History
of
The Rotary Club of Space Center (Houston), Texas, and U.S.A.
 Rotary International District 5890 (589)
Club 2010
for 
Rotary Year 1995-1996

President  
Lamar D. Bowles  

Chartered August 6, 1964

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

Officers
President Elect
Bill Lowes
Secretary
Donnie Johnson
Treasurer
Mike Dennard
  Sergeant at Arms
Dick Gregg, Jr.
Editor
Tom Wier

Directors
Club Service A
Bill Taylor
Club Service B
Vann Jones
Club Service C
Ed Geissler
Club Service D
Al Brady
Community Service A
Suzi Howe
Community Service B
Ron Blilie
International Service A
Dick Hergert
International Service B
David Baldwin
Vocational Service
Mike Porterfield



In Acknowledgment For Devoted And Loyal Service 
Alan D. Wylie
Is Proudly Recognized As The
Rotary Club Of Space Center
Distinguished
Rotarian of The Year  
1995-1996

The Club continued to meet at the Nassau Bay Hilton each Monday at noon with interesting programs from guest speakers and several programs regarding the Club’s activities, Rosanne Zarcaro was the Program Committee Chair, Jerome Bourgeois  led the members in songs, and the members shared in saying the pledge to the U. S. flag and prayer.  Golf, under the leadership of Bill Predmore, was a favorite fellowship activity. 

Two of the Club members were former District 5890 governors, Floyd Boze 1981-1982 and Billy Weseman 1993-1994.  Vince Lipovsky, a chartered member of the Club, 16 past presidents, and Floyd Boze continue to attend the weekly Club meetings. The Club’s membership at the end of the Rotary year was  172  members based on information in the 1996-97 Club Plan and Objectives.  There was a   roster dated May 21, 1996 which reflected the membership at the end of the Rotary year anda  listing of the avenues of service committees and committee chairs.  There were no Club Board of Director meeting minutes.

Financial  documents consisted of a spreadsheet noting a donation to the  Rotary International Foundation of $5,000; $500 to the House of Friendship; $500 to the Interact/Rotaract; and the proceeds from the fundraiser of  $30,150.  The amount of monies made from the fund raiser during the  year was $30,150  bringing the total amount raised since the first recorded fundraiser in 1968 estimated to be $ 560,270. View photos of Shirmporee.

There were 3 (out a possible 22 if issued every other week) issue of the Club’s newsletter  that can be located.  The   Club Programs and Special Events listing contained  4 programs.  Tom Weir was the editor.  The 2 issues had a different format and logo and was called "The Bulletin", not "Blastoff".  The newsletter was 8 and one half by 3 and one half, black and white,  formatted like a book with  pages.  The issues was four pages printed on both sides.

The Club selected five nominees from the Clear Creek Independent School District for four Excellence in Education awards and one Teacher of the Year award.  The Teacher of the Year received $1,000, as well as an honorary Rotary membership, a personal plaque and a plaque for display at his/her school. The Excellence in Education honorees received $300 each.  Recipients of the awards and nominees for Teacher of the Year include Gregory Dick, Jean Frankie, Joel Partin, Julee Martin Pratt and Anne Mangas Smith.  Anne Mangas Smith was selected the Teacher of the Year.  Read more on the nominees.  This was the sixth year of the program.

The Club continued (fourth year) the Three Wishes for Christmas  program which fulfilled Christmas wishes for children in the protective service of Harris and Brazoria Counties. These wishes were for youngsters up to 18 years of age, who are in special homes and institutions.  These children are not in Children Protective Services' care for things that they have done but for abuse or neglect, done to them by parents and others.  This year the Club purchased 27 bicycles and 27 helmets for this program. See a photo journey on bikes.

The Rotary Seminar Team district committee sent its fifth team to share information from one Rotary district to another, this time to Mexico City.  This team was known as Project Amigo (the manual was in Spanish except what is shown).  Four previous seminar teams from Houston to Eastern Europe were known as Project Free Enterprise.  The idea for this new form of Rotary service was spawned when the Berlin wall came down.  The team of eight Houston business people gave five seminars in one week at various locations in Mexico City.  Three were all-day seminars on the basics of operating a business.  One half-day seminar was for individuals thinking of starting a business.  And another all-day seminar was for advanced topics of interest to certain established businesses.  The continuation of this  write-up,  a  write-up  in the District 5890 "The Gov's Views and News" newsletter dated December 1995, and the   Purpose and Goals of Project Amigo provide more insight into the project. View business card on Project Amigo.