History
of
The Rotary Club of Space Center (Houston), Texas, U.S.A.
Club 2010 District 589
for
Rotary Year 1978-79

President
Marvin F. Matthews

Chartered August 6, 1964

Fifteen years of serving the local and world communities with a passion for
“Service Above Self”

Officers
President Elect
Al Ligrani
Vice President
Harry Jennings
Secretary
Charles Hartman
Treasurer
Pete Gist
Sergeant at Arms
Al Jowid

Directors
Bob Mitchell
Chuck Jacobson
Maury Fitch
Dick Brown
Lou Rodriquez
Bob Stephens
Bob Montgomery
Bill Webb
Floyd Boze

The history for the Rotary Club of Space Center (Houston), Texas, and U.S.A. has been compiled from previously written histories and chronologies which can be found in the Welcome section of the Home Page.  For the most part, the wording of these previously written histories have been used verbatim except for the insertion of additional information found elsewhere, obvious errors, and annotations by Historian 2009.
 
The history file contained very few documents, however there were 23 Board meeting minutes, tax return for the Rotary year, and a few pieces of correspondence. There were no newsletters, Blastoffs, out of a possible, 46,assuming that one was issued every Club meeting day. The Club Programs and Special Events listing did not contain any programs. The Club continued to meet at the Holiday Inn.

The first published pictured Directory found in the history file is dated November 1978. It consisted of the members, Code of Ethics, and 1972 and 1978 Constitution and By-Laws for the Rotary Club of Space Center. (Note: the first two pages of the Directory show 1975, but the third page, which is before the member listing, is dated November 1978. It is assumed by Historian 2009 that the Directory is a 1978 issue).

The avenue of services committee members can be viewed by clicking on Committee Members .

The only activity reported in the Board meeting minutes was a British exchange study group, six person team plus two hosts, will visit the Club. Lou Rodriquez and Dick Brown hosted a reception for the exchange group.

A 1978-79 Budget, annotated by hand dated May 21, 1979,and the 1978 Shrimporee Financial Report (in the Shrimporee Report) were the only financial records in the history file. With the information from the Board meeting minutes and the annotation on the budget, $8,512 was given to service projects,  Since the annotation was dated May 21, 1979, more monies may have been given to service projects before the Rotary year since the Shrimporee netted $16,188. The amount of monies made from fund raisers since the first recorded fundraiser in 1968 is $69,087.

The July 1, 1979 Semi Annual Report of Club Membership noted a membership of 137 with 4 Honorary members. The Club's Roster is based on the July 1, 1979 Semiannual Report of Club Membership. Nine previous presidents were on the membership roster.

There was a bounded, mostly typed report, prepared by Dick Brown, General Chairman of the Shrimporee, title" Shrimporee Report 1978 " that contains much information about the fund raiser. There is a summary report in front which provides a very good overview of the activities. The Chairman noted that therewere 3,581 guests.Also there was a general write up about the Shrimporee dated August 1978 perhaps a press release. Drug abuse has been a focus of the Club since first mentioned in Rotary year 1968-69. A letter dated March 28, 1979 reflects the Club's strong involvement making this the eleventh year that the Club has been a supporter however there is no record of any donation being made this Rotary year. A picture of Jim Hargrove, Shrimporee auctioneer; Bill Dale, Sales Manager; Marvin Matthews, President of Space Center Rotary Club; and F. B. McRee in front a car donated to the auction by McRee Ford. View photos of the Shrimporee.

An interesting letter dated December 12, 1978 by President Matthews to the Board regarding the budget reflects the budgetary procedure at the time and concern about the inactive committees.

There was one Paul Harris Fellow named for the Rotary Year bringing the total for the Club to 9 since1972.

The 70th Rotary International Convention was held June 10-13, 1979 in Rome, Italy. There were 14,429 in attendance and President Elect Ligrani and his wife attended from Rotary of Space Center, Houston.

District 589 Conference was held on April 19-21 in Galveston, Texas.

Rotary year 1978-79 was placed in the archives in July 2009.