Events

John is retired from NASA where he served as the agency's Chief Toxicologist for 25 years. He is a science junkie, having earned advanced degrees in three diffierent sciences - astronomy, chemistry, and pathology. He has been a patient safety activist since the loss of his oldest son due to medical errors in 2002. He is the veteran of many mission trips, including ones to Haiti, Ecuador, and Mexico. He has published two books - A Sea of Broken Hearts and Response Theology, and co-edited a book called The Truth about Big Medicine. He is a scientist and Christian mystic. He enjoys life with his wife Donna who has tolerated him for 48 years, his two children who are loving Christians, and 5 grandchildren. He is currently the Chairperson of the Board for Crossroads at Park Place. 

Samantha Smith serves as a Captain and the Public Information Officer for the Community Volunteer Fire Department. With over 15 years of experience as a first responder in both law enforcement and the fire service, she brings a well-rounded and deeply informed perspective to emergency operations and public communication. She is also an internationally awarded public speaker, known for her ability to connect with diverse audiences on topics of safety, preparedness, and service.

At CVFD, Samantha leads the community outreach division and oversees community engagement, media relations, and public education efforts. Her leadership is focused on building trust, promoting readiness, and advocating for first responder safety. A key area of her current work is supporting STORM Ranch, a state-of-the-art swiftwater training facility dedicated to preparing rescue personnel for water-related emergencies. As severe flooding becomes more common across Texas, STORM Ranch plays a critical role in ensuring that first responders are trained, equipped, and confident in conducting high-risk water rescues. Samantha’s efforts underscore the importance of proactive investment in lifesaving training and operational readiness.

Bill Roach was the Chairman of the Wings Over Houston from 1996 until 2004. Since 2024, he is the Executive Director of Wings Over Houston Airshow-CAF.   He is also a Lifetime Member Commemorative Air Force. He is also a Board member  of the Houston Regional Veteran Chamber of Commerce  since 2021. 

The CAF Wings Over Houston Airshow is an IRC 501(c)(3) community event presented by the volunteer efforts of the Houston Wing, Gulf Coast Wing, and Tora! Tora! Tora! of the Commemorative Air Force, with support from the Lone Star Flight Museum, Collings Foundation-Houston based at Ellington Airport, and the Vietnam War Flight Museum. One of the top air shows in the United States, this premier Houston event is dedicated to showcasing vintage World War II aircraft, along with the thrills of modern aviation, and has supported a variety of local and national charities during its 40-year history.

Dr. Gunjan Narwani is a neurologist in Houston, Texas and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital and Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital.  She received her medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine and has been in practice between 11-20 years. Dr. Gunjan Narwani has expertise in treating Alzheimer's dementia, Parkinson's disease, sleep apnea, among other conditions - see all areas of expertise.

Luanne Newman has been a Rotarian since 2002. Part of the Carol Stream, Illinois (suburban Chicago) club in District 6140 (the home District), she is a Past President who founded their Rotary-sponsored Community Food Drive in 2009 which is still in place today. She takes the “Service Above Self” motto to heart.  

Club Webmaster and past club president/Foundation Chair of the League City club, Luanne has been a member for 7 years. She is the current President of the Fellowship of Rotarian Genealogists and had the opportunity to share information on RI Fellowships at the 2025 Rotary International Convention stage at general sessions.

A family historian at heart, Luanne began “climbing her family tree” in 1989. She started in the Chamber of Commerce industry in 2003 in Illinois and is recently retired from the Clear Lake Area Chamber.

Luanne and her husband Bud live in Seabrook, Texas where they own Amazing.Grace.Gifts,  a pop-up candy business.

Mr. Duane Ross has been a key member of the Astronaut Selection Program at NASA since 1978. Duane Ross, has also been involved with the Astronaut Candidate Program at NASA since 1978. He has worked at the Johnson Space Center, in Houston Texas, since 1967, and sat in Mission Control during the moon landing. He spent five decades as the Manager of the Astronaut Selection Program, which means that he has helped select almost every American astronaut in history. 

The Haak Winery Story

By Kristen Wollengerg

Please join us this Monday to learn about the the story of the Haak Winery by Kristen Wollenber, Director of Events and Weddings. Please bring your friends, collegaues and family members. 

Join us to learn about Artificial Intelligence -

What is it, and how it IS and WILL BE affecting our Lives

 by Scott Dyson and Stan Galanski. 

Stan Galanski Jr.

Senior IT Executive / Entrepreneur

40 years of Program Management and Engineering experience in Information Technology, with Aerospace and Energy Industry relevancy.  Beginning in 1994, where he wrote his Master’s Thesis on “Expert Systems” at Villanova University, through lengthy tenures at Oracle, Hewlett Packard Enterprises, and CB Technologies, Stan has consistently dealt with the application of the latest computer hardware, software, and database technologies tested and deployed in U.S. Government and Corporate lab environments.  His focus has always been on how to exercise the latest breakthroughs in Information Technology for producing faster, safer, healthier, higher revenue/more affordable solutions across multiple industries.  He views the “knowledge curve” and speed of AI adaptation to be exponential and something each one of us should try to have a fundamental understanding of.

The Texas Rangers are a major division within the Texas Department of Public Safety, with lead investigative responsibility for major violent crimes, unsolved violent crimes, serial criminals, public corruption, public integrity offenses, and officer-involved shootings. The Texas Rangers are also responsible for the state's border security operations program and DPS tactical operations, which includes the Special Operations group, comprised of the DPS Special Weapons and Tactics team, Regional Special Response Teams (SRT's), Ranger Reconnaissance Team, Crisis Negotiations Unit, and the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team.

In 2020, the Texas Rangers made 993 felony arrests, and obtained 562 confessions and 537 convictions resulting in three death sentences, 76 life sentences, and 8,531 years sentenced to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

The Texas Ranger Division is comprised of 234 full-time employees, including 166 commissioned Rangers and 68 non-commissioned personnel assigned to the Border Security Operations Center, Joint Operations and Intelligence Centers, and administration.

For Texas Rangers contact information, please visit their website at https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/texas-rangers/contact-information

Please join us to tak a look at the history of the program and insights to where we are today and what  do we need to do to complete the eradication of this devastating disease.

Scott Rainey was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He attended the University of Oklahoma and is a proud Sooner! Scott is married to Martha Bowles, who he met in church in Clear Lake, TX.Scott trades petrochemicals and fuel products as his day job.

Scott is a member of the Rotary Club of Austin and was previously a member of the Space Center club in Houston. He served as Rotary District 5890 Governor for the year 2020-21.

Scott is a Major Donor, and member of the Paul Harris Society, Polio Plus Society, and White Hat Society.  

For more information about Polio Plus and RI Foundation, please contact our incredible and fantastic Wayne Musial. He will be thrilled to assist you. Donate to the Foundation HERE.

"Rotary has been working to eradicate polio for more than 35 years.

Our goal of ridding the world of this disease is closer than ever."

About Dr. Matthew F. Cherches

"I take time to listen, answer questions and ensure my patients feel fully informed and comfortable before joint replacement. Using advanced, minimally invasive, and robotic-assisted techniques, my goal is to relieve pain, restore mobility and help my patients get back to what they love."

Dr. Matthew F. Cherches is an orthopedic surgeon at Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine at Clear Lake with expertise in robotic-assisted and minimally invasive total joint replacement. 

He earned his Doctor of Medicine degree in 2019 from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. He completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at the University of California San Francisco and his fellowship in adult orthopedic reconstruction from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.

 Clinical Interests

• Anterior hip replacement
• Arthritis and degenerative joint disease
• Complex primary joint replacement
• Minimally invasive joint replacement
• Outpatient joint replacement
• Partial knee replacement
• Post-traumatic arthritis
• Revision joint replacement
• Robotic-assisted surgery
• Total hip and knee replacement

Texas Teacher of the Year is the highest honor that the State of Texas can bestow upon a teacher. The official State of Texas program, facilitated by TASA since 2011, annually recognizes and rewards teachers who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and excellence in teaching.

Vickiela Wright is a National Board-Certified educator with 14 years of experience across multiple grade levels. Wright serves as a fifth-grade English language arts teacher, grade level instructional coach, and team lead at Clear Creek ISD’s McWhirter School in Webster, Texas. In these roles, she is a link between administration and grade-level teams, collaborating to enhance instructional practices and improve student achievement.

Inspired by teachers and her great-grandmother who believed in her potential, Wright says she is devoted to fostering supportive, empowering environments for students and educators alike. Beyond the classroom, she leads extracurricular initiatives such as mentoring, student council, and volunteers with her sorority and Clear Creek Education Foundation.

She holds a BA in Education and a Master of Education in Reading from Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois, and an Education Specialist certificate in Educational Leadership from Concordia University Chicago.

Captain Clint Winegar, Presiding Officer of the Houston Pilots (2023-Current), is a graduate of Texas A&M at Galveston with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation. Previously he held the position of Second Officer of the Houston Pilots (2014-2015 and 2022). In addition, he serves as Vice President of the American Pilots Association (2020 Current) representing the Gulf States of Texas, Alabama, and Mississippi.

Prior to becoming a Pilot, he sailed on Product and Chemical Tankers moving cargo around the world for nearly 10 years. Since 2005, he has been licensed as a State Pilot on the Houston Ship Channel, logging over 2700 jobs and 12,000 bridge hours.

Currently serving on the Board of Directors for Economic Alliance Port Region, Greater Houston Port Bureau, Houston Maritime Museum and Center and Houston International Seafarers Center. Also, active member of East End Chamber of Commerce and El Centro De Corazon.

Clint was born and raised in the Galveston Bay Area. His home is League City, Tx where he enjoys his family and spending time on the golf course. On occasion, you can find him on Tiki Island enjoying the water, fishing, and boating.

Michael E. Fossum '80 currently serves as a Vice President of Texas A&M University, the Chief Operating Officer of the Galveston Campus, and the Superintendent of the Texas A&M Maritime Academy. Fossum joined Texas A&M following his retirement from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) – Johnson Space Center in 2017.

Fossum is a veteran of three space flights with more than 194 days in space and more than 48 hours in seven spacewalks during his 19 years as an astronaut. During his last mission in 2011, Fossum served as the Commander of the International Space Station. He has logged over 2,000 hours in 35 different aircraft throughout the course of his career. Fossum earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University and was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Air Force in 1980. He is also a graduate of the US Air Force Test Pilot School and has earned Master of Science degrees in Systems Engineering and Physical Science/Space Science.

Fossum was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and grew up in McAllen, Texas. He is married to his Aggie sweetheart, the former Melanie J. London '80. They have four children and eight grandchildren. He enjoys family and outdoor activities. Fossum has been a lifelong supporter and volunteer in the Scouting program.

The Rotary House Hotel is a full-service hotel, dedicated exclusively for accommodating the needs of MD Anderson patients and their families while in Houston visiting the world-renowned MD Anderson Cancer Center. The hotel is owned by MD Anderson Cancer Center and managed by Marriott. We are connected to the institution by an enclosed skybridge that provides added convenience for our guests. The primary focus at the Rotary House is our extraordinary service to our hotel guests. All of our hosts are unique individuals who have a genuine and compassionate personality to care for patients, caregivers, and their family members. The Rotary House purpose is modest and singularly focused to make each guest feel completely comfortable, and in a home away from home.

Join us for our last meeting of the year!!!

Adrian Teran, H-E-B Market Manager  is going to share some wonderful tips when we buy fish, poultry and beef.  

Mr. Teran has been with H-E-B for 17 years, in which he's been a manager for 10 years. For the last 6 years he has trained meat wrappers, meat cutters, and market managers across the Houston area H-E-B’s. 

He worked all the way into leadership by staying dedicated, working hard, and taking advantage of every opportunity that came his way. He never originally pictured himself becoming a manager, but over time he discovered how much he enjoys it and it’s truly become his passion.

Amy Skicki brings over 30 years of leadership and management experience across the military, private sector, and nonprofit organizations. A U.S. Army veteran, she served seven years on active duty as an Automated Logistical Specialist, achieving the rank of Sergeant E-5, with assignments in Ft. Polk, LA, Bosnia-Herzegovina, South Korea, Ft. Bragg, NC, and Germany.

Following her military service, for 16 years she successfully led operations at Prairie Athletic Club, the largest health and recreation facility in the Midwest.

Amy holds an Associate of Arts in Web and Digital Media Design from Madison Area Technical College and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Herzing University, both located in Madison, WI. Prior to joining BayTran, she served as the Executive Director of the Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce in Wisconsin. Since 2021, Amy has led BayTran, applying her diverse expertise to advance transportation initiatives throughout the Bay Area Houston region.

Brenda Hellyer is currently Chancellor at San Jacinto College and has been in this position since May 2009. Hellyer’s employment at San Jacinto College began in June 2000 and includes serving as Vice President of Resource Development, Vice Chancellor of Fiscal Affairs, and Executive Vice Chancellor. 

Hellyer holds a Doctor of Education with an emphasis in Community College Leadership and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Business from Fort Hays State University.

Hellyer loves to spend time with her three children and six grandchildren, enjoys reading and traveling, and relaxing with a good cup of coffee or a glass of wine.