Rotary seeks a world in which all children and adults have access to quality education and lifelong learning opportunities.
Education is more than reading and writing. It is the foundation of opportunity, resilience, and peace. Rotary makes Basic Education and Literacy a global priority because when people can read, they can make informed choices, participate in society, and create brighter futures.
Why It Matters
Over 770 million people worldwide lack basic literacy skills.
Illiteracy limits access to jobs, health care, and essential services.
Literate communities are more resilient, better informed, and less vulnerable to poverty and conflict.
The Impact of Literacy
Critical thinking – Reading empowers people to question, analyze, and solve problems.
Civic participation – Informed citizens can vote, advocate, and contribute to peaceful communities.
Opportunities to succeed – Education opens doors to employment, health, and innovation.
Rotary projects—from providing books and teacher training to mentoring students—help break cycles of poverty and build stronger, more peaceful communities.
Every child taught, every adult empowered, every school strengthened brings us closer to a resilient and hopeful world.
Students are back in school, filled with enthusiasm and a readiness to learn. Our dedicated teachers have spent weeks preparing for a successful start to the new school year.
In celebration of Basic Education and Literacy Month, I’m excited to introduce the ACE Literacy Project—a collaborative effort between Dr. Kay Wijekumar of Texas A&M University–College Station and Rotary District 5930.
The ACE Literacy Project is a family-centered literacy program aimed at improving reading and comprehension skills. It features interactive podcasts and engaging social media content that encourage families to read and learn together. All lessons are available in both English and Spanish and are completely free of charge to participating families.
Research shows that the program is most effective when schools and families work hand in hand—teachers implementing the strategies in the classroom, and families reinforcing them at home using the ACE lessons.
Fellow Rotarians, now is the time to roll up our sleeves and take action to promote literacy for all.
Please review the attached flyer and stay tuned for updates from your District Literacy Committee.
We will be hosting information sessions across each of our HUBs, giving you the opportunity to get involved and bring this impactful initiative to your community.
This month, we launch our series of 6 hub assemblies, offering learning opportunities for Rotary members to connect with one another within a geographic region and Unite for Good. Maybe we should call these “Friendship Assemblies!” We will have two assemblies in September, one in October, and the final three assemblies in November.
Please reach out to your Assistant Governor or Hub Lt. Governor for additional information.
Laredo International Hub Assembly – Saturday, September 20, 2025
Registration is open to this event for all Rotarians and Rotaractors, not only for the five Rotary Clubs in Laredo but also for the TAMIU Rotaract Club, and any other interested Rotarians in our District. Click here to register.
Online registration closes on September 15th.
If you require a hotel room, La Quinta Inn and Suites by Wyndham Laredo International Airport is offering a Group Rate of $139.00 plus tax. Please note that the cutoff date for this group rate is September 5, 2025. The Block Name is Laredo International HUB Assembly. Reservations can be made only via phone by calling (956) 724-7222.
Upper Rio Grande Valley Hub Assembly – Saturday, September 27, 2025
Join in the fun at the Casa de Palmas Hotel in McAllen with Rotarians from Rio Grande City, Mission, Edinburg, McAllen, McAllen Evening, Pharr, Edcouch-Elsa, and Weslaco Rotary Clubs. Registration is open, and tickets are $45 beginning on September 1. Click here to register.
Additional Dates:
Heartland Hub Assembly- Saturday, October 11, 2025
Coastal Bend Hub Assembly – Saturday, November 1, 2025
Lower Rio Grande Valley Hub Assembly – Saturday, November 8, 2025
Northland Hub Assembly – Saturday, November 15, 2025
Save the date: Saturday, October 18, 2025, International Peace Summit and Project Fair at the Brownsville Event Center.
Our first annual International Peace Summit is being organized by D5930 (South Texas) and D4130 (Northeast Mexico) and will feature RID Salvador Rizzo Tavares, DG Alma Garcia BetancourtD4130, and DG Craig Hardy D5840 sharing his story about Rotary’s response to the Central Texas Catastrophic Flooding on July 4, 2025.
An international project fair of global grants will be chaired by Enrique Medellin (Brownsville Sunrise RC) and will feature global grant projects that have been successfully concluded, currently being implemented, and new project proposals seeking partners and funding.
Best practices and lessons learned will be identified from the process of project development, implementation and evaluation stages.
Please let Adriana Contreras know if you would like to have a table to display your project. Not all projects will have speaking time on our agenda, but all the projects will appear in our printed conference booklet. Contact Adriana at adriana@usamexicogroup.com.
We have a lineup of special guest speakers, including Michael Hayes and Alison Sutherland, Directors of the Rotary Action Group for Peace (RAGFP), Mauricio Canseco, grandson of the late Dr. Carlos Canseco, Founder of the Rotary Polio Eradication Program, and Wally Gardiner of The Rotary Foundation’s Cadre of Technical Advisors.
Come and learn about the Rotary Action Group for Peace and how to become a Peace Building Club and RAGFP Chapter.
Discover how turning surplus equipment and supplies into lifesaving medical aid is delivered globally through Medical Bridges.
Celebrate the arrival of Mike Dickerson and hisPolio MotoRide motorcyclists from Laredo as they crisscross our District, fundraising for Polio.
You will come away with an understanding of the connections between Peace Building, Disaster Preparedness and Long-Term Recovery, Polio Eradication, and Global Grant Projects for building community resilience.
And you will also make new friends to carry out our valuable work.
A special shout-out to the University of Texas – School of Social Work and the UTRGV College of Fine Arts for sponsoring the translation services. UTRGV is a co-sponsor of this Summit.
For registration and the preliminary program agenda, please click here.
Would you like to showcase your business with attendees from Mexico and the United States? Support the International Peace Summit as a Sponsor. More information Sponsorship Opportunity
Congratulations is in order for 19 Rotarians representing various Rotary clubs in Rotary District 5930 South Texas who participated in the recent Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) learning facilitation courses that were offered in August 2025. Each Rotarian has received their RLI Part 1 Certificate of Completion!
We want to give a shout out to our Nineteen District 5930 Rotarians for completing the Lone Star Division Rotary Leadership Institute Part I facilitation.
These RLI course offerings were supported by faculty members from District 5930, including Andy Hagan, District 5930 RLI Chair; Debbie High, LSRLI Co-Chair; Samantha Bell; Elsa Hagan; Alka Khanolkar; Kathy Preddy; Victor Rivera, Zehra Surani, also known as “Dr. Z”; and Andres “Andy Z” Zamarripa.
Thank you to the Lone Star Division RLI Rebecca Maddux, Administrative Coordinator and Tommie Buscemi, Public Image Chair.
We extend our sincere gratitude to Thomas Cronnon, Assistant Governor for his vision and invaluable contributions in establishing the inaugural RLI Part I course offering in Corpus Christi.
We also express our sincere appreciation to Host Rotarian Dana Sisk and Rally Credit Union for generously providing the exceptional venue.
Additionally, we thank AG Thomas Cronnon and The Rotary Club of West Corpus Christi for their gracious sponsorship of the Food and Beverages.
We invite all Rotarians and Rotaractors to begin or continue their RLI Journey - Register Now at https://rotary5930.org > Membership > Rotary Leadership Institute
The Rotary Leadership Institute International is not an official training program of Rotary International
The District Grant Committee reviewed all the grant proposals that were submitted in July, and the Committee approved awarding $44,250 to 17 clubs. The maximum matching amount awarded for an individual project will be $3,500.
PDG Eddie Bartnesky will submit a request to The Rotary Foundation for this amount of money for the 17 projects. TRF will review and approve each of the 17 projects before sending payment to our District.
These club projects will receive their final approval and funding award notice in late September, at which time Rotarians will be authorized to start implementing their projects. Their final reports must be submitted online by May 31, 2026.
Now is a good time to identify individuals in each Hub who are good at writing grant proposals to help guide inexperienced clubs in developing grant proposals for 2026-2027.
Remember that this funding comes to us as District Designated Funds DDF from The Rotary Foundation and is based on a percentage of the amount our Rotary members donated to the Annual Fund three years earlier. So please be generous this year!
Photos and videos are powerful tools to showcase the impact of Rotary. When minors are involved, it is essential to secure parental or guardian consent before sharing images. This not only protects families and ensures compliance but also safeguards our clubs. Implementing waivers is a best practice for all service projects, giving your club the confidence to capture meaningful moments, highlight your impact, and be ready to share your story with the community and the world.
This commitment is fully aligned with Rotary International’s Photography & Video Guidelines. To support you, the District Public Image Committee has created a dedicated section on our District website with waiver templates, practical tools, and step-by-step guidelines. Together, we can tell Rotary’s story responsibly, powerfully, and with pride. Access resources here:Photography & Video Guidelines
Marissa Ford, our Youth Exchange Officer, is happy to announce the safe arrival of Michaela Vidova from Slovakia on August 26. Michaela is sponsored by the Corpus Christi Club in partnership with the Southside Corpus Christi Club.
Our very own District Youth Program Lt. Governor, Hon. Greg Perkes, and his lovely wife, Kris Tovar, will serve as the first set of host parents. Dr. Ralph Silva serves as the District Counselor and our Club Counselor.
Marissa is looking for volunteers to serve on her Youth Exchange District Committee to help her promote this extraordinary youth program, where we can select a local student in our community to travel overseas for a school year, as well as enjoy receiving an international student to come to South Texas and learn English and discover our way of life.
If you would like additional information about Youth Exchange, please contact Marissa Ford atfmarissaexchange95@gmail.com
Money Smart: Building Your Financial Future
Rotary District 5930 & IBC Bank present
A free financial webinar series, hosted by IBC Bank & Rotary District 5930, will start in September to help you protect, grow, and plan your financial future.
The following one-hour financial seminars will be held virtually through zoom:
I. Introduction to Cyber Fraud and How to Protect Your Money
II. Changes in the Central Bank and How They Will Affect Your Financial Future
III. Wisdom of Personal Finance
IV. Building a Legacy of Giving, Saving & Preparing for the Future
D5930 Foundation Chair, PDG Eddie Bartnesky, submitted a $25,000 disaster grant proposal to The Rotary Foundation, and it was approved. Funding was used to purchase new beds for 24 families whose homes had been damaged during the March flooding, as well as to purchase equipment for our District Disaster Response Trailer.
the learning center
And speaking of lifelong learning, please visithttps://learn.rotary.org/members/pages/36/course-catalogsto discover a world of online learning for new Rotarians and seasoned Rotarians. Learn about Rotary, Club Leadership, District Leadership, Membership, Professional Development, Public Image, Service, and The Rotary Foundation.
If you have a leadership role in your club or at the district level, you are encouraged to take the course(s) related to your position, i.e., Club President Essentials I and II, Club Secretary Essentials, Club Treasurer Essentials, etc.. These courses contain valuable resources and clear explanations of roles.
For further information about the Learning Center, please contact our District Learning Facilitator, IPDG Dr. Zehra Surani atzsurani5930@gmail.com.
You will need to open your account at MyRotary.org to access these courses. If you need assistance with accessing the learning center or our District Website, please contact Andy Zamarripa, District IT/Data Chair, for guidance at azamarripa@gmail.com.
Good to go for a set of seminars on how to effectively build leaders in your Rotary and Rotaract clubs. Facilitators will share experiences and knowledge on how to move beyond simply managing to truly leading your club by building effective leaders. These seminars will provide the basics on powerful strategies you can use to boost morale and energize your club.
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