PrefaceThe history of the Rotary Club
of Space Center is compiled in three formats: the electronic
archiving of the historical data on Rotary Year basis; the
harmonizing of the archived data into topical summaries in a
quasi chronological order called History of the Rotary Club
of Space Center, A Topical Summary; and this writing,
History of the Rotary Club of Space Center, A Corollary
Version
. The purpose of this writing is
to look at the corollaries to the Club’s performances rather
than only the performance although most noteworthy
and outstanding. These corollaries present a different
facet of the Club not clearly seen by looking at the
performances only. The information was drawn from all of
the available history record; interviews with members, present
and past; and the writer’s experiential association as a long
time member of the Club. It is not the intent of this
writing to include all the historical record but rather
use activities, achievements, and statistics to illustrate
corollaries that were associated with the Club’s
history.
The writer had the
distinct pleasure and honor to talk to all the
available living presidents (32) during the time of compiling,
archiving, and writing the history of the Rotary Club of Space Center
(Club) over its incredible journey of 50 years
(The Journey). Additionally, all the available
material for each Rotary Year was reviewed in depth. Therefore the
writer had a perspective on each person who
was the leader of the Club each Rotary Year
for the past 50 years. Each Rotary Year brought
a person with unique characteristics, knowledge, and skills to lead the Club.
However what transcended each one was a common attribute; a
passion for the needs of others and a
heart-felt care for the Club members and
their families.
The amount of income referenced in
this writing was the net income. It was estimated that
about 30% of the gross income would go to the expenses
incurred conducting the fundraisers. Therefore of the
approximately $1.7M given back to the community, about $2.4M
was actually raised. It is also worthy to note there was
never any income used for administrative cost. The
Rotary International works on the principle of no
administrative fee for services rendered.
Introduction
The
Club was one of diverse members with a wealth of
experience, abilities, and influence who made a significant difference in
many lives in the local and global communites. Over $1.7M was returned
to these communities. In addition the Club members
were also a generous contributor to the international community via
of Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation with over $468,350
given to these communities, primary from the members, in
addition to many hands-on services rendered.
The ideals of Rotary fostered a
spirit of warm and lasting friendship in a common bond of
“Service Above Self” among its members and with the
community. There were such achievements by the Club that
long time member and President of the Club (1990-1991) Billy
R. Smith said that the Club was coined the name, “The Can Do
Club”.
However as important as the ideals of
Rotary were, there was also another common bond permeating the
members that made the Club unique, the manned space program
located at the National Aeronautical Space Agency’s Johnson
Space Center in Houston, Texas. The Club came into
existence because of the manned space program and grew with
it. With honor the Club carried the name “Space Center”
and its banner reflected the manned space program. Many
of its members were pioneers in the manned space program and
several of the earlier astronauts were honorary members.
Not only this, but many members were the major developers and
financiers for the area around the Johnson Space Center.
The bond between the Club and the Johnson Space Center and the
friendship that developed was one of the Club’s intrinsic
values and rich heritage.
Rotary's
commitment to Community Service grew out of the realization,
early in the movement's history, that something more than
fellowship or the opportunity for business profit was
necessary to sustain the interest of club members over a long
period of time. From the very first Community Service
project in 1907, when founder Paul Harris led a campaign to
have a public restroom installed at the city hall in Chicago,
Illinois, U.S.A., Rotarians have been making substantial and
lasting contributions to the communities where they
live. To a large extent, Rotary's reputation is built on
the myriad Community Service projects undertaken by Rotarians
in their own communities and abroad. As Rotary grew, its
mission expanded beyond serving club members’ professional and
social interests. Rotarians began pooling their
resources and contributing their talents to help serve
communities in need. The organization's dedication to
this ideal is best expressed in its motto: Service Above
Self.
Like Rotary, the soul of the Club was
anchored in friendship, the very element that Paul Harris so
desperately wanted when he first moved to Chicago and which
later became the foundation of the Rotary institution.
The strong fellowship of the Club members including the active
involvement of their spouses emerged during the first year and
became one of the hallmarks of the Club for The Journey.
However just like the first Rotary Club, the Rotary Club of
Space soon began to focus outside itself to serve others.
Acknowledgements
A portion of the material in this
document was taken verbatim from previously written histories
and Rotary International history. The writer also used
information from other writers such as Jon McKinnie, Bob Wren,
Mike Hernandez, and Billy Smith. In many cases the words
were identified by quotation marks and being italicized, but
often the words were paraphrased. The archives and
history of the Club for The Journey was maintained on an
Internet web site,
spacecenterrotary.info,
with backup data on the Club Historian’s
computer. Non electronic material and some magnetic
tapes, CD’s, and DVD’s are maintained in an environmental
storage area; however most of the magnetic tapes,
CD’s and DVD’s were placed on the history web site.
Countdown
The Rotary Club
of Space came into being by two factors working independently
but in concert with one another. The manned space
program provided a common bond while visionary Rotarians from
an established Club brought the Rotary ideals to the newly
formed Clear Lake area, the heart of the manned space
program. The manned space program brought people with
diverse backgrounds from different areas of the country
together, who for the most part did not know each other.
But like any profession, friendships that develop between
fellow workers often occur in small groups and often
esoteric. The Rotary ideals of friendship, fellowship,
and service provided a melting pot and a level playing field
for all the professions in the area. Not only
professionals from the manned space program but area bankers
and developers, lawyers, and business owners could be part of
Rotary. The Clear Lake area was the perfect environment
for a Rotary club to flourish. With the enduring bond of
the manned space program and the ideals of Rotary, the birth
of a Rotary Club unlike any other club emerged.
In 1962 the
newly formed National Aeronautical and Space Agency (NASA)
selected the Clear Lake area to build the manned space
center. Rice University had received 1,200 acres from
Humble Oil (Humble Oil had purchased the West Ranch of 20,000
acres for oil development in 1930’s), which the university
then gave to NASA. The site was a piece of prairie land,
sparsely inhabited, flat, and close to Clear Lake, which
emptied into Galveston Bay and on into the Gulf of
Mexico. There were several small towns in the area:
Kemah, Seabrook, La Porte, League City, and Webster.
Temporary office space was found in nineteen buildings in the
Houston area for NASA and contractor employees while the Space
Center was being built. Hurricane Carla had hit the area
in October 1961 and much of the devastation remained.
Suddenly the area of small towns
boomed; NASA and contractor employees began to flood into the
area with their families. Housing developments sprouted;
restaurants and businesses were established. Newcomers
made friends easily because most of them had no built-in
families or friends in the area. When strangers met they
asked each other "Where are you from?" It was rare for
the answer to be, "Texas." Looking back to 1962, it is
easy to see why such an institution as a Rotary Club took
root. Men were looking for new friends; some of them had
been Rotarians before they moved to the Clear Lake area.
The excitement generated by a major complex being erected in
an undeveloped area which would soon be known around the world
spurred the thirty-five men who would become the charter
members of the Rotary Club of Space Center
The
Liftoff
On May 11, 1964 past
District 589 Governor Edwin Bracher, J. A. Newborn, and Ellis
Bareiss met for lunch at Mike Kouchoucous’s NASA Grill to
discuss organizing a club in the Space Center area. It
was agreed, following the meeting, to ask Governor Virgil Lee
to appoint Ellis Bareiss as the Governor’s special
representative to carry forward organizing a Rotary Club at
the Space Center.
On May 15, 1964 an evening meeting was
held at the Nassau Bay National Bank with the following
present: J. A. Newborn of the Suburban Journal; Ivan Brown,
President, Nassau Bay National Bank; Bob Stevens, President -
Elect of the Rotary Club of La Porte; Carl Springer of the La
Porte Rotary Club; Ellis Bareiss, Special Representative and a
member of the Rotary Club of Pasadena; and Bob Gardner, South
Western Savings & Loan Company. This was the
beginning of a Rotary club in the Clear Lake area.
A tentative survey
form was filled out to determine the possible number of
classifications in the territory. It was found that 84
separate classifications were on the list, representing
different businesses or professions. Territorial limits
were checked with Dick Proctor, Secretary of the Rotary Club
of Houston since the club had jurisdiction over the area in
the vicinity of the Space Center. Subsequently a formal
request from Ellis Bareiss was filed with the President of the
Rotary Club of Houston, Erwin Heinen, on May 19, 1964.
The territory to be encompassed by the Club would be as
follows:
• Genoa-Red Bluff Road on the
North
• The Gulf Freeway on the
West
• Clear Creek, Clear Lake and
Taylor Lake on the South
• Red Bluff Road on the
East
The Board of
Directors of the Rotary Club of Houston approved the release
of the territory and on June 11, 1964 the membership of that
club approved the release.
The application for membership in Rotary
International noted that the officers for the Provisional
Rotary Club of Space Center, Houston Texas were President,
Ivan E. Brown; Vice President J. A. Newborn; Secretary, Joe E.
Stutts; Treasurer, Joe R. Stutts; and Sergeant at Arms, David
L. Shaw. The Board of Directors was Ivan E. Brown, J. A.
Newborn, Jr., William A. Parker, Leroy Gordon Cooper, Jr.,
Eddie H. Nettles, Paul K. Swackhamer, Joe R. Stutts, and David
L. Shaw. The Charter Members were as follows:
Ahlborn, Donald A.
Allen, Richard
*Armstrong, Wayman
Ball, Jack C.
*Barber, William Gerald
Berry, Charles A.
Blanton, Wick J.
Brown, Ivan E.
*Cooper, Leroy Gordon
Elder, John B.
*Frost, Joseph H. Jr.
*Gracey, Martin
Graham, Bob J.
Harrison, Colin
Kellen, Walter
*Kouchoucos, Mike
Lipovsky, Vince A.
Morgan, Frank G. Jr.
*Nettles, Eddie H.
Newborn, J. A. Jr.
Parker, William A.
Pickett, Walter M.
Runger, Robert G.
Sarahan, Bernard L.
*Shaw, David L.
Smith, Harry P.
Steadman, Beverly E.
Stutts, Joe R.
Swackhamer, Paul K.
Taylor, J. Boyd
Tear, Richard T.
Tompkins, S. S.
Warzecha, Ladislaus W.
Weston, William H.
Whynot, Charles L.
*Former Rotarians
The first two members initiated into the
Club were Gene Lindquist and Don Kirk.
Rotary
International approved the admission of Rotary Club of Space
Center (Houston), Texas on August 6, 1964. A letter from
Beth Maveety, Extension Services, Rotary International dated
August 6, 1964 notified Ellis R. Bareiss, “Congratulations to
you and your club on your success in extending Rotary to this
community. The application for the provisional club has
been received and before long we hope to advise District 589
Governor Bracher of the admission of this club to membership
in Rotary International.” No correspondence was found in
the history record of the letter from Rotary International
notifying Governor Bracher of the admission. However, a
completed form titled Notice of Admission to Membership in
Rotary International of the Rotary Club of Space Center
(Houston), Texas, U.S.A. (District 589) as of August 6, 1964
with the initials of G.R.M. dated August 11, 1964 and another
completed form titled The Notice of Admission of Rotary Club
dated August 13, 1964 are apparently the official charter
documents. The Club’s Charter was not in the history
record or does Rotary International have a copy of it.
According to the
Charter Presentation Program, the presentation was held on
September 28, 1964 at 7:00 PM at the Houston Yacht Club
Shoreacres, La Porte, Texas. Ellis R. Bareiss,
Governor’s Representative presided. District Governor
Edwin G. Bracher presented the Charter to Ivan E. Brown,
President Rotary Club of Space Center. The Rotary Club
of La Porte was the sponsoring club.
The new Club held
regular luncheon meetings on Mondays at 12:15 pm at the Kings
Inn, City of Nassau Bay, Texas. The initiation fee was
$20.00 and the annual dues were $25.00. The Board of
Directors met on the third Tuesday of each month. A Club
banner was designed by Martin Gracey in 1965 and was approved
that same year by the Club Board of Directors. The Board
adopted a policy of giving out-of-state visitors a banner, and
members of the Club could purchase banners for $1.00 each to
give to clubs that they visited. The year ended with 47
active and 2 honorary members.
The
Journey
Rotary Year
1964-65 was the exciting liftoff of the Rotary Club of Space
Center (Houston), Texas, U.S.A. (District 589, later 5890)
into an incredible journey for the next 49 years pursuing the
Rotary motto of “Service Above Self” and developing a lasting
friendship among its members.
International Recognition
International recognition came
early in the Club’s history with emergence of the manned space
program and several astronauts being honorary members of the
Club: Frank Borman, Gordon Cooper, Jim Lovell, Buzz Aldrin,
and Apollo crew James A. McDivitt, David R. Scott, and Russell
L. Schweickart. The fame of the Space Center Rotary Club
continued to spread especially when Astronaut Gordon Cooper
addressed the Rotary International Convention in Denver,
Colorado in 1966. The Rotary Club of Space Center was
also featured in an article in the May, 1966 issue of the
Rotarian. In addition, Frank Borman was a principal
speaker at Rotary International Convention in Honolulu, Hawaii
in May 1969. He presented Rotary International President
Kiyoshi Togasaki of Japan the banner of the Rotary Club of
Space Center. This miniature banner was carried on
Apollo 8, the first flight to circumnavigate the moon.
The banner now hangs in Rotary International headquarters in
Evanston, Illinois May 1969. In June 2012, Suzi Howe,
Club President 2001-02 and District 5890 Governor 2006-07
noted: “I have just left One Rotary
Center and learned that our banner is not "hanging" at Rotary
International, but rather is stored off-site with other
valuable historical documents and memorabilia in a properly
controlled environment (temperature, etc.). There is a
rotating exhibit of historical items from this
collection."
Again in 1980
international recognition of the space program and the Club,
in conjunction with the 75th Anniversary of Rotary, occurred
when a state of the art communications system using two-way
hook-up audio/video satellite between various groups including
the President of Rotary International James Bomar. In a
letter to the President of the Club (1979-80), Al Ligrani from
Rotary International President James L. Bomar, Jr. dated
October 31, 1979, Bomar writes:
“Dear Al:
It is my understanding that Past
Vice-President Ed Bracher has talked with you about the
possibility of a meeting on 29th February, 1980 that would
focus on Rotary's 75th Anniversary, emphasize the fact that in
1980 the 29th of February is an extra day for service and
present the possibility of involving other space facilities
and Rotarians in those locations in a communications tie—in
focusing on the concept of service in the space age. One
objective of the meeting would be to give visibility to the
space program and the fact that many Rotarians have been
involved in its development. Edith and I would welcome
the opportunity to visit your club on that occasion and take
part in a full day of activities which, according to Past
Vice-President Ed, you would plan...”
"Specifically, the satellite linkage would
be a two-way audio/video hook-up between Houston (Johnson
Space Center Mission Control Center and/or Gilruth Recreation
Center); Washington, DC (NASA Headquarters and/or the White
House); Europe (ESA countries and facilities to be
determined); Huntsville, Alabama (Marshall Space Flight
Center); Canada (site and-facility to be --determined);
Florida (Kennedy Space Center); Greenbelt, Maryland (Goddard
Space Flight Center); Pasadena, California (Jet Propulsion
Laboratory); and if time permits, Japan, India, and
Australia”
Dr. David Taylor,
Club President 1993-94, was originator of an unique global
project and described its origin: “When the Berlin Wall came down in 1989, I
used some of these same contacts as we had in the
International Youth Exchange Program to start an international
project to go to the Eastern bloc and give seminars on small
business and free enterprise. This was called Project
Free Enterprise. This was a Rotary project funded by a
matching grant, and some of the speakers on these trips came
from our own club – such as Gonzalo Montoya. These were
2-day free seminars to hundreds of people arranged by Rotary
clubs in Hungary and Poland. We spoke in 16 cities in
four years, and gave talks covering the business plan,
management, marketing, finance, quality assurance, business
ethics, management information systems, ISO standards,
etc. A typical team was 8 people. After NAFTA was
passed by Bill Clinton, there seemed to be a similar need for
finding common ground in our business practices with Mexico
business men, so I took a Project Amigo seminar team to Mexico
City in 1995 and gave five seminars at various places around
the city, arranged by our sister club there, Aeropuerto, and
one of its past presidents, Umberto Orozco."
On February 6,
1995 This Morning Show on CBS TV, opened with Space Center
Rotary Club singing OH! What A Beautiful Morning; thanks to
Club President (1994-95) Dr. David Taylor for the national
attention.
“The 'Children of
the Dump' 11 years later” was an ABC13's video, which aired
October 12, 2010, by Art Rascon who returned to the dumpsite
(Chinandega, Nicaragua) where these children lived to look at
the amazing progress made since his first visit. Over
the years Rotarians, including strong support by the Club
under the sponsorship of Suzi Howe, District 5890 Governor
(2006-07) and Club President (2001-02), saw the Rotary motto
of “Service above Self” lived out and lives changed. An
orphanage, housing, and school were supported and some of the
children formed a band and traveled the U. S. Including the
Club to made others aware of the situation in Nicaragua and
obtain support for the service projects there.
Jon McKinnie,
Club President 2009-10, brought the Club, and Rotary, into
national prominence by demonstrating the real meaning of
“Service Above Self”. The project was to build a house
for the Beach family, a family of 13 children, 9 adopted (5
with special needs and 4 biological), living in a small
trailer because their house was damaged by Hurricane
Ike. The house was in Kemah, Texas just outside of
Houston. The Club had the unique opportunity to
participate in the popular ABCTV show, "Extreme Makeover -
Home Edition" which planned to construct a new house for the
Beach family. Club President Jon McKinnie (2009-10)
challenged Rotarians in the Club and District 5890 and the
response was tremendous. Rotarians across the greater
Houston District 5890 had an integral part in the project,
supplying material, supplies, food, labor totaling over
$50,000, plus financial support. In the course of 4
days, $101,000 was also raised toward paying off the existing
mortgage as part of the show. On the morning of January
7, 2010, Ty Pennington, popular host for Extreme Makeover -
Home Edition, yelled "Good Morning Beach Family" which started
a whirlwind of activities, culminating on January 14 with Ty
again leading a chorus of "Move That Bus". In the course
of 7 days, over 1,100 volunteers worked 24 hours a day to tear
down the Hurricane Ike damaged house and build the new house,
the largest house ever constructed in Extreme Makeover history
at that time. Needless to say the Beach family was
elated, and the volunteers’ selfless efforts truly embodied
Rotary’s “Service Above Self” motto.
Although
international and national recognition was not as spectacular
as the above, it continued in a different form throughout The
Journey by: active participation in third world projects;
strong contribution to The Rotary Foundation and Polio Plus;
the Rotary (International) Youth Exchange Program, and the
prestigious space achievement awards program, which by the
nature of the manned space program had an international
aspect. One can view the (Rotary International Youth
Exchange Program as the Club receiving international
recognition by the nature of the students, and by Alan Wylie’s
international involvement. Also Past District 5890
Governor and Past Club President Suzi Howe was actively
involved at the International level.
A Compassion for Others
Friendship, fellowship, and professional
afflation brought the members together, but service was in
their hearts. Community service began almost immediately
as members of the Rotary Club of Space Center began to
establish a public library (the Theodore C. Freeman Memorial
Library in honor of the deceased astronaut), in the Clear Lake
area. Citizens of the area along with Club members
organized the library and established temporary quarters in
the Clear Lake City Recreation Center in January 1965.
Two thousand volumes were donated by residents to help get the
library started. The operation was entirely voluntary,
from staffing to funding. Club members also participated
in a variety of projects at the library: renovating the
building, changing of partitions, constructing shelving,
painting, and landscaping. Richard Veth and Richard
Allen, both members of the Rotary Club of Space Center, were
elected to the first Board of Trustees of Freeman Memorial
Library. Since that time, numerous Rotarians and Rotary
Anns (Rotarians' wives) have served on the Library
Board. Involvement with the library continued though
most of The Journey.
Community service
continued throughout The Journey as a major part of the Club’s
activities. A review of the donations revealed that
about 72% ($) of the Club’s fundraising net income was
returned to the local communities in addition to many hands-on
services, and 28% to the international community via of Rotary
International and The Rotary Foundation, which the Club had
partnership roles in many of the projects. In addition to
these monies, over $362,000 was given individually by Club
members to international service projects through The
Rotary Foundation Paul Harris Fellowships. These
statistics indicate the generosity of the Club’s members
toward international projects in addition to the strong focus
on local communities.
It did not take long for a service theme
to emerge and continue throughout The Journey, and that was
the youth. In Rotary Year 1969-70 all but $500 out of a
budget of $2,300 was given to youth activities with the $500
given to the Freeman Library.
Youth activities
were collectively the most funded and most Club member
participatory projects of all of the service projects.
Over $739,000 (47% of the total donations) was given to
such projects as the Interact, Academic Scholarships,
Rotaract, YMCA, Project Graduation, Drug Awareness, Boy and
Girl Scouts, International (Rotary) Youth Exchange, and Early
Act First Knight. Club members also participated in many
of the programs such as mentoring, Youth Forums, International
(Rotary) Youth Exchange, Drug Awareness Program, Drug Essay
Contest, Interact, Academic Scholarships, and Early Act First
Knight.
A few
of the Club member participatory youth programs continued
through the years, although some were intermittent.
Those continuing were the Interact and Rotaract Programs,
Academic Scholarships, Drug Essay Contest, the International
(Rotary) Student Exchange Program and the Early Act First
Knight (EAFK) Program.
Drugs were of a great concern by the Club
members and drug awareness was the focus for the early
years. Carson Stephens, Youth Committee Chairman, found
an article in the January 1989 Readers Digest that powerfully
outlined the debilitating effects of drug abuse on individuals
and society. The Youth Committee agreed that the article
would make an excellent teaching tool for young people in
public schools. They also agreed that one way of
disseminating the information would be through an essay
contest conducted in cooperation with the schools but under
the auspices of the Rotary Club. Thus was born the Space
Center Rotary Drug Awareness Essay Contest. The Club
participated in the Annual Drug Awareness Essay Contest until
Rotary Year 2009-10. The winners and their parents were
invited to a regular Club meeting where the winner presented
her or his essay, and received their monetary awards. An
earlier drug awareness program was approved in Rotary Year
1968-69. The ensuing years reflected varied interest
regarding the program and the amount of monies given in some
years. However, one year, the Palmer Drug Abuse Program
was the major beneficiary of the Shrimporee.
Nevertheless, the Drug Awareness Program was the most funded
community project during the first sixteen Rotary Years.
The Interact and
Rotaract Programs were mentioned only because they were
programs sanctioned by Rotary International. They were
not an active part of the Club’s youth activity on an ongoing
basis as many of the other programs were. It appears
that the success of the program during a particular Rotary
Year was due to an individual’s efforts rather than the merit
of the program. The Interact Program was
started in Rotary Year 1967-68 but was not very active until
the 1990’s with little or no activity for several of the
ensuing years. It appeared that the Interact Program was
active only about 36% of the Rotary years since it was
organized. Rotary Year 1988-89 was the first year that
Rotaract was a Club committee in the Avenues of Service and
the beginning of Rotaract at the University of Houston-Clear
Lake (UHCL). Rotaract was active in the early 1990’s
with very little information about it for the remaining Rotary
years in the 1990’s except for Rotary Year 1997-98. A
Rotaract Club at UHCL was again established in Rotary Years
2009-10 and 2010-11 but not for the rest of The Journey.
Overall the Rotaract was never an active program.
The most active
youth service project and the single most funded service
project since the Club was organized, and continuing over the
entire Journey, was the High School Academic
Scholarships. Over $135,000 in scholarships was given to
outstanding high school students with the first scholarships
in Rotary Year 1968-69. The winners and their parents
were invited to a regular Club meeting for receiving the
scholarships; often the Superintendent of the Clear Creek
Independent School District made the presentation.
The Club’s most
outstanding youth program was the International (changed to
Rotary in Rotary Year 2010-11) Youth Exchange Program (RYE), a
Rotary program. The Club received international
recognition for outstanding work in the Program at the
District and Rotary International levels by Club members
discussed as follows: “RYE began in Rotary Year 1985-86 and
continued through Rotary Year 2013-14, a span of 29
years. In June 1986 the first students went to
Cheltenham College (high school) in England. Later,
Cheltenham College students returned the favor and visited the
Clear Lake area. The short-term student exchange was a
success and the next Rotary Year, 1986-1987, a Youth Exchange
Committee was officially created at District 589 (later 5890)
level with Harold Jones as Chair and included Club member Dr.
David Taylor. Thus started District 589's involvement in
Rotary Youth Exchanges, both Short and Long Term. There
were 5 more short term out bound students and 3 long term and
4 short term students during the remainder of the
1980’s”. The Club continued actively involved in the
International Youth Exchange program during the 1990’s under
the leadership of Alan Wyle who became Chairman of District
5890 Long Term International Youth Exchange in Rotary Year
1993-94. The Club remained involved in the International
Youth Exchange program during the 2000’s under the leadership
of Club members Alan Wylie and Dick Meyer and later Teri
Crawford. Alan was elected President of the Southwest
Rotary Youth Exchange in Rotary Year 2005-06. I would
like to CONGRATULATE our Youth Exchange committee, especially
Alan Wylie ..."stated District 5890
Governor Sunny Sharma, Rotary Year 2010-11 concerning District
5890 Rotary Youth Exchange committee being awarded the
outstanding youth exchange district award for all of North
America – United States, Canada, and Mexico." In
addition, Alan was selected to serve on the International
Rotary Youth Committee for Rotary Year 2012-2013 and to chair
the International Rotary Youth Exchange Committee in Rotary
Year 2013-14. Alan's committee oversaw Youth Exchange
activities worldwide. Alan also sat on the Rotary
International New Generations Committee. Nationally,
Alan Wylie's name is synonymous with Youth Exchange, having
chaired the district committee for over 20 years.
One can view this
program as the Club receiving international recognition by the
nature of the students, and by Alan Wylie’s international
involvement. Almost all the students, both inbound and
outbound, were exemplary and represented their country of
origin well. This reflects favorably on the excellent
selection process with its high standards and capable
selection committees. Host families were the core of the
program providing an atmosphere for the cultural exchange and
promoting world peace through understanding one student at a
time. There were 37 long term outbound and 38 long term
inbound students since the start of the program and almost
$129,000 given to the program since 1985.
The Excellence in
Education Awards was included in the youth activities because
of teachers’ significant influence on the youth. It was
started in May 1991 by Club member Dr. David Taylor for
honoring teachers in the Clear Creek Independent School
District (CCISD) who demonstrated excellence in their field,
and continuing until Rotary Year 2013-14; the program spanned
24 years of recognizing outstanding teachers. It
immediately became one of the Club’s most active and
prestigious programs. Many awardees went on to further
competition and won more recognition. In Rotary Year
2008-09 it expanded and became a joint effort between the
CCISD and the Rotary Clubs of Space Center, League City, and
Seabrook.
The Club continued its
long standing tradition of being actively involved with the
youth in the community with a member participatory youth
activity program emerging the last two years of The Journey
which impacted the lives of the youth as well as the teachers
and Rotarians involved. The Club sponsored the Early Act
First Knight (EAFK) Program at Whitcomb Elementary which was a
Title One school of 26 ethnicities. Working with the
Superintendent of the Clear Creek School District, Dr. Greg
Smith, who was also a Club member; Whitcomb Elementary
Principal, Mark Smith; and encouraged by Tommie Buscemi,
District 5890 Early Act Committee Chair; Club President
Marilyn Musial (RY 2012-13) deemed Whitcomb Elementary was the
perfect school for the character building program.
The program was
themed around history’s champions of chivalry; role models of
various eras and cultures who distinguished themselves through
living by a code of high ethical standards and rendering
service to others. More than a student service club
participated in by a few; it was a daily, mandatory course of
study for each child, starting with the first day of
Kindergarten. It was a year-round character and service
education program that, for the put Rotary into mainstream
public education every day.
One cannot
measure the impact the Club had on the youth in the local and
the global communities. Decades of involvement through
donations and many years of Club members’ personal involvement
certainly made the youth programs one of the hallmarks of the
Club. It is rewarding to see the strong Club member
involvement with the youth of the 1990’s emerge again with the
Early Act First Knight Program at Whitcomb Elementary.
In summary,
perhaps words from Dr. Greg Smith, Superintendent of the Clear
Creek School District, summarize much of the outstanding work
done by the Club in regard to the youth: “You and your fellow Rotarians embrace all
aspects of this prestigious award's criteria through the
Rotary's wide ranging support of Clear Creek ISD during the
2012-2013 school year, and in fact for many years. Our
esteemed Rotaries demonstrate a 'big picture' understanding of
Education in the 21st Century and the call for meaningful
collaboration between the community and the school
house. Your steadfast aim to inspire greatness in our
teachers through the Teacher of the Year Awards and Luncheon
is a cherished tradition in Clear Creek ISD. From
generous student scholarships to the immensely impactful Early
Act FirstKnight Program, among many other signature
philanthropies. Rotarians demonstrate service above
self, consistently leading by example for our students through
your commitment to one's community for the greater
good.”.....Excerpts from a letter dated April 11, 20 13
from Dr. Greg Smith, Superintendent of the Clear Creek School
District, announcing the Community Partner of the Year
Award.
The remainder of
the donations given to the local community, (51% or over
$591,776) were given to a variety of service projects such as
Excellence in Law Enforcement (also developed by Club member
Dr. David Taylor); Health, Safety, and Environment; Interfaith
Caring Ministries (provided for working poor families); Bay
Area Turning Point (provided recovery services for survivors
of domestic violence and sexual assault); Senior Citizens and
Handicapped; Cross Roads (Homeless Shelter); Freeman Library;
and Meal on Wheel (delivers healthy warm meals to homes of
people who are unable to make their own meals).
These service
projects reflect many years of giving to a particular project
or a onetime large donation, and a wide spectrum of the needs
in the local community. As a group, senior citizens were
in the hearts of the Club members right along with the
youth. The Club was involved with senior citizens
practically every Rotary Year during The Journey with such
activities as the Senior Citizen Olympics, senior citizen
organizations, transportation for seniors, providing computers
to a nursing home, medical alert pendants, and the Red Rose
Program. Many years just a donation was given, but for
several years there were hands on projects. One such
moving project was the Red Rose Program initiated in Rotary
Year 2008-09, by Club member Jerry Smith, where red roses were
given to seniors in several local nursing homes around
Valentine’s Day. Rotarians and spouses distributed
“roses of love“(about 300-400) to and spend time with the
residents in the nursing homes. The 1980’s saw, by far,
the greatest emphases and consequently the largest amount of
donations over The Journey for the senior citizens.
However, The
Journey was not always smooth. There was a situation in
the early 1990’s concerning the senior citizens and the Club
which illustrates the difficulty of doing protracted projects
and which affected the Club’s relationship with the
community. Excerpts from a letter by the Club President
illustrates this issue: "Your letter
to me dated March 17, 1993, was presented to our board of
directors for discussion and, in light of the unforeseen
complications and uncertainty of timing for this project, the
Board has decided to suspend any further fund raising
activities for the Center. While we will certainly
consider this project again, when the problems have been
solved, Space Center Rotary Club must withdraw its previous
pledge of $100,000.00 and be relieved of this
obligation. Because our budgeting is annual, it is
difficult to sustain financial commitments that extend beyond
the term of one president." Two years later Club
President Vic Maria noted: “It was not until I met with
members of the Senior Citizens Clubs on August 27, 1993 at the
Nassau Bay City Hall that I realized the level of animosity
the Senior Citizens had against the Rotary Club over this
matter”. The Club never did recommit to the pledge,
but did donate about $11,000 which had been collected via of a
specific fundraiser for the project. Support for the
senior citizens by the Club markedly diminished after
this.
All together
donations to the local community were impressive with over
$1,150,000 given during The Journey with the youth programs
one of the hallmarks of the Club.
The Club was not
only a good neighbor; it was a national and an international
friend as well. About 27% ($438,246) of the Club’s net
income were used for global projects working with other
elements of Rotary. These projects covered a multitude
of topics such as developing water sources in Bolivia, South
America and Rwanda, Africa; supporting an eye clinic in
Guerrero, Mexico; rebuilding a playground in Gulfport,
Mississippi after hurricane Katrina; supporting an orphanage
in Nicaragua (Children of the Dump); placing econ-friendly
ovens in Honduras; and installing fruit drying kilns in
Rwanda, Africa. One noteworthy aspect of these projects
was the leadership roles that the Club members had in making
the projects a reality. These projects not only required
funding but active participation by the sponsors such as Stan
Galanski, Club President Geoff Atwater, Dr. Jack Bacon,
District 5890 Governor and Club President Suzie Howe, and Club
President Sheryl Berg. These projects gave sight to the
blind, improved vision, provided clean water to reduce disease
and increase agriculture, build and funded schools, and
reduced carbon emissions.
Of the $438,246
used for non local projects, over $106,000 was given to
The Rotary Foundation directly by the Club. The Club
awarded posthumously its first Paul Harris Fellow (awarded in
recognition of $1,000 been given to the Foundation) to Harry
Smith following his death in August 1972 to his wife, Pat, at
the July 30, 1973 Club meeting. The Club has a total of
364 Paul Harris Fellows since the first recorded Paul Harris
Fellow in 1973 and individuals (via Paul Harris Fellowships)
and the Club have given $468,350 to The Rotary
Foundation via Paul Harris Fellows since 1973.
There were 2 Paul Harris Bequest Society Members
and 16 Benefactors. The largest number of Paul
Harris Fellows (49) awarded in Rotary Year 2006-07 when the
Club was recognized as a 100% Paul Harris Fellow Club
All the Club’s
donations totaled at least $1,717,000 for The Journey, and
where the money went was where the heart was and that was a
passion for the youth and a wide spectrum of needs in the
community, both locally and internationally. These
donations and hands on services, judicially given, made a
positive and lasting impact on the lives of others and vividly
demonstrated the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self”
Extending the Club’s Reach -
Foundations
Out of the
generous spirit of giving, three important service concepts
emerged; the Space Center Rotary Club Endowment Foundation,
the World Health Foundation, and the Rotary National Award for
Space Achievement.
The Space Center
Rotary Club Endowment Foundation was established February 15,
1991 with Club President Billy R. Smith (1990-91) President of
the Foundation. District 589 Governor Floyd Boze
(1981-82) and Club President Bob Wren (1985-86) urged the
establishment of an endowment foundation in Rotary Year
1988-1989 which was unanimously approved by the Rotary Year
1989-1990 Board. The vision of the Foundation was to
create and grow an essentially untouchable fund which will
earn and produce funds for the “bricks and mortar” of places,
organizations, and community groups which will identify and
satisfy some of the needs of our community. Needs may
range from those of the underprivileged to those of the whole
community relating to the arts, science and education.
Therefore the Foundation came into existence to nurture,
encourage, and advance the development of effective programs,
activities, undertakings, and projects of a philanthropic,
charitable, educational, humanitarian, and eleemosynary
nature. Charles Whynot, Vince Lipovsky, Beverly
Steadman, Frank Morgan, John Watson, and Floyd Boze were the
charter members and Nancy Boze was recipient of the first
Floyd Boze Fellow (recognizing that $1,000 was given to the
Foundation). Club President Bob Wren (1985-86) became
President of the Foundation in 2002. Ninety nine Floyd
Boze Fellows had been awarded since 1991. Enough funds
had accumulated by Rotary Year 2011-2012 that educational
assistance and donations to science projects had begun.
The Club donated over $70,000 to the Foundation.
The World Health
Foundation was established February 28, 1986 as a Domestic
Nonprofit Corporation and forfeited existence on January 18,
1988 for failure to file annual franchise tax returns.
However the program continued as a service project of the
Club. Officials of the Rotary Club of Space Center and
St. John Hospital announced the formation of the Rotary World
Health Foundation in 1985. The Foundation provided
plastic surgery, hospital care, transportation and lodging for
young people from around the world who suffered from a
physical deformity that prevented them from living a normal
life in their society. The genesis of the Rotary World
Health Foundation took place in the minds of Dr. Abdel Fustok,
a plastic surgeon at St. John Hospital, and Mr. Raymond
Khoury, the hospital's administrator, both members of the
Rotary Club of Space Center. The exact number of
children treated since 1986 is not known, however the
available records indicted at least 15 children, with most
returning for continuing surgery. The program was active
from 1987 until about 2003 which was the last recorded child
to be treated. Most were treated from 1987 to about
1996. Such a program required a donor club working with
a U. S. club. The lack of a reliable and dedicated donor
club and the difficulties in arranging for host families and
transportation caused the program to end. However, the
results were amazing as noted by the many thank you notes and
letters received and with many patients visiting the Club to
personally thank the members. In addition to Dr. Fustok,
Club member Dr. David Taylor performed dental surgery on the
children.
The Rotary
National Award for Space Achievement Awards Program began
October 1, 1985 at the Club Board of Directors meeting with
the statement: “Charles Hartman
announced the name of the non-profit organization formed to
run the Aerospace Awards. It will be Rotary National
Award for Space Achievement. He also asked for $3000
advance from Space Center Rotary to get started with the award
design and stationary. The board approved. “
The aerospace
award was established in 1985 by the Rotary Club of Space
Center to organize and coordinate an annual awards event to
recognize outstanding achievements in space and create greater
public awareness of the benefits of space exploration.
The first official board meeting of The Rotary National Award
for Space Achievement (RNASA) was October 15, 1985. Club
member Owen Morris came up with the idea and Club President
Charles Hartman (1984-85) made it happen with the help of many
Rotarians. The first award was given to Dr. Maxime A.
Faget in 1987 at a banquet held at the Hyatt Regency in
downtown Houston, which became the hotel of choice where most
of the banquets were held.
It took a
herculean effort to bring the awards program into
existence. The goal was to make it an elite national
event, first class all the way with color guards, black-tie,
and all that goes with it, to reflect the prestige that a
National Space Trophy deserved. A formal organization
was established and the Rotary National Award for Space
Achievement Foundation was born. One of the intrinsic
values and strengths of the Rotary Club of Space Center was
the diversity and depth of expertise, experience, education,
and influence the Club members had. This was such an
important aspect of the Club that details have been noted
below to illustrate this kind of diversity and the depth of
abilities that the members demonstrated.
“Some of the tasks included activities
such as establishing the foundation, creating contact lists,
creating a Board of Advisors, creating a nomination and
selection process, creating the trophy design and
manufacturing it, creating a smaller version to give to the
recipient each year, making hotel/dinner/program arrangements,
creating a dinner program brochure, making tux/picture
arrangements, and creating table seating approaches.
Billy Smith, as an attorney, created the corporate structure;
John Francis owned a public relations and advertising business
so he took on those tasks as well as creating a program
brochure. He also set out to create the large and small
trophies (lead crystal) trophies; Ron Blilie took on the task
of creating an activity schedule that all could work to that
would show what and when things needed to be done; Owen
Morris, as a former part of NASA management and current owner
of Eagle Engineering, had many contacts in NASA, Department Of
Defense, and the aerospace industry without which the award
program could not have succeeded; Mike Razi of Gingiss was a
friend of Rotary and graciously loaned tuxes for the pictures;
Pam Culpepper took the pictures; and retired General Harold
Neely provided a wealth of knowledge and effort in properly
adhering to accepted formal protocol especially with the
Department Of Defense involvement. This included proper
seating arrangements at the Head Table, Color Guards, pick-up
and transportation of dignitaries and special invited guests
from across the country. Seed money was borrowed from
the Club to get started including $35,000 for the large
display trophy which was repaid to the Club.”
Club President
Charlie Hartman (1984-85) was chosen as the first President of
the Foundation followed by Mike Dennard (Club President
2010-11), Jack Lister (Club President 1991-92), Admiral Dr.
Clay Fulcher, Floyd Bennett, and Rodolfo Gonzalez.
The program
exceeded the expectations of the founders and continued its
prominence throughout The Journey. Twenty eight
deserving individuals, who significantly contributed to the
success of the manned space program including a U. S.
President and a U. S. Senator, received the prestigious
award. It had national, and by the nature of the space
industry, international recognition which reflected favorably
on the Rotary Club of Space Center and Rotary
International.
The National
Space Trophy is a striking depiction of man's continuing
exploration of space. The Steuben Class Company of New
York designed the trophy which contains 28 pieces of
beautifully structured lead crystal weighing in excess of 500
pounds. The crystal is illuminated from within and
stands 7 feet tall on its custom base. The trophy is the
centerpiece of a permanent display in the Visitors Center of
the NASA Johnson Space Center. The display honors all
recipients of the Rotary National Award for Space Achievement
Award.
The time and
efforts to establish, and continue over 28 years, such an
outstanding recognition program clearly revealed a love for
the space program which nurtured a strong bond among Club
members in addition to the bond generated by the ideals of
Rotary. But much more was the national recognition of
those pioneers and dedicated individuals who preserved the
manned space program against all odds and who moved the United
States to world leadership in the manned space program.
This is truly Service Above Self.
Tidbits Which Reflect the Character of the
Club
Women in Rotary: One of
the historic events in Rotary was the admittance of women into
Rotary International. Dr. Myra Gochnour-Hooker was the
first woman inducted into the Rotary Club of Space Center on
November 16, 1987, Shirley Battey was the second woman on
February 22, 1988, and Donnie P. Johnson (who became the first
president in Rotary Year 1997-98) the third March 28,
1988. Since the first woman joined the Club, six have
been presidents out of 25 Presidencies and 21% of the Club
members were women at the end of The Journey.
Growing Rotary: The Club
sponsored the Seabrook Rotary Club in District 5890, which
began with 56 charter members in Rotary Year 1991-92.
Charles Hartman, Club President 1984-85, was appointed sponsor
of the Club for the first year, attended almost every Seabrook
Club meeting as well as maintained a perfect attendance at his
home Club.
Fellowship and Rotary present:
Club member Earl Maudlin started a "Rotary Bench" community
service project in Rotary Year 2001-02 which involved several
Club members and provided a Rotary present in the Clear Lake
area. The 110 benches were made of treated wood and had
a large metal Rotary emblem appended to the back of the
bench. The 100th bench was presented in the name of Mary
Estes the wife of Rotary International President Glenn
Estes.
World friendship: The Aeropuerto
Rotary Club of Mexico City and Rotary Club of Space Center
began a cultural exchange in 1985 which culminated in a
Fraternity Declaration in 1986 (Jim Hargrove, Club President
1986-87). This association had a common theme which was
the U.S. space program and resulted in many new and long time
friends in both clubs, however the relationship faded by
1991.
Fellowship, fellowship,
fellowship: Fellowship ranged from a few
Rotarians and families meeting at a local restaurant to a ski
trip to Austria and Germany (about 50 Rotarians and friends
enjoyed a robust Rotary fellowship among the beautiful scenery
and picturesque villages in 1985); from handshakes at the Club
meetings to a long hard day working the fundraiser; fellowship
was in the fabric of the Club. In addition trips were
made to New Braunfels, Texas; many with spouses attended
District Conferences held each year at various places such as
Mexico, cruises to Cozumel, Mexico, Texas Hill Country, and
Lafayette, Louisiana; there were Christmas parties and
gatherings at Club members homes (one was a mystery dinner
with costumes and all); Rotary Family night out occurred about
once a month where family (parents, grandparents, and
grandchildren as appropriate) could gather at places such as
Putt Putt Fun House or just a neighborhood restaurant; and the
great game of golf which was played as weather permitted and
members available. Going to the Houston Rodeo with
fellow Rotarians from the District 5890, and attending Astros
baseball games with Rotarians, friends, Interact Club students
and International (Rotary) Exchange Students occurred
regularly over the years.
Bicycles anyone? Over $18,500 and
450 bicycles and scooters were given by the Club members to
the bicycle for Christmas program from 1992 to 2003. How
did it get started? A letter by Vic Maria (Club
President 1993-94) in 2002 to Nelle Spates and Lee Saladino,
Houston Chronicle Goodfellows describes how the Bicycles for
Christmas originated. “Shopping
for one another for Christmas was becoming a stressful event
for my wife and me. About fifteen years ago my wife and
I decided that we would no longer buy each other Christmas
presents but would rather buy presents for foster children in
the Three Wishes for Christmas program. She would pick 3
girls to shop for and I would pick 3 boys. It was
fun. Then one morning in 1991 after buying gifts for the
boys I had selected I awoke thinking of three or four
youngsters who had requested only one gift - A BIKE. I
could not think of any reason why I had not selected one of
these youngsters who wanted a bike. It was then that I
thought of a way to make this happen. Thus was the
beginning of the bicycles for Christmas program.”
Remembering departed friends: The
very close bond of the Club members was reflected in the
frequent remembrance of those members who passed away.
Over the years efforts have been made to commemorate these
members. The first, in 1987, was to plant a tree for
each deceased member on the north side of the YMCA on Highway
3 in Webster, Texas at the property line going from the east
to the west. (Note by Historian: There was no evidence
of what trees, if any, were planted). The second attempt
to have a memorial was to erect a monument close to the
entrance to Clear Lake Park in Seabrook, Texas at the
southeast corner of the fence which surrounds the Landolt
Pavilion next to the parking lot. This memorial was set
up in Rotary Year 1990-91 under the Presidency of Billy R.
Smith. Remembrance of all or just those who passed away
the current year usually took place in May of each Rotary
Year. The known members who passed away were
electronically archived which allowed retrieval upon
request.
It was only proper to mention here the
longest attending charter member of 49 years, Vincent
Lipovsky. Vince, as the members knew him, was never a
Club officer but held many directorates and committee
positions. As a pilot in World War II and the Korean
Conflict, he told (many times) of his military experiences
noting his affiliation with well known’s such as Charles
Lindberg and "Pappy" Boyington of the Black Sheep
Squadron. Vince flew 66 missions in the Pacific earning
a Purple Heart and the Distinguished Flying Cross. All
of the departed members had unique life experiences and many
shared them with the other Club members. The sharing of
life experiences was another indicator of the closest of the
Club members, not only was it informative, it revealed
attributes that were helpful in placing members in the most
effective Club assignment. In remembrance of all of the
departed Club members, we miss you and thank you for your
dedication to the Club and Rotary, and your contribution to
society.
World peace
through understanding: Ambassadorial Scholarships is
the oldest and best-known program of The Rotary Foundation — a
tradition of excellence since 1947. The Club sponsored 25
scholars since the first noted one in 1971-72 and with a
particular strong focus in the 1980-90’s by sponsoring 15 of
the 25 scholars during that period.
Where did the
money come from? The majority of the funds raised
were from one major event starting in Rotary Year 1974-75 and
a minor event starting in Rotary Year 2000-01. The major
event was called the Shrimporee from the beginning and became
synonymous with the Rotary Club of Space Center. It was
a public event focusing on the family and normally called
festival and auction with all the food prepared by the Club
members and friends. Marvin Matthews was given credit as
the founder of the Shrimporee. It was initially held at
Galveston Park in League City, Texas and then moved to Clear
Lake Park Seabrook, Texas in 1985. Other small events
such as raffles, reverse draw, and casino night occurred
during The Journey but were no a large source of income.
For 40 years the Shrimporee reined king. The whole Club,
with many adult volunteers, students from the high schools,
and the Boy Scouts, worked a long hard day having fun and
bonding fellowships in addition to the Club members’ working
weeks before preparing for the event. The Shrimporee was
held in the fall and the minor event was eventually held in
the spring giving rise to the name Springoree later in The
Journey. The Springoree was smaller, catered, held at
various venues, and attendance was by invitation. It was
essentially an event to thank the sponsors of the
Shrimporee. Personal experience of the writer and review
of historical documents reveal that the most important aspect
of the Shrimporee was the great and bonding fellowship.
There were never any administrative fees charged for any
fundraising effort throughout The Journey.
No better way to start a meeting:
The Club met almost every Monday at 7 different locations and
lastly at the Bay Oaks Country Club Houston, Texas beginning
September 2006 during The Journey. Each meeting was an
official Club meeting operating under the Club By Laws which
opened with a snap of the gavel against the Rotary bell by the
President and ended in like manner one hour (close to it)
later. It was a long standing tradition to have regular
activities prior to the meeting program: a song usually lead
by a regular song leader; a prayer offered by a member; and
members reciting pledge allegiance to the United States
Flag. In Rotary Year 2000, President David Baldwin
(2000-01) instated reciting the Rotary Four-Way Test on a
regular basis which continued for the remainder of The
Journey. Greeting members and guests as they entered the
meeting room and just old fashion handshakes at the meeting
were signs of the warm friendship.
We are One: Five hundred and
twenty Club banners were exchanged with other Rotary
Clubs throughout the world during The Journey. It was
the long standing custom of Rotarians to exchange club banners
to display friendship and to reinforce the essence of Rotary;
that all Rotary clubs were essentially one. The banners
(162 with many more in storage) from these exchanges were
displayed for many years on the wall at each Club meeting on
large royal blue banners about 5 feet by 5 feet. However
as the banners became numerous and space to display them
became less available due to the Club meeting at places having
little wall space, the banners could no longer be displayed on
the large blue background banner. With the electronic
archive web site, the banners were preserved and could be
displayed electronically.
Where did the Red Badge come
from?: Another first for the Club was the new member
orientation program called the "Red Badge" program developed
in Rotary Year 1987-88. It was a checklist of things to
do and sign off to quickly acclimate a new member on the
practices and procedures of Rotary and the Club. The
program was soon adapted by District 5890.
What Made the Club Great?
This chapter is dedicated to all the
members of the Rotary Club of Space who made it one of the
most respected and outstanding clubs in Rotary. Many of
the members were previously mentioned synonymous with their
accomplishments. As for the others, there are many
stories to tell about each one; however these stories are not
the purpose of this writing except only to illustrate what
went into the making of a great Rotary club. One would
be naive to think that just a few members were responsible for
the success of the Club. Yes there was strong,
visionary, and at times bold leadership, but just as important
were the dedicated members who carried out the day by day work
in a most professional and expeditious manner. One of
the intrinsic values of the Club was the board spectrum of
talents and expertise within the Club such that any project
that the Club planned was accomplished and accomplished
well. “The Can Do Club” was a common phase one could
hear about the Club. But not only this, the visionary
talents were noteworthy. Creating something of value
which continued from year to year was truly a hallmark of
excellence.
Recognizing that
it took all of the members for the Club to succeed, one
member, Dr. and Colonel Floyd D. Boze often referred as the
“Rotarian’s Rotarian”, was selected to vividly illustrate an
intrinsic value of the club. Floyd, as Club members
called him, was a member of the Club for 42 years with a
Rotary perfect attendance of 58 years in Rotary Year 2008-09
making up in 20 countries outside United States; President of
Lubbock Rotary Club; District 589 Governor in Rotary Year
1980-81; and winner of the Rotary International Golf
Tournament in 1974 at St. Andrews, Scotland and 1980 at Crans,
Switzerland. He was a principle in the formation of
Rotary National Award for Space Achievement Foundation, Rotary
Club of Space Center World Health Foundation, and the Space
Center Rotary Club Endowment Foundation (SCRCEF). An
additional honor was bestowed upon him by the SCRCEF naming
the recognition fellowship recognition process after him, the
Floyd Boze Fellow with an accompanying Floyd Boze neck
Medallion.
Perhaps an
excerpt of a letter from Floyd’s son in 1993 to the President
of the Club in regard to a Paul Harris Fellow “My wonderful Father has had three great
loves in his life. And all have brought him great
pleasure. First is his love of God, which he has lived
in his every breath and word. Second only to that is his
love of family, to which he has dedicated well over fifty
years of unselfish devotion. And third has been his love
of Rotary. I have never seen a more perfect match of man
and organization than my father and Rotary
International. The aims and ideals of the Club are his
own as completely as if he had founded the group. He
once said, in a talk to your (his) club, that there were only
two reasons to be a Rotarian: FOR THE THINGS YOU COULD DO FOR
OTHERS, and FOR THE PEOPLE YOU DID THOSE THINGS WITH.
That says it all. He has enjoyed his rotary friendships
and honors and successes far more than his successes and
honors and friendships made while in the service of his
beloved country in the (Army) Air Force, while in the arena of
Higher Education, or while being a Banker and in Community
Service.”
What was the
magnet that drew members like Floyd, and others such as
charter member (almost 50 years) Vincent Lipovsky, both later
in life required someone to bring them, and others in their
70’s and 80’s to the Club week after week, year after
year? It was the one element that Paul Harris wanted
when he met with three others in 1905, and which laid the
foundation of Rotary; hearth felt friendship and consequently
enduring fellowship. Paul Harris would feel right at
home in the Rotary Club of Space Center and would be pleased
that it nobly continued this most important Rotary
character.
Over the
Years
The Club began as
a men’s club where business attire and the Rotary lapel pin
were the expected dress norm. Twenty three years later
women were admitted into the Club and by the end of The
Journey 6 women were presidents and women composed 21% of the
membership. The dress attire became very causal over the
years. The Club always met at noon on Monday and started
every meeting with a song, a prayer, and members reciting
pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of
America. It began reciting the Rotary Four-Way Test in
Rotary Year 200-01. The Club’s Board action on June 4,
1985 dropped the title of "Rotary Anns" for the Rotary wives
of Rotarians to "My Rotary Wife" and later the title of “The
Space Center Women of Rotary” was officially established June
18, 1987.
The Club’s Board
met on different days and twice a month for many years.
In Rotary Year 1995-96 it began to meet once a month on the
third Tuesday of the month. The Sergeant at Arms
position was established in Rotary Year 1975-76 and the
position of Vice President/President Elect established in
Rotary Year1979-80. The Articles of Formation of the
Rotary Club of Space Center, Houston, Texas, an unincorporated
nonprofit association dated August 17, 2010, replaced the
Certificate of Incorporation of the Rotary Club of Space
Center, Houston, Texas Charter No. 1311422-01 dated May 12,
1994. The Club received a Texas sales and use tax
exemption in 1981 and again in 2002. A letter dated
February 9, 1981 from the IRS noted that the Rotary
International Space Center Chapter Rotary Club is exempt from
Federal income tax under Group Ruling No. 0573, section
501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code. It noted that
this exemption was granted August 1965.
The Club
functioned on a committee basis for many years. Every
function, including such activities as music, Four Way-Test,
and Rotary information, of the Club was under a committee’s
purview and every member was assigned to a committee or
committees including each new member. There were 33
committees and a membership of about 150 in Rotary Year
1984-85. Committees developed their plans and goals for
the year including the appropriate service projects for the
respective avenue of service and submitted them via of the
Directorate to the Club Board which formulated the
budget. Since the money to fund the budget was not known
until after the Shrimporee, the budget was not approved until
late in the first part of the Rotary year. Over the
years and primarily in the 2000’s the number of committees
began to decease with only about four with any significant
number of Club members assigned at the end of The
Journey. Several others were a committee of one or two
such as fellowship and club meeting programs. Rather
than a bottom up process, the budget and associated
identification of service projects became more of an
appropriation of funds by the President subject to Board
approval. Four years before the end of The Journey, the
Club Board approved using the accumulated fundraiser funds for
the budget of the ensuing Rotary Year. The accumulated
funds were the results of unspent funds over several
years. This action ensured funds for the next year
should there be unforeseen circumstances which would prevent
fundraising efforts.
The Club Assembly
was very proceduralized in the 1980’s and 1990’s with a
critical review by the District Governor. The Club would
prepare a Plan and Goals Booklet called the Blue Book which
contained the plan and budget for each committee (33 in Rotary
year 1984-85), the committee structure and committee members,
and other Club information. The District Governor
visited the President and Club Officers the morning before the
Club Assembly and provided a written critique of the
plan. Over the years the District operated in more of an
assistance mode and provided District goals consistent with
Rotary International goals.
Membership mostly
followed a bell shaped curve over the years starting with 47
members, peaking to about 185 twenty five years later, then
declining gradually for about 13 years, and a more pronounced
decline ending with 99 at the end of Rotary Year 2013-14
except for a large peak in Rotary Year 2009-10 under President
Jon McKinnie. It is interesting to note that the major
accomplishments of the Club, three foundations and three
enduring committees and consequently service projects,
occurred in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s when the
membership was the highest. In addition, the Club had
its highest rate of increase in membership growth from 1980 to
1990
The Paul
Harris Fellowship (PHF) had two major peaks and a minor one
over The Journey. One peak was Rotary Year 2006-07 when
the Club became a 100% PHF Club. Rotary Year 1982-83 and
the ensuing 6 years was overall the best performing with 126
fellowships added. This compares to the best other 7
year period of 102.
Fundraising
income continued to increase from the beginning of the
Shrimporee in 1974 to about Rotary Year 1992-93 when it
drastically decreased and then slowly recovered to its
previous level by Rotary Year 2001-02. In Rotary Year
2005-06 it significantly increased primarily due to the
efforts of Scott Rainey who tripled the income from
sponsorships. The income averaged over $80,000 a year
for the last nine years of The Journey. Also in Rotary
Year 2006-07 the Club president elect was named as the
Shrimporee chair for that respective Rotary Year. There
were no administrative fees charged for any fundraising effort
throughout The Journey however expenses were incurred for
conducting the fundraiser which amounted to about 30% of the
gross income.
The “Blastoff”
was the official newsletter since the Club was organized, with
the earliest available edition in the history record March 2,
1967. The size, color, content, and shape varied over
the years depending on the editor with influence by the club
president and the technology available. The newsletter
was issued either weekly or biweekly with the last issuance in
Rotary Year 2010-11. For about 45 years the
“Blastoff” was issued to the Club members in paper form and
began to be published electronically in Rotary Year
2006-07. A new Club web page was constructed in Rotary
Year 2006-07, but was replaced by a club/district/Rotary
International member friendly platform called ClubRunner in
2008-09. The ClubRunner, with a website Home Page and a
club member email distribution, and the electronic Facebook
replaced the paper edition of the “Blastoff”.
The first mention
of a Group Study Exchange team was in Rotary Year 1971-72, not
again until May 1979, then in May 1984, April 1986, and Rotary
Year 1989-90. The Club became more active in the Group
Exchange Study program in the 1990’s and was visited by seven
teams from several counties during the period. In turn
the Club supported teams that went to four countries.
The Club remained active in the Group Study Exchange program
and teams visited the Club for most (at least 8) of the years
in the 2000’s and sponsored a person in a team going to
Egypt. Club member Mike Dennard led a Group Study
Exchange team on a month long visit in June 2006 to
Johannesburg, South Africa. The Group Study Exchange
Program was replaced by Technical Vocational Training in
Rotary Year 2011-12.
Statistics
The statistics
chapter is a convenient way of reviewing performances in a
concise summary manner. The Numbers and Awards reflect
the outstanding service attitude of the Club members.
Not only did many of the Club members serve their Club well,
the Sharing the Club’s Talents reveal an unselfish giving of
time and expertise above their normal Club duties.
Numbers
$1,717,000---Fundraisers net
income and consequently donations to
service projects
$135,600---Donations to largest single service project,
Scholarship
$739,500---Donations to youth
activities (Generic term used for
all direct and indirect youth activities)
$438,000---Donations to global
activities other than individual
donations to The Rotary Foundation
3---Number of Foundations established
365---Number of Paul Harris Fellows (added and transferred
into the Club)
99---Number
of Floyd Boze Fellows
1964-1989---Membership increased from 47
to a peak of 187 or
about 5.6 members per year
1990-2014---Membership decreased from 187
to 99 or about
3.5
members per year with a significant peak in Rotary Year
2009-10
5---Number of Best Club of District Awards
9---Number of Rotary International Presidential Citations
3---Number of Club members who were District Governors
1---Number of Rotary Clubs started
520---Number of exchanged club banners
2---Number of times Club member (Floyd Boze) won
the Rotary International Golf Tournament
6---Number
of women presidents since 1987
21---Percentage
of women in the Club at end of Rotary Year 2013-14
25---Number
of Ambassadorial Scholars
37---Number of long term Outbound International Youth Exchange
Students
38---Number
of long term Inbound International Youth Exchange Students
Awards and
Recognitions
1984-85 Rotary Club of Space
Center named one of the Five Best Clubs
1988-89 Rotary Club of Space
Center named an Outstanding Club
1989-90 Rotary Club of Space
Center received Rotary International Presidential Citation
1991-92 Rotary Club of Space
Center named Best Large Club
1995-96 Alan Wylie receives
District 5890 Rotarian of the Year from DG Andy Smallwood
1997-98 Rotary Club of Space
Center named Club of Year
2002-03 Rotary Club of Space
Center named Club of Year
2004-05 Rotary Club of Space
Center received Rotary International Presidential Citation
2006-07 Rotary Club of Space
Center became a 100% Paul Harris Fellow Club
2006-07 Rotary Club of Space
Center received Governor's Cup for outstanding support to
District Governor Howe
2006-07 Alan Wylie receives
District 5890 Rotarian of the Year from DG Suzie Howe
2007-08 Rotary Club of Space
Center received Rotary International Presidential Citation
2008-09 Rotary Club of Space
Center named Large Club of the Year
2008-09 Rotary Club of Space
Center received Rotary International Presidential Citation
2009-10 Rotary Club of Space
Center named Mega Club of Year
2009-10 Rotary Club of Space
Center received Rotary International Presidential Citation
2010-11 Rotary Club of Space
Center received Rotary International Presidential Citation
2012-13 Rotary Club of Space
Center received Rotary International Service Through Peace
Presidential Citation
2012-13 Rotary Club of Space
Center received District 5890 Peace Award
2012-13
Rotary Club of Space Center received Community
Partner of the Year Award presented by Clear Creek
Independent School District
1983-84 President
William "Bill" Webb selected the District 589 Club President
of the Year
1986-87 Bob Wren received the
District 589 Governor’s Commendation
1987-88 Owen Morris received a
5-star, Paul Harris pin in recognition for his dedication to
the Polio Plus campaign for raising $39,000 and in 2013 a
Level 1 Paul Harris Pin
1987-88 Bob Wren received the
District 589 Governor’s Commendation
1988-89 Dr. David Taylor Received
District 589 Service Above Self Award for his work at the
District and the Club levels in the International Youth
Exchange program
1989-90 Bob Wren received the
District 589 Governor’s Commendation
1990-91 Billy Weseman named
District 589 Rotarian of the Year
1993-94 Dr. David Taylor received
The Freedoms Foundation At Valley Forge Award
"Dr. Taylor is definitely an idea man, who
not only conceives and develops those ideas but is successful
in having his rotary club adopt and pursue those programs to
their proper conclusion" was the quote from Lucy Eisenhower in
regard to The Freedoms Foundation At Valley Forge award to
Club member Dr. David Taylor.
1999-00 Sheila Self named Club
Rotarian of the Year
2000-01 Sheila Self named Club
Rotarian of the Year
2002-03 Alan Wylie receives
District 5890 "Service Above Self" Award
2003-04 Lou Gaigher named
Rotarian of Month by President Shelia Self
2005-06 Hilmar Zeissig received
Rotary International “Service Above Self” Award
2006-07 Suzie Howe received the
Casa de Los Ninos Award for her work with young children in
the East End of Houston
2006-07 Hilmar Zeissig received
the Rotary International Service Award, The Rotary Foundation
Service Award for serving 10 years as International Chairman
of Rotary District 5890, and The Rotary Foundation "District
Service Award"
2006-07 Pat Doughty received The
Rotary Foundation Service Award for her work as counselor for
Ambassadorial Scholar, Eun Hye Kong, from South Korea
2006-07 David Coney received The
Rotary Foundation Service Award for their contribution to the
Club attaining a 100% Paul Harris Fellows status
2006-07 Jerrold Dewease received
The Rotary Foundation Service Award for their contribution to
the Club attaining a 100% Paul Harris Fellows status
2008-09 Jon McKinnie named the
District Rotarian of the Year
2008-09 Micki Czarnik named the
Club Rotarian of the Year
2008-09 Suzie Howe received the
Dome City Award on behalf of all Houston-area Rotarians after
Hurricane Katrina
2008-09 Jon R. McKinnie Day
Proclamation by the City of Houston, Texas "On June 28, 2010,
Rotary Club of Space Center will honor Jon. R. McKinnie in
recognition of his community spirit, and involvement in local,
state, and national civic activities. Jon R. McKinnie’s honors
include “Outstanding Young Business Leaders to Watch” in
America, and “Rotarian of the Year” for
Arkansas (2005) and Houston (2009) among
many others."
2009-10 Rotary Club of Space
Center received Rotary International Presidential Citation
(Interact, Dr. Greg Smith)
2009-10 Rotary Club of Space
Center received Rotary International Presidential Citation
(Rotaract, Dr. Ted Cummings)
2009-10 Stan Galanski received
The Rotary International “Service Above Self” Award (Given to
only 150 Rotarians worldwide)
2009-10 Stan Galanski named Club
Rotarian of Year
2009-10 February 8, 2010 was
proclaimed “Floyd Boze Day" with a Proclamation from Houston
City Councilman, Mike Sullivan
2010-11 President Coney receives
"Certificate of Special Recognition" from City of Houston
Council Member Mike Sullivan
2010-11 Suzi Howe received The
Rotary Foundation "Citation of Meritorious Service Award"
2010-11 Suzi Howe received "Past
District Governor of the Year Award“
2010-11 Jon McKinnie received
District 5890 "Governor's Award"
2010-11 Alan Wylie received
District 5890 "Governor's Award"
2010-11 Alan Wylie, Dick Meyer,
Art Wood - The North American Youth Exchange Network
conference awarded District 5890 Rotary Youth Exchange
committee the outstanding youth exchange district award for
all of North America – United States, Canada, and Mexico.
2011-12 Suzie Howe received The
Rotary Foundation’s Citation for Meritorious Service
2012-13 Rotary International
Service Through Peace Presidential Citation
2013-14 Rotary International
President Ron Burton selected Alan Wylie to chair the Rotary
Int’l Youth Exchange Committee. Plus Alan will set on
New Generations Committee as a member.
2013-14 Suzie Howe received the
Disrtict 5890 "Service Above Self" Award
2013-14 Jorge Hernandez received
the Club's "Rotarian of Year" Award
Sharing the Club’s Talent
1980-81 Floyd D. Boze became the
first District 589 Governor elected from Rotary Club of Space
Center
1983-84 Hilmar Zeissig District
5890 (589) GSE Team Leader to District 416 Mexico
1983-84 Hilmar Zeissig District
5890 (589) GSE Chairman
1985-86 Bob Wren, District 589,
International Youth Exchange Program Start-up Committee
Member
1986-87 Bob Wren, District 589,
Governor’s Representative
1986-87 Bob Wren, District 589,
PEWS (Presdient Elect Workshop). Predecessor to PETS – large
club training session leader
1986-87 Bob Wren, District 589,
Polio Plus Program Start-Up Committee Member
1987-88 Bob Wren, District 589,
Governor’s Representative, Region Leader
1987-88 Bob Wren, District 589,
Polio Plus Area Coordinator, including inoculation of East
Houston School Children
1987-88 Bob Wren, District 589,
District Assembly, Assistant Chairman
1988-89 Bob Wren, District 589,
Governor’s Representative, Region Leader
1989-90 Bob Wren, District 589,
Governor’s Aide (deputy)
1989-90 Bob Wren, District 589,
District Assembly, Chairman
1989-90 Bob Wren, District 589,
District Finance Committee, Member
1989-90 Bob Wren, District 589,
District Governor Nomination Committee, Member
1989-90 Hilmar Zeissig District
5890 (589) GSE Chairman
1990-91 Hilmar Zeissig District
5890 (589) GSE Chairman
1990-91 Bob Wren, District 589,
District Finance Committee, Member
1991-92 Bob Wren, District 589,
District Finance Committee, Member
1991-92 Hilmar Zeissig District
5890 (589) GSE Chairman
1992-93 Hilmar Zeissig District
5890 GSE Chairman
1993-94 Hilmar Zeissig District
5890 GSE Chairman
1993-94 Hilmar Zeissig invited to
Evanston, Illinois by TRF as a consultant for drafting
Rotary’s new GSE guidelines
1993-94 Billy D. Weseman became
the second District 5890 Governor from Rotary Club of Space
Center
1993-94 Alan Wylie Chairman
District 5890 Long Term International Youth
1994-95 Hilmar Zeissig District
5890 GSE Chairman
1995-96 Hilmar Zeissig District
5890 GSE Chairman
1996-97 Hilmar Zeissig District
5890 GSE Chairman
1997-98 Hilmar Zeissig District
5890 International Service Chairman
1998-99 Hilmar Zeissig District
5890 International Service Chairman
1999-00 Hilmar Zeissig District
5890 International Service Chairman
2000-01 Hilmar Zeissig District
5890 International Service Chairman
2002-03 Hilmar Zeissig District
5890 International Service Chairman
2002-03 Hilmar Zeissig Rotary
Discovery Grant Team Leader to Chile
2003-04 Hilmar Zeissig District
5890 International Service Chairman
2004-05 Hilmar Zeissig District
5890 International Service Chairman
2004-05 Hilmar Zeissig Tsunami
Relief Chairman
2004-05 Suzie Howe District 5890
Grants Chair
2006-07 Alan Wylie President of
the South Central Rotary Youth Exchange
2006-07 Suzi Howe became the
third District 5890 Governor from Rotary Club of Space
Center
2006-07 Hilmar Zeissig Rotary
Discovery Grant Team Leader to Thailand
2006-07 Hilmar Zeissig District
5890 International Service Chairman
2007-12 Suzie Howe Future Vision
Trainer, Zone 21B+
2007-08 Hilmar Zeissig District
5890 International Service Chairman
2007-08 Mike Dennard Leader of
Group Study Exchange Team to Johannesburg, South Africa
2008-12 Suzie Howe District 5890
Foundation Chair
2008-12 Suzie Howe Zone $200M
Challenge Coordinator to raise enough money to eradicate
polio
2009-10 Jon McKinnie, District
5890 Director of Technology and District Web Master
2009-10 Suzi Howe, Director of
District 5890 Rotary Foundation (DRFC)
2009-10 Alan Wylie, District 5890
Youth Exchange Director
2009-10 Stan Galanski, District
5890 Water Resource Director
2009-Mike Dennard, District 5890
Group Study Exchange Committee
2009-10 Courtney Lindberg,
District 5890 Earth Day Chair
2009-10 Hilmar Zeissig, District
5890 GSE Advisor
2010-11 Jon R. McKinnie District
5890 Chief of Staff-Committees
2010-11 Jon R. McKinnie District
5890 Technology Chairman
2010-11 Hilmar Zeissig District
5890 International Service Chairman
2010-12 Mike Dennard
trainer/facilitator on the Gulf Coast Leadership Institute
2011-12 Jon R. McKinnie District
5890 Lt Governor - Committees
2011-12 Susan Howe District 5890
Rotary Foundation
2011-12 Alan D. Wylie District
5890 Youth Exchange Advisor Emeritus
2011-12 Kippy Caraway District
5890 Conference Committee Chair
2012-13 Dr. Vissett Sun appointed
District 5890 Assistant Governor
2012-13 Alan Wylie served on the
Rotary International Rotary Youth Committee
2012-13 Jon McKinnie District
5890 Chief of Staff, Committees
2012-13 Susan Howe, District 5890
Rotary Foundation
2012-13 Alan Wylie, District 5890
Youth Exchange Advisor Emeritus
2012-13 Kippy Caraway District
5890 Conference Committee Chair
2013-14 Alan Wylie selected by
Rotary International President Ron Burton to chair the Rotary
International Youth Exchange Committee.
2013-14 Alan Wylie sits on the
Rotary International New Generations Committee
2013-14 Jon R. McKinnie District
5890 Chief of Staff-Committees
2013-14 Dr. Vissett Sun appointed
District 5890 Assistant Governor
2013-14 Suzie Howe General Chair
Zone 21B & 27 Institute
2013-14 Suzie Howe International
Assembly Training Leader
2013-14 Jon R. McKinnie, Chief of
Staff Committee Chairs
2013-14 Suzi Howe, Zone Challenge
Coordinator
20 Years Alan Wylie served s
District 5890 Youth Exchange Officer for approximately 20
years
Misson Accomplished
Mission
accomplished certainly is appropriate to describe the first
fifty years of the Club. High expectations were met with
outstanding performance; the ideals of the Rotary Four-Way
Test were reflected in the personal and professional lives of
the Club members; compassion for the needs of others resulted
in generous giving back to the local and global communities;
and caring for fellow club members was tantamount to family
love; and all wrapped up in a enduring friendship.
It is evident
from the representative illustrations that the Club members
performed in a most extraordinary and exemplary manner
resulting in an outstanding Club. They worked hard to
earn the $2.4 million of which over $1.7 million net income
was prudently and judicially given back to the needs of the
local and international communities; they encouraged academic
and professional excellence by recognizing outstanding
vocations, students, teachers, and public service officers;
many generously gave hours of their talents and time to help
others; the Club established three foundations to extend its
service reach; and many shared their expertise beyond the Club
at the Rotary District, Zone, and International levels.
These services exemplified and embodied the Rotary motto
“Service Above Self”.
The manned space
program was the initial bonding and driving factor; a great
cause which inherently embodied the service about self
mentality. Consequently the employees and contractors of
the manned space program and the area business owners, bankers
and developers had a common bond with a service about self
mentality. And like any bond, friendship was synonymous
with it. For over 50 years Rotary had been in the
service business and brought a platform by which the diversity
in the area could join together and extend the service
mentality embodied in the manned space program to the local
and global communities. Existing friendships would be
enriched and new friends made. Therefore the manned
space program and Rotary came together with a common cause,
service above self, where friendship was the inherent, bonding
factor. From friendships came enduring
fellowships.
Also important to
the success of the Club was an intrinsic trait of the Club’s
membership which moved the Club beyond the ordinary.
Rotary again played another important role in facilitating
this trait. Being a professional organization, it
brought together members with a wide range of expertise and
influence, members who were movers and shakers; members who
knew how to make things happen. The Club was infused
with a board spectrum of professional abilities and expertise
which could effect noteworthy accomplishments and become known
as “The Can Do Club”. Perhaps as important as being
highly productive, the members were also very creative as
evidence by many enduring new programs. Professional
association was one the enduring bonds in the Club and one of
the strongest attractions to the Club.
Perhaps two
quotes provided to the Club were indicative of what made it
great. An excerpt of a letter from Floyd Boze’s son in
1993 to the President of the Club regarding his father:
“He once said, in
a talk to your (his) club, that there were only two reasons to
be a Rotarian: FOR THE THINGS YOU COULD DO FOR OTHERS, and FOR
THE PEOPLE YOU DID THOSE THINGS WITH.” And words
from Dr. Greg Smith, Superintendent of the Clear Creek School
District, summarized much of the outstanding work done by the
Club in regard to the youth:
“You and your fellow Rotarians embrace all aspects of this
prestigious award's criteria through the Rotary's wide ranging
support of Clear Creek ISD during the 2012-2013 school year,
and in fact for many years. Our esteemed Rotaries
demonstrate a 'big picture' understanding of Education in the
21st Century and the call for meaningful collaboration between
the community and the school house. Your steadfast aim
to inspire greatness in our teachers through the Teacher of
the Year Awards and Luncheon is a cherished tradition in Clear
Creek ISD. From generous student scholarships to the
immensely impactful Early Act FirstKnight Program, among many
other signature philanthropies. Rotarians demonstrate
service above self, consistently leading by example for our
students through your commitment to one's community for the
greater good.”
Debriefing
This writing
presented an overall perspective on the Club during its first
fifty years which was impressive and outstanding.
However there was a period within the fifty years which
performance was extraordinary in the sense that many enduring
activities occurred during this period. There were also
downturns as well in the ensuing years. It is
interesting to note that these “exemplary years” occurred
during the highest rate of increase in membership and the
downturns were as the membership declined. A summary of
the activities follow.
The Club
experienced a period from about 1985 to 1992, termed
exemplary, which was the most creative and productive period
during The Journey. During these seven years the
following events occurred: three enduring committees and
consequently service projects established; three foundations
created; fellowship was extreme; a sister club established; a
new Rotary club started; a 5 year global project, Project Free
Enterprise, initiated in 1990; eleven years of bikes for
Christmas started in 1991; and about 30 service committees
were functioning. In addition, the Club had its highest
increase in membership growth from 1980 to 1990, which began
to decline as a trend in Rotary Year1990-91 and then
stabilized in Rotary Year 2007-08. During the 1980-90's
the Club sponsored 15 out of the 25 Ambassadorial
Scholars. Fundraising income continued to increase from
the beginning of the Shrimporee in 1974 to about Rotary Year
1992-93 when it drastically decreased and then slowly
recovered to its previous level by Rotary Year 2001-02.
In Rotary Year 2005-06 it significantly increased primarily
due to the efforts of Scott Rainey who tripled the income from
sponsorships and it remained high until the end of The
Journey. Rotary Year 1982-83 and the ensuing 6 years was
overall the best performing period with 126 Paul Harris
Fellowships (PHF) added, compared to the best other 7 year
period of 102 which included the year the Club was a 100% PHF
Club.
Let’s
review. There were no years other than 1985-1992 where a
multitude of extraordinary and enduring activities occurred in
a reasonable short number of years although there were single
events of significance such as water source projects in third
world countries, the Nicaragua project, and the Extreme
Makeover - Home Edition over the ensuing years. In
addition an exciting new program, Early Act First Knight,
which had great potential in regard to affecting the lives of
children and providing opportunities for Club members to be
personally and actively involved, began two years before the
end of The Journey. The impact it will have on the Club
members or the duration of the program were unknowns at the
time of this writing. It is rewarding to see the
membership stabilize in about Rotary Year 2007-08 and
fundraising income increase in about Rotary 2005-06 and
remained high.
However if
history tells us anything it is that extraordinary performance
is consistent with increased membership. In addition
information from Rotary documents notes: ...the importance of
membership retention and growth cannot be
overemphasized. Without a vibrant, growing membership,
any organization—including Rotary—will wither and die...
Perhaps the value of this history is for future officers to
recognize that exemplary performance is possible, and that a
multitude of enduring activities can happen when the Club is
exemplary.
