The Holidays can have us all in a daze and what did the last 6 months bring? Well, it brought us Hurricane Harvey, SNOW and an earthquake!!What’s Next?
The next 6 months are the most crucial in your Rotary Clubs to finish STRONG on what you all got started in achieving the Presidential Citation Award.
*As a Heads Up, The Tootie Awards deadline is March 31, 2018. If you have any questions, comments or concerns, we are here to Help and Support Our Clubs.
The Rotary Trilogy – Membership, The Rotary Foundation and Public Image/Rotary Awareness
Are you utilizing tools to help promote Rotary throughout our Communities and Schools? Service Projects, Scholarships, RYLA, our 6 Areas of Focus?
Our Lt. Governor of Membership Luis Cavazos will be facilitating our District Monthly Conference Call – every 3rd Monday of the Month. He has an outline of key points to discuss. Your call in number and pin will be sent in a separate email.
Our District Rotary Foundation Chair Ellison Crider has scheduled our Focus on The Foundation this Saturday January 13, 2018 at Texas A & M Kingsville and has a Wonderful program scheduled. And it’s FREE!!
We are currently running Rotary Public Service Announcements on Spectrum in the RGV area and Laredo. Harlingen Sunburst Rotarian Jim Birschbach was able to get this done for us. North Harlingen Club President Landon Jennings also scored some advertising for us with Rio Sports during the High School Playoffs. I am working with Landon to assist with a Billboard. Also, Charlie Lopez, our own McAllen South Rotarian connected us with Valley TV running loop spots to spread Rotary Awareness. If you have any other suggestions or ideas, please reach out to Lt. Governor of Public Image/Rotary Awareness Aleda Reyes, McAllen North Rotarian. Aleda.j.reyes@gmail.com
RYLA
I received a very encouraging email from Christine Wisian, Corpus Christi Rotarian – YEAY!
“We have a tremendous response – best ever, to RYLA. We’re at 139 applications and expecting about 20 more by the cut- off date of this Thursday, January 11. We have 20 alternates, and expect to be able to invite many of these students as the last minute cancellations are known. All the clubs have been phenomenal. More than typical from Laredo, with 41 students registered and 4 more expected this week; Brownsville Sunburst has submitted 9!”
LATEST UPDATE ON POLIO - Only 21 cases for the year of 2017 a significant reduction from 2016. There is 1 new case reported for this year 2018. We are moving in the right direction to END POLIO NOW and hoping for a COUNTDOWN TO HISTORY!
UPDATE OF HURRICANE HARVEY RELIEF FUND – I visited Rockport Rotary Club and surrounding areas – Rockport, Ingleside, Aransas Pass, etc. and there is SO much work to be done.
35 Grants have been awarded in the total of $256743.90 up to date.
Assistant Governor, District Grants Sub Committee Chair Eddie Bartnesky will be taking a Clean Up Team to Rockport in the next few weeks and will be picking up our Disaster Aid USA trailer and will be needing volunteers. Please contact him eddie@connellybartnesky.com if you are interested in doing what we do “Service Above Self”.
Our Rotary District Conference Committee is working hard behind the scenes and promises a Memorable Event – “The Magic of Rotary”- April 20-22, 2018. Dr. Sylvia Whitlock, 1st Female Rotary Club President, we will be Celebrating 30 Years of Women in Rotary is scheduled and Confirmed.
Our Youth Peace Conference at Schlitterbaun Water Park will be celebrating 50 Years of Rotaract and also promises to deliver a Fun Filled Day of Networking and Team Building.
We still have 6 months to Really MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
I am a phone call away, 956-683-5706 if you have any comments, questions or concerns.
Thank you for having me SERVE you!
⚡
Betty Ramirez-Lara
District Governor 2017-2018
bettylararotary@gmail.com