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The
Beginning:
The
idea for a breakfast Rotary Club in Katy originated with
Tom Juarez. Tom
was a member of the Katy ‘lunch’ Rotary Club and
knew there was a need for a breakfast club.
The Heights Rotary Club agreed to sponsor our new
club and an initial meeting was held in March 2002 at
Skeeters Grill. (Currently the club meets at Falcon
Point Country Club in Katy)
A
club must have 20 members before it can be charted and
on May 24, 2002, the Rotary Club of Katy Sunrise was
officially chartered during a ceremony attended by the
District 5890 Governor Jon Eiche and other
Houston
area Rotary officials.
Currently
there are five charter members still active in the club:
Amber Gustafson, Mary Ellen Morris, Mike Hammond,
Suzan Abrams, and Tom Juarez.
Club
Presidents:
Tom Juarez
from the initial meeting until July 2002
Rick
Chimblo July
2002 – June 2003
Suzan
Abrams
July 2003 – June 2004
Mary
Ellen Morris
July 2004 – June 2005
Mike
Hammond July 2005 – June 2006
Don
Butler
July 2006 – June 2007
Steve
Gilman
July 2007 – June 2008
Club
Recognitions:
2003
District
Conference in
Corpus Christi, Texas
2004
District
Conference Cruise
to
Cozumel
2006
District
Governor Charlie Thorp awards Larry Daniels a Paul
Harris Fellow for submitting all required records in a
timely manner.
District
Governor Suzi Howe awards Mary Ellen Morris a Paul
Harris Fellow for her work as the District Interact
Chairperson
Club
Fundraisers / Fundraisers:
2002
Garage
Sale
We
were all able to donate items we no longer needed/used
and had a huge garage sale in the Wal-Mart parking lot.
Basically, we just bought each other’s stuff
and had lots of
fellowship.
2003
Garage
Sale
Tried
it again but more work than money.
Auto Show
and Auction
RCKS
was approached by Rod Egan with RM Auctions and asked to
assist with their car
show in May. 500
classic and collectible cars were for sale at this
auction during the
week-end. Unfortunately,
RM Auctions decided not to continue with the car
show so this
was a one-time only fundraiser.
2004
Run
and Fun
Since
the car show was not coming back, it was time to find
another fundraiser.
A group
of members decided on a Family Fun event.
This event would begin in the
morning with a 5k run and the afternoon would
feature games, moonwalks, crafts, food
and bands. The
first event was held in Cinco Ranch and the featured
bands were part of a
“
Battle
of the High School Bands” event.
2005
Run
and Fun (Year
2)
Year
2, again in Cinco Ranch.
2006
Run
and Fun (Year
3)
We
partnered with Family-2-Family Network (F2F) a
non-profit group that works with families of children
with disabilities. Profits
from this event were given to F2F.
Wine Tasting
Event (Year 1)
In
September someone mentioned that a wine tasting might be
a good fundraiser and in October we held an event at the
Pink Magnolia in Katy.
A band played, wine was
tasted and many items were displayed as part of a
silent and live auction.
This event was
a big success and lots of fun!
Profits were split between the Susan G. Komen
Foundation for Breast Cancer, the American Cancer
Society and Rotary Foundation so
the fight to eradicate Polio can be continued.
2007
Run and Fun
to benefit Family-to-Family Network
(Year 4)
This
year we continued our partnership with Family-to-Family
Network but moved the event to the Citibank parking lot
at
Westheimer Parkway
and
Mason Road
.
Wine Tasting
Event (Year 2) COMING SOON
October 27, 2007
Ongoing
Fundraiser since 2003 – GRAPEFRUIT
- these funds support the scholarship programs
Activities:
Rotary
Youth Exchange:
Incoming
students – 2 (
Ecuador
&
Germany
)
Outgoing
student – 2
(
Denmark
&
France
)
Brookwood
Community (a facility for adults with disabilities)
Sponsored
(along with several other clubs) rooms for the medical
facility (2005)
Welcome
and informational video – paid for by Katy Sunrise
(2006)
Quarterly
contributions to meet the needs of the citizens
(Ongoing)
Washed
windows (2005)
Halter
(A facility with miniature horses that works with
disabled children)
Made repairs
and assisted in getting the grounds set-up
(2005)
Breathe of Life Children’s Clinic
(a Katy-area clinic serving the needs of those
without means to pay for medical treatment)
Received a
Blaine Immunization Grant from the District and these
funds were used to provide
treats for the children receiving immunizations
Worked
the ‘immunization Saturday’ two years
(2004 & 2005)
Purchased
100 books for the clinic to give to children
(2006)
Camp
for All (a camp for special needs children)
Sent a
contribution so this camp could purchase items need for
the children (2005 & 2006)
Adopt-a-Road
(
Baker Road South
of Greenwind Chase for 1 mile)
Krause
Center
(a lock-down facility for children)
BBQ – 2
times we hosted a fun day and BBQ
(2003 & 2004)
Cinco
de Mayo party (2004)
Several
members have been involved in other individual projects
International:
Worked with
a club in
India
and sent funds so women could be trained in hygiene.
(2004)
Sent
hygiene boxes to
Nicaragua
– several times (2003
& 2004)
Paid
for part of a washer for a maternity hospital in
Columbia
(2005)
Sent
school supplies (2006)
Supported
many projects in
Mexico
and
Central America
Misc.
Scholarships
- 9
Relay
for Life (American Cancer Society)
(2004, 2005 & 2006)
Alzheimer
Walk (2006)
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