The Pre-Conference All Club Luncheon was held at Ortiz Center Corpus Christi on Thursday May 2- with an attendance of 182 Rotarians. It was an exciting traditional format All Club Luncheon planned by a committee of local Club Presidents. Many Clubs brought their Club Bells and Banners. The  event started with the simultaneous ringing of the Club Bells and  with music provided by the musician members of the Rotary  Club of Corpus Christi. Following a delicious Chicken fajita buffet, PDG Art Zeitler, the event MC, recognized Rotarian guests from all over Texas plus Michigan and Russia. DGE Ellison Crider provided information on the extraordinary scholarships funded by the Rotary Foundation and introduced two of the scholarship recipients who explained how the scholarship funded education opportunities had and will change their lives .The keynote speaker, PDG Sue Goldsen of Michigan, provided the message on behalf of R I President Barry Rassin and also shared her extraordinary involvement in the Rotary Youth Exchange program. DG Andy Hagan completed the program by recognizing various Rotary Clubs for their prior accomplishments.
 
During the Friday afternoon conference session, Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator Art Zeitler with the assistance of Rotarians Deborah Simon(Santa Fe) and Tom Plumb(Port Isabel) facilitated a workshop on Global Grants including “Ten Steps for a Successful Global Grant” and “Road Map for Navigating the RI Grant Portal”. In addition, there was a very interactive discussion to answer questions from the participants. RRFC Art also provided a list of projects that needed sponsors or co-sponsors for Global and District Grant projects. Approximately 30 Rotarians were in attendance.