History
of
The Rotary Club of Space Center (Houston), Texas, U.S.A.
Club 2010 District 589
for
Rotary Year 1979-80

President
Alfred J. Ligrani

Chartered August 6, 1964

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

Officers
President Elect
Pete Gist
Vice President
Chuck Jacobson
Secretary
Charles Hartman
Treasurer
Al Jowid
Sergeant at Arms
Bob Stephens

Directors
Jack Eggleston
Carl Lambert
Maury Fitch
Lou Rodriquez
Bob Montgomery
Dick Brown
Bob Mitchell
Floyd Boze
Bill Webb

 
The history file contained very few documents, however there were 27 Board meeting minutes. There were no information about the avenues of service committees, little correspondence, and no newsletters, Blastoffs, out of a possible 48,assuming tha tone was issued every Club meeting day. The Club Programs and Special Events listing did not contain any programs. The Club continued to meet at the Holiday Inn.

A 1979-80 budget dated November 30, 1979 contains a few annotations regarding expenditures. A financial statement date July 1, 1979 gives a summary of the budget including a list of CD's and what they are designated for. The service projects were determined by the annotations on the budget and the Board meeting minutes. Considering these entries, the amount given to  service projects was $10,770.  Since the Shrimporee netted $21,738 it is suspected that the amount given was more than the $10,770. The amount of monies made from fund raisers since the first recorded fundraiser in 1968 is $90,825.

There was abounded, mostly typed report, prepared by Chuck Jacobson, General Chairman of the Shrimporee, title "Sixth Annual Shrimporee and Benefit Auction 1979" that contains much information about the fund raiser. There is a summary report in front which provides a good overview of the activities. The Chairman noted that therewere5,591 tickets collected and 2,739 refills.  See Shrimporee poster.

An interesting letter requesting, and the Board approved, the Club sponsor Karen McHahon to the Meadowmount School of Music in New York.

The July 1, 1980 Semi Annual Report of Club Membership noted a membership of 128 active members and 6 honorary members. The  Club's Roster is based on the July 1, 1980 Semiannual Report of Club Membership. Nine previous presidents were on the membership roster.

A letter dated December 31, 1979 from President Ligrani recommended Floyd D. Boze for District Governor for District 589. He became district governor for the Rotary year 1981-82. Also included inthe link are a vita on Mr. Boze, a Rotary International Notification of Rotarian Moving to Your Locality, and the Club's membership proposal.

The Board approved (re: Minutes January 14, 1980) that the Club, on behalf of Rotary International, purchase and present a plaque of appreciation to NASA for service to mankind. Plaque to be signed and presented by Rotary International President, James Bomar, to Kris Craft, as representative of NASA, at a dinner on February 29, 1980 at the Gildruth Center. There were several letters regarding the visit by the President of Rotary International. President Bomar stated the following words about the space program. "I view the space program as the greatest of man's achievements in the 75 years since February 23, 1905, the date on which Rotary observes its founding.......From the space program has come many discoveries and developments from which all of us have profited. Surely mankind will derive even greater benefit from future explorations in an expanding space activity. It is not without considerable pride to Rotary that some of its members have been involved and instrumental in the work and achievements attributable to the space program. It is with this in mind that I thought of visiting the Rotary Club of Space Center (Houston) on February 29, 1980, to celebrate Rotary's 75th Anniversary and recognize the contributions made by Rotarians to the space program and by the space program to humanity."

In a letter addressed to Harold S. Stall, Director of Public Affairs, Lydon B. Johnson Space Center, Housotn, Texas the following is stated "In reference to the 7 December 1979 letter addressed to you from Jim Bomar, President of Rotary International, I am writing to you to identify those specific requirements which have been previously identified through meetings or conversations with your office and with Ken Switzer of the President's office. 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. It is envisioned that each segment of the hook-up would last from 3-5 min¬utes and would be live, if possible; but due to the time differential it may be that same segments of the hook-up would have to be pre-taped to be played back at a scheduled time during the 29th of February program. As soon as authorization can be gained to use an existing satellite which can accomplish the above requirements, please notify me and we can finalize the necessary details. Al Ligrani, President." The satellite linkage referred to above was recorded on a AMPEX 641, 1/4 inch by 1800 feet magnetic tape. The contents was re-recorded on a CD. The information on the APMEX tape box was 75th Rotary International Anniversary; Building 1, Room 966; J.S.C. Houston,TX.; Feb, 29, 1980; Tape 171; time 13:00 - 14:00.
  
THE PAPER of the Bay Area dated March 5, 1980 is a special issue saluting the Rotary International and the Space Center Rotary Club regarding the 75th Anniversary of Rotary International. It contains write ups from Marvin Matthews, Walt Wicker, President Ligrani, Chuck Jacobson,and RI President Bomar. It also has the history of the Club which is the same as the History by Walt Wicker, and a write up on Rotary International. There are pictures of all of these persons, of the officers and directors, and some of the Shrimporee activities.

The officer position of   President Elect was approved by the Club Board November 13, 1979.

There were three Paul Harris Fellows named for the Rotary Year bringing the total for the Club to 12 since1972.

The 71st Rotary International Convention was held June 1-5,1980 in Chicago IL, USA. There were 18,309 in attendance and no record of anyone from Rotary of Space Center, Houston attending.

District 589 Conference was held on April 24-26, 1980 at the Hilton Palacio Del Rio in San Antonio, Texas.

Rotary year 1979-80 was placed in the archives in July 2009.