Hi all - I have had a good month visiting more clubs - I now have completed 49 of 60! One of the clubs I visited was the Rotary Club of Terrell - chartered in 1920. One of the members I have gotten to know is Linda Whiteside. According to RI, she has been a Rotary member since 1998 - but in reality she has been a member since the 1970s. Linda worked for Terrell State Hospital at the time and, once a week, she would play piano for the Rotary Club of Terrell on her lunch hour!
November is Rotary Foundation Month, and we’re inviting all Clubs to join the Proud Rotarian Campaign to celebrate our shared impact through the Rotary Foundation! This campaign is a great opportunity to spotlight your Club’s pride in Rotary and inspire others to give.
The Rotary Club of Dallas is excited to announce that the 21st Annual Salute to America’s Veterans is in the final stages of preparation for November 5th, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., at the Frontiers of Flight Museum. Our keynote speaker will be David J. Kramer, Executive Director of the George W. Bush Institute. The American Bombshells will perform live patriotic songs and the Armed Forces Medley (the Armed Forces Salute).
Coppell Rotary had a very busy September! We teamed up with CISD and CHS Interact students and their families to pack snack bags for students who go to school hungry.
At the September18 District Governor visit, the Melissa club assembled 100 veteran care bags with hygiene items such as shampoo, body wash, razors, and shaving cream in addition to snacks of fruit cups and granola bars. All items were donated by the Melissa HEB store.
In October, Duncanville Rotarians toured the Panther Pantry to assess the needs of the Duncanville ISD students and displaced families. The biggest needs were soap, feminine hygiene products, youth shoes, and socks.
North Texas Pioneers had their annual October Pancake Breakfast which raised money for the veterans in our area. Not only is it a service project to raise money for the veterans but also it’s a family event that is always enjoyed by young and old.
Park Cities Rotary member Holly (Hollenbeck) McKassan has again organized the Footcare Clinic at Austin Street Family Shelter on September 28. Begun in 2022, the goal has been to care for the feet of 130 to 150 people at each one-day Clinic.
More than 800 runners participated in the 39th Annual Lake Joe Pool Pumpkin Run hosted by the Grand Prairie Metro Rotary Club. This year's run will enable the club to donate $30,000 to non-profit organizations that benefit the Grand Prairie community.
The streets of Celina were filled with community pride as Preston Trail Rotarians joined forces with the Bobcat Moms to support this year’s Homecoming Parade. From helping with setup and crowd safety to cheering on the students and floats, our members showed what Service Above Self truly means.
Pints for Polio gathered Prosper Rotary members and friends to the Gin Sports Bar on Broadway in Prosper on Saturday afternoon October 25. Football games were on the big screens while fun and camaraderie was shared supporting the drive to End Polio Now including a number of members joining the PolioPlus Society.
The Melissa Rotary Club held their fifth annual Chili Cook Off for Polio Plus. The Service Committee advertised and organized the event. The city made the community room available. HEB donated gift cards for the participants and a large one for the winner. The event raised $400 for Polio Plus.
The Plano Holiday Parade returns to Downtown Plano Saturday, Dec. 13 with a Yee Haw Holiday! Think cowboy hats trimmed in tinsel, boots full of candy canes and cacti strung with twinkle lights – culminating, of course, with a float carrying jolly ol’ Saint Nick.
The Addison Rotary Club is proud to announce a record donation of $285,000 to the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas, surpassing last year’s record of $216,000. This achievement reflects the dedication of our members, sponsors, the RMHD board and staff, and our generous community. Together, we’re helping families stay close when they need it most.
What an incredible evening at Nowhere Bar for our annual Pints for Polio event! The Preston Trail Rotary Club came together with friends, family, and community members to raise funds in support of Rotary International’s mission to end polio worldwide.
Plano Metro Rotary Club members and friends gathered at Dirty Birds in Plano for a fun and meaningful World Polio Day Eve Happy Hour, raising over $700 to support Rotary’s global effort to End Polio Now. The evening was filled with great fellowship, food, and purpose as we came together to support one of Rotary’s signature causes. 2
The October session of the McKinney Youth Leadership program was all about learning how to make good choices and handle peer pressure — without losing friends in the process. The session, “How to Say No and Keep Your Friends,” was led by Sharon Scott, LPC, LMFT, an internationally recognized author, counselor, and proud member of the Rotary Club of McKinney.
Park Cities Rotary members Michael Rainwater, DDS, and PP Fred Brown spearheaded another Dentistry with a Heart, using the dental facilities at Agape Clinic, one of RCPC’s strategic partners. Dentistry with a Heart on October 18 provided free dental services including cleanings, fillings and other treatments, worth $34,172 to 26 patients.
The Mesquite Rotary Club inducted another outstanding citizen into the Mesquite Rotary Grove of Honor at the site in DeBusk Park, adjacent to the Kidsquest playground, on October 28th. Former Mesquite Mayor and longtime community volunteer George A. Venner, Sr. was inducted for 2025.
