First, special thanks to Lisa and Kirk Killough for their generous hospitality and to Chef Heidi Wittenborn for the delicious Mediterranean dinner.
Socials: We had two:
El Mesón – Sweetheart brunch for Valentine’s Day.
Ugly Christmas Sweater Tree Party at Allison and Steve’s – Landon won!
Changes:
We moved our venue from The Park (too much street noise and weather), but we really liked it to Red Robin in Sunset Valley.
Pam Blankenzee brought our newsletter into 21st century with a great new look.
Charlie Bidgood, a long time member of South Austin Rotary, Meals on Wheels coordinator and great supporter of Galindo Elementary passed away.
Fundraising:
Lisa Killough led our tamale sales, and we netted about $6,800.
Community Service:
- We had a dirty hands project for our DAP grant with Community First Village spearheaded by Jim McComb. We planted five pecans and 16 mulberry trees in the black gumbo soil.
- We are sending two campers to RYLA at McKinney Roughs and are making breakfast on July 3.
- Galindo Elementary’s Literacy Night was in February and Allison Batlin, Amber Scarborough, Jeff Christner and Linda Voigt helped hand out books to the students.
- We donated $500 each to Hope House, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the non-profit Step Forward Texas soup kitchen.
- We made Dignity Bags for the homeless during our last meeting before the winter holidays.
International Service:
- We’re participating in a Major Matching Global Grant (MMG) in Tanzania sponsored by the Lakeway/Lake Travis Club. The purpose of the grant is to clean, refurbish and furnish an existing vocational education complex to be used as a high school for 180 girls. The best part is that these funds will be then eligible to be returned to our club in three years as a DAP grant, and everyone will get credit for Annual Giving – a Win/Win/Win!
- We are supporting Seyi (Oluwaseyi Odufuye), a former RYLA camper and member of the Interact Club at Bowie, with a donation of $1,000 to help her participate in a carbon neutral exploration to the Artic with noted environmental and adventurer Robert Swan. She was one of 100 selected to participate, and there were about 5,000 applicants.
- We donated $500 to the Mother Maryam Foundation in Ethiopia.
Programs/Seminars/Conferences:
- Allison and Amber brought us many great programs throughout the year – from health to history to current events and even how to access “My Rotary!”
- Mickie and Simon attended the District Assembly.
- We had great turnouts from South Austin Rotary for the Rotary Foundation Dinner and the District 5870 Conference – both chaired by our own Allison Batlin. And, Omar Webb led singing the “Star Spangled Banner!”
- Grant Management Training – Four of us are trained!
- Incoming President Mickie attended PETS.
- Blair Williamson was inducted into District 5870’s Roll of Fame at the District Conference in San Antonio.
