Events

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.

DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS, OUR MEETING HAS BEEN CANCELLED. 

STAY TUNED WHEN WE RESCHEDULE THIS SPEAKER

Robert O. Ambrose retired from NASA in 2021 and accepted an endowed chair at Texas A&M, as the J. Mike Walker 66 Chair in Mechanical Engineering, with courtesy appointments in the Aerospace and Electrical Engineering Departments. He serves as the Texas Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) Associate Agency Director, TEES Project Office Director for Space, Strategic Advanced Research Unit, TEES Director for Space and Robotics Initiatives, and Texas A&M Space Institute Associate Director.

Dr. Ambrose received his Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin in Mechanical Engineering and his M.S. and B. S. degrees from Washington University in St. Louis. He has worked as a researcher in academia (UT Austin), as an engineer at an FFRDC (MITRE), and as a project leader at a small startup company (Metrica, Inc), then for over 20 years in government.

With NASA’s Johnson Space Center from 2000-2021, he served as a Project Manager, Branch Chief and later as the Division Chief for the Software, Robotics and Simulation Division. Dr. Ambrose’s Division supported the International Space Station (ISS), software and simulation for the Space X, Boeing and Orion Spacecraft, and the development of exercise equipment, wearable robotics and jetpacks used by astronauts in space. He led the design of futuristic machines like Robonaut, the Chariot rovers, Centaur, Valkyrie, MRV, Resource Prospector / VIPER rovers, and the LTV Rover that are paving the way for space exploration. Dr. Ambrose also served for 7 years at NASA Headquarters as the Principal Technologist for Robotics and Autonomous Systems.

He has built coalitions with dozens of commercial partners, universities and US government agencies. His work as a founding member of the National Robotics Initiative (NRI) with the White House has propelled the U.S. back into the lead for robotics. He has received three NASA medals for Leadership and Technical Achievement, two Government Invention of the Year Awards, and General Motor’s Most Valuable Colleague Award. Dr. Ambrose retired as a member of the federal government’s Senior Executive Service (SES), was elected to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) and currently serves as the IEEE-RAS Vice President for Industrial Activities. He is married to Dr. Catherine Ambrose with homes in Texas and Colorado.

Honoring  Dr. Floyd Boze

Floyd D. Boze Fellows, please wear your pin or medallion!

Every year, a club meeting day close to Floyd's birthday (February 7th) is dedicated to honor the first member of our club to be elected District Governor (1981-82).  

Our beloved PDG Dr. Floyd Boze passed away on February 20th, 2014 at the age of 96.  Floyd was president of the Lubbock Rotary Club, then became a member of Space Center Rotary Club on August 20, 1973.  Floyd was elected Governor of Rotary District 589 (now 5890) in 1984.  Floyd had 63 years of perfect attendance, having made up missed meetings of his home club in more than 20 countries outside the U. S.

Space Center Rotary Club Endowment Foundation

John Watson (Club President 1989-1990) and the Board unanimously supported the idea of a local foundation and resolved to establish the Space Center Rotary Club Endowment Foundation (SCRCEF).  The corporate charter was issued on February 15, 1991 and 501(c)(3) status was granted on April 9, 1993.  

Floyd D. Boze Fellows

The SCRCEF has established a process to recognize each $1000 given to the Foundation.  It is patterned after the Rotary International Foundation‘s Paul Harris Fellow recognition program  The program is termed the Floyd Boze Fellow recognition program. The Program consists of a certificate, a label pin, and a neck medallion. 

I am a computer systems engineer with a master's degree in family science. Since 2018, I have been the founding president of a non-profit organization called "Familia Incluyente A.C." (Inclusive Family Association). As a person with cerebral palsy, I have become deeply aware of the importance of inclusion within families for the empowerment and full development of people with disabilities. I am passionate about my work and strive to contribute to this cause through solidarity and strategic initiatives, which is why I consider myself an advocate for people with disabilities and their families.

HAPPY FOUNDING ANNIVERSARY!

Rotary started with the vision of one man —  Paul Harris

After setting up his law practice in Chicago, Harris gathered several business associates to discuss the idea of forming an organization for local professionals. He envisioned a place where professionals of diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships.

On 23 February 1905, Harris, Gustavus Loehr, Silvester Schiele, and Hiram Shorey gathered at Loehr’s office in Room 711 of the Unity Building in downtown Chicago. This was the first Rotary club meeting.

“I was sure that there must be many other young men who had come from farms and small villages to establish themselves in Chicago ... Why not bring them together? If others were longing for fellowship as I was, something would come of it.”

Over time, Rotary’s reach and vision gradually extended to humanitarian service. Members have a long track record of addressing challenges in their communities and around the world.

To learn more about  Rotary International click here. 

Space Center Houston Overview and Exhibits

by

William Harris, President & CEO 

Location: Space Center Houston 

Address: 1601 E NASA Pkwy, Houston, TX 77058

Meeting Place:  Space Center Houston, Board Room, Second Floor. No admittance charge – Go to the counter inside next to turnstyles and tell them you are there for a meeting in the Board Room.  Take the elevator up to the second floor.  The room is next to the elevator.

Parking:  If you have a Space Center Houston membership, your vehicle is covered.  All others, please  go to the desk and get a QR code to scan and enter your car's license plate number. There will be no charge for parking.

Start Time: Our meeting will start at the regular time. Arrive by 11:45 am for the meeting to start promptly at noon.

Lunch:  Box lunches will be provided. Cost $20.00 Contact John Branch if you have dietary restrictions. 

SPACE CENTER HOUSTON HISTORY

Since opening our doors in 1992, we’ve welcomed over 26.6 million guests and continue to inspire nearly 1.3 million visitors annually within our 250,000-square-foot educational complex.

Discover over 400 space artifacts, immersive exhibits, and captivating experiences that celebrate the rich history and exciting future of America’s human space-flight program. Our offerings are designed to engage and educate visitors of all ages, sparking wonder and fueling dreams.

Dr. Ahmed Ali is a board-certified and fellowship-trained general, minimally invasive and bariatric surgeon who earned his medical degree from the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Medicine. He completed his general surgery internship and residency at Case Western University/University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Dr. Ali then completed his bariatric and minimally invasive surgery (MIS) fellowship at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina.From 

"It’s truly a blessing to help others improve their health and quality of life and guide them through unforeseen ailments requiring surgery. The most satisfying accomplishment of what I do is building trusting, long-term relationships with every patient I have the privilege of working with."    Dr. Ahmed Ali

Megan E. Ortiz is a proud sixth-generation Houstonian hailing from Cut 'n Shoot, Texas. As a member of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Speakers Committee, Megan proudly tours our local community year-round, sharing how everyone can make Rodeo Houston a part of their story. Speaking on the economic and community impact of this Texas tradition, Megan's speech gives an in-depth look at the history of the show and the role we all play when we support Rodeo Houston. By day, Megan is the Senior Director of External Relations at Axiom Space, an aerospace startup based out of Clear Lake, Texas. 

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

Kat Castro Clemons is the Developement Director at Bay Area Turning Point (BATP)  in Webster, Texas, where she leads fundraising and community engagement efforts for the organization’s mission to serve victims of family violence, sexual assault, and sex trafficking. She has been with BATP since 2019, bringing over a decade of nonprofit and community development experience.

Kat’s career spans both for-profit and nonprofit sectors, with a focus on helping vulnerable populations. She has worked with seniors affected by Alzheimer’s and dementia, as well as younger adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Her nonprofit experience includes roles at Hope Village, St. James House, and The Cottages, where she coordinated life enrichment programs 

She holds a degree from the New College of California and attended The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston.

National Space Day is celebrated annually on the first Friday of May (May 1, 2026) to promote science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers in the aerospace industry.  Let's celebrate  Space Heritage Day for our Club.  We would like to have each one of our members in the space industry to briefly share why they decided to choose space exploration as a career, what kind of things they have done during their career, and maybe an amusing story.  

CPR/AED Training

Come and join us to learn about CPR and AED skills. You can save lives. 

Reducing Child Sex Trafficking in Metropolitan Houston Global Grant

Please join us to learn from Rhonda Kuykendall, Rotarian from Brazos River Rotary Club and Task Force Director of the Fort Bend Anti-Trafficking Collective and Stan Galanski, Immediate Past President and Anti-Human Trafficking District Chair, who will be making a presentation on the key attributes of GG 2579105, "Reducing Child Sex Trafficking in Metropolitan Houston".  

Rhonda will discuss the level and intensity of the problem in Harris and Ft. Bend Counties, as well as sharing her story as a recovered victim.  

Stan Galanski will explain of what The Rotary Foundation's Global Grant will be doing to address the problem. Mrs. Kristi Hayes, Communications Director with Unbound Now Houston will also be present. She will receive the Global Grant check on behalf of Unbound Now and answer any questions.

After the presentation, we will hold a Q&A session, which will be open to members, the media, and general public. 

If you have any questions regarding the Grant, please contact Stan Galanski.