Harlingen Awards Habit Rotary Challenge Build Kingsville Meeting Change Presidential Citations Spanish GSE Report Simon Martinez 2008 District Conference Public Invited to Donate to PolioPlus District Assembly Event Calendar District Assembly Texas A&M-Kingsville May 17

Governor Tom writes . . . . We enjoy the District diversity Carol and I are amazed at the diversity of our 55 Rotary Clubs. Some Rotary Clubs are strong all the time, other Clubs are weak all the time. It seems to be a group mind set; i.e. We cannot do anything because we have never done anything as opposed to, We are so busy with our projects to benefit our community, there is just not enough time in the day!" Some Rotary Clubs that were dormant last year are leading the district this year and the opposite. We hear, We cannot do anything because our Rotary Club is too small and We cannot do anything because our Rotary Club is too big. I think the key phrase is we cannot. Small Rotary Clubs will often tell us If we don't do it in our community, there is no one else to do it." Every Rotary Club has 'nay' sayer(s). These are the killers of Rotary Clubs. We tried that and it didn't work. I recommend that Rotarians visit other Rotary Clubs. The ideas you will discover are refreshing. And the problems other Rotary Clubs are overcoming are humbling. You have a district directory, so you know where and when all of our Rotary Clubs meet. You are welcome in all Rotary Clubs. You don't have to be 'making-up;' you could just be looking for ideas! Visiting other Rotary Clubs will make you proud to be a Rotarian, and may even get you moving on a community improvement project. If you and your Rotary Club want to change a Rotary rule, PDG Jack Daniels is our district representative to the Rotary Council on Legislation and he will take your suggestion to the Council for consideration. For many years, Rotary International has offered Rotary International Club software and has supported on the web. As of July 1, 2008, Rotary International says it is discontinuing the service to our Rotary Clubs. Thank you, Gov. Tom Moore and Carol

Edinburg – Mission Rotary Challenge
Build for Rio Grande Habitat for Humanity

It all started with a visit by then President–Elect Marti Brewerton and her incoming Chair for Habitat meeting with the staff at Rio Grande Habitat for Humanity to plan the project for her year as President of the Edinburg Rotary Club. Subsequent to this Club President Paul Petit of the Mission Rotary Club presented his proposal to “Build” two Habitat houses during his term. The two clubs eventually tried to solicit a third Rotary Club to help with the capital and labor intensive projects. Absent that they got to brainstorming.

Then in March 2008 President Paul led several members of his Mission Rotary Club on a “build day” at the Habitat Casa Ingles Subdivision. After the build he discussed his ideas with Ruben Guevara, Edinburg Rotary Chair for Habitat Project.

A few days after this meeting, the Edinburg Rotary Club issued a challenge to the Mission Rotary Club to turn out “builders” on Saturday April 26, 2008, to work on two houses, one by Mission and one by Edinburg. Each club will have workers helping to complete these two homes for families that would not otherwise be able to own their own homes. The clubs realized that this is a “Hand Up not a Hand Out” project.

There will be a cookout and fellowship after the work, with the “losing club” buying the food determined by the club that has fewer workers come to the build. Each club is trying to recruit non-member supporters and a maximum turn out of members. They are soliciting all the other Valley Rotary clubs to send help to join in with one or the other club.

In anticipation of the event the clubs will have a barbeque pit built for family cookouts with a commemorative Rotary plaque emblazoned on it and will donate it to the family that eventually owns the house.

By this means the two clubs should significantly contribute to the completion of two homes and also accomplish one of the goals set by President Marti and President Paul for their Rotary Years.  Submitted by Francis M. Ciancarelli.

Kingsville moves meeting

Kingsville Rotary Club has moved from Barth's at the Rodeway Inn to the Sirloin Stockade Restaurant, 1500 Brahma Blvd., noon on Tuesdays.    Submitted by Lisa Brown.

Governor Tom congratulates clubs applying for the Presidential Citation

1. Rotary Club of Harlingen - Glenn Hill 2. Rotary Club of McAllen North - Bradley Lacher 3. Rotary Club of Brownville Sunrise - Luis Cavazos 4. Rotary Club of Mission - Paul Petit 5. Rotary Club of Edinburg - Marti Brewerton 6. Rotary Club of Edna - Jim Moser 7. Rotary Club of Laredo Under Seven Flags - Viky Garcia 8. Rotary Club of Donna - Dolores Salinas 9. Rotary Club of Port Isabel - Richard Ridolfi 10. Rotary Club of Ganado - Andy Bridges 11. Rotary Club of Laredo - Manuel Benavides 12. Port Lavaca Rotary Club - Michael L. McGuire 13. Rotary Club of Rockport - Jack Wright 14. Rotary Club of Corpus Christi Sunrise - Alvin Reagan 15. Rotary Club of Weslaco - Juan Aldape

16. Rotary Club of McAllen - Vanessa Peveto 17. Rotary Club of Kingsville - Bud Malcik 18. Rotary Club of Freer - Norman Jenkins 19. Rotary Club of Victoria - Doug Anderson 20. Rotary Club of McAllen Centennial - German D. Prado 21. Rotaract Club at UTB/TSC - Brownsville Area Rotary Clubs 22. Rotary Club of Laredo Gateway - Alex Cabezut 23. Rotary Club of Laredo Daybreak - Jesus Amezcua 24. Rotary Club of San Benito - Bill Elliott 25. Rotary Club of Aransas - Charles W. Zahn, Jr. 26. Rotary Club of Goliad - Roy Miller 27. Rotary Club of Edcouch-Elsa - Pete Riojas 28. Rotary Club of McAllen South - Chris Graham 29. Rotary Club of Port Aransas - Charlie Zahn

Spanish GSE team hosts enjoyed the exchange

Governor Tom congratulates the Rotary Club of Rio Grande City for their most excellent hosting of the Spanish GSE team. Rio Grande City Rotary Club has just completed their first hosting of a Rotary GSE team.

Club President Baldemar and Secretary Billy had concerns about the ability of their small Rotary Club to host the Spanish GSE team. By last night (after two days of hosting) at their club social there was a lot of ¡mi casa es su casa! being said by the Rio Grande City hosts.

If you have any questions about the Spanish GSE team, Baldemar and Billy are the experts.

They show that GSE hosting can be fun and very meaningful. Check their video.

Lionel Betancourt's states: The general consensus from all involved with the Spanish GSE team was "too short of a time." Maybe next time we could try a new concept. Let each area have the team for a week alternating each year to cover all areas. Each would then be responsible to share the time and do all of the activities together. I know my clubs would have gladly been with them longer and I am certain sharing would not be a problem.

Harlingen Rotary Club President, Glenn Hill, and the team.

Five visitors from Spain were welcomed special quests by members of the Freer Rotary during the regular noon Wednesday on April 16, 2008. The group visited the community of Freer and different business and was taken to the Freer High School Spanish classes to visit with the students about their country of Spain. Later that evening they were treated to a barbeque and were able to see a live rattlesnake.

Wreck kills Rotary leader, Simon Martinez

By NICK GEORGIOU, LAREDO MORNING TIMES, 04/20/2008

A leader of a local Rotary Club is dead and another is critically injured after a car accident Saturday morning (April 19). At approximately 8:30 a.m., Simon Martinez, Virginia "Viky" Garcia, Diana Juarez and Sergio Moreno, members of the Laredo Under Seven Flags Rotary Club, were traveling west through Brooks County on U.S. 285 to McAllen.

They were heading to a Rotary Club district conference when gravel from a Freightliner suddenly fell out of the back of the trailer and spilled onto the highway.

According to the Department of Public Safety report, the 2002 Nissan Pathfinder struck the debris, causing the vehicle to go into a skid on the right side. The skid continued until the vehicle struck a fence line and then rolled over several times.

Emergency crews arrived about 30 minutes later.

Martinez, 59, was pronounced dead at the scene and Garcia, who was thrown from the vehicle, was airlifted in critical condition to a Corpus Christi hospital's intensive care unit. Juarez and Moreno, Garcia's fiancé, were treated for minor injuries and released.

Juarez, one of the backseat passengers in the vehicle, recalled the traumatic accident.

"It just happened so quick," said Juarez, also a staff member at the American Cancer Society's Laredo unit. "We didn't expect it. We were just looking forward to this (conference), and then, unfortunately, this tragic thing happened.

"(Martinez) will be a person that will be greatly, greatly missed."

Despite being retired, Martinez was still active in the community, working for Showcase Lighting and serving as the treasurer for the local Habitat for Humanity chapter. He was also the former president of the Laredo Under Seven Flags Rotary Club.

Carol Sherwood, executive director of the local Habitat for Community chapter, said that more importantly, Martinez was a husband and father to two grown children, Annie and Paul. His wife is Juanita.

"He was one of the most generous, kind, soft-spoken men I've ever known," Sherwood said. "I would say that today, God has a new angel in heaven. And, we, the Habitat for Humanity family, are saddened by (the loss of) our very special, dear friend. We are asking the community to pray for the Martinez family and Viky Garcia and her family."

After the news of the fatal accident spread, an outpouring of support from the community followed.

"This is sad for all of us," said Lupita Canales, member of the Gateway Rotary Club, who has known Martinez for at least five years. "We're going to miss him. He was a great man and very humble and very helpful to the Rotary. We're going to deeply miss him."

Javier Compean, assistant district governor of the five local Rotary Clubs, said Martinez was a great person who was always ready to serve and work.

"He was a great Rotarian and always ready to volunteer," he said. "And, obviously, he paid the final price coming to the district conference.

"The whole district is mourning. We're choked up. Our prayers are with his family and Viky Garcia."

Garcia, in addition to being the current Seven Flags Rotary Club president, is also the special projects manager for the local Habitat for Humanity chapter.

In recognition of her volunteerism, the Laredo Commission for Women inducted her into its Hall of Fame on March 30.

She was honored in the civic/volunteer category.

"I want to see positive things happen," said Garcia in a March 30 Laredo Morning Times article. "I think they can happen. I think people are generally good and they just need a little shove for that goodness to come out."

She is also involved in the Clothesline Project and the Silent Witness Project, which try to raise awareness about domestic violence.

"We are all praying for her," Sherwood said.

A funeral service for Martinez is expected to be scheduled at Hillside Funeral Home, 310 W. Hillside Road.

(Nick Georgiou may be reached at 728-2582 or by e-mail at nickg@lmtonline.com)

©Laredo Morning Times 2008

Governor Tom writes, "We want to raise money for the Simon Martinez family and Viky Garcia. Carol and I pledge $1,000 for each family.

We challenge your Rotary Club to do the same. Write your check payable to Rotary District 5930 Family and we will divide the donations between them.

Since the tragedy on Saturday with the Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Laredo Under Seven Flags, the question of the seventh flag has arisen. ADG Javier Compean has found this explanation. (Spain, France, Mexico, Texas, Confederacy, USA and the Republic of the Rio Grande!)"

District Conference was a chance to brag

Rotarians attending the Rotary District Conference were offered the chance to win $100 if the last two numbers their social security number were the same as the last two numbers on the $100 bill.

President-elect Ralph Ayers of the Port Isabel Rotary Club had that lucky match!

Governor Tom presented Tom Plumb the Rotary International Service Above Self award--only 150 of these are given each year. Tom has been the sparkplug behind a continuing project to build schools and water systems in Honduras. He raises a large portion of the funds for the annual projects through the sale of Honduran jewelry. Plumb, also, received a Paul Harris Society certificate acknowledging his commitment to the Rotary Foundation.

Myra Barrera, a senior from the Freer High School, took first place in the District Four-Way Test Speech Contest. Myra, congratulations on a job well done from the Freer Rotary Club.

Picture from left to right Arturo Martinez, Ann Jenkins, Myra Barrera, Norman Jenkins (Club President), Beverly Little and Napo Labbe.

Jack Whitmire, District Public Relations Committee Chair, presents the Port Isabel Rotary Club a plaque for best weekly bulletin. Port Isabel President-Elect, Ralph Ayers (l) receives the award while Governor Tom looks on.

Tamara Sanchez and Jack Whitmire received Rotarian of the Year awards. Tamara's hard work on and enthusiasm for the Rotary Youth Exchange program made her an obvious choice. Jack's work on the always-on-time District Newsletter and the up-to-date, content-laden District website led to his selection. 

New Web site encourages donations from the public to end polio

The general public is invited to help eradicate polio by contributing to Rotary's $100 Million Challenge through a new "mini" Web site, www.rotary.org/endpolio. Launched on 4 April, the three-page site urges people "to become part of history by donating to the global effort to wipe out the crippling disease polio." It also explains the Gates Foundation challenge grant, describes funding needs, and provides an overview of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.

Rotary will market the site throughout North America and encourages club members to spread the word among friends and colleagues. Help promote it through Web sites, blogs, or newsletters, and contact pr@rotary.org with any questions.

Come to the District Assembly to prepare to Make Dreams Real

Governor-Elect Russell Cain invites all District 5930 Rotarians to come to Kingsville to prepare to Make Dreams Real--President-Elect D.K. Lee's theme for 2008-09. All club leaders should attend especially those new to their offices. Experienced leaders should come, too, to share knowledge learned from years of doing.