I (Ann) have been thinking, possibly overthinking….
Things said, heard, and overheard in Rotary last week (if written in italics and inside of parenthesis, the words are my editorializing, not necessarily factual.)
- The prayer was led by Dick and the pledge, by Dan.
- Announcements and Celebrations:
- Work is being done of our website to improve its effectiveness.
- Kris is leading the satellite opportunity for our Rotarians. The next meeting is 2.11.25 at the Back Porch; a social begins at 5:30. There are no age considerations regarding being part of this satellite club.
- February 12 is the club’s next opportunity to stock shelves at the Food Care Center.
- Pets Training was held on Saturday, February 1.
- Our program next week will be brought to us by Shannon Coleman, the District Foundation Chair.
- Our annual golf tournament is scheduled for April 4; the cost for a team of golfers is $500, with the price including food and two mulligans. Dan and his team have lined up some terrific sponsors for us: $14,000 so far. Delsina will provide more information in the upcoming newsletter.
- There will be a club social in March at Stonetree Golf Course. The purpose will be to have fun and eat and then discuss the moving parts of the upcoming golf tournament.
- July will be out 40th anniversary as a club. Bob will be leading our efforts to celebrate.
- Annalaura was the morning surprise winner, taking away a really pretty, wooden candle holder, donated by Warren.
- Kuddos (atta boys) and Kamaraderie (prayers needed), donations collected for our Thank You fund:
- Jose and Ann each donated $1 in memory of one of our Rotarians who recently passed away: Alan Ward. (Go in peace, Alan.)
- Our program was brought to us by Mike Davis, leader of Hope Center Ministries, located in Temple, one of its 53 locations throughout the nation. The mission is to lead addicts and their families to follow Jesus fully and to become servant leaders who exercise faith, fellowship, and commitment to excellence. Mr. Davis came to Hope at the age of 35 after having been released from prison. Hope has been in existence since 2007; the Temple location opened in 2022. Housing itself is located south of Belton. Headquarters are in Oklahoma City. More than half of the employees have completed the one-year program themselves. The success rate is approximately 68%, measured three years after the program has been completed. Funding is provided through donations and vocational training funding (68%) received from their business partners. Harker Heights Lumber is one of those business partners. The cost to run the center is $25,000-$30,000 per month. Hope Center Ministries has two fundraisers each year: a bow tie gala and an online event entitled, “Keep Hope Alive.” Participants, once accepted, pay a $700 administrative fee which they in turn receive at graduation. Criteria for acceptance include these three: using only approved drugs, have no sex charges, and receive no social security or disability income. Mr. Davis indicated that they are looking for places and ways to serve in the community; Dan made that connection right away.
- Speaking of Dan, when we learned that his dad had died the previous evening, Leah led us in a word of prayer. (Go, Leah! And, Dan, we are so sad for your sadness.)
- Eric then led us in the Four-Way Test.