This is the time of year that many of the projects and plans we have been working on all year finally come to fruition.
We had a terrific conference in April. Everyone had a great time bowling! Mark Neace of Park Cities bowled the highest score of the night.
Saturday's speakers were fabulous! Former Frisco Mayor Maso spoke about Economic Development occurring in our area. Rebecca Jowers of the Poiema Foundation spoke of how her organization has been able to rescue women from Human Trafficking. During our lunch, Dale Hansen, former sportscaster with WFAA, spoke not only of abuse in our community but also told of victims within his own family. Our own District Peace Scholar, Dr. Carrie Perkins discussed her work at refugee camps along the Thai-Myanmar border. Parliamentarian, George Tarpley conducted our annual business meeting as required under our Manual of Procedure.
A very moving memorial to Rotarians we lost over the last year was put together by Sandra Moudy. Robert Yudkin showed pictures and told of the success of the recent Service trip to the Guerrero Rotary eye Clinic. Our final speaker was Stephen White speaking about Kaizen for the Brain.
Following the speakers, attendees prepared thank you cards to the individuals who have served as the eyes and ears for the Poiema Foundation in helping to identify Human Trafficking victims. During the reception preceding our Awards and Foundation Recognition Dinner, we were entertained by the R.L. Turner Jazz band.
Many thanks to our emcee PDG Bill Dendy, Awards Chair PDG Richard Gilman, and my aide, John Van Buren for all the work they did to make this Conference a success with approximately 130 persons in attendance. Also, thanks go to Happy Franklin and Shirley Weddle for helping with speakers. Photos and Award winners are being posted to the District web page.
The following weekend, Shirley Heitzman and her team led a very successful Spring Fling for our Interactors. It was so encouraging to see the energy and interest in Serving to Change Lives generated by these high schoolers.
But, the year is not over yet and there are still some important events coming up.
The District wide 4-Way Speech Contest will occur on May 14 and we will have our final two Roundtables on May 21 and June 18.
Of course, June 4-8 is the Rotary International Convention in Houston. To date, we have 120 persons registered from our District. DGND Regina Edwards has summarized bus options available for travel to Houston which also is being posted to our webpage. We are awaiting final schedules from RI to determine if there will be a good time for members of our District to gather together in Houston.
Finally, be sure to get your reservations in for the annual passing of the gavel and Installation Banquet to be held at the Hall of State at Fair Park on June 23.
RLI is a grassroots coalition of Rotary districts implementing a leadership development program for “potential” leaders of Rotary CLUBS. While it is an unofficial program of Rotary International, it has substantial support of several past Rotary International Presidents and current, past, and incoming RI Directors.
You are invited to join us on Thursday, June 23rd at 6PM as we launch into the Rotary Year with a festive celebration at the Hall of State at Fair Park. We will install the incoming 2022-2023 District Governor Howard Templin, District Leadership, and all Rotary Club Presidents of District 5810. We invite you to join all Rotarians as we celebrate the annual changeover of Rotary leaders and our collective power in service to the community. Tickets are $70. Click to Register.
The Mesquite Rotary Club hosted its annual "Four Way Test" Speech Contest at the Mesquite ISD David Belt Professional Development Center on April 19th. Contestants from all Mesquite I.S.D. high schools, and Dallas Christian School participated in the event. Each student gave a five-to-seven-minute original speech about applying the Rotary Four Way Test in our everyday relationships with other people and students.
In addition to the myriad service projects Rotarians participate in every month, Plano West Rotary Club (PWRC) also holds a few fundraising projects throughout the year. Funds raised in the past have helped benefit charitable efforts in our North Texas community, such as awarding local student scholarships and supporting nonprofit organizations.
The Melissa Rotary and Melissa Interact groups gathered with community members to take pillowcases and turn them into colorful Little Dresses for Africa.
In April the Park Cities Rotary was back at their collaborative partner, the North Texas Food Bank to help pack cartons of canned goods and fresh produce.
Plano West Rotary Club (PWRC) members believe in investing in the development of youth, as well as supporting their education, which is one of Rotary’s Areas of Focus. One way the club accomplishes this is by awarding scholarships to local high school students who excel in the preparation and delivery of a speech based on Rotary’s Four-Way Test.
The Rotary Club of Dallas, in partnership with Faith Family Academy, the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital, and Dallas Fire & Rescue, will hold their 19th Annual Bike Rodeo and Child Safety Day as an educational and entertaining morning on Saturday, April 30, 2022 from 10am – 1pm. The event will be held at Faith Family Academy – Oak Cliff Campus.
The Dallas Police Department invited Rotary to participate in yet another community project with the objective of minimizing conflict, creating trust and rapport between citizenry and the police department in a high crime neighborhood of Dallas.
On March 19 multiple District 5810 clubs worked cooperatively to support children who have been placed in foster care by hosting an Adoption Awareness Fair that allowed the kids to meet potential adoptive parents in a playful setting.
This past Saturday, 23 Rotarians and Rotary Dream Team high school mentees of the Rotary Club of Dallas worked with members of the White Rock Boat Club to transform parts of the White Rock Lake shoreline by removing some of the tons of debris, logs and all kinds of trash that was brought in by a recent flood. It was a great time for the different generations to pull together to serve the community by restoring part of an area visited by thousands of persons looking for a beautiful, natural place as they come out of winter.
