History
of
The Rotary Club of Space Center (Houston), Texas, and U.S.A.
Club 2010 District 589
for
Rotary Year 1988-89

President
Billy D. Weseman

Chartered August 6, 1964

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

Officers
President Elect  
 John Watson
Secretary 
 Billy Smith
Treasurer 
  Jack Lister
Sergeant at Arms 
 Terry Hesson
Editor 
  Steve Bolton
 
Directors
John Francis
Eddie Harris
Dave King
Vic Maria
Owen Morris
David Taylor
Carlos Villagomez
Tom Weir
Woody Williams

Rotary Club of Space Center received "Outstanding Club" Award
Dr. David Taylor received District 589 Award

Historian 2009 meet with President Weseman July 12, 2011.  He stated " We had a very good year, not all my fault that we did so well.  Our efforts were inspired by members who wanted to actively be involved with projects." President Weseman provided some additional material for his Rotary year: the Club logo stationary with Astronaut Ed White making the first space walk, Youth Committee activities of 1993, and an article about Bridgeport Communities in Schools, Inc.  Also Presidnet Weseman took me to his "trophy" room.  Unfortunately the flash on the camera caused a reflection,  but one can see the many awards that he has received.

The history file contained 24 Board meeting   minutes, no budget, several newsletters, and 3 pieces of  correspondence.  There was  a  Blue Binder  (Club Assembly Report dated August 15, 1988) which contained plans and goals, a membership roster, District Governor's evaluation of the Club, and the avenues of service committee members.  A hand written letter dated September 21, 1988  from District Governor Long  to President Weseman  reflects the Governor's appreciation for the Shrimporee tickets and other personal comments.  The Club continued to meet at the Nassau Bay Hilton.

There were 14 newsletters,   Blastoffs, out of a possible, 47, assuming  that one was issued every Club meeting day.  The   Club Programs and Special Events  listing also contained  34 programs. The newsletter was standard size, glossy off white in color, and filled with many photographs of members and club activities especially during the Club regular meetings and  information about activities of the Club.  Most of the newsletters consisted of several pages.   Twelve  of the Club's  former presidents were on the roster.  A former District 589  Governor, Floyd Boze 1981-1982, and a charter member, Vince Lipovsky, attended the weekly club meetings.  Frank Morgan, Bev Steadman, and Charles Whynot were on the roster.   The Christmas party was at the Villa Capri with about 80 persons attending.

There was a treasurer's report  dated June 18, 1989 in the history files.  The amount of   donations given to service projects  was $40,000 based on  a write up in the June 26, 1989 Blastoff.  The amount of monies made from the fund raisers since the first recorded fund raiser in 1968 was $325,891.  

There was no Shrimporee report but several discussions about it in the newsletters.  The  event was held at the Clear Lake Park Seabrook, Texas September 24, 1988  with Bob Driver as the Chairman.   The income for the Shrimporee  in the   June 26, 1989   newsletter noted $10,400 from the Reverse Draw, $36,000 from the Shrimporee, $3,000 from the Memorial day Golf Tournament, $3,000 from Blastoff ads, and $9,500 contributions to the Rotary Foundation. The Shrimporee meal ticket can be seen by clicking on ticket.

Two $1,000 each scholarships were given to Ann Schwausch and Tony Cheng.  Pictures are in the   June 5, 1989 Blastoff.   The May 1, 1989 Blastoff   has an article and picture of winners of "our " $1,000 scholarship.  It is not clear what scholarship this is.

Winners of the Drug Awareness Essay Contest are shown in the June 26, 1989 Blastoff .  This was the twenty first year the Club was involved with the drug awareness program and the first year for the essay contest.  (Historian 2009 note: Read write-up on the program from the Drug Awareness Committee dated 1990.  Also read the referenced article There Was a Nation . . . )

The International Youth Exchange committee was very active during the Rotary year.  Dr. David Taylor  received the  District award   for his service to District 589 and to the Club in  the International Youth Exchange program.  Pictures of the exchange students  from Norway and Finland can be viewed in the July 18, 1988 Blastoff.   The Space Center Rotary Club International Youth Exchange Program was in full swing with  two students hosted by the club -- Scott Salmond from Australia, and Wiebke Ernst from West Germany.  These young people  fitted well into the community, and the students, the host families, and participating Rotarians profited greatly from the many experiences.  Much more on these two young men is in the December 12, 1988 Blastoff , and pictures in the January 9, 1988 Blastoff, and January 30, 1989 Blastoff.    Additional information is in the February 27, 1989 Blastoff .  There are also informative  articles about the International Youth Exchange - East Texas Exchange in the  March 20, 1989 Blastoff ,  April 3, 1989 Blastoff   and   April 17, 1989 Blastoff.  

There were several articles and pictures regarding the World Health Foundation.  The July 18, 1988 Blastoff  has a picture and write up on Jamin Villalobos-Ruiz who received plastic surgery by Dr. Adbel Fustok.  Jamin was hosted by Club member Carlos Villagomez.  A letter dated July 20, 1988  contains a press release on the World Health Foundation Projects.  The September 26, 1988 Blastoff  has pictures and a thank you note  on Luis Gomez who  received plastic surgery and the  June 5, 1989   Blastoff has a picture of Louise Rodriguez who was a patient in the  program.

A picture of Mr. Bobko saying thanks for the opportunity to study in France  under the Rotary Foundation scholarship is in the  January 30, 1989 Blastoff .

The President of Rotary International and 16 guests visited   the Johnson Space Center in April with the District Governor and several of the Club's members accompanying him.  Charles Hartman briefed the President on the Rotary National Award for Space Achievement program'

The October 17, 1988 Blastoff  contains a picture and a brief write up on the Rotaract Club of University of Houston-Clear Lake.  This is the first year that the Rotaract was a committee in the avenues of service.  President Weseman stated in his planned projects to the members contained in the Club Assembly Book dated August 15, 1988  that  new Rotaract and Interact Clubs were to be established.  (Historian 2009:  Dr. David Taylor stated in 2008 that the started the Rotaract Club at the University of Houston-Clear Lake in 1988.)  Based on the before mentioned information, it is concluded that the first Rotaract Club was during this Rotary Year.

The GSE team   from England was hosted by the Club October 27 through November 1, 1988.  They participated in  club meeting on October 31.  Jim Hargrove was the chairman and host for one member.  Also hosting were Richard Ainslie, Larry Rowe, Joe Skelly, Jack Catron, and Joe Shirley.  The picture of the Group Study Exchange sponsored by the Club is shown in November 7, 1988 Blastoff.   Hilmar Zeissig was the District 5890 (589) GSE Chairman.

The   membership was 179 members  according to the 1988-89 Plans and Objectives.  There were 43 additions and a net loss of 5 members.  The only  Club Roster    is dated August, 1988.    

There were thirty three  Paul Harris Fellows  named forth Rotary Year bringing the total for the Club to 142 since 1972 the first recorded award.

(Historian 2009: re: Space Shuttle Payload Project.  In the fall of 1976, NASA announced a program known as the getaway special (GAS), also known as small self contained payloads (SSCPS).  Over the years money was accumulated for the project,  but it was never completed.  Read write-up on the project and its disposition.)

The Rotary National Award for Space Achievement (RNASA) Foundation had its  third stellar event (Program cover dated 1988)  on February 2, 1989 at the Hyatt Regency, Houston, Texas and presented  Rear Admiral Richard H. Truly , USN with the National Space Trophy. The event raised funds for space-related education and drew positive public attention to the importance of continuing achievements in space. Members of the Rotary National Award for Space Achievement Foundation may be viewed by clicking on Foundation. View photo gallery of Club members at the banquet.

The 80th Rotary International Convention was held May 21-14, 1989 in Seoul, Korea.  There were 38,878 in attendance.  President Elect John Watson and wife Carolyn  attended  from Rotary of Space Center, Houston.

District 589 Conference was held on April 27-29, 1989  at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in San Antonio, Texas.  President Weseman reported that the Club received the "Outstanding Club" Award and that 40 persons out of the 503 persons attending were from the Club.

Rotary year 1988-89 was placed in archives March 2010.