Rotary International President Mark Daniel Maloney explained his vision for building a stronger Rotary, calling on leaders to expand connections to their communities and to embrace innovative membership models.
Stories
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 I love to travel! I even enjoy the mundane process of getting from here to there. But last year, my wife, Gay, and I had one of those experiences that would strain the optimism of even the most cheerful traveler. We found ourselves with six hours to wait, at an airport where we were not scheduled to be, on a day we had not planned still to be traveling, having woken up that morning at a hotel unknown to us the night before. It was one of those days. |
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 Club member and Club President Elect (2019-2020), Jeanie McPherson, attended the Lone Star President Elect Training Seminar (LSPETS) held on the Hyatt Regency Hotel at the DFW International Airport. LSPETS is the premier training event that prepares Rotary Club President Elects for their year of service as President of their Rotary club. |
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 Club member and Past District Governor (2010-2011), César M. Caro, has been selected to serve as the 2021 - 2022 Rotary Lone Star President Elect Training Seminar Operating Chair. Lone Star PETS or LSPETS is the premier training event that prepares Rotary Club President Elects for their year of service as President of their Rotary club in Texas and Southern Oklahoma. Lone Star PETS is the combined efforts of ten Rotary International Districts. They all converge on the Hyatt Regency Hotel at the DFW International Airport to jointly provide the best possible training for future Presidents of Rotary clubs. |
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 Thank you Kelsey Zimmerman for presenting at our club. The program was about the wonderful and important work the West Texas Children's Advocacy Center does to serve and protect our young citizens. Kelsey is the Executive Director of the center. |
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 Club member John McPherson recieving his Paul Harris Fellow Plus 1 pin from club president Jerry Hendrix. Congratulations! |
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 Rotary Day at the United Nations is our annual event highlighting the critical humanitarian activities that Rotary and the UN lead around the world.
Organized by the Rotary representatives to the UN in New York and attended by more than 1,500 Rotarians, Rotary youth program participants, UN officials, representatives of humanitarian organizations, friends, and guests, this event showcases the many ways that clubs and districts can make a positive impact in their communities while addressing some of the most pressing international challenges.
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 On Monday, October 24, Mandi Ligon, District Conversationalist, presented a program on the Natural Resources Conservation Service which is under the USDA. The program helps lands owners use wisely their natural resources (soil, air, water, wildlife, plant life). In the picture are Stacy Dove, past club president, and Mandi Ligon.
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 Picture taken at the Sweetwater City Hall on October 18, 2016, where the City Mayor, Jim Mckenzie, signed a Proclamation making October 24th World Polio Day. In the picture with Mayor Jim Mckenzie are Sweetwater Rotary Club Members (left to right): Past President Russ Petty, Past President John McPherson, Rotarian David Vera (City Manager), Past President Dr. Jerod Peek, Mayor Jim Mckenzie, Past District Governor César M. Caro, Rotarian Mila Gibson, Past President Jeremy Dodd, Rotarian Jeanie McPherson, and Rotarian Jared Houze.
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 On Monday, October 3, Kerry Fortune, presented a program on Ben Richey Boys Ranch & Family Program. The Ben Richey Boys Ranch was founded in 1947 and it is a private, non-profit, basic child care facility. They provide clean, comfortable, and safe homes for each boy placed in their care. They have campus in Abilene, and Albany. The Family Program exists to restore single mothers and their children with hope, comfort, and shelter while they locate resources they need to move toward a successful independent living. For more information please visit their wbsite at www.benrichey.org.
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In 1979, James Bomar Jr., the president of Rotary at the time, traveled to the Philippines as part of Rotary’s earliest work to immunize children against polio. After he had put drops of vaccine into one baby’s mouth, he felt a child’s hand tugging on his trouser leg to get his attention. Bomar looked down and saw the baby’s brother looking up at him, saying earnestly, “Thank you, thank you, Rotary.”
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 Rotary's fourth World Polio Day celebration, on 24 October, will highlight extraordinary progress in the eradication campaign and emphasize the work that remains before we wipe out the virus for good. With the number of new cases worldwide nearly halved from this time last year, we have the opportunity to rally our resources and see the last case of polio this year.
Health officials and Rotary's celebrity polio ambassadors will head to Atlanta, Georgia, USA, for the event, the first to be held at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It will be streamed live and then will be available for viewing anytime at endpolio.org.
Download the World Polio Day toolkit for information and resources on planning and promoting a successful World Polio Day event, such as a viewing party or fundraiser:
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.png) On Monday, September 12, Dr Ron Morris, principle of the Sweetwater High School, presented a program on the New Graduation Plan. Texas House Bill 5 created a new, more flexible graduation program that allows students to pursue their interests will be place for all students who enter high school, beginning in the 2014-2015 class year. (SHS Class of 2017). For the first time, students will be able to earn one or more endorsements as part of their graduation requirements. Endorsements consist of a related series of courses that are grouped together by interest or skill set. They provide students with in depth knowledge of a subject area. Pictured are Dr. Morris with Club member Mila Gibson.
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 On August 29 Bonnie Garcia presented a program on her summer trip to Kenya. Bonnie is a Registered Nurse at Rolling Plains Memorial Hospital. She participated with KenyaRelief.org which every year send around 20 short-term mission teams to work in various areas of expertise. Their teams include medical/surgical, educational, evangelical, construction and others. Pictured are Bonnie and Club Past President Gil Cherry.
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 On August 22 Susan and Tom Pohlman presented a program on the Whispering Winds Animal Sanctuary. This is a 501c3 non-profit organization. They are a no kill sanctuary for both wild & domestic horses that call the ranch home. For more information visit their website at: www.wwes.org. Pictured are are the Pohlman's with Club Past President Gil Cherry.
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 On Monday, August 8th Daylon Althof, a farmer from Roscoe, presented a program about the Cotton Gins and on cotton harvesting. Pictured with Daylon is club President Zollie Steakley.
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 PDG César is pictured here with Rotary International Zone 21B Director Jorge Aufranc from Guatemala.
.png) PDG César with District 5730 Governor Susan Brints (2016-20170), District Governor Nominee Dan Linebarger (2018-2019), and District Governor Elect Charles Starnes (2017-2018).
PDG César Caro attended the Rotary International Zone 21B Multi-District Training Institute held in Austin on Saturday, August 6th. He attended and participated in the Rotary Foundation training session. Ther were also training sessions on Membership, Public Relations and for all the Governor Elects and Governor Nominees from the Texas and Oklahoma Districts.
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 On Monday, August 1, Terry Locklar, General Manager - Marketing Director of the Nolan County Coliseum Complex pictured here with club Past President Michael Fernandez, presented a program on the new expansion of the facilities. Visit the Nolan County Coliseum website by click here.
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 Past Club President Stacy Dove (2015-2016) receiving a plaque for her service and dedication to our club from Club President Zollie Steakley (2016-2017).
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 In June 2016, Past District Governor and club member César Caro had the opportunity to go and visit One Rotary Center, the headquarters and birthplace of Rotary International located in Evanston, Il.. Room 711, the office of Rotary International founder, Paul Harris, is on display ion the first floor of Rotary Headquarters. PDG Ceasr also had the opportunity to go to Chicago, Il and visit Paul Harris's home which is currently under restoration ( a 2 million dollar project) and The Paul Harris Memorial Grave Site. PDG Cesar had meetings with his 2010-2011 District Governor classmates and with Past Rotary International President Ray Klinginsmith (2010-2011) He also met with Past Rotary International President K.R. “Ravi” Ravindran (2015-2016), Rotary International John Germ (2016-2017) and Rotary International General Secretary John Hewko.
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 Dr. Bud Alldredge is our newest Paul Harris Fellow. Congratulations and thank you for your service and support to The Rotary Foundation. Contributions made to The Rotary Foundation help make humanitarian projects in our community and around the world possible.
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 The program on Monday, May 2, was presented by DGND Dan Linebarger. Dan is a member of the Midland Rotary Club with was chartered in 1928 by the Sweetwater Rotary Club. The program he presented was about the Wheelchair Foundation and how involved our district was in the donation and distribution of the wheelchairs. The District has participated in various wheelchair distribution around the world. For more information about the Wheelchair Foundation visit their website: www.wheelchairfoundation.org.
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.png) Rotary International's Structured Programs for Youth Service are: Interact, Rotaract, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, and Youth Exchange. The month of May is designated as “Youth Service Month” to focus on all Rotary activities that support the development of young people up to the age of 30.
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  The topic of our regular club meeting on Monday, April 11th was about the 1935 fully restored Sinclair Gas Station located in Snyder, Texas. It was presented by Lynn Fuller, pictured here with club president Stacy Dove. The station is uniquely triangle in shape and located on its own triangle city block. It was fully restored by Mr. Fuller in 2011. It is opened during special events in Snyder or anytime to the public for personal photos. Follow on Facebook at Triangle Sinclair Station.
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.JPG) The topic of our regular club meeting on Monday, March 28th was "The Pacific Crest Trail". It was presented by Miss Ingrid "Blue Dreams" Castro, pictured here with club president Stacy Dove. She hiked 2,663.5 miles from Mexico to Canada. Her amazing journey started on April 25th, 2015 and ended on October 8th, 2015. She hiked through Southern California, Central California, Northern California, Oregon, and Washington. What a great program and inspiration for today's generation.
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 Welcome new Club member Whitley May. He is the judge for the Nolan County Court in Nolan County, Texas. He was elected to the court on November 4, 2014, for a five-year term commencing on January 1, 2015.
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 While visiting his home town of Mayaguez in Puerto Rico, PDG César M. Caro dropped by the Mayaguez Rotary Club. In the picture are the club president Minerva Flores, past president Dr. Robert (Bob) Sherwin, and PDG César Caro. Dr. Sherwin was one of PDG César's English professor while working on his undergraduate in Literature in El Colegio de Mayaguez back in the mid '70s.
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 At least 7 million children under the age of five die each year due to malnutrition, poor health care, and inadequate sanitation. To help reduce this rate, Rotary International provide immunizations and antibiotics to babies, improve access to essential medical services, and support trained health care providers for mothers and their children. Their projects ensure sustainability by empowering the local community to take ownership of health care training programs.
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.png) Rotarian and Executive Director of the National WASP WWII Museum, Michael Ables, is pictured with Grace Rosa (left) and Ann Haub (right). The program they presented was about how identify a historical artifact from a regular item. Both ladies also talked about the Digital Project which will digitized thousand of documents and pictures which are currently archived.
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.png) Welcome new member Jared Kupcak to our Rotary Club. Jared is the Plant Manager at Buzzi Unicem USA in Maryneal.
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 Over 750 million people in the world lack access to safe water and more than 2.5 billion people lack access to adequate sanitation facilities. At least 3,000 children die each day from diarrheal diseases caused by unsafe water. Rotary's projects give communities the ability to develop and maintain sustainable water and sanitation systems and support studies related to water and sanitation.
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 We would like to welcome to our Rotary club the following new and returning members: (LtoR) Jeff Grimland, Plant Manager at USG; Donnie Rannefeld, Retired Sweetwater Sheriff & returning member; Dr. Bud Alldredge, Owner of the Sweetwater Veterinary Hospital.
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Rotary Foundation Trustee Chair Ray Klinginsmith asked district governors in training at the International Assembly to lead the celebration of the Foundation's centennial year, 2016-17.
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 Sixty million people are displaced by armed conflict or persecution, and 90 percent of armed-conflict casualties are civilians, half of them children. Through service projects, fellowships, and other Rotary-sponsored campaigns, members train adults and young leaders to prevent and mediate conflict, and aid refugees who have fled dangerous areas. Members also pursue projects to address the underlying structural causes of conflict, including poverty, inequality, ethnic tension, lack of access to education, and unequal distribution of resources. Join Rotary and help spread peace around the world. |
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 On Monday, January 25th our club received the 2014-2015 100% Paul Harris Fellow Club Banner. Presenting the banner to our club president, Stacy Dove, is District Governor John Scott.
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 Rotary International President Elect John F. Germ unveiled the 2016-17 presidential theme, Rotary Serving Humanity, to incoming district governors on 18 January at the International Assembly in San Diego, California, USA.
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 Club President Stacy Dove presenting Rotarian and Police Chief Brian Frieda a check for $2,000.00 for the purchase of two Shelterboxes. For more information on Shelterbox click here.
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On Thursday, December 17, the Sweetwater Rotary Club distributed approximately 100 pairs of shoes to elementary and intermediate school children. This is an annual project which was started in December 2003. Since then it has become the clubs' Christmas tradition. The kids all had a great time and were all smiles. The Rotarians that participated all had a wonderful time assisting the kids finding the right shoe size and style.
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 Picture is Rotarian and Mayor Pro-Tem Dr. Jerod Peek signing a proclamation in honor of World Polio Day on Friday, Oct. 23. Also pictured (Left to Right) are Sweetwater Rotary Club members, Eddie Brown, Club President Stacy Dove, Jeff Howard, Russ Petty, PDG César Caro, and John McPherson.
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 What is it like taking a large team to Africa? It has probably been one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. In mid February, I began leading Rotary members from all over the East Coast of the United States through Ghana. I’ve tried to give the team a warm Ghanaian welcome like I’ve received on my earlier trips. A large trip is a real blessing because each person sees Ghana and our work in a different way. |
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 For years, Angalia Bianca had slept in abandoned buildings throughout Chicago. She stole. She did drugs. She spent time in and out of jail for forgery, theft, trespassing, and possession of narcotics. But after she landed in prison for the seventh time, something changed -- Bianca knew she wanted a better life. She just didn’t know how to make it happen. |
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Music has been an important part of leading an ordinary life for students at the Music School for Children With Disabilities in Honor of Paul Harris in Lublin, Poland. Founded by Rotary members, the school serves 20 students with various disabilities, including Down syndrome, autism, and visual impairments. The Rotary Club of Lublin-Centrum-Maria Curie-Sklodowska has provided funding with help from Rotary Foundation Matching Grants and the Henryk Wieniawski Musical Society, which houses the school.
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 Throughout India and around the world, Rotary clubs are celebrating a major milestone: India has gone three years without a new case of polio. The last reported case was a two-year-old girl in West Bengal on 13 January 2011. To mark this historic triumph, Rotary clubs illuminated landmarks and iconic structures throughout the country with four simple but powerful words, "India is polio free." |
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