Rotary District 5840 is proud to congratulate Lisa Herring of the Rotary Club of Kerrville, who will serve as Rotary International Director for the new Zone 31 (currently Zone 25B) for the 2028–2030 term.
This exciting announcement, shared by Rotary Zones 25B & 29, marks a proud moment for District 5840 and the Rotary Club of Kerrville. Lisa’s upcoming leadership role is an opportunity to help guide Rotary’s continued work and impact around the world.
We celebrate Lisa on this well-deserved honor and look forward to the contributions she will make in this important international leadership position.
Please join us in congratulating Lisa Herring! We wish her every success as she prepares for this next chapter of service to Rotary.
Congratulations to Lisa Herring of the Rotary Club of Kerrville!
The Rotary Club of Alamo Ranch partnered with Texas A&M University–San Antonio students for a hands on service day at Gardopia Gardens. Together, volunteers prepared the garden for the fall season by composting dead plants, transplanting baby celery into larger pots, cleaning garden areas, and adding plant food to existing plots.
On Saturday, September 26, members of the Rotary Club of San Antonio North Central rolled up their sleeves for a community trash pickup at Walker Ranch Historic Landmark Park in San Antonio. Our members spent the morning collecting litter throughout the park and helping care for a space that is enjoyed by families, walkers, runners, and neighbors throughout our community.
The Alamo Heights Rotary Club Held it's first annual "SCRAMBLE FOR SCHOLARSHIPS" on Sept. 25' 2026 at Brackenridge Golf Course.. It was a great success!
San Marcos helped to raise $2,500 for the U.S. Veterans Service Dog (USVSD) program in September. Kyle VFW Post 12058 hosted a telethon to fund the training and placement of service dogs for veterans in Texas. Rotary agreed to provide $1,250 as a match for individual donations up to $1,250.
District Governor Bobby Martinez shares his October message with Rotary members across District 5840. This month, he highlights Economic & Community Development Month and the important role Rotary clubs play in creating stronger, more resilient communities.
He also reminds us that World Polio Day is October 24, an opportunity for Rotarians to raise awareness and support Rotary’s ongoing commitment to a polio-free world. Click to Play.
Across the district, Rotary clubs are raising a glass—and raising awareness—for a world without polio! Pints for Polio events bring Rotarians, friends, family and community members together for a little fun and a powerful purpose: helping Rotary finish the fight to end polio. Check out the upcoming Pints for Polio events in the graphic above and join a club near you! 🍺 Go out, raise a pint, and help raise funds to End Polio Now!
September is Rotary’s Basic Education and Literacy Month, a time to celebrate the many ways Rotary clubs help people gain the knowledge, resources and opportunities they need to succeed. The Rotary Club of San Angelo recently brought that commitment to life by supporting Angelo State University’s Ram Pantry.
District 5840 is getting ready to walk for a polio-free world! On October 24, Rotarians, family members and friends will gather at beautiful Enchanted Rock to participate in the World’s Largest Polio Walk and support Rotary’s mission to End Polio Now.
And this year, we have something special to help us show our Rotary spirit—a special District 5840 T-shirt created specifically for the World’s Largest Polio Walk!
At the Rotary Club of Fredericksburg’s September 21 meeting, members stuffed bags for babies, stuffing approximately 160 bags that will be delivered to Methodist Hospital Hill Country to be given to newborns and their parents. Each bag contained two books and literature on the importance of reading to children.
Heartfelt thanks to esteemed fellow Rotarian and Past President Rick Cavender for welcoming our Rotary Rising Leaders Class of 2026–2027 to Audi Dominion for an unforgettable evening of inspiration, innovation and fellowship!
September is Education -&- Literacy Month. From the pages of his first book “Investing with Purpose,” to leading our Rotary Rising Leaders, Young Members Board President and author Austin Lane, CFP, Greenwing Wealth Management, demonstrates everyday our Rotarian principal of Service Above Self.
The Rotary Club of San Antonio is honored to once again partner with Light the World Texas Giving Machines this Holiday season to raise funds for polio, gifts for Children, literacy, warm blankets and Kingdom for Kids Playground equipment. Join us Nov 16th - Dec 6th at the Park at the Historic Pearl and let’s share the joy of ServiceAboveSelf and LightTheWorld with kindness, together!
Rotary Club San Antonio Young Members Board and Rotary Rising Leaders 2026-2027 cohort had a wonderful time participating in Generations Over Dinner, an initiative put on by the San Antonio Area Foundation.
It was a meaningful evening of sharing stories and perspectives across generations and a great reminder of how much we can learn from one another simply by listening.
In the spirit of good sportsmanship Jourdanton Rotary Club President Shannon Chicoine visited the Pleasanton Rotary Club on Thursday to honor the annual President’s side wager on The Showdown of 97 between their two high school football teams. The losing team's Rotary President has to wear the opposing team's jersey to the winner's Rotary meeting.
Travis Elementary School in San Marcos recites the 4-Way Test every morning. They have an Early Act Club, sponsored by San Marcos Rotary, that raises $750 each year for a scholarship for a high school senior who attended Travis while in elementary school. Rotary matches the $750 for a total scholarship of $1,500. Click to Play.
San Marcos Rotary donates funds and provides volunteers for School Fuel packaging events. School Fuel packages food for school kids every Thursday for distribution on Fridays. Rotary is mobilizing 10 or more volunteers every third Thursday to bag the food.
The Rotary Club of Alamo Ranch partnered with Texas A&M University–San Antonio’s ENGL 1302 students, led by Dr. Elizabeth Olaoye, to bring service-learning into the classroom.
As part of their first service project, students volunteered with Habitat for Humanity in San Antonio, gaining hands-on experience in construction while serving local families. Students learned to safely operate a table saw, paint materials, transport wood frames, and nail and assemble components.
The Rotary Club of Atascosa County invites families, students, educators, and neighbors from across the county to join us for our County-Wide Anti-Bullying Rally on October 14th at 5:30 PM at Jourdanton City Park!
Bullying isn't just “kids being kids.” It can affect a young person's education, friendships, self-esteem, physical health, and willingness to even go to school. According to the CDC, about 1 in 5 high school students reported being bullied on school property, while more than 1 in 6 reported electronic bullying through things like social media and texting.
A Proud Moment for District 5840! As your Immediate Past District Governor, I am proud to announce that at the Rotary International Rotary Roadmap Awards program, our District was named District of the Year for Zone 25B for Rotary year 2025-2026!
The Rotary Roadmap is a framework Rotary International has created that helps districts and clubs set goals, measure progress, and focus their efforts in key areas such as Membership, Public Image, The Rotary Foundation, and Polio.
Rotary Club of San Antonio, TX picked up our paintbrushes to bring to life Past President Paul Garro’s 10 gorgeous murals in honor of Easterseals’ upcoming 50th anniversary of empowerment. Of course, no major renovation project is complete without expert oversight! Easterseals Ambassador Enoch was making sure every smile -&- brushstroke reflected their living legacy of Hope.
It was a phenomenal kickoff for The Rotary Club of San Antonio’s Rotary Rising Leaders Class of 2026 2027! Our young professionals cohort gathered at the beautiful Oak Hill Country Club for an evening of meaningful connections and discover new opportunities to serve alongside likeminded peers and industry leaders.
There are many, many Rotarians who have experienced Alzheimer’s disease either directly or indirectly, through loved ones or friends and acquaintances. No one who has had this experience forgets the devastating impact of Alzheimer’s on everyone. Taking action to prevent, treat, or someday cure brain disease is what motivates the San Antonio West Rotary Club’s actions.
Every fall for many years the Rotary Club of San Marcos has packed hundreds of bags of school supplies for children in eight rural villages in Mexico, and for several child-serving nonprofits in San Marcos. The packaging this year was done by 30 volunteers on September 2, at the VFW Hall on Hunter Road.
On July 25, members of the Rotary Club of San Antonio South partnered with CASA (Child Advocates of San Antonio) to help make a difference for children and families in our community. Our Rotarians rolled up their sleeves and volunteered their time to distribute much-needed school supplies to local families.
For more than 15 years, the Rotary Club of San Antonio South has proudly partnered with our local fire department to help keep seniors safe and cool during the hot Texas summer months.
When temperatures climb above 100 degrees, extreme heat can be more than uncomfortable, it can be dangerous, especially for older adults. Unfortunately, some of our senior neighbors do not have air conditioning or may not be able to afford the cost of keeping their homes cool.
We’re looking for Rotarians from across the District who are passionate about helping Rotary grow and thrive! You don’t have to be a Membership Chair or an expert—if you have ideas, experience, enthusiasm, or simply a desire to help strengthen our clubs, we want YOU on the team!
August was an incredibly busy and meaningful month for the Rotary Club of San Antonio North Central, as members demonstrated their commitment to building a brighter future for generations to come—both at home and around the world. The club celebrated three outstanding high school students by presenting scholarship awards to Jenna Carlson, Zoe Cronenberger and Luke Pruske.
Looking for a fresh voice, a new perspective or an inspiring program for your Rotary Club? District 5840 Speakers Bureau has been updated and is ready to help you find engaging speakers and informative programs for your next meeting.
The Texas State University Rotaract Club in San Marcos participated in a student activity recruiting fair on August 26. Several Rotarians helped. Pictured: Dru Sawyer (Rotarian), Akerra Jackson (Rotaract President), Xochitl Gonzalez (Rotaract Secretary), Noely’s Oroszo (Rotaract Vice President), and Jannett Jackson and Eric Fidler(Rotarians).
Texas State University Rotaract Club Staffs Information Table
Thank you Snack Pak 4 Kids for another wonderful opportunity for Service Above Self!
Together, our Rotary Club of San Antonio, TX -&- District Governor Bobby Martinez helped bag 5,000 nutritious food packs for children experiencing food insecurity. By ensuring access to healthy food over the weekends and evenings, Students come to school ready to learn!
The Rotary Club of San Antonio’s Young Members Board, Rotary Rising Leaders Class of 2026–2027 and fellow Rotarians enjoyed an insightful tour of Texas Biomedical Research Institute!
Thank you to President and CEO Dr. Larry Schlesinger, Director Meredith Brown, and Giving Manager Samuel Valdez for sharing their time, expertise and passion for Texas BioMed’s groundbreaking work in research towards improving lives.
Fredericksburg Morning Rotary Club’s 17th Annual Kraut Run, featuring 8K and 5K timed runs and a 5K walk will be held Saturday, October 3rd in Fredericksburg, TX. The walk is not timed, and everyone is welcome. It’s held Oktoberfest weekend, so you can go to the Oompah party right after our event.
The Rotary Club of Medina County is holding a Hometown Heroes BBQ Event at Hondo City Park #1, 733 FM 426 N, Hondo, TX 78861 on Friday, October 23 from 5 to 7 pm and Saturday, October 24 from 10 am to 2 pm. This is a fundraising event with funds coming from sponsors, teams competing in the BBQ, vendor booth fees, and beverage sales; funds raised over the costs of the event support Rotary projects including scholarships. Last year the event allowed us to give $8,200 in scholarships.
The Rotary Club of Wilson County truly embraced Membership and Development Month in August by recognizing the contributions and impact of existing members and inviting prospective members to the August 17th meeting. There were nearly 20 guests in attendance.
The Rotary Rockstar Challenge is underway! If you’ve completed Levels 1 and 2—creating your club’s Rotary-compliant logo and conducting a brand audit—you’re ready to take the next step. Level 3: Promote Your Club
Now is the time to start planning your World Polio Day event! On October 24, Rotarians around the world will come together to raise awareness and support Rotary’s efforts to End Polio Now. Whether your club is planning a Pints for Polio fundraiser, a Polio Walk, or another creative fundraising event, we have resources to help make your event a success.
District 5840 is stepping up for the World’s Largest Polio Walk—and we want YOU to join us! On October 24 at 10:00 a.m., Rotarians and supporters across District 5840 will come together to raise awareness and show our commitment to a polio-free world.
Congratulations to the Rotary clubs that earned the 2025-26 Rotary International Club Excellence Award! This achievement recognizes clubs that demonstrated strong performance throughout the Rotary year while engaging members, serving their communities, supporting The Rotary Foundation, and advancing Rotary’s mission.
The Fair Oaks Ranch Rotary is thrilled to welcome our newest Youth Exchange student, Tobia, who has traveled all the way from the historic, canal-lined streets of Venice, Italy, to join our community for the upcoming year. Tobia touched down in San Antonio on August 3rd, where our club gathered at the airport to give him a huge, true-blue Texas welcome the moment he stepped off the plane.
As wildfire recovery efforts continue across the country, we’re reminded that service doesn’t end when the headlines do. Heartfelt thanks to our fellow San Antonio Rotarian LoriAnn Tinajero, American Red Cross National Deployments Elected Official Liaison & External Relations and Regional Philanthropy Officer, for her steadfast leadership and commitment to Service Above Self.
Twenty-two Rotarians wearing Rotary apparel staffed an awareness and membership recruitment booth and circulated at the annual San Marcos Chamber Business Showcase on August 19. There were more than 100 vendor booths and thousands of attendees to the event, held at the Convention Center.
San Marcos Rotary created a new category of membership in spring 2026 called Corporate Membership. An organization can join for $2,000 a year and identify up to three employees as Rotary members to represent them. The first Corporate Members are Texas State University, and LaCima, a residential community of new homes in San Marcos. Three University employees have been inducted into the club as well as two leaders from LaCima.
The Rotary Club of San Antonio, TX was inspired by RYLA Scholar Jonah Nirenberg as he shared insights from his Rotary Youth Exchange year in Japan. When we reach beyond, we truly change our World!
This month, Rotary Club of San Antonio Northwest welcomed Cindy Urshan, Rotary Club of San Antonio VP of Communications and Young Members Board of Directors, to share her Four Way Testimonial and impact as Community Relations and Outreach Development Director for PAM Health Rehabilitation and Specialty Hospitals.
Cindy spoke to her legacy of transformational kindness and resilience, beginning with her Father’s neighborhood gatherings at Wrigley Field to share food, clothes and books during the Great Depression to his lifesaving Heart Transplant in the same ICU where she began her nursing career.
August is Membership -&- New Club Development Month on the Rotary International calendar and Rotary Club of San Antonio, TX is grateful for our remarkable VP of Membership, Brisa Gonzales!
Brisa inspires us everyday with her kind spirit, thoughtful insights and heart for others. In addition to serving as a valued member of our Young Members Board, she is a dedicated mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
Long time rotary member, Jack Harrison, received congressional recognition from Congressman Henry Cuellar for his involvement in the Rotary Club of Jourdanton and Jourdanton Chamber of Commerce. Jack's vision and dedication led to the creation of the annual Fourth of July celebration over 25 years ago that brings the community together to celebrate and connect with one another. We are so proud of Jack and his commitment to our club and our community!
Fredericksburg-Nimitz Rotary and Texas Heritage Vineyards raised $3,000 for the Hill Country Needs Council's Food 4 Kids Supplemental Weekend Nutrition Program. Nimitz Rotary provided food by donation and raffled gift baskets at a Vino and Bingo event held at Texas Heritage Vineyards.
For Maternal and Child Health Month, the Rotary Club of Wilson County sponsored a “Baby Shower” for the South Texas Pregnancy Center, a non-profit organization that provides compassionate care to pregnant women and their families. They offer free pregnancy tests, limited ultrasounds during the first trimester, and Prenatal & Parenting Classes.
President of the Rotary Club of Jourdanton, Shannon Chicoine, received the Paul Harris Fellow Award! Shannon has demonstrated outstanding community service and a commitment to the ideals of Rotary.
The Rotary Club of Atascosa County is excited to announce that we have placed a collection box for diapers of any size at the front entrance of Lowe's Market in Poteet!
Free session with Rev. Dr. Adrienne Booth Johnson on what works — and what doesn't — in fundraising for projects built to last. Kicking off RAGCED's new four-part CED That Works series, this session tackles one of the most common stumbling blocks in community economic development: funding a project so it lasts well beyond the first grant or gift. Tuesday, August 19th at 9AM on Zoom. Click to Register.
Do's & Don'ts of Fundraising for Projects That Last
On August 1, members from the Boerne Rotary Club, Boerne High School Interact Club, and Scout Troops 102 and 180 helped collect school supplies at the Boerne H-E-B in support of Communities in Schools “Stuff The Bus”. The Boerne Rotary Club sponsors the Interact Club and both scouting troops.
Members of the Rotary Club of Alamo Ranch joined 1st Choice Realty, our friends at ProLift Garage Doors, and community leader Barber Gabe to volunteer at the 13th Annual Back 2 School Event held at the Frank Garrett Multi-Service Center in San Antonio.
Together, volunteers helped more than 300 students prepare for the new school year by distributing backpacks filled with school supplies, socks, shoes, and other essentials.
On July 31, members of the Rotary Club of Blanco County rolled up their sleeves, collecting litter along their adopted stretch of Ranch Road 2325. Equipped with safety vests, gloves, and trash bags, Rotarians worked together to help keep one of Blanco County's scenic roadways clean and welcoming for residents and visitors alike.
August is Rotary's Membership & New Club Development Month, and it offers us an opportunity to reflect on what membership truly means. Now more than ever, Rotary doesn't simply need more members—we need more Rotarians.
There is an important distinction. A member may attend meetings, but a Rotarian embraces our mission of Service Above Self. Rotarians are the ones who volunteer at service projects, lead committees, mentor new members, and inspire others to become part of something bigger than themselves. They don't just fill a seat at the table—they help build the table.
San Antonio North Central Rotary Club proudly continues its long-standing tradition of cultural exchange by sending two students to our sister Rotary Club of Takamatsu, Japan. In return Takamatsu Rotary will host our two students and North Central Rotary Club will host two of their students providing a unique opportunity for all participants to immerse themselves in each others cultures and culinary traditions. This program not only fosters international friendship but also enriches the lives of young people through shared experiences.
The Rotary Club of Dripping Springs is honored to be selected as the August Nonprofit Organization of the Month by Best Version Media, publisher of Dripping Springs Neighbors Magazine and several other community publications.
Operation Gratitude sends care packages and provides volunteer opportunities to say thank you to deployed troops, veterans and first responders. Four different communities are served:
Volunteers serving in Kerrville this past weekend made a meaningful difference in one family's recovery from the recent flooding. Working alongside Operation Blessing, volunteers—including girls from Camp Mystic who were assisting with cleanup efforts—helped clean the family's flood-damaged home.
Rotarians from the Fredericksburg, New Braunfels, San Antonio North Central, and Kerrville Rotary Clubs came together on Thursday to support a neighbor in need following the recent devastating floods in the Texas Hill Country.
In the wake of the devastating floods that impacted the Texas Hill Country, the Rotary Club of Kerrville has been at the forefront of helping families begin the long road to recovery.
There will be a Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) on Saturday, Sept. 12th, 2026 from 8:30AM to 4:30PM at Spring Creek United Methodist Church, 28970 Old Fredericksburg Rd, Fair Oaks Ranch, TX. Classes will begin at 9AM. The institute is $50 and is open to all Rotarians. Click to Register.
Your Rotary club is making a difference—now it's time to make sure your community knows it! The2026-2027 Public Image Rockstar Challenge is a fun, year-long roadmap that helps clubs learn how to use Rotary's branding and public image tools to promote events, celebrate members, share service stories, and increase community awareness.
Get ready — because the 2027 Rotary International Convention in Barcelona (June 26–30) is shaping up to be one of the most exciting gatherings in Rotary history! Picture it: thousands of Rotarians, world‑class speakers, groundbreaking ideas, global friendships, and a city bursting with color, creativity, and culture. Barcelona is the perfect place to recharge your Rotary spirit and bring home fresh inspiration for your club.
We are thrilled to announce the official selection of Kristi Shepherd of the Kerrville Rotary Club as District Governor for the 2029–2030 Rotary year! Kristi’s passion for service, leadership within Rotary, and demonstrated commitment to making a difference exemplify the spirit of “Service Above Self.” We are confident she will lead with vision, heart, and integrity as she guides our District into a bright and impactful future. Please join us in extending our warmest congratulations to Kristi on this well-deserved honor.
Kristy Shepherd Selected District Governor 2029-30
Pictured are San Antonio West Rotarians and friends prepping school supplies for filling 1,700 backpacks at San Antonio's Center for Refugee Services. Five district clubs used Rotary Foundation District Grants to help fund their community school supply projects.
Rotary Club of San Antonio began our 2026-2027 Rotary Year with Service Above Self at the San Antonio Food Bank! Our Rotarians rolled up their sleeves to help sort and packed 33,248 pounds of food which translates to 26,598 meals to be distributed! Every box packed represents hope for Families across our City. Cheers to all who came out to serve!
This July on International Day of Hope, Rotary Club of San Antonio celebrated where hope takes root with our Seeds of Hope Summer Peace Academy in the beautiful Corrymeela community of Northern Ireland.
In 2022 Rotarians Jack McGuire and JC Clapsaddle planted seeds with Rotary partners Rotary Club of Belfast and Rotary Club of Corrymeela to invest in the next generation of peace leaders through teaching principals of reconciliation, communication and relationship building by which we reaffirm our shared commitment to world peace.
Hope is more than optimism; it’s choosing to build bridges, foster understanding, and create lasting impact.
Celebrating International Day of Hope in Corrymeela
Members of the Rotary Club of Alamo Ranch and the Rotary Club of San Antonio South joined more than 1,000 volunteers July 17–19 to celebrate Habitat for Humanity of San Antonio Guadalupe Valley’s 50th anniversary by helping complete a home in just 50 hours. Rotarians assisted with building wall frames and landscaping alongside volunteers from across the community.
The Alamo Heights Rotary Club is having its first "SCRAMBLE FOR SCHOLARSHIPS " GOLF Tournament on September 25th, 2026. In addition to prizes for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd place teams, we will have a traveling Rotary Trophy and 1st place Rotary team will receive a PHF each, 2nd place will receive 800 PHF Points and 3rd place will receive 600 Points!! Call Bob Jacobs @ 210-827-5504
Fredericksburg-Nimitz Club Members Rusty Eberle, Rob Price, Chad Steinmetz, Ronnie Jung and Mike Strolle answered a request from the Hill Country Needs Council by doing cleanup around a women's storage facility so it could be torn down.
San Marcos Rotary Volunteered at the Teacher Reuse Store Providing Teachers With Free Classroom Supplies. Eighteen members of the Rotary Club of San Marcos helped to sort and shelf donated books and other classroom materials at the Teacher Reuse Store in July.
This year San Marcos will thank meeting guest speakers by donating a book to the San Marcos school libraries with a dedication in front honoring the club speaker. The books are chosen by the head librarian for the school system. The goal is to promote reading and literacy while also increasing awareness of Rotary among young people.
San Antonio West PE Jane Luke Hill receives her Paul Harris Fellow+2 pin from club Foundation leader John Sullivan. Rotarian Hill's contribution to the Annual Fund of The Rotary Foundation was part of a record setting $437,929.33 in donations from our district in 2025-2026.
Nimitz Rotary raised $4,100 at a BBQ and Concert benefit at the home of club members Pam and Neal Martin. The money was given to Meals for Vets representative Tim Thompson. Pictures left to right are Neal Martin, Tim Thompson, Pam Martin and Woody Eastman.
Rotarians from Fair Oaks Ranch partnered with the Kendall County Women's Shelter team to empty out a trailer full of donated holiday items, sort them and get them prepared for a Christmas in July sale to fund programs that support families in crisis in our community and provide them with resources to transform their lives.
San Antonio Airport Rotary is proud to introduce our new Shield of Service Satellite Club. This club was founded with the focus on our military and veterans: San Antonio is Military City, USA.
Thank you to all the outgoing officers who helped make this past year such a success. I look forward to working with our incoming leaders to ensure a productive 2026-2027 year. The Presidential message for the upcoming term is "Create Lasting Impact." In alignment with that, my personal message is "Be The Change." Together, we will make a lasting impact in our communities and across the world.
As we close this chapter of the Lite Up Literacy Project, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the teachers, staff, students, and families of Ed Franz Elementary School for their wonderful partnership with Rotary eClub of San Antonio.
This year, we have been fortunate to have Jerry Hardy serve as our District Vice Governor. Throughout the year, Jerry has exemplified the spirit of Rotary's message to Unite for Good, bringing people together through service, leadership, and genuine friendship.
Get ready, Rotarians—Barcelona is calling, and the 2027 Rotary International Convention is set to be an unforgettable, high‑energy celebration of everything that makes Rotary extraordinary! Imagine thousands of members from around the world gathering in one of Europe’s most vibrant, art‑infused, sun‑splashed cities. A Rotary Convention isn’t just an event—it’s a burst of inspiration, global friendship, and Rotary spirit that stays with you long after you’re home.
A new Rotary year is the perfect opportunity to take a fresh look at how your club is presented to your members, prospective members, and your community. Your club's website and social media channels are often the first impression someone has of Rotary. Are they current? Are they welcoming? Do they tell your club's story?
The Rotary New Year Checklist was created to help clubs conduct a simple Public Image Audit and ensure their communication tools are working for them—not against them.
ClubRunner has released Version 4.5.0 of its mobile app, bringing several new features, security enhancements, and usability improvements designed to make it easier than ever for members to stay connected and engaged.
What's New
Share Your Profile with a QR Code Networking just got easier! Members can now generate and share a personalized QR code containing their profile information, making it simple to exchange contact details at meetings, conferences, and events.
The San Angelo Rotary Club, with support from a grant through Rotary District 5840, proudly partnered with the San Angelo Fire Department to help strengthen swiftwater rescue capabilities in the community. The donation of protective swiftwater rescue gear and a rescue boat — valued at more than $25,000 — will equip eight additional members of the SAFD swiftwater rescue team.
Gearing up for Literacy with Rotary Club of San Antonio, TX, CYCLE and the incredible 2nd Graders of Cable Elementary who achieved their reading goals! Thank you NISD and Rotarians Rosario Espinoso, Gladys Gonzalez and Leticia Salazar for facilitating this wonderful opportunity for ServiceAboveSelf -&- Changing Young Children’s Lives through Education.
Nimitz Rotary partnered with Texas Heritage Vineyards Vino and Bingo for a Cause event to raise $1,500. Presenting the check to Jim Ryan are: left, Karen Montgomery, Special Events Chair, and Susan Johnson, owner for Texas Heritage Vineyard.
Congratulations -&- Hook ‘Em Horns to Past President Pat Frost, recognized by San Antonio Texas Exes for his lifelong legacy of community impact and philanthropy. Rotarians including 2025-2026 President Kelley Frost gathered at the Club at La Sonterra to celebrate Pat and raise funds for future scholarships!
The Rotary Club of San Antonio, TX lovingly celebrated the legacy of ServiceAboveSelf of cherished Executive Director Anne Swift, as we wished her a very happy upcoming retirement! Past Presidents, fellow Rotarians, and dear Friends from all Rotary District 5840 - South Central Texas and across the World joined in the festivities, sharing favorite memories, sending well wishes and heartfelt gratitude.
The Rotary Club of San Antonio, TX was honored by the philanthropic insights of our Distinguished Panel of Foundation Leaders Nadege Souvenir, CEO, San Antonio Area Foundation; Melissa Houck Bauman, President, The Harvey E. Najim Charitable Foundation; Laura Vaccaro, CEO, Kronkosky Charitable Foundation; and Kevin C. Dinnin, President and CEO, First Day Foundation, with expert moderation by Chair of the Day, Mike Gilliam. We were also thrilled to welcome our new Executive Directive Muriel Dubinski!
Happy 2026-2027 Rotary New Year with Rotary Club of San Antonio, TX!
2026-2027 Board of Directors: President Armen Babajanian; Past President Kelley Frost; President Elect Christopher Holden; Treasurer Daniel Peavy; Sergeant at Arms Emma Rudkin; Young Members Board and Rotary Rising Leaders President Austin Lane; VP Membership Brisa Gonzales; VP Programs Shelby Payne Drayton; VP Youth Services Dan Dailey; VP Community Service Gladys Gonzalez, MBA; VP International Programs Shahrzad (Sherry); VP Fundraising Steven Silver; Social Co-Chairs Leticia Salazar and David Schoepf; VP Communications Cindy Urshan
Former Fredericksburg Mayor Jeryl Hoover is the winner of the Rotary Club of Fredericksburg’s 2025 2026 Hans Hannemann Community Service Award. Hoover was presented a plaque by Rotarian Carol Ann Shepherd, who nominated him for the award. Joining them (l-r) are Jim Franer, Rotary Club President, and Rotarians Annette Tilley, and Bob Lee, who also nominated Hoover.
The Rotary Club of Medina County awarded $8,200 in scholarships to area students during the month of May. Students from multiple county communities were awarded scholarships - 2 from Medina Valley ISD , 2 from Devine ISD, 3 from Hondo ISD, and 1 from Lytle ISD.
The Rotary Club of Blanco County proudly awarded six scholarships of $2,000 each to graduating seniors from Blanco High School and Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) High School during recent end-of-year awards ceremonies.
The scholarships recognize students who have demonstrated academic achievement, leadership, community involvement, and a commitment to serving others. Through its annual scholarship program, the Rotary Club seeks to support local students as they pursue higher education and career goals.
On Tuesday, June 16th Rotary Club President of Jourdanton Shannon Chicoine gave an informative program about competing in all women’s saltwater fishing tournaments. Woman’s tournaments are on the rise and Shannon gave a great look into how tournaments operate, the types of fish they catch, and the comrade between the teams.
Jourdanton Club President and Saltwater Tournament Fishing
2026 Scholarship Recipients Heartfelt congratulations to all of our esteemed scholarship recipients for the year 2026! We are thrilled to announce that we have awarded a total of 25 scholarships, each valued at $1,000.00.
The Acuña Club donated $ 250.00 and the West Springfield, Virginia Rotary Club donated $ 325.00 for this activity. Our Club donated the difference of $ 793.28 to complete the total of $1,368.28 to buy, toilet paper, wipes, and underpads, for the Nursing homes in Zaragoza, Coahuila (Luz y Ezperanza), and Cd. Acuña, Coahuila (La Divina Providencia).
Nimitz Rotary mourns the passing of one of our beloved members and past president, Debbi McCleod McCurdy. Debbie passed suddenly on May 15th in Cloudcroft, NM where she and her husband, Mike, had settled to retire. Debbi was an exemplar Rotarian.
The Rotary Club of San Marcos donated $500 and used musical instruments to the Mistick Krewe of Okeanos, a 501(c)(3) non-profit all volunteer organization that organizes a Carnival Parade in San Marcos each year on the Saturday before Mardi Gras. The parade features music and floats and winds through the Historic District of San Marcos and Downtown.
District Governor Craig Hardy presented The Winston School Interact Club with the “Best in District” Award 2025-2026 at the North Central Rotary Club meeting on June 8, 2026. The club performed 87 community service projects and racked up 1,700 service hours this school year.
The Rotary Club of San Marcos, in partnership with the Burdine Johnson Foundation, presented a $5,000 check to the San Marcos Senior Citizens Center on June 10 to help the Senior Center fund services targeting seniors.
Jourdanton Community Scholarships began in 1985 with 15 local business men and women donating $100 from each business to three recipients, each receiving $500. The scholarship group grew quickly and finally turned the funds over to the Jourdanton Rotary Club.
Nikki head of EMT AND I CYNTHIA CUEVAS AS PRESIDENT of Wilson County provided the assistance to an elderly diagnosed with CANCER . We pray we provided a fresh breath of air to the resident.
The Acuña Club donated $250.00 and the West Springfield, Virginia Rotary Club donated $325.00 for this activity. Our Club donated the difference of $793.28 to complete the total of $1,368.28 to buy, toilet paper, wipes, and underpads, for the Nursing homes in Zaragoza, Coahuila ( Luz y Ezperanza), and Cd. Acuña, Coahuila ( La Divina Providencia).
The Rotary Club of Kerrville, in partnership with the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office, has taken an important step toward enhancing public safety by providing a state-of-the-art Responder-class drone to local first responders. The project was made possible through Rotary District flood-relief grant funding and reflects Rotary’s ongoing commitment to supporting community needs through innovative solutions.
The Rotary Club of Pleasanton recently partnered with exchange student Thimo to bring the joy of reading to local students by hosting a free book fair for every second-grade student at Pleasanton Primary School.
As Artificial Intelligence (AI) becomes more common in Rotary communications, Rotary International has released AI Guidelines for Members to help clubs and districts use these tools responsibly while protecting privacy and the Rotary brand.
San Marcos Rotary donated $5,000 to the San Marcos Greenbelt Alliance, $2,500 of which came from a Rotary District 5840 Grant. Most of the money was used to purchase attachments for a Bobcat Skid Steer to help construct a new trail to the underserved Dunbar neighborhood.
As we approach the close of another Rotary year on June 30, this month’s theme of Rotary Fellowships reminds us of the friendships, partnerships, and spirit of service that unite Rotarians across our district and throughout the world.
The Rotary year began under extremely difficult circumstances as devastating July floods swept through the Texas Hill Country, affecting many of the communities served by Rotary clubs throughout District 5840. Homes, businesses, schools, and public infrastructure sustained major damage, leaving countless families facing uncertainty and hardship. For many communities, recovery became a long and ongoing process that required both immediate assistance and sustained support. Play video
The Rotary Club of Alamo Heights recently demonstrated its commitment to education and community impact by presenting a $10,000 endowment check to The University of the Incarnate Word (UIW).
The San Antonio North Central Rotary Club recently organized a Mother’s Day service project crafting 125 personalized cards with heartfelt messages and prepared 125 gifts for patients at Heart of Texas Hospice. This initiative reflects the club’s commitment to community service and its ongoing partnership with hospice.
In April 2026, the Rotary E‑Club surprised longtime youth volunteer Ariana with a warm baby shower. Ariana joined the club in 10th grade, attended RYLA as a junior, and returned as a student leader her senior year.
Ariana will continue her education at Prairie View A&M University, all while remaining connected to the Rotary E‑Club and demonstrating the leadership skills she developed through Rotary.
Scroll, scroll, scroll… people move quickly through social media. So how do you make them stop? How do you grab attention long enough for them to read your message?
The Rotary Club of San Antonio South celebrated an evening of achievement and service May 14 during its Scholarship Banquet, Board Induction and New Member Induction held at La Gloria Brooks.
The club awarded scholarships to four outstanding East Central High School Interact students who have demonstrated excellence in academics, leadership and community service.
With full hearts, the Rotary Club of San Antonio thanks the wonderful Volunteers of the Church of Jesus Christ in San Antonio for kindly welcoming Rotary Club of San Antonio, TX to Light the World with Kindness and the the Texas Giving Machine over the 2025 Holiday Season! Thank you all so much, to everyone who came out and special thanks to City Leads Mark and Melinda Praetor, Communication Coordinator Don Larson, and Volunteer Leads (-&- proud Parents of Gabe the Giving Goat!) Lee and Leisa Parsons!
Congratulations to Rotary Club of San Antonio Past President Rick Cavender on being honored with a Heart of Gold award by Morgan’s, honoring Community Champions whose impact are making our world more inclusive -&- accessible! This Fall will mark Rick’s 30th Kingdom for Kids Build, details coming soon!
The Rotary Club of San Antonio was honored to join in the end of year Nurturing Hope San Antonio reflection and celebration! Together with Scholars and Faculty from UTSA, The Alamo Colleges District Northwest Vista College, and Trinity University, we discussed how rising young peace leaders are equipped with skills in diplomacy and Rotary’s #PositivePeace principles!
It was a quacktastic inaugural Duck Derby at the Historic Pearl with The Rotary Club of San Antonio. Rotarians -&- Community Champions, Friends and Families all came together to raise funds for Snack Pak 4 Kids, SNIPSA, and Kingdom For Kids!
The Rotary Club of San Antonio, TX was honored by the insights of our 2026 Outstanding Young San Antonian Charlie Blank, Exec Director, River Aid San Antonio and Rotary Rising Leader Class of 2026.
Joining us for our luncheon included esteemed visitors Rotary Club of San Antonio Pearl Past President Karen Allen-Mirabeau, Honorable Bexar County Commissioner Tommy Calvert, Precinct 4, Britta Ramirez, Diane and Steve Blank, Women Unlimited, Nurturing Seeds of Hope Scholars and more!
Thank you #SAISD Foundation for kindly welcoming Rotary Club of San Antonio, TX to join Bus Buddies -&- read to the wonderful Students of MLK Academy alongside so many wonderful Community Champions including the Honorable Ron Nirenberg -&- Lucy Adame-Clark and Marlene Perez and fellow Rotarians including Pat and Kelley Frost, Gladys Gonzalez, Shelby Payne-Drayton -&- Lia Payne-Drayton, Leticia Salazar, Addyson Brooks, Steve & Bizzy Darling, Liz Avelar, Michael Loredo, Evita Marie Morin, Suzanne Peterson, Steven Silver, Reverend Robert Norwood, Jacqueline Claunch, Cindy Urshan and many more!
It was an unforgettable night of fellowship -&- fun at the poker-themed Graduation celebration of The Rotary Club of San Antonio’s Rotary Rising Leaders Class of 2026!
From the first deal to the final hand, the evening was a powerful reminder that strong communities are built when Leaders come together to invest time, talent and treasure towards meaningful impact.
Rotary Club of San Antonio, TX celebrated our incredible Valero Texas Open Volunteers in style - SPURS style, that is!
Thank you to all of our fellow Rotarians, Rotary Rising Leaders and Young Members Board who showed up rain and shine during the Valero Texas Open to serve up concessions and smiles, raising over $7,300 for our Rotary initiatives!
There are 1.2 million #Rotarians across the World; each year, 150 are chosen to receive Rotary’s highest distinction of the Service Above Self Award.
This year, Rotary District 5840 - South Central Texas gathered at the historic New Braunfels Brauntex for our District Conference and Club Leadership Seminar -&- to celebrate our very own Hometown Hero Air Force Col (Ret) JC Clapsaddle, keynote and 2026 Service Above Self Award recipient.
Rotarians helped more than 200 households in Fair Oaks Ranch participate in a free paper shredding drive giving them a secure way to dispose of sensitive documents while promoting recycling.
Fair Oaks Ranch Rotarians were delighted to present scholarship awards to local high school students focusing on CTE education! We wish the best of luck to the award winners in their future professional pursuits.
The San Angelo Rotary Club’s history begins in 1926, when San Angelo was the epicenter of the Permian Basin oil boom. Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Fort Worth, the club received its charter—Number 1919—on November 17th.
San Marcos awarded a total of 15 scholarships at $1,500 each this spring to high school seniors at San Marcos High School, the San Marcos Academy, and Hill Country Christian School. The club funds scholarships from the proceeds from a golf tournament and an endowed charitable fund. Pictured are some of the scholarship recipients from San Marcos High School.
Congratulations to these two scholarship recipients!
Nimitz Rotary General Scholarship: $2,000 to Mason Stacey, a Harper senior graduating 3rd in a class of 41. He will be attending Texas Tech, majoring in Business and intending to become an author. His English teacher indicated that he's already developed and written an intricate 18,000-word novel!
The Rotary Club of Fredericksburg Morning recently donated $5,000 to the Jeremiah 29:11 Foundation. The Foundation is in the process of building a youth community center called The Hive Collective. A temporary location for the Hive is operating on North Llano St.
Along with the $13,000 in vocational scholarships that were recently donated to students on Gillespie County, The Rotary Club of Fredericksburg Morning recently made a $2,500 contribution to the Bob Hickerson Memorial Scholarship Fund. The fund is managed by the “Forging Futures Education Fund”.
Blanco County Rotarians Jack Twilley, Steve Kumbalek, Suzanne Kustelski and Leta Garcia, along with other Rotarians, were recently recognized by the Principal of Blanco Elementary School for their volunteer support throughout the school year to improve the reading skills of Kindergarten, First and Second graders. Principal Suzie Seabolt attributed the Rotarians' help to the improved reading scores of K-2 graders.
Blanco County Recognized for Support Reading Skills of K-2 Elementary Students
The Rotary Club of Blanco County held its Annual Joe Garcia Memorial Golf Tournament on May 4 and is pleased to announce it was the club's most successful golf fundraiser to date! Golfers and volunteers enjoyed a day of perfect weather and fun times while raising funds for the club's many community service projects, including scholarships for graduating seniors at Blanco and LBJ high schools.
At the request of the Hill Country Needs Council, members of the Nimitz Rotary Club performed a much needed cleanup of an elderly couple, one of them being handicapped. Helping out were Jimmy Culp, Rusty Eberle, Greg Cavanaugh, Ronnie Jung, Jack Schumacher, John Hollimon, Chad Steinmetz, Charlie Montgomery, Rob Price, Steve Kneese and Marti Perkins. It took two days of work to clear and haul off the debris.
Rotarians and guests were inspired by a powerful keynote presentation from JC (James) Clapsaddle, recipient of Rotary International’s highest honor — the Service Above Self Award. Recognized for his extraordinary humanitarian leadership, JC has played a vital role in Rotary International’s relief efforts supporting Ukraine since 2023 and continues to serve as coordinator for the Seeds of Hope International Peace Leadership Academy. Play video
We're excited to announce that Nova, the next generation of ClubRunner, is now available to clubs everywhere! More than just a redesign, Nova is a complete reimagining of the platform, shaped by your valuable feedback. Explore What is New.
🚀 What's new in Nova?
Nova brings a modern, streamlined experience packed with powerful updates, including:
On Wednesday, May 13th the Jourdanton Interact Club welcomed incoming club officers President Sophia Guzman, Vice President Mia Martinez, Secretary Marissa Chapa, & Treasurer Arianna Gomez. We’d like to give a big thank you to the outgoing officers Secretary Mia Cook, President Laney Briones, and Vice President Sabrina Gallegos. Well done!!
The Rotary Club of Uvay proudly celebrated the grand opening of the Ox Ranch Splash Pad with a Festival on May 9, 2026, at Jardin de los Héroes Park. After the dedication and hard work of four Rotary presidents, the long-awaited community 1.8 million dollar project is finally complete and officially open to the public. The festival brought together local families, community members, and vendors for a day filled with celebration, laughter, and excitement as children enjoyed the splash pad for the very first time.
The Jourdanton Rotary Club was proud to be one of the sponsors of the 2026 Senior Luncheon along with The Jourdanton Chamber of Commerce and The Jourdanton Education Foundation! It's an honor to serve our well deserving graduating class every year!
Fifteen San Marcos area high school seniors received scholarships totaling $21,750 from the Rotary Club of San Marcos this spring. The scholarships are funded with proceeds from Rotary’s annual Scramble 4 Scholarships Golf Tournament and funding from the San Marcos Rotary Club Foundation. The scholarships were in the amount of $1,500 each.
San Antonio Airport Rotary Club celebrated the teachers and staff at Ridgeview Elementary in San Antonio, Texas. Teachers Appreciation was Week, May 4-8, 2026. Rotarians provided lunch from Olive Garden to over 60 teachers , to include administrative and support staff.
It’s time to celebrate the Clubs that went above and beyond this year by completing the Rotary Rockstar Challenge! Designed to strengthen public image and showcase the incredible work happening across our communities, the challenge included six levels of activities focused on storytelling, engagement, membership promotion, and visibility.
Rotary hosted a fundraising party celebrating the Kentucky Derby on May 2, complete with mint julips, pecan pie and derby attire. It was held at Zelicks Icehouse with major support from sponsor La Cima. The Texas State University Rotaract Club provided a lot of workers who sold pie slices and raffle tickets.
San Marcos Rotary received a $2,500 District Grant to help the San Marcos Greenbelt Alliance (SMGA) build and maintain 30 miles of interconnected nature trails in the city. SMGA used the grant and matching $2,500 to purchase attachments for a Bobcat Skid Steer, including an adaptor plate to make the machine more functional.
Get ready for an evening of celebration, connection, and a little bit of retro fun as Rotary District 5840 gathers for the District & Club Leadership Installation! On Saturday, May 30, 2026, Rotarians and guests will come together at Strawberry Pines in Poteet, Texas, to officially install the incoming District and Club leaders for the new Rotary year. This special event marks a meaningful transition of leadership while celebrating the dedication and service that continues to make Rotary thrive.
San Marcos RYLA Students Present Program at Rotary on April 29
Wednesday, April 29, 2026 Submit Your Club's Story Bruce Smith smithbruce333@gmail.com San Marcos blanks . San Marcos RYLA Students Present Program Encouraging RYLA participation Youth Yes Four San Marcos area high school juniors attended the Rotary Youth Leadership Assembly (RYLA) in January over the Martin Luther King Holiday weekend at the Newcombe Tennis Ranch in New Braunfels. Two of the students, Paula Gomez and Phinehas (Phin) Doiron, shared their experiences at the Rotary Club of San Marcos meeting on April 29. Also attending RYLA but unable to attend the Rotary meeting were Garcia Kamo Mull and Lily Markley.
May is Rotary’s month to celebrate Youth Service—a time to recognize that one of our greatest responsibilities is investing in the next generation of leaders, peacemakers, and changemakers. Across District 5840, our clubs are making a lasting impact through Interact, Rotaract, RYLA, scholarships, mentoring programs, and student leadership opportunities. These efforts do more than support young people academically or professionally—they help shape character, compassion, and a lifelong commitment to service above self.
Looking for fresh, high-quality Club apparel that feels current, personalized, and easy to order? Club Swag Locker is now live, and it is already transforming how clubs show off their identity. Built by Rotarians who understand what clubs actually want, this new platform delivers simple ordering, fast shipping, and thousands of custom products your members will love.
Members of the San Antonio Oak Hills Rotary rolled up their sleeves to help protect and beautify our community while partnering with the Great Springs Project for a cleanup effort.
Working together, volunteers helped remove litter and preserve the natural beauty of the area—showing how small actions can create a big impact for our environment and future generations.
Thank you to everyone who volunteered their time to keep our spaces clean and thriving!
When devastating floods swept through our region on July 4th, the damage to first responders’ equipment, gear, and personal resources was immediate and overwhelming. But just as quickly, support began to flow in, thanks in large part to the leadership of Kristi Shepherd, Immediate Past President of Rotary Kerrville.
The Rotary Club of Kerrville has spent one hundred years shaping the character, leadership, and service culture of the Texas Hill Country. Its story begins in 1926, when Kerrville was a small but growing community of about 3,500 residents. Wool and mohair were major industries, and many of the town’s most recognizable names were among the club’s twenty charter members.
The Jourdanton Rotary Club held their Golf Classic at the Pleasanton Country Club on April 26th and it was a great success! The club would like to extend their gratitude to all their sponsors, participants, all the hard work of the Country Club, and their members! All proceeds from the tournament go towards Jourdanton High School scholarships and other civic projects.
One of our Rotary Club of San Antonio’s oldest members, Melvin Mitchell, passed away at age 94, leaving a 63-year Rotary legacy of service and passing the baton to the next generation. Melvin led his family’s 105 year-old construction business and remained involved his entire life. A World War II vet, Melvin retained a “service above self” attitude for his entire life and set an example of faith and family values for his 16 great-grandchildren to follow.
Feeling ducky? Adopt a Duck…and save a pup, feed a child, and create a safe place to play. Our inaugural Ducky Derby benefits three AMAZING causes…and You have the chance to win one of four GREAT prizes, including:
$2,500 and $1,000 Visa Cards Ultimate Pearl Experience with Hotel Emma stay, $500 to Tiny Finch, and more! Whataburger for a Year
Rain or shine, Rotary Club of San Antonio will be there! This year’s Valero Texas Open had a few drops of rain, but our Rotarians was full of sunshine while volunteering in the concessions stand.
The Rotary Club of San Antonio was honored to be part of the 2025 Light the World Giving Machine campaign, raising nearly $20,000 for our community initiatives including 1,146 polio vaccines; Holiday gifts for Children; Kingdom for Kids playground equipment; community preservation and cleanup supplies and youth scholarships. We're grateful to Historic Pearl for hosting this new beloved holiday tradition supporting local nonprofits and Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for the vision and generosity to make it possible.
Rotarians hit a home run, cheering on the San Antonio Missions to celebrate the start of baseball season! Past President Pat Frost threw out the first pitch and Social Chair Liz Avelar created a fun warmup game to get the ball rolling.
Rotary Club of San Antonio has deep roots in Fiesta with many kings among its ranks. We’re honored that our Past President Gardner Peavy was crowned this year as the 102nd King Antonio and embarks on a busy week of giving back to our community. Past Rotarians who served as King Antonio date back to 1929 with Jack Beretta; and others through the years include Past President Porter Loring, Jr.,in 1975 and Marshall Clegg in 1990.
The Rotary Club of Fair Oaks Ranch was delighted to recognize and honor several members as Paul Harris Fellows for their continued support of the Rotary Foundation. Their generosity is helping to change the world for the better. Way to go!
On April 11th, members of the Rotary Club of Fredericksburg participated in Highway Clean Up on West Highway 290 in Gillespie County. The club participates in this event several times a year to help with the beautification of the area highway. Members of all ages come together to clean up this 2 mile stretch of roadway.
Local Rotary Club Adopts Participates in Highway Clean Up
The Rotary Club of Fredericksburg is proud to announce the successful completion of a major sanitation and hygiene project at the Omurusimbi Primary School in Karagwe, Tanzania.
Students at Omurusimbi Primary School now have access to 40 new toilets and a dedicated handwashing facility. This marks a staggering improvement in quality of life for the school’s population of more than 1,000 students.
The Rotary Club of San Antonio South recently partnered with the San Antonio chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace for a meaningful day of hands-on service—helping ensure that no child in our community has to sleep on the floor.
Rotarians from our club showed up strong, working side by side with dedicated volunteers and members of the East Central Interact Club. A special thank you to Mahogany for proudly representing East Central and demonstrating the next generation of service leadership in action. Also thank you to Maya and Gabe from the Advanced Learning Academy and Cast Tec.
Students from the Career and Technical Education (CTE) program proudly volunteered alongside the Rotary Club of Del Rio to help place flags in preparation for the Veterans Wall That Heals visit to our community.
These dedicated students gave their time and effort to help create a powerful display honoring the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our nation. Each flag placed represents gratitude, remembrance, and respect for the sacrifices made by our fallen veterans.
We served over 300 meals to the downtown, homeless community. We partnered with Rebecca Court and Moussa for their donations of bottle waters and chips. #TeamPearl fights hunger and does our part.
TeamPearl and friends serve downtown San Antonio's homeless community with Under The Bridge Inc.
The Dominion Rotary Club of San Antonio, in partnership with the San Antonio South Rotary Club, joined forces with the young leaders of Salado Elementary’s Early Act Club to support a schoolwide food drive and service presentation, demonstrating Rotary’s commitment to developing future leaders through hands‑on community engagement.
The Dominion Rotary Club of San Antonio demonstrated its commitment to service and community appreciation by hosting a special cookout for the Leon Springs Fire Department and their families this March. In true Rotary fashion, club members rolled up their sleeves, fired up the grill, and spent the day serving hamburgers, sharing fellowship, and expressing gratitude to the first responders who protect the community every day.
The Rotary Club of San Antonio at The Dominion proudly presented a $20,000 donation to the principal and teachers of Leon Valley Elementary School to support the creation of a new Sensory Room for students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade.
World Immunization Week is quickly approaching! Has your club planned how it will observe this important public health event? Rotary and our partners commemorate World Immunization Week, 24-30 April every year, to raise awareness of the importance of vaccination and highlight the success of our polio eradication efforts.
The progress that Rotary and our partners have made toward eradicating polio is a success story that is important to tell, especially during this final effort to reach our goal. Our members are our greatest advocates and supporters, and we need your help more than ever to share our story with your communities. See below for Resources
Looking for fresh, high-quality Club apparel that feels current, personalized, and easy to order? Club Swag Locker is now live, and it is already transforming how clubs show off their identity. Built by Rotarians who understand what clubs actually want, this new platform delivers simple ordering, fast shipping, and thousands of custom products your members will love.
We are very grateful to have The Rotary Club if Del Rio investing in our VVRMC Basic Medics, assisting them in the next level of their EMS careers. This allows VVRMC EMS to broaden and advance our services for our community, and at the same time, grow our own to make a difference in the future. Thank you Cheryl Simmons and The Rotary Club of Del Rio, it will make a difference
We are proud to highlight the amazing work of our CTE Carpentry Class, led by Mr. Alvizo! Our talented students recently completed and installed another community book box for the Rotary Club of Del Rio. This project not only showcases their craftsmanship and hands-on skills, but also their commitment to giving back to the community.
Our Club is thrilled to announce that we have generously donated a truck to the CTE Automotive Class. This donation will serve as a valuable project for the students, empowering them to utilize it in innovative ways to raise funds for their exciting future endeavors.
The dedicated Rotarian Angela Prather took great joy in presenting an array of merit badges to the enthusiastic members of our newly established Scouting America Troop 1024 which the Rotary Club of Del Rio sponsors. These remarkable young ladies are diligently striving to advance in their scouting journeys, showcasing their commitment and hard work.
Under the direction of Mr. Alvizo the CTE Carpentry class painted our newly built flag shed. Some of the students helped replace our torn and tattered flags. To prepare our club for the wall that heals and our stretch of flag days. "Service above Self."
Get ready for an inspiring Rotary weekend! Join Rotarians from across District 5840 in New Braunfels on May 1–2 for the District Conference and Club Leader Training.
April’s Rotary theme—Environment—reminds us that Service Above Self extends to the world we all share. Through Rotary International, we are called not only to care for our communities, but to protect and sustain the natural resources that make those communities thrive.
Our Rotary District is growing! We are excited to welcome two new clubs to our Rotary family — the Rotary Club of Wilson County and the Rotary Club of Atascosa County.
Registration and breakfast tacos will be available starting at 7:30am, with a shotgun start at 9:30am. Lunch is provided afterwards and we'll have a large selection of raffle as well as silent auction items. There will be a mens and womens long drive prize, plus there is a closest to the pin prize on each of the par 3's with Hole 12 offering a $30,000 Cash Prize for a hole-in-one. Cash prizes awarded for 1st, 2nd & 3rd place finishes.
Golfers Wanted for the Annual Joe Garcia Memorial Golf Tournament
Thank you to the many Rotarian women and clubs across our District who participated in the Women in Rotary in Action campaign throughout the month of March. The campaign invited Rotarian women to share photos proudly wearing their Rotary shirts as a way to celebrate International Women’s Day and the incredible women who serve through Rotary.
Rotary Clubs across our District have been shining this year through the Rotary Rockstar Challenge, showcasing creativity, community connection, and powerful storytelling through their public image efforts. With six levels of challenges, this initiative was designed to help Clubs increase visibility, celebrate impact, and inspire engagement—and it’s been exciting to see the results!
Members of the Rotary Club of Fredericksburg came together on Saturday, March 21 to clean up alongside Baron's Creek at Frantzen Park in Fredericksburg. After noticing a need for clean up, our very own Keith Jenkins spearheaded the implementation of this project for the club. Members came together for a purpose and enjoyed the beautiful day while helping the community.
In honor of International Women’s Month, The Rotary Club of San Antonio was thrilled by the insights of our engaging panel featuring dynamic women leaders driving transformation in their professions and communities, to include:
Cris Daskevich, CEO, Christus Children’s and Senior Vice President of Maternal Services for Christus Health and President of Texas Hospital Association; Jamie Kowalski, Vice President-Corporate Relations, RK Group; Jennifer Shemwell, CEO, Phyllis Browning Company; Grace Uwizeye-Allen, Founder and CEO, Graceful Etiquette; with expert moderation by President Dr. Kelley Frost.
Through powerful stories and insights, we explored how leading by example creates the lasting change that is part of Rotary’s mission of Service above Self.
Women Leading the Way: Collaboration, Courage, and Community Impact
The Rotary Club of San Antonio was honored to receive an esteemed Peace Laureate Award along with our Nurturing Hope partners at the 21st Annual Blessing of the Peacemakers by the San Antonio Peace Center. We’re deeply moved to be recognized among others committed to promoting positive and lasting peace, including Northwest Vista College, Trinity University, UT San Antonio, and the HE Butt Foundation.
The Rotary Club of San Antonio was honored to partner with River Aid San Antonio for the 31st Annual Basura Bash River and Waterway Clean Up for Rotary Day SA 2026! Cheers to Tributary Leaders Rose Harte -&- Gladys Gonzalez and thank you to all came out to lend a hand!
On Saturday, May 9, 2026, the Rotary Club of San Antonio will host the inaugural San Antonio Duck Derby right at the Historic Pearl along the San Antonio River, bringing thousands of rubber ducks, families, and community supporters together for a one-of-a-kind event benefiting three deserving local nonprofits: Snack Pak 4 Kids San Antonio, SNIPSA and Rotary Club of San Antonio’s Kingdom for Kids.
Adopt a duck today and let’s help fight child hunger and food insecurity; support dogs and cats in finding their forever homes; and ensure every child has a safe place to play. Let’s get quacking!
Join Rotary Club of San Antonio for our Inaugural Duck Derby
The Rotary Club of San Marcos presented a $20,000 check to the McCoy College of Business at Texas State University that helped endow the “Dick Burdick - Rotary International Scholarship” to benefit students committed to studying international business. The presentation was made on March 25 at the Rotary Club meeting.
We had a fantastic afternoon at the Fair Oaks Ranch Homeowners' Association’s Easter Egg Scramble this past weekend. More than 400 attendees came together to find eggs, enjoy a special visit from the Easter Bunny and hop in the bouncy house.
The April 2026 issue of Greet Fair Oaks Ranch magazine features The Rotary Club of Fair Oaks Ranch as its cover story! The article in the monthly publication, which reaches over 4,300 households, spans five pages of in-depth details about the Club and its commitment to serving the Fair Oaks Ranch Community over the years.
The Rotary Club of Fredericksburg Morning recently donated $6000 to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. This was in partnership with the Zonta Club of Fredericksburg, Texas who administer and also help fund the project. Della Zey, a member of the Fredericksburg Morning Rotary Club was the brainchild of this collaboration.
Members of the Fredericksburg Nimitz Rotary along with Fredericksburg VFD and the 100 Club of Gillespie County received recognition at the Fredericksburg City Council meeting for raising money to place AEDs in all local law enforcement vehicles. Nimitz Rotary provided funds for 32 AEDs and the Gillespie County 100 Club provided an additional 4 for Game Wardens.
Fredericksburg City Council recognizes the Fredericksburg- Nimitz Rotary
On Friday, March 13th the Rotary Club of Del Rio Interact Club was official! We are proud of our Ryla attendees who came home and asked how to start an Interact Club and kept on until it was done.
Following up on a request from the Needs Council, Fredericksburg-Nimitz Rotary members built a ramp for a woman having difficulty gaining access to her home. Pictured, left to right were Dave Urbanski, Greg Cavanaugh, Rusty Eberle, Mike Strolle and Ronnie Jung. Photograph by Jimmy Culp. Way to go, guys! Service Above Self!
Come join us on Sunday, April 26th at the Pleasanton Country Club for the Jourdanton Rotary Club Golf Classic! Contact Theresa McAllister (210) 262-8319 or Jim Andrus (830) 570-0918 to sign up or for sponsorship opportunities!
We are so proud of our Fabra Elementary School Early Act Club and their friends from the Viola Wilson Elementary Early Act Club for the massive success of their recent Mac & Cheese drive supporting students within the Boerne Independent School District. This is the third year the Fabra Early Act Club and the first year of the newly formed Early Act Club at Viola Wilson collected Mac & Cheese through a friendly competition.
Thirty-five students at Texas State University were inducted into the TxSt Rotaract Club on March 3. Many Rotary Club members were present for the ceremony.
Rotaract Club at Texas State University Inducts 35
March is Rotary’s month to focus on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene — one of the most transformative ways we serve the world. Clean water is more than a basic necessity. It is the foundation of health, education, economic stability, and human dignity. When a community gains reliable access to safe water, children spend more time in school instead of walking miles to collect it.
Each month on the 4th Wednesday, San Angelo Sunrise members donate food items to the Angelo State University Food Pantry. Students frequently are in need of food items, and our club makes a significant contribution to the Food Pantry. Pat Malloy and Dean McInturff made the March delivery.
Currently the District 5840 Donor Advised Fund has $90,000 available for matching grants to clubs of District 5840. You can find the application form and information about the grant program on the District website.
The Rotary Club of San Antonio Northwest continues to live out Rotary’s commitment to service above self, demonstrating what it truly means to be #PeopleOfAction. In January, club members completed an impressive 14 San Antonio “Adopt-a-Spots” litter clean-up projects, dedicating their time and energy to keeping their community clean and welcoming.
San Antonio Northwest Rotary arranged a visit to the HR Data Center in San Antonio through their executive offices in Colorado. Enrique Birriel, DCIE/Director, of the San Antonio H5 Data Center, gave a very informative presentation and tour. Craig Hardy, our Rotary DG, and Bobby Martinez, Rotary DG Elect, were present, as well as Sa Huynh of Alamo Ranch Rotary Club, who partnered with our club in the visit, and her guest, a data science specialist.
The Fair Oaks Ranch Club stopped by the Hill Country Family Services pantry for a tour and to continue its long-standing support with a donation. HCFS is making a difference in our community and we appreciate them!
Fair Oaks Ranch Rotary Supports Hill Country Family Services
There will be a Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) on Saturday, April 11, 2026 from 8:30AM to 4:30PM at the Northwest Vista College,3535 N Ellison Dr, San Antonio, TX 78251. Click for map. Classes will begin at 9AM. The institute is $50 and is open to all Rotarians. Click to Register.
Fredericksburg-Nimitz Rotary Foundation Chair Ralph Bowen presents a check for $3300 to The Grace Center Executive Director, Hattie Heiner. Funds were raised at Texas Heritage Vineyard’s quarterly Bingo and Vino for a Cause event.
Jimmy Cobb recognized Bill Pennington for 65 years of membership in the Rotary Club of San Marcos at the club's February 25th meeting. Bill's father was a charter member of the San Marcos Club when it began in 1921.
17 Rotarians participated in delivering handwritten Valentine’s and candy to our treasured neighbors at a local nursing home. Each valentine was personalized and we had a wonderful time visiting with these fine folks!
San Angelo RC Delivers Valentines to a Local Nursing Home
Join Rotary Club of San Antonio, TX on March 1st for the 21st Annual Blessing of the Peacemakers at Northwest Vista College. Our Nurturing Hope initiative will be honored as one of our City’s Peace Laureates, along with Corazon Ministries, Honorable Nelson Wolff, Shokare Nikori Nakpodia and Dr. Paul Furukawa. Together we honor the roots of resilience and renew our shared commitment to building a more compassionate World through Service Above Self.
Rotarians enjoyed a night out for fellowship and fun when several hosts signed on to create a one-of-kind evening. Whether it was homemade pizza or pasta on the menu or a corner table in a favorite Mexican restaurant, each gathering served up great conversations and warm hospitality. Cheers and Viva Rotary!
RCSA unveiled our 29th Kingdom for Kids Playground at the YWCA thanks to the generosity of the Najim Foundation. Providing safe and fun places to play takes on new meaning when the project is planted at the YWCA’s new Women’s Live and Learn Center, a place for holistic healing and fresh starts for young moms and children. Thanks to Kingdom for Kids Founder and Past President Rick Cavender for the vision of ensuring every Child has a safe and beautiful place to play.
March is a time to recognize and celebrate the strength, leadership, and impact of women around the world. This year, we’re inviting Rotarian women across our District (and beyond!) to join us in a month-long celebration highlighting the incredible women who serve and lead in Rotary.
Rather than limiting the celebration to March 8, we are turning International Women’s Day into a movement that lasts the entire month.
Join us in New Braunfels for the Rotary District 5840 District Conference & Club Leader Training on May 1–2 — and be sure to lock in early bird pricing before rates increase!
Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 28th for the EARLY ACT DISTRICT 5840 CELEBRATION at the Salado Elementary School! The kiddos need our support!! They are collecting donations of beanie caps, lap blankets and non-skid socks for the Wellsential Health Rehab Center. Please share this list with your club as they need our help!
It was another beautiful day of Service Above Self with our Rotary Rising Leaders and Rotary Club of San Antonio, TX! Thank you to Sleep in Heavenly Peace - San Antonio for kindly welcoming our Rotarians to help build over 50 top-notch bunk beds for Children and Families in need.
Cheers to RCSA President Dr. Kelley Frost -&- Past President Pat Frost for being recognized as Power Couple by San Antonio Business Journal! We are so grateful for your leadership and commitment to Service Above Self!
Let’s taco’bout how amazing our annual Rotary Club of San Antonio, TX Blood Drive was with Torchy's Tacos Lincoln Heights and South Texas Blood & Tissue! Thank you to all our dedicated Rotarians and Friends who participated. Together we collected 24 units of blood which will help save 72 lives across Texas!
Let’s Rodeo with Rotary Rising Leaders -&- The Rotary Club of San Antonio! Thank you San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo President Pat Frost and Director Josh Reneau for kindly welcoming members of our Young Members Board of Directors and RotaryRisingLeaders Class of 2025 2026 to the Director's Club to learn about the history -&- future of our beloved San Antonio Rodeo.
Members of the West Kerr Noon Rotary Club delivered beds Saturday in conjunction with an organization called Sleep in Heavenly Peace. A local chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace was recently started in Kerr county by West Kerr Noon members. The goal of Sleep in Heavenly Peace is to provide beds for families in need.
The Rotary Club of Beeville continues to make a meaningful impact in their community through their literacy service project—the installation and ongoing enhancement of a Little Free Library. Designed to promote reading, learning, and access to books for all ages, the project has quickly become a valued resource for local residents.
We are incredibly grateful to The Rotary Club of Del Rio for their generous investment in our VVRMC Basic Medics! This support is instrumental in helping them advance to the next level of their EMS careers.
San Marcos Rotary hosted a sold out Mardi Gras Casino Night on February 13 at the Commemorative Air Force Museum at the San Marcos Airport. Ticket sales reached the occupancy limit for the venue and revenues and sales are expected to be the best ever for the event, which included casino games, Cajun food and live music, festive decorations, prizes, and a $15,000 diamond raffle.
Fredericksburg Nimitz Rotary raised $64,000 at their Annual Charity Golf Tournament. $30,000 of the funds were from a grant provided by Create Healthy. The funds were used to place AEDs (automated external defibrillators) in all law enforcement vehicles in Gillespie County and the City of Fredericksburg.
Fredericksburg-Nimitz provides law enforcement vehicles with AEDs
Fredericksburg-Nimitz Rotarians served a dinner of prime rib, potatoes and green beans to families from Wounded Warriors at Nebo before the parade on Friday, Dec. 3rd. The families are bussed in from San Antonio to enjoy the dinner, festivities and front row seat at the parade. Always a rewarding experience. Thank you Wounded Warrior at Nebo for your work with these well-deserved Veterans!
The Rotary Club of Fredericksburg Foundation gave a $5,000 donation to Frontera Healthcare as proceeds from its 2025 Fredericksburg Craft Beer Festival. Pictured are, from left: Jody Donovan, FCBF competition chair; Ken Cooke, event co-chair; Dale Cook, event co-chair; Debbie Reeh, event manager; Beth Gardner, PA-C; Allison Leftwich, chief strategy officer; Kennedy Lombardi, PNP-PC; and Baileigh Williams, FNP-C.
We would like to thank ALL the Rotary Clubs that participated in the District Foundation Raffle! $88,000 was contributed to your Rotary Foundation! Raffle winners were Cynthia and Greg Faldyn from the Rotary Club of Kerrville.
Rep. August Pfluger visited Ballinger Wed. Jan. 28th to give recognition to Allinson Busenlehner and the Interact students with the state for their outstanding communtiy sevice work they do!
Interact Club recognition with Rep. August Pfluger
Congratulations to JC (James) Clapsaddle from the Rotary Club of San Antonio for receiving the prestigious Service Above Self Award for 2025-2026 from Rotary International! Service Above Self has long been a hallmark of Rotarians who devote their time and energy to helping their neighbors — near and far — in significant ways.
On January 5 The Rotary Club of Blanco County partnered with Trinity Lutheran Church and provided an appreciation lunch for Blanco ISD teachers, staff and administrators - welcoming them back for the second half of the 2025-2026 school year. The employees were given tickets for a chance to win gift cards and prizes and the youth Sunday school classes made goody bags for each teacher. The BISD employees were thanked for all they do to support the students! Pictured are employees who won prizes during the luncheon.
Appreciation Lunch for Blanco ISD Teachers, Staff and Administrators
District 5840 is pleased to announce the chartering of its newest Rotary club. The Rotary Club of Wilson County was officially chartered on January 5, 2026, with an initial membership of 19 charter members.
February is Rotary International’s Peace and Conflict Resolution Month, a time to reflect on one of Rotary’s most enduring commitments: building a more peaceful world through understanding, service, and collaboration.
On Tuesday, January 27th Joyce Steinle of the Jourdanton Rotary Club celebrated twenty-two years of generous service. Joyce is an amazing example of Service Above Self and being a Proud Rotarian!
Did you know that one Unit of Blood can save up to 3 Lives? Save the Date to Save Lives with Rotary Club San Antonio at our annual Blood Drive with South Texas Blood & Tissue, on Feb 12th, 11am - 6pm at Torchy's Tacos Lincoln Heights Book your seat on the Mobile Blood Bus Bank: https://donor.southtexasblood.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/151017
Save the Date to Save Lives with Rotary Club of San Antonio
The Rotary Club of San Antonio was thrilled to welcome District 5840 Governor Craig Hardy for a conversation on our Club’s impact as well as present our 2025-2026 Paul Harris Fellows including: Lynne Cossman, Ashley Dailey, Aarlie Hull, Justice King, Tracy Ladgenski, Harry Looknanan, Cynthia Munoz, Heather Tessmer and Cindy Urshan [PH]; Ricardo Aponte Parsi, Bob Augsburger, Bob O'Connor, Dan Dailey, Jan King [PH+1]; Kelley Frost, Mike Gilliam Cody Knowlton, Samuel Noble, Karny Stefan [PH+2]; Yolanda Delgado [PH+3]; Jacqueline Claunch, Greg Murray, Trip Worden [PH+4]; Pat Frost, Joan Kearl, Nancy Shivers, Kristi Stanford [PH+5]; Joseph Stanley III [PH+ 6]; David Wiechmann [PH+8] and Charlie Wasser, new Major Club Donor.
6-7. Might not sound like much, but those are HUGE numbers when you’re packing food at the San Antonio Food Bank where we sorted between 6 and 7 tons of vital support for those struggling with hunger in our community. Founded in 1980, the San Antonio Food Bank serves one of the largest and most diverse service areas and supports 100,000 residents every week.
“Everyone can be Great, because Everyone can Serve” - Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Rotary Club of San Antonio, TX gathered alongside over 100,000 Community Leaders and Champions, Family and Friends across our beautiful City of San Antonio to honor the life and legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., whose transformational vision of equality, service and justice continues to inspire our World.
Legacies and Leaderships Rotary Club of San Antonio, TX brings together Community Champions all across our beautiful City, Texas and the World, towards creating lasting, meaningful impact. We were honored to join in fellowship for this year’s MLK March!
Leadership and Legacies with Rotary Club of San Antonio
Join Rotary Club of San Antonio, TX on March 1st for the 21st Annual Blessing of the Peacemakers at Northwest Vista College. Our Nurturing Hope initiative will be honored as one of our City’s Peace Laureates, along with Corazon Ministries, Honorable Nelson Wolff, Shokare Nikori Nakpodia and Dr. Paul Furukawa. Together we honor the roots of resilience and renew our shared commitment to building a more compassionate World through Service Above Self.
The Rotary Club of Fredericksburg hosts its 12th annual Cupid’s Bow Bash on Friday, February 13. This year’s theme is “Cupid Comes To Fredericksburg.” The event features a multicourse catered dinner, live music performed by Bob Appel, a traditional country singer based in Austin, and his band. There also will be prize ticket giveaways and a silent auction.
The Thursday Morning Rotary Club of Fredericksburg sponsored an entire day of bell ringing for the local Salvation Army chapter in Fredericksburg. The Salvation Army "Red Kettle" program helps those with emergency needs in Gillespie County.
Rotarians bundled up on a chilly morning to pick up litter and debris as part of the Fair Oaks Ranch Community's Adopt-A-Highway project. Their efforts helped keep local roadways clean and demonstrated Rotary’s ongoing commitment to service above self.
Fair Oaks Ranch Rotarians Keep the Community Clean
Rotary President-elect Olayinka Babalola revealed the 2026-27 presidential message: Create Lasting Impact. “As members of Rotary, we share a vision of a better future,” he said. “To make this vision a reality, we must acknowledge and unleash the change within ourselves. We must focus not only on outcomes, but on impact." Learn more.
ROTARY CASINO NIGHT HONORS DICK BURDICK WITH SCHOLARSHIP AT TEXAS STATE. The Rotary Club of San Marcos is hosting a Mardi Gras theme Casino Night fundraiser on Friday, February 13 from 6:30 to 10 p.m. La Cima will serve as the Presenting Sponsor for the event.
Vocational Service is at the heart of Rotary’s mission and speaks directly to who we are as Rotarians. It recognizes the value of all occupations and reminds us that our professional skills, experience, and ethical standards are powerful tools for service.
The Wiederstein Elementary Choir brought holiday cheer to the Rotary Club of Randolph Metrocom with their beautiful Christmas presentation — a cherished tradition that’s been delighting members for over three decades.
The Dominion Rotary Club proudly announces the overwhelming success of its annual holiday fundraiser benefiting the children of Methodist Children’s Hospital. Held on Thursday, November 20th at the H‑E‑B in Leon Springs, the community event—organized in partnership with the San Antonio Fire Department—drew strong support from local residents and businesses.
Rotary Club of San Antonio President Dr. Kelley Frost, Co-Chair Community Service Gladys Gonzalez and Rotary Rising Leader Cindy Urshan enjoyed an insightful tour of the ProjectMEND warehouse and community roundtable discussion on strengthening our City through collaboration and innovation. Thank you fellow Rotarian and Project MEND CEO Cathy Valdez; as well as ProjectMEND Dexter Moon, COO; Kristy Walston, Chief Development Officer; and Eduardo Di Loreto Cano, Board of Directors Vice Chair and Senior Project Manager in Site Development, LJA Engineering, and Community Leader PAM Health Division President Chance Martin.
Rotary Club of San Antonio enjoyed our 3-week campaign this Holiday season with Light the World Texas Giving Machine at the Historic Pearl! Special thanks to Light the World Leaders Don Larsons, Mark and Melinda Blomquist Preator, Lee and Leisa Bateman Parsons, Gabe the Giving Goat (our inaugural honorary Rotary Rising Leader!) and all the amazing Volunteers from the Church of Jesus Christ in San Antonio; and Rotarian Carolynn Dunn for helping light the way
It was such a blessing to celebrate the Holidays with so many of our Rotary Family -&- Friends! Liz Avelar opened our luncheon with a beautiful invocation and pledge. Leticia Salazar introduced our wonderful speaker Noah Adams, co-Founder Stay Strong Foundation, Inc.
Rotary Club of San Antonio, TX enjoyed the beautiful lights of the San Antonio River Walk and reflected on another year of ServiceAboveSelf. Special thanks to Young Members Board and Rotary Rising President Buddy Parsons and Program Chair Shelby Payne-Drayton for organizing our Holiday River Cruise and President Dr. Kelley Frost and Sue Nicholas for bringing yummy treats to share!
Rotary Clubs across the District have been shining bright this year through the Rotary Rockstar Challenge, showcasing creativity, community connection, and powerful storytelling through public image efforts. With six levels of challenges, the program was designed to help Clubs elevate visibility, celebrate impact, and inspire engagement — and so far, it’s working! The majority of Clubs have already completed two or more levels, and we couldn’t be more proud of the enthusiasm and effort.
San Antonio Oak Hills Rotary club volunteered with Elf Louise to wrap Christmas packages for children. Rotarians came together to show their creative gift wrapping skills. Serving 13,000 children in the San Antonio area.
The Rotary Club of San Antonio South proudly participated in Wreaths Across America on December 13, 2025, continuing a tradition the club has upheld for more than four years.
This year, club members sold more than 100 wreaths, which were placed in an older section of Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Because this area of the cemetery receives fewer “designated grave requests”, the club was especially honored to ensure that the men and women laid to rest there were remembered and recognized.
The San Antonio Northwest Rotary Club is spreading comfort, compassion, and hope through a special service project honoring the memory of longtime Rotarian and dear friend, Dave Adams, who lost his battle with cancer last year. In his honor, the club donated 100 large plush Care Bears to the MD Anderson Cancer Center at University Hospital in San Antonio. These bears will be distributed across three floors, providing comfort to approximately 90 pediatric and adult patients currently undergoing cancer treatment.
The San Antonio Northwest Rotary Club recently completed a heartwarming service project benefitting children supported by Any Baby Can (ABC). The club donated 90 small plush Care Bears to bring comfort and reassurance to young autistic children receiving treatment and care through the organization, which serves children from infancy through age 17.
The Jourdanton Interact Club visited Argent Court Assisted Living on December 19th serving cookies and assisting the residents with making Christmas cards.
San Antonio Northwest Rotary is helping share comfort, kindness, and hope this holiday season through a touching community service initiative. Twelve elementary and middle schools partnered with the club to create heartfelt art cards filled with words of encouragement and love for hospice patients throughout San Antonio. More than 1056 beautifully crafted cards have already been completed, with even more on the way.
The Rotary Club of Beeville is spreading holiday joy in a meaningful way—by putting brand-new books into the hands of local children. Working alongside friends of Rotary, club members recently built a bright red Little Free Library to ensure children in the community can enjoy the magic of reading this Christmas season and beyond.
On December 21, Rotarian‘s crossed the border and spread Christmas cheer throughout two of the Colonias handing out food, blankets, and toys. Del Rio Club and our very own Robert Martinez and his wife Denise met with the Acuna Club Sunday.
Rotary Club of Fredericksburg completed another successful Toys for Tots campaign on December 13, with the delivery of toys, stocking stuffers and family gifts to 440 children in 148 families. This year's Toys for Tots campaign involved approximately 1,300 volunteer hours.
The Rotary Club of Fredericksburg was blessed at its December 15 club meeting, with a Christmas concert by legendary Fredericksburg pianist and vocalist Duncan Holmes. Following a delightful holiday lunch, Duncan performed a variety of Christmas carols to start, then club President Jim Franer led members and spouses in a Christmas sing-along.
On Saturday December 6 a group of Rotarian‘s from Del Rio and San Angelo crossed the border and helped raise money for blankets toys and food. Our strong partnership with the Acuna Club came Together and raised over 21,000.00 for the colonies of Acuna. There will be food blankets and toy distribution on Sunday the 21st.
On Thursday, December 18, Rotarian‘s enjoyed serving Rotary village residence a Christmas lunch and dessert. Raffle prizes were donated by healthcare providers and everyone enjoyed the afternoon. Our club also gives the residence a gift card to Walmart for a Christmas gift. Service above self.
The Rotary Club of Canyon lake will be holding its annual fundraising event, The Romantic Rendezvous, on Saturday February, 14th 2026 at the New Braunfels Civic Center. This event is a Dinner and Dance, and Live and Silent Auction with a full dinner, dessert and complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks.
The Fair Oaks Ranch Rotary Club was among the many helpers at this year's Breakfast with Santa event. We brought joy to over 250 needy Boerne-area children. We joined with other Boerne-area Rotary clubs to provide a meal, a visit with Santa, a toy, face-painting and cookie decorating.
We served over 240 hot dog meals to the homeless community the Sunday after Thanksgiving. We partnered with Rebecca Court and Moussa for their donations of bottle waters and chips.
TeamPearl and friends serve downtown San Antonio's homeless community with Under The Bridge Inc.
Fredericksburg Nimitz Rotarians prepared and served a meal of prime rib, green beans and potatoes to families of Veterans from San Antonio before the Christmas Parade on Friday, Dec. 3rd. Nimitz Rotary Club has done this for the past 4 yours in conjunction with the Wounded Warrior at Nebo organization.
The Rotary Club of Blanco County has partnered with the local eye clinic, Rolling Hills Eye Care, to provide vouchers for a free eye exam and glasses for children in financial need at Blanco ISD. We are excited about this community effort to provide the gift of sight to all children in Blanco! Pictured is Dr. CJ Dale (left) with Blanco Rotary Club President Doug McKenzie (right).
On Tuesday, December 2nd the Rotary Club of Jourdanton proudly welcome our newest Paul Harris Fellow. Ronnie Pitts is pictured with Club President Shannon Chicoine. Congratulations Ronnie!
Jourdanton Rotary Club's Newest Paul Harris Fellow
The Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) held its latest training on September 20, 2025, bringing together Rotarians from across the district for a full day of leadership development. The event also celebrated seven (7) Rotarians completing Part III, the final level of the RLI program, marking a significant milestone in their Rotary leadership journey.
Our Rotarians were at the December opening of The Center for Brain Health at the San Antonio Medical Center, home to the Biggs Institute and its Alzheimer's disease research programs. Pointing out the plaque at the institute entrance acknowledging significant contributors from The Rotary Club of San Antonio West are John Paul Sullivan and Jane Luke Hill.
December is recognized in Rotary as Disease Prevention and Treatment Month, a time when we focus on one of the most critical areas of need in communities around the world. Rotary members understand that good health is the foundation for productive lives, thriving communities, and lasting peace.
The top finishers from the Pearl Rotary golf fundraiser in November 2025 are pictured celebrating their 2019 win at the San Antonio South golf event. This who's who of District 5840 golf are L-R: AG Ron Hubbard, PDG Jerry Hardy, DG Craig Hardy, and PDG Dwayne Hopkins.
Bravo to the spectacular Tobin Center for the Performing Arts for kindly hosting our Rotary Rising Leaders Cohorts to an insightful evening on the rich history -&- tremendous impact of the Arts across our beautiful City of San Antonio!
Our sincere thanks to our gracious hosts Renee Garvens, Vice President of Development, Tobin; Rick Frederick, Director of Resident Company and Community Engagement, Tobin; and fellow #Rotarian Jerrod Price, Executive Director, Youth Orchestra Of San Antonio (YOSA), for an unforgettable evening of collaboration, inspiration and fellowship!
King for a Day…for 25+ years! Rotary Club of San Antonio’s Past President Rick Cavender created a vision in 1997 for changing children’s lives through the power of play, and we’ve been building safe havens around the city ever since because Every Child Deserves A Place To Play.
The Rotary Club of San Antonio is honored to be a featured nonprofit in the Light the World Texas Giving Machines this Christmas season [now through Dec 7th at Historic Pearl]!
The Giving Machines are special red vending machines put up during the Christmas season where you can donate special items to those in need through select local and international charities. Help support Rotary's efforts to #EndPolioNow, clean rivers, support our Kingdom for Kids playground builds, provide opportunities for students to go to college, and more!
On November 17, San Antonio North Central Rotary Club proudly celebrated an amazing evening at its Annual Foundation Dinner where 13 distinguished members were honored with the prestigious Paul Harris Fellow Awards. This recognition, named after Paul Harris, founder of Rotary International, highlights the commitment of individuals to service.
On November 22 the San Antonio North Central Rotary Club along side dedicated members from Winston School Interact Club and volunteers from San Antonio Rotary South came together to continue a cherished annual tradition. Together we packaged and delivered 160 complete turkey dinners to deserving families in our community.
Just in time for Thanksgiving, the Rotary Club of Alamo Ranch partnered with the San Antonio Food Bank to support one of the most vulnerable groups in our community: local seniors facing food insecurity. Rotarians were joined by veterans and young adults from several nonprofit organizations, creating an energetic, intergenerational team committed to Service Above Self.
Rotary clubs do incredible work every day — and now there’s an easier way to share your impact with your community. The new RotaryStorytelling Guide is designed to help clubs craft clear, compelling stories that inspire action and showcase the difference Rotary makes.
The Rotary Club of Wimberley announced the winner and runner-up of the first Rotary Loves Readers contest of the. 2025-2026 school year on Thursday, November 20. The contests are held quarterly. This challenge asked students to write about a book that influenced their lives, how it influenced them, and about the lessons they learned. The runner up with his entry on White Bird was 6th grader Mason Myane. Mason received a $50 bill. (pictured above)
Rotary District 5840 proudly joined thousands across our communities in the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s, taking meaningful steps toward a world without this devastating disease. With Rotarians representing clubs from every corner of the District, the energy, compassion, and dedication on display truly embodied our motto of Service Above Self.
The Alamo Heights Rotary Club kicked off Wurstfest’s opening weekend in New Braunfels with a unique blend of fellowship, fun, and fundraising. Club members teamed up to make, fry, and sell fresh potato pancakes in support of the New Braunfels Rotary Club’s annual major fundraiser.
The Fair Oaks Ranch Rotary Club has developed a successful partnership with Roy Maas Youth Alternatives at its Boerne Meadowlands location that involves simple golf instructions with lessons in the game of life. Working with RMYA Staff, Club Rotarian & PGA member David Murrah has formulated a 5- week program where he and other FOR members meet with different groups of elementary school-aged boys and girls each Wednesday afternoon for an hour of basic golf fundamentals that concludes with a discussion about how the lessons in a game like golf can apply to the way we talk and interact with each other.
Fair Oaks Ranch Rotarians assisted Hill Country Family Services and the Christian Men of Boerne again this year at the 26th Annual Turkey Fry the day before Thanksgiving. We enjoyed blue skies and crisp air scented with the delicious smell of 275 Thanksgiving turkeys as we worked to direct traffic at this wonderful event. Happy Thanksgiving to All!
To show appreciation to first responders, Blanco County Rotarians prepared and delivered a traditional Thanksgiving meal with all the trimmings to Blanco County EMS, Fire, and Police on November 25.
Blanco County Club Provides Thanksgiving Meal for First Responders
In the early 1980’s Fredericksburg had a Marine Reserve contingent stationed at the Armory just off US Highway 290 W. With the help of the Fire and Police Departments, the Chamber, and local businesses they provided toys for 20 families with a total of 65 children.
Our F.O.B (Finding our Brothers) planned a meal for our furloughed families in Del Rio. Many organizations donated items and set up to cook a meal for over 1,700 furloughed individuals.
Our CTE Carpentry class came up with the snoopy theme and designed the book box located at our Rotary Pocket Park located on MainStreet. Anyone can take a book and enjoy the park with picnic table and enjoy the outdoors.
On Thursday, November 20, a group of Rotarian‘s served a Thanksgiving meal for the elderly at Rotary Village. After the lunch, Rotarian‘s went door-to-door, handing out food bags for the residence for the Thanksgiving holiday.
The Beeville Rotary Club’s Annual Fight Hunger project wrapped up with great success. Working together, the Interact students from A. C. Jones High School and Beeville Rotary Club members collected more than 550 food items for the local pantry, the Vineyard.
Former San Marcos Rotary President John Hardy agreed to cut his 25-year beard for dollars, with a goal of raising $10,000 for CASA of Central Texas. His wife Allison helped cut it at the November 19 Rotary meeting.
Members of the Fredericksburg-Nimitz Rotary shared the story of Rotary and the Four-Way Test with third graders at Fredericksburg Elementary School. The students were given an activity book that presented examples of the four tests and how they may be incorporated in their everyday lives.
On August 31, 2025, the San Antonio Airport Rotary Club partnered with the Piedras Negras Poniente Rotary Club to support Casa Nazareth Orphanage in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, México. After learning of the orphanage’s urgent needs for improved comfort and essential supplies, the clubs donated a 3-ton mini split air conditioner for the Girls’ Orphanage, a washer for the Boys’ Orphanage, and new tennis shoes and socks for all 24 children.
West Kerr Noon Rotary and Ingram Tom Moore HS Interact Club joined together sponsoring a Thanksgiving Food Drive. All donations being given to the Hill Country Veterans Center to help them prepare Thanksgiving Dinner for the community veterans.
Donating Canned Goods to Hill Country Veterans Center
The Rotary Club of Blanco County presented personal dictionaries to each third-grade student in Blanco County (at Blanco and LBJ Elementary Schools). In addition to words and definitions, the dictionaries contain biographies of the American Presidents, facts and figures of Countries and States, and common American Sign Language. The students enjoyed looking up the longest word in the dictionary!
Blanco County Presents Personal Dictionaries to Third Grade Students
On November 6, 2025, volunteers from the San Antonio Airport Rotary Club gathered at the Children’s Bereavement Center, located at 205 W. Olmos, to support families attending evening grief support groups. The purpose of the project was to provide hands-on assistance by serving dinner—courtesy of the Center— and helping with cleanup, ensuring a welcoming and supportive environment for children, teens, and families coping with loss.
Giving Tuesday is a global celebration of generosity — and a powerful opportunity for Rotarians to create meaningful change with a gift of any size. A donation to Annual Fund-SHARE supports projects you’re passionate about, both in your community and around the world. A gift to PolioPlus helps transport vaccines and immunize children to keep them safe.
The Rotary Club of San Marcos donated $5,000 to the San Marcos Greenbelt Alliance on November 13. Half of the funds came from a grant from Rotary District 5840 and the rest was raised by Rotary locally. The funds are to be used for materials, signage and tools to construct new and maintain existing trails in San Marcos.
Rotary co-presidents Kevin Katz and Sammy Falletta present a $1,700 check to the Hays Food Bank staff on November 12. Additional cash donations occurred later, and Rotary also delivered more than 400 pounds of nonperishable food in October to the Food Bank.
The food drive provides immediate relief to children and families, helping them meet basic nutritional needs. Beyond that, it strengthens community connections by showing families that local organizations, like our Rotary Club, care about their well-being, encouraging ongoing support and involvement from the community even after the project ends.
Today, we pause to recognize and thank a remarkable group of individuals—our veterans. These men and women stood up when their country called, often at great personal s Day Presentationsacrifice, to defend freedoms and values we all hold dear.
The Rotary Club of San Antonio Airport and local volunteers help the community by providing consistent access to nutritious snacks for children who might otherwise go hungry on weekends, supporting their health, growth, and ability to focus in school, and fostering a stronger, more caring community even after the event ends.
On Saturday, members of the Airport Rotary Club came together for a special service project with Sleep in Heavenly Peace, located at 10616 Sentinel Street. The project’s mission is to ensure that no child sleeps on the floor by building and delivering beds for families in need.
There were several World Polio Day events held in October by several clubs in our district. The intent of these events is to bring awareness to Polio and raise funds to help eradicate this terrible virus.
San Antonio Northwest Rotary is making a big impact on the environment through the City of San Antonio’s Adopt-a-Spot program. What started with five clean-up locations has now expanded to 45 adopted sites—including parks, medians, and roadside areas—kept clean by dedicated Rotarians throughout the year.
The Rotary Club of San Antonio Northwest is teaching local elementary students the power of kindness through heartfelt creativity. In October, 300 handmade “Get Well” cards created by students from three elementary schools were delivered to children at Baptist Children’s Hospital, Methodist Children’s Hospital, and Christus Santa Rosa Children’s Hospital — 100 cards to each location. These touching messages reminded young patients that other kids care about them and their recovery.
November is Rotary Foundation Month, a time when Rotarians across the world celebrate and strengthen one of the most impactful charitable organizations on the planet: The Rotary Foundation. Established in 1917, the Foundation has grown into a global engine for service, advancing Rotary’s mission to promote peace, fight disease, provide clean water and sanitation, support education, grow local economies, and protect the environment.
Several Rotary clubs across District 5840 hosted World Polio Day events in October to raise awareness and funds for Rotary’s fight to eradicate polio. Currently, wild polio remains endemic in only two countries—Afghanistan and Pakistan—with 38 total cases reported worldwide this year, shared District PolioPlus Chair and PDG John Hutcherson.
San Marcos Rotary collected food donations at meetings during the month of October. A total of 400 pounds of food was collected for the Hays County Food Bank.
November is Rotary Foundation Month, and we’re inviting all Clubs to join the Proud Rotarian Campaign to celebrate our shared impact through the Rotary Foundation! This campaign is a great opportunity to spotlight your Club’s pride in Rotary and inspire others to give.
Keep your social media posts concise—under 50 characters is ideal! Long posts get cut off with an ellipsis on platforms like Facebook, requiring a click to “See More.” Most users won’t bother. Quick Tips for Impactful Posts:
“One of the most beloved and lighthearted traditions of the Come & Take It celebration (and a family favorite)—the Chicken Flying Contest—once again drew laughs, cheers, and plenty of feathers”! This event has long been provided by the Gonzales Rotary Club. The Club also designs a t-shirt to sell at the event every year. Proceeds fund scholarships and other service projects.
On September 22, 2025, our community, and Gonzales Rotary Club, lost a beloved son, husband, father, and great service heart. Bruce joined Rotary in 2023 and got to work immediately providing suggestions for service to and in our community. Even before he was promoted to his position as District Executive for Scouting America in the Capitol area Council for Boy Scouts, he worked with Rotary to sponsor a chapter of Explorers in the Gonzales High School. He shared his experiences in Rotary with others to pique interest in joining the Club.
Did you know that Seguin, TX, is home to an incredible outdoor art exhibit? The Seguin Squirrel Trail features nearly 30 uniquely decorated squirrels that visitors can find all over town! This popular, family-friendly attraction just got an exciting new member, thanks to the Rotary Club of Seguin.
The Presidents of the Jourdanton, Pleasanton, and Poteet Rotary Clubs participated in the President's Jersey Challenge for football season in Atascosa County. The losing President has to come to the winning team's Rotary meeting and wear a team jersey all in the name of good sportsmanship and good fun!
The Rotary Club of San Antonio Oak Hills had a wonderful evening of food, fellowship and fun! Raising over $35,000 for student scholarships, nonprofit efforts and Pints for Polio. 3 nonprofits were awarded checks during the event. Thank you to all who supported our event!
At a recent Friday noon regular meeting of the Rotary Club of San Angelo, the winners of the annual Fire Safety poster contest were recognized. This project is the longest continual project of the Club, and has been running for over 50 years.
Fredericksburg Nimitz Rotary raised funds for the local women's shelter, the Grace Center. $2,300 was raised in conjunction with Texas Heritage Vineyards quarterly Vino & Bingo for Cause event held October 23rd.
Fredericksburg Nimitz Rotary presents a check for $2,600 to members of the Fredericksburg Education Foundation. The funds were raised at a previous Vino & Bingo fundraiser held by Texas Heritage Vineyards. Proceeds from the sale of bingo cards are donated by Texas Heritage, and the Nimitz Rotary provides a meal by donation and raffles gift baskets.
Fundraiser for the Fredericksburg Education Foundation
The West Kerr Noon Rotary Club and Ingram Tom Moore Interact Club together volunteered at the Mega Food Bank. Located at Light on the Hill in Kerrville.
Fredericksburg Nimitz Rotary raised funds for the local women's shelter, the Grace Center. $2,300 was raised in conjunction with Texas Heritage Vineyards quarterly Vino & Bingo for Cause event held October 23rd.
Fredericksburg Nimitz Rotary raised funds to equip all law enforcement vehicles with life-saving AEDs. Defibrillators can be the difference in life or death in many emergency situations.
We had 48 bowlers come out for the San Antonio Northeast Rotary Club’s 15th Annual Bowling and Silent Auction Fundraiser. We also had many other folks come out to bid on our silent auction items. This year’s event raised approximately $4,000.
The Rotary Club of Kerrville proudly participated in the Hunt School Festival, setting up a vibrant booth to engage with students, parents, and community members. Festival-goers had the opportunity to learn more about Rotary’s mission, discover the projects we support locally and globally, and connect with our members. It was a wonderful day of fellowship and community outreach, and we are grateful to everyone who visited our booth and joined us in celebrating service above self.
The Jourdanton Rotary Club held their annual Homecoming Pre-Game Dinner on Friday, October 24th at the Jourdanton High School Cafeteria to benefit local scholarships. Local restaurant and community supporters, Chile Bandera provided chicken bowtie Alfredo, salad, green beans, and breadsticks to be served by the Rotary members. Desserts were for a donation and homemade by members.
Rotarians from the Fair Oaks Ranch Club worked together to host the 13th Annual Charity Golf Classic at the Fair Oaks Ranch Country Club. The golfers enjoyed beautiful weather and good fellowship all while helping to raise critical funds to support local charities throughout the year. Great job everyone!
FOR Rotary Celebrates 13th Annual Charity Golf Tournament
The San Marcos and Wimberley Rotary Clubs jointly hosted a Pints for Polio event at Middleton Brewing, a micro brewery on Ranch Road 12 halfway between the two towns. The event was on World Polio Day, October 24, and about 100 tickets were sold.
Pints for Polio Sponsored by San Marcos and Wimberley Rotary
You’re invited to join us for our upcoming Public Image Training Seminar on Wednesday, November 19th at 6:00 PM (via Zoom). This session will focus on District Public Image Resources & Rotary Brand Center Tools, equipping you with practical skills to confidently promote your club’s projects and impact.
The Rotary Club of San Antonio, TX invites the District to join in their Holiday initiative and polio fundraiser with the Texas Giving Machine from Nov 17th - Dec 7th at Historic Pearl. Join RCSA in their mission of RotaryLightsTheWorld through sponsoring polio vaccines, holiday gifts for children in shelters and hospitals, Kingdom For Kids playground equipment, community cleanup and preservation, and youth scholarships.
It was a glorious evening of philanthropy and fellowship with Rotary Club of San Antonio, at the inaugural Triple Crown Night at the Races! Rotarians came together in true Community Champion style and Derby spirit to raise funds for Rotary Youth Initiatives across San Antonio and Bexar County.
In 2023, Seeds of Hope: International Peace Leadership Academy, was founded in Northern Ireland by the Rotary Club of San Antonio in partnership with Rotary Clubs in the UK and Ireland. Seeds of Hope is a year long academy that equips young leaders to transform conflict, unite divided communities and lead with courage.
San Marcos Rotary mobilized 140 volunteers ranging in age from 7 to 97 to pack 14,400 bags of nonperishable food, each serving six meals. Volunteers came from San Marcos and Wimberley Rotary, Rotaract at Texas State University, the Lions and Kiwanis Clubs, and 45 fraternity and sorority students at Texas State.
The Beeville Rotary Club completed two service projects for the community this month. The first project brought Rotary volunteers out as partners with the Bee County Historical Society to showcase the service, longevity, and reach of the Rotary mission and the Beeville Rotary Club in a vacant historic storefront window.
Members of The Rotary Club of Blanco County and American Legion Post 352 joined forces to provide a "Thank You Breakfast" for the hardworking PEC linemen during their safety meeting on October 8. Rotary Club Past President Harvie Lindeman and American Legion Commander Kathie Estrada expressed gratitude for the linemen's dedication and long hours - especially after the July 4th floods.
This is the 3rd annual San Marcos Rotary Diamond Raffle. This year the prize is a pair of one carat natural diamond earrings appraised at $14,950. 150 tickets max are being sold at $100 each.
Rotary has helped reduce polio cases worldwide by 99.9%, and you can be part of this historic mission. The PolioPlus Society recognizes individuals who commit $100 or more annually to Rotary’s PolioPlus Fund. Your contribution helps fund vaccines, immunization campaigns, and emergency response efforts around the globe.
San Antonio North Central Rotary recently visited the Ingram Volunteer Fire Department to donate 31 pairs of boots to their firefighters. This donation will help replace the boots that were damaged during the July 4th Hill Country Disaster.
The Rotary Club of Kerrville, in partnership with Schreiner University, hosted another successful Rise Against Hunger event in 2025, packaging 15,000 meals that will be distributed to communities facing food insecurity across the globe.
October is here, and with it comes World Polio Day on October 24th—a time for Rotarians and friends to celebrate the incredible progress we’ve made in the fight to end polio and to continue raising awareness and funds for this important cause.
Rotary District 5840 is proud to support the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s® as a united district team. Together, Rotarians from across South Central Texas are joining forces to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support, and research.
As Rotarians, we are committed to creating lasting change in our communities and around the world. One of Rotary’s key Areas of Focus—Economic and Community Development—guides us in helping individuals and communities break the cycle of poverty and build sustainable livelihoods.
Let’s face it, future Rotarians aren’t looking for a nap-inducing club. They want to see energy, laughter, impact, and a whole lot of community spirit. And the easiest way to show them? Your social media! Here’s how to strut your stuff online without looking like you’re trying too hard:
San Marcos hosted a potluck fellowship dinner for club members and prospective members and their partners. Several Rotarians also exhibited their art, which was for sale, and a portion of the proceeds went to club service.
Rotary Club of San Antonio was off to the races with its recent fundraiser for the Art Riklin Diploma Plus Program at the Witte Museum. Hats off to Don Strange of Texas for being Presenting Sponsor for the evening where a new theme was introduced with simulcast horse racing, bourbon tasting and entertainment by the Texases.
Fair Oaks Ranch Rotarian and City Mayor Greg Maxton reads a proclamation congratulating the Fair Oaks Ranch Homeowners Association during its 50th Anniversary Celebration on September 6th. Over a dozen Rotarians volunteered at the event that drew over 500 people.
The San Angelo Rotary club held its 2nd annual ‘Betting on bright futures Casino Night fundraiser on September 25 in San Angelo. Thousands of dollars were raised benefiting local and international Rotary projects.
San Angelo Rotary Holds Second Annual Casino Night fundraiser
The Rotary Club of Blanco County now has a Medical Equipment Exchange Program in the blue building on 9th Street in Blanco. This is a service provided to the community, where citizens can BORROW or donate medical equipment such as walkers, canes, crutches, wheelchairs, shower benches/chairs, commode chairs, knee braces, etc.
The West Kerr Noon Rotary Club made their annual delivery of dictionaries to the 3rd Grade Class of Ingram Elementary School. Rotary has been donating dictionaries to Ingram Elementary for over 20 years. This years 3rd graders were so excited that is was their turn.
The Rotary Club of San Antonio, TX gathered in purpose and fellowship with our partners at The Ecumenical Center, filling over 250 Hill Country Relief First Responder care kits with essential supplies, personal care items and hand-written notes of gratitude and encouragement. Rotarians then enjoyed a delightful tour of the Center’s art and music therapy rooms and Seeds of Hope Therapy Garden.
The Rotary Club of San Antonio, TX’s commitment to environmental sustainability -&- conservation shone through this month's Olmos Park cleanup in collaboration with River Aid San Antonio! With gloves, bags, grit and Teamwork, our #PeopleOfAction collected debris along the riverbank, helping preserve a vital natural resource in our beautiful City.
Cheers to all who joined the Rotary Club of San Antonio, TX’s 2025-2026 Rotary Rising Leaders Cohort [previously known as U40 / Under 40] at Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux for this season's kickoff! We scored great memories with new and longtime Friends -&- as well as prospective future Rotarians.
The Jourdanton Rotary Club was so delighted to be able to continue our service tradition of delivering dictionaries and Constitutions to Jourdanton ISD and Charlotte ISD on September 23rd! Every third grade student received their very own dictionary and every eighth grader student received copies of our Constitution and Declaration of Independence.
Dictionaries and Constitutions Delivered to Local Schools
Have you welcomed new members to your club recently? Now’s the perfect time to celebrate them! The District is excited to shine a spotlight on our newest Rotarians and the clubs that welcomed them. Submit your new members for the District New Rotarian promotion, and we’ll create a custom graphic featuring them.
Have you ever wondered what Rotary is truly all about? Whether you are brand new to Rotary or a long-time member, you’re invited to join us for an engaging District 5840 Virtual Fireside Chat on Monday, November 10th at 6:30 PM (on Zoom). You might be asking yourself why you should attend.
On Tuesday, September 16, 2025, Del Rio rotary hosted a remarkable event at Rotary Village. There, we unearthed the time capsule buried 25 years ago, in addition the City of Del Rio did a proclamation honoring the Rotary Club and its commitment to the community coinciding with the celebration of Mexico's Independence Day.
Recently, our esteemed guest at the Rotary Club of Del Rio had the privilege of meeting Rotarian John Paul Delgado. John, the son of the late Rotarian Alfredo R. Delgado, who also became a member of the West Springfield Rotary Club in Virginia, shared that his father was his most significant inspiration to join the Rotary. Rotarian Alfredo R. Delgado(†) played a pivotal role in helping the Rotary Club establish Rotary Village, creating safe, decent, and affordable housing for those in need.
The Rotary Club Presidents of Jourdanton and Pleasanton competed in the jersey challenge on Friday, September 12th at the Battle of Hwy 97 between their football teams, the Indians and the Eagles. The losing team’s President had to come to the winning team’s Rotary meeting the following week wearing the winning team’s jersey. Examples of great sportsmanship from Jeremy & Shannon and spreading the word how much fun Rotary is!
The Del Rio Rotary Club joins our community and nation in remembering the tragic events of September 11, 2001. We honor the lives lost, the families forever changed, and the heroes who stood in the face of unimaginable adversity.
Let’s give a big cheer to all the Rotary Clubs that rallied to support the Rotary Club Empresarial Acuña in supplying essential school materials. The Rotary Club of Del Rio generously contributed over 1,500 backpacks to this worthy initiative!
Brooke Ellerbe, a 2025 Honors Scholar graduate from the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), has been selected as our 2025–2026 Rotary District Global Scholar. She will continue her academic journey at London Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom, where she will pursue a Master of Science in Public Health.
Rotary's Celebrate Community Week was held the week of September 14-20, 2025, as a collaborative effort with Kiwanis, Lions, and Optimist International to encourage joint community service projects. In San Marcos, Rotary joined with Kiwanis and two Lions Clubs to pack food for School Fuel, a nonprofit that provides food for the weekend for needy children with school meals are not available.
To assist with the relief efforts for the flood victims from the July 4th weekend, the board of the Rotary Club of Blanco County made a decision to donate $25 per member out of existing club funds. When it was announced to the club that we would donate the funds, some of the members "stepped up" and donated between $100 and $1000 of their own money on top of the club funds.
The Beeville Rotary Club conducted its second annual towel drive collection under the direction of the club's service committee. Members of the Beeville Rotary Club, as well as friends of Rotary, collected more than 100 towels to support the local Methodist Church in providing free access to shower facilities for the homeless in the Beeville community.
When Comstock ISD’s cafeteria freezer went out and needed repairs, they faced a big challenge of where to store all their food. Our very own Fellow Rotarian Don Williams, who also serves as President-Elect of the Rotary Club of Del Rio, stepped in right away.
The Rotary Club of Del Rio proudly donated $1,650 to the Youth Education Success (YES) Club. This program provides after-school tutoring and support to children, helping them succeed academically while also encouraging them to set reading goals and improve their skills. We are honored to support the YES Club as they continue making a positive impact on the lives of young students in our community.
Donation to Housing Authority for After school Program Snacks
Several Beeville Rotarians joined forces with local high school students (Interact students) and Hall-Rialto Preservation Association Board Members to clean the interior of the historic Hall-Rialto Theater in downtown Beeville. The theater is undergoing renovation, and regular thorough cleanings help move the project towards completion. The Beeville Rotary Service Committee donated snacks and numerous bottles of water to the volunteers.
The torch is lit, the games are set, and it’s time for District 5840 to make membership growth a celebration! This year, we’re inviting EVERY club in our district to join the Membership Olympics 2025-2026—a fun, friendly competition designed to inspire action, strengthen engagement, and recognize the incredible work of our Rotary clubs.
The Rotary area of focus for September is Education & Literacy. Education is one of the most powerful forces for change. It breaks the cycle of poverty, opens doors to opportunity, and builds stronger communities. Beyond knowledge, it gives people dignity, confidence, and hope.
San Marcos Rotary had a dozen members at the annual Chamber of Commerce Business Showcase at the Conference Center on August 28. The club staffed a booth to promote awareness of Rotary and membership. The president of the Chamber, Page Michel, is a Rotarian, and the MC for the event, Josh Paselk, is also a Rotarian.
Rotary Promoted at San Marcos Business Showcase Expo
Strong public image helps Rotary Clubs tell their story, attract new members, and highlight the incredible service projects making a difference in our communities. To make this easier, your District Public Image team has developed a collection of ready-to-use resources designed to save you time and boost your club’s visibility. Here’s what’s available:
On October 24, World Polio Day, Rotary will join partners, health workers, survivors, and advocates to reaffirm our promise to the world’s children: polio eradication is possible—and it’s a promise we will keep. As your club begins planning its World Polio Day activities, be sure to our WORLD POLIO DAY EVENT page to get a wide variety of polio-related resources. And don’t forget to register your club’s participation!
On August 29 San Marcos Rotary packed school supplies for select local youth-serving nonprofits and for Misión De Candelilla, who takes them to nine needy villages in Mexico. Misión De Candelilla is a Fredericksburg based Christian medical mission organization.
Join us in San Angelo on Thursday, September 25th for a fun casino night fundraiser benefitting local and international Rotary projects! Tickets are $75 each. Scan the QR code for more information.
Recently the Rotary Club of Fair Oaks Ranch partnered with Las Palapas restaurant and neighboring clubs, Boerne Noon, Boerne Sunrise and the Dominion to fundraise to support Human Trafficking Prevention Education. Rotarians and other interested community members joined forces to enjoy tacos and raise nearly $3000 to continue this important work. Upcoming community education events are planned for September and October.
Rotarians Raise Funds to Support Human Trafficking Prevention Education
San Antonio North Central Rotary celebrated its partnership with the Takamatsu Rotary Club of Japan through an exciting two-week International Student Exchange, Jayden Tovar, Southside HS and Damion Dominguez, Churchill HS immersed themselves in local customs, cuisine and Japanese culture. In exchange Renta and Sayuri from Japan enjoyed our Cities Riverwalk, Fiesta Texas, a Missions Game and the traditional Texas Barbecue. The exchange not only broadened their horizons but also Built Goodwill and Better Friendship.
San Antonio members packaged weekly nutritional food supplies for children suffering from food insecurity, which includes 100,000 kids in Bexar County, at the Snack Pak 4 Kids warehouse. Our club also “adopts” two schools through the entire school year to distribute snack packs on a weekly basis. We’ve participated with this organization for more than 10 years.
San Antonio Airport Rotary Club member is the District 5840 Coordinator for the International Fellowship of Scouting Rotarians (IFSR). On August 17, 2024, he presented the IFSR Eagle Scout recognition certificate to Scout Paul b. at his Eagle Scout Court of Honor.
The Rotary Club of San Antonio has revived its Monthly Round Table conversations, a tradition that echoes the very roots of Rotary. In 1905, founder Paul Harris invited three friends to meet, exchange ideas, and build friendships—the same spirit we embrace today.
The Oktoberfest Kraut Run is our 16th Annual 5K & 8K Timed Run, and 5k Walk sponsored by Fredericksburg Morning Rotary to benefit youth literacy and education needs. It is a family friendly event, held at 110 W Travis Street in Fredericksburg, TX on October 4, 2025 at 8:30 am. Participants can register at www.oktoberfestkrautrun.com or on the Athlete Guild website.
Nimitz Rotary partnered with Texas Heritage VIneyard's quarterly Vino and Bingo for a Cause event held at Texas Heritage Vineyard's tasting room. The club provided food by donation and sold raffle tickets for gift baskets. The event raised $2,600 for the FISD Education Foundation.
The Fredericksburg Rotary Club recently hosted Fredericksburg High School Head Football Coach Bill Wilder and several of his senior football players. Coach Wilder introduced his players and gave an update on the upcoming football season for the Battlin' Billies.
Fredericksburg Rotary Hosts Fredericksburg Billies Head Football Coach and Players
It is the time of year that Rotary Club of Kerrville and Schreiner University come together to pack meals to help feed families in areas experiencing famine, natural disasters and other humanitarian crises. We will pack just over 15,000 meals.
Rotary Club of Fredericksburg Morning made a $5,000 donation to benefit the K-9 Patrol program of the Gillespie County Sheriff’s Office. The donation was made directly to 100 Club of Gillespie County, a 501c3 charity that financially supports local law enforcement.
Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Blanco County visited each Blanco ISD campus on Monday morning, August 11, and presented each teacher with a Carnation and Thank You card. The card read: “We Thank you for teaching and caring for our kids and wish you a successful school year.”
The Beeville Rotary Club Service Committee and friends of Rotary responded to the city's call to action to help wash windows of vacant/abandoned buildings along the historic downtown streets of Beeville. The community and businesses are most grateful to have Rotary's help to improve the appearance of downtown.
On July 26, the 6th Annual Back-to-School Rally was held at the Boerne Independent School Administration Building. At this rally Boerne parents and students were provided with resources and service information in preparation for the new school year.
These are all photos from the Ingram Volunteer fire department, and the divide volunteer fire departments and local Rotarian's with the ATV they provided pictured. These volunteers have been working tirelessly since the horrible July 4th floods that hit our beautiful hill country.
San Marcos Rotary, Lions, and Kiwanis joined forces on Tuesday, August 12 to welcome students back to San Marcos Academy on the first day of school. This is a long standing tradition of the service clubs welcoming students with waves, noise makers, and bubble machines along the entry road into the school campus.
San Marcos Service Clubs Welcome Students Back to School
Event Committee Chair Karen Montgomery delivers a check for $1240 and a large amount of snacks to the Needs Council to help with their Food 4 Kids program. The Needs Council Food 4 Kids program addresses weekend hunger in children who are identified as “undernourished.”
Rotarians across District 5840 rolled up their sleeves and engaged in cleaning up an area devastated by the flooding in the Hill Country near Ingram. From clearing brush to picking up waste left behind from the rising Guadalupe River, Rotarians came together to help with the recovery as part of Disaster Aid USA's response.
Event Committee Chairman Karen Montgomery presents a check for $1,000 to Cindy Heifner with the Hill Country Needs Council for the Supplies for Success campaign.
On Friday, August 8, the air was filled with excitement as children eagerly tried on brand-new shoes, their faces lighting up with joy. District Governor Craig Hardy and his Chief of Staff, Christine Tovar, were there to share in the moment—personally fitting shoes on little feet and handing out colorful backpacks filled with school supplies and treats.
On Thursday morning, August 7, 2025, District Governor, Craig Hardy had the honor of presenting the keys to a brand-new Can-Am All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) to Jimmy Dreiss, Fire Chief of the Divide Volunteer Fire Department. This critical piece of equipment was purchased through a grant from our District 5840 Foundation and secured through the dedicated efforts of AG Kristi Shepherd and PDG Kristy Vandenberg, both of whom joined him for the presentation.
More than two dozen Rotarians as well as some of their spouses and children served lunch on August 7 at the Charles S. Cock House Museum in San Marcos. The event benefitted the The Heritage Association of San Marcos, a nonprofit organization founded and chartered in 1975 to support the preservation of historic buildings and to celebrate the culture and perpetuate the traditions that beautify and enrich the community life of San Marcos.
The Rotary Club of Del Rio, with the support of community partners, local organizations, and businesses from across the city, has donated a total of $20,000 to help two fire departments in Hunt and Center Point, Texas, recover from the severe flood damage that struck the region earlier this summer.
Volunteers from TeamPearl, Moussa Court and UTSA gathered at ABC of Southwest Texas and stuffed school supplies in over 100 backpacks for San Antonio's underserved youth.
TeamPearl and friends stuff backpacks at ABC of Southwest Texas
There will be a Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) on Saturday, Sept. 20th, 2025 from 8:30AM to 4:30PM at the Northwest Vista College,3535 N Ellison Dr, San Antonio, TX 78251. Click for map. Classes will begin at 9AM. The institute is $50 and is open to all Rotarians. Click to Register.
I was officially installed as District Governor of Rotary International District 5840 on the evening of June 28, 2025. It was a festive celebration with a vibrant Mardi Gras theme, well-attended by family, friends, and past and present Rotary club and district leaders. The food and beverages were enjoyed by all. Dan Clark, Executive Assistant Governor, served as Master of Ceremonies, and my brother, Past District Governor Jerry Hardy, performed the installation.
New Rotary year, fresh opportunities—and the perfect time to check how your club is showing up online! Take a moment to visit your club’s website and social media pages. Are you using your Club Masterbrand logo? Some clubs are still displaying outdated theme logos or missing the official branding altogether. That’s an easy fix that makes a big difference! Consistent branding not only shows that we're part of something bigger—it helps the public instantly recognize who we are and what we do.
Rotary District 5840 Disaster Response for the Hill Country flooding that occurred on July 4th, 2025. This recap video is for phase one of the Disaster Relief Efforts. Watch the video.
Members of the San Marcos Rotary Club joined friends of the San Marcos Price Center in July to officially unveil a new Peace Pole in the Center’s front Garden. The Pole is one of over 200,000 located throughout the world dedicated to world peace since the first one was planted in Ishikawa, Japan. Following brief remarks from Club member Peter Baen and a poem recited by one of the guests, the Pole was unveiled to a thunderous round of applause by all in attendance.
Rotary Club of Blanco County President Doug McKenzie presented Dixie Van Eynde with a framed resolution expressing the Club's deep regret at the passing of her husband Don Van Eynde on July 3, 2025. Don served as the first president when the Blanco County Club was chartered in 2019 and was always active in the club's many service projects. Don was truly an example of "Service Above Self" and will be greatly missed.
Hosted by the Rotary Club of New Braunfels at the historic Stelzenplatz on the Wurstfest Grounds, this year’s Hill Country Craft Beer Festival shattered all previous records. With approximately 1,500 attendees (including volunteers), it achieved the highest grossing sales in festival history and raised an impressive $69,000 in sponsorship dollars—the most ever. People sampled selections from over 35 breweries and wineries, 150+ beers and wines were poured, and the festival featured the first annual Steinholding qualifier sanctioned by the US Steinholding Association.
District Governor Craig Hardy and the District 5840 Nominating Committee are thrilled to announce the official selection of Sarah Eckert of the Rotary Club of Fredericksburg Morning as District Governor for the 2028–2029 Rotary year!
The Jourdanton Rotary completed their annual backpack collection for the Atascosa Child Care Welfare Board on Tuesday, July 22nd. More than twenty backpacks were donated and filled by the Jourdanton Rotary with required supplies for local in need students.
Rotary Club of Blanco County President Doug McKenzie presented Dixie Van Eynde with a framed resolution expressing the Club's deep regret at the passing of her husband Don Van Eynde on July 3, 2025. Don served as the first president when the Blanco County Club was chartered in 2019 and was always active in the club's many service projects. Don was truly an example of Service Above Self and will be greatly missed.
On July 26, Fair Oaks Ranch Rotarians supported another highly successful Back-to-School Resource Rally at the Boerne ISD Central Office. Dozens of Rotarians helped support several hundred local families by passing out school supplies, socks, and underwear and other necessary items to prepare their students to head back to school with the right tools and resources.
Fair Oaks Ranch Support BISD Back to School Resource Rally
North Central Rotary Club President, Imelda Gonzalez along with other members of the club had the pleasure of attending the Installation Ceremony held on July 19, 2025 for our sister club Santander Rotary Club in Nuevo Laredo, Mx. It was a delightful evening filled with camaraderie and celebration by both clubs.
San Antonio North Central Celebrates Santander Rotary Club of Nuevo Laredo
Debbie Sultemeier is the Rotary Club of Fredericksburg’s Rotarian of the Year for 2025. Ms. Sultemeier was President of the Rotary Club of Fredericksburg in 2022-23. She is currently the Cochair of the club’s International Projects Committee, where she has directed fundraising efforts supporting water and sanitation initiatives in Tanzania. She has been a stalwart supporter of numerous Rotary Club of Fredericksburg local projects and activities.
The Rotary Club of Medina County awarded over $8,000 in scholarships to area youth in the last few months. Funds were raised by our 2024 God’s Country BBQ event and from the club’s budget; the majority of the scholarships were presented at their respective schools’ end of year awards ceremonies.
Introducing the new Public Image Rotary Rockstar Challenge — a 6-level journey to boost your Club’s visibility and community engagement using Rotary’s powerful tools and resources.
It was all hands on deck at Tuesday's Wimberly Rotary meeting as members labeled hundreds of books for the Back to School Fiesta on August 9. Carolyn Manning is in charge of the annual booth where free books are given to every community student who is picking up a school supply back pack.
Rotarians Prepare for Annual Back to School Fiesta
Wimberley Rotary Day at Camp CommUnity, and several Rotarians showed up to volunteer at the summer camp. Some helped students with art projects; others read books to campers or assisted with noon meal preparations.
In the aftermath of devastating July 4th flooding along the Guadalupe River, a team of volunteers from the Rotary Club of New Braunfels stepped in to lend critical support to residents of Ingram, Texas. Beginning July 10, six current members and one former member — a past club president — rolled up their sleeves alongside crews from Disaster Aid USA and the Cajun Navy Ground Force. Their mission: to help clear massive debris fields left behind after the river overflowed, causing widespread destruction in the small Hill Country town.
A joint partnership between Rotary Club of San Antonio and clubs in Belfast, Dublin, and The Hague, Netherlands, along with the Corrymeela Community, brought 87 students from 18 countries together in Northern Ireland for an intensive summer session of the year-long “Nurturing Hope Peace Academy.” The group not only spans across the globe but crosses generations in a dialogue about what it takes to promote peace in our world. San Antonio had the largest contingency in the cohort with 22 students, followed by Korea with 18.
In a true spirit of service above self, the Rotary Club of Del Rio organized a heartfelt event in four days, the Rotary Rally for Kerrville, to support neighbors affected by the devastating floods that recently struck Kerrville and surrounding communities. Held at the Whitehead Museum, the rally featured a lively and uplifting atmosphere, with a free community concert, food, refreshments, and a well-supported silent auction.
Our Rotary President and Past President had the honor of presenting Roody Rodriguez with a token of appreciation for designing the official 20th Anniversary Independence Day Rodeo shirt and logo. Roody’s design captured the spirit, history, and pride of our rodeo like no other and it’s one we’ll remember for years to come. His talent, heart, and generosity truly brought this design to life. Thank you, Roody, we truly appreciate you!
The Chamber’s Special Projects Committee presented a $2,000 donation to Rotary Club - Del Rio, Texas in support of their ongoing relief efforts in the Hill Country.
The grass is definitely greener in Del Rio, Texas! Today, we celebrated the grand opening of the newly restored Rotary Soccer Field, and it’s looking greener than ever!
The Rotary Club of Del Rio proudly congratulates this year’s outstanding high school graduates who have been awarded the Rotary Club of Del Rio Scholarships! Your hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence have not gone unnoticed.
The Rotary Club of Fredericksburg held its fourth annual Fredericksburg Craft Beer Festival (FCBF) June 13-14 in Fredericksburg. The club witnessed solid attendance growth in its two days of its FCBF Contest and the next day’s festival on historic Marktplatz in downtown Fredericksburg.
Glen "Sandy" Steinle joined the Jourdanton Rotary Club in 1984 and gave more than forty years of devoted service to his community and his Rotary family, always with his notorious big smile. The Jourdanton Rotary Club and his family (many are active Rotary members) suffered a huge loss when Sandy went home on Monday, July 7th at the age of 79.
A big THANK YOU to Michelle Higginbotham for serving as Jourdanton Rotary President for the past 6 years! We appreciate all the time, energy, and heart you’ve given to our club and community. Now, join us in congratulating Shannon Chicoine as she takes on the role of President. We’re excited for what’s ahead!
Rotary District 5840 is now accepting tax-deductible donations through our 501(c)(3) Foundation to support urgent disaster relief efforts following the devastating flooding in Kerrville and nearby areas.
As many of you know, the Guadalupe River rose over 30 feet—well above its major flood stage—resulting in tragic loss of life and severe damage. Kerrville is home to two of our own Rotary Clubs, and together we are committed to standing with the community as they begin the long road to recovery.
Your generous contribution will:
Provide immediate relief to affected families
Support local Rotarians in cleanup and rebuilding efforts
Fund long-term recovery solutions within our communities
We are working hand-in-hand with the Rotary Clubs of Kerrville, who will guide us on how best to direct support and when it will be safe for volunteers to mobilize.
✉️ Check Make checks payable to: Rotary District 5840 Foundation Memo: Disaster Relief Mail to: Rotary District 5840 Foundation, P.O. Box 13, Boerne, TX 78006
💻 Zelle Payment Send using Zelle to: D5840floodrelief2025@gmail.com Memo: Disaster Relief Please add your email address and/or contact information in the comment section if you want a tax receipt.
🤝 How to Volunteer
We are partnering with Disaster Aid to coordinate for volunteer opportunities and determine where we can be most effective. At this time, volunteer activities are being assessed based on safety and need. Volunteer efforts will be needed for:
Debris removal and cleanup
Food and supply distribution
Rebuilding support
To volunteer: https://stability.org/join/DisasterAidUSA - once you have created an account; search for the Rotary District 5840 team. Contact our Volunteer Coordinator is James Cox, Canyon Lake Rotary - jamescoxrotary@gmail.com on how to find volunteer opportunities for area.
This is our time to live Rotary’s values — to lead with compassion, serve with action, and Unite for Good.
Help Us Support Flood Recovery in Kerrville and Surrounding Communities
In light of yesterday's tragic flooding in Kerrville and surrounding affected areas, our hearts go out to all those impacted by this devastating event. Our thoughts are with the families who have lost loved ones and those still missing.
We are actively coordinating relief efforts with the Rotary Clubs of Kerrville and other local Rotarians to support the community during this difficult time. Together, we are working on putting together a donation campaign to provide immediate assistance to the victims and help with the ongoing cleanup efforts.
The Guadalupe River rose well above its major flood stage, causing significant damage and loss. We are closely monitoring the situation and will keep you updated on how we can best assist with volunteer efforts once it is safe to do so.
Support for Flood Victims in Kerrville and Surrounding Areas
As we begin a new Rotary year, now is the perfect time for clubs to refresh their public image and set the tone for a successful year of service and engagement. A strong public image helps attract new members, strengthen community partnerships, and showcase the incredible impact your club makes locally and globally.
Just like that, another successful Rotary year has come to a close. Please join me in extending heartfelt thanks to Immediate Past District Governor Kristen Salazar and her leadership team for their dedication and hard work in continuing to position our District as strong, vibrant, and impactful. They truly demonstrated The Magic of Rotary.
We donated a new scoreboard to the youth field. This field did not have a scoreboard and now they do! This will be used by the entire youth baseball and softball leagues.
Donation to EPIC for school supplies. EPIC raises money to buy all the schools supplies for grades kinder - 5th grade so parents do not have to purchase them.
In today’s fast-scrolling digital world, you have only a few seconds to grab someone's attention on social media. The key? Keep your posts short, visually engaging, and purposeful.
The Rotary Club of Uvalde marked a joyful milestone on June 19, 2025, with the groundbreaking of a $1.8 million splash pad at El Jardín de los Héroes Park. Entirely funded by Ox Ranch, in partnership with the Rotary Club and the City of Uvalde, the 4,200-square-foot play area will feature animal-themed designs and a recycled water system.
The Jourdanton Rotary Club hosted a successful Blood Drive for South Texas Blood and Tissue Center on Tuesday, June 24th at the First Commercial Bank in Jourdanton. Many of the club members and bank staff donated.
Through focused and intentional collaboration, members of 4 Boerne area Rotary Clubs – collectively known as the Fab 4 – organized a wildly successful Crawfish Boil on May 14th at the San Antonio Rose Palace. The event included complimentary crawfish for all attendees, an auction featuring one-of-a-kind trophy hunts at a beautiful Texas ranch, and an Austin-based live band which proved to be a fan favorite and brought down the house!
Yellow Roses (symbolizing friendship and joy) were presented to the outgoing President of the Fair Oaks Ranch Rotary Club. Mary Thompson passed the baton to Will Winslett at a reception at a Fair Oaks Ranch area restaurant earlier this month. Winslett has been a member of the club since it was formed in 2012.
The Rotary Club of San Antonio has a long history of supporting the educational needs of the students of San Antonio. We are proud to support 72 students this year through our three signature programs.
Rotary Club of San Marcos presented a $20,000 check to Kelly and Beth Damphousse for the Kelly and Beth Damphousse Foster Educational Support Endowment at Texas State University. The endowment provides funding for students that were in the Texas foster care system to help them succeed in college.
Juneteenth was celebrated in San Marcos with a gathering at LBJ & MLK Streets. Also at the gathering Rotarians dedicated a 2nd San Marcos Peace Pole, with Rotarian Dr. Jannett Jackson delivering the dedication comments.
The East Central Interact Club has been honored as the top Interact club in Rotary District 5840, standing out among 41 clubs in the region. Sponsored by the Rotary Club of San Antonio South, the club has made a remarkable comeback after a period of inactivity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We’re excited to announce that Nova is now live in beta and your club is eligible to make the switch! This next-generation version of ClubRunner is more than just a redesign - it’s a complete reimagining of the platform, based on your valuable feedback.
We are excited to share the news announcing the selection of Francesco Arezzo of Italy to be 2025-26 Rotary International President. As you know, President-Elect Mario de Camargo notified the Board several weeks ago that he was resigning and would not accept the Presidency beginning July 1, for personal and business reasons. The Rotary Board of Directors acted quickly to fill the role with Francesco Arezzo of Italy. Meet the president-elect.
New Rotary International President selected to begin July 1, 2025
We are thrilled to announce the winners of the Rotary Rockstar Raffle, held during the District Leadership meeting on Wednesday, June 11. This raffle was a celebration of dedication and impact across our district, showcasing the extraordinary efforts of clubs committed to making a difference.
They say things change over time, but there are some things that feel like time stands still! Even 44 years later! Back in 1981, Lars Appel Haahr, arrived from Denmark to spend his year as a Rotary Exchange Student in Boerne, Texas.
Rotary presented a $20,000 check to Beth and President Kelly Damphousse for the Damphousse Endowment at Texas State University that provides funding for students that were in the Texas foster care system to help them succeed in college. The money was raised at Rotary's Mardi Gras Casino Night.
Canyon Lake recently awarded three 4 year college scholarships to Canyon Lake High School graduating seniors. These scholarships are cash awards and valued at $20,000 each. With the addition of these new recipients CLRC will have eleven on its Scholars Program for the next fall semester.
Military Affairs Association Presents Fiesta Social. This event is for the Military Affairs Association Membership and Sponsorship program to unite the Medical Group and Wing Staff Agency from Laughlin Air Force Base.
This long standing partnership between Rotary Club of Kerrville and Schreiner University resulted in 16 fifth graders from eight schools receiving citizenship awards and a scholarship to Schreiner University if they choose to attend Schreiner when they are ready for college.
The Beeville Rotary Club awarded a total of $10,000 in scholarships to 5 area high school seniors. Each senior was given a scholarship of $2,000. Congratulations to these seniors from AC Jones, Stch Ministries, and Skidmore High Schools!
Big things are happening! Today, the geotechnical engineering team is on-site drilling core samples as we take the next step toward building our community pump track!
Congratulations to the Class of 2025! The Rotary Club of Del Rio proudly congratulates this year’s outstanding high school graduates who have been awarded the Rotary Club of Del Rio Scholarships!
A special thank you to our Rotary Club flag crew for their dedication and hard work in placing flags around our community. Your efforts not only beautify our streets but serve as a powerful reminder of the meaning behind this day. Thank you for helping us honor our heroes.
The Rotary Club of Del Rio is proud to be giving back to our community by making meaningful upgrades to Rotary Park — a place for families, friends, and neighbors to enjoy the outdoors together!
As we step into the final month of this incredible Rotary year, I find myself filled with gratitude, pride, and joy as I reflect on the journey we have shared.
The Rotary Club of San Antonio Oak Hills awarded 3 scholarships at the Clark High School award ceremony this month. President Derek Matthys presented certificates to Sandhana Sevinthi Kali Sankar who will attend UT Austin Biochemistry/ Pre Med, Sofia Riquelme plans to attend Baylor Psychology/ Pre Med and Gabriel Navarro who plans to attend Texas A&M Ecology and Conservation Biology. Special thank you to Clark Interact faculty advisor Shelley Beck.
The San Angelo Rotary Club hosted two luncheons in May to recognize and honor the top 25 graduates of two area high schools. This event has taken place annually since 1992. The luncheons concluded with a drawing for two $500 scholarships.
Fair Oaks Ranch Rotarians volunteer every week to pick up food items from our local HEB and deliver it to Hill Country Daily Bread. During the summer months, food pantries are inundated with cries for more food due to children being home from school. These Rotarians are answering the call!
It was a powerful night as we honored our scholarship recipients, gave out a Paul Harris Award and inducted two new members. In a powerful evening of celebration and inspiration, the Rotary Club honored two exceptional young women, Joceyln Garcia and Amy Martinez, with scholarships.
In a collaborative effort to enhance student health and sustainability, the Rotary Club of San Antonio South, in partnership with the Salado PTA in the East Central Independent School District, donated a new water fountain equipped with a bottle filling station to Salado Elementary School. The initiative, completed in April 2025 school year, addresses a critical need for accessible eco-friendly hydration options at the school.
The 2025 young rotarian scholarship winners, l-r, McKenzie Speer, Deborah McDonald , Amerie Lizae Garcia, Marilyn Olivarez, rotarian, Mary Helen Bates. Also Carly Rae Colvin. Each recipient received $500 to the school of their choice, FOR DEMONSTRATING A STRONG ACADEMIC RECORD, AMPLIFYING ROTARY INTERNATIONAL'S MOTTO: "SERVICE ABOVE SELF", BY PRIORITIZING HELPING OTHERS, AND MAKING A POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY.
Fredericksburg Nimitz Rotary partnered with Texas Heritage Vineyards for their quarterly Vino & Bingo for a Cause event. $2,055 was raised for the Casa Uber Alles organization.
Set against the backdrop of the San Antonio Blood Bank this event isn’t just about showcasing classic and modern vehicles; it’s about embodying the Rotary Club’s motto of “Service Above Self” and giving back to the community we cherish. The Dominion Rotary Club and the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center geared up for an exciting event that was more than just a celebration of stunning cars – it was an opportunity to come together as a community to support local causes and make a lasting impact on May 17, 2025.
Scholarship Committee Chair Jimmy Culp presents a check for $21,000 to Nicole Tatsch from Harper High School. Nicole was the winner of the Nimitz Rotary General Scholarship fund. She will attend Midwestern State University majoring in Nursing with intentions to become a Nurse Practitioner.
Club President Mike Strolle presents checks to Addison Hahn and Katherine Pehl, students of Fredericksburg High School. Addison was the recipient of the Jason Fritz Memorial Academic Scholarship and will attent Texas A&M majoring in Animal Science with career aspirations to work on Animal Health Pharmaceutical Development.
Rotary International has awarded $158,000 to the Seeds of Hope (SOH) International Peace Leadership Academy, a unique program that trains young adults in conflict resolution, peace building and civic leadership. The initiative was created through a partnership of the Rotary Club of San Antonio, Belfast and London, Derry (Northern Ireland), Dublin and Clonmel (Ireland), and the Hague (Netherlands).
Every year Travis Elementary students in San Marcos raise money to fund a scholarship for a San Marcos High School senior who had previously attended Travis. This year Adiyana Govea was the recipient of the scholarship. The students raised $750, which the Rotary Club of San Marcos matched for a total scholarship of $1,500.
The Rotary Club of Blanco County awarded a total of $14,000 in scholarships to Blanco County high school graduates. Five $2,000 scholarships were awarded to Blanco High School graduates at the awards ceremony held May 15.
San Marcos awarded scholarships of $1,500 each to a dozen students. Ten were awarded to students at San Marcos High School, and one each to students at San Marcos Academy and Hill Country Christian School. Students can use the funds to attend college or a vocational program.
Are you ready to lead your Rotary Club with confidence in the upcoming year? Join us for Club Leadership Learning Seminar on Wednesday May 28th, designed to prepare you for your role, strengthen your leadership skills, and help create a more vibrant and engaged experience for your members.
On Tuesday, May 13th students from Jourdanton High School were awarded scholarships from club President Michele Higginbotham by the Jourdanton Rotary Club including two RYLA scholarships. Recipients included Mia Willborn, Kevin Garcia, Hailey Sralik, Kathryn Borth, John Delgado, Kianna Cruz (RYLA), and Shyann Roberson (RYLA).
The Rotary Club of Blanco County held its annual Joe Garcia Memorial Golf Tournament, Raffle and Silent Auction on May 5th at Vaaler Creek Golf Club. The tournament is the club’s major fundraiser and more money was raised than was even anticipated!
Soon to be District Governor Elect Bobby Martinez of the Poteet Rotary Club presented Monica Meyer from the Jourdanton Rotary Club with the Paul Harris Award on Tuesday, May 6th. Monica is the treasurer of the Jourdanton Rotary Club and vital member. Monica leads the Jourdanton Interact Club, plans many projects, and she has pivotal roles in many different community services clubs.
On Monday, May 5th the Jourdanton Rotary Club along with the Jourdanton Chamber of Commerce, and Jourdanton Education Foundation hosted the Annual Senior Luncheon for the entire Jourdanton Class of 2025. Among the graduates were many proud Interact members.
Thank you to those who joined us at the Celebration of Districts! Your energy, enthusiasm, and commitment to service truly made the event a memorable one. It was inspiring to see so many of you come together to reflect on our accomplishments and look ahead with renewed purpose. I'd like to extend a public congratulations to the following who were recognized at the event:
We are thrilled to congratulate and extend our heartfelt thanks to the outstanding clubs who have completed the Rotary Rockstar Challenge with flying colors! Your dedication to enhancing our public image and community engagement has truly set a shining example for Rotary clubs everywhere.
Join us for a night of celebration and camaraderie as we welcome the new District 5840 Governor, Craig Hardy and install the DistrictLeadership Team and Club Leaders. Enjoy an evening of fellowship with Rotarians and guests from across the district! Ticket pricing $65/per person; $500 for table of 8. Click to Register.
The Rotary Club of San Marcos presented a check for $2,500 to Molly Ann Rosas-Garcia left) of School Fuel San Marcos. Sharla and Glen Marshall (pictured) hosted a social event/fundraiser for Rotarians that raised the money. Last fall SMTX Rotary also donated $5,000 to School Fuel with the help of a District Grant.
In April we recognize Earth Day -&- our Rotary Club of San Antonio, TX has been celebrating early and all year-round with our various environmental programs! Rotarians, Friends -&- Family came together to share the joy of #erviceAboveSelf at Brackenridge Park for River, Park -&- Cascarones cleanup.
Serving up smiles -&- concessions, our Rotary Club of San Antonio was so grateful “fore” the opportunity to volunteer together at the 2025 Valero Texas; Open to raise funds for our scholarships and youth development initiatives! StrongerTogether, MakingAPositiveDifference, ServiceAboveSelf
The Rotary Club of San Antonio, TX recognizes Kevin Lee Matula, USAA Director Government Relations as our 2025 Outstanding Young San Antonian!
We were honored to hear his insights as Kevin led us in an engaging discussion on Service, Advocacy, Community, Legacies -&- the vital importance of reimagining what is possible!
On what looked like a rainy day, Saturday, April 26th, the Beeville Rotary Club and the Rotaract Club worked together to clear-coat the Beeville Community's mural in the historic downtown district of Beeville. Breakfast for all the volunteers was provided by the Beeville Rotary Club Service Committee. Two coats of clear coat were painted on the mural. The rain stayed away and the work was completed.
The San Angelo Sunrise Rotary Club sponsors the R.A.T. Race [Red Arroyo Trail] each year on the last Saturday of April. The event is held at Unidad Park.
It's Fiesta in San Antonio at Alamo Heights Night (a huge fundraiser for Alamo Heights Rotary charities). PDG Monica with Jerry & Craig Hardy at the Rotary booth pitching membership and D5840 Fiesta medals.
The Rotary Club of San Antonio Oak Hills joined other volunteers at the San Antonio Food Bank to fill 816 boxes of food to fight hunger! Rotarians at work committed to service above self.
San Marcos Rotary is grateful to Professor Charles Kaufman's Public Relations Campaign class in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Texas State University. Six PR students served as a PR team to assist Rotary with creating promotional materials for its May 16 Scramble 4 Scholarships, funding scholarships for San Marcos area high school seniors.
Rotarians Pat Clewell Smith and Sandy Switzer represented Rotary at the Blanco CoAPT (Coalition of Awareness, Prevention, and Treatment of Substance Abuse) Wellness Fair held April 8. Students were provided information regarding human trafficking and information about Rotary and service projects worldwide.
Blanco County Club Participates at Blanco ISD's Wellness Fair
Members of the Fredericksburg Nimitz Rotary and staff from the Parks and Recreation Dept. of the City of Fredericksburg gathered in front of the new gate and wall at the entrance to Cross Mountain Park. Funding for the project was the result of a 2-year fundraising effort on the part of the Nimitz Rotary. Last year the installation of a new cross atop Cross Mountain took place.
Fair Oaks Ranch Rotarians recently presented big checks for several efforts that the club supports at Boerne Independent School District. Rotarians give funding for Campus Security Resource Officers, the Interact Club and the Incubator Group. Our support keeps our campuses safe and provides platforms for our future leaders to grow in charity and service.
This Easter season, our Rotary Club came together to create goodie bags for the wonderful residents of Rotary Village. Packed with treats, love, and springtime spirit! It’s our way of showing we care and stay connected with our community.
Rotarians got their Groove On for a Good Cause! Thursday Night Fever: Trivia Night at Mesquite Creek Outfitters Del Rio, hosted by Border Federal Credit Union, benefiting FOB Del Rio. All the proceeds will help furnish temporary housing for local veterans.
Rotarians made weekly Tuesday meeting more fun today, by partnering with CASA of Val Verde County to make Easter baskets for all of the children in the foster system in our county. We want to give a big shoutout to Jeanelle Rogers, for going out of her way in making all the stuffed animals for the baskets!!!
Sprinkler system for the Rotary Park Soccer Field is going in this week!!! Thank you Friends of Val Verde Health & Wellness for awarding us the grant to be able to do this project, along with the City Parks & Recreation for installing the chain link fence. Grass will be installed after Easter.
Our Rotary club, San Angelo Sunrise selects a recipient for food items once a month for each year. The past several year's we have chosen the University food pantry to help on and off campus students that need emergency food items.
As our club approaches a historical 90 years of service in 2027, we are taking time to honor our longstanding club members. Bobby Kinsel has served our community as a Rotarian for 30 years.
The Interact Club of Pleasanton has worked this year in support of the local animals. As part of their monthly service work, they have created dog and cat toys out of donated fabric to include in donation bags.
The Rotary Club of Boerne has been very busy in March and April supporting their community. The Club fought against food poverty by providing needed items through Blessings in a Backpack and Hill Country Family Services.
The Dominion Rotary Club, in conjunction with the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center will host their 2nd Annual Car Show and Blood Drive on May 17, 2025, at the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center Donor Pavilion located at 6211 IH-10 West at First Park Ten Boulevard, San Antonio, Texas. This event will start at 10 am and conclude at 3 pm with awards.
The Seguin Rotary Club held its annual fundraiser on May 1st, a resounding success thanks to the enthusiastic participation in the golf tournament, gala, and two exciting raffles. One raffle offered a grand prize of $20,000 in total value, while the other provided a thrilling choice between a trip to the prestigious Masters Golf Tournament or the iconic Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
The Fabra Early Act (EA) Club received a grant from HEB for $12,000 to plant trees on their campus. The trees will provide a buffer from the traffic noise from Interstate 10 when the students are on the playground while enhancing the beauty of the campus. This project was managed and coordinated by Naomi Jendrusch who is the on campus EA sponsor and member of the Boerne Rotary Club.
World Immunization Week is fast approaching on 24-30 April. This is a critical time to raise awareness about the importance of immunization and the safety and effectiveness of vaccines.
The Jourdanton Interact Club, Jourdanton Rotary Club, and First Commercial Bank collected items to donate to 4God’s Children, an organization helping supply children in need in Mexico with hygiene products. Interact officers include Josiah Reyna, Haley Sralik, and Laney Briones.
Jourdanton Interact Club Completes Service Project
The Rotary Club of San Marcos announces La Cima, a beautiful community located between San Antonio and Austin, as the title sponsor for the 16th annual Scramble 4 Scholarships fundraising golf tournament on May 16 at the Kissing Tree Golf Club. The official lunch sponsor for the event is Divided Sky Roofing and Solar. Scott Yarbrough, chair of the May 16 event, said he is grateful for the strong support for this fundraiser.
The San Marcos Rotary Casino Night raised $20,000 for the Damphousse Endowment that provides scholarships for young people at Texas State University who were once in the Texas foster care system. The event also raised $5,000 for other club service projects for the coming year.
D5840 awarded PDG Jerry Hardy The Rotary Foundation’s Citation for Meritorious Service at the D5840 Foundation FUNdraiser on Friday, April 4th at Aggie Park Event Center. This award is given on behalf of The Rotary Foundation Trustees to an individual exhibiting outstanding service to our Foundation.
THANK YOU to all who participated in our D5840 Foundation FUNdraiser on Friday night. It was a great time for fun and fellowship while raising funds for our Rotary Foundation. Congratulations to all the clubs and individuals who were recognized for their significant contributions to our Rotary Foundation. See the photos.
Rotary District 5840 Membership Chair Holly Croom shares an update on the 2024-25 Membership Olympics extending the due date till June 30, 2025. Play video.
Time is ticking, but there's still an opportunity to showcase your creativity and win big in the Public Image Rotary Rockstar Challenge! With the deadline fast approaching on May 1st, it's essential to gear up and finalize your submissions. Don't let this chance slip away! There is an opportunity to earn a cash prize!
We are excited to invite you to our upcoming Vibrant Club Workshops! These engaging and interactive sessions are designed to empower your club's membership and officers with valuable insights and leadership development opportunities.
The theme for April is Environmental Month. This month we are reminded of our responsibility to protect and preserve the planet for future generations. Rotary’s commitment to Supporting the Environment, our newest area of focus, calls on us to take meaningful action to combat climate change, reduce waste, and promote sustainability in our communities.
In celebration of International Women’s Day, Michelle, founder of She Is Intl and Editor-in-Chief of She Is Magazine, hosted her 4th annual mental wellness panel. This year’s theme, inspired by pink flamingos losing their vibrant hue from constantly nurturing others, highlighted the importance of self-care and replenishing one’s spirit.
At the end of February, The Rotary Club of San Antonio was honored to sponsor “Nurturing Hope: Poetry, Peace and Possibility” a program of Trinity University’s The Conversation series dedicated to fostering constructive dialogue by bridging disciplines and differences. Trinity University Rotaract Club President Rory McCarthy opened the dialogue with her insights as a scholar of the Nurturing Seeds of Hope International Peace Leadership Academy.
Thank you to Rotary Club of San Antonio, TX Past President Brent Fessler for kindly welcoming members of our Young Members Board and U40 Class for an exclusive tour of Kinected Coworking! Kinected is a unique co-working, office, meeting, and event space especially designed to help professionals flourish in their greater purpose. By providing an ecosystem of business, local art, connection, movement and learning, Kinected fuels the creativity to foster innovation and strategy
Thank you San Antonio Museum of Art and Rotarian Emily Neff, SAMA Kelso Director, for kindly welcoming members of Rotary Club of San Antonio, TX Young Members Board and U40 Class for such an enlightening evening featuring an exclusive tour of the new exhibit: Envisioning the Hindu Divine: Expanding Darshan and Manjari Sharma. Our program began with a delightful welcome reception -&- insightful discussion on the impact of SAMA in our beautiful City of San Antonio.
SA West Rotarians kicked off an Alzheimer's program series at the senior living community Blue Skies of Texas by hosting the head of the top research institute in Texas, the Biggs Institute in San Antonio. Biggs Director Dr. Sudha Sehadri is pictured with club PE Dan Van Syoc and PN Jane Luke Hill.
Rotarians, Rotaractors, Interactors, our Families -&- Friends helped beautify local treasure, McAllister Park. Cheers -&- thanks to all who contributed to making our Rotary Day SA 2025 such a phenomenal success!
Thinking Locally or Globally? Seeing the Bigger Picture in Rotary
During a recent member satisfaction survey, one anonymous comment stood out: a new-ish member expressed that they didn’t see Rotary as a good fit and felt that the organization wasn’t doing much. This feedback made us realize that they likely weren’t seeing the bigger picture of Rotary’s impact.
The Rotary Club of San Antonio hosted the 7th annual Rotary Day SA on March 22. Rotary Day SA is dedicated to cleaning up and beautifying public parks in San Antonio. The event is open to all District Rotarians. We are very grateful for all Rotarians who joined us in service!
Students from four district high schools were on hand to help at Rotary Day SA at McAllister Park on Saturday, March 22, 2025. The Interact Clubs from Pieper HS, Madison HS, Comfort HS and the Winston School performed such tasks as tree ring and dog park mulching, painting picnic tables, and litter pickup.
Fredericksburg Morning Rotary Club’s 15th Annual Kraut Run, featuring 8K and 5K timed runs and a 5K walk will be held on Saturday, October 5th with start/finish at the Fredericksburg Middle School at 110 W. Travis St. Thanks to many generous sponsors, proceeds of the race support the FISD Education Foundation, scholarships for local students and the start of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library in Gillespie County
Rotarians (Sidney Cox, Norman Eubank and Doug McKenzie) from the Blanco County Club promoted Rotary and the upcoming golf tournament at Blanco Founder's Day. The club is seeking sponsors and golfers for the annual golf tournament which will be held at Vaaler Creek Golf Club in Blanco on May 5th.
Blanco County Club Promotes Golf Tournament at Founder's Day
Fredericksburg Morning Rotary held its 14th annual Kraut Run in October 2024. For the first 13 years, the club donated funds to local literacy efforts including Books for Babies, dictionaries for fifth grade students, club scholarships and other unspecified local literacy programs.
Members of the Winston School Interact Club assisted the Airport Rotary Club at their annual Casino Night fundraiser on Saturday, March 22, 2024 at the Petroleum Building. The Interactors helped with the decorations, supervised the silent auction and escorted the guests to the 7th floor where the event took place.
The Ingram Tom Moore Interact Students, along with the Girls Softball Team came out to volunteer with the Pop Up Market Food Bank. The students helped bag food items and distribute them to the community of Kerr County.
Ingram Tom Moore Students help with Kerrville Pop Up Market
The Rotary Club of San Marcos purchased a four-sided Peace Pole that will be located near San Marcos Springs later this spring. It was dedicated at the Springs on Saturday, March 22 as part of a Bi-National Rotary Conference in San Marcos.
At their meeting on March 20th, the Rotary Club of Medina County provided a $250 donation to the American Red Cross . Debbie Zabica and Kimberly Culver gave a brief presentation about their smoke alarm project in Medina County as well as their other services, including their assistance with recent fires in Medina and Bandera County - an evacuation point in Bandera and an evacuation shelter in Fredericksburg.
Rotary Club of Uvalde members & other professionals spent time out of their day communicating how they help the community through their volunteer projects and the importance of networking. This gave the students an opportunity to learn about different career paths, find a mentor or mentee.
The RC of San Antonio Oak Hills and Interact clubs from Clark High School and International School of the Americas volunteered at the annual San Antonio Basura Bash. Volunteers cleaned up trash in the community’s waterways and tributaries. Service Above Self
The Rotary Club of San Marcos purchased a four-sided Peace Pole that will be located near San Marcos Springs later this spring. It was commemorated at the Springs on Saturday, March 22 as part of a BiNational Rotary Conference in San Marcos.
Fredericksburg Nimitz Rotary Club participated in Texas Heritage Vineyard's Bingo & Vino for a Cause event held on March 13th at their tasting room. The Nimitz club provided a taco bar by donation and raffled 4 gift baskets.
Besides making a huge contribution to their community, the Fair Oaks Ranch Rotary club has FUN! Our members put on their Green-Bling to celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a pot luck at one of our member's home.
Fair Oaks Ranch Rotarians passed out water for thirsty runners and their dogs at the first ever Doggy Fun Run organized by the Police Department. The Fair Oaks Ranch PD organized the event to foster trust, transparency and a sense of well-being in the community. Over 30 runners and their "best friends" participated.
San Marcos Rotary is hosting a Scramble 4 Scholarships on May 16 at the Kissing Tree Golf Club, San Marcos. Proceeds from the event fund scholarships for area seniors who may attend pursue university or vocational programs.
Rotary Club of Alamo Ranch's commitment to service took an exciting turn during our recent Adopt-A-Spot cleanup. With gloves on and trash bags in hand, a team of five young adults tackled one of our designated areas, determined to make a difference.
The Hill Country Craft Beer Festival 2025 (HCCBF), presented by The Original Black’s BBQ and hosted by the Rotary Club of New Braunfels, returns to the Historic Stelzenplatz on the Wurstfest Grounds in New Braunfels on Saturday, April 26th.
This year’s festival will feature 35+ Texas craft breweries and wineries pouring over 140 different of beers and wines; live entertainment by Two Tons of Steel, VHS 90s Party Band, and Dwayne Wilson; and delicious foods that pair great with craft beers and wines from four of the top fast-casual eateries in New Braunfels.
San Marcos Rotary sponsored a Mardi Gras themed Casino Night at the Commemorative Air Force Museum at the San Marcos Airport. The menu was cajun and attendance was the best ever.
This annual tournament plays a crucial role in supporting scholarships for students in Brady, Lohn, and Rochelle, as well as other community service initiatives. For more information, contact Zach Jones at 325-597-2961.
There will be a Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) on Saturday, April 5th, 2025 from 8:30AM to 4:30PM at the Northwest Vista College,3535 N Ellison Dr, San Antonio, TX 78251. Click for map. Classes will begin at 9AM. The institute is $50 and is open to all Rotarians. Click to Register.
Every first Friday of the month, before the sun rises, Dominion Rotary and CPS Energy volunteers gather to make a meaningful impact on the lives of graduating Air Force and Space Command recruits. This initiative, known as Operation Gratitude, begins promptly at 6 am and continues until over 1,000 recruits have received care packages as they embark on their technical training journeys.
All three Fredericksburg Rotary Clubs came together to sponsor the Traveling Vietnam Wall coming to Fredericksburg May 1-3rd at the Pioneer Pavilion at Lady Bird Park.
Cheers to South Texas Blood & Tissue -&- The Rotary Club of San Antonio for this week’s phenomenal blood drive! As a single blood donation can help save 3 lives, dozens of Individuals -&- their Families will benefit from all the generous donations received
After an emotional and heartwarming presention by Inna Adamovich, founder of STAYWITHUKRAINE INC, and her husband Alex at the January 7 club meeting The Rotary Club of Blanco County collected pledges from its members to provide medical supplies for Ukraine. The board agreed that the club would "match" the member donation up to a total match limit of $2,000.
Neighbors helping Neighbors! The Fair Oaks Ranch Rotary club presented a huge check to Meals on Wheels Kendall County to help them prepare and deliver meals to our senior citizens. Way to go Rotarians!
What an exciting month we're in! Our President Elects and Assistant Governors attended PETS and are returning to our clubs with a renewed inspiration to make each club the best it can be in the next Rotary Year! We also recognize the theme for March which is Water and Sanitation. We're reminded of the fundamental role clean water and sanitation play in building healthy communities.
The Rotary Club of San Antonio South, in collaboration with the Salado Elementary PTSA, has funded a much-needed water bottle filling station for students. Located in the East Central ISD, Salado Elementary is an older school facility where students previously lacked an easy way to refill water bottles, and some fountains were not even functional.
The Rotary Club of San Antonio completed its 28th Kingdom for Kids playground build at Autism Community Network. Over two days (Feb 21 & Feb 22) volunteers built two play structures, landscaped the campus, built benches & created murals for the fence line.
Thank you San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo for kindly welcoming members of our RCSA Young Members Board and U40 Class for an exclusive “Behind the Chutes Tour” of the "Rodeo at the Frost Bank Center"! This spectacular 18,380 seat indoor auditorium on the East Side of our City is the home of our legendary San Antonio Spurs and hosts incredible concerts around the year; now through February 23rd, it’s Rodeo Time in San Antonio, with rising stars shining bright as far as the eye can see.
The New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung recently honored their 2022-2024 Pillars of the Community and 16 of the 25 honorees are members of the Rotary Club of New Braunfels, including the 2024 Pillar of the Year, past president Felicia James.
Pillars of the Community is a recognition program of New Braunfels Monthly magazine, in which a standout New Braunfels resident is recognized in each monthly issue as one of the community’s Pillars and is selected for their contributions to the community.
New Braunfels Members Honored as Pillars of the Community
The Rotary Club of Fredericksburg held its annual Cupid's Bow Bash on Friday, February 14, 2025 -- actually happened on Valentine's Day for a change! More than 200 people attended the Cupid's Bow Bash, which also marked the 75th anniversary of the Club's chartering in 1950.
The Rotary Club of Boerne combines fundraising with patriotism by putting up USA flags at local businesses for a number of National holidays. For a nominal yearly donation, those business owners who want to express their patriotism can have Rotarians put up flags at their business location. The result is a sense of pride throughout downtown Boerne as flags fly and people celebrate our nation.
This International Women's Day, March 8, 2025 let's come together to celebrate the incredible strength, resilience, and achievements of women worldwide! We invite all Rotarian women to participate in our special campaign by sharing a photo of themselves proudly wearing their Rotary shirts. Let's showcase the power and unity of women within the Rotary family!
How to Participate:
Put on your favorite Rotary shirt and Rotary (Women in Rotary) pin.
Strike a pose that reflects your strength and passion.
Snap a photo (Use the WOMEN IN ACTION Canva Template Design) and share it on your social media on March 8th, with the hashtags #D5840ServiceStrong #RotaryWomenRock #WomenInRotary
Share it with the District (pblankenzee@rotary5840.org) so we too can promote District 5870 Women in Rotary!
All six long term inbound Rotary Youth Exchange students were treated to a day at the San Antonio Rodeo and Stock Show. They enjoyed the rodeo, a performance by Keann Rimes , and a tour and delicious lunch by the San Antonio Stock Show International Committee. The students were chaperoned by Rotarians Isabela Hertz, Kyle Emmons, Kent Fischer, Ruben Cardenas, Vickie Luckenbach, and Carl Luckenbach.
This year, Rotary celebrates 120 years of service and impact! This is a milestone worth sharing, and we invite your Club to be part of the celebration by showcasing how you make a difference in your community.
Campaign Dates: February 1-29, 2025 Goal: Showcase how Rotary Clubs are making a difference in their communities!
Get ready for an incredible evening as Rotary Districts 5870 and 5840 come together for the Celebration of Districts on May 2-4 at the Embassy Suites in San Marcos! This event is all about fellowship, friendship, and fun, and we’re taking it to the next level with an exciting Casino Night.
Join Us for an Evening of Fun, Fellowship, and Philanthropy! Mark your calendars for Friday, April 4, 2025, as Rotary District 5840 hosts its Foundation Fundraiser at the Aggie Park Event Center. This special evening is dedicated to raising funds for the Rotary Annual Fund, which helps support life-changing service projects locally and around the world.
Get ready for an incredible lineup of events in District 5840! First, let’s cheer on DGE Craig as he heads to the International Assembly. This is his final step in preparing to lead as District Governor, where he'll experience the global spirit of Rotary firsthand.
The Rotary Club of San Antonio collected toys to support the Stay Strong Foundation. The Stay Strong Foundation supports families whose children are experiencing pediatric cancer.
You are the face of Rotary. Here are five tips to expand your Rotary Club.
1. Talk Excitedly About Rotary
Be the passionate ambassador of your club! Share your personal experiences with Rotary, the impact it has had on your life, and the difference your club makes in the community. Excitement is contagious—when you’re enthusiastic, others will want to know more.
The Rotary Club of San Antonio, TX Club President Steve Darling was honored to present our Club’s flag to esteemed visiting Rotarian Ted Terrazas, Rotary Club Roatan!
“Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve.“ - Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The Rotary Club of San Antonio, TX was honored to join our City of San Antonio in celebrating the tremendous impact -&- vision of transformative civil rights leader Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at our 38th annual #MLKMarch
The Rotary Club of Blanco County gathered three truck loads of coats, jackets and blankets from the Blanco County community to help keep those in need stay warm this winter. The Rotary Club placed marked boxes at public locations throughout Blanco and Johnson City November through January. The items were gathered up from the collection boxes by Rotarian Joe Kustelski who delivered them to the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas for the Plaza de Paz Respite Center located in San Antonio.
Blanco County Club Collects Coats/Jackets/Blankets to help those in need stay warm
Celebrating Fair Oaks Ranch Rotarian Garry Manitzas today. He's honored as a Paul Harris Fellow for his support of the foundation's programs and initiatives. Thanks Garry!
In spite of a recent artic cold front, some Fair Oaks Ranch Rotarians collected food from the Fair Oaks HEB to deliver to the food bank at the Hill Country Daily Bread Ministries. This is part of the weekly service project the FOR Rotary Club has been undertaking for almost a year now.
Sandy Switzer, Jack Twilley and Leta Garcia, Rotarians from the Blanco County Club, were judges for seven schools in UIL District Competition. Over 400 students from throughout the region competed. The Rotarians were judges for second grade storytelling and fourth grade oral reading and stated they enjoyed meeting each very talented contestant.
Blanco County Rotarians Judge Elementary Schools District UIL Competition
The Rotary Club of San Marcos sponsors its annual Casino Night fundraiser on Friday, February 28, at the Centex Wing of the Commemorative Air Force Museum at the San Marcos Airport. Each year the club dedicates 75 percent of proceeds from the event to a local nonprofit
Members from the Boerne High School Interact Club with support from the Boerne Sunrise Rotary Club volunteered during winter break at Hill Country Daily Bread Ministries (HCDBM) in Boerne. The Interactors were tasked with sorting “expired” bread and pastries items donated by HEB for distribution to local farmers and an animal rehabilitation center. Each food item was unwrapped and placed accordingly into large cardboard bins.
On January 6, the Rotary Club of Fredericksburg presented its 2024-2025 Hans Hanneman Community Service Award to Bernice Weinheimer (second from right). The Hans Hanneman Award recognizes a nonRotarian in the community who exemplifies the Rotarian deal of "Service Above Self" in their vocational and community service.
Fredericksburg's three Rotary clubs are sponsoring a Traveling Vietnam Wall event Thursday, May 1st through Sunday, May 4th. The weekend events include: Opening ceremony on Thursday, may 1st at 9:30 a.m. with wall viewing from 10 a.m. - 7 p.m., Wall viewing Friday, May 2nd 10 a.m. - 7 p.m., Wall viewing Saturday, May 3rd 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Open house at the Gillespie Country Airport on Saturday, May 3rd from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Commemoration Ceremony and Reception Sunday, May 4th at 3 p.m. at the Hangar Hotel Events Center
Fredericksburg-Nimitz Club President Mike Strolle presents a check for $32,000 to Fredericksburg Volunteer Fire Department Captain Romney Kowert and Fire Dept VP Arron Kuhlmann. The funds were raised at the club's 3rd charity golf tournament in October.
Members of The Rotary Club of Boerne brought Christmas carols and cheer to seniors living at the Franklin Place Assisted Living Facility this past month. Tidings of Comfort and Joy aren't just for the children and everyone had a smile as they enjoyed these Rotarians putting "Service Above Self".
The Del Rio Rotary Club is thrilled to announce an exciting new project that will make a huge impact on our community—a Pump Track right here in Del Rio! What’s a Pump Track? It’s a specially designed track that allows riders of all ages and skill levels to build momentum using the natural terrain—no pedaling required! Perfect for BMX riders, skateboarders, scooters, and even those with adaptive needs.
On December 7, the Del Rio Rotary Club supported the telethon sponsored by the Rotary Club of Cd. Acuña, Mexico. This fundraiser helps support the Club in distributing toys and food commodities to the colonias surrounding the city.
The Rotary Club of Del Rio made a donation to the Club Rotario de Acuña in the amount of $500.00 to assist the club in providing gifts and commodities for families residing in the underdeveloped and impoverish areas a Cd. Acuña.
Rotary District 5280 has been working tirelessly behind the scenes to coordinate support for those impacted by the devastating wildfires. To make a monetary donation towards our efforts visit: https://rotary5280.org/page/2025-wildfire-disaster-relief/
The Rotary Club of San Antonio recently hosted a year-end gathering to celebrate the success of its Seeds of Hope International Peace Leadership Academy (Northern Ireland) and its Texas offshoot, Nurturing Hope San Antonio. Both programs focus on fostering leadership and promoting Rotary’s positive peace.
Happy New Year District 5840! As we reach the halfway point of this Rotary year, it is a perfect time to reflect on our accomplishments, renew our energy, and focus on the road ahead. Together, we’ve made incredible strides in advancing our mission of service above self, creating lasting impact in our communities and beyond.
Rotary Club of San Antonio members were thrilled for the opportunity to raise toys for the Stay Strong Foundation, Inc benefiting the Pediatric Patients and Families of University Health! We were honored to welcome the nonprofit President and co-Founder Debi Nieto to our Holiday luncheon with an extra batch of toys!
The Fair Oaks Ranch Utilities to local children and families. Our members play the part of Santa, the Grinch, and many elves at the recent “Christmas on the Ranch” event. Our club work together with the homeowners association to put on this very successful annual event.
Fair Oaks Ranch Rotarians proudly present a big check to the Hill Country Pregnancy Care Center which just opened it's new Leon Springs location. It's mission is to promote the value of life and help people make good decisions regarding pregnancy and sexuality.
RCSA was honored to partner with Gotcha Covered to collect and organize much needed supplies for San Antonio Food Bank, Haven for Hope and FVPS, The Battered Women and Children's Shelter. Cheers to Rotarian Doug Cross for generously matching cash donations!
This month, we reflected in gratitude on cherished Community Champion, Business and Catering Icon, Philanthropist and beloved Friend, Rosemary Kowalski. Earlier this Spring, our Club was honored to be part of her series of 100 Birthday Adventures in route to her Centennial Celebration.
Rotarians from the Blanco County Club lit up a trailer and joined in the lighted holiday parade in Blanco on December 21. It was a fun evening of promoting Rotary and spreading holiday cheer!
The Rotary Club of Medina County have had a couple of busy months completing the Bountiful Blessings project in November and the Share the Joy project in December. The Bountiful Blessings project provided meals, information about local resources for seniors and veterans, and some small gift items to Veterans and Senior Adults.
The Jourdanton Interact Club met at Argent Court Assisted Living on Saturday, December 14, 2024. They enjoyed visiting with residents and help making Christmas ornaments.
Jourdanton Interact Club Volunteers at Assisted Living
The Rotary Club of San Angelo presented two checks totaling $21,500 at their regular meeting on December 20, 2024. The Club presented a $5,500 check to the WHIT Program to pay for a video to help them recruit new tutors. The funds came from a $1,500 District Grant and a $4,000 contribution from the Club.
Members of the Fredericksburg-Nimitz Rotary, along with members of the Stonewall Chamber of Commerce and District 5840 Assistant Governor Sarah Eckert pose at the Stonewall Chamber's event raising funds and collecting toys for the children of Stonewall.
Members Cindy Turner, Christina Gonzalez and Cindy Eberle from Fredericksburg-Nimitz Rotary made the trip this year to Piedras Negras to pass out gifts and do wellness checks on the children of this small community. The club does this in partnership with Mision de Candellila, a nonprofit Christian based mission.
The Fredericksburg-Nimitz Rotary provided a prime rib meal to participants in the Wounded Warrior at Nebo organization on December 2nd. After the meal, guests had a front row seat to the annual Light the Night Christmas Parade on Main Street in Fredericksburg.
Members of the Nimitz Rotary gathered to sing Christmas Carols at a local assisted living facility in Fredericksburg. Local musician Cam King accompanied on his guitar.
The Rotary Club of Fredericksburg Carolers performed at nine assisted living facilities in Fredericksburg on December 17 and 18, in the third year of this service project. Carolers pictured below at the Villages of Windcrest included Jim Graham, Jolene Keefer, Ed Cowsar, Judith Miller, Cheryl Rowan, Keith Whited, Jim Franer, Mike Birdelbough and Karen Horan, accompanied by Patrick Figer.
Members of the Rotary Club of Fredericksburg (TX) celebrate the completion of wrapping Toys for Tots on December 13. Members contributed more than 1,400 hours of service to the project over the week beginning December 9 and culminating with delivery of toys to approximately 600 children in 135 families in Fredericksburg and Gillespie County on December 14. Joining club members were several spouses, Interact students and other volunteers.
Another Successful Toys for Tots Campaign by Fredericksburg
This December three Rotary Clubs participated in their annual Breakfast for Santa. The Rotary Club of Boerne, Boerne Sunrise and the Rotary Club of Fair Oaks hosted over 200 children for breakfast, crafts, cookie decorating and a visit with Santa.
The RC of SA Oak Hills and SA West came together to make a meaningful difference in the lives of several families this holiday season. Delivering gifts and bringing Santa Claus to these families, we focused on supporting those in need, especially grandparents caring for their grandchildren.
K’STAR sent a huge THANK YOU to the Rotary Club of Kerrville for their generous support! Our donations will directly benefit K’STAR as a whole this holiday season. We also were able to drop off food with the check.
Congratulations to San Marcos Rotary for submitting their final report on their District Grant used for their School Fuel project! And a reminder to all clubs having completed their grant funded projects for school supplies, Thanksgiving and Christmas projects, etc. --your final reports are due. Ask the district grants team if you need help.
The Rotary Club of Wimberley is happy to announce the winner and runner up of the second Danforth Jr High Rotary Loves Readers contest of the school year. The runner up was 6th grader Ryan Lambert who received $50. The winner of a crisp $100 bill was 8th grader, Lauren Workman. Congratulations to Lauren and Ryan, and keep reading for a successful future!
San Marcos is sponsoring a Casino Night fundraiser with a Mardi Gras theme Feb 28 at the Centex Wing of the Commemorative Air Force Museum at the San Marcos Airport. 75% of the proceeds will benefit an endowment at Texas State University to help kids who went through the foster care system in Texas to afford attending university. Email john@mydividedsky.com for tickets or sponsorship information
he ClubRunner Mobile App has just gotten even better! Designed to make staying connected with your club and district easier than ever, the latest updates bring a host of new features and improvements. Whether you’re an officer, member, or simply interested in staying in the loop, the app's enhanced functionality ensures you have everything you need at your fingertips. Here’s what’s new:
Several Beeville Rotary Club members answered the call for service on a cold and wet Saturday morning. Club members and friends of Rotary gathered to clean the trash along a busy road in Beeville. The club performs this service several times a year.
I am incredibly grateful for the support of the Rotary Global Grant, which has allowed me to pursue my master's in International Development at I.E.University in Madrid, Spain. This journey has been transformative, offering both academic growth and international exposure.
Every member plays a vital role as a Public Image ambassador. The way your community perceives your club is crucial. Are your community service efforts and projects up-to-date and relevant?
This June in Calgary, our biggest annual gathering promises to inspire, connects, and recharge your passion for making a difference. Come see why #Rotary25 isn't just an event—it’s an experience Early registration ends 15 December! Register now to save and secure your top hotel choice and tickets to exclusive events. Click to Register.
In 1872 the first Arbor Day was celebrated and in 1885 it became an official state holiday. By the 1920s, each state in the United States had passed public laws that stipulated a certain day to be Arbor Day. Boerne’s Rotarians have a special way of celebrating this day.
As the holiday season continues, we are reminded of the values that unite us as Rotarians—especially our commitment to Service Above Self. While this time of year often brings joy and celebration, it also presents an opportunity to reflect on the needs of those around us and the difference we can make.
The Beeville Rotary Club Members donated canned food to be given to the local food pantry, the Vineyard. The need for food has increased as food costs have increased. The Beeville Rotarians hope to ease the financial burdens of those needing food.
Nov. 15/16th was a beautiful weekend to #MakeAPositiveDifference! Thank you St. Anthony’s Catholic School for welcoming our Rotary Club of San Antonio, TX to build our 26th Kingdom for Kids playground and landscape your lovely campus, with the support of The Harvey E. Najim Charitable Foundation -&- in partnership with City Year San Antonio!
Phenomenal to see so many of our City of San Antonio Community Champions at our November 22nd Grand Ribbon-Cutting of our Rotary Club of San Antonio Ice Rink at Travis Park, with the Honorable Mayor Ron Nirenberg; Honorable Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai; Trish DeBerry, Centro San Antonio; Steve Darling, 2024-2025 President, Rotary Club of San Antonio, TX, Rotary District 5840 Governor Kristen Salazar -&- many more! We were thrilled to connect with our #RotaryIceRink Sponsors -&- Community Champions, including Santa, Cynthia Delapena, #CommunityFirst; Ben Hackett, #HemisfairConservancy; San Antonio Figure Skating Club; #GabetheGivingGoat, #Light the World with #Texas Giving Machine; to name a few
The Fair Oaks Ranch Rotary Club gifted the TBI Warrior Foundation a big donation to help them help victims of Traumatic Brain Injury. The money will go to buy equipment and provide counseling for men, women, children suffering from TBI.
Fair Oaks Ranch Rotarians get some FOR Elementary students fired up about "Service Above Self". The students formed an EA club complete with officers and agendas. Recently, our members came to their meeting, telling the students about the community service activities they can participate in!
Thank you Ambassador Sichan Siv for kindly welcoming Rotary Club of San Antonio President Steve Darling, Rotarian and CEO of World Affairs Council and Public Image Chair Cindy Urshan to visit the Fabian Dale Dominguez State Jail of the Texas Criminal Justice Department to learn about its comprehensive rehabilitation and reintegration programs.
The Boerne Sunrise Rotary Club held a Car Show on November 16th that was hosted by Mata’s Concepts located at 33125 Interstate 10 Frontage Road in Boerne. This was the second car show held by owner Hector Mata and his employees supporting the Boerne Sunrise Rotary Club.
Operation Stockings Stuffer: #TeamPearl collected items to put in Christmas stockings for our troops abroad with Soldier’s Angels, a 501 (c) 3 that supports our Military members and families stationed here and abroad.
This holiday season, the Rotary Club of San Antonio South partnered with Salado Elementary to bring hope and joy to families in need. Recognizing the challenges faced by low-income households during this festive time, the Club organized a food distribution project to ensure that every family could enjoy a traditional holiday meal with dignity and joy.
The Rotary Club of Wimberley is happy to announce the winner and runner up of the first Danforth Rotary Loves Readers contest of the school year. The runner up was 8th grader, Chandler Lujan who received $50. The winner of a crisp $100 bill was 8th grader, Nathan Winn.
The Rotary Club of Blanco County President Doug McKenzie presented a check for $1,000 to Kathie Estrada member of the Blanco County Veterans Memorial Committee. The funds will go toward the pedestal which honors the US Space Force at the Blanco County Veterans Memorial located at 300 N. Nugent Street, Johnson City, TX.
The Rotary Club of San Marcos is sponsoring a diamond raffle to raise funds for local service projects. This is the 2nd annual diamond raffle. Last year's event raised the funds the were donated to Rise Against Hunger, San Marcos School Fuel, and the local Food Bank.
The Rotary Club of New Braunfels recently wrapped up their largest fundraiser of the year, clearing over $225,000 in sales of their world famous kartoffelpuffer (German potato pancake) during Wurstfest 2024.
150 Rotarians and 120 volunteers covered 512 shifts over 100 hours during the 10 Day Salute to Sausage, serving up 15,512 orders of potato pancakes, 7,507 sausages, and 3,831 bottles of water from the club's popular food booth – always a Wurstfest favorite.
Nurturing Hope -San Antonio is a partnership initiated by The Rotary Club of San Antonio in collaboration with 3 major universities - Alamo Colleges, UTSA and Trinity University together with the H.E. Butt Foundation. This city wide engagement is consistent with the type of coalition advocated in 5840's strategic plan
San Marcos Rotary worked with Texas State University Rotaract and the San Marcos CISD to sponsor a workshop on child sex trafficking. The event was held on November 11.
Last year, members of the Rotary Club of New Braunfels organized a charitable Fantasy Football League to have a real world impact on a charity of their choice. Now in it's second year, these do-gooders each again selected a nonprofit that they are playing for and the winner's organization will receive a $1,000 check at the end of the season!
The Jourdanton Rotary Club was proud to participate in the Susan G. Komen Walk for a Cure at Indian Stadium on Saturday, November 9th with our own survivor Benita Muckleroy.
The Rotary Club of San Marcos presented a $5,000 donation to board members of San Marcos School Fuel on November 6. School Fuel provides food to 1,400 K-12 school children on weekends and holidays when regular school meal programs are not operating. From left: Lary Hanson, Jesse Gamble, Cody Lock, Jessica Cousineau, and Molly Ann Rosas-Garcia.
Another striking good time with the Rotary Club of San Antonio, TX! We had a ball at our Nov 3rd Young Members Board Fundraiser at Bowlero in support of our various U40 service projects benefiting our beautiful City of #SanAntonio and South Texas!
This Halloween, Canyon Lake High School's Interact Club joined forces with local Rotarians as well as businesses and other charity groups in town, to pass out candy to Children coming to the Sattler township annual Halloween main street party. This gathering of local businesses and clubs is a way for children to enjoy Halloween in a fun and safe environment.
On October 29, 2024, the Guadalupe County Commissioners Court issued a proclamation recognizing October 24, 2024, as World Polio Day. The proclamation cited Rotary International as being instrumental in establishing a global polio eradication program that has reduced worldwide polio cases by 99% and continues to work toward complete eradication.
We have received the final report from RI showing results of our World Polio Day Challenge on October 24, 2024. Together, we raised $5,125 to help eradicate Polio! THANK YOU for your commitment to END POLIO!
Join us for an informative public image training on Tuesday, November 19th on Zoom at 6PM focused on the latest ClubRunner features! This session will cover essential updates and improvements, along with a hands-on demonstration of the new Cloud Events feature, designed to streamline club event management. We’ll also introduce ClubRunner Nova, the latest evolution of the platform, showcasing its enhanced user interface, powerful customization options, and new tools tailored to make club management easier.
Public Image is not just about one person posting on social media; it’s everyone’s responsibility and reflects what the world sees your club doing. To foster growth, plan your meetings around four key points: Inspiration, Connection, Valuing Everyone's Time, and Setting Intentions.
I want to thank all Rotarians who made contributions to the fight to eradicate Polio in October. So many of you participated in events to raise funds and awareness about our efforts as Rotarians to eradicate Polio and it truly means a lot! November is Rotary Foundation Month. This month is dedicated to promoting awareness, engagement, and support for The Rotary Foundation.
Thanks to Fellow Rotarian Don Williams, he was able to get a donation from Unifirst for soap dispensers and soap for the elementary schools in Cd. Acuna. This project will help in ensuring kids are safe of germs and bacteria.
PET PROJECT- CD. ACUNA, MEXICO Pet food, pet leashes & blankets, were donated to Elizabeth Contreras from the Cd. Acuña Club Empresarial, for their pet Project. Presenting on behalf of the Del Rio Club is Jaime Chavez.
The Rotary Club is delighted to announce a generous donation made by our Youth Director, Rachel Beavan. On behalf of Del Rio Rotary Club, Rachel presented a $500 contribution to support the All Kids Bike Program to be used at Garfield Elementary.
Pete Siegel, Airport Rotary Club member, is the District 5840 Coordination for the International Fellowship of Scouting Rotarians. http://scoutingrotarians.org/ (IFSR). The fellowship has recognition certificates for the Girl Scout Gold award, the BSA Eagle Scout rank, The Venturing Summit award, and the Sea Scout Quartermaster Award.
Rotarians from the RC of San Antonio Oak Hills volunteered to supply and cook 180 plates of bacon and pancakes. This benefit helps students involved in Model United Nations San Antonio (MUNSA) at the International School of Americas (ISA) to fundraise for competition travel. Some students are also in Interact and are a great service to the community and internationally.
There were several World Polio Day events held by clubs in our district. The intent of these events is to bring awareness of Polio and to raise funds to help eradicate this terrible virus. Currently, there are only three places in the world where polio cases remain. Polio is still active in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and more recently in the Gaza Strip.
On Saturday, October 26, the Winston School Interact Club with the supervision of Interact District Chair and Interact sponsor Mike Canales assisted 10 children and their mothers from Acuna for a fun day at Morgan’s Wonderland. Of the children who attended the park, three have down syndrome, three had just completed their final treatment for leukemia, and the remaining had challenges with gross motor activities.
Fair Oaks Ranch Rotarians checked in Classic Cars and drivers at the Annual Car Show & Music Event held in Fair Oaks Ranch. The gathering brought the young and old together to build friendships and connections.
District Governor-Elect Craig Hardy visits with and encourages the check-in crew from the Rotary Club of Fair Oaks Ranch at their annual fund raiser golf tournament. Besides meeting many local Rotarians and business leaders, Craig and his team were able to finish in First Place for their flight in the golf competition. District Governor Kristen was also on hand to visit and lend her support to this great community effort.
The 11th Annual Golf Classic held at Fair Oaks Ranch Country Club on October 9th was a huge hit! Over 30 club members and several spouses raised revenue in record sponsorships and auction sales. We had record player participation too! Our only fundraiser of the year will provide needed assistance to help change the lives of youth and adults throughout the Fair Oaks Ranch/Boerne areas and around the world.
Fredericksburg Nimitz Rotary partnered with Texas Heritage Vineyard for the quarterly Vino and Bingo for a Cause event. The Nimitz Rotary provides food and raffles gift baskets for these events and Texas Heritage donates all proceeds from the sale of bingo cards
All three Rotary clubs in Fredericksburg got together for a Pints for Polio event held at Alstadt Brewery. Fredericksburg Rotary Club (noon club) president Ken Esten Cooke updates the group on his club's activities.
The Fredericksburg Nimitz Rotary had another successful Charity Golf Tournament raising over $35,000 benefitting the Fredericksburg VFD's general equipment fund. The tournament was in memory of late Fire Capt. Stacy Kuhlmann.
On October 15 three members from the Rotary Club of Acuna A.C. gave a presentation to the Boerne Sunrise Rotary Club regarding the annual Crayola Project. This marks the 20 year anniversary of this joint program which provides elementary school students with much needed school supplies.
San Marcos, TX, October 22, 2024—The Rotary Club of San Marcos and the Texas State University Rotaract Club have partnered to sponsor a free workshop to help area residents recognize and curtail human trafficking activities. The event will be hosted by San Marcos CISD on Monday, November 11 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Owen Goodnight Middle School Auditorium, 1301 State Highway 123, San Marcos.
The Rotary Club of San Marcos is partnering with multiple other organizations in San Marcos to sponsor a Human Trafficking Town Hall that will focus on providing specialized training for teachers, counselors, law enforcement and others to help them recognize and curtail human trafficking activities. The training focuses on those working directly with youth on a regular basis. Kirsta Melton, founder of the Institute to Combat Trafficking, is the lead trainer
Lieutenant General Darrell D. Jones, USAF (Ret) the President and Chief Executive Officer of Blue Skies of Texas, became an Honoray Rotarian at the Rotary Club of San Antonio West meeting Tuesday, October 15, 2024. Blue Skies of Texas is the top-rated continuing care retirement community with two campuses in San Antonio.
More than 100 community volunteers helped San Marcos Rotary sponsor a Rise Against Hunger event on October 19. In just over 90 minutes the volunteers bagged and boxed almost 15,000 packets, each of which serves six meals.
The Jourdanton Rotary held their annual Homecoming Pre-Game Dinner on Friday, October 11th at the Jourdanton High School Cafeteria to help support area education and scholarships.
On Tuesday, October 15th the Jourdanton Rotary made their annual trip to Jourdanton ISD to deliver dictionaries to third graders and constitutions to eight graders.
Jourdanton Delivers Dictionaries & Constitutions
The Rotary Club of San Marcos sponsored a Pints for Polio event at Zelicks Ice House in San Marcos on October 2. More than $3,000 was raised. More recently a $500 donation was made to Polio Plus on behalf of the Texas Roadhouse, which has hosted Rotary meetings for the past two years. The club thanks the restaurant by making a donation in their name.
Rotary District Governor Kristen Salazar presented a Citation to the Rotary Club of Boerne for its many accomplishments and achieving its goals in the 2023-24 year. Receiving the award on behalf of all the members was Joe Anzollitto, club president for 2023-2024 and Susie Smith, current president. Thus, the photo is of the whole club in attendance last week since the members are the backbone of the club and its ability to accomplish so much.
On October 10, 2024, San Antonio Airport Rotary Club members Kim Munoz and Pete Siegel presented English dictionaries to the 3rd grade classes at San Antonio's Northeast Independent School District's Serna Elementary School. The school mascot is a seal, the pinniped variety, not the US Navy variety.
We're thrilled to announce that our district is among the 111 worldwide recognized for excellence! Over 71% of our clubs have earned the prestigious Rotary Citation Award, highlighting our commitment to Rotary's mission of service above self.
The James Madison High School Interact Club volunteered to unload pumpkins for St. Margaret's Episcopal Church and School's "Most Sincere Pumpkin Patch" on Saturday, October 12, 2024, in San Antonio. Mrs. Downen's hardy crew and other Madison Mavericks helped unload 1,800 pumpkins.
District Governor Elect, Craig Hardy, was recently sent a letter of gratitude from the South Texas Blood & Tissue organization for reaching the donor milestone of 8 gallons.
The Rotary Club of San Marcos honors Johanna Hansen in November as its 5th Major Donor to the Rotary Foundation. She will be honored at the club’s meeting on November 6, when former District Governor, Jerry Hardy, presents a program about the Foundation in observance of Rotary Foundation Month.
Rotary Club of San Antonio Pearl and friends came out to help distribute bag lunches to 168 people with Under The Bridge Inc. Members of Rotary Club of San Antonio South joined us while members of the Rebecca Court #2 and Moussa Court 119 donated funds and supplies to make this service project another roaring success.
As we approach World Polio Day on October 24th, let’s take a moment to reflect on Rotary’s long-standing commitment to eradicating polio. This day is a powerful reminder of how far we’ve come and how critical it is to sustain our efforts until we reach our goal of a polio-free world. Every contribution, whether through advocacy, awareness, or financial support, brings us closer to ending polio once and for all.
The event has grown every year, and now, Morgan's Wonderland is offering an expanded Halloween celebration every weekend, beginning on September 27th, culminating with our traditional "District 5840 More Delightful Than Frightful" event on Halloween.
Join us on Wednesday, October 9th, 6:00PM - 7:00PM for the D5840 All Hands Meeting on Zoom and hear from the District Leadership. Updates from Foundation, Membership, Public Image, Service and Youth Services will be provided. All are welcome! Zoom link will be sent out a few days before the event.
District Governor Kristen Salazar is challenging all Clubs to donate online to Polio Plus on Oct. 24, 2024. Club who have 100% members donating at least $25 will receive $1000 in points/dollars from the District. Again - must be done on Oct. 24th and online to count for the District Fundraiser.
It’s never been easier to create a flyer or social media graphic to help promote your events! Six new customizable templates for Rotary, Rotaract, and Interact events have been added to the Brand Center.
World Polio Day is a time for Rotary members, public health advocates, and all who want a world free from polio to come together, recognize our progress in the fight to end polio, and talk about the actions we need to take in order to end polio for good. All donations are matched 2:1 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, tripling your impact! See the graphic or District calendar for Pints for Polio events happening in October.
The Rotary Club of Del Rio was thrilled to support this impactful project by the Del Rio Parks Foundation! Thank you for allowing us to help better our community!
This month the current and past District 5840 Governors joined over 75 people to celebrate the impact of our past Centennial Governor, John Peterson. John joined the Rotary Club of Boerne in 1994 and was the Rotarian of the Year in 1997.
The Rotary Club of San Antonio West invites Rotarians from District 5840 to join in the Annual Alzheimer’s Walk in support of Freedom House, the memory care center on the Blue Skies of Texas-West campus. The event is Saturday, Oct 19, 2024.
A round of applause for all the sponsors including Rotary Club of Del Rio for food for the 16 of September luncheon at Rotary Village. Shout out to Jesse Avila, Vice President of Operations and his staff for coordinating such a fun filled event.
On Saturday, September 21, 2024, Rotary Club members delivered gifts to residents from Rotary Village who celebrated birthdays. We had the incredible honor of celebrating Mr. Vincent Tobin's 101st birthday!
On Thursday, September 19th at Fairy Tale Books the Jourdanton Interact Club had their first meeting of the school year to organize service projects for the year, finalize plans on their window service project at the Jourdanton Senior Citizens Center, and gear up for homecoming!
With the help of Schreiner University we were able to package 15,000 meals for rise against hunger. There were also over a dozen interact students who showed up to help. It was a great event with that is always so much fun to put on.
Centennial District Governor John’s knees are in rehab; meanwhile PDG Dick Baggett (pictured along with DG Kristen) and many friends and family participated in singing his praises this week. Peterson led Rotary Foundation programs for several years and earned his Papa John moniker while leading youth programs for the district and his club.
Members of the Rotary Club of New Braunfels recently spent a Saturday morning volunteering at the Comal County ReStore, operated by Comal County Habitat for Humanity. They moved and sorted donated merchandise, got dirty, got sweaty, and helped make a difference towards Habitat for Humanity's mission and purpose.
When help is needed, Rotary steps up, and that's exactly what members of the Rotary Club of New Braunfels did when a dead oak tree needed to be removed from the front yard at the New Braunfels home of Willie Mae Coffman, widow of former Rotary Club of New Braunfels member and President, Wallace Coffman.
Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Blanco County helped Blanco Methodist Church members stuff and prepare 200 backpacks for orphans and migrants in Mexico supporting HOPE (Helping Overcome Poverty Everywhere) Ministry. The backpacks contained hygiene kits and hair accessories, socks, hats, shirts, stuffed animals/toys, coloring books, paper, pencils and erasers.
Blanco County Stuff Backpacks for Orphans and Migrants
The Rotary Club of San Antonio Pearl volunteered to help build a walking path designed by Gardopia Gardens for Towne Twin Village. This walking path will be a part of a quiet garden for the residents of Towne Twin Village.
Rotary District 5840 Assistant Governor (Area #10) Ron Hubbard, presents the Rotary Citation to Fair Oaks Ranch Club President Mary Thompson in recognition of the club achieving 100% of its pledged goals for the 2023-2024 year.
The Rotary Club of Fair Oaks Ranch helped their neighbors safely dispose of paint, fertilizer and motor oil at a recent Hazardous Waste Collection event. The chemicals will be incinerated or recycled. Our club facilitated the event by directing traffic for 267 vehicles.
The vehicle purchased by the Rotary Club of Boerne last month was part of a caravan of vehicles that recently arrived in Ukraine. The Rotary vehicle was filled with medical equipment.
On September 11, Rotarians from Fredericksburg's three clubs met at the Fredericksburg Elementary School to share Four Way Test coloring books and crayons with third grade students. The Rotarians read stories from the coloring books that depicted children in situations involving the elements of the Four Way Test, then engaged in discussions with the students.
One of the glorious tenants of being a Rotarian is the ability to travel and fellowship with like-minded Rotarians. This past month, members of the Rotary Club of San Antonio Pearl got the opportunity to visit with the Rotary Club of New Orleans Riverbend.
Junction Rotary ask local business to advertise for our Fall Sports Programs and we keep the money for we receive to place their ad in the program. We pay with those proceeds the cost to make the programs but then we donate the programs to Junction ISD and they give to one of their Clubs to sell at football games and all proceeds they make from selling the programs are kept by the Junction ISD club that sells them. They keep 100% of the money made from selling the programs.
The Rotary Club of New Braunfels recently completed their 2024-2025 first quarter grant distributions to nonprofits and charities, allocating a total of $30,000 to seven groups, six local and one international through the club’s Charitable Contributions Committee (CCC).
Included in the Q1 grant issuance was Friends of CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Foundation – $5,000, Kids Feeding Kids – $2,000, Kinetic Kids – $5,000, NBTX YoungLife & WyldLife – $5,000, ProjectMEND – $5,000, River City Advocates – $5,000, and Rotary Club of Zacoalco, Mexico – $3,000.
The Rotary Club of Cd. Acuña and the Del Rio Rotary Club provided backpacks filled with various school supplies which were distributed to several elementary schools in Cd. Acuña. Boerne Sunrise Rotary Club also donated some laptops.
World Polio Day is fast approaching on 24 October. Visit the World Polio Event page for graphics, videos, social media messaging, Pints for Polio templates and fundraiser ideas that will help your club plan an event on or around that day. Also, once your event is planned, don’t forget to register it to help us show the world Rotary’s commitment to ending polio.
As many of you know, San Antonio hosted the Zone 25B & 29 Institute this past weekend at the beautiful Downtown Marriott Riverwalk. We had leaders from 7 Districts in Zone 25B and 16 Districts in Zone 29 ready to learn and share ideas. Everyone had nothing but great things to say about our D5840 Hospitality and our city of San Antonio. But the most exciting thing to tell you is that out of the 7 Districts in Zone 25B, our District 5840 won Best In District Overall and Best in District for Foundation! We also received the following awards:
The Texas State University Rotaract Club was present at a Student Organization Fair on campus September 5. Rotaract students helped San Marcos Rotary pack school supplies August 30, and plan to help again October 19 packing meals for Rise Against Hunger.
Join us for an unforgettable weekend on May 2-4, 2025 at the Embassy Suites in San Marcos celebrating friendship and community as Rotary Districts 5840 and 5870 come together for a special occasion. Early Bird Pricing - now through September 15 - limited to 50. $150/per person after Sept 15 price is $175/per person.
Twenty-four San Marcos Rotarians, Texas State University students and community members packaged school supplies for eight villages in Northern Mexico and child-serving nonprofits in San Marcos on August 30. The event took place at First Christian Church on Ranch Road 12.
The Rotary theme for the month of September is Basic Education and Literacy. According to the National Literacy Institute, 21% of adults in the United States are considered illiterate. This impacts their ability to not only read and understand printed material but to also communicate effectively both verbally and in writing. Education and literacy contribute to personal growth and development, economic growth and development, and provide various social benefits.
The Rotary Club of Medina County is busy with two separate fall fundraising events. Our annual raffle helps support our Bountiful Blessing Thanksgiving meal for senior citizens and veterans and our Share the Joy Christmas event providing meals and gifts for needy families. Only 1600 tickets are being sold for $10 each with an assortment of prizes - see flyer; drawing will take place on November 29th and winners notified within one day.
Welcome Rotary Youth Exchange Student, Lina from Sweden! Oak Hills Rotary Club President Derek Matthys and Rotarian Ken Donoughue help to welcome Lina at the San Antonio airport.
The Boerne Sunrise Rotary Club was recently voted “Best of the Best” non-profit clubs for the top volunteer organization in Kendall County by subscribers to “The Boerne Star”. Subscribers could vote for one of five local organizations in this category for the best volunteer non-profit club. This is an annual event sponsored by the local newspaper
This last weekend we did our semi annual trash pickup on the highway the rotary club of Kerrville adopted years ago. We had a great group as usual of Rotarians and interact/roteract kids.
In July, the Rotary Club of San Antonio West launched Unlocking Hope: Our Fight to End Alzheimer's—a project to help fund research leading to a cure for Alzheimer's Disease. Rotarians in the club have family members suffering from Alzheimer's or loved ones they lost to this disease.
The San Antonio Airport Rotary club teamed up with Petri's Place Wildlife Rehab to host a Nocturnal Nights event at the rehab center Saturday, August 10th, 2024. Petri's Place is located in the Southeast side of San Antonio where over an acre of sanctuary space has been created for native urban wildlife to recover and thrive.
The Rotary Club of Blanco County presented personal dictionaries to each of the 3rd graders of Blanco Elementary School on August 16. The dictionaries not only contain words and definitions, but also encyclopedia-type information that the students may use as a source for writing various papers or composing stories.
The Service Project Center, Rotary’s new hub for everything related to service, is now live. It gives you a better way to manage and share information about your service projects. With service networking moving to this new platform, Rotary Showcase has been retired. All Rotary and Rotaract projects that were posted on Rotary Showcase have been migrated to the Service Project Center, which is being released in phases.
Members of the San Angelo Sunrise Rotary Club voted to continue this program in 2024-2025 to benefit Angelo State University students in need of supplemental food sources while attending the university. Over the past two years, the club has provided $2000 cash to the ASU Food Bank, and food items every fourth week of the month. Club member, Patrick Malloy, is shown making the July 24 delivery.
No matter what the language we are happy to say hello to our inbound students to District 5840 who have arrived for their exchange year with us. Make it a point to cross paths with these intelligent and entertaining young people.
Rotary clubs worldwide have united to support the Ukrainian people, with the Rotary Club of Boerne and the Rotary Club of San Antonio distinguishing themselves as early contributors to humanitarian operations following the outbreak of war in February 2022. Recently, Boerne’s club joined an international coalition of Rotary clubs dedicated to providing humanitarian aid, medical equipment, ambulances, and civilian extraction vehicles.
The Rotary Club of Fair Oaks Ranch helped at the "Resource Rally" to guide parents to vaccination and registration stations, school bus and lunch information. Rotarians also passed out free lunch boxes and school supplies to needy families in the Boerne School District.
Rotarians at Fair Oaks Ranch are collaborating to raise money for the Blessings in a Backpack food services program by creating and selling this Fiesta Medal. Rotarian Colette Nosal is the artist and new members June and Kyle Ashley are the sponsors.
Fellow Rotarians Rey Sanchez and Gregorio Arrambide, Jr. along with Nathan Villarreal Lisa Gallegos, Rosa Arrambide, aided in separating school supplies and distributed to the Del Rio Elementary Schools.
Cd. Acuna President Jaime Cardenas, Juan Rodriguez, & Monica Garcia and their Club, are ready to begin the school supply distribution. The Del Rio Club was able to give a $500 donation toward the Crayola Club School supply drive for Cd. Acuna and surrounding areas.
Cd. Acuna President Jaime Cardenas, Juan Rodriguez, & Monica Garcia and their Club, are ready to begin the school supply distribution. The Del Rio Club was able to give a $500 donation toward the Crayola Club School supply drive for Cd. Acuna and surrounding areas.
A check was presented to our Club from Jaime Cardenas-President of the Rotary Club of Cd. Acuna, Mexico, to be used towards school supplies. In the photo from left to right is Bobby Martinez-Upcoming District Governor ’25-‘26, Rotarian Abner Martinez, Jaime Cardenas, Gloria Wilson, District International Chair, Kristen Salazar-District Governor, Cynthia de Luna- International Chair, Abram Rodriguez-Rotary Club President, Eddie Amezcua-Asst. District Governor.
Thank you to Abby Henry, Chase Amason, and the amazing members of our Jourdanton Rotary Club for putting on a fun Ice Cream Social at Argent Court on Sunday, July 28th.
On Tuesday, July 30th the Jourdanton Rotary Club had a dinner to pay tribute our 2024 Honorary Members Joye Peterson (unable to attend), Bob Orr, Wayne Schuchart, and Barbara Peeler. We'd like to send a huge thank you to the Pleasanton Texas Lions Club for use of their beautiful building and to Maggie Aguilar Huddleston & Chile Bandera for the amazing turkey dinner!
The Nimitz Rotary will be holding their 3rd Charity Golf Tournament on October 14, 2024 at Lady Bird Golf Course. This year's proceeds will benefit the Fredericksburg Volunteer Fire Department's General Equipment Fund in Memory of the late Fire Chief Stacy Kuhlmann.
Cross Mountain Park will soon have a new entrance and better sidewalk connectivity after the City of Fredericksburg received a donation from the Nimitz Rotary Club. The Parks and Recreation Dept. will remove the existing entrance that leads from the parking lot to the park's main trail.
CLRC wishes to acknowledge the accomplishment of Conor Cummings, one of its new CLHS 4 year scholarship winners! The following article appeared on the Canyon Lake HS Broadcasting face book page.
The service theme of San Marcos Rotary in October is to Help The Hungry. The club plans activities that will benefit food insecure people locally, county-wide, and internationally.
Rotary Club of New Braunfels Career and Tecnical Education (CTE) Chair Austin Milam recently helped organize a two-day Teacher Summer Externship Program for New Braunfels ISD and Comal ISD teachers in CTE fields to help them gain insight into real-world companies and tailor their curriculum in the classroom to meet the needs of employers. The teachers received credit from their districts for attending.
Alamo Ranch and Rotary Club of La Cantera assembled 150 backpacks full of school supplies yesterday evening! We surpassed our goal and our collection of 47 backpacks last year!
The Communities In Schools of San Antonio (CIS-SA) annual Stuff The Bus School Supply Drive provides free school supplies to thousands of underserved students and families throughout the school year. This year several Interact clubs participated in Stuff the Bus by collecting school items at two local HEB stores.
Twelve Rotarians and a handful of Interactors volunteered at the Texas Diaper Bank on Monday, August 5, 2024. The Texas Diaper Bank has been working since 2013 to change the lives of babies, children with disabilities, and seniors in the Greater San Antonio Area and 12 surrounding counties by providing diapers and other items to the community.
Sangkoo Yun, a member of the Rotary Club of Sae Hanyang, Seoul, Korea, has been selected to become Rotary International President for 2026-27. Meet the president-nominee: https://on.rotary.org/3AlRuWN
Volunteers are needed to be a Zone Ambassador for the 2024 Zone Institute! Zone Ambassadors do not need to register for the event and meals will not be included. Click to register.
eClub of San Antonio “Project Literacy Impact promotes family literacy , with books in the community, schools, and daycares. We believe reading with understanding of words, embrace good citizens, higher education, strong careers, and families.
The official District Governor visits have started and I'm thoroughly enjoying visiting the clubs in District 5840! Thank you all for being so welcoming to myself and others from the District Governor Line who have joined me on the visits. August is the month that the kiddos head back to school to continue furthering their education.
We are excited to announce the rollout of our new ROTARY ROCKSTAR CHALLENGE! The Rotary Rockstar Challenge was designed to help Clubs increase their public image skill set. The more you promote your Club, the better the odds are at increasing your membership. It is a win-win all around!
Each level game introduces you to tools and resources to promote your Club to your members, around the District, and the community. This year, we have some fun new tools that we are excited to share! Let the games begin!
There will be a Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) on Saturday, September 21st, 2024 from 8:30AM to 4:30PM at the Northwest Vista College,3535 N Ellison Dr, San Antonio, TX 78251. Click for map. Classes will begin at 9AM. The institute is $50 and is open to all Rotarians. Click to Register.
Interview of Gaby Trevino, returning Global Education Grant Scholar. She was sponsored by the Rotary Club of San Antonio North Central and the Rotary Club of Edmonton in London, England.
On Friday, September 6th, 11:45-1:45, at the Marriott Riverwalk, we will be celebrating our District with an All Club Luncheon at the 2024 Zone Institute! This is a great opportunity to hear first-hand from our Rotary International President Elect, Mario Cesar Martins de Camargo from Brazil, and our Rotary International Director, Salvador Rizzo from Mexico.
Save the date - September 14 - and plan on attending Rotary's "Taste the Grape" wine tasting fundraiser. A fun evening of tasting and grading wines and enjoying charcuterie meats and cheeses all while raising money for Rotary's many projects for 2024-2025.
Members from the Boerne Sunrise Rotary Club recently attended a ceremony sponsored by the Hill Country Daily Bread Ministry’s Stand by Me Student Mentoring Ministry program serving at-risk and youth grades K-12. This event featured one of their programs, “Summer Leadership Academy”, where students who participated in the program shared their testimonies with the audience and the effect it has had on their lives.
On Friday, August 23 from 8:30 a.m. to noon San Marcos Rotary will package school supplies for children in seven villages in northern Mexico, and nonprofits in San Marcos, including the Hays County Women’s Shelter and the Youth Services Bureau. The event will be held at First Christian Church, 3105 Ranch Road 12, San Marcos.
Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Blanco County, along with the Lucky Leaf 4-H and Friends, recently packaged 250 Hygiene Kits for delivery by HOPE Ministries to orphanages and schools in Northern Mexico. Each kit contained a wash cloth, soap, a tooth brush and paste, soap and a brush and comb.
Several District Interact Clubs collected approximately 25 large plastic trash bags of bottle caps this school year. The bottle caps are delivered to a private recycling company in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico that melts them down, and transfers the money to a non-profit organization in that city.
Rotary Club of Fredericksburg International Projects Co-Chair Debbie Sultemeier took 22 soccer balls donated by Club members with her on a trip to Tanzania to visit schools where Rotary has been funding water and hygiene projects. Co-Chair Caryn Crump donated paper and pencils for the schools, and other Club members donated soap products.
The Fair Oaks Ranch Rotary Club members foster harmony and keep their city beautiful by picking up trash along busy Ralph Fair Road. Our Adopt-A-Highway program is a great way to bring about positive change in our community.
A fundraiser was held at Texas Heritage Vineyard tasting room for the Fredericksburg Navy Junior Officer Training Corps July 11th. The Nimitiz Rotary provided food by donation and raffled gift baskets.
The District Governor Nominating Committee met on July 6, 2024 and selected Jere Pace from the Rotary Club of San Antonio Mission Trail for the position of District Governor for Rotary District 5840 for the term beginning July 1, 2027
Each year, the President of the Rotary Club of New Braunfels has the distinct pleasure of recognizing five Rotarians with the Rotarian of the Quarter and Rotarian of the Year Awards. These individuals have gone above and beyond in exemplary service to the Club through as positive change makers and leaders, leaving an indelible mark on the Club.
As we start the 2024-2025 Rotary year I would like to thank Immediate Past District Governor Monica for all of her hard work. She has put the District in a strong position to move forward and succeed. The start of a new Rotary year is a moment of anticipation and magic. It marks the beginning of fresh initiatives and renewed commitments to service above self.
Congratulations to the Clark High School Interact Scholarship recipients. Oak Hills Rotary sponsored an awards luncheon for both students and their family.
The City of Fredericksburg held the Ribbon Cutting ceremony atop Cross Mountain for the newly fabricated and erected cross. The funds were raised by the Fredericksburg Nimitz Rotary over a two-year period of time.
The Rotary Club of Fair Oaks Ranch supports mothers and babies! A recent tour of the Hill Country Pregnancy Care Center showed members where their charity dollars are going. HCPC provides blankets, clothing, medical care, pre-natal vitamins to vulnerable mothers and children so they can live longer and grow stronger.
The Rotary Club of Blanco County raised approximately $25,000 on June 17th at its major annual fundraiser - The Joe Garcia Memorial Golf Tournament. The winning foursome was James Fulton, Chase Thalman, Ryan Moore and PJ Pfeiffer
The Rotary Club of Blanco County awarded scholarships to three Blanco High School gradates. Rotarian Jack Twilley presented the Rotary Club of Blanco County Scholarship in the amount of $2,000 each to Gemma Broglie and Sophie Blankenburg.
Chris McCorkle, Vice President of the San Antonio Sunrise Rotary Club presented a college scholarship to Judith Joaquin, at their meeting on May 14, 2024. Judith served as Secretary of the South San HS Interact Club her senior year, was a RYLA participant, and has been accepted to Columbia University where she will major in Political Science in the fall. Judith's mother, Rachel was present at the ceremony.
Lonesome Dovefest Kickoff: Saturday 7/27/24 at 5pm, held on a Saturday night, our fundraiser provides an evening of fun for our community to come together. Meal tickets are $40 and it covers a catered meal and drinks. Sponsor tables are $1,000 and include eight meal ticket with extra goodies.
The Boerne Sunrise Rotary Club held its first ever car show hosted by Hector Mata of Mata’s Concepts in Boerne and was organized by rotary club member Rick Reyes. Over 300 people attended the event throughout the day.
When most think of Fiji, they likely envision a tropical oasis in the middle of the south seas with white sand beaches, swaying coconut trees, year-round warm weather, beautiful resorts, and vibrant blue waters.
So, when a member of the Rotary Club of Savusavu (RCSSV), Fiji Islands, Ronni Van Applebaum, who happens to have family in New Braunfels, Texas, and is friends with a member of the Rotary Club of New Braunfels (RCNB), Bill Biggadike, contacted Bill and let him know about the need for wheelchairs in Savusavu, the International Committee of the Rotary Club of New Braunfels, chaired by Norma Blackwell, rolled up their sleeves and took action.
For over 70 years the Rotary Club of San Antonio South has served the Southside of San Antonio. On May 9, 2024, the club came together to celebrate their platinum jubilee. Chartered as the Rotary Club of the Highlands in 1953 the club changed their name around 2012 to encompass more of the southside.
The Madison High School Interact club was the recipient of the “Best in District” award. District Governor Monica Gutierrez recently presented the award to club sponsor, Ms. Janeen Downen and the several Interact members at the San Antonio Northeast Rotary meeting on June 11, 2024.
On June 2nd District 5840's seven outbound students gathered with their parents, members of the District Committee, seven of the District's inbound students, DG Monica Gutierrez, DGE Kristin Salazar and DGN-D Bobby Martinez in New Braunfels for the final of three orientations. Following the orientation, DGE Kristin Salazar assisted by PDG Bill Dean presented District Pins to the students signifying their graduation from being Youth Exchange Candidates to Rotary Youth Exchange Students.
We love our Veterans! Besides being able to do two free veterans appreciate breakfasts a year we also were able to donate a BUNCH of non perishables and toiletries to their pantry at the veterans center. Thanks to the districts matching grant we were able to donate twice a much this year!
Congratulations to McKenzie Bauerle, Marti Ducote, Drake Vyvlecka, Kayla Fair, Madison Garvin, Chase Rankin, Ava Gutierrez, Sophia Castillo, and Curtis Steinle (missing from photo) on receiving Jourdanton Rotary Club Community and RYLA Scholarships!
An event held at the ranch of Nimitz Rotary Club members Pam and Neal Martin on May 25th in honor of Memorial Day raised over $5,200 which was presented to Sharon Massey and Dottie Pieper of Wounded Warriors at Nebo. The Nimitz Rotary provided a BBQ dinner and desserts for attendees.
On May 13, 2024, San Antonio North Central Rotary Club was honored to welcome 3 new members to our Rotary Family. They are Michael Emmons, Dave Miller and Christina Trentsch. They increased membership by 10% this year.
DGE Kristin Salazar and PDG Bill Dean presents pins to District 5840 Long Term and Short Term Outbound Exchange Students on Sunday, June 2, 2024. Countries they are going to include Spain, Italy, and Switzerland.
On May 20, 2024 S.A. North Central Rotary Club awarded 6 Scholarships in the amount of $2500 each to students from Churchill High School, The Winston School and L.E.E. High school.
The District Rotary Foundation raffle winners from the June 1st drawing: Kristy Vandenberg (Kerrville), Betty Coleman (Uvalde), Marilyn Mitchell (Hondo), Imelda Gonzalez (SA North Central), Fred Timmons (Oak Hills SA), Linda Mariani (San Antonio), and Marsha Hildreth (Fredericksburg Nimitz).
Rotarian Linda Mariani was the seller of the third ticket drawn. The $70,420 in raffle proceeds will support the humanitarian programs of the Annual Fund in our communities and around the world.
With our friends from the community alongside us, the Rotary Club of Kerrville proudly recognized the top nominated 5th graders from across Kerr County for this prestigious recognition. Each child from every elementary school in the Kerr County area were honored for their heartfelt commitment to leadership, service and education.
In-coming President of the Fair Oaks Ranch Rotary Club Mary Thompson is all smiles at a recent tour of the Hill Country Pregnancy Care Center. Fair Oaks Ranch Rotary made a financial donation to the center, which helps Boerne-area women in times of crises by providing clothing, formula, pre-natal services and more.
Fair Oaks Ranch EarlyAct Club ended the school year with a distinguished Rotarian speaking to elementary students on the benefits of serving one's community. This EarlyAct Club is just one example of the various youth programs served by the Fair Oaks Ranch Rotary Club.
Who: San Antonio Airport Rotary Club What: Paul Harris Fellow presented to Paul Mireles of Kens 5 Where: The Petroleum Club, SA, TX When: March 27, 2024 Why: For his continuous support as the Emcee at the SA Airport Rotary Club's Casino Night
Paul Harris Fellow Presentation to Paul Mireles of Kens 5
The Rotary Club of Alamo Ranch partnered with Hello Gorgeous Boutique to host an inspiring fashion show that beautifully blended style and substance on May 19th. This event was not just about showcasing the latest fashion trends; it also served as a powerful platform to promote Mental Health Awareness, our Rotary district's monthly theme.
The Hondo/D'Hanis Rotary Club proudly unveiled a magnificent new gazebo, graciously dedicated to the City of Hondo. This stunning structure, a testament to community spirit and collaboration, stands as a beautiful new landmark for residents and visitors alike to enjoy. The gazebo represents not just a physical enhancement to the cityscape, but also a symbol of the Rotary Club's unwavering commitment to enriching the local community.
Join us on Wednesday, June 5th, 6:30PM - 7:30PM for the D5840 All Hands Meeting on Zoom and hear from the District Leadership. Updates from Foundation, Membership, Public Image, Service and Youth Services will be provided. All are welcome! Zoom link will be sent out a few days before the event.
CONGRATULATIONS to the following clubs for earning ROTARY ROCKSTAR status for our PUBLIC IMAGE CHALLENGE: Alamo Heights Rotary Club, Rotary Club - Del Rio, Texas, ROTARY Club Of Fair Oaks Ranch, Fredericksburg Morning Rotary, Fredericksburg-Nimitz Rotary Club, Jourdanton Rotary Club, Rotary Club of Kerrville, Rotary Club of New Braunfels, Rotary Club of San Antonio Pearl, San Antonio Oak Hills Rotary, Pleasanton Rotary Club, Rotary Club of San Antonio, TX, Rotary Club of Alamo Ranch, San Antonio Northeast Rotary Club, Rotary Club of San Antonio South and Rotary of San Marcos! Shout out to our Raffle Winners:
The Rotary Club of Blanco County will host its annual Joe Garcia Memorial Golf Tournament on June 17. The club has BIG plans for this upcoming year with no less than 20 different community service projects in the works.
The Rotary Club of Blanco County enjoyed a social evening at the Bistro on Blanco River April 24. In addition to working hard on projects in Blanco County and beyond, club members know how to HAVE FUN!
Rotary Club of Blanco County Enjoys Social Evening
You're invited to attend the Del Rio Rotary Club's annual Independence Day Rodeo on June 28 and June 29! This family-friendly event promises two days of thrilling rodeo action, patriotic festivities, and community spirit.
What was your most memorable Rotary service project? My most memorable Rotary service project was serving as Group Study Exchange Team Leader to Argentina. Seeing Rotary’s impact of service projects at the international level was very inspiring.
As I write this, my last DG message for the year, I can’t help but to reflect on all the wonderful things we did this Rotary year. Everything I had envisioned our District accomplishing turned out better than I could ever have imagined. And that’s because of ALL the Rotarians who had an open mind and a willingness to do things a little differently. From accommodating my work schedule and holding joint club DG visits to leadership meetings and District All-Hands on the 5th of the month #CincoDeRotary5840.
The RC of San Antonio Oak Hills recently volunteered at the @safoodbank boxing and packing 1,400+ boxes of food. Thank you to Community Service Chair and President Elect Derek Matthys for organizing this opportunity.
The Rotary E-Club of San Antonio promotes literacy at the Ed Franz Academy through their "Summer Literacy Readiness Backpacks." Funded by District grants, these backpacks are filled with books, dictionaries, journals, and pencils.
Rotary E-Club San Antonio Promotes Literacy for Summer
The Rotary Club of San Marcos awarded 12 scholarships in the amount of $1,500 each to 12 seniors attending high schools in the San Marcos area, for total of $18,000.
Even though the exchange year is coming to an end for 5840's current inbound students, their willingness and commitment (even giving up a Saturday) to share the story of their Rotary Exchange and what Rotary means to them continues. Three students recently attended the District Leadership Conference on May 11 in San Antonio to share their experiences.
The Rotary Club of San Antonio held its 11th annual member spelling bee on May 15. Five brave members took part to raise money for the club's projects and the Rotary Foundation.
San Marcos Rotary was a lead sponsor, together with the San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District and other nonprofits, in organizing a Human Trafficking - Child Trafficking Town Hall in San Marcos April 18. The goal was to create greater awareness of the problem and alternatives for addressing it.
The Greater New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce's Leadership New Braunfels program recently graduated it's 32nd class which includes the following members of the Rotary Club of New Braunfels:
• Tim Blazi, Structura Inc
• Beverly Davidek, Davidek Law Firm, PLLC
• Lisa Hood, Images of Texas
• Morrigan Land, Casteel & Casteel PLLC
• Trey Palreiro, Comal Truck Gear
• Ron Richardson, UTSA SBDC/Spark Board New Braunfels
Jimmy Culp, Scholarship Committee chair presents a check to Mileidy Araiza of Harper High School, the recipient of our Randy Stapp Memorial Vocational/Technical Scholarship.
Nimitz Rotary partnered with Texas Heritage Vineyard's quarterly Vino and BIngo for a Cause event raised over $2,500 to be presented to local nonprofit Heart of the Hills/MOM Center, an organization that aids families during their pregnancy journey and beyond.
The Rotary Club of New Braunfels Charitable Contributions Committee (CCC) recently wrapped up their grant distributions for fiscal year 2023-2024. The Club awarded a total of $115,000 to 30+ local and international charities and non-profits.
Fourteen Winston School Interact Club members earned the President's Volunteer Service Award this school year. They received their medals at the school's end of year Award Ceremony on May 15, 2024.
The Rotary Club of New Braunfels recently awarded four local high school students with scholarships totaling $36,000. These graduating seniors competed against 75+ other students from the NBISD and CISD school districts for their chance at receiving a scholarship worth $1,500 for each semester of their education at a 4-year, 2- year, or CTE institution.
Rotary Club of New Braunfels Awards Four With Scholarships
We’re thrilled to announce a major milestone in our journey of service and community enhancement! Del Rio Rotarians, as people of action, have come together to trans-form the Del Rio Pocket Park from a simple adoption into a full-fledged project that we can all be proud of.
A heartfelt thank you to all the Rotarians who joined us for the Picnic at the Park last week! Your presence and enthusiasm made the event truly special and memorable. It was wonderful to see everyone come together to enjoy delicious food, engage in lively conversations, and strengthen the bonds of our Rotary community.
A Heartfelt thank you to all the Rotarians who joined us for the ribbon cutting ceremony at Del Rio Rotary Pocket Park last week! Your support and dedication have truly made this project possible
In honor of Children’s Day or Dia de Los Niños, The Rotary Club of Del Rio partnered with Club Rotario de Cd. Acuña, Mexico, to provide toys, books and treats to the children in the ranches in the outskirts of town.
Every year we have Rotarians volunteer to go to local elementary schools to talk to them about water safety. We use the Josh the otter puppet and book and it’s always a hit with the kids.
You're invited to attend the Installation Dinner for 2024-2025 District Governor Kristen Salazar on Wednesday, June 26th at the Old San Francisco Steakhouse, 10223 Sahara Dr, San Antonio, TX 78216, USA. The evening will begin at 6PM for cocktails, followed by dinner at 6:30PM. Dress code is Roaring 20's. Cost is $40/person or $300 for a table of 8. Click to Register.
You're Invited to Attend the District Installation
The Winston School Interact Club was on hand to support the Walk for Autism on Saturday, April 20, 2024 at Palo Alto College. The Interactors helped set up the VIP area and later participated in the Walk. The event attracted over 10, 000 participants. The Winston Interact Club has been supporting this Walk for over 12 years.
On Monday, April 29th the Jourdanton Interact Club met to elect new officers at Fairy Tale Books. Congratulations to President Laney Briones, Vice President Hailey Sralik, and Secretary/Treasurer Josiah Reyna.
Recently, I attended the Rotary Club of Hugo, Oklahoma. This club is located in southeast Oklahoma just north of Paris, Texas and is in Rotary District 5830.
May is not just another month on the calendar. It’s a month of significance, a time when the world comes together to raise awareness about an issue that often remains shrouded in silence: mental health. As we embark on Mental Health Awareness Month, it's crucial to acknowledge the significance of dismantling the stigma surrounding mental health and cultivating a culture steeped in understanding, empathy, and support.
Discover our latest PUBLIC IMAGE TOOL designed specifically for Clubs: Simplifying the Newsletter Creation Process with Club Runner. Crafting a Club Newsletter is a powerful way to engage members, ensuring they stay updated on upcoming events, programs, and your community contributions.
April started with a service project that included all our D5840 Interactors. While each club contributed to folding 20 cranes for our Cranes for Hope effort, the Interactors were tasked to help string all 1000 cranes. It was so great to see them work together as teams and collaborate with Interactors from other schools.
What was your most memorable Rotary service project? My favorite service project happened every year at my club in South Dakota. We bought bicycle helmets for all 2nd graders, and Rotarians custom fitted helmets to tiny heads, also providing assorted decals so kids could customize their helmets, and then did a lesson on bicycle safety. The goal was to reduce traumatic head injuries from bike accidents.
The Rotary Club of Kerrville did our quarterly trash pick up this last weekend. We had a great turnout of Rotarians and Rotaract students show up to help.
Who: San Antonio Airport Club and Human Trafficking Club members What: Rotarian Recognition Luncheon Where: Witte Museum, SA When: March 25, 2024 Why: Celebrate and recognize members with 20+ years in Rotary
The Rotary Club of Fredericksburg was the host for a Tri-Club "Spring Fling" mixer held on April 3 at the Western Edge restaurant in Fredericksburg. Approximately 120 members and guests from the three Clubs--Rotary Club of Fredericksburg, Rotary Club Fredericksburg Morning and Fredericksburg Rotary Club Nimitz attended the event.
On March 23rd, 2024, Rotary hosted an electrifying Bingo Night, uniting our community in a spirited evening of games and goodwill. Through the incredible generosity of our attendees and the dedication of our members, we triumphantly raised $6000 in support of local initiatives.
San Antonio Oaks Hills Rotary Club donated 171 socks towards the combined efforts with District 5840 during P.E.T.S. Club members provided the socks to PE Derek Matthys to help assemble bags for those in need.
Rotary Club of Fair Oaks Ranch is having it's 12th Annual Charity Golf Classic to be held on Monday, October 7, 2024, at the Fair Oaks Ranch Golf & Country Club, which recently hosted a PGA tour qualifier round of golf for the PGA Valero Texas Open. Sponsors are wanted!
Save the Date for Fair Oaks Ranch Upcoming Fundraiser
Fair Oaks Ranch Rotarians helped 237 families dispose of their sensitive documents at the communitywide Shred Day. Every ton of regenerated paper can save 17 trees!
We are thrilled to announce a wonderful partnership between Del Rio Rotary Club and Casa de Amor shelter in Acuña! Thanks to the generosity of our members, we were able to donate not one, but TWO commercial dryers to support the incredible work being done at Casa de Amor.
"Service above self.” Fellow Rotarians Gloria Wilson, Ruben Cantu, Lupita McDonald, and Pat Bowers, Wishing the residents of Rotary Village a very happy Easter! Let's celebrate this joyous occasion with love, laughter, and lots of chocolate eggs!
Saddle up, designers! It's time for the Rotary Independence Day Rodeo T-shirt Design Contest! Calling all artists and creative minds! Want to see your design showcased at the heart of our Independence Day Rodeo? Now's your chance!
Rotarian Cheryl Simmons & TJ Moore Lumberyard, donated building materials to the Rotary Club of Cd. Acuña for the Casa de Vision de Amor children’s shelter. These materials will be used to help them expand the shelter based on their need.
The Rotary Club of Kerrville hosted their annual First Responder Luncheon today, presenting members of local fire departments and law enforcement departments with special awards. Thank you to all first responders.
The Rotary Club of San Antonio enjoyed a beautiful night at Wolff Stadium watching Missions baseball. Nearly 100 Rotarians, family and friends filled the private party deck for a great evening of fun and fellowship
The Beeville Rotary Club has been actively promoting literacy through various initiatives. One of their successful projects is donating the "I Like Me Series" to kindergartens in the city, which has brought joy to many school children.
Fredericksburg-Nimitz Rotary President Debbi McCurdy (center) presents a check for $2,145 to Linday Closson representing FBG Mopco by MOPS, a local faith-based group for moms. The funds were raised at Texas Heritage Vineyards quarterly Bingo and Vino for a Cause event held in March.
The Nimitz Rotary will be having the 3rd Annual Charity Golf Tournament and Bunco Party on Monday, October 14th, 2024. This year’s tournament proceeds will go toward our continued support of local organizations such as Wounded Warriors at Nebo, The Golden Hub, The Grace Center, Meals for Vets, The Needs Council, The Food Pantry, Heart of the Hills, Hill Country SPCA, VFW, Gillespie County Honor Guard, FBG Jr. ROTC, FBG Police Law Enforcement Training and Mission de Candelilla’s Christmas Missions, to Mexico to name a few. The club is seeking sponsors and players.
The Rotary Club of Blanco County is sponsoring its annual Joe Garcia Memorial Golf Tournament on Monday, June 17th, at Blanco’s Vaaler Creek Golf Course.
The Rotary Club of Boerne and Boerne Sunrise sponsor the Fabra Elementary Early Act Club under the guidance of Rotarian Naomi Jendrusch. With the help of Kathy Webster, Certified Master Naturalist, approximately twenty Fabra students put native plants in 3 areas at their school this past month.
On Monday, April 8th the Jourdanton Interact Club met at Fairy Tale Books to donate items that were collected for “For God’s Children,” an international service project!
Jourdanton Interact Club International Service Project
Forty one Interactors and their sponsors responded to the call from the District Governor to string 1,000 origami cranes. At the start of her Rotary year, District Governor Monica challenged every Rotary club to fold 20 cranes as part of her wish to bring mental health awareness to our communities as part of our RI President’s goal for Mental Health.
The Beeville Rotary members continue their service project of helping the homeless with towels and toiletries. Club members are actively engaged in this "service above self" community outreach. Thank you, Nickelle, the Hilton Garden Inn, and Kenneth for your participation.
Time is ticking, but there's still an opportunity to showcase your creativity and win big in the Public Image Rotary Rockstar Challenge! With the deadline fast approaching on May 1st, it's essential to gear up and finalize your submissions. Don't let this chance slip away!
Registration is now open for the Saturday, May 11th Club Leadership Workshop at the UTSA Race Center, San Antonio 8:30AM-2PMPM. The cost is $30. This training is for all incoming executives for the Rotary Year 2024-2025. Click to Register.
You're invited to attend the District Installation Dinner on Wednesday, June 26th at the Old San Francisco Steakhouse, 10223 Sahara Drive, San Antonio, TX. The theme is Roaring Twenties. Cost $40/per person, $300 for table of 8. Click to register.
Registration Open for District Installation Dinner
What was your most memorable Rotary service project? Every year my club, North Central Rotary, deliveries ingredients for a full Thanksgiving Turkey dinner to families in our community. We purchase the food, bag the items for delivery, and deliver directly to the family’s homes. Seeing the appreciation and joy from the families is such a personal reward and knowing they will have a wonderful meal during their holiday.
On Monday, March 25th Rotarians from throughout District 5840 came together at the Witte Museum to celebrate members with 20+ Years of Membership. It was a full house! Highlight of the event was the celebration of members with 50+ Years of Rotary Service! These members were identified by blue sashes with 50 Years, as well as a special lapel pin and 50 Year tab.
Erica McFarland, District 5840 Global Education Grant Scholar, and Monica Gutierrez, District 5840 Governor, got to visit in Vancouver, Canada, where Erica is studying Maternal and Child Heath for a Masters degree. Monica was there for the RI North American Youth Conference in Vancouver. The is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Fair Oaks Ranch and the Rotary Club of Arbutus in Vancouver.
Every week, Fair Oaks Ranch Rotarians fill their vehicles with day-old bread that is donated by a local grocer. The members then deliver the food to the Hill Country Daily Bread Ministry, which then fills the bellies of Boerne area needy people.
The Rotary Club of Blanco County was a silver event sponsor of the First Annual Blanco Founder's Day held March 23. Rotarians supervised children's games and promoted the club by providing free bottled water and information on joining Rotary and the projects in Blanco County and beyond.
Pictured left to right are Rotarians Jerry Gass, Doug McKenzie, Tracy Barr (club President), Sidney Cox, Tom Jones, and Connie Cox.
Rotary Club of Blanco County Supports Blanco Founder's Day
Rotary eClub of San Antonio encouraged 1st grade students and their families with a POP Up Book Fair at Ed Franz Leadership Academy's "1st Graders Emphasis Night".
The Rotary Club of Blanco County celebrated its 5th year as a chartered club. Members enjoyed dinner and a cake celebration at the March 18 club meeting.
The Rotary Club of New Braunfels Scholarship Program received 77 applications, 68 four-year and 9 CTE, during the recent application period ending March 15th. As part of Rotary International's mission and vision, the Rotary Club of New Braunfels offers academic scholarships to graduating high school seniors in New Braunfels who are seeking a four-year degree, two year degree or certification, or a CTE education or certification.
Calling all you beer-lovin' do-gooder Rotary volunteer types out there! The 2024 Hill Country Craft Beer Festival hosted by the Rotary Club of New Braunfels is looking for Rotary volunteers to help raise money for Rotary scholarships and non-profits in our region.
Exchange Students begin their exchange year as Citizens of their respective Countries and end the year as Citizens of the World. It is a magical transformation to witness and of which to be part.
Rotary Grove at Schreiner University! Today, Schreiner planted 4 new Cedar Elms from Rotary Club of Kerrville at the end of Rotary Grove, 2 on each side of the river trail as you walk toward the creek.
International Women's Day was March 8, and our club celebrated by recognizing all the women members of our club at the meeting last Wednesday. There are thirty nine women in the Kerrville Noon Rotary Club, but it hasn't always been this way.
The Rotary Club of San Marcos sponsored a well attended Casino Night fundraiser on March 1. It was held at the Commemorative Airforce Museum at San Marcos Airport.
Pictured here are Ron Hubbard, Rotary Club of Fair Oaks Ranch president (right), Sally Yan, Rotary Global Education Grant Scholar Alumna (center), and Jane Burton, District 5840 Global Education Grants Chair. Sally was welcomed by the Rotary Club this past Wednesday. She is in her first year of medical school at UT Health in San Antonio.
Registration is now open for the Saturday, April 13th Club Leadership Workshop at the Brady National Bank in Brady 9AM-3:30PM. The cost is $30. This training is for all incoming executives for the Rotary Year 2024-2025. Click to Register.
Join your fellow Rotarians in a district-wide day of service on Saturday, March 23 at the McAllister Park in San Antonio. Scan the QR code above to register or click this link.
Another month has come and gone with only 4 months left of this Rotary year. My focus now is to help our clubs reach the goals they set at the beginning of the year. We are accountable for our own success. Clubs have done a great job this year and I would like each club to receive the recognition from Rotary International through the Rotary Citation.
What was your most memorable Rotary service project? Having been a Rotarian for over thirty years, I can think of many memorable service projects. However, the one I want to mention is my first service project back in the 1990’s as a member of the Rotary Club of Alamo Heights.
The Boerne High School Interact Club recently performed two community service projects. On Friday afternoon, February 23, the Interact Club assisted the librarians at the Boerne Public Library with counting puzzle pieces for the variety of puzzles children work at the library to make sure that each one was complete.
After two years of fundraising, the Fredericksburg-Nimitz Rotary's project of replacing the historic cross on Cross Mountain has come to a conclusion. The new cross replaces the one that has been there since before 1940 and was in various stages of deterioration.
Cheers to the Rotary Club of Fair Oaks Ranch for using their Superbowl Party to raise funds for Polio prevention! 40 members purchased a square in 2024 Super Bowl Pool, raising $2500 for Pints for Polio.
Librarians in Fair Oaks Ranch are beaming today after receiving grant money to purchase more library books. The Fair Oaks Ranch Rotary Club helped two local elementary schools promote literacy!
The Beeville Rotary Club starts an ongoing service project to help the local United Methodist Church with donations of used and new towels. The donations of towels and money to purchase towels will be used for the homeless in the Beeville community. The church provides showers and food to the homeless.
The Fredericksburg Morning Rotary Club recently donated $3,000 to the Fredericksburg High School Engineering Program. This group, comprised of senior students, is working to design and construct a rocket that will launch and reach 50,000 feet in the air. That rocket will be tested at White Sands, New Mexico this summer. These funds will help students to purchase necessary components for the construction of their rocket.
District 5840 was well represented by its eight exchange student, members of the District Committee and DG Monica, DGE Kristen and DGN Craig at the Winter Conference of South Central Rotary Youth Exchange in Tulsa, Oklahoma, January 26-28. Joining this group were students and district leaders from the other 36 member Districts of South Central Rotary Youth Exchange.
Join Fredericksburg Morning on June 1st, 2024 for the 19th Annual Fredericksburg Car Fest. Take a nostalgic journey down memory lane as you immerse yourself in the charm of a remarkable collection of classic automobiles, each expertly and lovingly restored to perfection.
After two years of fundraising projects Fredericksburg Nimitz rotary will be replacing the historic cross at Cross Mountain Park. Pictured is the removal of the old cross located at Cross Mountain Park.
The Rotary Club of Jourdanton enlists your help by having a day of golf at The Pleasanton Country Club on Sunday, April 7, 2024 so you can be a part of helping students further their education.
What happens when ten football loving do-gooder Rotarians get together and decide to raise some funds while having some fun and a little healthy competition? You naturally start a fantasy football league for charity.
The best and brightest young professionals of New Braunfels were honored recently at the Rising Stars of New Braunfels Awards and half of the ten member class of 2024 are members of the Rotary Club of New Braunfels. The award honors locals under the age 40 who excel in their careers and give back to the community.
On February 4, 2023, Pete Siegel, District 5840 International Fellowship of Scouting Rotarians Coordinator, presented Eagle Scout Caleb D. the IFSR Eagle Scout recognition certificate at his Court of Honor. Caleb is a member of San Antonio Troop 650 chartered with Concordia Lutheran Troop.
School Fuel in San Marcos provides a bag of food for school students who depend on school meals and need weekend and holiday food when school meals are not available. San Marcos Rotarians helped pack 1,000 bags on Thursday, February 1.
We begin the new calendar year with an opportunity to reflect on the last 6 months of the Rotary year and adjust as needed so we can continue to #CreateHopeInTheWorld. We look at what is working, what is not working, and what we can improve with the intent of making our Clubs vibrant.
What was your most memorable Rotary service project? There have been so many wonderful projects it's hard to just choose one. The two that stand out the most are playground equipment for special needs children at Rotary Park and our Splash Pad.
Join fellow Rotarians celebrating 20 or more years of active membership this 2023-2024 Rotary year at a special luncheon on March 25, 2024 11:30AM to 1:30PM at the Witte Museum - Dawson Family Hall, 3801 Broadway, San Antonio. Cost is $35. Click to Register.
Public image is the key to creating a lasting impact and attracting both members and community support. The Rotary Rockstar Challenge have been meticulously designed to empower Rotary Clubs to master the art of self-promotion through five engaging tasks.
This International Women's Day, March 8, 2024 let's come together to celebrate the incredible strength, resilience, and achievements of women worldwide! We invite all Rotarian women to participate in our special campaign by sharing a photo of themselves proudly wearing their Rotary shirts. Let's showcase the power and unity of women within the Rotary family!
What is your club doing to make February Special??? 1. How about challenging every member to bring a guest this month and then put those member's names in a drawing for a gift card or other prize?
Despite the cool and windy weather, several Beeville Rotary Club volunteers cleaned up trash along a heavily trafficked road in Beeville on Saturday morning, January 27th. Each time this service project is fun and worthwhile.
Frigid morning temperatures didn't stop the FOR Rotary Club from supporting the Fair Oaks Ranch Home Owners Association with a quarterly clean up of the highway and office area. A true "can do' attitude that we are known for!
Borrowing on their earlier success, the Rotary Club of Fair Oaks Ranch donated bags of socks for the homeless. In December, the club gave 791 pairs of socks.
Members from the Rotary Club of Boerne and the Boerne Sunrise Rotary Club made a presentation to the Boerne Independent School District Board (BISD) meeting on January 22, 2024. The presentation focused on the impact that Rotary has made in Boerne Schools and the community.
In the vibrant landscape of Rotary Club of Alamo Ranch’s activities, a heartwarming story unfolds, weaving together the worlds of technology and tradition, empathy, and action. Meet Richard Sullivan, a recent graduate of Texas State University and Software Engineer at Def-Logix, Inc., whose journey with the Rotary Club of Alamo Ranch showcases the profound impact one individual can make through a simple yet profound gesture.
The Rotary Club of New Braunfels recently held their second annual Making Spirits Bright holiday program, a community service project for underprivileged families living in New Braunfels.
The Beeville Rotary Club held the Second Annual Health & Wellness Fair on Friday, January 5th. The well-received event was free and open to the public.
In early January, I travelled to Northern California to visit my family and my brother surprised my nephews to see their favorite team, the San Francisco 49ers! While purchasing a couple of adult beverages, the Rotarians working the concession stand from Rotary Club of Cupertino recognized my Rotary Club of San Antonio hat and soon we were all friends! This was a service project for the club but raises revenue, as well.
The Rotary Club of San Marcos is sponsoring its annual Casino Night fundraiser on Friday, March 1, from 7-10 p.m. The event will be held at the Commemorative Airforce Museum at the San Marcos Airport. The Museum houses numerous flyable WWII aircraft and large museum.
There will be a Club Membership Chair Workshop on Tuesday, February 27th to discuss "all things" regarding club membership: Recruitment, Retention, Alumni, Rotaract, New Clubs (Rotary, Rotaract & Impact) and the District Membership Olympics! Click to Register.
Rotary International President-elect Stephanie Urchick revealed the 2024-2025 presidential theme, The Magic of Rotary, at International Assembly.
"We are not going to end polio or bring peace to the world by waving a wand. It's up to you. You create the magic with every project completed, every dollar donated, and every new member."
This month’s DG message will focus on Cranes for Hope. At the 2nd quarter President’s meeting in December, one of the club Presidents requested I share my story of why I’m asking clubs to fold 20 paper cranes as part of D5840 Cranes for Hope initiative for mental health.
What was your most memorable Rotary service project? My most memorable service project was in India. I participated in a Rotary Group Study Exchange (GSE) in December of 2012, and wasn't a Rotarian yet. However, being allowed to assist in distributing the polio vaccine directly to children had a lasting impact on me. It defined Rotary in a way many won’t ever experience.
The Rotary Club of Blanco County celebrated Christmas with a short meeting and a party at Stephen and Georgia Hartmann’s home on December 18. Members and their guests enjoyed delicious food and desserts and had a fun gift exchange.
The Beeville Rotary Club and Texian Books, a Rotarian-owned bookstore, hosted a Christmas reading time with children. Rotary club volunteers read Christmas stories to children as they arrived for their hot chocolate and visit with the Grinch.
The Rotary Club of San Antonio Oak Hills has donated 70 backpacks with school supplies in them to the Locke Hill Elementary School refugee (“new comer”)students yesterday.
Celebrating the Holiday at the annual Rotary Club of Fair Oaks Ranch Holiday party, but this year with a twist, as all the elves (members) donated a total of 791 pairs of socks that evening. These socks will keep the feet warm of the adults, children and babies departing San Antonio for their final destinations.
Atascosa County Rotary Clubs (Jourdanton, Pleasanton, and Poteet) from District 5840 gathered together on 12/14/23 at the Pleasanton Lions Club building for our annual Christmas party. (BIG thank you to the Pleasanton Lions Club for helping us out with the event!!) It was Jourdanton’s year to host, and we had Chile Bandera cater a fabulous turkey dinner with all the fixings.
Blessed Angels Community Center is an emergency food pantry located on the northeast side of San Antonio. The mission of Blessed Angels is to fight hunger in San Antonio and surrounding communities through healthy and nutritional food distribution. Blessed Angels does this with their volunteers and their fleet of four vehicles.
It's mid December and almost the 6 month mark for our Rotary 2023-2024 year! This is the time for Club Membership Chairs and Presidents to review their rosters and ensure that they are accurate.
On Saturday, December 9, Pearl Rotarians joined Mark Wittig serve lunch to the residents of Towne Twin Village, located in San Antonio's Eastside. Donated items were tacos, cookies, rolls, and soft drinks/water.
Canyon Lake Rotary invites everyone to its 15th annual “Romantic Rendezvous” Dinner and Dance on Saturday, February 10, 2024, at the New Braunfels Civic Center. All can have fun taking chances to win with opportunities available in the form of silent auctions, raffles, drawings, and live auctions.
Fair Oaks Ranch Rotarians gave their time, talents and treasures to bring Christmas joy to the community. Rotarian Garry Manitzas served as Santa, taking present requests and hundreds of photos. Along with the HOA, Rotarians also played Reindeer Games and did Arts-And-Crafts with about 200 local children.
We are thrilled to inform you about an exciting event that promises to be both enriching and enjoyable—the upcoming District Conference Celebration Cruise, set to sail from May 2nd to May 6th.
Construction has commenced on a new eight classroom school with potable water and electricity! A field was acquired nearby for a Sports Program. You may think this is somewhat basic and certainly not up to American standards, but this school is not in America…it is in Nigeria, in a small village called Wassa, a village in the Federal Capital Territory.
October ended with a More Delightful than Frightful District Service Project at Morgan’s Wonderland where we had at least 13 Rotary Clubs, 2 Interact Clubs, and 1 Rotaract Club all participating in distributing candy. I’d like to thank these clubs for spending their Halloween providing fellowship and service while bringing joy to the children of our San Antonio Community.
What was your most memorable Rotary service project? A project called Merry Sockmas. Our Rotary club partnered with a local ministry to collect socks so that they could be distributed to the homeless. The origin of this project started with one of our charter members who always wore interesting socks. From that we started collecting socks for the ministry to distribute to the homeless
Recently the director of the Eye Bank of Aguascalientes, Ricardo Magdaleno, provided an update on the eye bank supported by the Boerne Sunrise Rotary Club and other clubs in our district. He also recognized the efforts of Don Jones and Robert Cisneros for their continued support of this wonderful Rotary project.
There will be a Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) on Saturday, January 13th, 2024 from 8:30AM to 4:30PM at the Spring Creek United Methodist Church, 28970 Old Fredericksburg Rd, Fair Oaks, TX 78015. Classes will begin at 9AM. The institute is $50 and is open to all Rotarians. Click to Register.
We are thrilled to share some exciting news of some new public image resources for Clubs to help with their content strategy for social media/newsletter: Rotary Branded Canva Templates - Member Spotlight, Membership Rack Card, Rotary Birthday, Guest Speaker and Rotary Monthly Theme Graphics.
In the spirit of fellowship and a shared commitment to service, the Rotary Bi-District Conference for District 5840 South Central Texas and District 4110 Mexico emerged as a beacon of collaboration and friendship. Despite facing unprecedented challenges, including the cancellation of the inaugural conference in 2020 due to the global pandemic, the Rotary members persevered, and in a triumphant moment, finally convened to turn their dreams into reality.
Rotary eClub of San Antonio presents "Excellence in Motion" as they gave out TRICK or Read Books and Healthy snack to children at the Ed Franz Leadership Academy Fall Festival.
The Rotary Club of San Antonio Oak Hills was up to the DG’s challenge of making Senbazuru (1000 origami cranes). Its purpose is to create more hope and awareness of Mental Health in our community
The Rotary Club of Fair Oaks Ranch joined several Kendall County organizations to fry turkeys, then package them for delivery or pick up. Their donation of time and talents provided Thanksgiving meals to the needy in Boerne and surrounding areas.
The Rotary Club of Fair Oaks Ranch came out in force to help the Hill Country Daily Break of Boerne gear up for their Thanksgiving feed. Members brought their strong backs (and smiles) to pack thousands of bags of canned food for the needy.
The Rotary Club of Blanco County (RCBC) recently presented a check for $1700 to the Blanco Fire and EMS Auxiliary President, Caroline Richardson. The funds will be used by the Fire and EMS organizations for essential equipment, such as equipping the newest fire fighting vehicle, Tender 82, and purchasing various medical equipment, all to better serve the Blanco community.
Mike Arnold, member of the Blanco County Rotary Club, visited Rotary clubs in Distict 9125 in Nigeria during the month of November. Mike is founder of Africa Arise and has built a school in the New Kuchingoro IDP camp.
This past October The Rotary Club of Boerne, under the leadership of Robert Cisneros and joined by several other Rotary Clubs, proudly presented a check to support the Eye Bank of Aguascalientes in Mexico. The Aguascalientes State Governor, Secretary of Health, Mayor, and other local dignitaries were in attendance.
Nimitz Rotary and Wildseed Farms Vineyard held a Bunco/Poker and Vino for a Cause event at Wildseed Farms Vineyard tasting room to raise money for Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child. This project sends boxes of gifts to underprivileged children around the world spreading the educating them on the teachings of God.
Nimitz Rotary held a Diaper Drive on Halloween Night at Western Edge Kitchen and Cocktails to raise money and provide diapers to Heart of the Hills/Mom Center of Gillespie County. Club Treasurer Deb Bowen presents a check for $1,200 along with some diapers to Nicole Davis, CEO of Heart of the Hills and Nancy King, Director of Operations.
Rotary Club of San Antonio Pearl members, fellow Rotarians, and other amazing volunteers fed the needy with Under the Bridge, Inc. on October 29. This service project included Holly Weems Croom - President / Alamo Heights Rotary Club, Dan Hernandez / Northeast Rotary Club, Endeavors/Rotary Club of Puerto Rico, Alamo Commandery No 7, Capital City Assembly No 247 OGC, National Elite Little Miss Texas Brooklyn Gentry, HPC Dedra Rahim/2nd Lt Commandress, Moussa Court No 119 DOI.
The 12th Annual District Interact Conference was a huge success! Eighty nine Interactors from nine Interact clubs attended the event on November 11, 2023 at the Winston School San Antonio.
Rotary Club of Kerrville had another successful Veterans Appreciation breakfast. We had over 90 Veterans attend, 27 Rotarian's that attend/volunteered and the Tivy High School ROTC.
In the heart of a rainy evening, the Rotary Club of Alamo Ranch demonstrated that even the weather couldn't dampen their spirits for service. Gathering at the Texas Diaper Bank, our dedicated members embarked on a mission to make a tangible impact in the lives of families in need.
A group of Rotarians, friends and family members joined together on Saturday October 27th to participate in Out of the Darkness Walk. They raised money to support and to help bring awareness about suicide prevention.
We have received the final report from RI showing results of our World Polio Day Challenge on October 24, 2023. Together, we raised $9,125 to help eradicate Polio! D5840 had a record day of giving for our PolioPlus Fund and that was all because of you. THANK YOU for your commitment to Create Hope in the World.
Hot off the press the New "Training Tab" located on the District 5840 Website was just added! Featured in today's article is the new Learning Center page offered on the Training Tab.
As a Rotarian, you have the ability to help make someone’s graduate education a reality. How, you ask? By identifying a person to apply for a Rotary District 5840 Global Education Grant.
This month’s DG message continues to focus on DG visits, but we also had a very successful month supporting our End Polio Now efforts. World Polio Day was on October 24th and we celebrated this month with several club events that not only brought awareness that Polio still exists but also how we as D5840 are doing our part to raise funds to close the gap and eradicate Polio.
What was your most memorable Rotary service project? Every December for the past twenty years my Club (Boerne Sunrise Rotary Club) with support from The Winston School San Antonio hosts a Christmas party at the Shady Rest Mobile Park in Boerne. Families are treated to a breakfast, on average 85 children are presented with gifts, and each family is given a smoked turkey dinner. This event was started by Rotarians Don Jones, Jim Johnstone, and me.
Mark your calendars for November 14th, at 6PM on Zoom as we're bringing you a valuable Social Media Best Practices Seminar! In the era of digital communication, managing your club's online image is crucial. Our seminar will provide you with the knowledge and tools necessary to enhance your online reputation, effectively engage with your community, and build a positive public image. Click to Register.
Public Image Seminar - Social Media Best Practices
The San Angelo Rotary Club presented its 34th Annual Shrimpfest on October 14th. The event raised money for the Concho Valley Regional Food Bank's children's hunger initiatives including its Food 2 Kids weekend backpack food program. The event included all-you-can-eat shrimp and sausage, music, and a cornhole tournament. Stay tuned to the newsletter next month for our announcement on how much we netted. Service above self!
These 4 Rotary Clubs in San Antonio joined together at ALAMO BEER to raise funds to eradicate POLIO. Much fun, laughter, prizes, rotary trivia, and fellowship was had by all. ROTARY - SERVICE ABOVE SELF.
The Rotary Club of San Antonio Oak Hills celebrates its 46th year! Chartered on October 27, 1977. We continue to build on our foundation of “Service Above Self”. We honor those Rotarians that have gone before us and we continue to “Build Goodwill and Better Friendships”.
While on vacation in Ireland Leta Garcia and Connie Cox, Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Blanco County, visited the Rotary Club of Wicklow. The members from the two clubs exchanged ideas and details of their service projects. Leta and Connie found everyone very friendly and enjoyed a delicious Irish lunch.
Two Blanco Rotarians Visit Rotary Club of Wicklow, Ireland
Robert “Bobby” Martinez from the Rotary Club of Poteet was selected to serve as District Governor for the Rotary year 2026-2027. Bobby has been married for 27 years and has 3 children and 2 grandchildren.
Craig Hardy from the Rotary Club of San Antonio North Central was selected to serve as District Governor for the Rotary year 2025-2026. Craig is owner and President of a consulting company and has been in Rotary for 36 years.
Congrats also to Darron Bergstrom for being awarded his Paul Harris plus 1 Award. Darron is the treasurer of the Rotary Club of Boerne and has a long history in Rotary as the Treasurer and past Club President of the Rotary Club of Corpus Christi.
Rotary Club of San Antonio Northwest and The Rotary Club of Antigua, Guatemala working together donated computers to set up a new computer classroom at a new Guatemalan elementary school in the small community of El Hato. Members of school, The Antigua Club and Rotary District 4250 Assistant Area Governor attended the presentation.
October 30 through November 5 is World Interact Week. Rotary Clubs that sponsor Interact clubs should find ways to connect. Do a project together, invite them to a Rotary meeting or encourage them to attend the District Interact Conference, Nov. 11. One Rotary club has already made a significant contribution to their Interact club so that those members can attend. The cost to attend the conference is $20 for students. Rotarians can attend at no cost, HOWEVER, if they want to have lunch they have to pay $10.
Short term exchange student Alisha from Fredericksburg (left) and her host sibling Patrizia (right) kick up their heels and jump for joy during Alisha's month long visit to Italy. At the conclusion of that visit Patrizia returned with Alisha to Fredericksburg for a month long visit to the US. Check out the Youth Exchange section of the District 5840 website for more information about Short Term and Long Term exchanges. Rotary Exchange is truly a life changing, once in a lifetime experience.
On Saturday, October 14, approximately 150 San Marcos residents gathered at First Lutheran Church to package 15,000 meals, each of which will serve 6 people.
The Club's 2nd Annual Charity Golf Tournament was a great success again this year raising almost $50,000 toward our goal of replacing the deteriorating historic cross at Cross Mountain Park in Fredericksburg.
Fredericksburg Nimitz Rotary president Debbi McCurdy along with Texas Heritage Vineyard owner Susan Johnson present Andrew Davis, Executive Director of the Hill Country SPCA a check for $2,200.
On Saturday October 7 at 8:00 in the morning, over 15 volunteers, many of them high school students showed up for the San Antonio Northwest Adopt a Highway quarterly event on Military Highway. We collected over 7 full bags of trash in the two mile clean up area. Rotarian Don Yeaton spearheaded the event.
Youth Join San Antonio Northwest to Clean Military Highway
On Friday, October 13th the Rotary Club of Jourdanton held their annual Homecoming Pre-Game Dinner to benefit the Jourdanton Community Scholarship Fund!
The Jourdanton Interact Club met on October 2nd at the Jourdanton Senior Center to discuss "Painting the Town Red" for the Jourdanton Homecoming and fundraising ideas.
The Alamo Heights Rotary Club will present its 36th Annual Alamo Heights Night® (AHN) on April 19, 2024, on the University of the Incarnate Word campus. The event is an official San Antonio Fiesta® Commission event.
I begin this month’s DG message celebrating Hispanic Heritage month. Being that I am the first Hispanic District Governor for D5840 I’m excited to share my culture throughout this Rotary year #CincoDeRotary5840.
Three times a year, Beeville Rotary Club members clean up a very busy thoroughfare in Beeville. Here is the current group of Rotary volunteers, including two Interact students from AC Jones High School, performing service above self.
What was your most memorable Rotary service project? "Under the bridge" is one of my favorite service projects. "Under the bridge" is a non-profit run by our club member at the Pearl, Johnathan Holler, and his parents. Every Sunday they feed Homeless people. It takes a lot of time and team effort coordinating everyone.
Every year, Rotary members around the world mobilize for World Polio Day. We raise awareness of polio and gather support for our global effort to make sure that every child is protected from it. By staying tenacious, hopeful, and committed, we will make history by making polio the second human disease ever to be eradicated.
Around 3% of the children in San Antonio do not have a bed to sleep in, most sleep on the floor or share a small space with sibling. Only 3% equates to over 70,000 children.
The Rotary Club de Ciudad Acuña recently had their Crayola Project and delivered school supplies to several schools in Mexico. Thank you to the Del Rio Rotary Club, Abner Martinez and Elizabeth Elizalde Calderon for their donations of backpacks with supplies.
The Fair Oaks Ranch Rotary Club helped 227 neighbors unload their household hazardous waste materials on a Saturday morning in late September. Due to these efforts, toxins like pesticides, bleach, CFL Light Bulbs are are NOT in the landfill today. Collected items are recycled or incinerated.
Mike Coplan, Del Rio Rotary Club President and Miguel Flores helped organize clothes and shoes donated by the Del Rio Rotary Club and Fellow Rotarians for children rescued from human trafficking.
Ms. Janina Villareal volunteered to come and help us make origami cranes. District Governor Monica Gutierrez would like to bring Mental Health Awareness by making paper cranes. At our last meeting, Ms. Janina Villarreal taught us how to do these origami cranes. We had a lot of fun!
Inbound students to District 5840 all arrived safely and gathered in New Braunfels the weekend of August 25-27 to share in fun, fellowship and learning at the District Sponsored Inbound Orientation.
Do you have the winning ticket? The Rotary Club of San Antonio Oak Hills is raffling off $10,000 in Gold and other prizes. Tickets are on sale and only 350 are sold.
This week several Rotary Clubs were involved in helping raise money for Love Kendall County Kids. Rotarians from Rotary Club of Boerne, Fair Oaks Rotary Club, Dominion Rotary Club of San Antonio and the Rotary Club to Combat Human Trafficking worked together as a great example of “Service Above Self” as they raised funds at the Karnival 4 Kids.
On September 21, 2023, several Pleasanton Rotary members assisted “Jayme’s Ranch”, a special needs organization who was hosting a dance in Pleasanton, Texas. The Pleasanton Rotary Club had a great showing of members who helped serve the meal, refill lemonade glasses and clear tables for the guests.
On Tuesday, September 19th members of the Jourdanton Rotary Club delivered copies of the United States Constitution to eighth grade students and dictionaries to third graders of Jourdanton ISD.
Jourdanton Rotary Delivers Dictionaries and Constitutions to Jourdanton ISD
We are excited to announce the rollout of the Membership Olympic Games - a fantastic opportunity for your club to not only strengthen your bond with existing members but also attract new ones!
San Marcos Rotary needs 150 volunteers and some donors for our Saturday, October 14 9-12 Rise Against Hunger event to package 15,000 meals (each feeding 6 people) to be sent to a famine stricken place in the world. We are also trying to raise donations for the Hays County Food Bank and School Fuel. Donations for local food programs can be mailed to Rotary Club of San Marcos, PO Box 581, San Marcos TX 78667 https://rah.my.salesforce-sites.com/events/homepage?id=7013Z000002L5teQAC
The Rotary Club of Blanco County helps folks in the community keep their brains in shape by offering a monthly brain fitness event at the Community Resource Center (CRC) in Johnson City.
Eddie Amezcua Jr. Assistant District Governor visiting the Eagle Pass Rotary Club with Gloria Wilson International service Chair for District 5840 Kathryn Kluge President with her dedicated service above Self members.
The Pandemic had us all stuck inside and many without adequate air conditioning. 2023 found South Central Texas sweltering in a triple digit heat wave.Many recent studies have found indoor air contaminated with dustmites, bacteria, pet dander and even viruses and mold spores.
Del Rio Rotary Club was one of the first Organization on board in helping the City of Del Rio by contributing $30,500 in 2014. The Feild of Dreams project started in 2013 and 10 years later was the ribbon cutting.
Gabriela Trevino having completed her undergraduate degree at Brown University was sponsored by San Antonio North Central Rotary Club to become the Districts Global Grant Scholar for 23-2024. Even after being selected and before flying to her host Rotary Club of Edmondson, she has been a great help in all North Central's Service projects. She will be studying Public Policy in Education at Kings College in London. We couldn't let her leave the States before celebrating her and her Dad at our PoPo Tratorria Monday evening meeting.
Members of the Club Rotario Empresarial Acuna as well as Cd. Acuña Rotary Club of their Project Croqueton Del Rio Rotary Club raised over $100.00 for donations. Pictured are President, Oscar Navarrette & fellow Rotarians Steve Wilson at the pet supply project. As well other Rotarians who volunteered.
Crossing Boundaries Donations or Pet Shelters in Acuna
Tickets are now available for the Oak Hill's Annual Gold Raffle Fundraiser! Only 350 tickets are sold! Need not be present to win. Click to buy tickets.
August started with some great news from our Rotary Regional Membership Chair Alex Johnson. He informed me that D5840 was the only District in Zone 25B to have ended the RY22-23 with a gain in membership. This is the result of an outstanding effort from our District Membership Team last year that I know will continue this year.
What was your most memorable Rotary service project? The first project I was involved in was Snack Packs For Kids at Cambridge. It opened my eyes to the amount of children that can go hungry even in an affluent community. This tore at my heart, from packing the bags to delivering them in the mornings!
Volunteers needed for Oct. 31, 2023 at Morgan's Wonderland! Click to sign-up. Also, if a club would like to volunteer to run an entire table, please email volunteers@morganswonderland.com directly for assignment. Monetary and Candy donation are still very welcome and needed!
District Membership Co-Chair (now District Governor Elect), Kristen Salazar, visited five clubs in District 5840 over the last two months to bring a special delivery. These five clubs participated in the Membership Madness Challenge last Rotary Year and met the requirements to receive a customized banner for their Club purchased by District 5840.
Club Rotario Empresarial Acuna (Mexico) invited the Del Rio Rotary Club to help them feed stray dogs and cats who are living on the streets in Acuna. Many Del Rio Rotarians donated dog and cat food for this worthy cause.
Does Your Rotary Club Need a Boost? Ask yourself the following questions: Is your Rotary Club seeking more members? Would you like to involve the club in more service projects? Are you looking to diversify your membership base? If you've answered "YES" to any of these questions, it's time you considered the creation of a Service Companion Club.
World Polio Day, 24 October, is right around the corner. Help us keep up the momentum on our top priority of ending polio by planning an event in your community and by continuing to raise funds for PolioPlus. Every dollar raised will be matched 2 to 1 up to $150 million. Click here for resources.
Join the Alamo Heights Rotary Club at the OUT OF THE DARKNESS WALK on Saturday, October 28 at the Nelson Wolff Stadium, San Antonio, TX. They are walking to raise awareness and protect mental health and lives. To register or donate.
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, providing us with the opportunity to learn about and recognize risk factors and warning signs of suicide, support and refer those that struggle and save lives.
District 5840 Clubs welcome eight inbound students who began arriving in Texas on August 2. They are Mariana from Brazil hosted by Beeville, Loraine from France hosted by Boerne, Nora from Germany hosted by Fredericksburg Morning, Oscar from Spain hosted by New Braunfels, Ruby from Taiwan hosted by New Braunfels Downtown, Edoardo from Italy hosted by Pleasanton, Paul from Belgium hosted by San Marcos and Kellie from Sweden hosted by Seguin.
The Rotary Club of San Antonio – Club 52 – founded in 1912 has a new and permanent home at the newly completed Dawson Family Hall within the historic Witte Museum (1926) in near downtown San Antonio. In perhaps a first for a large Club (~400), our Club now has a permanent weekly home for its meetings.
Tri-County Rotary Club Presidents’ Meeting with Rotary District 5840 Assistant Governor. Met on 8-14-23 at Chile Bandera in Jourdanton to discuss goals and successes!
Nimitz Rotary is holding their 2nd Annual Charity Golf Tournament. Funds raised will be used for improvements at historic Cross Mountain Park, including replacement of the existing, deteriorating, cross. Simultaneous with the golf tournament will be a Bunco Party held in the clubhouse of Lady Bird Golf Course.
The new Assistant Governor Yvonne Valdez received a warm Fair Oak Ranch Welcome! Valdez met with experienced and new Rotarians at the Fair Oaks Ranch Country Club. Pictured are Past President Greg Buschmann, New Member Josie Juarez, Asst. Governor Valdez and Current President Ron Hubbard.
"Del Rio Cravola Club Project" Fellow Rotarians Rey Sanchez, Diana Barrientos and Gregorio Arrambide, with the help of volunteers, speperated school supplies for each elementary campus in Del Rio. Other volunteers Nathan Villarreal, Abel Lopez and Schuyler Burdett.
The Rotary Club of Fair Oaks Ranch help Boerne Parents get their kids ready for the upcoming school year recently. At the "Resource Rally", dozens of Rotarians guided Parents and Students to the right places to register, get immunization, sign up for free/reduced school meals and even receive free school supplies! Boerne ISD students are now off to a great start to the school year!
The Del Rio Parks Foundation gave a donation of $757.00 towards the Rotary Club Pocket Park. Present was Carin Cruz, President, Alyssa Rodriguez, and Ken Hays. The Leadership Del Rio donated an additional $3,770.00 for Rotary Pocket Park. Donations were received from Juan C Vasquez, Pct 2 County Commissioner, Legacy Bail Bonds, BWR, TCB, Julio’s, Kayla Lopez- Rodriguez, Jesse and Alma Garcia, AM Customz, Dina Dixon, Dr. Cesar & Doena Faz, Riley Pratt Insurance, Cadena Family Practice, Bank and Trust, Val Verde Title, The Nail Studio & The Good Bar.
Fellow Rotarians Norma Garza, Belinda Rodriguez and and Racheal Beaven did an awesome job shopping for new clothes for girls staying at the women's shelter. I was fun not just for the lady's but Chris Ryan and Rachels husband Ray enjoyed helping. Big round of applause, as these people take "ServiceAbove Self" to the next level.
The Canyon Lake Rotary Club was the first to bestow the requested 20 origami cranes to DG Monica Gutierrez at the club's installation dinner on June 22. Two crane trees were used as decorations for the banquet to the delight of the DG. Gutierrez had the honor of installing the club's officers for the new Rotary year as well as presenting Paul Harris Fellow pins of varying achievement to six club members. Club PE Tim Fredrickson was the newest club member to join the PHF ranks.
As a part of the Canyon Lake Rotary Club scholarship program, students in the four-year award program have to visit the club each summer to give a report on their progress during the year, their work history and major milestones. Kenzie Sayles was the last of eight scholars to visit this summer and delightfully showed off her $2,000 check for the fall semester. Each scholar receives a check each semester for four years. From left: President Maureen Schein, Kenzie Sayles and Scholarship/Youth Committee Chair Jean Whileyman.
August 9, 2023 was a tragic day for our Rotarians, families and friends on the Island of Maui. The fires across the island have changed lives forever. Truly devastating. Our sympathy, thoughts and prayers are with everyone impacted.
As people of action, we can take immediate action. As we come together to recover and rebuild, we need to support each other. Rotary District 5000 Foundation has created a special relief fund for the victims. Click here to donate.
Monday evening, August 7, was Meet the Teacher night at Boerne Fabra Elementary School. Fabra will be resurrecting the Early Act Program with the help of the Boerne Sunrise Rotary Club (Tuesday mornings) and the Boerne Noon Rotary Club (Friday lunch). When approached, Principal Troy Latiolais was more than happy to support the new club. Early Act is a school wide program that will allow students from all ages 5 (kindergarten) to 11 years old (5th grade) to participate.
Members of Rotary Club of Alamo Ranch gathered at member's home for fellowship and a backpack stuffing service project. They raised money and collected donations for their annual school supply drive for students from low-income families. They raised a total of 47 backpacks filled with school supplies which beat their record of 32 backpacks last year!
On June 30th San Antonio Sunrise Rotary presented a Paul Harris Fellowship award to Tracey Alaniz. The club has a strong tradition of supporting the Paul Harris foundation and is now a 100% Paul Harris club.
On Saturday July 29, Rotary Club of San Antonio members and friends gathered on the campus of Haven for Hope, for their monthly volunteer service-day project. Approximately 40 volunteers came together to beautify the entrance to the campus by painting light poles, walls and handrails.
You're invited to the Annual Rotary Club of San Antonio Pearl Golf Tournament on September 15th at historic Brackenridge Park Golf Course, located minutes from the historic Pearl Brewery district. Lunch will be provided as we golf for a cause! Click to Register.
With the first month into the new Rotary year already gone, I must admit it went by faster than I anticipated. It started by planning a few joint club District Governor visits and attending a club Board meeting via Zoom.
What was your most memorable Rotary service project? My most memorable Service Project was the Guatemala Project helping a friend from Guatemala collect shoes for the children. Guatemala had experienced a very painful and dramatic disaster when a volcano named “Volcan de Fuego” erupted and the families lost everything.
We are excited to announce the rollout of our new ROTARY ROCKSTAR CHALLENGE! The Rotary Rockstar Challenge was designed to help Clubs increase their public image skill set. The more you promote your Club, the better the odds are at increasing your membership. It is a win-win all around!
Each level game introduces you to tools and resources to promote your Club to your members, around the District, your community and Rotary International
Rotary has long been involved in mental health and wellness initiatives. Our culture of Service Above Self builds community and promotes acts of kindness, two proven methods to build and maintain mental wellness.
Past District Governor Kathy Hubbard swears in her husband, Ron Hubbard, at the Annual Installation Dinner. Mrs. Hubbard was also the first President of the Fair Oaks Ranch Club when it was chartered in 2012. Ron and Kathy share a deep commitment of doing good in the world!
When the Home Owners Association of Fair Oaks Ranch wanted to spread Patriotism with a patriotic Golf Cart Parade on July 4th, they looked no further than the Fair Oaks Ranch Rotary Club for Volunteers! Our members provided traffic control, Emcee services, even participation in the "Best Decorated" contest... proving Rotarians are leaders and servants in our community.
The Rotary Club of San Antonio South members laid sod with new homeowners, Saturday, July 22, at a new Habitat for Humanity home. We are excited for our forever home to be complete in August, said the couple. The house will shelter a family of five when complete. It was hot and hard work, but rewarding, said the Rotary members.
There will be a Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) on Saturday, September 16th, 2023 from 8:30AM to 4:30PM at the Spring Creek United Methodist Church, 28970 Old Fredericksburg Rd, Fair Oaks, TX 78015. Classes will begin at 9AM. The institute is $50 and is open to all Rotarians. Click to Register.
Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, and Optimist clubs will cooperate in community service projects the week of September 11th – 17th. Plan now for your Rotary and Rotaract clubs to build on existing relationships with other like-minded services or develop new ones to impact your communities.
The five long term inbound students to D5840 during the 2022-23 exchange year have all safely returned home after completion of their 11 month exchanges to Fredericksburg, Boerne, New Braunfels (x2) and Seguin.
This past month the Canyon Lake Club met at La Cosecha Mexican Restaurant to celebrate its past year's efforts and welcome new Officers. District Govenor Monica Gutierrez was our honored speaker who not only presented awards recognizing recent Paul Harris recipients but in a separate ceremony, charged our new Officers with their duties.
Fredericksburg-Nimitz Rotary sold breakfast tacos during the Kiddie Parade on 4th of July and hot dogs and sausage wraps during and after the regular 4th of July parade. It was a great turnout and everything sold out.
Nimitz Rotary and Texas Heritage Vineyard teamed up to raise money for the JROTC program at Fredericksburg High School. Texas Heritage had their quarterly VIno and Bingo for a Cause event and Nimitz Rotary provided food by donation along with a raffle for some great gift baskets. All proceeds from the bingo, food and raffle went to the JROTC. A check for $2,500 was presented to Devin Mullen from the JROTC. Pictured are Deb Bowen, Susan Johnson (THV owner) Devin Mullen, Jimmy Culp and Ralph Bowen.
On Sunday, July 9, 2023, the Rotary Club of San Antonio Pearl handed out food, including plates of lasagna and salad, as well as essentials, such as feminine hygiene products and other toiletries. On San Antonio’s Near West Side, the lunch benefitted about 168 individuals in need (and 2 pets), and was coordinated by Under The Bridge, Inc., a local nonprofit that has served San Antonio’s most vulnerable populations a warm meal every Sunday since 1988.
Nimitz Rotary is having their 2nd Annual Charity Golf Tournament at Lady Bird Golf Course on October 9th, 2023. Funds raised are earmarked toward their major project of replacing the historic cross at Cross Mountain Park. There will also be a Bunco Party held in the clubhouse on the same day. Sign up can be done online at fbg-nimitzrotary.org or by contacting Mike Strolle at mstrolle@ymail.com. Seeking sponsors and players.
The Winston School Interact Club attended the Christmas in July Festival in Uvalde, Texas on Saturday, July 8, 2023. This event was started last year to help the Uvalde community following the Robb Elementary tragedy. The focus of the event is to promote health and well-being. The Interact Club helped the Texas Diaper Bank pass out diapers.
Recently the Rotary Club of Boerne (Noontime) celebrated 50 years of service to the Boerne Community. The Ribbon Cutting Celebration was hosted by Frost Bank and the Boerne Chamber of Commerce and was held at Frost Bank with over 150 people joining in the event.
The start of a new Rotary year is always exciting. We take this time to recognize all the accomplishments for the past year and set forth goals for the next year. Although we change District and Club leaders every year, the focus remains the same - Service Above Self.
We want to CONGRATULATE all the winners of the 2022-2023 Rotary Rockstar Challenge! At District Conference on May 6th certificates were handed out to the winners however did not have time to hold the raffle for the cash prizes.
On June 27th, at their regular scheduled meeting, the Kenedy Rotary Club presented the prestigious Rotarian of the Year Award to their outgoing Secretary, Janet Martin.
Help support the Stone Oak Rotary Club GOLF BALL DROP FUNDRAISER on July 31st! Buy a golf ball(s) that will be dropped by helicopter at the Sonterra Country Club ... ball closest to the hole wins a prize! Use the QR code to buy your golf balls!
The Rotary eClub of San Antonio have dedicated their community service efforts through investment in education and nutrition. Our Literacy Projects are student driven to increase family literacy and health from crib to 6th grade.
Has your Club completed a project and left behind a Rotary Wheel? Or a Plaque? The District is building a Google Map with Rotary Landmarks from across the District!
The four Rotary clubs of Fair Oaks Ranch, Dominion, Boerne Noon, and Combat Human Trafficking, recently came together to build a much needed play / relaxation area at the Retreat 4 Kids sanctuary. Proving once again, that a "Rotary team" is a powerful force with unlimited capabilities.
Rotary International's newest Focus Area > Save the Environment, was definitely on the minds of the Fair Oaks Ranch Rotarians as they volunteered their time and efforts to conduct a highly successful Shred Day in the city of Fair Oaks Ranch. Over 200 households were able to eliminate potential ground waste by delivering items to be shredded instead of dumped in fill sites.
Fredericksburg Nimitz Rotary held a food drive for Hill Country Needs Council's Food 4 Kids program which addresses weekend hunger in children who school personnel identify as “undernourished”.
Fundraising efforts netted $1,500 for the Meals for Vets program. A check was presented to Hollie Baker and Melinda Froess from Meals for Vets. The organization in turn presented our club with a plaque of appreciation for our fundraising efforts that we have done for their organization.
Nimitz Rotary in partnership with Texas Heritage Vineyard held a Vino and Bingo for a cause event at Texas Heritage Vineyard's tasting room on June 8th.
Fredericksburg-Nimitz Rotary is having their 2nd Annual Charity Golf Tournament and Bunco Party on October 9, 2023 at Lady Bird Golf Course in Fredericksburg.
Come help us raise money for a splash pad. Buy your ticket to save your seat. With each game being $3 a game when you buy the presale ticket. You have a chance to win up to $ 3,000. 1-4 & 6-9 games are a winning of $200 each, 5th game $400 payout, 10th game is $1,000 payout.
Under the expert guidance of Lane Mitchell of the Rotary Club of San Antonio, San Antonio Northeast Rotarians Dan Hernandez and Dan Clark installed safety signs in the parking areas of Madison High School on June 7, 2023.
The Wimberley Rotarians (and future Rotations) prepared supply bags for the homeless in our community. Each bag had basic toiletries, socks and a tee shirt, tissues, non-perishable food, and a recycled Rotary magazine. Some of these bags went to the Crisis Breadbasket center in town, and others will go to homeless shelters.
It has been an honor and pleasure serving with you in Rotary this year. Thank you so much for all you do as Rotarians in our community, national and around the world. As we wind down this Rotary year, we have exceeded our goal on Foundation Giving and Polio plus in the district.
The Rotary Club of San Marcos fundraising watermelons are on their way north from South Texas. Proceeds will help fund fall food service projects. They will be sold at farmers markets and roadside stands.
The District Public Image Team has created some new PUBLIC IMAGE TOOLS for Clubs! These tools are located on the PR Resources For Clubs Page. 1. Canva Tool Kit - step-by-step instructions on how to create a tool kit 2. Pre-Event Checklist - use this checklist as a guideline for public relations for when you hold your next fundraiser
At Canyon Lake High School's recent annual awards celebration, the Canyon Lake Rotary granted three students 4-year scholarships valued at $16,000 each. These are cash scholarships and can be used to offset any school related expenses incurred. The deserving students from left to right are Evelyn Van Houten, Ian Morris and Mackenzy Sweet all formerly students at Canyon Lake High School.
Several Rotarians from the Blanco County Club traveled to Placencia Village, Belize, Central America in May. As an international project, they visited St. John’s Primary School and presented them with approximately 100 books for the school’s library and 50 hygiene kits for children of the school.
YOUR Rotary Club partnered with San Antonio District 3 and Operation Rebuild to assist a local resident in need of yard clean up, Thursday, May 25. Rotarians being Rotarians stepped in to help and even brought along friends to assist.
Fredericksburg Nimitz Rotary were the recipients of the District 5840 Rotary Club of the Year award presented to attending members at the District Conference held on May 6th in San Antonio.
Fredericksburg Rotary Club is celebrating the completion of rainwater catchment tanks, toilets, hand washing facilities and incinerators for sanitary napkins at seven public schools in Katoma, Tanzania.
The Rotary Club of Fair Oaks Ranch was able to raise enough funds through private donations and club / foundation sources to proudly sponsor the School Resource Officer (police) program full time for Fair Oaks Ranch Elementary School. There is no higher community priority than keeping our children / future leaders safe while they grow and learn.
The Rotary Club of Boerne is one of three Rotary Clubs that support Blessings in a Backpack, a non-profit organization. For ten years this organization has been providing weekend food packages consisting of two breakfasts, two lunches and several snacks to children living in poverty who are enrolled in the Federal Meal Program.
The District Rotary Raffle for the Annual Fund kicked off this morning at The Pearl Brewery with several Rotarians from around District 5840! Participation in the drawing helps raise funds for The Rotary Foundation - Annual Fund. The Annual Fund supports our local and global grants. Seven names were called and each winner will receive a $1,000 Visa Cash Card. The winners are:
Emily Davis
Rose Funko
Rita Apolinas
Ross Bigelow
Sean & Dr. Janice O’Brien
Stephanie Macchia
Monica Gutierrez
Thanks for your participation in this year’s raffle drawing!!
The Rotary Club of New Braunfels recently held their annual Top 10 Academic Students Recognition Program, celebrating the top ten graduating seniors from Canyon High School, New Braunfels High School, and the New Braunfels Christian Academy.
On May 7, 2023, Pete Siegel presented the International Fellowship of Scouting Rotarians (IFSR) Eagle Scout recognition certificate to Clifton M. of Scouts BSA Troop 90. He beautified the courtyard of San Antonio Independent Living Services (SAILS) by installing two handicap ramps, building two handicap picnic tables, mulching two flower beds, and staining the surrounding fence. He earned 50 merit badges, 29 more merit badges than the 21 merit badges required for the Eagle Scout rank. Troop 90's charter sponsor is Abiding Presence Lutheran Church.
On Monday, May 15th members of the Jourdanton Rotary Club gathered for the Annual Senior Luncheon held at the local Community Center. Graduates were served beef nachos with all the fixings, drinks, and dessert. The Senior Class, many of which belong to the Jourdanton Interact Club, had fun taking photos with props and backgrounds.
On Sunday, April 30, 2023, the Rotary Club of San Antonio Pearl handed out food, including plates of lasagna and salad, as well as essentials, such as feminine hygiene products and other toiletries.
Join us for a great party for a great cause! The Don Strange Lawn party benefits the Sam J. Riklin Rotary Diploma Plus program which helps disadvantaged high school seniors graduate high school.
While rainy weather threatened, the day turned out to be lovely for the San Marcos Rotary Scramble 4 Scholarships on May 12 at the Double J Golf Course in Woodcreek, TX. The event drew about 60 golfers with many sponsors. Proceeds fund scholarships for San Marcos area seniors.
Two Rotary Four Way Test banners are posted at Travis Elementary in San Marcos. One is at the entrance and the other in the cafeteria. Students recite the test daily. This is the 14th year of Earlyact Rotary program at Travis. Rotarians Ben Duncan and David Rodriguez are club representatives to the school.
Travis Elementary Early Act Displays Two Four Way Test Banners
CONGRATULATIONS to the following clubs for earning ROTARY ROCKSTAR status for our PUBLIC IMAGE CHALLENGE: Rotary Club of Blanco County, ROTARY Club Of Fair Oaks Ranch, Fredericksburg Morning Rotary, Jourdanton Rotary Club, Rotary Club of Kerrville, Rotary Club of New Braunfels, Oak Hills Rotary, Rotary Club of San Antonio Pearl, Pleasanton Rotary Club, Randolph Metrocom Rotary Club, Rotary Club of Alamo Ranch, San Antonio North Central Rotary Club, Rotary Club of San Antonio South and Rotary of San Marcos! Shout out to the nine clubs that completed the bonus rounds ... PUBLIC IMAGE SUPERSTARS!!!
Wow, what an amazing Rotary District 5840 District Conference! We had 200 Rotarian's from the District attend this event at the UTSA R.A.C.E. center. A special thank you to PDG Jan Livingston (District Conference Chair) and the entire District Conference Committee for doing such an amazing job in organizing the event. Clearly, an event this size can not happen without a committee doing great work up front, during and after the conference.
The Rotary Club of San Marcos awarded scholarships to nine area seniors from San Marcos High School and Hill Country Christian School. The awards are for the 2023-2024 school year. Students may use the scholarships for either college or vocational education programs.
Join us on Sunday, June 25 at 1PM for the Installation of District Governor Monica Gutierrez and the Leadership Team at Aggie Park, 6205 West Ave, San Antonio, TX. Tickets are $40/person or a table of 8 for $300. Attire: Fiesta. Ticket sales profit will support Therapy Animals of San Antonio.
Register for DG Monica Gutierrez & Leadership Team Installation
The Rotary Club of Randolph Metrocom showed up BIG to promote "Service Above Self" at The Chamber Luncheon held on April 18, 2023 where Non-Profit Organizations set up booths to Promote their organization.
Members of the San Antonio Northeast Rotary Club volunteered alongside with their fellow Rotarians in the Randolph Metrocom Rotary Club at the 13th annual GRASP Western Night on Thursday, March 16th.
Here are two active Beeville Rotarians, Lola Castro, and Madeline Madden, recruiting ACC Jones High School volunteers to help with our "Service Above Self" projects.
Once again the Alamo Heights High School Interact Club officers were on hand to put smiles on the faces of the children who came out to AH Night year. . The Interactors have been providing temporary tattoes to the children for several years now. The club is sponsored by the Alamo Heights Rotary Club.
Alamo Heights HS Interact Club at Alamo Heights Night
The Rotary Club of Boerne (Noontime) are the proud sponsors of Boerne Scout Troop 102 and Pack 102. Rotarian Rick Swinghamer is the Chartered Organization Representative of Troop 102 and Pack 102 in Boerne.
March 27 - 31, 2023 was Beautify Serna Week at San Antonio NEISD's Serna Elementary School. The Airport Rotary Club donated soil and plants for the entray way project. Club Secretary Pete Siegel delivered the topsoil and the plumbago and red yucca plants. Parents and teachers donated the other plants seen in the photo.
Three Members of the Airport Rotary Club were joined by a member of the E-Club of Rotary District 5840 gathered with teachers and families at Ridgeview Elementary School on March 25, 2023. We clipped, trimmed, raked, and help clean the campus. The Yellow Bell Esparanzas we planted several years ago survived the freezes and are growing.
After several years of COVID delays and challenges, the Rotary Club of Fair Oaks Ranch has successfully reconstituted the Interact Club at Champion High School in Boerne. Pictured at the recent reactivation ceremony are the Rotary Club Youth Committee leaders along with the new Interact student members.
The Winston School Interact Club traveled to Poteet Friday, April 14, 2023 to help the Poteet HS Interact Club with their Nacho and Pink Lemonade booth at the Poteet Strawberry Festival.
Oak Hills Rotary Club presents local San Antonio non profit, A Hidden Heart with a check. A Heart Heart provide resources and life skills to families to create a better future. To learn more about this organization visit their Facebook page. #springintogiving
Cindy Turner presents a check for $2,400 to Hope Mitchell from Meals for Vets. The club raised money at Texas Heritage Vineyards' quarterly Vino and Bingo for a Cause event held in March. We offered Irish Stew by donation and raffled some great gift baskets.
Promote your Club and inspire your Community easily by using the "People Of Action" Campaign developed by Rotary International. It is not difficult - only takes 2 steps:
The Rotary 5840 District Conference on 6 May is fast approaching. Please sign up as soon as possible as seats are limited. This conference is for all Rotarians and serves as a celebration of the Rotary year. The Conference will be at the UTSA Sports complex with UTSC Coach Carol Torok as guest speaker.
The Program for Excellence in Selling Spring Golf Open Tournament is an event held to provide real-world selling experience to upcoming business professionals who are part of an advanced sales training program.
A team of Rotarians distributed eggs at the Vineyard (a local Beeville non-profit) to those in need of food assistance in Beeville. Farm Fresh Eggs were purchased by the Beeville Rotary Club from the Amaral Ranch, LLC who generously gave of their time to deliver the eggs to the Rotarian team, assuring safe delivery.
During World Immunization Week, 24-30 April, join us in advocating for polio eradication and the importance of vaccines. As one of the greatest advances of modern medicine, vaccines are safe, effective, and save millions of lives each year. Our progress in the fight to end polio is proof that vaccines work.
Kerrville Morning Rotary is holding a very unique fundraiser for the benefit of a worthy young lady as proceeds will go toward the purchase of a car, which will allow her to get to work and to school. She is an overcomer and high achiever and we are excited to help her with not only the car but with her education as well!
We decided a putting contest would be something novel as there are lots of actual golf events, which are great, however not everyone can swing and hit a golf ball, but everyone can putt! We will hold three separate contests as each event is limited to 27 - 2 person teams. We start with our Co-Ed event, followed by Skilled and finally Open.
The Interact Club of Pleasanton (sponsored by the Rotary Club of Pleasanton) held it's first student-run meeting! This is the first year of the club and it is led by an all-girl Board of Directors. During this school year the club has already hosted three service projects and taught the 40-member club the Four Way Test. They will finish out the school year with two more service projects.
There were smiles everywhere on the kids (little and big) as the Rotary Club of Fair Oaks Ranch assisted with the city's Annual Easter Egg Hunt. Brightly painted eggs and children lit up the park and made for a wonderful spring celebration enjoyed by all, thanks to our dedicated "People of Action"!
Fredericksburg Rotary Club is presenting the 2nd Fredericksburg Craft Beer Festival on June 9 and 10th at Downtown Marktplatz in Fredericksburg, Texas. Sponsors, volunteers and attendees are needed. For more information and to purchase tickets please see our website: https://fbgcraftbeerfestival.com/. If you would like to sponsor or volunteer please email Debbie at debbie.sultemeier@gmail.com. Thanks for your support!
Upcoming Fundraiser - Fredericksburg Craft Beer Festival
Club member Mike Elvir again spearheaded a Highway Beautification Breakfast on Saturday, March 4. Members picked up many bags of trash along our two-mile stretch of Highway 290 West and enjoyed fellowship and breakfast tacos provided by Donna Elmore and the Interact club members from Fredericksburg High School.
District's Rotary Day of Service Week - Fredericksburg
There will be a Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) on Saturday, May 20th, 2023 from 8:30AM to 4:30PM at the Spring Creek United Methodist Church, 28970 Old Fredericksburg Rd, Fair Oaks, TX 78015. The institute is $50 and is open to all Rotarians. Click to Register.
The Rotary Club of San Antonio had the great privilege to recognize two members celebrating milestone years of of service. Melvin Mitchell was honored for reaching 60 years of Rotary service. Melvin was joined on stage by his son Lane, daughter-in-law Charlotte and granddaughter Molly who are all Rotarians in our club.
The Rotary Club of San Antonio was honored to host Rotary Day SA at McAllister Park as part of the week of service. We had over 140 volunteers from 13 different Rotary clubs and five Interact clubs. We mulched, painted and picked up tons of trash. What a great expression of Rotary's People of Action! Thank you to everyone who participated in this year's event. We're also grateful for all the kind words of thanks we received from patrons of the park.
The Rotary Club of Blanco County is sponsoring its annual Joe Garcia Memorial Golf Tournament on Monday, May 1st, at Blanco’s Vaaler Creek Golf Course.
Pete Siegel, District 5840 IFSR Coordinator presented the IFSR Eagle Scout Recognition Certificate to Eagle Scout Kurt Krueger at his Court of Honor on February 25, 2023. Kurt is a member of Scouts BSA Troop 90 which is chartered to Abiding Presence Lutheran Church.
Eagle Scout recognized by the International Fellowship of Scouting Rotarians (IFSR)
This past month members of the Rotary Club of Boerne (Noontime) were once again serving their community. The Rotary motto of “Service Above Self” was exemplified by their picking up of garbage along the banks and in the waters of Cibolo Creek.
I am so excited to announce the location of the 2023 Rotary District 5840 Conference. The Conference will be at the UTSA Sports Complex in San Antonio on 6 May 2023. Please go to the district page and sign up. This one-day event is designed for everyone in the district and will only cost $50 with lunch. Club leadership training will be provided for President Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, and other key positions. We will also announce the Club of the Year, Rotarian of the Year and other top awards at this event. Clearly, this is an all-attend district event. Come on out, wear your favorite professional football shirt/jersey and have fun. We will start at 9:00 a.m. and be finished by 5:00 p.m.
This past January 21st was The Rotary Club of Boerne's Annual Fundraiser - Casino Night. This well attended event was held at Mark Motors in Boerne and featured Casino games, dinner, many prizes and raffles. Funds raised will go to support local and international non-profits.
Join us Saturday, May 6th for the District Conference & Club Leader Training at the UTSA Sports Complex 9AM-5PM in San Antonio. The event includes lunch and snacks. Cost is $50/person. Come on out, wear your favorite professional football shirt/jersey and have fun. Click to Register.
The Boerne Sunrise Rotary has sponsored a brand new Interact Club at Boerne High School. This enthusiastic group of young scholars is shown here with their faculty advisor, Ashlea Windsor, on their community service project. The Interactors and their advisor cleaned pens at the local Kendall County Animal Shelter. They fed and walked the dogs and learned that “service above self” can also be fun.
DG Dwayne (aka Floyd Wayne) will donate profits from this cover song "Welcome to My World" to the Rotary Foundation from 21 Feb - 21 April 2023. Just go to the Amazon site (see site link below) and contribute 99 cents. Then, download the song by DG Dwayne (aka Wayne Floyd). Let's help the Rotary Foundation do great things around the world. Amazon Link to download here only 99 cent... https://amzn.to/3YXmrIE Hear sample of cover song "Welcome To My World" here https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/floydwayne/welcome-to-my-world
Join us on Wednesday, March 29th at 6PM on Zoom for a special Public Image Training Seminar on how to Promote your Club - Inspire your Community using a People of Action Campaign.
Here are Beeville Rotarians with "service above self" smiles. The early Saturday morning clean-up service project also put smiles on the faces of the Beeville residents who were happy to see another road full of paper and plastic cleared of such waste.
The Kenedy Rotary Club participated in the Goliad County Fair Parade, Saturday March 11 in Goliad. Continuing to celebrate their 100 yr, they took home the “1st Place Non-Commercial Float Goliad County Fair” trophy!
Rotary Club of Kerrville Blood Drive on Fri March 3rd was a great success. Thanks to #crenwelgemotors for allowing us to collect blood at their location and to everyone who came by and donated the "gift of life". #District5840RotaryDaysofService #kerrvillerotary
Rotarians Anne Marie Morgan, Harvie Lindeman and Tracy Barr assisted with set up and serving lunch at the Blanco Middle School Educational Event held February 10. During the event students attended presentations on topics such as healthy eating, substance abuse prevention, mental health awareness, kindness, healthy relationships, and all around health goals.
Blanco Club Assists at Middle School Educational Event
Did you hear the news? There is now an opportunity to win a cash prize for completing the Rotary Rockstar Challenge! There are only five tasks. We KNOW you can get them all done before the May 1 deadline.
The Fredericksburg Rotary Club held a very successful Cupid's Bow Bash fundraiser on February 13. The sold-out event featured dancing to the music of the Bob Appel Band, a catered dinner, 100-item silent auction and a wine pull. The event raised over $32,000 to benefit our Club's Scholarship, Toys for Tots and Literacy programs.
The Rotary Club of San Marcos is sponsoring a Scramble 4 Scholarships on Friday, May 12 to fund scholarships for San Marcos area high school seniors. The event will be held at the Double J Ranch Golf Club in Woodcreek, just outside Wimberley. The cost is $150 for individuals or $500 for a team. Beverage, meal, and a title sponsor are being sought. Contact event chair Scott Yarbrough at 512-214-8730 or email scott@theyarbroughagency.com
San Marcos Sponsors Golf Scramble for Scholarships
The Rotary Club of Ballinger will be hosting a Pints for Polio fundraiser on March 17th from 5-8pm on 8th Street in Ballinger. Partnering with the City of Ballinger, The Coffee Haus on Main and other local businesses, the Rotary Club of Ballinger will have live music from the Davis Brothers Band, after hours shopping in which many local businesses will donate a percentage of the proceeds to Pints for Polio. So come out, listen to some music, make a donation and drink some green beer!
Oak Hills Rotarians volunteered at the 28th Annual Basura Bash to clean up of the San Antonio tributaries and waterways. 22.81 tons of trash was collected.
While serving as volunteer coaches / mentors, club members have incorporated Rotary's Four Way Test into the First Tee's Life Skills curriculum for residents of a local youth home. Early exposure to Rotary's foundational values has truly been an empowering experience for these young citizens.
The Rotary Club of San Marcos is sponsoring a Casino Night fundraiser on Saturday, March 4, to raise money for youth serving organizations in San Marcos including the Greater San Marcos Youth Council and the Youth Service Bureau. The event will be held at the Commemorative Air Force CENTEX Wing at the San Marcos Airport, which houses numerous vintage WW2 aircraft and an Air Force Museum.
February 27th through March 4 is Rotary District 5840 Service Project Week. Rotary clubs all around District 5840 can maximize opportunities around service projects in local communities or even combine projects with several clubs. Please use local social media to push efforts and information on all the great work Rotarians are doing in the community. This of course is centered around Rotary Service Project Day at McAllister Park that is sponsored by the San Antonio Rotary Club on 4 March. Registration for this project starts at 9:00 a. with work efforts going from 10a.m. – 2p.m. More details the park sign-up can be found at this link https://rotary5840.org/event/rotary-day-sa-2023/
Today Feb. 14, 2023, the District Governor, 5840, Dwayne Hopkins and his lovely wife Anneke, visited the Kenedy Rotary Club. His inspiration and enthusiasm captured the room. His program centered around “CARS” his acronym for Community, All around the world, Rotarians, Story! Rotarians are a part of the community, all around the world, Rotarians and stories. We all have a story to tell how Rotary has impacted each of us and why we are members.
Rotary Club of New Braunfels will be hosting the Hill Country Craft Beer Festival 2023 on Saturday, April 15th from 12:00-6:00PM at the Comal County Fairgrounds. HCCBF will feature 30+ Texas Hill Country breweries, 150+ types of beer, entertainment by Soul Sessions and 3 Man Front, and assorted food trucks. Limited VIP tickets are available until sold out. HCCBF is presented by The Original Black's Barbecue. For more information, sponsorships, and tickets go to https://www.hccbf.com.
Rotary Club of New Braunfels Hill Country Craft Beer Festival 2023
Kerrville Morning Rotary recently went back to help Mercy Gate Ministries at their new housing facility. We were able to cut up some deadfall as well as trim back a few trees. Additionally we painted an outbuilding that was constructed by another ministry team a few weeks back. Mercy Gate is such a blessing to our community! For more information visit https://mercygateministries.com
The Rotary Club of Kenedy, Texas #1908, celebrates their 100th year Feb. 7, 2023, at the Second Street Art Gallery, Kenedy. Guest Speaker, Kristen Salazar, District Governor Nominee, representing District 5840. Also on this day, the City of Kenedy, places a RI road sign the very first displayed on the main highway of 181.
Mark your calendars for Feb 27 - March 4 for Rotary District 5840 - South Central Texas SERVICE PROJECT WEEK!! We are encouraging all Clubs to hold a service project in your community or join the ROTARY DAY OF SERVICE hosted by the Rotary Club of San Antonio at McAllister Park on March 4th. To sign-up: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GK6Y83Y
March 4th Schedule - Meet at Pavilion #5 (watch for Rotary signs)
Visit the District's Public Image Resource page to access resources, templates and media contacts to share your club’s stories of impact and show your community we are #PeopleOfAction! You'll find training videos, templates, tools, a direct link to RI's NEW and improved Brand Center and MORE. Click Here.
Fredericksburg Rotary Club joined with five other Clubs to construct rainwater catchment tanks, toilets, handwashing facilities, septic tanks and incinerators for sanitary napkins at seven public schools in northwest Tanzania.
Rotarians at work at 7:45am Saturday January 28th Painting basketball lines at the DeLeon park Basketball courts were resurfacing in October and the court lines were not painted.
Fredericksburg High School students visited our Club meeting on January 23 to talk about their wonderful experiences at RYLA and their Interact Club accomplishments. Interact Club activities this school year included raising $350 for Toys for Tots of Gillespie County.
The San Angelo Rotary club, which is 70 member strong, raised over $6300 at their annual Shrimpfest in October. The club disperses the funds to a different nonprofit every year. This year the recipient was House of Faith, a citywide children’s and youth ministry that brings Jesus to the lives of hundreds of youth through after school programs and Bible study. Join us in San Angelo in October 2023 for all-you-can-eat shrimp, coleslaw, beans, and iced tea!
San Angelo Club Raises $6300 at Annual Shrimpfest.
Oak Hills Rotary adopted a family of 4 at Christmas time. Rotarians shopped for various items requested and wrapped the gifts. Thank you to club Secretary, Veronica Ruse and DG Dwayne Hopkins for helping deliver the wonderful cheer to the family.
Chartered Feb. 8, 1923. 100 year Celebration. Banner Display and cake cutting ceremony. Feb.7, 2023, 12:00 noon at the Second Street Art Gallery, 122 S 2nd Street, Kenedy, Texas
Join us for the 5th annual Rotary Day SA! Rotary Day SA brings together Rotarians from all over the district for a day of service to the community. This year will be a cleanup day at on Saturday, March 4th 10AM-2PM at McAllister Park, 13102 Jones Maltsberger Rd. Rotarians will pick up trash, spread mulch and paint picnic tables. Sign up here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GK6Y83Y
A team of dedicated educators at PISD are working to provide assistance with hygiene, clothing and food items to students in need. The Pleasanton Rotary Club is supporting their efforts though financial donations, in-kind donations, and an ongoing relationship with a Club member’s online Ebay clothing store to meet specific needs.
Pleasanton Rotary supports the PJHS Helping Closet
Cindy Turner presents a check to a representative from the Golden Hub Community Center for $1,050. The funds were raised at a Bunco and Vino event held at Wildseed Farms VIneyards.
The Rotary Club of San Antonio was proud to help the veterans at the Frank M. Tejeda Texas State Veterans Home. The club purchased and packed snack bags after a recent Rotary meeting. The snack packs are used as prizes at the facility's daily bingo game. We paced over 200 bags for our wonderful vets!
Oak Hills Rotarians and spouses attended the Holiday Party with Food, Fun and Fellowship. Everyone shared moments of laughter and cheer. Thank you to Farm Bureau Bank for sponsoring the space.
Come and join Casino Night with the San Antonio Airport Rotary Club on Saturday, February 18th, 2023, at the Petroleum Club located on the 7th floor of 8620 North New Braunfels Avenue, San Antonio, TX 78217 United States.
The Rotary Club of San Marcos is hosting a Casino Night fundraiser on Saturday, March 4 at 6 p.m. The event will be held at the Commemorative Air Force Centex Wing, 1841 Airport RdBldg 2249 San Marcos, TX 78666.
A Rotary Story “Dinner With Rotary friend Yale “Buzz” Trustin and His Wife Litzie Trustin”. You never knew who you may be sitting with at a Rotary event. In fact, I would say every single member in Rotary is important. We need all people of different ages, background, gender, race, cultural, experiences and ability to form an amazing organization. This is a story of one such Rotarian (mentor) whom I learned so much.
The Rotary Club of Blanco County recently supported the ongoing Mission of H.O.P.E. (Helping Overcome Poverty Everywhere), under the direction of Mrs. Chris Cloyd of Blanco’s United Methodist Church, by helping gather, pack, and stuff over 150 backpacks distributed to young refugees in Reynosa and Piedras Negras, Mexico in time for Christmas.
While serving as volunteer coaches at a local youth home, our club members were able to incorporate Rotary's Four Way Test into the youth development curriculum of the First Tee Organization.
On November 19, 2022 Rotarians and Interactors from area schools met at West Avenue Compassion to bag full Thanksgiving meals before delivering to local families in the North Central Rotary Club’s annual “Turkey Run.”
On Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022, the Rotary Club of San Antonio Pearl joined with young volunteers from local Antonian High School to hand out food, including plates of lasagna and salad, as well as essentials, such as feminine hygiene products, toothbrushes, and blankets.
Rotarians supporting the Salvation Army red kettle drive by ringing the bell outside Gibson’s for 4 Saturdays after Thanksgiving! Great job everyone and to David Samuel for coordinating!
What a great day! Blue Santa 2022! KPD and the KCPAAA, the Kerrville Rotary Club and other amazing volunteers came together to make Christmas better for many Hill Country families!
Rotary Club of New Braunfels recently completed their newest service project, Making Spirits Bright – a holiday giving program that provided Christmas gifts and meals to local families in need.
Rotary Club of New Braunfels recently completed an international wellness trip to Piedras Negras, Mexico, where they checked the health and wellness of 40 local children at two local schools, and provided them with Christmas gifts.
"Service Over Self" isn't just a motto for the Boerne Noontime Rotarians. It's a guiding principle and why they host "Breakfast With Santa" every year. This December over 100 children enjoyed a great meal cooked by Rotarians, decorated cookies, and got to visit with Santa and take home a special gift purchased by the Boerne Noontime Rotarian "Elves".
Approximately 300 local families received a freshly prepared whole turkey dinner thanks to the Annual Turkey Fry conducted by the Christian Men of Boerne and Hill Country Family Services. The Rotary Club of Fair Oaks Ranch is always honored to participate in this wonderful event to assist those in need in the Boerne and surrounding area.
Another successful year of giving was wrapped up by the Rotary Club of San Antonio South. The club sponsored four families from the local Pre-K for SA school, with presents for the families' children and a $125 H-E-B gift card for the parents. The evening included Santa Claus and dinner.
Students at Travis Elementary in San Marcos had a fundraiser to collect money for a Travis Scholarship that would be awarded in the spring to a San Marcos high school senior who had attended Travis.
Fredericksburg-Nimitz club members Mike Strolle and Jimmy Culp continue their work on the Hill Country Needs Council project helping to make a manufactured home accessible for a young mother of 5 confined to a wheelchair. They finished work on the ramp in the front of the trailer and are now working on a deck for the back side.
Fredericksburg-Nimitz Club members (From left to right) Tom Brayshaw, Christina Gonzalez, Cindy Turner, Leslie Moeller, Kelly Graham (with Mision de Candelilla), Gayle Ramsay and Lorie Kobar made the trip to Piedras Negras to take toys for the children and conduct wellness checks on them. While there, participants enjoy a lunch with members the Rotary club of Piedras Negras.
Annual Toy Drive and Wellness visit to Piedres Negras
The Winston School Interact Club helped set up for the St. Nicholas Ball, a Catholic Charities fundraiser at the J.W. Marriott Resort on December 2nd & 3rd, 2022.
If someone looked at me today they would never know me as a young boy and the difficulties. They would never know the difficult times and tears. They would never know a time of grief and sorrow. As a young boy (about 7 years old), I remember getting visits from several people in the Children’s home that I lived in.
The annual Uncommon Table Brunch with Santa was a fun service project. Volunteer story readers from the Beeville Rotary Club and the BISD Interact Club joined with Texian Books to delight the children with stories about Christmas. Breakfast was Crème Brulee French Toast. Yummy! Santa knows that all attending the breakfast are on Santa’s good list.
Fredericksburg Rotary Club and Friends of the Pioneer Memorial Library presented books to the Gillespie Literacy Council for adult ESL students to read with their children and grandchildren.
There will be a Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) on Saturday, January 7th, 2023 from 8:30AM to 4:30PM at the Spring Creek United Methodist Church, 28970 Old Fredericksburg Rd, Fair Oaks, TX 78015. The institute is $50 and is open to all Rotarians. Click to Register.
Chester W. Nimitz Middle School (NEISD) gets nation’s first Immersive Biophilic ReCharge room for schools. San Antonio North Central Rotary Club has designed and donated the nation’s first immersive biophilic Serenity and ReCharge room to the teachers and staff at North East Independent School District’s Chester W. Nimitz Middle School/STEM Academy.
Pearl Rotarians Rudy Rubio III and Andres Trevino volunteered for 7 hours at ThriveWell Cancer Foundation's annual Healing Hearts Telethon. They accepted incoming phone calls of donors to help reach their goal of $100,000. This year's location was at FOX 29's TV station, which broadcasted the Telethon across the entire South Central region of Texas. Learn more about ThriveWell's mission and impact at ThriveWell.org
Pearl Rotarians help ThriveWell Cancer Foundation reach goal of $100,000
Oak Hills Rotary sponsored the Annual Model United Nations San Antonio (MUNSA) pancake supper held at the International School of the Americas. It was a success! We prepared over 300 dinners for the event. The cooking was done by 8 Rotarians and 20 MUNSA students. The event raised over $1,500 for the MUNSA travel fund.
Rotarians from the Fair Oaks Ranch Club, along with their family members, participated in a neighborhood food drive to ensure all families served by the Hill Country Daily Bread Ministry in Boerne were able to enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving meal.
DG Dwayne Hopkins took the opportunity of his visit to The Rotary Club of Fair Oaks Ranch to present them with their recently announced "Club of the Year" award for 2021-2022. He also honored Past President Greg Maxton for being named "President of the Year" for the same period; along with other club accolades in Service Projects, Membership, Public Image, and Foundation support.
Rotary Club of Hondo-D'Hanis held their annual Bountiful Blessing on Tuesday, November 22, 2022. Rotarians served hot meals to Veterans and Senior Citizens in the Hondo Community, in addition some Rotarians delivered some meals to home bound seniors. This is a much needed project in our area, and a project our Club looks forward to every year.
The District Conference Service Project for Endangered Children sponsored by the D5840 Combat Human Trafficking Rotary Club was led by Amy Barag and JoAnn Browne. Rotarians who attended the 2022 District Conference filled150 backpacks filled with various hygiene products, combs, brushes, quilts, dental products, journals, Walmart gift cards and snacks.
San Marcos Rotary presented a check for $5,000 to San Marcos School Fuel on November 16. School Fuel provides K-8 students with food to take home on weekends and holidays when school meals are not available.
We had a great turnout for our Free Veterans Appreciation Breakfast. We had 120 plus Veterans and 25 Rotarian’s in attendance. A huge thank you to the Hill Country Veterans Center for hosting and to El Sombrero de Jalisco for the yummy tacos. 🌮🇺🇸❤️🤍💙
The Beeville Rotary Club partnered with JJP Family Clinic to host a luncheon honoring local veterans on Saturday, November 12th. Several Beeville Rotary Club and Beeville Interact Club members participated by serving food and talking to the veterans and their families. Most of all, our Beeville Rotarians thanked the veterans for their service.
Beeville Rotary Thanks Local Veterans for Their Service
One thing I have noticed while visiting Rotary Clubs in District 5840 is how involved and motivated Rotarians are with Service Projects. Each Rotarian makes a difference in our communities with the power and energy to change the world which is reflected in the service projects. It is an honor to say “I am a Rotarian” knowing our District contributes so much to improve the lives of others with a Service-Above-Self attitude.
Arbor Day in America began in the early 1870s when a journalist, J. Sterling Morgan, and his wife moved to Nebraska and began planting a variety of trees and shrubs in what was primarily a flat stretch of desolate plain.
The Rotary Club of San Marcos presented a check for $5,000 to the Hays County Food Bank on November 9. It was part of a project in October called Feed the Hungry. Half of the gift came from a grant from Rotary District 5840 in South Central Texas. The project also raised money for San Marcos School Fuel and the international nonprofit Rise Against Hunger.
Rotary presents $5,000 donation to Hays County Food Bank
When Hurricane Fiona hit Puerto Rico, Coastal Bend Retail Holdings, owned by two Beeville Rotarians, donated 275 new school uniform polos to the Vega Alta, Puerto Rico Rotary Club for children affected by the hurricane damage
District Governor Dwayne Hopkins and the District 5840 Nominating Committee are pleased to announce the selection of Kristen Salazar of the Rotary Club of Alamo Heights as the District Governor for the Rotary year beginning July 1, 2025. Congratulations Kristen!
SELMA, TEXAS -- On October 27, 2022, The Randolph Metrocom Rotary Club (RMRC) co-hosted a mixer with the Tri-County Chamber of Commerce at The Bluebonnet Palace in Selma, Texas. More than 50 people attended this event. The program was specifically intended to raise awareness to End Polio Now.
The Rotary Club of Blanco County held a Pints for Polio fundraiser event on October 26. Club President, Harvie Lindeman, spoke about the history of polio and the eradication efforts. Some short videos were shown and attendees enjoyed a BBQ meal with beer or wine. All proceeds will go to Rotary's 2022 End Polio Now initiative.
Blanco County Club Raises Money for End Polio Now Initiative
The Rotary Club of San Antonio is pleased to announce the Rotary Ice Rink presented by Valero will be back bigger and better this season. The Rotary Ice Rink is scheduled for November 18 - January 16, 2023 at Travis Park.
On October 21, 2022, members of the San Antonio Airport Rotary Club presented English and Spanish-English dictionaries to the Third-grade classes at the Northeast Independent School District's Ridgeview Elementary School.
Sonja Simmons of the Davis Moon Project provided a mission update at the August 30th noon meeting. Simmons, a former Wimberley Rotarian and chapter President, was delighted to see some familiar faces and meet some new members.
The Rotary Club of Blanco County’s coat and blanket drive, held in October, was a huge success. The club gathered approximately 50 large bags of coats and blankets from the Blanco and Johnson City communities that were provided to refugees in northern Mexico.
Members of Fredericksburg Nimitz club built a handicap access ramp for a trailer donated to a family of five. Some members also assisted with inside priming and painting to get the trailer ready for the family.
The Fredericksburg Nimitz Rotary won big on their first charity golf tournament. The tournament was a kick-off fundraiser for the club to raise funds for the replacement of the historic cross at Cross Mountain Park. All teams sold out and the silent auction and ladies' Bunco game were also big winners. All together, net earnings were over $30,000. Pictured are club member Jimmy Culp (second from left) and his team. Same time next year!
Pete Siegel, Airport Rotary Club member, is the D5840 Coordinator for the International Fellowship of Scouting Rotarians (IFSR) http://scoutingrotarians.org/index_2.php We have recognition certificates for Eagle Scout, Sea Scout Quartermaster Award, and Girl Scout Gold Award recipients. Please contact Pete at psiegeljr@satx.rr.com for more information.
On September 17, 2022 the Kenedy Rotary Club attended the Karnes City Lonesome Dove Parade. There were 32 entries and we received 1st place in the clubs division.
he Rotary Club of Fair Oaks Ranch recently assisted the Rotary Club of District 5840 to Combat Human Trafficking, who in conjunction with the Ransomed Life organization, presented training sessions in the schools for educators and parents on the awareness and prevention of child sex trafficking.
October 13-15 KABOOM!, Archewell Foundation created by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and community members along with Uvalde Rotarians help participate in a community playground build. The new playground at DeLeon Park located a few block from Robb Elementary, will be a happy and healing locations for the community children.
This past Friday The International Fellowship of Scouting Rotarians recognized Commander Peterson for his “Distinguished and Dedicated Service to Scouting”.
On Sunday, October 16th, the Kenedy Rotary Club had their annual BBQ Chicken Dinner fundraiser for their local surrounding area high school scholarships.
BBQ Chicken Dinner Sale Fundraiser for Scholarships
October 1, the Kenedy Rotary Club attended the Beeville Western Wear Parade in Beeville! We all wore western wear and our float won 2nd place out of 72 floats in the non profit category.
The Winston School Interact Club traveled to Seguin on Saturday, October 8, 2022 to help the Seguin Sunrise Rotary Club with their annual fundraiser, the Guadalupe Fair Gates festival.
More than a hundred volunteers helped to package food for the Rotary Rise Against Hunger event on Saturday, October 15 at First Lutheran Church in San Marcos.
We recently helped Mercy Gates Ministries with some demolition and cleanup. Work included tearing out two porches along with an outbuilding. We even busted up a concrete sidewalk. Tearing things apart was pretty fun, but loading it all in the dump trailer, not so much. Thank good ness we had the use of some excellent machinery.
Fredericksburg Rotary Club picked up roadside trash along its designated route on US 290 West on Saturday, Sept. 24. Project leader Mike Elvir said the morning drew 30 members 15-16 high school Rotary Interact members, as well as the club's exchange student. After picking up trash, the group enjoyed breakfast tacos and camaraderie. It was a terrific morning of exhibiting “Service Above Self.”
I am honored to be part of an amazing group of motivated Rotarians in District 5840. To be honest, Rotarians in our District inspire and motivate me every day with their generosity and devotion to service. The month of October is going to be great for our District. The Rotary International theme for October is Economic and Community Development.
Rotary District 5840 has set a goal of donating as much as we can to the Rotary Foundation’s Polio Plus Fund this year. This year, we introduced the PIES FOR POLIO CHALLENGE to help build awareness for our fight to end polio. If $1,000 in the District is raised DGN Steve gets the pie in the face. If $2,000 is raised DGE Monica gets the pie in the face. If $3,000 is raised DG Dwayne gets the pie if the face. If the $5,000 goals is raised or more all three (DG Dwayne, DGE Monic and DGN Steve) gets the pie in the face. Click to donate.
On September 22, members of the San Angelo Sunrise Rotary Club participated in the Feed the Funnel event in an effort to combat food security in San Angelo and the surrounding communities.
On the evening of September 29th, the Beeville Rotary Club sponsored a well-attended educational program to combat human trafficking. The speaker was Susan Burkholder, a Rotarian, and Community Engagement educator from Ransomed Life.
Oak Hills Rotary Club Annual GOLD RAFFLE event! Sponsored by Myron's Prime Steakhouse and the Principle Auto Group. Tickets are $100 each, each ticket allows 2 people to enjoy Myron’s delicious food, drinks and entertainment. Hosted by the Mini of San Antonio dealership.
You're invited to attend Canyon Lake's 9th Annual Pints for Polio Event on November 2 from 6PM to 9PM at the BAJA ICEHOUSE & GRILL. Sponsors and tickets are available canyonlakerotary@gvtc.com or 830.832.7383
Each year the Rotary Club of Wimberley joins other community organizations on Halloween in meeting on the town square to give treats to the children trick o’ treating. As part of their literacy projects, Wimberley Rotary gives out hundreds of beautiful books to the community’s children. We call the event Trick O’Read, and Rotarians dress up in costumes to give out the goodies. See you October 31!
The Rotary Club of New Braunfels is celebrating 85 years of service and invites you to join them for what is sure to be a spectacular evening on Oct. 19th at the McKenna Event Center! VIP sponsorship packages and reserved tables are available, as well as single general admission tickets. Buy tickets: bit.ly/3JW4ROr
Rotary District 5840 earned 5 top awards at Zone Institute for Rotary Year 2021-22: 3 for Membership, 1 for Public Image and 1 for Foundation. Great job everyone for your hardwork and dedication! Shout out to PDG Kristy Vandenberg for her leadership!
As a Rotarian, you have the ability to help make someone’s graduate education (Master’s or PhD.) a reality. How, you ask? By identifying a person to apply for a Rotary District 5840 Global Education Grant. The grant is for a minimum of $30,000 for a college graduate to study anywhere in the world outside the United States.
After participating in the “Stuff the Bus” campaign, The Rotary Club of San Antonio South asked the teachers of Graebner Elementary, located in SAISD, what their “wish list” would be. Schools receive many different supplies, but often the teachers “wish list” is overlooked.
Boerne Rotary Club (Noontime) has been privileged to host students from around the world for many years. Here is Rubin Cardenas, Past President & Rotary Youth Lane Director, picking up Filippo at the airport. Filippo is our youth exchange student from Italy who is looking forward to attending high school in Boerne and in learning about America.
Kerrville Rotary was joined by volunteers from Schreiner University to pack meals for Rise Against Hunger. They packed 15,120 meals to feed the hungry.
All three Rotary clubs of Fredericksburg worked together to distribute activity books and talk about the Four-Way Test with the 3rd graders at Fredericksburg Elementary. It was a great experience! Thanks to all club members that participated.
On Saturday, September 10th, members of the Beeville Rotary Club together with the Beeville Interact Club participated in the third street clean-up to make Beeville a cleaner city. With the support of the City of Beeville and a donation from Walmart for supplies, garbage bag pick-up was accomplished. The Beeville Rotary Club plans to continue this clean-up effort several times throughout the year as needed.
Fredericksburg Morning Rotary Club’s 13th Annual Kraut Run, featuring 8K and 5K timed runs and a 5K Walk will be held Saturday, October 1st at 8:30 am.
YOUR Rotary Club of San Antonio South picked up trash along the SE Military Dr. Rd corridor. Thank you to all those came out to help Saturday, Sept. 10, with Highway Cleanup. We filled 24 large bags of trash in addition to large items such as a tire and a car bumper. We had 17 awesome volunteers demonstrating what "Service Above Self" really means. Thanks also to the guys from Lambda Theta Phi, Alumni Chapter, who joined us.
Every year, Rotarians and Rotaractors across the globe mobilize for WORLD POLIO DAY to raise awareness about eradicating polio for good. If we stay committed, polio will be the second human disease ever to be eradicated.
In August, I shared stories with the Rotary Clubs of Canyon Lake, New Braunfels, Ballinger, Uvalde and the Dominion. I am inspired by those great Rotarians and those pictured today who are making a difference in their communities.
At the regularly scheduled Kenedy Rotary Club meeting August 30th, Saundra Schultz, President presented Presidential Plaques to our past Presidents. Wade Phelps 2020 - 2021 and Joe Avalos 2021 - 2022. It was a celebratory event for sure!!!
Pearl Rotarians assisted The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Southwest Texas Council in San Antonio, TX. Hundreds of food supplies were delivered to be available for families in need in urban areas of the Alamo City.
Pearl Rotarians Assist St. Vincent de Paul Society
Twenty-four San Marcos Rotarians and community members packaged school supplies for nine villages in Northern Mexico and child serving nonprofits in San Marcos on August 26. The supplies will be delivered by Mision de Candella, based in Fredericksburg, which provides free health care services to the villages.
Las Vegas After Hours Rotary Club joined the Uvalde Rotary. They came down to deliver handmade pillows to parents of the victims Uvalde Rotary help put the pillow covers on and arranged/ hosted the meeting Aug 25 at the El Progress Memorial Library
Rotary eClub of San Antonio played a significant part on August 17, 2022 in welcoming Franz Leadership Academy students back to school, with school supplies in a mini parade. The parents were overjoyed with the love and support that the Rotary eClub of San Antonio showed toward the school and community kicking off our Service Project Light Up Literacy which marks the 5th year of this project.
Join us on Sunday, September 4th , from 10:30 am - 9:30pm at PANDA EXPRESS @ 32707 SE Military Dr #104 San Antonio, Texas 78223! Enjoy delicious food and support our Bike Ride! 20% of your purchase will be donated to MTR Charities! To listen learn more about Mission Trail Rotrary, http://www.missiontrailrotary.com
Join us on Wednesday, October 12th , ALL DAY at Willies Gill and Icehouse @ 15801 San Pedro Avenue San Antonio, Texas 78232! Enjoy delicious food and support our Bike Ride! 15% of your purchase will be donated to MTR Charities! To learn more about Mission Trail Rotary, http://www.missiontrailrotary.com
Join Mission Trails Rotary on Wednesday, September 21st , from 5 pm - 9 pm at CHIPOTLE @ 3155 SE Military Dr #101 San Antonio, Texas 78223! Enjoy delicious food and support our Bike Ride! 33% of your purchase will be donated to MTR Charities! To learn more about Mission Trail Rotary, http://www.missiontrailrotary.com
In August, The Rotary Club of District 5840 to Combat Human Trafficking, The Rotary Club of Blanco County, and The Blanco Chamber of Commerce hosted two presentations on human trafficking for Blanco County business and community leaders.
Jeff Bearden, Co-Chair of the Vernon Rotary Club "Marking the Great Western Trail" project (standing second to left), presented Pleasanton with a cattle trail marker.
As a community partner, the Rotary Club of Fair Oaks Ranch assisted the Boerne ISD with their annual Resource Rally ensuring families had the appropriate medical attention and supplies needed to successfully start the new school year. Over 300 students and parents were provided a multitude of products and services that were generously donated by local businesses and individuals.
On August 15 the Rotary Club of Blanco County and the District 5840 Combat Human Trafficking Rotary Club hosted a presentation on human trafficking and child sex trafficking in order to educate the community of Blanco.
Fredericksburg Rotary Club Foundation on Monday donated a portion of its proceeds from the first Fredericksburg Craft Beer Festival to The Grace Center, a 36-bed facility being constructed as a domestic violence shelter.
Pictured are 2 out of 8 Canyon Lake Rotarians Receiving Paul Harris (PH) Awards this past club year. First, we have Jane Bowen awarded a PH+4 pin followed by Jean Whileyman a PH +2 pin.
Oak Hills Rotary Club visits Clark High School to re-establish the Interact Club. Pictured is Rotarian Rick Tarbell attending a meeting with school resource leaders to discuss the benefits and scholarship opportunities.
or the last 4 years Beeville Rotary Club has provided school supplies to the Beeville ISD teachers and this year the supplies were delivered to 2 Beeville private school system.
The Rotary Club of Alamo Ranch had a very successful back to school supply drive in support of a back-to-school event providing backpacks, school supplies, and other needed items for young boys and girls.
Rotary joined Family Fest Host, the Community Recreation and Resource Center, in delivering supplies to area kids helping them prepare for a return to school. CLRC President Max El Tawil is shown with the local school mascot at the ready to pass out backpacks full of supplies.
Join Rotary District 5840 as we celebrate how Rotary Changes Lives!!! Three great experiences in one! Attend the Rotary District 5840 Conference Nov 9-11 at the Y.O. Ranch Resort & Conference Center in Kerrville and experience a great Texas hotel and one of a kind Museum of Western Art. Learn more about Rotary and have a great time networking.
According to data from the Southeast Regional Climate Center (SERCC), at least six Texas cities with the longest historical record have had their hottest summer.
Stephanie A. Urchick, of the Rotary Club of McMurray, Pennsylvania, USA, is the selection of the Nominating Committee for President of Rotary International for 2024-25, a decision that would make her only the second woman to hold that position. She will be declared the president-nominee on 1 October if no challenging candidates have been suggested.
Stephanie A. Urchick selected to be the 2024-25 President of Rotary International
We are excited to announce the rollout of our new ROTARY ROCKSTAR CHALLENGE! The Rotary Rockstar Challenge was designed to help Clubs increase their public image skill set. The more you promote your Club, the better the odds are at increasing your membership. It is a win-win all around!
Your Public Image team is excited to announce a new tool "MEMBER SPOTLIGHT" template that will help Clubs promote current members! Submit your member's photo and we will send you back the graphic, then you post on your website and/or social media. When posting, don't forget to tag the District (@RotaryDistrict5840) and use hashtags #District5840Family #WeAreRotary and (include your Club Hashtag).
By Eric Liswaniso, member of the Rotary Club of Ndola and the Rotaract Club of Lusaka, Zambia
One of the most frustrating things about malaria is the preventable suffering it imposes on families. The death of a child or a parent, the loss of work, or economic stability can be devastating.
We can all be inspired by our new Rotary International President Jennifer Jones and all the work being done around the world. Her Imagine Rotary theme is catching on fast with its seven orbiting dots representing the 7 global areas of focus.
Members of the Winston School Interact Club participated in a Back to School Event on Saturday, July 30, 2022 on the grounds of the Children Advocates San Antonio (CASA) facility.
There will be a Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) on Saturday, August 20th, 2022 from 8:30AM to 4:30PM at the Spring Creek United Methodist Church, 28970 Old Fredericksburg Rd, Fair Oaks, TX 78015. The institute is $50 and is open to all Rotarians.
Representatives of the Rotary Club of Wimberley recently traveled across the district to join the Uvalde Rotary Club members to, basically, give them a group hug. The Wimberley Rotarians joined Uvalde at one of their regular Thursday meetings, and heard a counselor who is dedicating her services to the community.
Rotary Club of Blanco County member, Connie Cox, attended the Rotary Club of Placencia Belize club meeting in Central America on July 19. The two clubs are planning to partner in providing hygiene kits to school children in the villages of Placencia and Seine Bight. Pictured is Placencia Club President Harold Wallen and Connie Cox exchanging club banners.
Blanco County Club Partners With Placencia Belize Club
During the RI Convention in Houston, a random encounter on the streets led to a wonderful evening with Walter > a Rotarian who originally was a refugee from Uganda and now coordinates Ukranian refugee efforts in California. Joining our DG Dwayne Hopkins in this stimulating / educational dinner, were Fair Oaks Ranch Rotarians Ron & Kathy Hubbard, plus Jackie Parsons, President of the Combat Human Trafficking Club.
Rotarians from Fair Oaks Ranch and Boerne, recently gathered in the Boots Gaubutz Park to plant a tree and dedicate a plaque in memory of Penny Saywer, who had a long-time and wide impact in the Rotary clubs and communities of both cities.
The Canyon Lake Rotary Club was recently recognized by the Community Recreation and Resource Center as a “Food Pantry Champion”! This area Organization serves residents with needed food and warm clothing items and wanted to recognize Rotary’s many different ways it supports local community through its service efforts.
The San Angelo Sunrise Rotary Club held a 5k run on April 30, 2022, the RAT RACE is held each year to benefit several local and one international charity.
Imagine That! Three D5840 clubs top $1,000 per capita giving! Hats off to Fredericksburg, Fair Oaks and San Antonio Airport for their 2021-2022 contributions to the Annual Fund of The Rotary Foundation. Rotary awards banners to the top three clubs and this is the first year any club exceeded $1,000; much less three clubs.
Ron Weaver has been a Bell Collector for many decades with a collection of over 3000 bells. He is retired and was in the process of getting rid of some of his bells and found one he obtained at a flea market in the Valley 55 years ago.
National Night Out at the San Antonio Zoo was celebrated June 17, 2022. Kim Munoz represented the Airport Rotary Club. We participated in this event on behalf of our club to support our club DEI initiatives. Diversity, equity & inclusion in Rotary International.
San Antonio has over 3,000 Afghan recently arrived refugee families plus many refugees (defined as legally here and unable to return to their country of origin) from Asia and Africa (and a few from Ukraine). A volunteer center is coordinating a backpacks filled with school supplies for refugee children event early August and needs supplies and volunteers, with a goal of 750 backpacks and volunteers signing up for 2-3 hours shifts online via Sign Up Genius.
The Honorable Rosie Speedlin Gonzalez, Michael Quintanilla, and David Cruz shared their stories of their childhood, coming-of-age, and professional successes/challenges of being perceived differently in sexuality, preference and the community. We invited them to be our featured speakers at a June Pride-themed social with the Rotary Club of San Antonio Pearl.
Three Honorable People at the Pearl Rotary Pride Month Social
On Friday, August 26 from 10 a.m. to noon San Marcos Rotary will package school supplies for children in six villages in northern Mexico, and nonprofits in San Marcos, including the Hays County Women’s Shelter and the Youth Services Bureau.
World Food Day is October 15. San Marcos Rotary, partnering with Rotarians in Wimberley and Kyle, plan three events and need volunteers or donations of food or cash.
Fredericksburg Nimitz Rotary will be holding a golf tournament to raise money to replace the cross at Cross Mountain Park. The tournament will be held at Lady Bird Golf Course in Fredericksburg on October 10, 2022.
Fredericksburg Nimitz Rotary present Mision de Candelila with two generators to help with their work in Piedras Negras. Pictured are club president Cindy Turner, Kelly Graham of Mision de Candelila, Ralph Bowen (Nimitz Rotary), Kenny Johnson of Mision de Candelia and Judy Hutcherson, Fredericksburg Noon Club Rotarian and board member of Mision de Candelila.
The club held its annual backpack and school supply drive at Western Edge Cocktails and Kitchen. We received $900 in monetary donations, 90 backpacks and the club purchased an additional 30 backpacks to provide to the Hill Country Needs Council. Pictured are acting club president Ralph Bowen and Cindy Heifner of the Needs Council.
This past June a dinner and installation ceremony introduced the new club President for 2022- 2023 as Jack Estes, the President Elect as Joe Anzollitto and Susie Smith as the Vice President.
Members of the Rotary Club of New Braunfels and Rotary Club of Zacoalco de Torres, Mexico recently completed a five-day environmental project where they planted 6,500 trees and helped landscape Zacoalco’s new Rotary Park.
During the month of July, the Hotel Estancia (Estancia del Norte San Antonio, 37 NE Loop 410 At, McCullough Ave, San Antonio, TX 78216) is featuring this drink created especially for Rotary. 50% of the proceeds come back to the San Antonio Rotary Club for their charitable works. Visit the Paseo Bar have a cocktail and support Rotary!
Toast the Four Way Test ... With a Four Way Test Cocktail
I am so honored to serve as your District Governor for this year. Thanks to Kristy, her staff of volunteers and especially YOU, we have emerged from the pandemic in great shape and are getting ourselves ready for great things to come.
The mobile Blood Drive, recently hosted by the Rotary Club of Fair Oaks Ranch in conjunction with Cibolo Creek Community Church, had a very successful day thanks to a giving community. The tragedy in Uvalde has seriously depleted the blood supply in South Texas, and this local effort was able to replenish that stock with 29 units of donated blood. @District5840 #D5840Service Strong
Fair Oaks Ranch Hosts Blood Drive for Uvalde Victims
The Rotary Club of Blanco County sponsored a blood drive to assist victims of the Uvalde tragedy on June 14. Rotarian, Pat Clewell, was at the door to register the donors. The South Texas Blood and Tissue Center was very pleased to collect 19 units of blood as well as having two plasma donors.
Blanco County Sponsors Blood Drive for Uvalde Victims
The Rotary Club of Blanco County recently awarded six $1000 scholarships to deserving LBJ and Blanco High School seniors. Each student was recommended by a teacher(s) and submitted a Rotary scholarship application to the Club. Each applicant was evaluated on their academic record, extra-curricular and community activities, and their career and life goals.
It was hot, even at 7 AM on Saturday, June 18th, when several members of the Beeville Rotary Club participated in the 2nd annual clean-up. The clean-up is a partnership with the city of Beeville and the Rotary Club to promote a healthy and attractive community.
Every year on June 14th the Rotary Club of Boerne (Noontime) raises funds by putting up flags in front of participating businesses in downtown Boerne. We do this to celebrate Flag Day on June 14 as well as on Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and other patriotic holidays. But who really knows much about Flag Day?
Fredericksburg Nimitz Rotary Club will be having a golf tournament on Monday, October 10, 2022 at Lady Bird Golf Course in Fredericksburg. Proceeds from the tournament will go towards replacement of the historical cross at Cross Mountain Park.
The Rotary Club of Hondo-D'Hanis had the privilege of inducting Mayor Darrin Schroeder and Scott Dixon, City Manager of Castroville, bringing the count to 10 new members for our 2021-22 year!
Jimmy Culp of the Fredericksburg Nimitz Rotary presents a check from the Randy Stapp Memorial Scholarship Fund to Wesley Spaeth from Harper High School.
I am writing this message from Houston, the site of the 2022 Rotary International Convention.How appropriate it is that June's theme is Fellowship. I have just spent 6 days with Rotarians from throughout the world united in fellowship. These members are diverse, smart, of varying ages and backgrounds and have shown compassion for others and passion for Rotary. All have displayed a united theme and it is "Serve to Change Lives."
Members of San Antonio Northwest Rotary Club were at Dellview Elementary School (NEISD) on May 25 to award students participating in the Club’s CHANGE program.
For the past nine (9) years, Stone Oak Rotary (SORC) has been privileged to have the opportunity to support and encourage a new group of students each year. Our goal is to improve the wellness of the students, as well as boost school attendance, which will enable the faculty and staff to provide the educational support and guidance to hopefully a larger population and enhance the Rotary focus on Literacy.
Oak Hills Rotarians volunteered on May 14th for the San Antonio Food Bank on site at the Haven for Hope community kitchen. Prepped 1,000 sandwiches and served cheese enchilada plates to 302 guests of Haven For Hope.
The horror of the May 24 shooting at Robb Elementary School in the community of Uvalde has been felt around the world, and Rotarians everywhere have reached out to the Rotary Club of Uvalde and District 5840 asking where they can send donations which will go towards healing.
In response, and in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Uvalde, our Rotary District 5840 has set-up a Uvalde Community Relief Fund within our 501c3 foundation. The purpose of this fund will be to assist and comfort, where possible, those who are grieving and who are most affected by the shooting as well as to aid in the restoration of the shattered world view of the children, families, educators, and first responders of Uvalde.
Utilizing the First Tee's certified curriculum, David Murrah (PGA), and other members of Fair Oaks Ranch Rotary, meet weekly with at-risk youth in the Boerne area to impart golf and life skills designed to equip and inspire them towards a brighter future.
Tragedy has struck Uvalde, Texas on the eve of Uvalde Rotary Club's 100th year celebration! This has happened in OUR District 5840. Let us, as Rotarians, do what we DO best!
We still are left in the dark regarding most of the goings on in that small town, but, need to keep Uvalde Rotary members, their families, the Uvalde Community, Law Enforcement, Medical Personnel, and sadly, the family of the perpetrator in ongoing prayers. We will keep all of you notified of anything that we learn.
IMMEDIATE NEED: BLOOD donations. The Regional Blood Bank was already depleted. Desperate need for BLOOD Donors. If all Rotarians in our District, who are able, can immediately go DONATE BLOOD this would be a blessing.
Long Term: We need to look at ways to support Uvalde children and Uvalde Rotary with cooperative grants, programs and projects.
There will be a community prayer vigil tonight (5/25/22) at the Fairplex Event Center at 7:00pm. Further information will be sent out as we learn more.
Situation in Uvalde Texas: Immediate Need in our D5840 District is BLOOD Donations
Fredericksburg Morning Rotary Club is hosting the 17th Annual Car Fest on Saturday June 4th, 2022 from 8am-4pm at Marktplatz on Hwy 16 and Main St in Fredericksburg, TX. Free Public admission. You can visit the website at www.fredericksburgcarfest.com for more information.
San Saba, Texas – The local Rotary Club of San Saba held its 40th annual Honor Student Banquet to recognize academically high-achieving students from Cherokee, Richland Springs, and San Saba ISDs.
Scramble 4 Scholarships, sponsored by the Rotary Club of San Marcos, raised more than $10,000 for scholarships on Friday, May 20. The golf fundraiser was held at Quicksand Golf Course in Woodcreek.
Members of the Airport Rotary club met at the San Antonio Independent School District's "Book Buddies World Headquarters" in Port San Antonio to help sort donated books.
On April 27, Joseph, Sergio, Tom, and Kim of the Airport Rotary Club along with three guests from Credit Human joined many other volunteers at the Daily Bread Ministries warehouse to help Snack Pak 4 Kids San Antonio pack food packages for students at San Antonio elementary schools. For more information about Snack Pack 4 Kids, please go to https://snackpak4kidssa.org/about/
The annual Texas STAAR tests are test that are distributed to students at the end of the school year. The STAAR tests can be a strain on students and educators.
San Saba, Texas – The local Rotary Club of San Saba will hold its 40th annual Honor Student Banquet to recognize academically high-achieving students from Cherokee, Richland Springs, and San Saba ISDs.
Help kick-off the new Rotary year on June 15, 2022 at 12PM at the District Leader & AG Installation Luncheon at the Matamores Restaurante, 12844 IH-10, SA TX, 78249. Tickets are $28 and includes a fajita lunch with a beverage. Seating is limited! Register here.
Alamo Heights Night 2022, our 34th Fiesta Event, is now history. After a two year hiatus because of the Pandemic, everyone was ready to party. It was a fabulous time for everyone.
Happy Cinco de Mayo! May's theme is Youth Service Month and for many of you, your Youth Projects are coming to an end as the kids prepare for graduation and look forward to summer vacation! It is an exciting time! I spoke with a class of 2nd Graders and 3rd Graders yesterday about Water Safety and staying safe around the water! We read together information from the Josh the Otter program which has been endorsed by Rotary International. It was a great time, with excellent readers and singers in Harper ISD.
Rotary Youth Exchange is back for the 2022-2022 year! How exciting to send our youth abroad and at the same time host high school students from other countries to get a taste of South Central Texas Rotary Clubs. I know that all the clubs participating and their host families and outbound students will have great stories to share. What better way is there to promote Peace than to experience another country's culture through the eyes of a student? Kudos to our Youth Exchange Committee for all their hard work interviewing and training both outbound & inbound students as well as host families. They are all truly silent Heroes to all the kids who participate as without them, this program would not happen!!
Can’t make the #Rotary22 convention in person? Join virtually for $50 when you register and pay by 10 May, or $75 from 11 May (12:00 a.m. Chicago time) through 31 August 2022. Register now at https://on.rotary.org/38XbelV
A fabulous new festival for Fredericksburg! Rotary’s June event will showcase local hospitality, Texas craft beers.
Mark your calendars and get ready to wet your whistle on June 10-11 for the first Fredericksburg Craft Beer Festival. This event is sure to become another of this town’s incredible attractions for fans of the suds.
Fredericksburg’s history with beer goes way back, with a brewery being established way back in the early days of the Nimitz Hotel. Others remember sidling up to the bar at the old White Elephant Saloon and ordering beers.
The officers of the Young Women's Leadership Academy (YWLA) Interact Club were sworn in on April 27, 2022 at the YWLA Campus. Club sponsor Sarah Moran presided over the ceremony.
The Stone Oak Rotary Club will be having a virtual popcorn fundraiser in May. Stay tuned for more details. We will put it on the calendar as soon as we have a date.
We are so pleased to be able to continue recognizing our wonderful area 1st responders and awarding these agencies with funding for continued education and training.
The Rotary Club of Blanco County is looking forward to to its annual Joe Garcia Memorial Golf Tournament & Silent Auction on May 9th at Vaaler Creek Golf Club in Blanco.
Please join us Thursday, June 9, 2022 for the 31st Annual Rotary Club of Seguin’s $20,000 Rotary Raffle Night! The fun begins at 6:00pm at the Seguin Coliseum. See flier for details.
The Rotary Club of San Marcos and Texas State University Rotaract Club gathered together at Putt Pub in San Marcos for fellowship on April 6. The Rotaract Club was revived this year and its membership is going. Rotaract sponsored another event at Putt Pub on April 22 to raise funds and expand student awareness of the organization.
District 5840 and the Rotary Club of Fair Oaks Ranch would like to announce our district's newest and greatest club. The Rotary Club of District 5840 to Combat Human Trafficking was chartered by RI on April 5th, 2022. This is our district’s first cause based club.
These club members are ‘on fire’ to combat human trafficking in all aspects of society. They know the issues and are prepared to share all their knowledge and strategies with other Rotary clubs. A charter party is in the works.
Congratulations to this awesome Rotary club. Can’t wait to see what these members accomplish.
Rotarians from the Randolph Metrocom Rotary Club and the San Antonio Northeast Rotary Club volunteered on Thursday, March 17th at the 12th Annual GRASP Western Night.
April's theme is Maternal & Child Health! I know that many of you are already involved with organizations in your communities providing programs and services in this area. When I look at the theme each month, I think about all the programs and services offered by our clubs that make us so relevant today.
The next Rotary Leadership Institute Training Session will be on Saturday, May 14th at the Spring Creek United Methodist Church - 8:30AM to 4PM. Cost is $50. Click to Register.
DGE Dwayne Hopkins created this "I Am Rotary" video from the Rotary SA Day on March 26, 2022 promoting the good work of Rotary. Click here to play video.
Our first Grants Management Training Seminar is on Thursday, April 14 at 6:30PM on Zoom. Each Rotary Club in the District needs to attend one of the three trainings (check the District Calendar). Each club needs 2 Rotarians per club to be trained to be eligible for District Grants for the 2022-2023 year. Cost is $0 but you must register to receive the Zoom Link.
Come join us on Saturday, April 30 for Club Leader Training at the Winston School, 8565 Ewing Halsell Dr., San Antonio from 9AM-2PM. Cost is $30. Click to register.
Who Should Attend: Presidents-Elect, President-Nominee, Club Officers, Committee Chairs and anyone else who wishes to enhance their Rotary knowledgebase. All are Welcome!
Club Rotario Nueva Rosita Centenario AC Club President Federico “Lico” Garcia presents and Oak Hills Rotary Club President with a certificate of Sister Club.
Oak Hills Rotary volunteered at the San Antonio Food Bank on Saturday, March 26th. Rotarians included President Rick Rhodes, Ken Donoughue, Kris Richter, Bruce Richter, Derek Matthys, Rae Saldana and Rick Tarbell. We served 112 families in 4 hours.
During the period of March 25-26, our four outbound Rotary Youth Exchange students participated in an extensive orientation to prepare them for their upcoming school year abroad.
The Frerdericksburg Rotary sanitation project in Katoma is going very well. It started in mid-January, and 2 of the 7 school's facilities are almost finished. As you may recall, the total project budget is approximately $104,000. One disbursement of $26,000 was sent in January to get the project started.
The Boerne Sunrise Rotary Club and the Rotary Interact Club of the Winston School throw an annual party at Christmas for more than 90 children in the Shady Rest Mobile Home Park in Boerne.
Today, you typically hear about bullying or violence in schools around the nation. But in Boerne ISD we have leadership that starts encouraging positive behaviors in our youth at an early age.
District Governor Kristy Vandenberg was an honored guest as the Rotary Club of Fair Oaks Ranch recently celebrated it 10th anniversary during its weekly meeting. Past District Governor Lisa Herring was invited back to be the guest speaker in a fitting tribute to her keynote address at the club’s Charter Ceremony 10 years ago. Eleven of the original charter members were recognized and honored at the meeting along with a video presentation of the club’s 10 year. history
Fair Oaks Ranch Rotary Celebrates 10 Yr Anniversary
School Fuel is a nonprofit in San Marcos that provides 1,000 needy k-8 students with food on weekends and over holidays, when in-school meals are not available. San Marcos Rotary was a $1,500 sponsor of the School Fuel 5k Run, and Rotarians paid to run/walk as well. In addition, Rotary had a table at the event to create awareness of the club.
Fredericksburg Morning Rotary Club does a lot of service projects around youth and literacy, so when recently asked for volunteers to flip pancakes one Monday morning for the teachers and staff of Fredericksburg Elementary School, they were glad to send members to create heart-shaped pancakes on a cold February morning.
Fredericksburg-Nimitz Rotary President Cindy Turner presented a check for $5,000 to Denise Rizzo with the Hill Country Community Needs Council to continue with all the good work they do for the Gillespie County community.
Visit https://www.rotary.org/en/rotary-responds-ukraine-crisis and follow Rotary on social media to stay updated on how clubs can get involved and what actions Rotary members have taken and the impact it has had for people in the region.
In response to the deepening humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, The Rotary Foundation has created an official channel for Rotary members around the world to contribute funds to support the relief efforts underway by Rotary Districts and has designated its Disaster Response Fund as the main avenue for contributions.
Our March Rotary Theme is Water & Sanitation. There are many Global Grants that address this critical issue all over the world and right here at home. As Rotarians know, these grants can be completed in any country of the world, as long as there are at least two Rotary Clubs willing to donate funds, which can then be matched through their District and Rotary International upon approval. District 5840 has been a partner in several of these types of grants. If your club is interested in getting involved with a Global Grant which is focused on water and sanitation, check out www.myrotary.org to find an international partner who wants to help make the dream of safe water a reality. There are also Rotary Action Groups you can support. These are listed on www.MyRotary.org too!
The Rotary Club of Blanco County recently presented the Blanco High School Powerlifting Team a check for $1000 for purchase of needed safety equipment such as back braces, or weightlifting belts, bench shirts, wrist wraps, etc. - all necessary powerlifting equipment.
Posted by Regional Foundation Coordinator Rich Kaye
Several of you have asked about what Rotary is doing in support of the humanitarian crises brewing in Eastern Europe. Here’s what’s been released so far:
Rotary is in contact with the United Nations High Commission on Refugees – USA to prepare and respond to the needs of those being displaced in Ukraine and to neighboring countries.
ShelterBox, our project partner for disaster response, is in communication with Rotary members in Eastern Europe to explore how it may offer support with temporary transitional housing and other essential supplies.
An important goal to a Club is to achieve geting media attention for their upcoming fundraiser/service project. The first step is to create a press release. Once developed, it is your "bible" for the language that is used for your website, social media and flyers.
Rotary Rockstar Challenge - Level 5 is about how to create a Press Release.
The Rotary Club of Boerne, meeting at noon on Fridays, has supported the Boerne community through service projects and grants before and throughout the COVID era.. The Club proudly supports important projects and initiatives like the Boerne Strong Program, BISD student scholarships, local food and health nonprofits, and many more.
It is a tragic and sad time for the people of Ukraine and the world. At Rotary, we are deeply concerned by the deteriorating situation in Ukraine and the escalating loss of life and humanitarian hardship there. Continued military action against Ukraine will not only devastate the region, but also risk spreading tragic consequences across Europe and the world.
Since 1995, San Antonio community members gather every February to participate in a one-day, all volunteer event to clean the San Antonio Watersheds. The event known as Basura Bash brings awareness to the hazards trash can cause in our community when it is not disposed of properly.
Free to download and use, this app will let you access the key information you need while on the go. Password protected just like your website, the Club Runner Mobile app allows you to view your member directory, contact member and executives, read the latest articles posted to your website, learn more about upcoming speakers, view meeting details and track attendance statistics, right from your smart phone or tablet.
CHARLIE TEBOW - Charlie is a survivor who has dedicated her life to serving others like them. In their day job, they are an advocate working with runaway and exploited youth to help them overcome complex and compounded trauma. Charlie has also served on various working groups. Click photo to play interview.
Oak Hills Rotary Club gathered at OP Schnabel Park to participate in the 27th Annual Basura Bash on February 19th. This volunteer event is the largest single-day waterway clean up in Texas!
Rotarians from across the district will be joining forces to clean up Brackenridge Park on March 26 in time for the spring. Duties will include trash removal, painting park benches and mulching. Rotarians are asked to wear their Rotary gear, appropriate shoes and bring gloves. Click here to register online: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YJDQ23L
Everyone (over the age of 10) is welcome to join us! Contact the Rotary office at director@rotarysa.org or 210-222-8242, x12 with any questions.
Araceli Aguilar presents a $1,500 check to Michael Pigg, President of School Fuel, a nonprofit that provides needy school students with food for weekends and holidays.
The Rotary Club of San Marcos placed one of two Rotary mini libraries in the Victory Garden Park in San Marcos. At a dedication of the little library, club members noticed that the park lacked shade trees and ornamentals. It has a huge playscape but little else. The club purchased six shade trees and four ornamental trees to improve the park aesthetics and environment.
We’re excited to announce that the Rotary District 5840 – Annual Share Fund raffle tickets are now available! If you’re familiar with this amazing raffle, then you know how much our annual go-to fundraiser is to The Rotary Foundation’s mission. The money raised during this time comes back to our District and funds our District Grants (important, right?!).
In response to questions and concerns raised by members worldwide, we are pleased to announce that the Rotary International Board of Directors has confirmed that the 2022 Rotary International Convention will be an in-person event 4-8 June in Houston, Texas, USA. We are excited to offer a special registration rate of US$495 through 28 February.
Here's a toast to Peace & Conflict Resolution Month! This is one of our seven Areas of Service! What can all District 5840 Clubs do?
Partner with adjacent Clubs on bigger and better Service Projects!
Promote all clubs with regional news media.
Look for ways to get your club involved with an International Service Project.
Support the Rotary Youth Exchange program by sponsoring an outbound student or hosting an inbound student!
Work with clubs in other Districts close to #5840 on Service Projects,
Participate in a Global Grant! You can be a partner in a grant that already has an idea that will make a lasting impact, but needs additional funding from other Rotary Clubs! Check out the list of Global Grants requesting financial support on myrotary.org.
Oak Hills Rotary Club with the Nueva Rosita Centenario and Coronado Binacional Rotary clubs in Mexico partnered together to deliver a water purifying plant.
The Satellite Club to Combat Human Trafficking has taken on the huge task of educating all clubs in the District on what they can do towards eradicating this horrible crime to humanity.
The Blanco County Rotary members Jack Twilley, Leta Garcia (artist), Jan Gass, Jayne Lightfoot, and Betsy Scheffe (artist), and the teacher, Ms Rosalind Ellis who started the “ART for our Students” met to discuss second semester projects and schedules.
Fair Oaks Ranch Rotary Club representatives Greg and Carmen Buschman, spent their holiday season transporting thousands of plastic bottle caps to a charity in Juarez Mexico which recyles them to earn money for the families of children in the hospital.
The Roy Maas Youth Alternatives Home in Boerne, now has a putting green for their residents thanks to the Rotary Club of Fair Oaks Ranch with some assistance from a District grant.
Rotary International President-elect Jennifer Jones wants members to imagine the possibilities in the change they can make to transform the world.
Jones, a member of the Rotary Club of Windsor-Roseland, Ontario, Canada, revealed the 2022-23 presidential theme, Imagine Rotary, as she urged people to dream big and harness their connections and the power of Rotary to turn those dreams into reality.
Congratulations to Deb Bowen from the Fredericksburg-Nimitz Rotary Club who received her Paul Harris Plus Ruby Award! Deb is a dedicated Rotarian who exemplifies Service Above Self.
Did you know that Rotary is getting involved in the #fighthumantrafficking awareness initiative and putting the power and resources of 35K clubs and 1.2 million members behind this effort?
There will be a Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) on Saturday, January 29, 2022 from 8:30AM to 4:30PM at the Spring Creek United Methodist Church, 28970 Old Fredericksburg Rd, Fair Oaks, TX 78015. The institute is $50 and is open to all Rotarians. Masks must be worn. Click to register.
San Marcos sponsored a raffle for the football playoff between Georgia and Alabama on January 10. There was a watch party for the game at Grill 54 in San Marcos. Ben Duncan organized the fundraiser. The event raised about $1,500.
San Marcos Raises Funds With Football Playoff Raffle
The Indoor Ride to End Polio included 25 teams with approximately 250 participants. The highest Indoor Ride fundraiser award goes to Calgary West, where 34 clubs helped raise more than $91,000. Second place went to Stoughton, WI who raised more than $27,000. In total, the Indoor Ride, including all sites, raised a record $505,642 (all figures quoted with the Gates Match).
Happy New Year! I hope 2022 holds great promise for us all! One way that we can ensure that we are able to serve our community and bring a little joy and promise, is to have a successful Main Event and raffle.
I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Year! The District has grown by a net of 14 members, as of 12/31/21, after many clubs purged their membership prior to January 1st. This is a shout-out to the clubs with positive growth: Ballinger, Blanco, Boerne Noon, Brady, Canyon Lake, Del Rio, Fair Oaks, Fbg Morning, Fbg Nimitz, Fbg Noon, Hondo D'Hanis, New Braunfels Downtown, Poteet, Rancolph Metrocom, San Antonio Airport, San Antonio Alamo Ranch, San Antonio Mission Trail, San Antonio, Northeast, San Antonio Oak Hills, San Marcos & San Saba.
Every year since 2010, January has been proclaimed as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Take time in January to learn more about human trafficking and action steps your Rotary Club and each Rotarian can take to prevent human trafficking.
Tom McKeown, Fair Oaks Ranch Rotary Club Foundation Chair, proudly presents the club's newest members of the Paul Harris Society > Clifton and Marie Lewis.
The Rotary Club of San Antonio South sponsored two families for Christmas. Both families have children that attend the Pre-K for SA South Education Center.
The Alamo Heights Rotary Club completed its 18th Annual Sparkle of the Season award contest to recognize the best decorated residences in Alamo Heights.
San Antonio Rotary is holding a jeans drive for the homeless served by Corazon Ministries at Travis Park Churh. It runs through Jan 21 and jeans can be dropped at the following locations:
On November 19th and 20th over 300 Volunteers from the Rotary Club of San Antonio joined to add the following new amenities to the Kingsom fo Kids at CASA …a beautiful reading theater, 2 new playgrounds, a soccer field, a new basketball court, beautiful murals now adding color and message and a gazebo garden.
The Rotary Club of Hondo-D'Hanis was busy shopping & wrapping toys, purchasing Christmas trees and preparing food baskets for 27 families in our Communities.
You can help victims in Western Kentucky through donations to the Rotary District 671 Foundation Relief Fund or if you want to drop off supplies, contact Kaytlin Flowers at 270-287-2214.
The Rotary Club of Kerrville was recognized this morning for their efforts in the UGRA River Clean Up effort and received a $25 gift card for finding one of the "Most Unusual" items while picking up trash along the Guadalupe River in Louise Hays Park.
The Fredericksburg-Nimitz club purchased toys for the children of Piedras Negras and made the annual trip down there for distribution of the toys along with a medical wellness check for the children.
At the Fredericksburg-Nimitz club's annual Christmas Party, several people were surprised by Ralph Bowen when he offered some of his many points to bridge other members so they could receive their Paul Harris awards.
In the first half of this Rotary Year, the Donor Advised Fund (DAF) has authorized $11,800.76 in matching grants. That means, as a minimum, during this Rotary Year, the DAF has helped facilitate $23,601.52 in humanitarian projects, to better our world through Rotary.
December is Disease Prevention & Treatment Month. What a great time our clubs had in October coming together to raise funds for Polio Plus. Polio Eradication continues to be one of our main goals as an organization. Kudos to all the clubs that held a Polio fundraising event and/or helped to share information about this disease.
Of course, COVID 19 is still out there, with new variants probable. Rotary supports the COVID 19 vaccine while still honoring an individual's right to choose. We are working with organizations across the world to help get the vaccine to all individuals in all countries. We have mourned the loss of friends and family to this disease, but continue to work together as Rotarians committed to Disease Prevention & Treatment.
Fair Oaks Ranch Rotarians joined a variety of other local service organizations to cook, pack, and deliver several hundred Thanksgiving meals to families throughout Kendall County.
The Rotary Club of Fair Oaks Ranch joined a variety of District 5840 clubs to make the day a little brighter for the families who enjoyed the Halloween festivities at Morgan's Wonderland - San Antonio's famous fun park catering to disabled children.
Last call for reduced rate! The deadline to register at the reduced rate is fast approaching. You have until 15 December 2021, so sign up and pay today to take advantage of significant savings.
After a devastating fire destroyed the Marketplatz building at Wurstfest in New Braunfels in 2019, taking with it the Rotary Club of New Braunfels' main source of income, their German potato pancake booth, the future of the Club’s fundraising abilities seemed uncertain.
Alamo Heights President Kristen Salazar recently told 78209 Magazine, We’re putting more of a focus on doing work in the community by volunteering at least monthly.”
You have the power to increase people's understanding of Rotary by showing your members as people of action - telling and showing the public how you make a positive difference in your community.
Pete Siegel, Past President of the Airport Rotary Club and District 5840 International Fellowship of Scouting Rotarians (IFSR) Coordinator, presented a IFSR Eagle Scout Recognition Certificate on November 16, 2021, to Eagle Scout R. Garcia, Troop 3982, San Antonio.
Blanco Rotarian and Artist, Leta Garcia and local Artist Betsy Scheffe, along with Jayne Lightfoot and Jan Gass, are volunteering at the Blanco Elementary School as Artists and helpers to introduce and teach kindergartners through second graders art.
State Representative Andy Murr, Gloria Wilson, Bobby Martinez, and Fred Bowers visited the Rotary Club of Hondo-D'Hanis on Veterans Day to help celebrate the day. Current Rotarians, who are also Veterans include: Mayor Jim Danner, Russ Renaud, Paul Guinn, Brian Kanke and Fred Bowers.
Mayor Jane Hughson of the City of San Marcos read a proclamation in Council Chambers on November 16 declaring December 1, 2021 as Rotary Club of San Marcos Day in Honor of its 100th Anniversary.
Dust off your ice skates, San Antonio. The popular Rotary Club Ice Rink is returning to Travis Park ahead of Thanksgiving. "The Coolest Place in Town" first launched in 2019 but canceled its second year due to the pandemic.
District Governor Kristy Vandenberg and the District 5840 Nominating Committee are pleased to announce the selection of Steve Darling of the Rotary Club of San Antonio as the District Governor for the Rotary year beginning July 1, 2024. Congratulations Steve!
On Saturday, October 16, several members and supporters from the Rotary Club of Wimberley joined with the San Marcos Rotary Club to pack 15,000 meals to be shipped to Africa’s hungry.
There are amazing Rotary Clubs and Members in District 5840! November is a great time to celebrate all the good works supported by the Rotary Foundation! I have often been asked "Why do you personally give to the Rotary Foundation?" The answer for me is very simple.
I believe that Rotarians across the world are making a great difference by responding daily to the needs of their communities. Needs like clean water, food security hygiene facilities, schools, clinics, small business development and many more. I know that my donations to the Foundation are making dreams come true for millions of people! When natural disasters strike, I know that Rotary Clubs in that area are responding with basic needs and long term solutions. My donations are helping with emergency needs like food, housing and medical care, along with rebuilding communities.
Donating to Polio Plus is Bill Mann, who as a child survived polio in an iron lung. Bill said he had the live or die variety and within a month was back to normal. Now he is coping with post-polio syndrome and shared with San Antonio West Rotarian's Marcia Tinsley and John Sullivan his appreciation for their fundraising efforts and what Rotarians around the world are doing to eradicate polio.
On October 26, the Rotary Club of Canyon Lake and the Comal County Friends of the Night Sky presented a Sky Friendly Certificate to the Tye Preston Memorial Library in Canyon Lake for their building and grounds.
On October 16, 2021 Alamo Ranch members volunteered their time to help build homes in one of Habitat for Humanity's newest communities. Rancho Carlota is located in San Antonio's Southwest side just east of Von Ormy and consists of about 90 acres with hopes of having about 250 homes once it's complete. Way to go team, thank you for your service to this amazing organization!
On December 4th, 2021, MTR Charities, Inc. will host our signature club fundraiser, the Mission-to-Mission Charity Bike Tour at Mission Park Pavilions (6032 Padre Dr., SATX 78214). The tour raises funds to distribute mini-grants to local non-profits ranging between $100- $1,500.
The Rotary Club of San Antonio South provided Columbia Heights Elementary School located in the Harlandale ISD with school supplies on the teachers wish lis
The Rotary Club of Ballinger will be hosting its ninth annual Gun, Knife and hunting show. This will take place at the Ballinger Community Center on November 12-13th.
Thanks to the generosity of several members and local businesses the San Antonio at the Dominion Club hosted an old fashioned "smoker" membership drive.
The FBG Nimitz Rotary club made Billy and Susan Johnson, owners of Texas Heritage Vineyards, Honorary club members and presented them with a plaque in appreciation for all they do for the club.
Club members Cindy Turner (President), Carleton Turner and Christina Gonzalez traveled to Piedras Negras recently to donate a washing machine to Asilo de Ancianos San Vincente de Paul, a local group home for elderly and infirmed adults.
On the evening of Thursday, October 21st, The Rotary Club of New Braunfels and The Downtown Rotary Club of New Braunfels held their first ever joint Pints for Polio event at Guadalupe Brewing Company. Despite only having just over a week to plan and market the event, it drew 60 to 70 attendees and raised just over $1,300.00.
On Friday, October 1, members of San Antonio Northwest Rotary Club provided special recognition for 12 developing young leaders at Dellview Elementary School (NEISD).
Jourdanton Rotary Club participated in our local National Nite Out on October 5th. President Michele Higginbotham had a friendly competition with, fellow member Joyce Steinle’s sister, Barbara Peeler who was representing Jourdanton Education Foundation.
With the kids back in school in person so too are the Early Act Clubs kicking off a new year. The San Antonio at the Dominion hosts two schools thanks to the efforts of the District's Early Act Chair Darcee Grivel.
District Governor Kristy Vandenberg congratulates Fair Oaks Ranch Rotary members Ron & Kathy Hubbard for winning the Wine Wagon Grand Prize while attending the Kerrville Rotary Club Pints for Polio.
On Thursday, November 11th the Fredericksburg Nimitz Rotary will team with Texas Heritage Vineyards for their quarterly Vino and Bingo for a Cause Fundraiser.
More than 150 volunteers came from San Antonio all the way to Georgetown to help the Rotary Club of San Marcos pack 15,000 meals on World Food Day, Saturday, October 16.
With so many training events now being held fully or partially online, you too may be planning some virtual lessons. Try these tips from Past District Governor Chris Offer of the Rotary Club of Ladner, British Columbia, Canada:
On October 16, the Rotary Club of Blanco County and the D5840 Combat Human Trafficking Rotary Club held a walk around the Old Blanco Courthouse grounds to raise awareness about human trafficking.
October means cooler weather, falling colorful leaves, Rotary Economic & Community Development Month and, of course, World Polio Day, Sunday October 24th.
Let’s talk Polio! We are literally so close to eradicating this disease. Only two (2) new cases of Polio have been reported this year from January thru September. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation supports our efforts with a 2:1 match for every dollar we raise! Once again our goal for the US is $50M raised, for a total of $150 after matching funds!
You're invited to join the San Antonio Rotary Club on Wednesday, Oct. 13 at noon to listen to nationally-known speaker, DEI and innovation leader and proud Rotarian, Dr. "BowTie" Todd Jenkins.
You don’t want to miss this year’s biggest event The District Celebration & Awards Gala on Nov. 13th at 6PM at the UTSA Downtown Campus Rooftop Terrace! Register by Oct. 10th to lock in early bird pricing. Both individual and table purchase available.
The Rotary Club of Hondo-D'Hanis awarded Ms. Frances Lopez the "You Make a Difference Award" for her hard work and dedication in the Hondo/D'Hanis Communities.
Pete Siegel, International Fellowship of Scouting Rotarians Coordinator for District 5840, presented IFSR Eagle Scout recognition certificates to brothers Jackson and Jason W. of Scouts BSA Troop 90 July 30th.
The Rotary Club of Fair Oaks Ranch recently partnered with the city to conduct a Hazardous Waste Disposal event in order to protect its beautiful land, atmosphere, and abundant wildlife.
Fredericksburg Morning Rotary is hosting their 12th annual 5k Walk/Run and 8K Run - Kraut Run - in conjunction with Oktoberfest in Fredericksurg, Texas on Saturday, October 2.
San Saba Rotary will help raise funds for Polio with their 3rd annual Purple Pink Game Oct 15th at San Saba Football Field "The Grave Yard" in their home game against Winters.
We had quite a few Rotarians, interact and Satellite members who showed up to volunteer and spread the word of how we love to serve our Kerrville community during the 5th Annual Labor Day Walk-A-Fun!
During September we celebrate Basic Education and Literacy Month. In District 5840 all our clubs have amazing service projects in this Rotary Area of Focus!
Are we ready to help our currently projected attendance of 2500 handicapped children at Morgan's Wonderland on Halloween evening October 31, 2021? Hopefully the answer is - YES WE ARE!! We are so excited since this year we are BACK IN THE PARK!
This morning 25 members of Kerrville noon, satellite and Interact kids from Tivy along with friends and family met under the bridge of Louise Hayes park and picked up a full bag of trash each, along the path up to Lehmann Park.
Take action for World Polio Day on 24 October by promoting awareness of Rotary’s polio eradication efforts, raising funds, and planning club events. Let’s engage our communities in the fight against polio, because as long as polio exists anywhere, it remains a threat everywhere. Check out our World Polio Day event page for resources, graphics and fundraising ideas.
The beautiful Fair Oaks Ranch Golf & Country Club will be the setting for this year's annual fund raiser golf tournament hosted by the Rotary Club of Fair Oaks Ranch on Monday, Oct 4, 2021.
The Alamo Heights Rotary Club will present its 34th Annual Alamo Heights Night® (AHN) on April 1st, 2022, on the University of the Incarnate Word campus.The event is an official San Antonio Fiesta® Commission event.
We want to CELEBRATE & WELCOME your new Rotary Member! We will provide you with a graphic that can be shared on your Social Media Pages and we will also share the graphic on the District Facebook page! Enter your new member's name, classification and a photo. Submit here or use the Submit New Member button located on the District home page.
Recently our Canyon Lake Ace Hardware store awarded the Canyon Lake Rotary Club over $7,800 for participating in the Roundup program. The Club will fund various projects to help the Community.
Ace Roundup Program Money Goes Back To The Community
The Fredericksburg-Nimitz Rotary Club inducted four new members at it's Back Pack/School supply event held on July 27th. We welcomed Dave and Gina Woodward and Mike and Debbi McCurdy to our Rotary family! Of the club's 31 members, 22 are 'couples'.
We are excited to announce the rollout of our new ROTARY ROCKSTAR CHALLENGE! The Rotary Rockstar Challenge was designed to help Clubs increase their public image skill set. The more you promote your Club, the better the odds are at increasing your membership. It is a win-win all around!
The Rotary Club of Fair Oaks Ranch recently partnered with the Boerne Independent School District, and a variety of community supporters, to conduct a back-to-school Resource Rally. Club members assisted in serving approximately 400 students; ensuring they had the counseling and resources needed for a successful start to the new school year.
Rotarians in Seguin have a long history of providing community grants within Guadalupe county. Normally through fund raising, the club awards 10 to 12 grants per year. It is indeed a tradition, that the Grants Committee and Club Members strive to focus on, year after year.
Dawn Capra and Alyce Sierra with the Blanco County Community Resource Center (CRC), located in Johnson City, were guests at the Rotary Club of Blanco County meeting August 16.
Last year, during the pandemic year, Travis Elementary had 610 in-school students and 110 online students – all students involved in the EarlyAct program and character building principals.
The Rotary Club of San Marcos invites District 5840 Rotarians to a grand gala to celebrate its 100th Anniversary on Friday, January 14, 2022 at the Embassy Suites Ballroom in San Marcos.
The Rotary Club of San Marcos is sponsoring Rise Against Hunger on Sat., Oct. 16 from 9-Noon. Volunteers will pack 15,000 meals for shipment to Africa.
The Rotary Club of San Marcos and the Mision de Candelilla (MdC) in Fredricksburg partnered on August 27 to pack and deliver school supplies for children in seven impoverished villages in Mexico as an international project.
The Fredericksburg- Nimitz Rotary Club held a ‘back-pack and school supply’ event on July 27th in support of the Hill Country Needs Council’s effort to serve the children of Gillespie County.
Gordon R. McInally, a member of the Rotary Club of South Queensferry, Lothian, Scotland, is the selection of the Nominating Committee for President of Rotary International for 2023-24. He will be declared the president-nominee on 1 October if no challenging candidates have been suggested.
McInally lauded Rotary’s ability to adapt technologically during the COVID-19 pandemic, saying the approach should continue and be combined with the best of our past practices as Rotary seeks to grow and increase engagement.
District 5840 selects the next District Governor in October each year. We are actively looking for Rotary leaders to serve in this critical role for Rotary. This year we will select the person to serve as Governor for the Rotary year beginning July 1,2024. Persons eligible to be Governor must have served a full term as President of a Rotary Club and have been a Rotarian for seven years.
Please be aware of a recent spam email being sent to Clubs with subject line "Your website and digital card". The content goes on to say " With the pleasure of greeting you, it is already August and we have not had answer on your part to know if they will want your page" .. the link in the email is suspcious and SHOULD NOT BE CLICKED. The email is signed Rotary District 4185. If you have questions, contact pblankenzee@rotary5840.org.
How do we celebrate Membership & New Club Development Month? Several ways! Personally, we think about our business associates, friends and neighbors who might want to join the greatest Service Club in the World!
August 16, 2021 @7:15 a.m. The Rotary eClub of San Antonio will Cheer and Welcome the Elementary students of Ed Franz back to school and distribute reading and writing materials.
April Ancira (Vice President of Ancira Auto Group) congratulates Boerne High School graduate Ashlyn Murrah as the recipient of a Careers & Technology Scholarship from the Rotary Club of Fair Oaks Ranch.
The Rotary Club of Fair Oaks Ranch recently hosted Mike Canales, District Interact Chair, and Abby Robinson, Winston School Interact Club President, at Fair Oaks Ranch Country Club.
The Rotary Satellite E-Club of D5840 to Combat Human Trafficking is official! The club will meet by zoom link on the 2nd and fourth Mondays of each month at noon. Attend the Rotary Satellite E-Club of D5840 to COMBAT Human Trafficking on Monday, August 9th via Zoom to hear from Karen Walkowski.
During the month of June, Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Blanco County provided assistance to the students and teachers at Blanco Elementary School’s summer program.
On July 1st Fredericksburg Nimitz Rotary club partnered again with Texas Heritage Vineyards and their Vino and Bingo for a Cause quarterly event to raise money for Meals for Vets.
It was a great turnout for the 4th of July Kiddie Parade and Main Street Parade! So great to have our parades back up and running The Fredericksburg-Nimitz Rotary Club sold brisket and pork tacos, hot dogs, sodas, water, beer and wine. We raised $3,000 for our General Fund. All funds will benefit our community.
Tammy past president of Kerrville Rotary Club was able to donate $10,000 to their local hospital Peterson Medical Center. This donation was in honor of all the front line workers and all they have done during COVID.
Kerrville Rotary hosted a blood drive on 6/24/21 and it was our final one for Tammy's presidential year. Overall between our three blood drives we were able to donate 91 whole units of blood, 18 double red cell donations, and two red cell and plasma donations.
The Rotary Club of Hondo-D'Hanis partnered with Broadway Bank, Hondo National Bank, Medina Electric Co-op, Hondo Public Library, D'Hanis Fire Department and Vulcan Materials Co. in a joint project to help collect non-perishables for the Medina Co. Food Pantry.
On July 11, 21 members of the Rotary Club of San Antonio's latest class of U40 (under the age of 40) members tackled a new project in support of a legacy project. Our club's Kingdom for Kids program has built 20 playgrounds in disadvantaged areas through the years.
On Aug. 6, 2020, Arianna Lopez, 8, was seriously injured when vehicle crashed through her bedroom while she was sleeping. She passed away on Aug. 17. Arianna was a Starkey Elementary School student.
The Hondo - D'Hanis Rotary Club partnered with Medina County Meals on Wheels to help deliver over 65 fruit baskets & meals to local homebound residents.
The Hondo - D'Hanis Rotary Club partnered with Medina County Meals on Wheels to help deliver over 65 fruit baskets & meals to local homebound residents.
The Hondo Chamber of Commerce held it's annual 2020 Banquet on Saturday, June 26th, and the Rotary Club of Hondo - D'Hanis was the recipient of the Volunteer of the Year award!
The Rotary Club of San Antonio Oak Hills is a partner with the Rotary Club of Nueva Rosita, MX to purchase/install the RO drinking water equipment and water distribution piping required for new water purification systems in multiple schools in the Nueva Rosita area.
The Rotary club of San Antonio South finally is back meeting face-to-face. Stinson Airport was the site of the first meeting, June 1. The meeting was well attended and a few joined in on Zoom.
San Antonio South Meets In Person For First Time In Over a Year
The Pleasanton Rotary Club is proud to announce its 2021 scholarship winners. These students were recently honored at the Pleasanton HIgh School Awards night. The club usually awards $5000 a year but was able to increase that this year to $6,000 in cooperation with Rotary 5840 and district grant funds.
Pictured plaque notes Rotary support from a global grant for three schools in Cocuta, Columbia providing $80,500 for three chemistry labs in their schools. Our District 5840 is among the listed contributors, which evidences the teamwork of Rotary clubs and districts across the globe.
In 2019, Rotary International implemented a partnership with the United Nations addressing the concerns of plastic waste on our environment. This partnership calls for reducing the use of plastic, changing the industry to use less and different kinds of plastic, and implementing more recycling.
The Rotary Club of New Braunfels recently held their spring fundraising event, the Hill Country Craft Beer Festival (HCCBF), a one-day Texas craft beer tasting and music festival that raises funds for the club and for distribution to local non-profit groups throughout the region.
What a great year this will be as we all get back together in person to do the work of Rotary! I am very proud to be your new District Governor for 5840, as I start this very important and "Change Maker" Rotary Year.
Alamo Heights Rotary President David Clapp (center) presented Jefferson Outreach (JO) CEO Bri Valdez (2d from left) with a check today as part of a $5000 donation supporting their activities delivering food and sundries to homebound seniors.
The Winston School Interact Club held its 25th Anniversary Celebration on Thursday, May 27, 2021 at the Winston School Greehy Family Foundation Dining and Assembly Hall. Eight past Interact Club Presidents and other officers were on hand for the event. Army Captain Dominic Cavallini, a 2011 graduate of the school was the emcee for the night.
Kerrville Rotary's final event for this Rotary year will be our South Texas Blood & Tissue Center blood drive. It is scheduled for Thursday, June 24, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Crenwelge Motors.
Congrats to Deb Bowen for receiving Paul Harris Fellow Plus 5 pin! Deb is an exemplary Rotarian and human being. We are proud to have her as our own (Fredericksburg-Nimitz). Congratulations, Deb!
President Jimmy Culp presents checks for $1250 each to Denise Usener from the Golden Hub and Jonathan Baethge from the Fredericksburg Food Pantry. Both worthy recipients considering last years struggles.
President, Jimmy Culp, presents a check for $3174 to Sharon Massey and Dottie Pieper of Wounded Warriors at Nebo. The club raised the money by selling BBQ plates at a Memorial Day celebration at the home of Neal and Pam Martin. Many, many thanks to all who participated and donated.
A benefit concert was held Sunday, June 13th at the Medina County Fair Hall, to help cover expenses caused by the hail storms that caused much destruction in Medina County in April.
Hondo/D'Hanis Rotary Club delivering PPE's to Del Rio Rotary Club. The equipment was donated by the Medina Regional Hospital and will be delivered to the Acuna Rotary Club for distribution.
Kerrville Morning Rotary recently awarded two, $1,500 scholarships to local students; one from Tivy High School and one from Ingram Tom Moore High School.
On Tuesday, May 25, 2021, eleven High School students from Del Rio and Comstock were awarded $1,000 scholarships from the Del Rio Rotary Club, after a review of their applications and interviews.
On Friday, June 18 the Rotary Club of San Marcos had a Rise Against Hunger Dinner at First Christian Church in San Marcos. The ingredients that are packaged and shipped overseas by RAH were the basis of the meal, so Rotarians could experience a meal similar to what food recipients experience.
Join us in welcoming our newest chartered Rotary Club - Pearl Rotary here in Rotary District 5840 - South Central Texas!! Congrats to all 30 charter members who will build, shape, and grow not only Rotary but themselves towards the greater good. The Pearl is one of the most desirable places to see and experience in San Antonio. So upon your next visit, be sure to stop by and say hello to fellow Rotarians.
We will host our "Last and Final Chance - District Grant Training" on Thursday, June 17, 2021, at 6:30PM. For those clubs who have not completed the required training, please have your representatives present for this training. Click to register.
It’s been a pleasure serving as District Governor for the 2020-21 Rotary year! My family and I have enjoyed meeting new and existing members of our great District. Although our year brought many challenges, changes, and hurdles to overcome, I’m happy we did it together! Together is the only way we can continue to make the world a better place. Despite our differences and opinions, Rotarians have answered the call to serve with excellence. I cannot think of a better organization to serve where members strive to align themselves with the 4-Way Test and the Object of Rotary. Our guiding principles keep us grounded, help us self-reflect, and build a better environment for those we encounter.
In September of 2018 Cheri Armstrong along with her husband Bill were invited by Roarian, Mr. Shaju Easo (Chicago, IL) to visit India in hopes of finding a club to partner with to invest $2500 of The Randolph Metrocom Rotary Club’s money into a global grant.
A big THANK YOU goes out to the Rotary Clubs of District 5840 for the fantastic raffle sale. 6920 tickets were in the hopper when we began drawing the winners. That translates to $69,200 fo the Annual Fund. A big THANK YOU also goes out to the Foundation Chairs in each club for handling the ticket sales and sending the money and reports to the RI Foundation.
It’s end of year wrap-up reporting time for the 55 district grants supporting humanitarian projects of our district clubs. Thank you all for responding to our need for accountability and transparency. We’ll put a recap on the district website by summer’s end.
Pictured receiving his Paul Harris Fellow +3 pin is John Wendt, who in turn is using a district grant to supplement scholarships his committee from the Rotary Club of San Antonio West is awarding to Interactors from Southwest Legacy High School. Making the presentation is PDG Jerry Hardy.
The San Angelo Rotary Club held a fundraiser at the home of one of the Rotarians in May. The poolside mixer was for Rotarians and spouses. Also, two Rotarians received their Paul Harris pins.
On Monday, May 17th, the City of Eagle Pass and and Eagle Pass Rotary Club celebrated the installation of a new swing set for their park along with an inclusive swing.
Get ready for the fun in Del Rio on Independence Day Weekend! The event kicks off with a Block Party on Friday July 2nd on Main Street. The rodeo will be held on Saturday July 3 & Sunday July 4th at the Val Verde County Fairgrounds.
Make plans to join us on Tuesday, June 22 at 6PM for the installation of District Governor Kristy Vandenberg. Open to all Rotarians! The event, hosted by the Rotary Club of Kerrville will be held at the Rails - A Cafe at the Depot, 615 E Schreiner St, Kerrville, TX 78028. This is a free event (cash bar available) however we are asking you to RSVP by June 15th. We are limited to 200 attendees. Dress: casual no shorts. Bring your own name tags from your Clubs. Register Here.
You're Invited to DG Kristy Vandenberg's Installation
Need some help with your clubs Public Image? Am I using the right logo? Where do I get the logo? Your D5840 Public Image Chair, Liane Garrett is happy to ZOOM with you to answer any questions and assist you. Send her an email to set up a time to talk or to zoom.
The Wimberley High School Scholarship winners for spring 2021 are Emily Cook (2 year scholarship) and Daniela Perez (1year). The Wimberley Rotary scholarship committee of Jean Morris, Daina Slover, and Iris Campbell reviewed a qualified field of entrants and made the difficult decision based not just on academics but also on community and school service and family circumstances.
You're invited to attend the Randolph Metrocom's Essential Workers Event Casino Night on July 22 at 6(M to 9PM at the Blue Bonnet Palace in Selma. No cover charge! Free appetizers for everyone.
CUERO ROTARY CLUB, celebrating its 100th anniversary of charter from May 1, 1921, will host it’s annual TURKEY SHOOT & RAFFLESaturday June 19th 10am-3pm at the Cuero Sportsman Club, 902 East Bailey Street off FM 1447 (Bailey Street).
Proceeds from the event will assist Cuero Rotary Club in funding of their annual $6,000 award of academic-vocational scholarships to graduates of Cuero High School, pledges to C.A.M.A.L. House (food bank), and other services in the community of youth and adult needs.
Last month, the Canyon Lake Rotary Club ordered and paid for a new lift truck and metal racks for the Community Resource and Recreation Center’s Food Pantry in Sattler.
The Rotary Club of Blanco County recently announced the award of $1000 scholarships to four deserving high school seniors, two from Blanco High School and two from LBJ High School in Johnson City.
Scouts BSA Troop 501 celebrated its Twentieth Anniversary on May 15, 2021, with a picnic and recognition ceremony at the Alamo Area Council's McGimsey Scout Park.
The Rotary Club of San Marcos awarded $20,750 in scholarships this spring to San Marcos Academy, SMCISD High School, and Hill Country Christian School seniors.
The Rotary Club of Wimberley is proud to announce the winner and runner up of the fourth and final Danforth Rotary Loves Readers contest of the school year.
The Pleasanton Rotary Club made the front page of our local newspaper with their Cow Patty Bing event at Ropin at the River. They raised about $3,000.00 to be used for student scholarships.
On Friday, May 7, 2021, the residents of Rotary Village, which has senior low-income housing apartments, enjoyed an outdoor Mother's Day Luncheon with the help of the Del Rio Rotary Club and other agencies such as La Vida Serena Nursing & Rehabilitation and Val Verde Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
The Rotary Club of San Antonio invites you to join them June 23 from 6PM-10PM for DON STRANGE OUTSIDE AT THE WITTE. Great food, drinks, live music! Sounds like lots of fun! For more information: http://www.rotarysa.org/events/current-fundraising-events/
Congratulations to the following Clubs that won in the final Rotary Super Hero Challenge Raffle: Eagle Pass, San Marcos, New Braunfels and San Antonio Mission Trails. Each Club won $500!
The drawing was held on May 8 in Fredericksburg at 10 am. Interact members of the Fredericksburg High School Interact Club pulled the tickets. District Governor Xavier Toson posted the drawing live on the District 5840 Facebook page. PDG Judy Hutcherson was the recorder and PDG John Hutcherson was the mixer.
The Rotary Club of Alamo Ranch will be hosting their 2nd Annual Alamo Ranch Health and Wellness Fair from June 1-5, 2021. We will host two online seminars followed by an in-person event on June 5, 2021 starting at 3 PM at Life Point Church. We're excited to bring this FREE event to the community!
I’ve never heard or seen that specific quote from Gandhi before writing this message. However, the message has been in my heart for a very long time. My childhood is a story of very humble beginnings, which I believe helped to coat my heart with love for all humankind – despite our differences. As a youth, I would watch the infomercials come across the television screen requesting aid for children in Africa, Haiti, or some other country outside the United States.
Come join us on May 13th at 6:30pm (CST) for our District Virtual Town Hall with Kirsta Leeburg Melton. Open to all Rotarians. Must register to receive Zoom Link. Click to register.
Congratulations to soon-to-be UTSA graduate Monica Meeker on her April 29th global grant approval from The Rotary Foundation for post-graduate studies in solid waste management at National Chengchi University in Taipei, Taiwan. A big note of appreciation for Jane Burton (Fair Oaks Ranch RC) for leading the district program that annually identifies our candidates and Jim Montgomery (San Antonio at the Dominion RC) for sponsoring her.
On April 30, 2021 the San Marcos Academy assembled all of their EarlyAct character award winners for a year-end photo. This was the Academy's first year participating in EarlyAct, and the K-5 principal said it was a big success.
Aguascalientes Rotary Eye Clinic 30th Anniversary - Our then District Governor Bill Thorsby helped cut the ribbon on the creation of an eye clinic for the underserved people of central Mexico—and thirty years later we continue supporting it through Rotary Foundation global grants for medical equipment.
Last month, the PolioPlus article said “So far in 2021, in the two endemic countries, Afghanistan has had only 1 case of Wild Polio Virus 1 (WPV1) and Pakistan has had 1 case. WPV1 is the only wild virus still found in the natural state. This is still the same status right now. If there are no more cases of polio until February, 2024, the world will be declared polio free. That means no more children anywhere in world will have to worry about being crippled by the polio virus.
All three Rotary Clubs in Fredericksburg donated $400 each to the Gillespie County Honor Guard to help them update their uniforms. The Honor Guard provides Veterans with Military Honors at burial ceremonies. Thanks to all three of these clubs for stepping up to help out for this great cause. For more information about this program, contact jimbisson65@outlook.com.
On April 24th the annual Fair Oaks Ranch community SHRED DAY was a big success as 20 Fair Oaks Ranch Club Rotarians volunteered to assist residents dispose of 24,000 lbs. of paperwork. During the 3-hour event 379 vehicles passed through the drive-up lanes.
On Tuesday, April 20th The Rotary Club of Fredericksburg (Noon Club) fulfilled almost all the volunteer duties for entire day at the Hill Country Memorial Hospital’s vaccination site at Hill Country University Center.
With donated wood from members John and Dabs Hollimon, the Fredericksburg Nimitz Rotary built 4 raised beds (Mike Strolle and Charlie Montgomery) and delivered to the Heritage Place of Fredericksburg Assisted Living as residents enjoyed an ice cream social in the facilities outdoor atrium on April 20th.
Rotary Club of Kerrville hosted their 10th annual Veterans Appreciation Breakfast this morning. They donated $500 of the hygiene products to their pantry as well as another $800 in food.
Johnson City School Nurse , Isela Raffety, is sharing the Rotary Club of Blanco County's hygiene kits. She uses them in teaching and she distributes the kits to guidance counselors who provide the kits to support families during the covid year.
The Rotary Club of San Marcos seeks golfers to play in its annual Scramble 4 Scholarships golf tournament on May 14, 2021 at Quicksand at Woodcreek, near Wimberley. Registration is from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. followed by a shotgun start at 1 p.m.
As part of our District 5840 program in South Texas, the Alamo Heights Rotary Club put up mini-library boxes in three locations in the area of the Alamo Heights Independent School District.
Congratulations to the winners of the 2nd ROTARY SUPER HERO CHALLENGE Raffle - Rotary Club of Alamo Heights, Alamo Ranch Rotary and San Marcos Rotary. Each club won $500. Our next set of missions, must be completed by May 15 to qualify for the next raffle.
Come join us on April 8th at 6:30pm (CST) for our District Virtual Town Hall with Tom Thorfinnson, Chief Strategy Officer at Rotary International. Open to all Rotarians. Must register to receive Zoom Link. To register: http://bit.ly/3tOUe6Q
Join us for our FREE Club Leader Training Event which kicks-off on April 30 at 6pm-7pm for a Zoom Happy Hour. We will meet back up again on May 1 at 8:30AM where kick off our training with incoming District Governor Kristy Vandenburg. This training is targeted for: President-Elect, Secretaries, Treasurers, Membership Chairs, Foundation Chairs, and Public Image Chairs. This is a free training event however you must register to receive the Zoom link. All Rotarians are welcome!!
"Rotary Showcase" is a very cool online tool at My Rotary that allows Clubs to promote their good work, to find project partners and to browse other projects. In fact, this is where Rotary finds the projects to feature in their magazine. Clubs should aspire to add new projects every year into Showcase. See these easy steps:
Rotarians are used to the familiar phrase “we are this close” meaning that worldwide eradication of polio will happen soon. In case you are wondering if something is stopping us from reaching the eradication goal and the phrase is no longer used for that reason, not at all.
Elaine Paske, Chairman of City Park Board getting ready to hide eggs for the City Wide Easter Egg hunt. Prizes of bicycles. Small rocking horse and many other various prizes. All made possible from donations of which Ballinger Rotary Club donated $500.00.
On March 6, 2021 the Rotary Club of Alamo Ranch presented an $820.00 check to the San Antonio Food Bank. For every $1 raised, they are able to provide 7 meals to families in San Antonio and Southwest Texas, that's 5,740 meals!
On March 6th, Rotarians, Elias Diaz and Clelia Valdes, volunteered to register citizens for vaccinations at the International Center for Trade in Eagle Pass. As a result of their donation of time along with many other volunteers, 1200 vaccinations were given out that day.
meet their annual fundraising drive ending March 31st, the Fredericksburg Nimitz Rotary club sold BBQ plates in conjunction with Texas Heritage Vineyards "Alamo Hero's Day" celebration on March 6th, raising over $1,000.
The Rotary Foundation is recognizing Bill Phillpotts, RC of San Saba, for significant and dedicated service for promoting Foundation programs and thus advancing better understanding and friendly relations among people of the world.
The Rotary Club of Wimberley welcomes a new member, Ermias Ketema Gebremeskel. Ermias is from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and holds degrees in Biology, Business Administration and Tour Operations. His company, Stunning Ethiopia Tours, can be found on Tripadvisor.
San Angelo Sunrise Rotary will be hosting their second annual 5K Run & Walk R.A.T. Race, on the * Red Arroyo Trail, in San Angelo, Texas, April 24, 2021. Our first R.A.T. Race was held in April 2019, with Meals for the Elderly as our designated charity.
Make plans to join the New Braunfels Downtown Rotary on April 24th for their ANNUAL TEXAS HOLD'EM POKER TOURNAMENT. To register: www.downtownrotarynb.org
Wimberly Rotary is happy to announce the winner and runner up of the 3rd Danforth Rotary Loves Readers contest of the school year. This challenge asked students to read a biography of their hero, then compare their hero’s strengths, challenges, flaws and achievements.
Eleanor Kolitz Hebrew Language Academy (EKHLA) has found ways to help the community in spite of COVID-19. This is their second food drive for the San Antonio Food Bank. EKHLA also turned in a donation of approximately 200 dental care items for the families in Guatemala who live in the city's garbage dump.
Eleanor Kolitz Hebrew Language Academy Food Collection
You're invited to join the Rotary Club of San Marcos for their Scramble 4 Scholarships Golf Tournament on May 14, 2021. BothSponsors and players wanted!Quicksand Golf Course (Woodcreek) Wimberley, registration is from 11:45AM to12:45PM. 1:00 pm Shotgun start (everyone goes to an assigned hole and all golfers begin at approximately the same time). For more information contact, Scott Yarbrough 512-214-8730 (Chair).
An Outdoor Event That Will Allow All Of Us To Enjoy The Spring Sunshine, Great Weather, Rotary Involvement, Service Above Self, A Way To Build Goodwill and Better Friendship and Of Course It Will Be Beneficial To All Concerned as we can continue to Serve Our First Responders!
Members of the San Antonio Northeast Rotary Club volunteered this on Saturday, March 13thto pass out Cardboard Kids®. Thanks go out to Debbie Degollado, Jordan Alonzo, Becky Robles and Dan Clark for distributing the two-foot tall cardboard figures.
On August 23rd, Randolp Metrocom was notified that we had been approved for a $1000 District Grant that allowed us to send a total of $2000 to this club so they could provide their local communities with 6 hand washing stations. One of our newest members, Arturo Arredondo, let us know that his previous club (Rotary Club of Piura Oeste in Peru) had a need and were were happy to help fill that need!
The Winston School Interact Club collected toothpaste, toothbrushes and dental floss for the families who live in the city dump in Guatemala City, Guatemala. The club started their drive in October 2020 and collected over 700 toiletry items.
The Rotary Club of Kerrville-Morning (Morning Rotary) recently awarded $2,000 to the Christian Women’s Job Corps of Kerr County (CWJC) to fund computer upgrades. Morning Rotarian and Club Treasurer, Waverly Jones, initiated a successful district grant request for $1,000 which was matched by Morning Rotary
Members of the San Antonio Northeast Rotary Club volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House (RMH) on Saturday, February 27th located at 4847 Charles Katz Dr.
I hope this message finds you all well and in great health. During March, Rotary Water and Sanitation Month, we celebrate our commitment to creating healthier communities by supplying clean water and sanitation facilities to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Last month, Winter Storm Uri presented many challenges to both clean water and proper sanitation for many residents throughout South Texas. This was only a glimpse into a much dire situation around the world.
Good news recently on a couple of global grants being worked by our clubs. The Fredericksburg Rotary Club’s perseverance on a water and hygiene project in Tanzania hit a milestone with its application being ready for authorization.
The Canyon Lake Rotary Club is taking a fresh approach to our wildly successful Valentine’s Day Romantic Rendezvous! This year the Club decided to fete an online fundraiser in February with the simple theme of supporting our scholarship program.
Calling all people that want to have fun! The Rotary Club of San Antonio South is seeking golfers for their annual golf tournament. Golfers or sponsors are needed to make this years tournament a success. Please contact Gina Hobbs at thehobbs4.gh@gmail.com for more information or to sign up to participate.
Rotarians are used to the familiar phrase “we are this close” meaning that worldwide eradication of polio will happen soon. In case you are wondering if something is stopping us from reaching the eradication goal and the phrase is no longer used for that reason, not at all. So far in 2021, in the two endemic countries, Afghanistan has had only 1 case of Wild Polio Virus 1 (WPV1) and Pakistan has had zero cases. WPV1 is the only wild virus still found in the natural state. Take a look at this video to get into the spirit and then share it with friends. CLICK HERE
The Eagle Pass Rotary Club delivered dinner to the residents of El Centenario, a public housing facility on Saturday, February 20th. The residents are primarily seniors and were severely impacted by the notorious winter storm that hit Texas last month.
Ballinger Rotary held their annual pancake supper for the community. This year we had a drive through and had some fantastic pancake Cookers this year. This year our Cookers were adorned in their new frilly aprons handmade by Karleen McMahan. From left to right Brian Frieda, Ken Slimp, Ken Kvapil, Larry Lange and John Pietrik. Also sausage cookers Alex Kvapil and Judge Barry Hilliard.
The Rotary Club of Alamo Ranch partnered with The Mission Continues to finish a project for beautifying a building utilized by Vet TRIIP. Vet TRIIP provides therapeutic services including yoga, art and ukulele classes to Veterans and their families at this location. The organizations were approved for a grant from The Home Depot. Volunteers painted the inside and outside of the building, cleaned and repainted the deck, and assisted Gardopia in area beautification to the landscape. Thank you to all who volunteered.
John Wall was a charter member of the Fair Oaks Ranch Rotary Club when it was formed in 2012 but it was not where his Rotary journey began. He first joined Rotary as a member of the Northwest Rotary Club of San Antonio in 1985 at the encouragement of his business partners at a well-known San Antonio engineering firm.
President-elect Jeff Harris and his "Main Event" co-chair Robin Miears are busy distributing raffle tickets to Rotarians. As you know, our annual in-person event cannot happen, so it will take each one of us to raise the funds we need to provide for next year's many, many service projects.
The City of Del Rio, Texas had 11.2 inches of snowfall on February 18, 2021. This was a historic record of snow for this date and many persons in the community were out of power and water, due to the freezing temperatures.
The Rotary Club of Blanco Count is happy to announce that its annual major fund raising event, the golf tournament, has now been rescheduled to Monday, June 7, 2021.
Did you know that February is Peace and Conflict Resolution Month with Rotary and that the first week of March is considered "Peace Corps Week"? Connections between the two organizations do not end there. As you may know, Rotary and Peace Corps have an official relationship where Rotarians can sponsors Peace Corps projects and much more.
It's been an unimaginable week for all of Texas residents due to the winter storm. Here in District 5840, many are still without food, power, and safe drinking water. Some have even experienced structural damage to their homes (collapsed ceilings, busted water pipes, etc.). We are currently gathering information to support those Rotarians in need. If you need support, complete this form.
District Annual Fund Raffle was for a cruise. Winner of th drawing got a cruise and seller of the ticket got a cruise. Cruises were already losing popularity and Covid 19 was the death blow for us. In the Fall, we surveyed membership for possible prizes and the prepaid bank card for $1000 was selected from 4 possible prize packages. There will be 7 drawings and we have 7 prepaid $1000 Frost Bank Cards for the prize. The third ticked drawn the prize will go to the seller of the ticket to give incentive to sell tickets. Tickets have been sent to Club Presidents.
Join us for next District Virtual Town Hall event on Thursday, Feb. 11 at 6:30PM with special guest, Dr. Sylvia Whitlock. She is the 1st woman Club President in Rotary International - who changed Rotary leadership through social change. All are welcome! Click to register.
This month we celebrate Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution. Did you know that today, over 70 million people are displaced as a result of conflict, violence, persecution, and human rights violations? Half of them are children. Some may hear this news and count it as another statistic for someone else to solve. Rotarians, on the other hand, spring into action!
On Saturday, January 30th during the District Town Hall meeting we held our first raffle for the Rotary Super Hero Challenge. All Clubs that completed MIssions 1-3 were entered into the drawing. The winners are: San Antonio South, Blanco County and San Antonio North Central. Each club won $500!
On Thursday, January 28th, members of the Fredericksburg Nimitz Rotary club repainted the cross atop Cross Mountain to assist the City as it prepares to kick off a year-long series of events to commemorate the 175th anniversary of the founding of the City of Fredericksburg, TX beginning on May 8, 2021.
President-elect Shekhar Mehta encourages members to be changemakers and announces his theme for the 2021-2022 Rotary year, Serve to Change Lives. Learn more: http://on.rotary.org/3j6bVuc
As part of our ongoing support for the local community, donations were presented in January to the Alamo Heights School Foundation ($5000); Alamo Heights Little League ($3000); and St Phillips College ($10,000 for vocational scholarships).
Starting in November of last year the Canyon Lake Rotary Club decided to do something about the dwindling amount of night sky visible in their community.
Nearly ten years ago, during the 2011-2012 school year, the Mission Trail Rotary Club sponsored a Rotary Youth Exchange student Serah – who traveled all the way from Papua New Guinea (PNG), in the western Pacific.
While at the PETS conference I noticed a brochure at one of the booths about giving shoes to children in Kenya. I put the brochure in my folder and forgot about it until one day I was sorting through all the papers from the conference, I noticed the brochure and began to read all about RI Buckner.shoes.
As Rotarians, we can all be proud of the effort we have put in since 1979 with what is now known as PolioPlus. The infrastructure that has been developed for eradication of polio is being adapted to the current efforts to control covid and end the pandemic. The infrastructure has been used to control the Ebola outbreak in Africa a few years ago and the SARS epidemic.
With the support of several Rotary clubs a free health clinic organization has operated in California since 1989, and in Washington, New York, and El Paso. I wish to chat with anyone that might be interested in possibly being part of the startup process to create similar units in San Antonio and surrounding communities.
Food Insecurity is the state of being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food. Hays County has a food insecurity rate of 14.3% with 24,710 food insecure people.... 8,609 of which are children.
When the pandemic hit and in person meetings were no longer recommended by the CDC, the Rotary Club of Wimberley voted to donate their weekly meal budget to the Wimberley Crisis Bread Basket. There are more than 2050 Wimberley residents living below the poverty level. We are proud to support our neighbors in their time of need, and we encourage those who can, to consider donating their time and/or resources to this worthy cause as well.
The Rotary Club of Fredericksburg has just completed its final addition to the Old Fair Park Play Area. The newest addition features a fairly conventional “climb/slide” play unit, but also in that same area, includes a zero clearance “Orbit” Merry Go Round that is Inclusive for all.
Pictured is a Cocuta, Columbia surgeon with newly provided equipment for detecting and treating early stage breast cancer. Your contributions to this 2020 Rotary Foundation global grant added $5,000 to the $118,216 total project and will save countless lives--many of whom are Venezuela refugees in this border city.
Members of the Satellite Club of San Antonio at the Pearl and the Young Catholic Professionals Association joined forces to clear brush and pick up trash at the construction site of a future community to shelter the homeless.
We will remember 2020 for its changes to our weekly routines. For a while we stopped meetings thinking that the pandemic would soon be over, then we move to online meeting, and then back to in person with an online choice.
In an ongoing effort to give back to those who selflessly gave to us through their military service, The Rotary Club of Kerrville (Morning Rotary) provided deer hunts for veterans this past month, thanks to the philanthropy of Morning Rotarian Randy McClay.
The Ingram Tom Moore High School Interact Club sponsored by the Rotary Club of Kerrville-Morning (Morning Rotary) conducted a Coins for Christmas fundraising drive during the holidays.
On Aug. 27, 2020, Hurricane Laura made landfall in Cameron Parish, south of Lake Charles, as a Category 4 storm with 150-mile-per-hour winds. More than two dozen people died in its aftermath.
Rotary club of Kerrville "Getting Busy" keeping our stretch of the road trash free. Seven Rotarians showed up to help make it happen this last weekend.
The Rotary Club of New Braunfels recently partnered with the Rotary Club of Zacoalco, Mexico, and the Wheelchair Foundation to assemble and distribute 270 wheelchairs, each adorned with patches of the three partners.
Every week our members continue to volunteer and to attend zoom club meetings. Sure we miss visiting with our friends face to face, however we have adapted with the tools available to us.
Greg & Carmen Buschmann of the Fair Oaks Ranch Rotary Club delivered 225 lbs. of bottle caps to a private charity in Juarez, MX, that assists children whose parents are unable to pay for cancer treatment.
From my family to yours, Happy New Year! We can all say that 2020 brought many challenges, blessings in disguise, and a new perspective on life in one way or another. I've always believed that the end of one thing was the beginning of another. However, It is our perspective that shapes the direction of our future.
Join us on Saturday, January 30th at 12PM as we welcome our Rotary International President for an enlightening and encouraging town hall event! This is a District-wide event and all members are highly encouraged to attend. Must register to receive Zoom link. Click to register.
The Ballinger Rotary Club just donated 129 $10.00 gift certificates to our Elementary, Jr. High and High School teachers, aides, counselors and nurse in appreciation for all they have done this year.
The purpose of this challenge is to provide your club with the tools and resources it needs to thrive.Every club that completes Missions 1-3 by January 29th will be placed in a drawing. We will select up to three (3) clubs for this first round to win $500 each!! The drawing will take place on January 30, 2020, live during a special presentation with RI President, Holger Knaack.
You have the power to increase people's understanding of Rotary by showing your members as people of action!Rotary developed the People of Action Campaign to provide Clubs with tools for telling and showing the public we make a positive difference in your community.
The PolioPlus themed Christmas card program Since every $10 means another 16 children will be protected for life against the polio virus, the total donations will be protecting 11,456 children. THANK YOU ALL!!!!!! has ended for 2020. Rotarians in District 5840 and outside the district donated enough money to pay the $10 a card for 716 cards. That is $7,160 for the fight against polio.
RI sends certificates of appreciation, like the pictured one for Canyon Lake RC, for annual financial support for the End Polio initiative. Our district goal this year is for every club to earn a 2020-2021 certificate and so far 24 clubs have contributed. Congratulations to them and thank you!
Every child looks forward to a visit from Santa. And even though this year’s logistics were a bit different, the Rotary Club of San Antonio South didn’t want to leave two deserving families out.
Grants reporting: Our Rotary Foundation earns high marks for accountability! For us that means filing those final reports online on the district website for grants that helped clubs provide school supplies, Thanksgiving food and Christmas joy. If your project is complete, then file the report while it is fresh in your memory. Return to the same My Club Grant site where you applied and complete the reports tab (including uploading documents/receipts).
The Alamo Heights Rotary Club completed its 17th Annual Sparkle of the Season award contest to recognize the best decorated residences in Alamo Heights. Judging was conducted by club members from 16-19 December. This year’s 2020 winners were:
Kerrville Rotary was able to help with two blue Santa events this year to help feed over 75 families. We teamed up with the Kerrville police department and citizens on patrol who donate clothing and toys.
Every year, the Del Rio Rotary Club provides Thanksgiving fixings for the residents of Rotary Village, which is affordable low-income housing for seniors. The groceries include sweet bread, which is a favorite of the residents. The club also provides each resident with a $25 Walmart gift card for Christmas.
Dominion Rotary club delivered more toys and 55 boxed lunches from the Leon Springs Schlotzgies this past week to The Children’s Methodist hospital. It takes a community that’s dedicated to serve!
The Ballinger Rotary donated $500 to the Humane Society of Ballinger. This donation was used by the Humane Society to send adopted dogs to Canada and Pennsylvania. To do this each dog has to have a special paper to send across State lines.
The Rotary Club of Kerrville - Morning (Morning Rotary) ends this pandemic-influenced year by sharing the Christmas spirit with several organizations including the Kerrville State Hospital, Christian Women’s Job Corps, and the Doyle School Community Center.
The Fredericksburg Rotary Club is in the final stages of our annual Toys for Tots (T4T) service to Gillespie county. Our Club Service Committee Chairman Bob Lee along with member Dana Green and and Honorary Member Linda Lee work on T4T all year.
While practicing Social distancing and Safety Pandemic guidelines, the Officers, Members, Family, and visitors celebrated the club’s 2020 Annual Christmas party at Outback Steakhouse.
Club President Sabrina Avila and Club Treasurer Keith Schmitz delivered a surprise Breakfast to the amazing Teachers and Staff of Dellview Elementary - Northeast ISD for all of their hard work and dedication to our students during this pandemic.
Rotary NW Breakfast Surprise for Teachers & Staff of Dellview Elementary
On Thursday, December 10th, members (Curtis Allerkamp and Jimmy Culp) of the Fredericksburg Nimitz Rotary in conjunction with the Mision de Candelilla of Fredericksburg along with a sister club from Piedras Negras delivered 50 personalized Christmas packages to the children of Centinela, just outside of Piedras Negras, Mexico. It was a beautiful day in both weather in both weather and spirit!
This past week, the Rotary Club of Kerrville - Morning (Morning Rotary) served the Salvation Army in their Red Kettle Campaign. Fifteen Morning Rotarians took turns ringing the bell for a total of nine hours.
Come join us on Thursday, December 17th at 6:30PM for our next Virtual Town Hall Meeting with Dr. Jim Partin, Chief Medical Officer at Hill Country Memorial and Dr. Linda Ellsworth, District 5840 Medical Director. Open to all Rotarians! Must register to receive Zoom link.
This holiday season we're asking all Rotarians to write at least one card or letter to a senior. It's an easy project you can do from home and could make a huge difference in the life of an isolated senior. Let them know that Rotary Cares. This project is sponsored by the Rotary Club of San Antonio.
Calling all Rotarians! The first mission for the Rotary Super Hero Challenge is to "Strenthen the Rotary Brand". The test is to create your Club's Rotary Masterbrand logo. See this article for the Importance of the Rotary Visual Identity. For this task, Step 1: Log-in to My Rotary and navigate to the Brand Center. If you already have a Club Rotary Masterbrand, fantastic (skip to the final step)!
Some brands are recognized around the world just by their logos. When people see the logo, they instantly know what it means and what to expect from the product. Building that kind of visual recognition requires effort, including years of using a logo widely and consistently. Companies work at this because earning that global recognition benefits their business.
Season’s Greetings: December Is Disease Prevention and Treatment Month
Did you know that over 800 million people (almost 12 percent of the world’s population) spent at least 10 percent of their household budgets to pay for health care? Also, more than 100 million people are pushed into poverty each year because of medical costs. As Rotarians, we aim to improve and expand access to low-cost and free health care, especially in underdeveloped areas.
As you may have heard or read, there are a couple of major District 5840 PolioPlus fundraising initiatives. The one described here is the sales and purchase of PolioPlus themed Christmas cards for a donation $10.00.
By now you probably heard of the district wide initiative to build 100 mini libraries around the district. Here are the steps and activities needed to build and install a mini library. See the photo above showing what installation was like for Alamo Ranch at Gardopia.
Texas Veterans Commission Chairperson Laura Koerner served as the guest speaker at the annual Fair Oaks Ranch Rotary Club Veterans’ Day Salute on November 11th. at the Fair Oaks Ranch Golf & Country Club.
For the survey, we had 251 responses: 2 blank , 1 for the cruise , Package One 16 votes, Package Two 47 votes, Package Three 76 votes, Package Four 109 votes
The Rotary Club of Alamo Ranch partnered with Gardopia Gardens in the mission of promoting and supporting literary. On November 21, 2020, the Rotary Club of Alamo Ranch installed their very first Free Mini Library.
The Rotary Club of Kerrville-Morning recently partnered with local philanthropist and evangelist Danny Bezet of the Texas Hill Country Chapter of the Christian Bowhunters of America (CBA), and Mike Cagle, of Honor Veterans Now, Meals for Vets, to support veterans in the Texas Hill Country and across the state.
Photo from the San Antonio at the Dominion's toy drive for the Children's Methodist Hospital in San Antonio. Pictured (L-R) are D5840 Sect. Jo Ann Browne, Club Community Projects Chair Christina Gutierrez and Event Co-Organizer Darcee Grivel, D5840 Early Act Chair.
On November 6, Kerrville Rotary hosted 49 veterans and their guests to a wonderful breakfast and fellowship at our Veterans Breakfast event held at the Hill Country Veterans Center.
The Rotary Club of Blanco County (RCBC) in partnership with the Blanco Education Foundation (BEF) recently presented the Blanco Elementary School Safety Patrol Coordinator, Mrs. Mary Jane Hill,
We are happy to announce the winner and runner up of the first Danforth Rotary Loves Readers contest of the school year. This challenge asked students to write letters to the editor of the newspaper about the importance of our community library.
The Rotary Club of Kerrville - Morning recently provided lunch for the interns, staff and volunteers at the Christian Women’s Job Corps, Kerr County (CWJC). Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 restrictions, Rotarians were unable to join the interns for the meal.
Join us for our next District Virtual Town Hall meeting on Nov.19th at 6:30PM. Our special guest is Jennifer Welch, Brand Coach. She will talk about Brands: What are they and why do they matter. Must register to receive Zoom link.
Welcome to November! This month, we emphasize the importance and need to support and celebrate The Rotary Foundation (TRF)! Did you know that every dollar contributed to the TRF funds humanitarian and educational programs and operations? Throughout our district, clubs apply each year for grants that help them carry out worthy projects around the globe.
Members of Fredericksburg Morning Rotary, the City of Fredericksburg, Kraftsman Commercial Playgrounds and Waterparks, and the community gathered at the groundbreaking for a new playground at Old Fair Park.
Join us on Thursday, November 5th at 6:30PM for our Virtual District Town Hall. Our guest speakers are PDG Jerry Hardy, Foundation Chair and Major Gifts Chair Amy Bawcom. Must register to receive Zoom link.
As you may have heard or read, there are a couple of major District 5840 PolioPlus fundraising initiatives. The one described here is the sales and purchase of PolioPlus themed Christmas cards for a donation $10.00.
We invite you to join fellow D5840 Rotarians in a Thanksgiving Day Service Project. We are partnering with Meals on Wheels Texas to deliver warm greetings and Thanksgiving meals to the elderly and disabled population in our communities.
The Winston Interact Club celebrated Polio Free World Day on Friday, October 23, 2020. The Club set up a Polio Information Display the week leading up to Polio Free World Day and collected $200 for the polio drive.
The Blanco Coalition of Awareness, Prevention, and Treatment of Substance Abuse (CoAPT), in partnership with the Blanco County Rotary Club, recently presented Blanco High School Principal Patrick Hinson a check for $9,000 for the purpose of purchasing vape detectors for the high school.
San Antonio Rotary Club members gathered this last Saturday to sort jeans and package hygiene to hand out to the homeless served by Corazon Ministries.
San Antonio Rotary Club donated and packaged over 300 bags of candy for our friends at Child Advocates San Antonio (CASA). CASA Volunteers and Staff will hand these out on Halloween to the children they help.
The Randolph Metrocom Rotary Club sponsored the Tri-County Chamber mixer, which was held on Thursday, October 22nd at The Hilton Garden Inn in Live Oak.
Alamo Heights Night 2021, an official Fiesta event, is scheduled on the first Friday night of San Antonio Fiesta 2021 on April 16. It is not to early for any of our Rotary Districts' Clubs to sign up for a booth at the event. Details are on our event website, www.alamoheightsnight.org .With the cancellation of Fiesta 2020, the annual Alamo Heights Night in 2020 was also cancelled.
District Governor Xavier Toson and the District 5840 Nominating Committee is pleased to announce the selection of Monica Gutierrez of the Rotary Club of San Antonio North Central as the District Governor for the Rotary year beginning July 1, 2023.
The Rotary Club of Del Rio has partnered with the Del Rio Parks and Recreation Department to make numerous improvements to Rotary Park. This included projects such as installing a very popular splash pad to offer water fun for kids of all ages, purchasing playground equipment for children of all abilities, installing two park benches, renovating the restroom facilities, planting shrubs & trees, and installing water fountains.
Kerrville Rotary will once again host a Veterans' Breakfast event on Nov. 6 at the Hill Country Veterans Center to honor our local active military and military veterans in advance of Veterans' Day.
You are invited to join us from 8-9:30 a.m. Masks and social distancing will be required.
Fredericksburg Morning Rotary has donated $5000 to Mision De Candelilla for the purpose of purchasing a slightly used Ultrasound machine to aid in their medical clinics in Mexico. Rotary District 5840 also donated $5000 to bring the total to $10,000 to complete the purchase.
Welcome to October! This month we celebrate Economic and Community Development. At this time, our local communities are faced with substantial economic loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses are closing left and right as entrepreneurs fight to keep their doors open.
The Rotary Club of San Antonio South hosted a voter registration along with the South San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, Bexar County Precinct 4 and Rebecca Viagran, City Council District 3 at Pica Pica Plaza on S.E. Military Drive.
Join us for our next District 5840 Town Hall event on October 8th at 6:45 p.m. Our very special guest speaker, San Antonio Mayor, Ron Nirenberg. Topic: How to Lead in a Time of Crisis and How We Can Support. Click to register
Town Hall Meeting with Mayor Ron Nirenberg - Oct 8
The Rotary Club of Alamo Ranch held a virtual Paul Harris Fellowship Ceremony on September 22, 2020, in honor of inducting four new Fellows. Whitni Toson, Richard Diaz, Dale Goods, and Rosene Goods were recognized and inducted by guest speaker Jerry Hardy, PDG.
As of September 23, 2020, there are 102 new cases in 2020 of wild poliovirus Type 1. Type 2 and Type 3 have been declared eradicated from the planet. There is a yearly standing request for all Rotary clubs to have some type of public event on October 24, World Polio Day, to educate the public and celebrate the progress toward worldwide eradication. With Covid-19 pandemic still in full force, this is a hard request to honor.
The Madison HS Interact Club held a cleanup at Julia Semmes Public Library on Sunday, September 27. Approximately 20 Interact members collected 20 large bags of trash.
We are hosting a 90-minute online training session on Thursday, Oct. 29 at 6:30pm about two aspects of managing Rotary Foundation programs in your club: fundraising and management reports. It will be a Power Point presentation led by Assistant Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator Rich Kaye with assistance from our district-level team.
On August 31st, the Eagle Pass Rotary Club proudly celebrated their health heroes at Fort Duncan Regional Medical Center (FDRMC) with a gift of 200 Krispy Kreme donuts that were purchased from a fundraiser for a neighbor club in Piedras Negras.
Randy McClay, Rotary Foundation Chair for the Rotary Club of Kerrville-Morning (Morning Rotary) and Waverly Jones, Treasurer, made a joint presentation to club members on the purpose and function of the Rotary Foundation.
Randolph Metrocom presented at their September 14th zoom Luncheon to the President of Northeast Lakeview College - Dr. Veronica Garcia. Last year they presented a check, in-person for $1000 however, this year they were able to present them with a check (virtually) for $2000 because of an approved district grant.
San Antonio Northeast Rotarians Preston McKinney, Becky Robles, Mike Canales, Debbie Degollado and Dan Clark volunteered at the Texas Diaper Bank on Saturday, September 19, 2020.
It has taken just over 17 years to get the dedication plaque put in place for The Alamo Heights Rotary Club Centennial Project, but it is finally done. Our Centennial Project was a joint venture with the City of Alamo Heights, Alamo Heights Little League and Pony League, and the Alamo Heights Independent School District to rebuild the many ballfields and area in the vicinity of the Alamo Heights swimming pool known as the Park at Alamo Heights that had been destroyed during a flood in the late 1990s.
In September, Rotarians Cynthia de Luna, who is the Youth Service Chair on the Del Rio Rotary Club Board of Directors, and Rey Sanchez, who is the Coordinator for the Crayola Club Project, distributed much needed school supplies to eight elementary schools in Del Rio. Rotarian Cheryl Johnson and TJ Moore Lumber Yard were also instrumental in the delivery of the school supplies.
On Monday, Kerrville Rotary had 28 Rotarian's volunteer for our Labor Day Walk-A-Fun at Louise Hays Park. We logged more than 125 volunteer hours, handed out 275 bottles of water, told the Rotary Club of Kerrville story along the River Trail and had three possible new member candidates inquire about our club!
It is with much sadness, that we share the passing of PDG Wayne Massey a member for the Fredericksburg Rotary Club. What an amazing man who served his country so well (he was in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam!).
There will be a brief graveside service at Ft. Sam Houston on Friday, September 25th. On Saturday, September 26 there will be a celebration of Wayne's life and service at the McCurdy Ranch, 6:30 pm, 4088 N. State Hwy 16. Masks and social distancing will be expected, of course, and there is additional information on the Fredericksburg Funeral Home website. To RSVP - contact PDG John Hutcherson
Congratulations to the following 2019-2020 Rotary Citation recipients: Alamo Heights, Eagle Pass, Fair Oaks Ranch, Fredericksburg, Kerville, New Braunfels, New Braunfels Downtown, San Antonio, San Antonio Airport, San Antonio North Central, San Antonio Northeast, San Antonio Northwest, San Antonio West and San Saba.
Welcome to September! This month we celebrate basic education and literacy. Did you know that worldwide, 67 million children have no access to education, and more than 775 million people over the age of 15 are illiterate?
Join us for our next District 5840 Town Hall event on September 17th at 6:30 p.m. Our very special guest speaker, Past Rotary International President, Rick King! Be sure to invite a friend or prospective Rotarian to this event. Register here.
GOALS: Congratulations to the 33 of 56 clubs with goals in Rotary Club Central! We should pick up another 12 within sixty days and will be in constant contact with the others the rest of the year.
Every year the Canyon Lake Rotary Club (The Club) gives out education scholarships to bright intelligent and energetic youth in the area; and this is year is no exception.
On Friday, August 21, 2020, the Del Rio Rotary Club provided lunch for the employees working on the COVID units at Val Verde Regional Medical Center in Del Rio, Texas.
The Randolph Metrocom Rotary Club has been delivering ESSENTIAL WORKER plaques to 9 of their surrounding cities including Cibolo, Converse, Garden Ridge, Live Oak, Marion, Schertz, Selma, Universal City & Windcrest.
The Rotary Club of Kerrville-Morning (Morning Rotary) with a generous donation from Mike and Debbie Neutze, provided 600 pairs of socks for boys and girls athletics at Ingram Tom Moore High School.
Recognizing exemplary characteristics of 16 local elementary students, the Rotary Club of Kerrville hosted the annual “Youth Citizenship Awards” event at its regular meeting Aug. 5,
Ms. Gloria Wilson does an amazing job as a Rotarian. Not only is she the Assistant Governor for District 5840, she is an active member of the Del Rio Rotary Club. Rotarian Eddie Amezcua is the Director of the Community Service Lane.
Recently, The Rotary Club of Kerrville – Morning (Morning Rotary) members and families were busy at the Upper Guadalupe River Authority’s 17th Annual River Clean Up - Reimagined. The River Clean Up is one of 12 service projects and activities sponsored by the club.
The Wheelchair Project resulted from an anonymous donor who wanted the donation specifically for wheelchairs. Donor sent half of the container price to the Wheelchair Foundation and Rotary Club of New Braunfels matched the balance.
Join us on August 27th at 6:30 p.m. for our next virtual district town hall event! Our special guest speaker will international humanitarian and keynote speaker John T. Capps! John is an inspiring speaker and trainer who engages audiences with humor and excitement. He's also a third-generation Rotarian, has attended over 36 International Conventions, and alumni of The Rotary Foundation. If you are looking for a spark of excitement, engagement, and a good laugh, register today! Register here
Jennifer E. Jones, a member of the Rotary Club of Windsor-Roseland, Ontario, Canada, has been nominated to become Rotary International’s president for 2022-23, a selection that will make her the first woman to hold that office in the organization’s 115-year history.
The Fredericksburg Morning Rotary Club is trying to keep members involved during the Covid 19 pandemic. A challenge was issued to each member to donate food to one of our local "tiny" food pantries.
Larry Richard is a disabled Vietnam Veteran who currently uses a walker and possibly will need to use a wheelchair in the future. However, his house was not handicap accessible so Fredericksburg VFW Post 7105 worked with Towers for Troops and Purple Heart Home,
We're excited to announce the first-ever Virtual District Town hall event starting Thursday, August 13, 2020, at 6:30 p.m. The virtual town hall events will bring in special guest speakers from all around the world with varying topics to inspire, inform, and support the work we are doing as Rotarians!
Kerrville Rotary Club held a successful First Responders Golf Tournament Fundraiser on June 15. They had over 82 players which is more than they have ever had before.
There is great joy when a child is born and again when they can learn about the world through books. In a few short years that child is on a tract to get a good education but if for whatever reason that child is not reading at 3rd grade level by the 3rd grade he or she is on a very slippery sloop that leads to a very difficult life.
Over two years ago I joined the Alamo Heights Rotary Club, not fully knowing what I was getting into. As time went on my curiosity for Rotary turned into fondness, then excitement, and today I have a complete love for Rotary! My feelings have strengthened not only from the relationships I’ve made with other Rotarians but also from the information I’ve learned in the Rotary Learning Center.
I hope this message finds you all well and in good spirits. I want to applaud you all for finding new ways to serve the communities in which you live and those abroad, fellowship, and fundraise as we navigate uncharted waters. Your willingness to take on the role of selfless service even amid such challenges as COVID-19 is why we are more than mere volunteers; we are Rotarians! Our theme for August is "Membership & New Club Development," and I would like to take a moment to highlight just what that means and why we should focus greatly on it.
This initiative helps Rotarians connect their business with Rotarians, find assistance for challenges both professional and personal, and access career advice and leads. It's Rotarians helping Rotarians! Check it out now. www.therotarynetwork.org
Rotary Club of San Antonio South participated in the San Antonio District 3 Councilwoman Rebecca Viagran Back to School Backpack Giveaway along with the San Antonio Food Bank on Saturday, July 25.
Members of the San Antonio Northeast Rotary Club volunteered at the Texas Diaper Bank on Saturday, July 25th. Club members repackaged diapers into 25 count packages for clients that receive assistance from the Texas Diaper Bank and their 54 partner agencies.
San Antonio Northeast Rotary Volunteers at Texas Diaper Bank
The following article will explain the original derivation of what the “Plus” in PolioPlus is. A lot of the following material has been copied in segments or paraphrased from material on Rotary websites related to PolioPlus - Rotary News Online; polioeradication.org, endpolio.org - and culled down to make the article a quick read.
With a recent rise in local COVID-19 cases, Fredericksburg Rotary Club members are trying to fill the need of contact tracing in town. Morning Rotary Club member Marc Bennett was contacted by Hill Country Memorial Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jim Partin, who is also part of the Morning Rotary Club.
Recently, the Rotary Club of Alamo Ranch organized two donation drives to benefit the Bexar County Battered Women and Children's Shelter. The club accepted new/gently used clothing, homeware items, and cleaning supplies, which will be used by survivors of domestic violence as they get a new start and transition into a safe and healthy living situation.
The Rotary Club of Kerrville – Morning honored long-time Rotarian and Morning Rotary charter member, Bob Green, with a tribute for being one of the original founding members of Morning Rotary.
The Rotary Club of Blanco County is proud to present the Paul Harris Award to many of its members. Joe Garcia was able to present the award personally to Hal Switzer.
The Rotary E-Club President Eddie Knightington accompanied Mayor Mary M. Dennis made a generous donation of gift cards on May 26 to Live Oak First Responders for all their efforts during the pandemic. The club provided the firefighters with 20 gift cards from Williams Confectionery.
I have been a member of my club for two years, but it was in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic that I learned what it truly means to be a Rotarian. When my state of Texas went into quarantine, our club president, Brandon Logan, set up a ‘virtual happy hour’ on Thursday evenings.
Clubs wanting to apply for a Rotary Foundation district grant will appreciate the requirement for a club member being trained in grants management can be met via an online 90-minute session
GLOBAL GRANTS IN MEXICO, GUATEMALA AND TANZANIA: We are truly opening opportunities with a flurry or global grant applications. Boerne Sunrise is working with Rotarians in Aguascalientes, Mexico on providing a cornea-splitting piece of equipment.
District Governor Xavier Toson's Video Chat for July - Wishing us a Happy Rotary New Year and inspirational message to start the year Click to play video.
As District 5840’s PolioPlus Chair for 2020-2021, I will be writing a blog on the status of PolioPlus and events related to it. The blog will be on Wordpress and will be readily available to the public there, on Facebook, and on Twitter. The blog will be placed on the District 5840 website in the enhanced PolioPlus section.
The Fredericksburg Nimitz Rotary Club, The Rotary Club of Fredericksburg, and the Fredericksburg Morning Rotary Club jointly received a Covid-19 grant of $4,000 from District 5840.
Eleven district clubs have earned an EREY banner as the books are closing on 2019-2020! EREY stands for Every Rotarian Every Year and is based on every member contributing at least $25 to Rotary’s Annual Fund and the club per capita average contribution being $100 or more.
Bob Green, Charter Member of the Rotary Club of Kerrville – Morning (Morning Rotary) presided over the 2020-2021 Morning Rotary new officer installation.
On June 18th, The Rotary Club of Kerrville – Morning (Morning Rotary) Treasurer, Drew Whitehead, standing in for Jon Tilley, President, named Ray Buck as the 2019-2020 Rotarian of the Year.
Pleasanton Rotary Club organized a needs assessment in Atascosa County for which 5-7 possible food pantries in Atascosa County and committed to distribute 475 boxes to the identified groups.
Twenty needy local families of the Hondo area were presented with $100 food baskets from HEB as a result of a $2000 grant awarded to the Rotary Club of Hondo/D’Hanis by the District Foundation.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a lot of pain and fear in the community, but local groups still look out for the community and the Wimberley Valley and help with those that individual and families that are directly affected.
The Canyon Lake Rotary Foundation made a significant donation recently to jumpstart the financial assistance program at a local charity. The Community Resource & Recreation Center of Canyon Lake (CRRC) has served the community for 37 years by providing emergency food and financial assistance.
The Rotary Clubs of Boerne Sunrise and Fair Oaks Ranch applied for and were awarded grants through the District 5840 COVID 19 Disaster Relief Fund for the combined amount of $3000.
We look forward to welcoming our incoming District Governor, Xavier Toson (2020-2021), and congratulating our outgoing District Governor, John Hutcherson (2019-2020) on a job well done. Our special guest and presiding officer for the event will be Rotary International Director (2020-2022) Suzi Howe! We've made it super easy to log on and view the installation.
You have the option to view on our District 5840 Facebook page by clicking the link below:
Today under the leadership of PDG Carol Holmes our legislative committee counted the votes for the District 5840 Council on Legislation representative for the years 2020 - 2023. Kathy Hubbard the immediate Past District Governor was elected and PDG Sherri Muniz is the Alternate.
Kathy is a member of the Rotary Club of Fair Oaks Ranch and Sherri is a member of the Rotary Club of San Antonio. We appreciate their willingness to serve in this very important job for Rotary International.
Thank you message from the Katoma community: "we are now enjoying rain h. water project! Thank you so much for your grant which is highly appreciated. It has changed the life of our community."
“Wave of Violence and Anguish Sweeps Dozens of US Cities” This is the headline on May 31, 2020 describing racial demonstrations happening again in the United States of America. These are the same United States of America where we are guaranteed Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Assembly and Due Process of Law.
The Fair Oaks Ranch Club annually provides Career and Technical Education Scholarships to high school seniors from the Boerne Independent School District. This year it awarded three $2,000 scholarships and the winners were all from Boerne Champion High School.
The Rotary Club of Fredericksburg (noon) put together a COVID-19 Community Support Campaign to get donations to help local organizations like the Needs Council, Food Bank and Good Samaritan Center. Our first round we raised over $3k for the Needs Council!
SA Northwest Rotary will be giving out their Awards for the Change Program @ Dellview Elementary via ZOOM this year. Twenty (20) children qualified for the Awards and will receive a beautiful certificate and a 10” Tablet for all of their hard work.
San Antonio North Central Rotary Club's Scholarship Chair - Christine Gonzales Tovar presented yard signs to the 2020 Scholarship winners from Winston School San Antonio
Although the Rotary Club of Hondo-D’Hanis, like so many other organizations during the coronavirus outbreak, could not meet “in person,” its members continued their hard work to make a difference in the lives of many in the community.
Every year the Canyon Lake Rotary Club (The Club) gives out education scholarships to bright, intelligent and energetic youth in the area; and this is year is no exception.
The Rotary Club of Blanco County has reached out during this school year by providing hygiene kits for families in the Johnson City and Blanco Independent School Systems.
The Rotary Club of Wimberley is proud to announce the winners of this year's Page Turner Awards which recognizes those students who have read the most books during the school year. The recipients are:
Rotarian McKenzie Moellering from the Rotary Club of Fredericksburg Morning was the buyer and seller of the winning ticket of the District Cruise Raffle. The fundraiser contributed $48,930.00 to the humanitarian programs of Rotary. Thank you to all that sold tickets!
CLT is where club officers and emerging leaders can learn more about what Rotary has to offer. If you are an incoming Club President, Club Secretary, or chair of Membership, RI Foundation, if you are interested in Grants Management or Strategic Planning for your club, Club Leadership Training is for you. Register Here
Are you looking for ideas to engage members while we’re physically distancing ourselves from each other? Has your club started meeting online? Here are some of our favorite resources to help:
Tracy Barr, Rotary Club of Blanco project chair Preventing Human Trafficking provided an informational presentation to the Blanco Woman's club. We all must be involved in order to protect our community of young persons.
Blanco Rotary Educates on Prevention of Human Trafficking
This past week, The Rotary Club of Kerrville - Morning (Morning Rotary) presented a $1,200 check to the Doyle Community Center to assist with meals during the COVID-19 crisis.
Like most clubs, the Rotary Club of San Antonio is adjusting to what it means to be a Rotarian during this pandemic. Zoom Webinars have replaced in-person weekly meetings and virtual socials have replaced the happy hour.
Randolph Metrocom Rotary Club founded a 501c3 (GRAPIE) ran by a board thats includes all club members. They gave $2500 each to two local assistance programs - Greater Randolph Area Services Program (G.R.A.S.P) and Randolph Area Christian Assistance Program (RACAP) located in their community.
Randolph Metrocom Supports Local Assistance Programs
The San Antonio Northeast Rotary Club held its first Zoom meeting on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. The main topic of discussion was what we could do as a club to help out our community during these trying times. The club members voted unanimously to donate $2,000 from the club’s checking account to the Texas Diaper Bank, so that diapers, wipes and feminine hygiene products could be purchased directly from the manufacturer.
Showing our appreciation to the staff, the Del Rio Rotary Club provided meals to the staff of Val Verde Regional Medical Center and three of their clinics. The 200 hamburger meals were prepared by Skillet's Restaurant and included a inspirational quote. A big thanks to everyone who made this possible.
The Fair Oaks Ranch Club provided a $1500 grant to the Hill Country Family Services of Boerne to help the organization provide support during the COVID-19 emergency.
My church history book notes that all church services were cancelled in the week of May 10, 1946 on account of a polio epidemic. Church services were resumed May 19 for adults and lifted August 1, 1946 for those under 21. That summer San Antonio had 85 cases and 11 deaths and epidemics followed until the Salk vaccine was available in 1955.
Boerne Sunrise, Fredericksburg Morning and Fredericksburg Nimitz are our first three clubs with 100% of their members marking Every Rotarian Every Year (EREY). Those gifts represent contributions to the Annual Fund, which means funding for humanitarian programs. EREY clubs receive a banner at year-end.
Join this live event on Saturday, May 2, 2020 at 10AM to hear stories of hope, inspiration and gratitude from Rotarians, Rotaractors and friends of #Rotary from across the globe as they share what they are doing to help their communities. The telethon will also showcase how our polio eradication infrastructure is helping to combat COVID-19. The goal is to raise more than $1 million dollars! To watch, visit facebook.com/rotary. Here is how you can participate:
The District Conference scheduled for May 2, 2020 in Fredericksburg has been postponed until the Fall of 2020. The raffle will be held via Zoom on May 2, 2020.
What began as the adoption of an infant from Ethiopia by a Rotary Club of Wimberley co-president in 2008 and support of the club has become an international project supporting the education and welfare of hundreds of children.
The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed our healthcare system to its limits. We can take action now through a citizen volunteer opportunity called Volunteer Surge! Rotary Clubs across the country are partnering with Volunteer Surge to recruit one million volunteers to participate in a new program that provides training online, for free, to become a Telehealth Worker or a Community Health Worker. Rotarian founded nonprofit The Global Impact Group is leading this effort. Click here to join the effort called Volunteer Surge!
The Boerne Sunrise Rotary is holding its regular Tuesday morning meetings at 7:00 am via Zoom. Staci Almager, CEO of Hill Country Family Services, was the speaker at the Tuesday, April 14 meeting. She said, “With the sudden and unexpected loss of employment many families are struggling. We are seeing many new faces as these families turn to HCFS for help with food.” HCFS receives food donations from local merchants, but in the current circumstances must also purchase food and other supplies. Online financial donations can be made at www.hcfstx.org . The Boerne Sunrise Rotary Board has approved a donation of $1,000 to Hill Country Family Services.
Boerne Sunrise Rotary Donates to Hill Country Family Services
Rotarians and Rotaractors everywhere are proving that being physically isolated doesn’t mean being disconnected. People are embracing new ways to connect using technology — smartphones, webcams, and the internet. Find out more in our upcoming webinar, which will feature members who are leading their clubs and districts in the move to virtual connection.
As printed on the raffle tickets, there will be a drawing on May 2nd to determine the winner. The original plan was for completed tickets stubs being brought to the District Conference in Fredericksburg on that date has changed due to the Covid-19 based restricitions on group gathering. Instead, stubs will be mailed from the clubs to the District Rotary Foundation Committee Chair by April 20th and made available for the drawing overseen by the District Governor. Mailing address:
Consider the creative use of technology to host “virtual meeting” experiences for your members until you can resume in-person meetings and events.
There are many free and paid options for hosting virtual meetings. See below for some free options:
District Zoom account— Clubs may use the District Zoom account to hold their virtual meetings. Each meeting allows for up to 100 participants and no time cap. To access/schedule your Club Meeting using the District Zoom account, contact DG John Hutcherson at 5840dg1920@gmail.com.
Rotary International just announced that the Rotary International Convention, scheduled for 6-10 June 2020, in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, has been canceled in response to the ongoing threat of COVID-19. Read more at riconvention.org
The COVID-19 coronavirus is affecting every aspect of our lives in real time, and this puts Rotarians in an unfamiliar place. As People of Action, we are most comfortable when we are fully engaged in the world – moving freely, meeting openly, and offering helping hands. These are very difficult times for people who, like us, are at our best when we are learning, growing, and serving—together.
We are also leaders in our communities, and these times call for leadership. In many ways, this also is our time. We have proven abilities to reach out and collaborate to offer immediate help to people in need at a rapid pace. These are precisely the skills needed all over the world today. The global effort against COVID-19 depends on actions taken in every country. Rotary has the unique ability to help improve those efforts in every community and every country.
Rotary and Toastmasters working together will enable us to change and impact the world more powerfully!
Come join us for our District Conference Warm-Up on Saturday, April 4th at 11:30am for an online Zoom meeting. Lark Doley, the immediate past President of Toastmasters International, will be the keynote speaker for Rotarians and Toastmasters. Please register to receive link.
Register for District Conference Warm-Up - April 4th
Dear fellow Rotarians, The health and safety of our members are our top priorities. We are closely monitoring the outbreak of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) and continuously assessing its potential impact on our operations, meetings, trainings, and other events.
Due to the rapidly changing nature of this situation, I encourage you to use your discretion when it comes to club and district meetings and events, and Rotary programs and activities.
Wurstfest is a 10-day salute to sausage that is a 59-year tradition in New Braunfels. Each year hundreds of thousands of festival attendees enjoy all the foods, fun, and beer that Wurstfest has to offer.
The spring fundraiser for the Rotary Club of New Braunfels is the Hill Country Craft Beer Festival, April 18 from 1pm to 6pm, with VIP entrance beginning at 12noon, at Rockin’ R on the banks of the Guadalupe River in Gruene. Tickets will go on sale March 1,
Fredericksburg Morning Rotary just completed another major project for our community, a basketball pavilion with multiple courts.A group of young adults came to asking for help building these courts.
We are looking at starting a San Antonio Military Rotary Club. First, I would like for you to consider being a member of this special San Antonio Military Rotary Club. Second, In order to do this, I need you to put on your thinking caps and reach out to your military friends/contact list. Our goal is to have 20 members by 15 March, 2020 who are committed to service-above-self.
The Rotary Club of Fredericksburg is proud to announce the completion of the Katoma Water Project in Africa! It was a very happy and monumental day for the villagers. Jim Harris and the International Services Projects Committee are looking at more ways to participate with District 5840 & Rotary International to bring more clean water to more people that are without it.
The program has grown to two times a month going to nursing homes, senior Nursing care and other group centers. The Rotarin team is lead by our amazing project guide, Anne-Maria Morgan. This group of ladies at Johnson City, Texas have been meeting for several months enjoying all the brain fitness activities.
Cary Albert, CEO of the Dallas-based Albert Restaurant Group and owner of numerous Scholtzsky’s in the San Antonio, Austin and DFW regions, delivered an entertaining speech to the Fair Oaks Ranch Club on February 5th regarding his experience in the restaurant industry.
Canyon Lake's sold-out 12th annual Valentine’s Day event was a tremendous success – again! The 300 plus attendees boot-scooted their way to country western music, dined on succulent beef, purchased silent and live actions items, all for the benefit of the youth fellowships the club supports. Join us next year!
Congratulations to Mrs. Sarah Myers! Mrs. Myers, who teaches Focus Special Education at Wimberley High School, was recognized as the Rotary Club of Wimberley’s Teacher of the Month.
San Marcos Rotary Club raised $7,000 from their Annual Wine Tasting and Casino Night on February 8, 2020. We had a wonderful turn out that exceeded expectations. We are so excited to get things ready for next year when we celebrate our 100th year anniversary! We invite everyone to like us on FaceBook to keep updated on all our news and events!
The six Rotary Exchange Youth Exchange Students enjoyed an afternoon at the San Antonio Rodeo on Sunday February 16. The students, from Brazil, Argentina, France, Belgium, Spain, and Italy.
Jourdanton Rotary hosted a Blood Drive in December challenging the Pleasanton Rotary to a “Blood Drive Battle.” Jourdanton gave 31 units to Pleasanton’s 42 units. Not bad for our first drive. We are looking forward to our next battle.
Jourdanton Rotary sponsored a Bike Raffle in December. We had the participation of 20+ local businesses, raffled off over 20 bikes, raised over $1,700 which was donated to the newly formed Jourdanton Education Foundation and gave $500 to a lucky winner as a prize.
Inviting all San Antonio area Rotarians to the 3rd annual Rotary Day SA on Saturday, March 21, 2020! Join your fellow Rotarians as we come together to make a huge impact in the community. Interact, Rotaract and children 10 and older are welcomed! We will be working at both Elmendorf Lake Park and Martinez Park - doing gardening, litter removal, painting and playground mulching. We are seeking 250 volunteers for Rotary Day SA 2020. Contact director@rotarysa.org to sign-up.
The 11th Annual Western BBQ Night and Dance was held on Thursday, January 30th at the GRASP (Greater Randolph Area Senior Project) Senior Center. San Antonio Northeast Rotarians teamed up with our fellow Rotarians in the Randolph Metrocom Rotary Club for this annual service project to host an evening of fun for the seniors in the community that frequent the GRASP Senior Center.
Rotary District 5840 held a Rotary Leadership Institute seminar on Saturday, February 8th in Boerne, TX. Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) is a multi-district, grassroots leadership development program of member districts organized into regional divisions in various parts of the world.
Today, we are excited to announce that Doug and Sue Whinnery are now members of the Arch Klumph Society Trustees Circle! Thank you Doug and Sue for your generosity in support of the Rotary Foundation. And, thank you for your very long term strong support for District 5840.
Misión de Candelilla, Rotary Club of Fredericksburg-Nimitz, Rotary Club of New Braunfels and Club Rotario Piedras Negras recently shared the miracle of Christmas in Mexico. At 5:20 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, in the parking lot of Bridge Church, Santa (Curtis Allerkamp) was there preparing to take a team of his elves to Mexico.
Melinda Martinez, RN for the cardiac unit at VVRMC, noticed that Sandra Puente was in need of a replacement for her worn wheelchair. Since Ms. Puente did not qualify for any assistance, Ms. Martinez approached Rotarian Fred Bowers, Fred advised her to reach out to Rotary President, Angela Prather.
District Governor, John Hutcherson, had a great visit with the Eagle Pass Rotary Club earlier this month. He assisted with the induction of three new members and also received a check from the CC Winn Interact Club for their "Pennies for Polio" campaign in the fall.
CC Winn Interact Club Presents Check to DG John Hutcherson
On January 22nd, the Eagle Pass Rotary Club had a "Sip n' Serve" evening meeting where they assembled toiletry bags and had a cocktail hour. The toiletry bags were assembled for the residents of Casa Bethesda, a home for adults with special needs in Piedras Negras, Mexico.
Eagle Pass Rotary Club Assembles Toiletry Bags for International Project
Canyon Lake Rotary Club is hosting it's 12th Annual Romantic Rendezvous at the Convention Center in New Braunfels on February 15th. Last year, 330 formally-dressed attendees netted the Club over $55,000 for their youth scholarships! There will be live and silent auctions with trips to South Africa, Park City, Utah, deer hunts, custom-made quilts, dinner and dancing to the music of Cactus Country, one of San Antonio’s favorite bands. This event has sold out five years in a row! Tickets are $75 per person. For reservations: 830-542-8270.
Make Plans to Attend the 12th Annual Romantic Rendezvous
Glynna Reser and members of the Ralph Fair, Jr. Family delivered an outstanding presentation regarding Casa del Aguila Orphanage & School to The Fair Oaks Ranch Club during its weekly luncheon on January 8th. Mr. Fair was instrumental in establishing Casa del Aguila in 1995 to serve the needs of abandoned and abused children of indigenous families living in a mountainous region in Peru.
Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide, who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. Rotary’s main objective is service—in the community, in the workplace and around the globe. The 1.2 million Rotarians who make up more than 35,000 clubs in 350 countries in the world share a dedication to the ideal of SERVICE ABOVE SELF.
The Rotary Club of Blanco County is one of those 35,000 clubs. In the short time we have been in existence in Blanco County, our projects follow the guidelines of Rotary International to:
“Rotarians are people of action” exclaimed District Governor John Hutcherson to an attentive audience of major donors at what was billed as a Million Dollar Dinner on January 17th. Slightly shy of a million that night, six days later the total topped the goal.
Each year, the Downtown Rotary Club of New Braunfels conducts four separate fundraisers including our All In for the Hungry Poker Tournament. These events enable our club to distribute a combined $250,000 annually to deserving area non-profits and to Rotary International. We dedicate all funds from our Poker Tournament to food banks serving our community.
What is special about the poker event is the money raised when given to the food banks has a multiplier effect. According to the food banks, each dollar donated can be turned into $8 dollars’ worth of food given to those in need. Last year, we donated approximately $25,000. We need your participation to exceed that number this year!
“Rotary is not just a club that you join, it is an invitation to endless opportunities. We believe that our acts of service, big and small, create opportunities for people who need our help. Everything we do opens another opportunity for someone, somewhere,” said President-Elect Holger Knaack.Therefore, the theme for year 2020-21 is -- Rotary Opens Opportunities.”
As your Rotary District 5840 Governor this weekend was AWESOME!
Friday, we celebrated significant gifts to the Rotary International Foundation with our Million Dollar Dinner at the San Antonio Country Club. Our special guest speaker was Ann Lee Hussey from Maine. Ann Lee is a polio survivor and and polio warrior and told her Rotary Story of service around the world to fight polio. Hearing the commitments of Rotarians like Ann Lee inspires all of us to continue our service and our gifts.
The Rotary Club of Kerrville-Morning (Kerrville Morning Rotary) President, Jon Tilley, recently awarded a Paul Harris Fellow to Kerrville Morning Rotarian, Katya Sczepanik.
Rotarians and Interact Club students will arrived at Ray H. Darr Elementary at noon on Friday, December 13th to read to first, second and third graders with Santa hats, books and candy in tow.
Another success annual Holiday Eve of Giving Dinner. This year our Rotary Club Of San Antonio South sponsored 2 families...The Rodriguez Family from East Central ISD & the Garza Family from Somerset ISD.
For the past five years, the Alamo Heights Rotary Club (AHRC) has been providing support to the Warrior and Family Support Center (WFSC) at Joint Base San Antonio, Ft Sam Houston. Wounded/injured military personnel are being rehabilitated, treated and cared for at the San Antonio Military Medical Center (SAMMC) and the Center for the Intrepid. Children and family members come to visit and assist in recovery and often arrive with nothing to take care of themselves.
November 9, 2019 was the Walk to End Alzheimer’s at Lady Bird Johnson Park in Fredericksburg. They made a presentation to the club a couple of weeks before,
The Fair Oaks Ranch Club held a festive Holiday Party December 11th at the Fair Oaks Ranch Golf & Country Club. Over 40 Rotarians and their guests enjoyed a wonderful meal and a fun-filled evening that was highlighted by a white elephant gift exchange hosted by Rotarian Tom McKeown. Penny Sawyer and Jane Burton served as event coordinators and went beyond Service Above Self to orchestrate a memorable night of joy and friendship.
Our outbound global education grant scholar, Chinelo Nwokem from Texas State, will be in Houston one weekend this month for training with other Texas scholars. Chinelo is sponsored by the Rotary Club of San Marcos and will be pursuing a graduate degree in Global Health and Development at the University College of London. Her undergraduate major is microbiology and her goal is to be a global travelling physician. Hers is a $30,000 grant funded by district Rotarians as part of their contributions to The Rotary Foundation.
The water catchment project initiated by the Rotary Club of Fredericksburg and funded by the Nimitz Rotary Club, Fredericksburg Morning Club, Rotary Club of New Braunfels and Rotary Club of Canyon Lake as well as a District 5840 Grant and individual Rotarian contributions is well under way.
The Valero Energy Foundation awarded a $5,000 grant in support of the upcoming 2020 Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) conference. The funds will enable additional high school juniors from underprivileged communities throughout the district who otherwise would not have been able to attend the upcoming January 17-20 conference.
The Alamo Heights Rotary Club will present its 34th Annual Alamo Heights Night® (AHN) on April 17th, 2020, on the University of the Incarnate Word campus.The event is an official San Antonio Fiesta® Commission event.
Members of the Rotary Club of Blanco county offered support to Johns on City. Connie Cox, Sid Cox, Jan Gass and Jerry Gaas help direct pedestrian traffic across main Street.
The Fair Oaks Ranch Rotary Club held a special salute to Veterans at its weekly luncheon on Wednesday, November 13th, at the Fair Oaks Ranch Country Club.
On November 8th, 2019 the Kerrville Rotary Club hosted its fourth Veterans Appreciation Breakfast. The breakfast of consisted of free breakfast, the local color guard presenting the colors, local Rotarians sharing breakfast with our Veterans and Thank You notes from local elementary schools for the Veterans. “The notes will make you cry,” said event organizer, Donna Peterson.
This past week, the Rotary Club of Kerrville - Morning (Morning Rotary) was joined by Past District 5840 Governor Jan Livingston who helped the club members pack shoe boxes with Christmas gifts for boys and girls.
Blanco Elementary School’s Principal, Jowie Walker, has initiated a Homework Center this school year to assist students in grades 2 - 5 with their daily homework.
All Rotarians are invited to join the San Antonio Club for their Holiday Event, on Thursday December 5th, 2019 for the opening of the Rotary Ice Rink from 6PM-9Pm at the St. Anthony Hotel - Rooftop Bar. Cost is $25 per person. Admission to the ice rink and skate rental included with reservation. Contact assistant@rotarysa.org to RSVP or call 210-222-8242 X11.
As one of the Chair's for District 5840's Halloween Event I would like to thank each and everyone of you that participated in "Morgan's Wonderland More Delightful than Frightful 2019" Event. We had over 100 adult volunteers and so many Interactor's I lost count.
The Fredericksburg Elementary School fifth graders again each received their own personal dictionary/thesaurus from the Fredericksburg Morning Rotary Club. They are used in the classroom all year and during the STAAR test, and then belong to the students. If you look carefully, Amber LeMaster's class is holding letters to spell out, "Thank you, Morning Rotary!"
The Hays County Rotary Clubs of Kyle, San Marcos and Wimberley gathered together for a social on November 7th at the Hays City Store in Driftwood, Texas. More than 50 were in attendance. The clubs sponsored non-alcoholic drinks, chips, queso, salsa, and guacamole.
The holidays are just around the corner and once again the Kerrville Satellite Rotary Club will be partnering with Kerrville Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association to provide the food for the families who have been approved to receive toys and clothes from the Blue Santa program.
It’s that time of year again to start thinking about the sale of raffle tickets for our district’s annual Rotary Foundation fundraiser. Club President must send a request for tickets from Foundation Chair, Jerry Hardy.
The Rotary Club of Wimberley is happy to announce the winner and runner up of the first Rotary Loves Readers contest of the school year. This challenge asked Danforth Junior High students to write journal entries based on a recently read novel.
For the 9th year, the Wimberley Rotarians set up tables on the Wimberley Square and at Deercreek Nursing Center on Halloween to hand out over 1200 new books and magazines to eager kids.
The District Interact Conference was a huge success! 109 Interact members from 10 schools participated in fun activities, shared ideas, and gave an account of projects/activities completed, and their goals for the remainder of the school year.
Dwayne Hopkins is the District Governor for the Rotary year beginning July 1,2022. He is a member of the San Antonio West Rotary Club and has been a Rotarian since 2008. He has been active in District activities and served 5 years as Assistant Governor.
We welcome Dwayne to our Governor Chain as the District Governor Nominee Designate. One of his first jobs in this capacity is Ranger at Lone Star PETS. Read his biography.
This past week, the Rotary Club of Kerrville - Morning (Morning Rotary) provided lunch for the interns, staff and volunteers at the Christian Women’s Job Corps, Kerr County (CWJC) and joined them for a special time of connecting over the meal.
Rotarians Chris Kailipaka (top left), Genevieve Flores (far left photo, middle) and (photos directly above, from left) Diane Cosgrove, Johnette Dixon and Trinket Milward all of The Rotary Club of Hondo-D’Hanis, traveled to Del Rio and Acuña, Mexico, joining Boerne Sunrise Rotary Club, Fredericksburg Morning Rotary and Rotary Club of Del Rio
The Rotary Club of San Saba held their first "Purple Pinkie" Project at their High School football game this past Friday evening. We had a couple of things going in our favor as the game was against our arch rivals, the Goldthwaite Eagles, and our team colors are purple and gold. We did well for a first time event but there was more that went on than just raising a little money and awareness.
On September 12, 2019 the International Boundary and Water Commission celebrated the 50th anniversary of Amistad Dam, in Del Rio, Texas. Speakers from the United States and Mexico presented remarks about the dam and spoke about the importance of the relationship between our two countries. Rotarian Fred Bowers was one of four guest speakers from the United States at this special anniversary event. Fred worked for the general contractor Perini during the construction of Amistad Dam from 1965 to 1969.
Are you seeking dynamic speakers for your Rotary meetings &/or special events? Are YOU a dynamic speaker with an engaging message? Please contact PBlankensee@Rotary5840.org -- to get your (& others') names, contact information & topic(s) onto our Rotary 5840 Speakers' Bureau list.
The Jourdanton Rotary Club participated in our local National Night Out on October 1st, 2019. We had a Festive Fall Bean Bag Toss and gave away assorted colored pencils with ours club’s name engraved on them. We had lots of fun and even let the kids play after our members tried their hand at tossing a few. We are looking forward to participating again next year.
Jourdanton Rotary Participates in National Night Out
Five members, from the Rotary Club of Fair Oaks Ranch, recently participated in the Foundation Training that was given in Kerrville. Pictured below are FOR members, Jackson Moss, Jane Burton, Tom McKeown, Mary Thompson and Bill Fusco with District Governor John Hutcherson and Foundation Chair Jerry Hardy.
The Rotary Club of San Antonio presents the 2019 Holiday Outdoor Ice Rink located in Travis Park adjacent to the annual Christmas tree. The Rink will open the night of the Christmas tree lighting (Thanksgiving weekend) and continue daily through January 2020.
At the annual Zone Institute in Kansas this week the generous contributions of District 5840 in 2018-2019 earned recognition for the third highest per capita giving to the Rotary Foundation’s Annual Fund. The certificate was presented by Rotary International President Elect Holger Knaack and Foundation Trustee Jennifer Jones.
San Antonio Rotary Club and Alamo Heights Rotary Club worked together for the Snack Pak program. The blue bags are filled with 7064 jars of peanut better collected from local high schools. The clubs job was to sort and place all those jars in the green bins.
The San Antonio Northeast Rotary Club held a Diaper Drive as part of National Diaper Need Awareness Week. This drive helped provide 500 diapers for families in need. For more information on how you can host a diaper drive, please e-mail: procurement@texasdiaperbank.org
The Rotary Club of Kyle aims efforts toward helping homeless students in Hays County over the next year. Hidden homelessness is hard to define; however, it is a reality to 200+ students within Hays County. Students who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, who share housing with others due to economic hardships or similar reasons may be identified as homeless.
“Although we may not meet the students or their family directly, we are working with Hays CISD representatives to fulfill specific needs” stated Jason Nebgen, President of the Rotary Club of Kyle. “This is an effort that all of our members believe we can make an impact by working together with the entire community.”
Eighteen years ago, Kerrville Rotary – Morning (Morning Rotary) initiated a program to annually distribute dictionaries to Ingram ISD students. For the last several years, Harper ISD was included in the distribution as well. The dictionaries are provided to the students at no cost for their personal use in order to assist them in their studies and to help prepare them for future careers.
On September 13th, we celebrated the official induction of the Rotary District 5840 Passport Club. The Passport Club is a new approach in a new time for Rotary clubs. WELCOME!!
This past Saturday we had 35 attendees for our RLI. There were 21 in Part I, 8 in Part II and 6 in Part III. We had 2 attendees from out of our district. Facilitators included 3 Past District Governors and the current District Governor.
It is with much sadness we share the loss of David Flack, from the San Antonio Rotary Club . David was a true Rotarian and dedicated his life to service. He was at every meeting (perfect attendance) since 2002 and was always willing to help in a pinch. He was the first to sign up for a service project or a social. He had a kind word for everyone and expressed his appreciation to others for their service. He will be missed.
David's memorial service will be Friday, September 20 at 2pm in the Sanctuary at Trinity Baptist Church, 319 E. Mulberry Ave., with a reception following in the Fanning Foyer. Our condolences to his wife Diane and entire family.
The Rotary Club of Blanco County, in partnership with the Blanco Education Foundation, recently awarded the Blanco Middle School (BMS) $8000 for purchase of a bank of 25 new laptop computers and a mobile cart.
This week the Bahamas took a direct hit from category 5 Hurricane Dorian, with winds that reached 180 miles per hour. This storm has battered these islands and the rebuilding process will take years.
Grand Bahama island has 5 Rotary clubs and is part of Rotary District 6990. Rotary District 6990 has secured a 181-foot ship and begun the efforts to fill four (4) 20-foot containers with needed supplies to aid in the Hurricane Dorian Relief Efforts. The local Rotary Clubs will be collecting items and packing them for the first shipment by this weekend. Click here to see how you can help.
The Rotary Club of Blanco County in partnership with the Blanco County Emergency Medicals Service (EMS) are providing “Save a Life Kits” for citizens in our community . The population of Blanco County is over 11,000 people and the effort is being made by the Rotary for each family home to have a kit.
Did you know that Seguin Rotary Club has hosted OVER 76 inbound and outbound exchange students all over the world!? Last week, they said goodbye to the club’s outbound Rotary Youth Exchange Student Reid Skinner, as he sets off to the Canary Islands, Spain. Reid’s parents Melissa and Mike have hosted many exchange students here so this is not there first experience with our program! Pictured here is Kathy Meurin who is involved with our youth in Rotary District 5840 - South Central Texas and inbound student Melodie from France. A previous exchange student Bibiana Klasz who was in town visiting and Reid our outbound student!
The Rotary Club of San Antonio ended the month of August with their service project for the Haven for Hope. On Saturday, They made 3,120 sandwiches, served 488 people at lunch and even cracked 800 eggs in preparation for Sunday breakfast. It was a great day of service.
The Rotary Club of Greater San Marcos gathered last Friday at the community classroom at CTMC to organize school supplies, prepare 340 individual packets of supplies, and pack them in banana boxes for delivery to 2 isolated villages across the border in Mexico (in partnership with Mision De Candelilla) , as well as to the Hays Caldwell Women's Center and the Crisis Bread Basket.
OUR WHY... the Rotary Club of Kyle is happy to report that our focus over the next 12 months will be on helping our homeless students. Stay tuned for for details. Until then, we are sharing our WHY.. here's a message from this years President, Jason Nebgen.
President Brandon Logan would like to invite you and your club to attend this special luncheon on August 21. Mr. Ezra Teshome will be speaking about Rotary International progress on polio and the upcoming new initiative on eradicating malaria.
Want double recognition points for contributions to the Annual Fund of The Rotary Foundation? Our D5840 Past District Governors are offering their personal recognition points as a match for District Rotarian contributions until 30 September 2019. Click here for details.
Matching Foundation Contribution Points Offer For This Summer
ROTARY CONNECTS THE WORLD is our theme for this Rotary year. Service in our communities and across the globe is our focus in District 5840. Through service we build positive relationships around the world and in our communities.
A note from Rotary District 5840 Foundation Chair Jerry Hardy...
My sister in Atlanta found out Rotary sends these neat tribute cards when you donate in somebody's name; so she surprised me with one. It is all online, the greeting cards are first-quality and it is a great gift for somebody who (a) already has plenty of stuff and (b) likes Rotary. Click here to find out more information.
The Trustees of the Rotary Foundation bestow this honor in recognition of outstanding efforts to promote the Foundation’s many programs dedicated to international understanding. Only 50 are awarded worldwide each year. We are proud to announce our own PDG Sherri Muniz is a 2019 recipient.
Sherri's dedication to Rotary is apparent in everything she does. Her leadership in the club, district and beyond is inspiring. Sherri's work with international service projects has made a huge difference in the lives of others. Congratulations, Sherri!
Miguel Segura (President Select of new Passport Club) and Jackson Moss (District 5840 Assistant Governor 2019-2020-Passport Club) welcome guests to the first orientation/recruiting “After Work Happy Hour” hosted by the newly forming club. Membership is open to any currently inactive Rotarian in District 5840.
The Sun met the Moon in the hot waters south of the border. Don Jones and Rusty Meador of Boerne Sunrise Rotary joined Robert Cisneros, Jennica Colvin, Cathy Cisneros Viera, and Ron Cisneros of Boerne Moontime Rotary at the Aguascalientes Rotary Club in Mexico. The Rotarians were there to look at the Banco de Ojos project that has been ongoing for the last twenty years.
The Rotary Club of Wimberley is happy to announce the winner and runner up of the third Danforth Rotary Loves Readers contest of the school year. This challenge asked students to write an original Greek myth that explains how something in nature came to be. The runner up with her myth about Jacob’s Well and Mount Baldy was 6th grader, Maia Martin. Maia received $50. The winner of a crisp $100 bill was 6th grader, Gus Dussler, with his entry The Myth of Honeybees.
Residents in certain counties can now use text messages to reach help in case of emergencies
In the case of an emergency, most people’s primal instinct is to pick up their phones and dial 9-1-1. Although that should still be your first option, certain situations may require your silence in order to maintain your safety.
Let the Fiesta Fun Continue with These Excursions!
Here is a list of activities that you and your spouse may choose to participate in during the Rotary 5840 District Conference weekend in San Antonio! Some are free while others have a cost associated with them. The DC Committee has worked hard to negotiate special pricing for all the “extracurricular” events! Please note that MOST require you sign up in advance. Please adhere to this requirement as the hosts of the event MUST have a head count! Click here for a full list of activities.
LoneStar PETS 2019 is only a couple of days away. Thank you for registering. I look forward to serving with you as we seek to make Rotary even stronger. We have a full program in place to produce the best trained future presidents possible.
If you haven't already done so, I invite you to download the mobile app that you will use throughout the event. To download the app follow these instructions -
Dominion Rotary Club of San Antonio recently sponsored two students for the RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) Conference. Stephanie Gish, Past President of the Dominion Club hosted a podcast for TMI and featured the two students. To listen to the podcast, click here.
The 33rd Annual Alamo Heights Night will be on Friday April 12, 2019, at the University of the Incarnate Word, 4301 Broadway. Come join us as a vendor, to volunteer, or as an attendee. See www.alamoheightsnight.org for details or contact Rick Berchin at 210-824-2462 or info@creativechocolates.com.
Rotary International President Elect, Mark Daniel Maloney, recently announced the theme for his Presidential year, 2019-2020, "Rotary Connects the World." To find out more details, click here.
Rotary International President-Elect Announces Theme
Reconnect with Rotary through the new District 5840 Rotary Passport Club! This is a unique type of Rotary Club with flexible attendance where members participate in meetings and events of multiple clubs of their choice helping in service projects, fundraisers, and most of the things traditional club Rotarians do. The new Club's membership focus is on former Rotarians and Rotarians who are considering leaving a club due to schedule commitments.
Sign Up Now for P.E.T.S. 2019 Before Early Bird Registration Ends on February 10th
Please take a few moments and visit the Lone Star P.E.T.S. website at www.lonestarpets.orgto learn more about your upcoming President Elect Training Seminar (P.E.T.S.). To register, click here.
The dates for this year are February 28 - March 3, 2019.
A recent District 5840 symposium on Human Trafficking, presented in San Marcos, was highlighted in The Wimberley View newspaper on November 29th. With permission from the paper, we are including Part 1 of a two part article, "Under Our Noses", written by Lance Winter, the Publisher.
Brady Rotary Club had their third successful annual “Warm up with Rotary” project. The club works with Keith’s Ace Hardware to purchase heaters at cost and raise money throughout the community to purchase them. This year they hit their goal of 75 heaters.
WE NEED YOUR HELP…we still need USD 6,900 DDF (or cash)…
The Rotary E-Club 9920 Francophone will participate as International Primary Partner in another Global grant (GG) project during this Rotary year,focussing on CKD, for a Hospital in Rachaburi province in Thailand, with the Rotary Club of Bangkok Pattanakarn as Host Club…4 Dialysis machines including training for a GG total budget of USD 55,000.
Congratulations to Mrs. Lesley Skrovan at Scudder Primary! Mrs. Skrovan, who teaches Kindergarden, was recognized as the Rotary Club of Wimberley’s November Teacher of the Month. Mrs. Skrovan was selected for this honor for the following reasons:
District Governor Kathy Hubbard is pleased to announce the selection of Kristy Vandenberg as the District Governor Designate. Past President Kristy will serve as District Governor in 2021-22. She is a valued member of the Rotary Club of Kerrville.
PDG Judy Hutcherson wanted to make our District members aware of this project, regarding solid waste management. Christtel Cáceres Torres, Secretary 2018 - 2019, Club Rotario Tegucigalpa Sur - Honduras, District 4250, reported that along with fellow Rotarian Carlo Palmese, they created a presentation that they are sharing with clubs.
Rotary recently entered into a service partnership with Habitat for Humanity International to help enhance our service activities. Committed to the belief that every person deserves a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity International began in 1976 as a grassroots effort on a community farm in Georgia, USA.
We have recently become aware that multiple accounts impersonating RI President Barry Rassin and General Secretary John Hewko have been created on such channels as email, social media (Twitter and LinkedIn), and WhatsApp. Please note that these are not authentic Rotary communications; they are phishing and spoofing attempts to obtain money and other
The International Rotary project to memorialize the Great Western Cattle Trail began in 2006. It was featured as the Cover Article of the “Rotarian Magazine” in the December, 2017 issue. Now, on October 8, 2018, Monday, Columbus Day, one of those posts will be rededicated
The Rotary Club of San Antonio, at the Dominion, was recently featured in the August 2018 Dominion Magazine. A nice article on "Service Above Self", showcased information on Rotary as well as the Dominion Club. David Wiechmann, current President of the club, penned the informative piece that describes Rotary and even
At the Zone meeting in Boise, District 5840 won an award for having the most new members for Zone 21b for 2017-2018. Past District Governor Carol Holmes said, after receiving the award, "Thanks to all our presidents and clubs for making this happen and a special thank you to our
The Rotary Clubs of Del Rio, Boerne Sunrise, Hondo D'Hanis, and the Rotary Club of Cd Acuna, Mexico joined forces to distribute school supplies to several schools in Cd Acuna, on September 7, 2018.
It is that time again. Are we ready to help our currently projected attendance of 3500 handicapped children at Morgan's Wonderland on Halloween evening October 31, 2018? Hopefully the answer is - YES WE ARE!!
This past week, DG Kathy Hubbard and her husband Ron, joined a number of district and zone leaders as they gathered in Boise, Idaho for the Zone Institute.
Register today, to join us for the 2019 District 5840 Conference, May 3-4, in San Antonio, Texas. The weekend will be filled with lots of fun activities, to include Wine Country Tours, local shopping, a golf outing, great speakers and breakout sessions. Something for everyone! EACH PERSON ATTENDING MUST REGISTER SEPARATELY. To register, click here. For a schedule of meeting activities, click here. For a list of excursions, click here.
Attend the District 5840 Interact Clubs for the annual conference, Nov. 10, 2018 at The Winston School of San Antonio. Cost for Rotarians is just $10.00.
Operation Toothbrush, was a project planned and implemented by Rotarians from the Sunrise Club in Titusville, Florida and from the Fair Oaks Ranch Club in San Antonio, Texas.
Barbara Baldwin, a member of the San Antonio Dominion Rotary Club, is passionate about "Safety Whys", a program she developed for training babysitters. So much so, she had a table at the 2017 Atlanta International Convention.
Make plans now to attend the 2019 Rotary International Convention, to be held in Hamburg, Germany, June 1-5. For more information visit the website by clicking here or the Facebook page here.
2019 Rotary International Convention is in Hamburg, Germany
Welcome to Rotary District 5840, covering 44 counties in beautiful South Central Texas. We now have 2521 Rotarians in 57 clubs and 3 satellite clubs. We began as District 584 in 1912 with The San Antonio Rotary Club organized by Herbert J. Hayes.
District Governor Kathy Hubbard is trying to increase awareness about Human Trafficking. To learn more about this growing issue, take a moment to view this video, from the Texas Attorney General. Click here to view the video.
District Governor Kathy Hubbard, and her District Officers, were installed into office, June 22, at the Cana Ballroom, St. Peter's Church, in Boerne. Over one hundred Rotarians and guests were in attendance.
The U. S. Rotary Club and District Liability Insurance Program provides general liability (GL) and officers’/employment practices (D&O/EPL) insurance coverage automatically to active U. S. Rotary Clubs, Districts, club and district foundations, Interact clubs, RYLA, PETS, Rotary Youth Exchange, and other organizations on file with Rotary Risk Management.
June 22, 2018 - 2018-2019 District 5840 District Governor and Officers Installation Register Online!
Celebrate with us: outgoing District Governor, Carol Holmes, and install our incoming District Governor, Kathy Hubbard, the District Governor Elect, John Hutcherson, and the District Governor Nominee, Xavier Toson.
Dear district governors, district Rotary Foundation committee chairs, district scholarships subcommittee chairs, and district grants subcommittee chairs:
Greetings from Rotary Club of Madras Midtown, RI Dist 3232, Chennai, India.
On the occasion of 23rd February being World Peace and Understanding Day, it gives us immense pleasure in introducing our Rotary World Peace Project, A global project to effect World Peace.
The Rotary Foundation continues to be a organization that is doing great things around the world. To see some of the projects and programs, check out these videos:
DGE Kathy Hubbard and her husband, Ron, had the opportunity to meet 2018-19 RI President Barry Rassin, and his wife Esther, at the 2018 Rotary International Assembly.
Last Friday, I attended an Early Act ceremony at Travis Elementary in San Marcos at the invitation of Lisa Brown, the Early Act coordinator for Greater San Marcos Rotary.
Many Rotarians from District 5840, recently attended events in Chicago, Illinois, including a visit to Rotary International Headquarters. To see pictures, click here. Pictured above are DG Carol Holmes and her husband Doug, at RI Headquarters.
Are you a great photographer or just happened to take a great shot of one of your club's fundraisers or events? Why not submit it to the 2018 Rotarian Photo Contest? Your picture could show up in a future Rotarian Magazine. Find out more here.
Rotary raises money to eradicate polio in many ways. One way is the "Ride to End Polio" sponsored by Rotary District 5500 and held in Tucson Arizona in November, each year, as part of El Tour de Tucson.
PDG Sherri Muniz will be taking a group to India in March, 2018. If you would like more information on this trip, please click here for more information. The offer has been extended to December 15, 2017.
We will be making significant upgrades to our servers on 18 and 19 November. Due to the size of this project, some functions on Rotary.org and My Rotary that require a sign-in will not be available. These include:
As the Community Service Chair for District 5840, I would like to thank each and everyone of you that participated in "Morgan's Wonderland More Delightful than Frightful 2017" Event. Thank you for your candy donations, monetary donations and most of all for coming out and giving of yourselves.
The SA Downtown Rotary Club members volunteered to sew blankets for the Autism Treatment Center’s “Autism Uncovered” project. They hope to bring awareness to autism by building a Blanket Fort that is going for a Guinness World Record . The event will be held November 19 at Toyota Field.
The Rotarian Action Group for Peace is an action-driven group of Rotarians, Rotarians’ spouses and Rotaractors working together for the purpose of advancing peace and preventing wars throughout the world. Learn more about the Rotary Action Group for Peace here.
Dear Governor Holmes, Mexico is now on a long road to recovery after two powerful earthquakes earlier this month, followed by aftershocks that occurred over last weekend.
If you are in charge of your Rotary Club's newsletter, there is now an easy to use club newsletter creator that works seamlessly with your club's membership list.
The "Speakers’ Bureau"is designed to give Rotary Clubs a broad selection of dynamic, inspiring speakers, who are willing to speak at your club function for no charge.
Greetings from Rotary. Your Club and District Support (CDS) team is contacting you today to remind you of the IRS annual filing requirement for all Rotary clubs in the U.S. and U.S. territories.
The new and improved Rotary Club Central is finally here! Sign in now to experience the upgraded platform. And don’t forget — you can access Rotary Club Central with a desktop or mobile device. If you need help navigating the new platform, go to the Rotary Learning Center and search for Rotary Club Central to access any of the several guides.
If your Rotary Club has changed their meeting time, date, location or any other pertinent information, please contact the District Website Manager, Terri Politi, as soon as possible, to make the changes on the District website. In addition, it is important that you visit the Rotary International website at Rotary.org to update your meeting information.Thank you!
ShelterBox is currently working in the Philippines following what meteorologists are calling the most powerful storm ever to make landfall.
With winds of 195 mph and gusts up to 235 mph, Super Typhoon Haiyan (known locally as Yolanda), which struck the Philippines Nov. 7, is reported to be the largest storm ever recorded, surpassing Hurricane Camille in 1969.
Several thousand people are feared dead and thousands more left homeless.
ShelterBox currently has teams working in the country, responding to both the typhoon and the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that hit Bohol on October 15. The teams are focusing efforts in three of the badly affected regions, including Tacloban, Cebu and Bohol.
To learn more about how you and your club can help, please click ShelterBox in the Philippines. There is a DONATE NOW button right on the page which will accept credit card donations.
ShelterBox's mission is to deliver humanitarian relief in the form of equipment and materials that bring shelter, warmth and dignity to people made homeless by natural or other disasters worldwide. ShelterBox was founded in 2001 by a British Rotarian, and now has affiliates around the world. ShelterBox is the world's largest Rotary club project; the American affiliate, ShelterBox USA, is project of the Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota, Florida.
For more information, contact ShelterBox Ambassador Judy Hutcherson (Rotary Club of Fredericksburg Morning) at judybhutch@yahool.com or (830) 456-7323.
Above: Contents of a typical ShelterBox. Contents can be customized to meet specific needs of the area where disasters take place, such as cold-weather equipment or mosquito nets, for example.
More on ShelterBox's response:
So far, ShelterBox has committed aid for 4,000 families in the Philippines
Supplies previously positioned at Clark Air Base on Luzon have all been deployed
Additional aid positioned in neighboring countries are en route to impacted areas
504 ShelterBox tents have now arrived in Manila, Philippines.
224 ShelterBoxes and 576 ShelterBox tents are currently en route to Cebu
Nine response team members are on the ground with more members on the way
An extra 200 ShelterBoxes were packed by warehouse volunteers at ShelterBox HQ
Our vision is of a world in which basic emergency needs for survivors of disasters are rapidly met.
Our goal is to help 50,000 families who lose everything in a disaster every year.
Want to learn more about how to promote giving to The Rotary Foundation? A webinar designed especially for Districts 5840 and 5930 Foundation Chairs was held recently, and you can view a video of the entire 45-minute program. Just click HERE to view. You will need to Register with GoToMeeting to view the video. You'll also find this video under the Rotary Foundation Site Page (look on the Home Page, top of the left-hand column) and click on Promote the Foundation Like a Pro under Links.
DGE Jan Livingston is our District 5840 Convention Promotion Chair and she has some great options for your trip to Australia. PDG Ross Butterworth of Melbourne (District 9800) was GSE Team Leader to D5840 in 2010-2011, and he's invited District 5840 Rotarians to spend some time in Melbourne before or after the convention. Jan will have more details soon; check here on the website and watch your email for the latest. Questions? Contact Jan at jliving@swbell.net for all the details.
For more information about the convention, click "More" below--
The District 5840 Nominating Committee is now accepting completed application forms for Governor of District 5840 for the Rotary Year 2016-2017. Application deadline is October 1, 2013.
All suggestions must be submitted on the Club Suggestion for District Governor Form and Governor-nominee Data Form which can be downloaded from the District website. Both forms are available in "Download Files" on the right side of the Home Page.
Please note that suggestions must be approved by the club’s Board of Directors. Fully completed application forms accompanied by a recent digital photograph should be submitted via email to:
Our Rotary District 5840 will be hosting a GSE team from District 3212 in India from April 10 until May 10, 2013. At this time we are taking applications from Rotary Clubs to serve as hosts to this team. What is needed to apply is a tentative agenda including a vocational day and a list of potential host families.
If you club is interested in hosting the Team based on the tentative schedule below, please provide the following information NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY 17TH
1. Name of Rotary Club, Club President’s contact info and GSE Club Chair’s contact info
2. A brief outline of activities for the team, including Rotary club meetings and/or projects as well as cultural activities
3. A brief outline of at least one day’s activities devoted to the vocations of the team
4. Verification that your club has host families available to meet the needs of the team
Your request to host will be considered and you will be notified at once if your club is selected. At that time, a full itinerary giving names, street addresses and contact information of each host family, a schedule of host families and all planned activities, specific locations of all planned activities, names and contact information for any Rotarians escorting the team, details of at least one day’s activity devoted to the vocation of each member.
Here is a message from Rotarian Bob Scott, Chairman of the International PolioPlus Committee:
Dear Rotary Leaders:
Over the past 48 hours, several polio vaccinators have been killed in Pakistan. You may have heard about this through media reports as news of this tragedy is quickly spreading and garnering global attention. I am sharing the official statement that has been issued as Rotary's immediate response. Please be assured that Rotary and its partners within the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) are actively monitoring and responding to these events as they develop.
I have spoken with Pakistan Polio chair Aziz Memon who has visited some of the relatives of the deceased to express his personal and Rotary's sincere condolences indicating that Rotary will continue to eradicate polio so that the loss of these victims will not be in vain.
We will work to keep you and the Rotary world advised, particularly through Rotary's social media channels which allow for the speedy dissemination of updates.
Yours sincerely
Bob Scott
Chair, International PolioPlus Committee
Below is the text of an official statement from Rotary international:
Rotary condemns attacks targeting polio vaccinators in Pakistan
Rotary International joins the Government of Pakistan and our partners in the Global
Polio Eradication Initiative in condemning the recent attacks that have killed and
wounded health workers in Pakistan. The shooting victims are among the thousands of health workers and volunteers –
including members of Pakistan’s 151 Rotary clubs – who are committed to saving
children by stopping the transmission of polio in Pakistan, one of three countries where
the crippling virus remains endemic.
The attacks prompted the Government of Pakistan to temporarily suspend the vaccination campaign due to concerns over the safety of health workers.
Members of the Rotary Club of Kerrville Morning welcomed DG Lisa Herring to join them in the annual Upper Guadalupe River Authority River Clean-Up on July 28 in Kerrville. Rotarian John Aceti figured out how to escape cleaning up anything since he was the photographer. The club shared in cleaning up more than 11,000 pounds of trash from the Guadalupe River that morning from Hunt to Center Point. Once the job was done, great Rotary conversation and good food was enjoyed.
To see all the photos, along with captions, click on "Kerrville Morning Club Cleans Up" under Photo Albums in the left column. Hover your mouse over a photo to see the caption. For a larger view, double-click the photo or click Slide Show.
Kerrville Morning Rotary Cleans Up with Help from DG Lisa
Applications are now being accepted for the District 5840 Group Study Exchange Team, which this year will visit District 3212 located in the south of India in the state of Tamil Nadu. District Governor Lisa Herring announced that the team will leave for India on Dec. 26, 2012, and return on Jan. 27, 2013. A team from India will visit District 5840 later in the spring of 2013.
The district is looking for the right person to lead the team. The Team Leader must be an experienced Rotarian, especially in the area of international service, and must be able to spend time with team members before the exchange as well as after the trip.
Team Members should be outstanding young non-Rotarians, aged 25 to 40, who are employed full-time in a recognized business or profession. Applicants must be U. S. citizens who live or work in District 5840.
Applications for Team Leader and Team Members are available on the District 5840 website in the Downloads section on the right side of the home page. A brochure explaining the GSE program to employers is also available. All these documents are also available on all club websites using Club Runner.
The purpose of a Group Study Exchange is to promote international understanding and goodwill through person-to-person contact. While abroad, team members stay in Rotarians' homes and have the opportunity to meet their professional counterparts. During the four-week visit, team members share their personal knowledge of their own country and experience the customs, vocations and lifestyles of the host country. The team will also give presentations to Rotary clubs and other groups about their life and work in Texas. The Rotary Foundation provides round-trip airfare, and hosting Rotarians provide meals, lodging and group travel. Team members are responsible for their personal and incidental expenses.
Interviews for Team Leader are scheduled for Wednesday, August 29 in San Antonio. Applicants will be advised of the exact time and location once their application is received. Team Members will be interviewed on Thursday, Sept. 13, at the Rails Event Center, 615 Schreiner Street, Kerrville. Interview times will be assigned when applications are received.
For questions, please contact GSE Subcommittee Chair, PDG Sherri Muniz, at scmuniz@msn.com or (210) 639-0295. Applications may be scanned and emailed to PDG Sherri, faxed to her at (210) 568-1982, or mailed to her at 5602 US Highway 87 E #2, San Antonio, TX 78222.
Group Study Exchange Applications Now Being Accepted
I walked a tiger! A real, live, 450 pound , fully grown adult, male, Tiger! . . . on a leash! With my hand on his back! Yes, he had all of his teeth!. . and as we walked the thought came into my mind that indeed this could be the very last thing I ever do on the face of this earth!
And at that moment I thought, “at least it can never be said that I led a humdrum life!”
The very next thought was, “This tiger smells . . . and now I’m going to smell just like him.” . . .and the only reason it mattered was that I was in Bangkok, Thailand and just a few days away from representing all of you on stage as RI President Kalyan presented the top 15 districts in our Rotary world!
Well, showers in Thailand work very well, and by the time the stage day came, I no longer smelled like a tiger! . . . but as I exited the stage I realized that in many ways, I have been walking a tiger all this Rotary year!. . .
All District 5840 Rotarians, spouses and friends are cordially invited to District Governor Lisa Herring's induction in Boerne on July 7. For complete details, and to register online, click on Lisa Herring's Induction under Events on the left side of this page. You can register online and pay online with a credit card ($46.50 per person) or register online and send a check or pay at the door ($45.00 per person). Hope to see you there!
Rotarians at the Gala Dinner Saturday Night during DistrictFest celebrate that we're "This Close" to ending polio.
A huge thanks to Paul Conner of the Rotary Club of Canyon Lake for taking photographs during DistrictFest in San Marcos on June 1-3. Paul has posted the photos on Picassa; you can find them at DistrictFest Photos. You can download photos and save them to your computer. Thanks for a job well done, Paul!
Welcome to the Group Study Exchange Team from District 7030 in the Caribbean, who arrived in San Antonio on May 12. Left to right are Laura Jn. Pierre from Saint Lucia, Ivor Carr from St. Kitts and Nevis, Team Leader Gupta Supersad from Trinidad, Tandi Flood from Saint Lucia, and Mark Brown from Antigua and Barbuda.
What a great way to start off the month of May! Al and I have arrived in Bangkok for the Rotary International Convention – Rotary’s biggest annual event.
This celebration of Rotary fosters fellowship, creates learning opportunities, and helps attendees experience the scope and power of Rotary – we have enjoyed several such conventions, but none will be as special as this one . . .
On Wednesday, May 9th, our Rotary District 5840 will be recognized on stage as one of the top 15 districts of our Rotary world for 2011-12!
If only all of you could be there with me for that special moment! . . . It is your hard work this year and your accomplishments in the area of membership and Foundation support that earned this award! To be one of the top districts out of over 531 districts worldwide is an honor for each of us to be extremely proud of!
Just what have we been doing in our clubs this year to lead us to this point? I’d like to believe we have been shooting high – shooting for the stars! Our upcoming DistrictFest (June 1 -3 in San Marcos) will allow all of us to get a glimpse of all that has happened around our district, especially Friday evening when we have the opportunity to attend the “ClubCrawl” – a road tour of our district where each club showcases its accomplishment s for this year! The entire weekend is packed with opportunities to celebrate all that is Rotary in our great district . . .and to see just how much we have accomplished! Saturday evening the tight race for Best in District will end with the winning club being recognized – along with several very special Rotary International awards being presented – believe me, you will be impressed to see the impact we have had in helping change our word for the better!
Registrations are available at www.rotary5840.org – just click on DistrictFest 2012 and either register on line or select the offline forms to download, fill in and mail. Either way, be sure to get your reservations in before May 6th to enjoy the special full package pricing that includes 2 nights at the hotel along with your registration for the event itself. The full package is the best value – but it is only available until May 6th!
Harriet Tubman wrote: "Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world." Rest assured that all we celebrate – both in Bangkok and in San Marcos – is the evidence that Rotarians are indeed dreamers. Dreamers with strength, patience, and passion – with a willingness to shoot for the stars . . and just look at all you are doing!
Be sure to check out the District 5840 GSE Team blog HERE. Below is an excerpt from one of their adventure-filled days in Suriname, on the northern coast of South America:
Monday was a well needed day of rest. Our hosts Cees and Ed took us for an exciting trip south, into the wild interior of Suriname.
As Kristin noted, we passed through a roadblock on our way, but even the well armed police officers were smiling and friendly and didn’t mind posing for the camera. We also stopped to examine a tarantula crossing the road. It seemed more annoyed than friendly, probably because our vehicles were blocking its path and we all know how aggravating it can be when your travel plans get delayed.
Our first destination was the enormous Afobaka Dam, where we donned hard hats and ear protection and got an inside peek at Suriname’s largest power supplier. Afterwards we drove up to a lookout point to view the vast Brokopondo Reservoir, a beautiful lake larger than San Antonio and surrounded by thick jungle.
Next we continued to the Bergendal Resort, where we enjoyed a buffet lunch, including some amazing fish in green curry sauce. Shortly after lunch it started to rain (who knew it would rain in a rainforest?) and the downpour was so intense that there was little else we could do but take shelter in the resort and look out at the small boats passing by on the Suriname River. The rain got so hard that one of the boats pulled in so its passengers could take cover in the resort as well.
On the return trip to Paramaribo, we marveled at the strange cola colored creek at Carolina, watched wild parrots fly over the jungle treetops, bought handmade souvenirs and purchased a strange local fruit that was very tough and stringy but tasted like bubble gum. For dinner we paired some tasty fast food roti with delicious homemade cuisine made by Ed’s family.
By the end of the evening everyone was well rested… ready for the next day, which would be our first vocational exchange and first Rotary Club presentation…
"Tell everyone what you want to do and someone will want to help you do it." wrote W. Clement Stone.
In just a few short days the four-member GSE team led by Rotarian Scott Rote of the Rotary Club of San Antonio begins their journey to District 7030 – home to more than 2,000 Rotarians, Rotaractors and Interactors in 14 countries of the Southern Caribbean, speaking English, French and Dutch. District Governor Lara Quentrall-Thomas writes “Rotarians of District 7030 are amongst the most unique and remarkable in our Rotary world – not only because of (their) passion for, and commitment to, service, but because (their) spirit of kindness and fellowship is beyond compare.”
I am certain that as they learn about the culture, the ways their own vocation is practiced in the four countries they will visit, and as they meet the Rotarians who will become their family, they will learn firsthand the truth in Stone’s words. I am sure you each join me in well wishes for our team – and ask them all to return home with new ideas and new project ideas as we continue to “Reach Within to Embrace Humanity.”
GSE Team members pose at the Alamo before taking off for the Caribbean; left to right are Team Members Edwin Blanton, Arnold Ferguson, Kristin Brown, Peter Johnson and Team Leader, Rotarian Scott Rote.
The District 5840 Group Study Exchange (GSE) Team leaves Saturday, April 14, for Trinidad, Tobago and other exotic Caribbean locales in District 7030. If you'd like to visit with them one last time before they leave, here's your chance:
On Friday, April 13, the team will meet at 8:00 p. m. for dinner at the Texas Land and Cattle Restaurant, 9911 I-10 West, just north of Wurzbach on the westbound side of the highway.
The team will be at the San Antonio airport (Delta terminal) about 6:30 a. m. to 6:45 a. m. on Saturday, April 14, for an 8:00 a. m. flight.
Keep up with the team's travels at their blog: GSE 5840 Blog
Please let Team Leader Rotarian Scott Rote know if you will be joining the team for dinner or at the airport no later than Tuesday, April 10; contact Scott at 210-838-0493.
Bon Voyage!
Two Chances to See District GSE Team Off to the Caribbean!
DG Sherri Muniz has contacted district governors in the areas of North Texas affected by the tornadoes earlier this week to see what District 5840 Rotarians can do to help. Right now, the affected areas are overwhelmed with willing volunteers and no immediate help is needed. DG Sherri will keep the district informed as opportunities arise where Rotarians can help out.
Rotary's newest club, the Rotary Club of Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas, was admitted to membership in Rotary International on March 15, 2012. Kathy Hubbard, former member and former president of the Rotary Club of Boerne, will serve as the new club's founding president. Congratulations to Rotary's newest club!
In 1985, Rotary declared basic literacy to be a pre-condition to the development of peace. Literacy continues to be one of the focus areas of Rotarians and our Rotary Foundation – and so March is named “Rotary Literacy Month”.
Literacy is the foundation for virtually all forms of education and a crucial component of effective social and economic participation, human development, and poverty reduction. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) nearly 800 million people over the age of 15 lack even basic reading and writing skills worldwide. In addition, there are roughly 137 million school age children who are illiterate around the world. Sadly, over 64% of all illiterate people in the world today are women.
As some of you have heard me comment, when visiting India I am struck by the thought, “But for where I was born . . .” Because over the 4 visits I have realized how few girl children are finishing school, and how low the illiteracy rate among women in India is. My education and my love for reading and learning has framed my life – and when our 2010 Texas Team to India learned that one of the barriers to female education was the lack of private toilet facilities, proudly the Rotarians and Interacotrs of our district stepped forward in support of the “Pints for Polio . .and Potties Too!’ event last October. And as a result one toilet block (for girls and boys!) was funded. The work of our district Rotarians resulted in the addition of funds and hands-on-work of the Rotarians in Agra India to provide a second school with new toilet facilities, and when the Rotaract members from Salt Lake City learned of the need, they stepped forward and raised the funds for yet a third school to have new toilets.
Fredericksburg Mayor Tom Musselman declares Thursday, February 23, 2012 "Rotary Day in Fredericksburg, Texas" in honor of Rotary's one hundred seventh birthday!
Glenn E. Estess Sr., who served as 2004-05 RI president during Rotary’s centennial year, died on 7 February. He was 84.
In 1993, Estess retired as chief executive officer of Glenn Estess Associates Inc., a sales and marketing personnel consulting firm, to devote himself full-time to Rotary.
“I am sure the word most often used to describe Past President Glenn is ‘gentle,’” says Rotary Foundation Trustee Chair William B. Boyd. “He was strong in his beliefs but always gentle in expressing them and treated all people with respect and courtesy. He served the world through Rotary in many ways and always with a smile. The Rotary family will miss him. Our hearts go out to his wife, Mary.”
Estess, who joined Rotary in 1960, was a member of the Rotary Club of Shades Valley, Alabama, USA. In addition to his term as RI president, he served in numerous capacities including Rotary Foundation trustee chair, RI vice president and director, president’s aide, PolioPlus national coordinator, RI Audit and Operations Review Committee chair, International Assembly group discussion leader, and district governor.
For the complete obituary, please click here to go to the Rotary International website: Estes Obituary
February is a very special month for Rotarians – February 23rd marks the anniversary of the very first Rotary meeting held in 1905! One hundred seven years of service – one hundred seven years working to make our world a better, more peaceful place!
As Rotarians, we join hands with special individuals the world over – in more than 200 countries and geographical areas belonging to one of over 32,000 clubs. And during the month of February, we stop to reflect on how Rotary helps us reach the goal of world understanding leading to a more peaceful world.
For Al and me, February marks another important event as well – it is the annual International Toy Fair held in Nuremberg, Germany. While it is an important buying trip for our business and a lot of hard work, we also look forward to a very special part of the trade show – the Rotary lunch table sponsored by the local Rotary clubs. The Toy Fair is attended by people from around the world all engaged in a vocation related to the toy industry. Every day at lunch time, one table in one of the many restaurants within the complex of the trade show is reserved for Rotarians who are exhibitors or buyers at the Toy Fair. Over the years, we have met some wonderful people from around the world at that table – sometimes even some of our suppliers who we never realized were Rotarians! During that luncheon, we get the opportunity to share some of the things our clubs and districts are involved in – and some of the traditions each of our clubs have. Every year I think of the words of Jean Baptiste Moliere who said, “Men are alike in their promises. It is only in their deeds that they are different."
Taking the opportunity to understand the differences in how we each go about the promise to our world to make it a better place – a more peaceful place – is a huge step toward world understanding. We have so many opportunities in Rotary to do just that .. from spending a few hours with one of our Youth Exchange students and listening to their hopes and dreams and to how things are alike and how they are different between their two homes . . . to spending a weekend with our Ambassadorial Scholars (with a special opportunity this year to spend time with our inbound Scholar, Lamis from Lebanon!) . . . to working with another club in another part of the world on one of their projects or on one of our own projects . . . to attending the upcoming Rotary International Convention in Bangkok where Rotarians from all corners of our globe come together to celebrate the ways we are the same as well as the ways we are different. The ways to move toward world understanding are limited only by your imagination . . . it is only in the deeds we undertake that we are all different . . the promise is the same for all of us as we Reach Within to Embrace Humanity!
"As long as you're going to be thinking anyway, think big." --Donald Trump
January – the start of the second half of our Rotary year begins! And with it the Rotary Theme for the month is “Rotary Awareness” . . a time to look at how we can raise the awareness of Rotary and what Rotarians do in our communities and our world.
As we travelled in India in November, I noted how aware the common person was of the presence of Rotary and what Rotarians were accomplishing. To a person, everyone we talked with had heard of Rotary and most knew two or three projects that local Rotarians were involved in -- projects in addition to Rotarians’ work to eradicate polio. And as we travelled through 4 different cities, over and over again we saw Rotary logos on all kinds of projects – and BIG logos that were plainly visible to everyone passing by.
It is that “BIGness” that may be the key to the awareness Indian Rotarians have created in their country – BIG signs on BIG projects that address needs local Rotarians have identified – needs that are not being met by other agencies or groups.
Assistant Governors will be bringing Cruise Raffle tickets to all District clubs in the next couple of weeks! Tickets cost $10 each, with all proceeds going to The Rotary Foundation. You will be able to get Paul Harris Fellowship credit for your ticket purchases. The winner of the Cruise has a choice of locations. The seller of the winning ticket will also win a cruise out of Galveston. Stay tuned for more details!
Cruise Raffle Returns! Proceeds Benefit Rotary Foundation
PDG Doug Whinnery, Chairman of the District Rotary Foundation Committee (l) and District Governor Sherri Muniz (r) present a symbolic check for $1.07 Million to Rotary International President Kalyan Banerjee at the District's Million Dollar Dinner on Oct. 28 in San Antonio. The money raised goes to the Permanent Fund of the Rotary Foundation, ensuring the work of the Foundation can continue in the future.
District Raises $1 Million for Rotary Foundation Permanent Fund
Early Saturday morning, November 5, 2011, hundreds of teenagers from a 44-county area will converge on The Winston School San Antonio for a New Generations Conference of leadership training, sharing accomplishments and international community service. High school Interact clubs in central and south Texas have volunteered many week-ends over the past year to better their local communities and the world through hands-on volunteer projects, raising money and collecting items to help those in need. Interact members develop a world-wide network of friendships and learn the importance of:
Developing leadership skills;
Demonstrating helpfulness and respect for others;
Understanding the value of individual responsibility and hard work; and
Advancing international understanding and goodwill
As one of the most significant and fast-growing programs of Rotary service, with more than 10,700 clubs in 109 countries and geographical areas, Interact has become a worldwide phenomenon. Approximately 200,000 young people are now involved in Interact.
For details about the conference, click on District 5840 New Generations Interact Conference in the District Events section of the Home Page.
Pictured with the Winston Interact Club are (back row from left) Past Centennial District Governor John Peterson, Boerne Sunrise Rotary Club President Charlie Wetherbee, Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar from Lebanon, Lamis Lamareddine. Back row right: Rotary Executive Assistant District Governor Dr. Yvonne Soliz-Valdez, Rotary District Governor Elect Lisa Herring,
and Professor/Interact Club Sponsor, Mike Canales.
The Winston School Interact Club recently received acknowledgment from the White House as five members were awarded Presidential Volunteer Service Awards. Winston Spanish teacher and Interact Club Sponsor, Mike Canales, adds, “Our Interact Club logged over 3,000 community service hours and collected over $7,000 in cash and in-kind donations for nonprofit agencies/organizations last school year. This is an increase of service hours and funds raised compared to the prior year. ” South Texas Money Management is the conference facility sponsor. Other underwriters include the Boerne Sunrise Club.
Interact Students Ready to Change the World Will Gather for Conference Nov. 5
Just before the start of this Rotary year, Rotary International President Kalyan wrote to give all District Governors of our Rotary world a focus for this year of Rotary service. I was certain that the letter would talk about Membership – so critical to being able to increase our service to humanity; and if not talking about membership, he would surely remind us of the importance of support to our Rotary Foundation – the fuel that helps keep our Rotary wheel spinning.
How surprised I was when I read his words – “give added emphasis to one important Avenue: Vocational Service. Vocational Service is what makes Rotary unique. It is the foundation of all of Rotary.”
Congratulations to Past District Governor Jim Berg of the Rotary Club of San Antonio on being selected as Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator (RRFC). This role will require a significant commitment of time and energy from PDG Jim.
As RRFC, PDG Jim will work with the district governors and the district Rotary Foundation committees to promote The Rotary Foundation, to train and manage his Zone team and the district leadership, and to ensure district fundraising and program goals are met. Promotion of The Rotary Foundation's Future Vision Plan will also be an important aspect of this position during his term as RRFC.
Please take a moment to email or call Jim and congratulate him on this great achievement.
PDG Jim Berg Named Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator
District Governor Suresh Pahwa of District 5870, which includes the Austin and Bastrop areas, thanks fellow Rotarians for their concern. Several Rotarians have lost their homes in the Bastrop fire, and one exchange student has lost everything except the clothes on his back and his passport. Among the items he lost were an acoustic and an electric guitar. Fortunately, he and his host family are safe. The following Facebook link is the best source of up-to-the-minute information about how we can help our fellow Rotarians. (This is a public Facebook page; you don't have to be a Facebook member to view the page.)
Follow this link to a Facebook page, Rotary D5870 2011 Brush Fire, to learn the latest news from our Rotarian brothers and sisters:
“Teenagers volunteer 2.4 billion hours annually in the United States.
Youth volunteering has increased steadily over the past ten years, with 30% of youth participating in volunteer activities at least once a month in 2000.
Out of 13.3 million youth, 59.3% volunteer an average of 3.5 hours per week, versus 49% of the adult population who volunteer an average of 4.2 hours.
When youth volunteer, adults tend to volunteer also.”
We find ourselves now in Rotary’s “New Generations” Month – focusing on our Rotary programs: RYLA, Interact, Rotaract, and Rotary Youth Exchange, as well as related programs such as EarlyAct or EarlyAct FirstKnight.
Throughout this month’s district newsletter As the Wheel Spins you will find articles about the amazing programs Rotary offers – programs that can change the lives of those who participate. Young people who are active in service organizations are less likely to abuse alcohol, or become pregnant – they are more likely to do well in school and graduate – and through Rotary’s programs they learn about the Four Way Test and develop ethical leadership skills. Each young person involved in Rotary’s New Generations programs has their life changed for the better in some way . . .
On January 7, 2012, District 5840 will present a unique concert featuring noted tenor Donald Braswell and Gli Unici at the Laurie Auditorium at Trinity University to benefit Haven for Hope. Good news--all ticket proceeds go toward Haven for Hope due to the generous support of underwriters! Click on the link at the end of this article for more information and to reserve your tickets.
Time is running out to get your
DATE NIGHT packages for $500 which includes 2 premium tickets, a hotel room at
the Marriott Courtyard and a listing in the event program for the Gli Unici
Concert on January 7, 2012 at Laurie Auditorium.Hurry and book your night, tickets are going
fast!You don’t want to miss it!This offer ends Wednesday, December 21, 2011 at 3 PM.
We would like this
event to be a success for Rotary’s commitment to Haven for Hope and are
encouraging Corporate Sponsorships.If
you or anyone you know are interested, we have four sponsorship levels:
1)Presenting
Sponsor ($25, 000)
a.100 tickets
b.3 full page color
program ads (Including inside covers)
c.Logo
displayed at the event
d.Recognition
announcement at the event by talent
2)Platinum Sponsor
($10,000)
a.40 tickets
b.1 full page color
program ad
3)Gold Sponsor
($5,000)
a.20 tickets
b.½ page program ad
4)Silver Sponsor
($2,500)
a.10 tickets
b.¼ page program ad
Block seating of 20
or more can be arranged if your club would like to join in on the fun this
night!Please contact Brenda Carrasco
for more details.
You will not want to miss
this night of entertainment!
Click on the poster, once
there click Ticketmaster to go directly to that link. Click on the
map to know those details, click each individual’s picture to read a personal
bio, and listen to the advertisement at the same time. You can also look at
the Gli Unici Bio and scroll around. This is for everyone
everywhere. Very good online tool.
During December, many clubs cancel meetings or hold special holiday parties in place of regular meetings. If you're looking for a make-up opportunity, be sure to check the specific CLUB web site for any schedule changes. If you click "Where Clubs Meet" in the column to the right, the list is arranged by days; click the little house icon next to a club to go directly to its homepage. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!
Check Club Web Sites for Holiday Meeting Schedules!
Five Winston School San Antonio Interact Club students received the President's Volunteer Service Award on Aug. 30, 2011, from Rotarian Dr. Yvonne Soliz-Valdez. Minerva Abrego-Sanchez, representing Texas Senator Leticia Van de Putte, read a letter and presented certificates of congratulations to each student.
Cory Weinberg received a gold award and Lauren Rosnack, T. J. Gold, Lisa Luna and Marcos Kauffman received bronze awards.
Pictured with the Winston Interact Club are (back row from left) Past Centennial District Governor John Peterson, Boerne Sunrise Rotary Club President Charlie Wetherbee, Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar from Lebanon, Lamis Lamareddine. Back row right: Rotary Executive Assistant District Governor Dr. Yvonne Soliz-Valdez, Rotary District Governor Elect Lisa Herring, and Professor/Interact Club Sponsor, Mike Canales.
Over the coming weeks we will be rolling out new features, new options, and new ways for you to stay in touch with our District Governor and members of her leadership team.
Raffle Drawing: May 1, 2025 (winners announced live on our Facebook Page from 6-8PM)
Tickets: $100 each
15 VISA Gift Card Prizes – $20,000 Total!
Early registration ends 15 December! Register now to save and secure your top hotel choice and tickets to exclusive events. 
.
.png)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.JPG)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.png)
ere
.jpeg)
tees of the Rotary Foundation bestow this honor in recognition of outstanding efforts to promote the Foundation’s many programs dedicated to international understanding. Only 50 are awarded worldwide each year. We are proud to announce our own PDG Sherri Muniz is a 2019 recipient. 
.JPG)
Reconnect with Rotary through the new 
Sign Up Now for P.E.T.S. 2019 Before Early Bird Registration Ends on February 10th.jpg)
.png)
.jpeg)
.jpg)
.png){kind=small}
.JPG)
.jpeg)
PDG Sherri Muniz will be taking a group to India in March, 2018. If you would like more information on this trip, please 
.jpg)
.png)
Dear Governor Holmes,.jpeg)
If you are in charge of your Rotary Club's newsletter, there is now an easy to use club newsletter creator that works seamlessly with your club's membership list. 
The 
2017-18 Club Officers:
To: All District 5840 Rotarians.png)
.png)
