August 23, 2010 Blastoff

The August 16th meeting opened with Jerry Smith extending welcomes to a long list of visitors and guests after the tradition of singing a song, reciting the pledge of alliance to the U.S. Flag and the Rotary Four-Way Test, and an invocation. Several new International Exchange students were in the group, along with Assistant District 5890 Governor (AG) Chris Schneider, Sara Maben, President of the Clear Lake High School Interact Club, representatives of Volunteer Houston/Bay Area, and one of our most faithful Club members, Floyd Boze.  President Coney announced that Saturday's Pancake Breakfast fundraiser for the Space Center Rotary Club Endowment Foundation was a huge success. Jack Lister and the many breakfast volunteers were recognized. Birthday wishes were extended to Roger Donnelly.

Kippy Caraway announced that the Club was recognized for multiple achievements at District 5890 Membership Seminar held Saturday. She expressed appreciation to the following Membership Committee volunteers: Bob Taggart, Greg Smith, Scott Rainey, Suzi Howe, and Laura Godwin. Space Center Rotary was among the top achievers for most new members and most members proposing new members.  Kippy was one of the top District recruiters as a new member sponsor. Space Center Rotary took a first place award for the Club with the largest percentage of net member growth. Kippy extended a special thanks to past President Jon McKinnie for his support and to AG Chris Schneider for his constant promotion of Rotary.

Suzi Howe requested volunteers to help with registration and refreshments at the September 25th Rotary Foundation Seminar.  She also discussed the need to make sure that our kids and grandkids have received their polio immunization.  President Coney announced that September 9th is Rotary Day at the Astros.  The Astros will be playing the LA Dodgers.  Portions of the ticket proceeds will support Polio Plus.  The Be-A-Friend Dinner is scheduled for October 22nd.  This is a District-wide event to thank other non-governmental organizations for their support and partnerships with Rotary.  Sara Maben, President of the Clear Lake High School Interact Club, recapped last year's projects and reported that 46 new members were registered at Freshman Orientation.

Dick Meyer recognized the International Exchange Committee members.  He introduced Exchange students Adam Keve from Slovakia, Ale Sigimondi from Italy, and Mina Aras from Turkey, along with their counselors Jack Bacon, Alice May-Sexton, and Marsene Boldt.  President Coney welcomed the students and presented each one with a Space Center Rotary blue badge. 

Mike "Big Shrimp" Dennard announced that teams have been assigned for Shrimporee solicitations along an Indian Nation theme.  All Club members have been assigned to a team.  If every team meets their commitment goals, the Shrimporee will raise over $80,000 before auction funds are even calculated.  Team Chiefs are to provide updates to Chief Scott "Gimme Wampum" Rainey prior to each Club meeting.  Read more information on a team's functions given to the Chiefs.  Chief Rainey recognized Mark Schneider of Waldron and Schneider as an additional Shrimporee sponsor.  More sponsors are needed.  Scott announced that the Club will be partnering with Norman Frede Chevrolet to collect used cell phones that will be donated to a program that helps soldiers overseas call home.  The soldiers are provided with a 60 minute calling card so that they can call home for free.  Norman Frede Chevrolet will bring a pickup truck to the Shrimporee, and the goal is to fill the bed of the truck with donated cell phones.

President Coney introduced Tina Brown, Director of the Volunteer Houston/Bay Area program that operates out of the United Way building on Bay Area Blvd.  Tina runs the Commanders program, a summer teen volunteer program co-sponsored by the Club.  Tina introduced Commander team members Jared Lilley, Chloe Hughes, Sam Joseph, Erika Storli, and Meghan Mistry (photo with Dr. Greg Smith).  Each student mentioned different volunteer activities in which they participated.  Tina recognized Jared as a three year volunteer and student assistant.

John Branch introduced speaker Major Edward Alonzo of the Salvation Army.  Major Alonzo and his wife Delia have served with the Salvation Army for 24 years and are currently working in Pasadena serving Pasadena and east Harris County.  Major Alonzo is also a member of the Pasadena Rotary Club.  Major Alonzo expressed his appreciation both for the opportunity to speak and for the chance to make up a meeting.  He noted that the Salvation Army was founded in 1865 in England by Reverend William Booth in an effort to minister to the destitute he passed each day.  Among the programs currently offered are senior citizen activities, Meals on Wheels, a variety of social services programs such as utility assistance, counseling, prescriptions, eyeglasses, and food bags for the homeless, sports programs and character building programs for youth.  Major Alonzo is working on a program to minister to the children of families living in motels.  Many of these children stay alone all day and are in need of school supplies and backpacks in addition to supervised activities.  He discussed several popular programs such as Community Cooloff and the Thanksgiving Feast.  He reported that the Christmas bell ringers are the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Pasadena Salvation Army, bringing in $180,000 last year.  Their annual budget is $1.2 million.  The Pasadena office was the Salvation Army incident command post after Hurricane Ike in 2008.  For 40 days they served 2 meals each day, averaging 3,000 people served per day.  Major Alonzo noted that they have lots of opportunities for service projects and invited anyone interested in volunteering to come see him.

President Coney announced the Board meeting schedule for 7 am Tuesday and the meeting was adjourned.