PUMPKIN JUDGING CONTEST

District 5890 CLUB COLLABORATION FUNDRAISER

Brad Tutunjian
Vice President Regulatory Policy 
Centerpoint Energy

Brad is Vice President, Regulatory Policy at CenterPoint Energy. In this role, he is the company’s key witness in regulatory proceedings, leads innovative projects requiring regulatory approval, heads pursuits of grant funding for resiliency and breakthrough technology projects, and testifies on key policy initiatives before legislators.

He began his career in Houston in 1998 and has held various leadership positions in electric and natural gas operations. Most recently, he served as Vice President, Distribution Operations and Service Delivery, focusing on service levels and efficiencies improvement for existing and new electric customers.

Brad serves on the executive board of the Low Carbon Research Initiative and the Association of Edison Illuminating Companies. He is former chairman of the board of directors for Utilization Technology Development, a subsidiary of the Gas Technology Institute, and previously served on the boards for Goodwill Industries and the American Red Cross.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Texas Tech University and is a licensed professional engineer.

Join Us for a Meal Packaging Experience with Rise Against Hunger!

Dear Rotary Members,

We are thrilled to invite you to a special meal packaging experience hosted by the Clubs of District 5890, including the Rotary Club of Houston, West University Rotary Club, and University Area Rotary Club, in partnership with Rise Against Hunger.

Join us in the movement to end hunger and make a tangible difference in the lives of those in need. Together, we can create hope and nourishment for countless individuals.

Register here to participate: Meal Packaging Event

We look forward to seeing you there!

You are invited to a spook-tacular evening of fun, fellowship, and frights for Fun on the Fifth (Thursday) at Paul & Bernice's home!

(Address to be provided after registration and can be found on Club Runner.)

Prepare for a night filled with creepy costumes (there may be prizes for best dressed) and ghoulishly good food and drinks.

Costumes are greatly encouraged!

Join Team Rotary Club of Houston to give cancer the boot!

Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024

MD Anderson's Boot Walk to End Cancer is a 1.2-mile walk in the Texas Medical Center — or in your own neighborhood. This 9th annual fundraiser provides support for patient programs, research, prevention and education at MD Anderson, and 100% of funds raised by participants directly advance MD Anderson's mission to end cancer.

There is no registration fee and no minimum fundraising requirement. However, we encourage all participants to fundraise! When you register for the Boot Walk, you will receive free online and mobile fundraising tools, as well as staff support to help you raise funds and awareness among your friends, families and communities.

On Saturday, Nov. 2, put on your favorite pair of boots — cowboy, rain, combat or other — and join thousands across the country for this year's Boot Walk. All ages are welcome to participate. There's fun for the entire family!

Together, we'll give cancer the boot.

Become part of Team Rotary Club of Houston

Donate to Team Rotary Club of Houston

Timeline:

• Registration Opens: 8 a.m.

• Opening Ceremony: 8:40 a.m.

• Walk Start: 9 a.m.

Location:

Texas Medical Center // 6883 Fannin St., Houston, TX 77030

Route:

1.2 miles (map and parking details coming soon)

Free Event Day Parking: 

Fannin South Transit Center

1604 West Bellfort Ave., Houston, TX 77054

Free METRORail ride to and from Registration

Steve Kean

President and CEO, Greater Houston Partnership

The Greater Houston Partnership is the Houston region’s principal business organization.  The Partnership focuses on attracting investment and trade to Houston, building a strong workforce, advocating for sound public policy, and convening a diverse set of Houstonians when major issues arise.

Come on out and help us put together toiletry bags for our Veterans to be distributed at our Veterans event on November 14th!

There is complementary valet parking or you can park on the 2nd floor.

The Veterans Committee of the Rotary Club of Houston invites you to participate in the “Veterans Day Celebration: Honoring All Who Served Our Country” at the Cloudbreak “Veterans” Community on Thursday, November 14, 2024 at 11:00 a.m.  Our Rotary Club will provide food, beverages, games, and fellowship to our veterans who currently reside at Cloudbreak located at 4640 Main St., Houston, Texas 77002.  Come out and celebrate the military service that these men and women provided to our great country.   Space is limited—so please register on-line.

The Cloudbreak Community is one of several active developments that provides supportive housing for homeless and at-risk veterans in nine cities across five states.  Owned and operated by Cantwell-Anderson, Inc, the Cloudbreak Community in Houston—originally a Days Inn Hotel—has housed nearly 3,000 veterans in transitional and long-term housing since 2003.  The mission at Cloudbreak is to assist “each veteran to overcome life’s obstacles and attain his or her potential through mutuality, dignity and respect for all.” 

If you would like to help support our veterans by donating toiletries and games, click here: https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/20L719YD2WJIV

Each Month members of the Rotary Club of Houston sponsors a reception for patients and their families who are staying at Rotary House International. 

Volunteers will chat with participants and share their smiles. A small number of volunteers are needed. 

Point-Counterpoint....Two perspectives from Texas State Representatives about the upcoming legislative sessions.

Rep. DeAyala, Mano - District 133
 

Representative Mano DeAyala represents Texas' House District 133 in West Houston. The district includes Houston's "Energy Corridor" which is home to the global headquarters of several prominent companies within the energy sector and a critical economic hub for Texas. He is currently serving his first session in the Texas House of Representatives. 

In April 2017, Governor Greg Abbott appointed Mano to a six-year term on the board of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice where he serves as the Chair of the Business & Finance Committee and also serves as Trustee of the Windham School District. In July 2020, the United States Trade Representative, Executive Office of the President, appointed Mano to a three-year term as an arbitrator to adjudicate trade disputes under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (“USMCA”). 
Mano is a past member of the “C” Club of Houston having served on the executive committee from 2012 through 2021 and as President in 2017. He also served as a Trustee of the Houston Region Business Coalition 2020-2021. Mano has also served on the Board of the Hispanic Leadership Alliance since 2012 and as Chairman from 2017 through 2022.

Mano has previously served on Spring Branch Independent School District’s Finance and Long-Range Planning committees and as a board member of Heritage Ed, a prospective K-8 charter school serving northwest Houston. With the Spring Branch-Memorial Sports Association (SBMSA), Mano was a longtime youth football coach and has served as a board member from 2012 through 2022
.
In his professional career, Mano is a senior partner of Buck Keenan LLP. For more than a decade, Mano has been recognized as one of the top Texas Lawyers by Texas Super Lawyers and as one of the top lawyers in the US by Best Lawyers® in America.

Mano received a BBA (Finance) Degree from the University of Texas (McCombs School of Business) in 1988 and his law degree from Southern Methodist University in 1992. 

Mano and his wife of 30 years Melissa reside in west Houston with their three sons, Marcus, Matthew and Mitchell who are all products of Spring Branch ISD.

No meeting due to Thanksgiving holiday.

The Veterans Committee of the Rotary Club of Houston invites you to participate in the “Thanksgiving Day Celebration: Honoring Our Veterans” at the Cloudbreak Veterans Community on Thursday, November 28, 2024, at 11:30 a.m.  Our Rotary Club, with the valued assistance of PDG Bob Gebhard and “Operation Turkey Houston,” will provide and serve a delicious Thanksgiving meal to our veterans who currently reside at Cloudbreak located at 4640 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77002.  Come out and share the blessings of Thanksgiving with the men and women who served our great country.   Because this is a service project and not a luncheon, you will have plenty of time to celebrate the holiday with your family.  Space is limited—so please register on-line.

The Cloudbreak Community is one of several active developments that provides supportive housing for homeless and at-risk veterans in nine cities across five states.  Owned and operated by Cantwell-Anderson, Inc, the Cloudbreak Community in Houston—originally a Days Inn Hotel—has housed nearly 3,000 veterans in transitional and long-term housing since 2003.  The mission at Cloudbreak is to assist “each veteran to overcome life’s obstacles and attain his or her potential through mutuality, dignity and respect for all.” 

Join the Rotary Club of Houston in hosting a Christmas celebration at Career and Recovery Resources.

Career and  Recovery Resouces helps people live a life of self-determination and financial competence through behavior and physical wellness, education, worforce development, and affordable housing.

Dr. Stanley Jones is an orthopedic spine surgeon who has an active spine practice in the state of Texas and is a board-certified member of the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery.

Dr. Jones received a B.A. in chemistry from Texas Tech University and an M.D. from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. He completed an internship at the University of Utah and an orthopedic residency at the University of Texas Medical School in Houston. He then served in the U.S. Army as a Captain in the Medical Corps.

Dr. Jones has served as President of the International Intradiscal Therapy Society, President of the Texas Spine Society and previously as Director of Memorial Hermann Hospital Systems Spine Surgery program. He is an active member of the North American Spine Society and the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery.

Dr. Jones’ current interests are in the fields of minimally invasive spine surgery and pain management and in the use of adult autologous mesenchymal stem cells for medical benefits to patients.

In 2009, Dr. Jones suffered from a sudden onset of debilitating autoimmune psoriatic arthritis. Although he continued to see patients, his condition prevented him from performing surgery at his full capacity. Dr. Jones located a company in Seoul, South Korea, that had developed a state-of-the-art technology that allowed him to receive the treatment of his own stem cells. Four months after receiving his stem cells, he was able to return to a normal surgery schedule and a life without pain. Dr. Jones is responsible for bringing stem cell technology to Texas from overseas.

Come out for fun and fellowship with your fellow Rotarians!

Inga will be hosting this month.  If you have problems finding the group, give Inga a call or send a text at 346-515-9742.

Supporting cancer research for over 50 years.

http://www.lombardiaward.org

BEAR ... BE A Resource for CPS Kids

The BEAR will provide lunch for participants.

Rotarians will separate gifts by age to create gift bags according to CPS children's wish list.

BEARing Gifts provides holiday gifts to children involved with Child Protective Services who otherwise would have no holiday cheer at all. Over 14,000 children were served with our help last year!

Let's do it again this year! Bring your donation of new, unopened toys to the Warehouse on Thursday December 12th 2024.

*Located at the end of the Brookwood Business Park next to Oaks Dads’ Club (baseball fields). Click here for directions!

Map is attached for the parking lot/baseball field parking.  

Please join members and friends of The Rotary Club of Houston as we participate in our annual “Holiday Wreaths for Veterans” service project on Saturday, December 14, 2024 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.  For the fifth year now, The Rotary Club of Houston has partnered with “Wreaths Across America-Houston” to place holiday wreaths on the headstones of our fallen veterans at Houston National Cemetery—located at 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77038.  Once again, we are honored to join forces with our fellow Rotarians from across Rotary District 5890.  We will focus our efforts in Section P of the National Cemetery (marked by a green arrow on the attached map), along with any other Sections that may require our assistance.  

Bring your family and friends to this memorable holiday event. 

See the information below from the Wreaths Across America-Houston website: https://waahouston.com/wreath-day-info/.

Important Information –

Parking

• The best place to park is at Greenspoint Mall and take the free shuttle to the National Cemetery.
• The parking on the Cemetery grounds will usually fill by 9:00 a.m. so Greenspoint Mall is your best option.
• Parking on Veterans Memorial Road is not recommended due to the volume of traffic.

Timing

• 7:30 a.m. –  Free Shuttle Service Starts
• 8:00 a.m. –  Motorcycle Escort and Trucks Arrive
• 11:00 a.m. –Ceremony Starts
• 11:45 a.m. –Wreath Laying Starts  (no wreaths will be laid until the Ceremony is over)
• 2:30 p.m. –  Free Shuttle Service Stops

Each Month members of the Rotary Club of Houston sponsors a reception for patients and their families who are staying at Rotary House International. 

Volunteers will chat with participants and share their smiles. A small number of volunteers are needed. 

Join the Rotary Club of Houston for our last meeting of the year and welcome Chief J. Noe Diaz 
City of Houston, Chief of Police

Ask the Chief: What challenges are you tackling in your new position? What are the priorities for HPD?  As the holiday season approaches, what should we do to keep our family and friends safe? 

Chief J. Noe Diaz was appointed Chief of Police by Mayor John Whitmire on August 14, 2024. Prior to his current appointment he served as the Chief of Police for the Katy Police Department. 

Chief Diaz began his law enforcement career as a correctional officer with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice from 1987 to 1994.

Diaz completed the University of Houston-Downtown Police Academy in 1994 and worked for the Harris County Precinct Five Constable’s Office until 1996, when he was selected by the Texas Department of Public Safety to attend DPS Academy A-96. Upon completion of the DPS Academy, Chief Diaz was assigned to the Katy Highway Patrol Office as a Trooper.

In 2001, Diaz was promoted into the Narcotics Division of the State Police and was stationed in Houston, where he was assigned to the Harris County Organized Crime Task Force, HPD, ATF, DEA, and the FBI during his seven years as a Narcotics Sergeant.

In 2008, Chief Diaz was appointed as a Texas Ranger and briefly served in Rio Grande City, until returning to the Houston Office, where he was assigned as the Public Corruption Ranger for Company A (Greater Houston Area) for over ten years, working various high profile public corruption investigations. Chief Diaz was assigned to the FBI Public Corruption Border Task Force as a Task Force Officer and maintained top-secret clearance.

Diaz has over 6,800 Law Enforcement (TCOLE) training hours and earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Houston- Downtown (100 Club Scholarship Recipient) and a Master of Science in Criminology from Lamar University. He is a graduate of the 263rd FBI National Academy and FBI Texas Command College. Chief Diaz also graduated from the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety, School of Police Staff and Command in 2024.

He is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Texas Police Chief’s Association.

No meeting due to Christmas holiday.

GERRY GROGIN
September 8, 1926 - December 25, 2024

It is with profound sadness we announce the passing of Rotarian Gerry Grogin, Sep 08 1926-Dec 25 2024.

Gerry joined The Rotary Club of Houston on Dec 16 1964 and took pride in his perfect attendance through those many years. We were all honored to know him and will miss his laughter, wit, and stories. 

Gerry’s funeral is Monday Dec 30 at 2:30 at Emanuel el Memorial Park  8341 Bissonnett.

No meeting due to New Year's holiday week.

John Whitmire

Mayor, City of Houston

Join us at our January 9, 2025 lunch to hear

"A Year in Review and a Look to the Future"

JOIN VIRTUALLY ---> THURSDAY JAN 9 2025

John Whitmire, the former Dean of the Texas Senate, was sworn into office as Houston's 63rd Mayor on January 2, 2024. He  has served his community his entire adult life.

As a young boy, John worked odd jobs and learned the value of hard work, even shining shoes at a Harrisburg Beer Hall. He also witnessed domestic abuse and moved frequently as a child.

When a fire burned down his family home, the community wrapped their arms around him, donating clothes and providing shelter. That lesson in compassion and empathy would guide him as a public servant.

In his teenage years, Whitmire settled into a more stable life in Houston with his mother, a nurse, and his stepfather, a social worker. Watching his parents help people as public servants steered John towards a career path of service.

After graduating from Waltrip High School, he soon began working for the Texas “Food Stamp” office, at the time a nutrition initiative for poor families. The case numbers became people and families when he was sent out to do house visits. These real-life interactions would become the base for how John would analyze and shape policies.

At the age of 22, a chance meeting with his UH professor, the legendary Richard Murray, presented the precocious Whitmire with the chance to run for a newly drawn Texas House District. The new single-member district showed his home, high school, church, and hospital where his mother worked.

“It looks like they drew that one for me,” Whitmire recalled. And in that moment, his journey as a public servant was solidified.

Throughout his career as a State Representative for 10 years and State Senator for 40, Whitmire fought tirelessly for district representation across Houston. Notably, he played a key role in establishing the first Latino state senate district in Harris County and has been a staunch advocate for expanding access to early voting in person and Election Day polling locations in African American and Latino communities. His commitment to LGBTQ+ rights earned him the Harvey Milk Award in 1993 for his efforts against the criminalization of the Sodomy Law. Whitmire has also been a vocal champion of women's rights, backed by a 100% voting record. He has worked tirelessly to preserve the DREAM Act, ensuring undocumented young individuals can access in-state tuition rates. Additionally, he supported workers' compensation for injured farm workers and unemployment compensation.

In a pivotal moment in his life, Whitmire and his family were robbed at gunpoint, an experience that ultimately led to his chairmanship of the Criminal Justice Committee and his fight for public safety.

As a long-serving chair of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Whitmire has demonstrated his ability to strike a balance between being tough on crime and being smart on crime by implementing intelligent reforms. He authored the Sandra Bland Act, addressing law enforcement training, jail resources, and support for individuals with mental illness, substance abuse, or intellectual differences. He also spearheaded grand jury reform, eliminating the "pick a pal" system and promoting diversity in panel selection. Additionally, he successfully led efforts to decriminalize school behavior and expunged thousands of class C misdemeanors from the records of young Texans.

When called on by the people of Houston to run for mayor, Whitmire eagerly accepted the challenge because he believes in answering the call wherever it leads. With a wealth of experience working alongside nine mayors and seven governors, he possesses invaluable knowledge in public safety, infrastructure, and effective problem-solving.

John Whitmire's extraordinary life experiences, unwavering dedication, and a proven track record in getting things done make him a true public servant committed to the well-being of Houstonians.

Come on out and join in some winter fun!

Connor Grill will be hosting.  You can reach Connor at 941-920-1858.

Meet at the Ice Rink.  You don't need to skate to join in the fun!

PLEASE NOTE: All tickets must be purchased online. Tickets for general admission will not be available for purchase at the ice rink will-call window.   Purchase Tickets

Each Month members of the Rotary Club of Houston sponsors a reception for patients and their families who are staying at Rotary House International. 

Volunteers will chat with participants and share their smiles. A small number of volunteers are needed. 

Join Virtually ===> January 16, 2025

Kenneth L. Mattox, M.D., is one of the most recognized surgeons around the world. He is Distinguished Service Professor of the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine and Chief of Staff/Chief of Surgery at the Ben Taub Hospital, Houston, Texas. He helped develop the internationally renowned Ben Taub General Hospital Emergency Center and its equally respected Trauma Center. His reputation as an innovator in trauma care is worldwide. He has made original and significant contributions in trauma resuscitation, trauma systems, thoracic trauma, vascular injury, autotransfusion, complex abdominal trauma and multi-system trauma. His research in preoperative fluid restriction for penetrating trauma shook the foundation of surgical doctrine in this area. His textbook, Trauma, is an international best seller, now in its 8^th edition, and he is co-editor of the Sabiston’s Textbook of Surgery, recognized throughout the world. He is co-editor of the second edition of Rich’s Vascular Trauma. A fifth book, History of Surgery in Houston, recounts the last 50 years of Houston’s impressive and colorful surgical heritage. He co-authored the unique, international best seller, Top Knife, a practical guide to trauma care, translated into nine foreign languages. He frequently receives emails from physicians in war zones who refer to this “little book” as their Bible in the OR.

Authoring over 600 articles and more than 1,000 abstracts, he has also served on six Editorial Boards and has been an Editorial Reviewer for 15 other journals. He has been a visiting professor or consultant to more than 800 medical schools, hospitals or health care systems throughout the world. For the past eighteen years, he has been Program Director of the Las Vegas Trauma, Critical Care, and Acute Care Surgery Course, the best attended and most acclaimed trauma conference in the world. In 2008, he added the directorship of another international conference to his “docket,” Medical Disaster Response. In its inaugural year, the course sold out. Doctor Mattox is a member of over 30 professional organizations and is Past President of the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma, Past Secretary-Treasurer of the Michael E. DeBakey International Surgical Society, and Past President of the Houston Surgical Society and Texas Surgical Society. He also served as Vice President of the American College of Surgeons and the American Surgical Association.

Terry R. Lord

Full bio:

Mr. Lord retired from the US Department of Justice (DOJ) in 2004 after serving as a prosecutor in the Criminal Division for almost thirty years.  He began as a Special Attorney in the Organized Crime and Racketeering Section in 1970 serving on Strike Forces in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas.  The Assistant Attorney General (AAG) for the Criminal Division named him the Chief of the Las Vegas Strike Force in 1987.  

Selected by the American Political Science Association in 1990 to be a Congressional Fellow, Lord spent a year in the US Senate as a Legislative Assistant to Senator Joe Lieberman (D-I-Conn).  He aided the Senator with legislative hearings in the Governmental Affairs Committee chaired by the late Senator John Glenn (D-Ohio) and Senate floor debate on a variety of bills.  Upon completion of  the one year Senate Fellowship, Lord returned to the DOJ Criminal Division as the Principal Deputy Chief of the General Litigation and Legal Advice Section (GLLAS).  This section, one of the largest in the Division at the time, prosecuted cases involving immigration and customs fraud, industrial health and safety criminal violations, bribery and graft not involving official corruption, Indian affairs, and many other federal offenses.  From 1994 to 1996, Lord was the Acting Chief of GLLAS.

The AAG for the division appointed Lord to be the Chief of the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) in 1996.  By this time, the use of the internet to distribute child pornography, and to commercially exploit children on a world-wide basis had become a major social and criminal law enforcement issue.  CEOS led national enforcement initiatives against child pornography rings operating throughout the US while working with investigators from federal, state and local agencies.  Attorneys from CEOS trained prosecutors in US Attorney offices, District Attorney offices and even prosecutors around the world in new techniques in the investigation and prosecution of child exploitation offenses. Lord was a member of theInterpol Committee on Crimes against Children and headed a sub-committee on Legal Training.  This Interpol committee organized and conducted training on child exploitation enforcement for investigators and prosecutors throughout the globe.

The Overseas Professional Training and Development Section (OPDAT) of the Criminal Division selected Lord to be the Resident Legal Advisor (RLA) at the US Embassy in Bucharest, Romania.  From 2001 to 2003, Lord assisted the Romanian Ministry of Justice and the Prosecutor-General’s office in establishing new programs to combat human trafficking, organized crime and corruption.  Training seminars and conferences were held in every part of Romania for investigators, prosecutors and judges.  Lord completed his DOJ career as the Acting Regional Director for Central Europe, OPDAT, working in Washington, DC from 2003-2004.  He supervised and directed RLA programs in eleven countries, although a majority of the efforts focused on the Balkans.

Lord now lives in Houston, Texas.  He is a 50 year member of the State Bar of  Texas, Vietnam War veteran and educated at Southern Methodist University (BA-1963) and the University of Texas School of Law (JD-1966).

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Jan 30, 2025 A Magical Ride on the Rotary Express All Club Gala

Feb 4, 2025 Nice Winery Guided Wine Class Experience

Feb 6, 2025 CRISES AND OPPORTUNITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Feb 8, 2025 Heats for Children Festival

Feb 13, 2025 Dr. Brian Butler, Chief of Radiation & Oncologiy

Feb 19, 2025 Rotary House Reception

Feb 20, 2025 Jay Zeidman, Chairman Houston First

NO LUNCHEON TODAY THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025

Please come next week Thursday February 6, 2025 for David M. Satterfield: Challenges and Opportunities in the Middle East

SAVE THE DATES:

Feb 8 2025 - Hearts for Children Festival
Feb 13 2025 - Dr. Brian Butler, Chief of Radiation & Oncology
Feb 19 2025 - Rotary House Reception
Feb 20 2025 - Jay Zeidman, Chairman Houston First
Feb 27 2025 - Orchids, wildflowers-Houston Botanist Joe Liggio
Mar 6 2025 - Mexico-U.S. Relations Under Trump 2.0

Rotary Club of Houston Social

Nice Winery Guided Wine Class Experience

The Rotary Club of Houston seeks up to 20 volunteers among Club members and their spouse/guest for The 13th Annual Rotary-Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Hearts for Children Festival.  The Adoption Fair introduces children in the state foster care system availalbe for adoption with prosdpective parent(s) who have already completed the process to become an adoptive parent in a fun -filled and relaxed atmosophre.  The Fair will include acitivity and game booths, a DJ, Photo Booth, Charicuture Artisit, Toro the Texans Mascot and lunch.  Rotarians spend time playing games with the children starting at 9:00 AM and help prepare them to interact with prospective parent(s) who begin arriving after 10:00 AM.  

Over the past 12 years over 60 children have been adopted as a resiult of the first meeting at the Festival.

All volunteers must  be at least 18 years of age.

Come out and join us for fellowship and fun!

Inga Hebdon (346-515-9742) and Nick Hosn (817-907-0802) will be co-hosting.

Each Month members of the Rotary Club of Houston sponsors a reception for patients and their families who are staying at Rotary House International. 

Volunteers will chat with participants and share their smiles. A small number of volunteers are needed. 

Jay S. Zeidman is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Altitude Ventures, a healthcare investment firm. Before starting AV, Mr. Zeidman was the Director of Business Development for U.S. Capital Advisors and served as an aide to President George W. Bush at the White House. Mr. Zeidman serves as Chairman of the Board for Houston First Corporation in addition to serving on the Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission, UT Health Science Center of Houston, and the Emancipation Park Conservancy. Mr. Zeidman was named to the Houston Business Journal’s “40 under 40” class in 2014. He received his undergraduate degree in Economics and Political Science from TCU, where he also served as Student Body President, and his M.B.A. from the Jesse Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University.

Orchids in Houston and Texas? Wildflowers?
Unravel the mystery 

Joe Liggio

From a rare native orchid in Memorial Park and other native Texas Wild Flowers, join Joe Liggio, a Texas botanist and environmental scientist, nature photographer, and writer as he shares his insights and photos.

He and his wife Ann wrote Wild Orchids of Texas published in 1999 by the University of Texas Press. His photos and writing have been published in various magazines, including Texas Highways, Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine, Science, Orchids (The bulletin e of American Orchid Society), Earth Magazine, Texas Mushrooms, and the Illustrated Flora of East Texas.

Join Virtually ---> February 27, 2025

SAVE THE DATE

MAR 6, 2025 - MEXICO - U.S. RELATIONS UNDER TRUMP 2.0
MAR 13, 2025 - Downtown Houston+ with Pres/CEO Kris Larson
MAR 20, 2025 - Pickering Energy Partners

Come out and join in the Pickleball craze @ Pickle Lab at the ION!

No experience required.  

$10 per person to pay for court reservation(s).

Outside food and drinks are allowed, but alcoholic beverages and glass containers are prohibited.

For parking info:  https://iondistrict.com/visit/getting-here/

Call Connor for questions:  941-920-1858

Discussion Topics:

• Immigration Issues
• Fentanyl
• Trade
• Diplomatic-Political Relations

​

Tony Payan
Françoise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies
Director, Center for the U.S. and Mexico

Biography

Tony Payan, Ph.D., is the Françoise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies and the executive director of the Center for the U.S. and Mexico at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. He is also a professor of social sciences at the Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico, where he directed the Social Science Doctorate Program from 2009 to 2012. From 2001 to 2015, Payan was a professor of political science at The University of Texas at El Paso.

Payan’s research focuses on border studies, particularly the U.S.-Mexico border. He examines daily life in liminal spaces, cross-border flows—both legal and illegal—and border governance issues. He also explores various topics affecting the U.S.-Mexico relationship.

He has authored, co-authored, or edited nearly 20 volumes on his research, in addition to numerous book chapters, monographs, white papers, issue briefs, and journal articles. Payan has served on several boards, including the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority, the Cross-border Relations Committee in El Paso, Texas, and the Plan Estratégico de Juárez in Ciudad Juárez. He is a member of the Greater Houston Partnership’s Immigration Advisory Committee and previously served on its Mexico Energy Task Force. He was president of the Association of Borderlands Studies from 2009 to 2010 and has been involved with multiple journal editorial boards.

Payan earned a B.A. in philosophy and classical languages and an MBA from the University of Dallas. He received a doctorate in international relations from Georgetown University in 2001.

Charles Foster
Chairman of Foster LLP

Biography

Charles C. Foster is the Chairman of Foster LLP and is based in the Houston office. Recognized as a Best Lawyer in America, Chambers USA Senior Statespeople, Who’s Who Legal: Corporate Immigration Thought Leader, Lawdragon 500 Leading U.S. Corporate Employer Lawyer – Immigration, and Top 100 attorney in Houston, his practice focuses primarily on representing multinational companies and foreign investors regarding U.S. immigration law.

Charles received both his J.D. and undergraduate degree from The University of Texas at Austin. He lectures frequently before legal, academic, and professional organizations in Texas, throughout the United States and abroad and has published numerous articles on U.S. immigration law.

Charles has dedicated much of his career to the improvement of his community. He served as senior immigration policy advisor to President George W. Bush in the 2000 and 2004 Presidential campaigns and as an immigration policy advisor to Barack Obama in the 2008 campaign. He has testified before both U.S. Senate and House subcommittees on immigration matters. He is the founding Chairman of the Immigration & Nationality Law Section of the State Bar of Texas and has previously served as Chairman of the Governor’s Task Force on Immigration, the Greater Houston Partnership’s Economic Development Advisory Committee and World Trade Division, the American Bar Association’s Coordinating Committee on Immigration Law, and the State Bar of Texas Committee on Laws Relating to Immigration and Nationality and is past National President of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), the Houston Forum and the Houston Club and Board member of Ripley / Baker.

Dust off your boots, Put on your hat, and join us for Rotary Night at the Rodeo. Tuesday, 11th March. Get Your Tickets Today...Limit 125 Seats Available CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS

WATCH all the fun to be had with BBQ Dinner pre-show and Rodeo Seats with your fellow Rotarians in Section 522.

Have more questions about the event, please contact Event Coordinator, Genevieve Rowland at genevieve@rowland-properties.com

KRISTOPHER LARSON, AICP, LPM

President and CEO

Downtown Houston+

Kristopher Larson is President and CEO of Downtown Houston+ (DTH+) – the non-profit group responsible for providing the thought leadership, long-term planning and implementation of the redevelopment and revitalization of Downtown Houston for nearly 40 years – and its affiliate organizations, the Houston Downtown Management District (HDMD) and the Downtown Redevelopment Authority (DRA).

The HDMD and DRA are special assessment and tax increment districts, respectively, and combine to form one of the largest place management organizations in North America, collectively raising and investing $50M annually in advancing and improving Downtown Houston.

Touting two decades of leadership experience in cities across the nation, Larson is an award-winning urbanist whose career has been defined through his positive impacts on making cityscapes more vibrant places to live, work and play. His vast experience in urban place management, urban design and economic development gives him a unique voice in describing how the confluence of marketplace dynamics, architecture and the public realm can translate into defining placemaking experiences.

Prior to joining DTH+, Larson held positions on both the public and private sides of community leadership across the country, serving as President & CEO for three comparable organizations in Los Angeles, CA, Raleigh, NC, and Grand Rapids, MI, where he led both business improvement and tax increment finance districts.

He currently serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors of the International Downtown Association (IDA) – where has been the recipient of four Pinnacle Awards in the categories of Leadership, Planning, Advocacy and Marketing – and is a certified Leader in Place Management (LPM) and member of American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). Larson was twice honored with the coveted “Top 40 Under 40” in Long Beach, CA and Grand Rapids, MI, and was named as one of 2023’s Top 100 Texas leaders by the Houston Business Journal.  He holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from North Carolina State University and was a Daniel Rose Fellow through the Rose Center for Public Leadership, a collaboration between the Urban Land Institute and the National League of Cities. Larson lives on Allen Parkway, adjacent to the Buffalo Bayou, where he enjoys long runs along the Bayou’s world class trails.

Come out for fellowship and fun!

We are pivoting on dates this month because Rotary Night at the Rodeo is March 11th (second Tuesday).

Hope you can join us!

Call or text Karen with any question at 713-858-6115.

Each Month members of the Rotary Club of Houston sponsors a reception for patients and their families who are staying at Rotary House International. 

Volunteers will chat with participants and share their smiles. A small number of volunteers are needed. 

Angela Blanchard
Chief Recovery and Resilience Officer
City of Houston

Angela is known locally, nationally and internationally as a well-respected thought leader, expert practitioner, educator and speaker.  She currently serves as the Chief Recovery and Resilience Officer for the City of Houston as part of Mayor Whitmire’s executive leadership team. 

Blanchard’s proven track record for revitalizing neighborhoods and leveraging diversity stems from her unique approach: building on strengths rather than focusing on deficits; empowering people to maximize their skills and talents; and operating a nonprofit with the efficiency and innovation of a major corporation. Her highly successful framework for community development, Appreciative Community Building, has been a catalyst for neighborhood investment and transformation. She works with leaders in cities around the world as they address complex challenges in communities undergoing upheaval.

Blanchard’s breakthrough achievements in community development and disaster have received numerous accolades: elite awards from top institutions, three invitations to the Obama White House, and extensive press coverage including the New York Times, Places Journal, Wall Street Journal, CNN, The Washington Post, Yahoo News, NPR, Fast Company, The Houston Chronicle, and BBC among many others.

Angela Blanchard is a visionary leader for evolutionary change. For more than 30 years, she was the driving force behind a highly acclaimed nonprofit organization that has impacted and transformed neighborhoods across the Greater Houston. BakerRipley a leader in the community development sector brings resources, education and connection to more than half a million hardworking residents to keep the region a place of welcome and opportunity.

Please join us as we learn more about the City’s plans for our community resilience and response natural, human-made, and weather disasters. 

A Couple of volunters are needed to join us at Interfaith Ministries for a service project for our Interact Club students that attend the Houston Academy for International Studies.  The students will take the bus from HAIS to IM when school ends at 3:30 and will arrive by 3:45.  Their parents will pick them up at 5:00 PM.  A special educational workshop and project is planned for this time.  

At this hour the entry gate will be at 1111 Stuart Street which is between Fannin and San Jacinto.  Volunteers can drive up toward the building and park there.  

On Thursday, April 3rd the Rotary Club of Houston lunch speaker at Tony's Restaurant, 3755 Richmond Rd is Kevin Lilly who leads the TABC (Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission). Since 1935 their charter has included keeping organized crime out of Texas. I’m sure our speaker will tell us about a recent event in Houston that might be surprising. Interesting  activities are happening here. What about organized human trafficking? 

Kevin J. Lilly

Kevin J. Lilly has served as Chairman of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission since 2017. He was a Founding Partner of Avalon Advisors, the largest privately owned wealth management firm in Texas. In 2023, Avalon merged with CI Financial, the nation’s largest independent wealth advisory firm, now known as Corient. Mr. Lilly currently serves as Vice Chairman of Corient.

Prior to founding Avalon in 2001, Lilly spent 11 years in the investment banking industry, beginning his career in the Sales and Trading division of Goldman Sachs. Lilly worked for Goldman Sachs both

in New York and Houston.

Lilly was commissioned as a Lieutenant (Cavalry) in the U.S. Army via ROTC at The University of Texas at Austin. He served as a tank platoon leader and tank battalion staff officer and had one overseas deployment. Lilly left federal service as a Captain. He was appointed by Texas Gov. Rick Perry in 2009 to serve as a Regent of the Texas State University System, serving on the Finance and Audit Committee, as well as serving as Chairman of the Texas State University System Foundation Board until 2015. Lilly has published articles on project finance and military tactics.

In addition, Lilly has served as a board member and trustee for several organizations, including the Houston Symphony, Houston Museum of Natural Science, the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, Houston Methodist Hospital Academic Institute, and Strake Jesuit College Preparatory in Houston. He currently serves as a Colonel in the Texas State Guard and commanded the 8th Regiment during Hurricane Harvey. Lilly currently serves on the Board of Trustees of Southwestern University in Georgetown. He has a bachelor's degree, BBA, from the University of Texas’ McCombs School and a master's degree, MBA, from Southern Methodist University’s Cox School of Business. He resides in Houston and is married with three children.

Lilly’s term as Chairman is set to expire on Nov. 15, 2027

Come on out for fellowship and fun!

Call/Text Karen with any questions at 713-858-6115.

Since 1986, the Rotary Club of Houston has proudly sponsored Camp Enterprise, an immersive business training experience for 80 Greater Houston high school juniors.

Every year, 80 students are provided with all-expenses-paid transportation to the beautiful Camp Allen in Navasota, TX, along with accommodation, meals, and a once-in-a-lifetime experience they will never forget! Additionally, thousands of dollars in college scholarships are awarded each year.

Each Month members of the Rotary Club of Houston sponsors a reception for patients and their families who are staying at Rotary House International. 

Volunteers will chat with participants and share their smiles. A small number of volunteers are needed. 

Mike Miles was appointed Superintendent of the Houston Independent School District on June 1, 2023 and left his position as the CEO of Third Future Schools, a network of high-quality public schools in Colorado and Texas that he founded in 2016.

Prior to his latest work, Mike served three years as the Superintendent of the Dallas Independent School District and six years as the Superintendent of the Harrison School District in Colorado Springs. Under his leadership, both districts implemented ground-breaking initiatives, established a high-performance culture, and experienced significant growth in student achievement.

Mike has also served the public interest as a soldier and statesman. He served as a Company Commander and in the Army’s elite Ranger Battalion. Mike later served in the U.S. State Department as a Soviet analyst and member of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research. He then served as a Diplomat to Poland and Russia at the end of the Cold War.

Mike holds degrees from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the University of California at Berkeley, and Columbia University.

Join the Rotary Club of Houston for our Annual tradition of assembling 50 Easter Baskets for the Salvation Army Woman and Family Residence.  

The Club provides the Baskets, grass and cellophane bags.  

All Club members participating in the Event are asked to bring 50 of one or more of the items liseted below to put in the baskets.  

• Plastic Eggs
• Candy
• Little stickers or coloring booklets
• stickers
• fun pencils or pens
• small size toys or keychain games
• small size bubbles