January was a busy start to the year for Rotary District 5930.
 
I started off the month by going to Los Fresnos for the presentation of a fire pumper truck and various essential firefighting equipment to the city of Matamoros, across the border from Brownsville. Matamoros is a very large city with very limited firefighting resources. Thanks to this project, a direct result of our International Project Fair in September last year, and the Los Fresnos Rotary Club, fighting fires there will be easier now. This project has the potential to save lives and property through faster response and with the proper resources. The next week I was in Brownsville to witness the loading of approximately $1.2 million of medical equipment and furniture that was donated to the state of Tamaulipas in Mexico to help equip under-equipped hospitals there. This was another project that was a direct result of the International Project Fair. Enrique Medellin, a member of the Brownsville Sunrise Club, worked with the proper authorities to organize the project and make it happen. The Brownsville Sunrise Club helped load the equipment and furniture into a semi truck. This project will also save lives because more hospitals in Tamaulipas will have the proper equipment to treat patients.
 
Story corrected 2/8/2020
On January 18 we held the first Rotary Leadership Institute in our District where we did both RLI Session 1 and RLI Session 2 on the same day. Both classes had great attendance, with the RLI 1 Session being sold out with a waiting list. This program is really taking off in our District. If you have not started the RLI sessions I would highly recommend getting on board. Thanks to IPDG Andy Hagan and PDG Debbie High for organizing these sessions and making sure they went off smoothly.
 
The Rotary Club of Victoria is celebrating it’s 100th anniversary this year. On January 28th the club dedicated a beautiful Rotary Centennial clock which was placed prominently in front of DeTar Hospital in Victoria. Congratulations to President Jesse Pisors and the Victoria Rotary Club on this milestone event.
 
RYLA kicked off on January 31st at Camp Zephyr. I had the honor of helping to kick off the camp with a welcome, giving the campers a little education on what Rotary is. It was a full camp and I am sure will be another great success, changing the lives of over 150 high school juniors and seniors. Thanks to organizers Mary McQueen and Jim Villaume, and all those with the Rotary Club of Corpus Christi and other Rotarians who make this camp the best every year!
 
On February 8 we will celebrate at the Rotary Foundation Awards Dinner in Harlingen. As of this writing we have a great group registered for the dinner so it will be a fun, inspirational evening which includes Suzi Howe, Rotary International Director Elect. I’ll see you all there!
 
PETS will happen the last weekend in February, February 28-March 1. If you are a president-elect or president-nominee sign up now at www.lonestarpets.org. I know District Governor Elect Eddie Bartnesky, fresh off the International Assembly, has a tremendous program planned. You will come away fired up and ready for your year as president.
 
I want to end by letting you know planning for the District Conference in Corpus Christi is going full force. Please mark your calendar if you have not already for May 1-3 to attend. Hotel registration is already open on the District Website and conference registration should be available in the next few weeks. We hope to have a great turnout this year!
 
Remember February is Peace and Conflict Resolution month so plan a program focusing on that.