ROTARY CLUB of SPACE CENTER

SpaceCenterRotary Club

“SERVICE ABOVE SELF”

ROTARY CLUB of SPACE CENTER

Rotary International District 5890

Club 2010

Chartered

August 6, 1964

Member Orientation Manual

P.O. Box 58862

Houston, Texas 77258-8862

Updated—July 1, 2013

TABLE OF CONTENTS

WELCOME LETTER FROM CLUB PRESIDENT...... 3

OBJECT OF ROTARY...... 4

THE 4-WAY TEST...... 4

THE ROTARY MOTTO...... 4

THE ROTARY ORGANIZATION...... 4

THE ROTARY FOUNDATION...... 6

PAUL HARRIS FELLOWS...... 6

HOUSTON DISTRICT 5890 HISTORY...... 7

ROTARY CLUB OF SPACE CENTER...... 7

HISTORY OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF SPACE CENTER...... 8

SPACE CENTER ROTARY CLUB ENDOWMENT FOUNDATION...... 10

RNASA – NATIONAL AWARD FOR SPACE ACHIEVEMENT FOUNDATION...... 11

WHAT IS EXPECTED OF YOU AS A NEW MEMBER...... 12

OPPORTUNITES FOR SERVICE...... 13

OFFICERS & DIRECTORS 2012-13...... 15

MAKE-UP OPPORTUNITIES...... 16

RED BADGE CHECK LIST...... 18

SOURCES OF INFORMATION...... 19

WELCOME LETTER FROM CLUB PRESIDENT

Congratulations!!

Through hard work and dedication, you have reached a degree of success as a professional person. More importantly, you have reached a point in your career where you realize that giving back to your community and serving others is very important, which made you eligible for an invitation to become a Rotarian. You were invited to become a Rotarian – Rotary is not a club just anyone can join.

Marriage and the birth of children are always important events in the lives of all family members. Another great milestone is now taking place in your life of service to others. Today, even as you read this, you are becoming a member of a family of over 1.2 million dedicated Rotarians who truly believe in putting “Service Above Self”. This is our very own cherished motto and a way of life.

The reason Rotarians believe in their motto so strongly is that by 1950, when the motto were officially adopted, it was a proven fact that Rotary was and still is the greatest of all service organizations; and “SERVICE ABOVE SELF” is the key to Rotary’s undisputable success. Rotary brings hope wherever it goes and to all who espouse its principles.

You are being accepted into this Rotary Club because its members believe that you have a heart that is willing to put others first – to serve others before self – which is the most humbling experience any person can have.

We welcome you into the Rotary Club of Space Center.

Sheryl Berg

President 2013-14

Space Center Rotary Club

OBJECT OF ROTARY

The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular to:

encourage Rotarians to serve others through their vocations and to practice high ethical standards

undertake projects and activities to improve life in the Club's community

expand Rotary’s humanitarian reach around the globe and to promote world understanding and peace

recognize the positive change implemented by youth and young adults through leadership development activities, service projects, and exchange programs

THE 4-WAY TEST

From the earliest days of the organization, Rotarians were concerned with promoting high ethical standards in their professional lives. One of the world's most widely printed and quoted statements of business ethics is The 4-Way Test, which was created in 1932 by Rotarian Herbert J. Taylor (who later served as Rotary International president) when he was asked to take charge of a company that was facing bankruptcy. This 24-word test for employees to follow in their business and professional lives became the guide for sales, production,advertising, and all relations with dealers and customers, and the survival of the company is credited to this simple philosophy. Adopted by Rotary in 1943, The 4-Way Test has been translated into more than a hundred languages and published in thousands of ways. It asks the following four questions:

"Of the things we think, say or do:

• Is it the TRUTH?
• Is it FAIR to all concerned?
• Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
• Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?"

THE ROTARY MOTTO: Service Above Self

THE ROTARY ORGANIZATION

On a cold and windy 23rd day of February in 1905, Paul P. Harris, a lawyer, hosted a meeting in Chicago, Illinois. In an effort to bridge a gulf between professionals and tradesmen, he invited a coal dealer, a tailor, and a mining engineer to the first meeting. Paul explained his idea of a different kind of businessmen’s club, one in which the various businesses and professionals of the community are represented. Harris wanted to recapture the friendly spirit he had experienced among business people in the small town where he had grown up. Rotary was born that day and Paul Harris is recognized as its founder. Having no formal organization at the time and no budget to pay expenses, the four men agreed to “rotate” the meetings from one of their personal offices to another as they continued to meet, and thus they decided to name it the “Rotary Club of Chicago”.

Rotary International is an association of Rotary clubs throughout the world, with over 1.2 million members located in 250 countries and over 34,000 clubs worldwide. It is administered by a Board of Directors consisting of the President and President-elect of Rotary International and 17 other directors nominated by the clubs in zones as specified in the by-laws and elected by the convention. Each director, although nominated by the clubs in certain zones, is elected at the convention by all the clubs, thereby placing on each director responsibility for each club. Directors serve two-year terms and are elected at the Rotary International Convention. The convention is held annually in a major city chosen to expand international fellowship and Rotary knowledge.

The Council on Legislation is the legislative body of Rotary. It meets every three years in a different part of the world to review and make changes in the rules and policy. It adopted in 1995 the past service membership for retired persons, and in 1998, allowed Rotarians to receive attendance credit for attending Club Service projects.

The World Headquarters of Rotary International is located in Evanston, Illinois. It has an international staff, headed by the General Secretary. There are service centers located in Parramatta, Australia; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Delhi, India; Tokyo, Japan; Zurich, Switzerland; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Seoul, Korea; and Manila, Philippines.

A Rotary district is a geographic area in which Rotary clubs are associated for Rotary International administrative purposes. Each district is headed by a district governor who is an officer of Rotary International. The district governor’s role is to assist clubs in the district. The district conference is an annual meeting of Rotarians of the district that enhances fellowship and the discussion of the affairs of the clubs and Rotary International. The Space Center Rotary Club is one of 62 different Rotary Clubs in District 5890, which includes those in greater Houston metro area, and surrounding counties. Space Center Rotary Club has a president and a board of directors who are elected annually. Director’s term is for 3 years with one third elected annually. A listing of the current officers and board members appears in the reference materials section of this manual.

Rotary is hierarchical organization composing of Rotary International, the districts, and the clubs. Club morale, understanding of the Object of Rotary, and effectiveness in earning a place in the communities are attainments for which the individual club takes full responsibility and consequently recognition. In a very real sense, the District is not an array of clubs all marching in step, but is instead, a collection of highly individualistic entities whose greatest desire is to practice Rotary as they see it.

This is to say that this district, and every Rotary district, should see itself, not as administrator or judge of conformity, but as a helper, a supplier of ideas and, when necessary, a coordinator of activity. The sixty two clubs of Rotary District 5890 are bound together by their common loyalty and understanding of the Object of Rotary and by their common belief in the validity of Rotary's motto, ''Service Above Self".

THE ROTARY FOUNDATION

In 1917 Rotary International President Arch Klumph told delegates that “it seems eminently proper that we should accept endowments for the purpose of doing good in the world.” The response was favorable; however it was a year later before the first funds were received. At the end of a six-year period, the endowment stood at $700. A decade later, The Rotary Foundation was formally established at the 1928 convention. By 1932 it had grown to $50,000.

In 1947, upon the death of Paul Harris, a new era opened for the Foundation. Memorial gifts poured in to honor the founder. In 1954 the Foundation received its first $500,000 gift and it received a $1 million gift in 1965. Rotary Foundation receives more than $65 million each year from its members for educational and humanitarian work around the world.

100% of contributions received in a given year are allocated to programs in the third succeeding year. The Rotary Foundation supports many wonderful programs, which include:

• The Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarship Program
• The Health, Hunger, and Humanity Grants
• Matching Grants
• The Carl P. Miller Discovery Grants
• PolioPlus
• Disaster Relief Program
• Rotary Peace Program

PAUL HARRIS FELLOWS

The most important step taken to promote contributions to the Foundation was the establishment in 1957 of the Paul Harris Fellows program. When Rotarians give $1,000 to the Foundation, they are recognized through the Paul Harris Fellow medallion, lapel pin, and certificate. More than one million individuals have been recognized as Paul Harris Fellows worldwide – people who have given $1,000 to the Annual Programs Fund or have had that amount contributed in their name. Rotarians, who make multiple $1,000 gifts, receive a pin with a blue stone for each additional $1,000 given. A red stone pin signifies gifts of $7,000 to $9,000, and a diamond circle pin is given to donors who contributed $10,000 or more.

The Paul Harris Fellow recognition provides a very important incentive for the continuing support of the Foundation’s programs that build goodwill and understanding in the world.

In May 2007the Space Center RotaryClub became a 100% Paul Harris Fellow Club. Our goal is to maintain that status and you are strongly encouraged to participate and continue this tradition.

HOUSTON DISTRICT 5890 HISTORY

At a time when Rotary International can claim 1.2 million members and nearly 34,000 clubs, it is difficult to think of a time when there were fewer than 5,000 members and 50 clubs comprising the entire world of Rotary.

Yet, such was the case when the Rotary Club of Houston was founded, on November 1, 1912, and received charter No. 53, of the National Association of Rotary Clubs. Today, the Rotary Club Houston is one of the oldest clubs in Rotary. Any consideration of the history of the present District 5890 of Rotary International, or of any aspect of Rotary in all of South Texas, for that matter, must begin with full appreciation of the enduring leadership of the Rotary Club of Houston. The Houston club's "Lombardi Award" dinner is not only their primary fund-raiser, but it is a major event in the sports life of the city. Football notables from all over the country attend, and the event generates a great amount of media coverage.

The District 5890 administrative structure is a complex one. In the 2012-13 year there areseventeen Assistant Governors (AG) , each serving as liaison to from three to five clubs. While the District Governor (DG) is required to personally visit each of the sixty two clubs in the course of her of his year, it is obviously impossible for the DG to maintain a continuing intimate relationship with each one. The Assistant Governors perform this function.

The entire district committee structure involves something over one hundred individuals. This is a way by which a great number of Rotarians may be drawn into activities which enable them to see something of the scope of Rotary beyond their respective clubs, and whatever can be accomplished enriches both Rotary and the Rotarians involved.

ROTARY CLUB OF SPACE CENTER

Upon your induction, you will become a member of The Rotary Club of Space Center. The Club was organized in August 1964 and is a member of District 5890 of Rotary International. It is an organization of business and professional leaders in the local community organized for fellowship and service.

As a MEMBER of the Club, you can attend regularly, enjoy lunch and fellowship with friends, and go on about your business until the next Monday lunch meeting OR you can willingly contribute some of your time and talents to Service Above Self and become a ROTARIAN. You will immediately become a member of this Club but will become a ROTARIAN slowly and for sure only as you dedicate your life to the cause of Rotary and invest your time, talent and heart in its noble undertakings. While the original basis of Rotary was fellowship, service to others soon became its hallmark. It is service to the community, the workplace, and the world. Rotarians build goodwill and peace, provide humanitarian services, and encourage high ethical standards in all vocations. Rotarians strive to create order where there is chaos, beauty where there is ugliness, fellowship where there is loneliness and misunderstanding; and Rotary creates health and happiness where there is poverty and disease.

HISTORY OF THE ROTARY CLUBOF SPACE CENTER

In 1963, Fred Lane, then President of the La Porte Rotary Club, conceived the idea that the territory around Seabrook would possibly support a Rotary Club. With the rapid development of the Space Center area, it was felt by District Governor Virgil Lee that a survey be conducted to determine if a club could be organized in that area. Ed Bracher and Bill Avery, both past District Governors, made a preliminary investigation and felt that a Rotary Club would prosper there.

Territorial limits were checked with Dick Proctor, Secretary of the Rotary Club of Houston, since the Houston Club had jurisdiction over the area in the vicinity of the Space Center. Subsequently a formal request was filed with the President of the Rotary Club of Houston, Erwin Neinen on May 19, 1964. The territory to be encompassed by the club would be as follows:

• Genoa-Red Bluff Road on the North
• The Gulf Freeway on the West
• Clear Creek, Clear Lake and Taylor Lake on the South
• Red Bluff Road on the East

Rotary International approved the admission of Rotary Club of Space Center (Houston), Texas on August 6, 1964. A letter from Beth Mavestry, Extension Services, Rotary International dated August 6, 1964 notified Ellis R. Bareiss, “Congratulations to you and your club on your success in extending Rotary to this community. The application for the provisional club has been received and before long we hope to advise District Governor Bracher of the admission of this club to membership in Rotary International.”

The Club’s Board of Directors (Board) met on different days and at different frequencies over the years. In recent years it has met once a month on the third Tuesday of the month. The Board requested twice, in 1968 and again in 1977, to include League City in the Club’s territory but was refused both times by the respective district governor. However change to the Club's territorial limits was approved in a letter and associated documents including a map dated May 21, 1982. The Sergeant at Arms position was established in Rotary Year 1975-76 and the position of Vice President/President Elect established in Rotary Year1979-80. The Articles of Formation of the Rotary Club of Space Center, Houston, Texas, an unincorporated nonprofit association dated August 17, 2010, replaced the Certificate of Incorporation of the Rotary Club of Space Center, Houston, Texas Charter No. 1311422-01 dated May 12, 1994. The Club received a Texas sales and use tax exemption in 1981 and again in 2002. A letter dated February 9, 1981 from the IRS noted that the Rotary International Space Center Chapter Rotary Club is exempt from Federal income tax under Group Ruling No. 0573, section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code. It noted that this exemption was granted August 1965. Board action on June 4, 1985 dropped the title of "Rotary Anns" for the Rotary wives to "My Rotary Wife" and later the title of “The Space Center Women of Rotary” was officially established June 18, 1987.

The Club has received many prestigious awards since receiving the first recorded award in Rotary Year 1983-84. President Webb was selected the outstanding Club President for Rotary Year 1983-84, the Club was designated as one of the 5 "Best Clubs" in Rotary Year 1984-85, and has received six Club of Year Awards since then. It has received the Rotary International Presidential Citation five times. Owen Morris was presented a 5-star, Paul Harris pin in recognition for his dedication to the Polio Plus campaign for raising $39,000 in Rotary Year 1987-88 and Dr. David Taylor received The Freedoms Foundation “At Valley Forge Award” in Rotary Year 1993-94. The Club became a 100% Paul Harris Fellow Club in Rotary Year 2006-07. Dr. David Taylor received the “Service Above Self” Award in Rotary Year 1988-89 andStan Galanski received it in Rotary Year 2009-10.