A regular meeting of the Space Center Rotary Club was held at Bay Oaks Country Club on April 25.  The meeting was called to order by President David Coney.  Jack Bacon kicked off the meeting leading members singing “The Yellow Rose of Texas”.  Wayne Young led the Pledge of Allegiance, Stan Galinski led the Four Way Test, and Dennis Dillon gave the prayer.  Bob Wren introduced visitors and guests.

Roger Donnelly reminded members that the Floyd Boze/Paul Harris dinner is May 12 at Bay Oak Country Club.  Tickets are $30.  RSVP to Roger via email, and include your preference for steak or chicken.  President Coney reminded members that Teacher of the Year awards will be presented May 16th at South Shore Harbor.  He thanked Micki Czarnik for hosting our visitors from Japan over Easter weekend.  Rotary golf is scheduled for Wednesday.  Contact Dick Hergert by 2 pm Tuesday if you want to play.

John Branch (second from left) introduced Houston Mayor Annise Parker.   The Mayor’s presentation focused on the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, redistricting, and implementation of the Proposition One drainage fee.  The drainage fee is effective July 1, but sample bills will be mailed out in May.  The final redistricting plan should be passed by Council in May, sent to the Attorney General in June for final approval, and will hopefully go into effect in July.  Due to provisions of the Voting Rights Act and the impact of redistricting on neighborhoods around Kingwood, Kingwood and Clear Lake will have to remain in the same district.
Mayor Parker noted that we are beginning to pull out of the recession, but that since government trails the economy, this will probably be the City’s worst year from a financial standpoint.  Based on appraisal district reports, there is a significant income shortfall.  The City has approximately 21,000 employees, down about 500 since she took office, mostly due to efficiency improvements.  There are about a dozen people on her executive team. The City has saved an estimated $5 million through mandatory furloughs for non-essential employees.  They are currently looking at aged Accounts Receivable for additional income improvements.

The Mayor touched on the cutbacks at NASA/Johnson Space Center, and the City’s support for efforts to have JSC remain the home of mission control and astronaut training.  The City is also supporting efforts to recruit Emery Riddle University to locate here.  Emery Riddle is the largest aeronautical university in the country.  She reported that the drainage fees will be assessed to owners based on total amount of impervious land surface owned.  Schools and churches that currently have 100% exemption status will be exempt from the fee.   In response to questions, she reported that the City’s rainy day fund was at $20 million, but has not been replenished since Hurricane Ike.  She answered questions concerning the relationship between the City and the Port of Houston, major economic industries, and unfunded City pension and benefit programs.  At the conclusion of her presentation, President Coney (right) expressed appreciation for her attendance and presented a token of thanks from the Club.

Scott Rainey presented a check for $1,200 to Kim Reed (right),  President of Builders with Borders of Texas.  The funds will be used for college scholarship programs in Carbonera Mexico.  Mr. Reed gave a brief overview of their programs and reported that the group will be going to Haiti June 4-10, and to Rio Bravo Mexico June 22-25 with Dr. Greg Clariday to do eye surgeries.

President Coney announced a last chance to buy District raffle tickets as the conference is this weekend and adjourned the meeting.  




 

The Rotary National Award for Space Achievement
25th Anniversary Event
Friday May 6