the troops which again, can be accomplished on line! (It may be too late for this.)

Adopt a platoon The photo is of troops we support who are deployed to Afghanistan. We call them 'The Top of the Mountain Boys' because they are so high in the mountains. Getting support to them can be so very difficult. These Troops do not have running water, live in tents, and build with their own hands, everything they need. We have even sent them tools they were lacking. Other than what we send them, they eat MRE's and only have sporadic electricity when the generators are running which is about 6 hours a day. They are constantly under attack and have another layer of protection further up the mountain who we call our 'Mortar Boys.' Getting support to the Mortar boys is done with Mule and donkeys...Once in awhile the Chinooks will make a drop at the top, but for the most part, the 'Mortar Boys' don't get support until the mules can make it up.

We've been in a terrible rush getting holiday support mailed to them (it took four weeks for them to receive our support) because by the second week in November, they will very likely be snowed in and the Chinooks will not be able to make any drops at all. We have already sent their Thanksgiving dinner which will consist of canned beef, instant stuffing, instant potatoes with butter flakes, instant pudding mixes, marsh mellows, cans of pumpkin, bags of brown sugar, and canned fruit cocktail. They are delighted storing all of these goodies away for Thanksgiving at the top of the mountains in Afghanistan.

Believe me when I say that our children supporting our nation in Iraq and Afghanistan do not deserve to be forgotten when all it takes is a visit to the AAP website and signing up! It takes a bit of commitment, a little time and money and a big heart and love of country to do this.

I hope you enjoy the photos. God bless you.

Ida Hägg,
AdoptaPlatoon
Executive Director

www.adoptaplatoon.org
God Bless our Peace Makers Submitted by Charlie Wilson.

Rotary and Boy Scouts have a long history

BSA As Rotary begins its second century’s service to this great country, are you and/or your club supporting the Boy Scout program? If not, why not? The Boy Scout program is almost as old as Rotary and both organizations strive for high ethical standards and the building of good individual character. You might say, “Our club sponsors a Youth Act, Interact, or Rotaract Club or possibly, all three”. Well, my club supports Scouting with an annual update luncheon program during Scout Week in early February and members volunteer as merit badge counselors in their areas of expertise whether they be vocations or hobbies. We also have made contributions to Scouting activities and have provided our local library with a full set of 110 merit badge pamphlets.

Did you know that 40 percent of all U.S. clubs have Scouting units? In the early years of Scouting, Rotary greatly assisted the movement by establishing many of the local Scout councils and camps in the U.S. beginning as early as 1910.

There are several ways to support this program:

1. Administrative leadership
2. Unit operations
3. Financial backing/assistance
4. Project support
5. Technical assistance
6. Mentoring

Rotary and Boy Scouting are a good match - why not enhance that match and sponsor a unit or provide any of the other five aforementioned ways to support the program? I’m available to come and talk to your club about Scouting, but I'll need 3-4 weeks’ notice so that I may coordinate my visit with the local BSA Council and have the District Executive who services your area accompany me to your meeting.

If you have questions, please call me at (956) 371-3007 or .

T. Mark Blakemore
District 5930 Rotary/Scouting Committee

Rotary International Cliff Dochterman Award

Award Information and Requirements

The Cliff Dochterman Award is an honor available to recognize an individual Rotarian or Rotaractor who acts as a role model and renders distinguished and dedicated service to Scouting through active service, leadership or other exemplary contributions to the Scout Association of his or her home country; or, internationally, to any WOSM or WAGGGS recognized Scouting Association.

A nominee for the Dochterman Award must be a Rotarian in good standing, nominated by a local Rotary Club, by the Governor of a Rotary District or by the International Chair of the International Fellowship of Scouting Rotarians (IFSR). The nominee need not be a registered member of any scout association to receive the award.

● No more than one individual may be nominated by a local club per calendar year, except that where a Rotary Club continuously exceeds 50 members in any one year, one additional Rotarian or Rotaractor may be nominated by the club in that year. If the club nominates a Rotaractor, membership in that individual's Rotaract Club may be used to determine eligibility for a second nomination.
● Rotary District Governors may nominate one Rotarian each year, in addition to nominations from the local clubs in his/her district.
● The IFSR International Chair may nominate up to three Rotarians per year to receive the award.

In keeping with the objectives and principles of both Rotary and Scouting to encourage character development, leadership, citizenship and personal growth for youth, this award is presented to a qualified Rotarian who has displayed distinguished service and outstanding dedication to the program of Scouting through:

1. Contributions to the character development, leadership, citizenship and personal growth of members of the scouting association through programs, training or organization;
2. Assisting Rotary clubs in forming scouting units;
3. Exemplifying the 4-Way Test;
4. Recruiting and training volunteer scouting leaders; and
5. Strengthening the relationship between Rotary and Scouting.

Work accomplishment and dedication, rather than a specific number of years in Scouting or Rotary, will be the major criteria for this award. The official nomination form (available from the IFSR Website by clicking here, or from the IFSR Executive Secretary (P.O. Box 19982, San Diego, CA 92159-0982, USA) must be used and endorsed by: the Local or National Council (or District, depending on the country's organization) of the Scout Association, indicating that the nominee's service to scouting is genuine and fairly represented by the application; and by the President of the candidate's Rotary Club, or the Governor of his or her Rotary District, or the International Chair of the IFSR.

Governor Tom asks Rotarians to give to Tabasco flood victims

Tabasco Flood It is hard to think of Mexico having too much rain; however, they are having huge muddy rivers destroy towns and cities. Rain continues and the creeks are swollen rivers. Fortunately the Mexicans know it is coming and can flee. They have their lives and that is a lot. Some day soon, the rain and flooding will stop and the Mexicans will put their world back together.

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2007/11/02/mexico-flooding.html

The Mexican Rotary District across the Rio Grande River has asked their Rotarians to donate $50 each to send to their neighboring Mexican Rotary District.

I am asking you to donate $10 to help our fellow Rotarians rebuild in Tabasco, Mexico. The money will go their Rotary District for them to decide how to help their Rotary Clubs.

Please write the check to: Rotary District 5930
C/O Bill Mann
501 W. Nolana
McAllen, TX 78504

We have donated . . .

Laredo Daybreak .....................................
Laredo Gateway........................................
McAllen North ..........................................
Mission......................................................
Brownsville...............................................
McAllen South ................... .....................
Port Lavaca .............................................
McAllen....................................................
Laredo Under Seven Flags. .......................
McAllen Centennial...................................
Calhoun County........................................
Corpus Christi Southside............................
Kingsville Sunrise......................................
Brownsville Sunrise....................................
Port Aransas..............................................
Corpus Christi...........................................
Total

$2,100
$ 908
$ 900
$ 550
$ 500
$ 500
$ 500
$ 315
$ 300
$ 165
$ 130
$ 125
$ 110
$ 100
$ 100
$ 25
$ 7,348

Submitted by Tom Moore.

Port Isabel is organizing its second annual Honduras work trip

The Port Isabel Rotary Club is organizing its second annual work crew trip to Trujillo, Honduras. Under the auspices of the Trujillo Rotary Club, 36 volunteers built seven new classrooms at three schools in 2007, and renovated a fourth school spending a total of $41,983.79.

Work crews will be visiting Trujillo from February 6-14, 2008; February 14-22, 2008; February 23-March 6; and February 27-March 6, 2008. There will also be a teacher training trip from May 30-June 10, 2008 (tentative dates) under the leadership of Dr. Mary Curtis, President-Elect of the Historic Brownsville Rotary Club. Forty-five volunteers (25 adults and 20 teenagers) have confirmed with at least another 15 very likely to sign up in the near future. Additional volunteers are welcome…especially during the week of February 14-22, 2008. Interested volunteers can contact Tom Plumb at 956-943-1237, . The website is www.handstohonduras.com. No skill is necessary.

This year, the work crews will be working on the following projects:

1) Build a new one-classroom school in the Black community of Cunda;
2) Build a new kindergarten in a Pech Indian village with latrines;
3) Build a new kindergarten in the Hispanic village of June the 13th with latrines and electricity;
4) Build two new classrooms with electricity in the Hispanic village of Silin;
5) Build two new classrooms in the Hispanic Barrio Buenos Aires with latrines and electricity;
6) Bring electricity to the two classroom Rodriguez school built by Rotarians in 2007 in the Hispanic village of April the 18th….30 homes will also have access to electricity due to this effort;
7) Wire the Rodriguez school;
8) Bring water to the Black Barrio Cristales a community of 750 households;
9) Purchase and distribute 153 computers to schools along the north coast;
10) Provide science equipment to 9 schools in Trujillo and
11) Provide mosquito screening to three schools.

The total budget is $86,577.53. Thanks to a Matching Grant application funded by the Rotary Foundation, we have raised $68,316.43 to date…..still requiring $18,261.10. District 5930 is providing $12,588.00 from the Humanitarian Grants program and from directory ad sales as well as $10,582.99 in DDF monies. District 4250 (Honduras) is providing $750.00 in DDF monies. To-date individuals have provided $4,315.00 and fundraising through jewelry sales has provided $9,673.00 ($836 of those monies had to go to cost overruns from 2007.) Clubs have provided $14,171.36 so far and the Rotary Foundation will be providing matching funds of $16,999.48.

Volunteers pay their own expenses (flight, meals, hotel, and $100 towards support costs) with those costs adding up to around $1,100.00 based on individual variables. The hotel is offering ocean front rooms for $40.00 per night (may increase a little) with 4% tax. Up to four people (2 double beds) can be in each room. Volunteers will either fly into La Ceiba (LCE) or if there are enough for a charter flight, fly into San Pedro Sul (SAP) to catch the charter to Trujillo.

Donations by individuals or clubs can be sent to Tom Plumb, P.O. Box K, Port Isabel, Texas 78578….for tax deduction purposes checks should be made out to McAllen North Rotary Scholarship Endowment Fund. Submitted by Tom Plumb.

Area 8 holds Adoption Awareness Picnic

District 5930, Area 8, held an adoption awareness picnic, Saturday, November 3. About 350 attended-- the families, CPS, Interact, pep squads, and Rotarians. The day was absolutely fantastic! They had more to do than ever before and the event had a spirit level (the cheering squad from Harlingen High School was there) that exceeded all other of the nine picnics before. Yes, this was their tenth and there will be no stopping. Nationally there are about 177,000 children in foster care with about 114,000 eligible for adoption. Texas had the largest number of adoptions of all the states last year. CPS director, Carey Cockerell, suggested that Rotary had a lot to do with that. That was good.

Lionel Betancourt's plan is not to rest until every club in District 5930 plays a part in a party. It takes little effort when everyone participates and Lionel speaks from experience when he says, "this goes beyond service above self." The faces of the children may not be shown in published pictures, but I hope those that follow will give visual meaning to what this is. A grand Thank You to all who participate. If you don't and would like to get your club involved, the time is now. There are seven parties in District 5930 for which you can assist. Help is always welcome. Call, Lionel Betancourt, or (888)598-5566.
Submitted by Lionel Betancourt.

Veterans Day Program presented by the Mission Rotary Club

Bald Eagle and Flag Mission Rotarians gathered at noon on November 8 to honor their military veterans. They were joined by guests and learned the history of the memorial from Col. Frank Plummer.

Every day, we think and pray for our loved ones serving in the armed forces, which are serving for freedom or any other good causes…..

But how many times have we stopped to thank them for their bravery, devotion, putting their lives at risk and giving up their time at home with their families…! But yet, we do when they die…

Let us not forget those military veterans who have served and who are amongst us, those who are our friends, OUR OWN FELLOW ROTARIANS.

Many things may put be aside...We joined together this Veterans Day to say thanks to our own Heroes:

Arturo “Art” Guerra
Fran Ciancarelli
Robert Weston
Roscoe Watkins
Kenneth White
Neal King
Ray Russell
Ed Welliver
Keith Hinton
Vernon Hill

Bruce Gray
Bob Wicks
Clay Everhard
Jim Young
Carlos Martinez
Mario Reyna
Jack Tierney
Leonel Lopez
Keith Hinton
Joseph W. Heacock Jr.

Submitted by Francis M. Ciancarelli.

Laredo Daybreak/Make a Wish Project Complete

Inside of the room: Back row include l-r Kido Meza, Danny Guevara, Luis Lopez and Mr. Davila (angel's father) Front row: Starr Zolton, Mrs. Davila and Margie Norton the Make a Wish Representative. In the middle is Angel Davila the young man for whom the project was completed. The two tikes are Angel's nephews.

The Make a Wish Foundation and the Laredo Daybreak Rotary collaborated to make a wish come true for Angel Davila.

Young Angel suffers from cerebral palsy and he and his family live in a very old mobile home about 20 miles from Laredo. His wish was to have his own room where he could have some privacy and connect to the internet and become more involved with the world at large.

Star Zolton past president of the Daybreak Club and their board approved this project which was undertaken in the spring of this year. Under the guidance of Chief Jack of all Trades, Luis Lopez, members of the Daybreak Rotary Club have completed a 14'x14' room immediately adjacent to the mobile home to facilitate his transfer via wheel chair from the mobile home to “his” room. Many Daybreakers gave up some afternoons and Saturdays to work on this project.

The beautiful room complete with a small sofa, TV, and air conditioning was completed and turned over to Angel for his use. “This collaborative effort between Daybreak Rotary and Make a Wish has made life for this young man more enjoyable” stated Starr Zolton Daybreak Rotary past president. Submitted by Daniel Guevara.

TxDOT announces I-69 Draft Environmental Impact Statement

I-69 Corridor Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), in coordination with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), released the I-69/Trans Texas Corridor Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS).

The 1,072-page report recommends additional detailed examination and public comment on a narrower study area to see where I-69/TTC can be located while minimizing environmental impacts. Using existing highways will be considered first as state transportation officials continue work to identify an alignment.

Attached you will find the news release for today s announcement and the one-page summary of the DEIS with a map. The complete DEIS can be found at www.KeepTexasMoving.com. Printed copies will be available in public libraries within the corridor in the coming weeks, as well as local TxDOT area and district offices.

What's next:

TxDOT will begin an unprecedented public involvement effort. In January, 10 town hall meetings will be held along the corridor to answer questions about the Trans-Texas Corridor. Beginning in February, 46 public hearings are scheduled to take public comment on the DEIS document. These dates and locations will be released soon.

For more information, you may call the I-69/TTC project office toll free at 1-866-554-6989 or visit www.KeepTexasMoving.com.

Your comments about this project are important to us. To send us your comments on-line, go to:
http://ttc.keeptexasmoving.com/comments_questions/comments_i69.aspx Submitted by Francis M. Ciancarelli.

You are invited to go on Harlingen's trip to Monterrey

December 7-9 You are invited to escape to Mexico for a weekend of Rotary Fun! The Harlingen Rotary Club has planned this adventure and still has seats for three couples. You can join the bus in Harlingen or in McAllen. $195/person double occupancy for hotel/bus/bridge fee/Mexico visa. Contact of the Harlingen Rotary Club, 1-800-999-1446.

WELCOME TO MONTERREY! ONE OF THE MOST PROGRESSIVE CITIES IN MEXICO & THE THIRD LARGEST

Monterrey Mexico DAY 1 - 7:00am - Depart from La Quinta, Harlingen

We will clear customs and immigration in Reynosa and should be on the highway to Monterrey no later than 8:30am

- 10:00am - More or less - Rest stop for approximately 30 minutes at the mid - point
-12:00noon - Arrive in Monterrey

If possible, we may check in to the Gran Hotel Ancira. If arriving later than anticipated, we will go directly to the Casino for the Rotary meeting.

-1:00pm - Meeting with the Rotary Club at the Casino of Monterrey. It is possible that this meeting could last as much as two hours.
-3:00pm - Tour the Governor’s Palace and the new museum with captions in English and Spanish
-5:00pm - Back at the Gran Hotel Ancira. Rest of afternoon and evening are free to enjoy on your own.

The Gran Hotel Ancira is very well located. One and one half blocks to the Walking Street, about one half block to La Luisiane Restaurant, two blocks to the Casino where we meet with the Rotary Club and about two and one half blocks to the restaurant El Rey del Cabrito. Our hotel has an excellent dining room.

There is a very nice arts and crafts store - the Carapan - up the street about two blocks on Hidalgo (walking away from Hidalgo Plaza). And, of course there are all kinds of shops on the walking street.

DAY 2 - Buffet breakfast is included. Coupons were in your key envelope - one per person for each morning. Leave the coupon on the table. If you wish to tip for extra good service, that is up to you. Dining room opens by 7:00am.

- 8:30am - Depart for tour. (Please let your guide know if you do not intend to go on the tour.)
- Tour will include:
   Glass factory
   Los Cavazos Market
   Horse Tail Falls
- Lunch before returning to Monterrey
-Afternoon tour to Teocalli - upscale shopping - or drop off at the Plaza for those who do not wish to shop.
-6:00pm - Back at hotel
-8:00pm - Mariachi cocktail party

DAY 3 - Buffet breakfast included

-9:00am - Tour
   Huasteca Canyon
   Bishop’s Palace
   El Roble
-12:00noon - Bags out
-Lunch on your own
-1:30pm - Depart for Harlingen
-Rest stop at mid point
-5:00pm - At the Bridge
-7:30pm - ETA in Harlingen Submitted by Tom Moore.

Rotarians, working together---The Family of Rotary

Tom Plumb of the Rotary Club of Port Isabel and prior to that, the Rotary Club of Middlebury Vermont, has led a concerted effort in coordinating “Hands to Honduras”. The primary focus of the project is to assist with building schools in and near Trujillo, Honduras. Rotarian Tom Plumb first became involved with Honduras when hurricane Mitch hit the mainland of Honduras in 1999. He was one who drove to Honduras and spent many months there. From there, his interest evolved to the need for better schools in Honduras. He was able to receive backing from his club in Vermont and clubs in Maryland, New Hampshire and Montana to name a few. Since his move to south Texas (less than 3 years ago) he has received volunteers from several districts in Texas.

The Rotary Club of Harlingen, became actively involved this past year when Tom placed a memorial plaque on a school in Trujillo in memory of PDG Ray Cocozza and a second plaque also in Trujillo dedicated to PDG Fernando Cuellar of Laredo. The Rotary Club of Harlingen recently participated in a Rotary Foundation matching grant to continue this worthwhile Rotary project. Funds from the Port Isabel, Harlingen Sunburst, McAllen North Rotary Clubs and the Harlingen club have totaled $11,332.99. This was matched by the District 5930 Designated Funds of $11,332.99. Another $16,999.48 was matched by the Rotary Foundation leaving $39,665.46 for the project.

Schools in Barrio Cristales, Barrio Buenos, Community of 13 de Junio and the Community of 18 de Abril will receive projects funded by the matching grants. Rotarians from Texas, Vermont and New Hampshire will be constructing 7 classrooms at 5 schools near Trujillo in February, 2008. Three of the schools will need latrines. In addition to building and renovation of schools, this project will run power lines from the main roads to the schools. Barrio Cristales will receive the resources to construct a 20,000 gallon water storage tank and the citizens of the community will provide the PVC and pumps. Sixteen schools will receive 144 desktop computers while four schools will receive 9 laptops. Science equipment will be donated to 4 schools in or near Trujillo. Most of these projects are scheduled to completion by May of 2008. Coordination of the project and long-term sustainability are being directed by the Club Rotario Trujillo, President Manuel Antonio Lopez.

In addition to this project, the Rotary Club of Harlingen gave a check to the Rotary Club of Matamoros Mexico in the amount of $3,500 for the renovation of a school in Matamoros. This is an ongoing project. Rotarians from Harlingen are planning a trip to Matamoros in the next few months to assess the progress and any additional needs.

Matamoros Check When Rotarians from around the world come together, there isn’t much we can’t do. Local Rotarians should feel very proud of their commitment, end product and International Fellowship developed through these Rotary projects. The world indeed knows what Rotary is all about. Submitted by Joan Cocozza.

Coastal Bend Adoption Awareness Picnic

What do you get when you mix together a beautiful fall afternoon, over 50 foster children and foster parents, committed Rotarians, and more than 50 Interact members from 4 different high schools?? An Adoption Awareness Picnic!!

Nine Rotary Clubs from the Coastal Bend area in Ingleside, Alice, and Corpus Christi (Southside, Northwest, Sunrise, Evening, West, Padre Island, and Corpus Christi) combined their power and resources to offer an Adoption Awareness Picnic for the sixth year on November 3 at West Guth Park. Working with Child Protective Services personnel from the Coastal Bend Area, foster children, foster parents, adoption agencies, and potential adoptive parents were hosted to a mid-day picnic featuring food, clowns, a cowboy performing rope and gun tricks games, informational presentations, arts and crafts, and other children’s activities.

Thanks to Culligan, Whataburger, and Wienerschnitzel, all participants had plenty to eat and drink. Over 50 Interact students and sponsors offered one-on-one attention to foster children as they participated in the games and activities, including 3 large inflatables. Spiderman (two different versions), McGruff (The Crime Dog), and clowns welcomed the foster children and brightened their day. The Red Cross and the Corpus Christi Fire Department brought their equipment to demonstrate to the participants, as well as allowing children to climb inside and on top of the vehicles. The highlight featured Doug Whitaker, a cowboy of national renown who amazed the audience with his rope tricks and fancy shooting. Tickets from the Texas State Aquarium, the Corpus Christi Ice Rayz hockey team, the Corpus Christi Ballet, the USS Enterprise, and the Harbor Playhouse were distributed as door prizes, offering many of the participating children a chance to visit events and sites that would normally be outside of their daily routines.

With so much assistance, Rotarians found their job of hosting this picnic both easy and fun. Use of district grant funds helped to add the touches to this picnic that went beyond the donations procured. Using this recipe for a fun day, Rotarians from the nine different clubs agreed to work together again next year as a united group to offer this Adoption Awareness Picnic. Submitted by Linda Avila.

North American Rotary Emergency Disaster Initiative

The North American Rotary Emergency Disaster Initiative, Second Disaster Preparedness Conference, will be held December 14-15, 2007, in Nashville. It is a workshop for club and district leaders.

FEATURED SPEAKERS

Digger Phelps, former Notre Dame basketball coach and ESPN commentator; founder of the Walking to New Orleans project.

Tom Henderson, ShelterBox Founder

Digger Phelps and Walking To New Orleans

Famed Notre Dame basketball coach and ESPN commentator Digger Phelps has a dream to help rebuild New Orleans. He will share that dream at the Rotary Emergency Disaster Initiative Workshop on Dec. 14-15.

The Hurricane Housing Alliance is a Rotary-created organization registered in the state of Louisiana by the Gulf Coast Rotary Districts. Walking to New Orleans is the project started by Digger Phelps to raise funds and build homes in New Orleans. Digger has donated $90,000 for the first house, while Rotary clubs and Rotarians have donated $45,000. The goal is to find families in need and help them to get back into a house in a sustainable neighborhood to become leaders in their communities.

Tom Henderson, Founder of Shelter Box

ShelterBox Rotarian volunteers were among the first on the scene after Hurricane Katrina made landfall. Within 10 days they provided emergency accommodation for up to 24,000 survivors via 1,200 ShelterBoxes -- containing tents and necessary equipment -- delivered throughout the U.S. Gulf Coast.

A ShelterBox is a tough, green plastic box containing a 10-person tent and ancillary equipment designed to enable a family of up to 10 people survive for at least six months.

Do you know the pie-man?

Thanksgiving is both a time to be grateful for all our blessings and a moment to share some of those blessings with others less fortunate. The Port Isabel Rotary Club, led by President Rick Ridolfi, collected 100 pies from its membership that were then donated to the St. Stephen’s Food Bank. This food bank traditionally concentrates on making sure a Thanksgiving meal is provided, however they have always focused on the main courses. The Port Isabel Rotarians were honored to provide desserts for this special gathering, hopefully helping to remind people that, the dessert in our lives is when we stop to help one another. Submitted by Dan Quandt.

Rotary and Gates Foundation partner to provide $200 million for polio eradication

This is a historic day for Rotary. It is our great pleasure to inform you of a new partnership between Rotary International and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that will provide a much needed $200 million in support of our top goal of a polio-free world.

The Gates Foundation has awarded The Rotary Foundation a challenge grant of $100 million, which Rotary will match, dollar for dollar, over three years. This is the largest single grant ever given to a volunteer service organization and represents a tremendous validation of the approach and success of our PolioPlus program.

This partnership comes at a critical juncture for the polio eradication initiative, which needs an infusion of funds to reach the eradication goal. For this reason, the initial $100 million will be distributed by The Rotary Foundation through grants to the World Health Organization and UNICEF in direct support of polio immunization activities in 2008.

Your participation in this effort is crucial to making it a success. The Rotary International Board of Directors and the Trustees of The Rotary Foundation have unanimously agreed to accept this challenge grant to ensure the success of the PolioPlus program. We feel confident that this extraordinary commitment from the Gates Foundation and Rotary will serve as a catalyst for further donations from others to help us realize the dream of a polio-free world.

In 1985, we promised every child a world free from the threat of polio, and we are almost there. This funding agreement between Rotary and the Gates Foundation is a huge step forward, bringing us even closer to our goal. Success is our only option.

Kingsville Rotaract Club cleans-up

The TAMUK Rotaract Club collected 30 bags during their highway clean up project, November 17, 2007. TAMUK Rotaract and Kingsville Sunrise Rotary Club participated.

First Row: Vijaya Chithra; Jessica Alvizo; Cara Smith; Megan Austin the TAMUK Rotaract President; E. Yolanda Rodriguez from the Xalapa Rotary Club, Vera Cruz, Mexico; and Craig Hollingshead.

Back Row: Brenda Hernandez; Eva Garcia; Christine Sanchez; Tiffany Andrade; Justin Andrade; Julie Prentice; Ashleigh Green; Sean Johnson; Ian Johnson; Oscar Castillo the Rotaract Club Adviser; and Randy Hughes the Kingsville Sunrise Club President.

Not Shown in the Picture: Seth Austin and Karen Engebrecht. Submitted by Lisa Brown.

Join PolioPlus Partners to facilitate polio eradication

The Rotary Foundation’s PolioPlus Partners program allows individuals, Rotary clubs, and RI districts to support urgent social mobilization and surveillance projects submitted by Rotarians in polio-endemic, importation, and high-risk countries.

Through this Rotary Foundation program, Rotary clubs, districts, and individual Rotarians support the global eradication effort by providing the tools of immunization and eradication where they are most needed — in countries actively fighting the disease.

PolioPlus Partners helps purchase and distribute:

PolioPlus Partners ● Battery-operated megaphones and colored balloons to attract families to immunization sites
● Vaccine carriers, vial monitors, and cold boxes for vaccine maintenance and delivery
● Bicycles, boats, four-wheel-drive vehicles, and any method of transportation that ensures that every child will be reached for immunization or surveillance activities
● Specimen containers to ensure the integrity of stool samples from children who are suspected to have polio

PolioPlus Partners has a task force of dedicated Rotarians who are available to make presentations or answer questions related to Rotary’s involvement in polio eradication. Learn more about PolioPlus Partners by downloading the brochure and explore ways you can help.

Open Projects List

The PolioPlus Partners Open Projects list, updated monthly, is the primary source of information for PolioPlus Partners projects. Once a project has been funded, or the funding deadline has been reached, the project is removed from the list.

The South Texas District 5930 Newsletter is published the first day of each month. , Victoria Rotary Club, edits and distributes it. by the 24th of the month prior to publication. Jack is, also, our webmaster.

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