December is Disease Prevention and Treatment Month
Rotary is dedicated to fighting and preventing disease. Disease Prevention and Treatment is one of Rotary’s Seven Areas of Focus. Disease and illness result in pain and injury. Prolonged severe illness may result in loss of employment and income. It affects families. It affects the quality of life.
Rotary and Rotarians are committed to helping people to live healthy lives. Our signature project in this area is Polio Eradication. However, polio is not the only disease or aspect of healthy living on which Rotarians have expended energy.
First and foremost, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the incredible team who worked tirelessly to make the Dreamcatcher Magic Celebration a reality. Your dedication and passion brought this vision to life in such a short time, creating a truly magical experience! This unforgettable event was the highlight of Foundation Month—a time to honor our members, recognize our donors, and celebrate the magic of Rotary. A special highlight of the celebration was recognizing Rotarians who have reached incredible milestones. While we are fortunate to have many Rotarians in our district who exemplify such dedication, we were especially honored to have three Rotarians with 50+ years of service in attendance!
Their lifelong commitment is a shining example of what it means to be a true Dreamcatcher, inspiring us all to continue making a difference. We also celebrated our Major Donors, whose generosity fuels the magic of Rotary’s work worldwide. That evening, thanks to a generous $10,000 match from anonymous donors, I am thrilled to share that we raised an incredible $20,000! Everyone who donated $500 or more that evening was adorned with beautiful orange/gold stoles to honor their contributions, symbolizing their commitment to making a lasting impact.
A special acknowledgment to those wearing stoles, symbolizing their incredible contributions to Rotary: Blue: Major Donors
Gold: 50+ Years as Rotarians Silver: 25+ Years as Rotarians Teal/Green: 15+ Years as Rotarians
Mark Your Calendars!
I’m excited to announce that we will be doing the second round of giving out stoles at the Dreams United Celebration on April 25-27, 2025, in Corpus Christi. This event will be the highlight of the year, filled with fellowship, inspiration, celebration, and, of course, delicious food to savor as we come together.
Mark your calendars—you don’t want to miss it!
Club Visits Wrap-Up: Assessment Phase Complete!
This month, I was privileged to visit the Edcouch-Elsa, Weslaco, Kingsville Sunrise, Rockport, Kingsville, Port Aransas, and the Corpus Christi Club. With these visits, I’ve officially completed all my club visits for the year! To me, this first phase has been an assessment—an opportunity to listen, learn, and understand the unique strengths and opportunities within our clubs. Now, it’s time to transition to the implementation phase, where we turn ideas into action and continue to empower our clubs. I’ll need the support of every one of you to make the rest of this Rotary year truly magical.
Celebrating Rotary in Action
November was filled with incredible moments that reminded me of the power of Rotary magic:
On November 2nd, my husband and I joined the San Benito Club at the Adoption Awareness Picnic—a heartwarming event filled with hope and love.
On November 7th, I had the pleasure of attending Biliteracy Night with the Rotary Club of Los Fresnos and the Los Fresnos Interact Club. It was an inspiring evening that celebrated the power of bilingual education and the strength of cultural awareness.
On 11/11, we proudly participated in the Veterans Day Parade with the Weslaco Club. Honoring our heroes always fills my heart with gratitude.
From November 8 to 16, the Corpus Christi Club hosted a delegation from Ukraine, and I was honored to participate. Rotary continues to connect people across the globe, fostering peace and friendship.
I even got to stand on the side of the road holding a banner for the ‘Honk for Your Hero’ activity—a part of the Flags for Heroes project by the Corpus Christi Club, a stunning reminder of the impact we can have when we unite to honor and serve.
And now, we’re about to embark on another exciting chapter of global cooperation: Our district will be joining the ICC USA-Mexico, and the official signing will take place in Houston on December 6th. This marks another milestone in our journey to make an even greater impact through partnerships that transcend borders and cultures.
Don’t forget about the PHF 50/50 match opportunity! This is a great chance to become a Paul Harris Fellow (PHF). The match will be available until January 31st, so take advantage of this incredible opportunity to increase your giving and make a lasting impact with Rotary.
Gratitude and Reflection
This season of gratitude, I’m deeply thankful for each of you and the magic we’ve created together. Your dedication to “Service Above Self” truly makes a difference. As we head into December, I encourage you to enjoy time with loved ones, celebrate our progress, and look forward to the dreams we’ll catch in the year ahead.
A Quote to Inspire Us "The joy of giving not only brightens the season, but also lights the path to a better tomorrow"
Wishing you a joyous and blessed holiday season! Together, we’ll make 2025 unforgettable.
With gratitude and Rotary magic,
Zehra Surani
Rotary 5930 District Governor
2024-2025
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December 3rd is Giving Tuesday, so consider donating to our Rotary Foundation and support the projects around the world.
The Rotary Foundation helps Rotary members to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace by improving health, providing quality education, improving the environment, and alleviating poverty.
For a limited time starting on 1 November 2024 and ending on 31 January 2025, Using Rotary Foundation Recognition Points generously donated by an anonymous donor, we will match contributions of new cash made to the Annual Fund-SHARE during Rotary Year 2024-2025.
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