Space Center Rotary

10/10/2026

Congratulations to our incoming RI Director 2028-2030 Lisa Herring !

Please join us in congratulating Lisa Herring of the Rotary Club of Kerrville, Texas, on her selection by the Zone 25B Nominating Committee to serve as Rotary International Director for 2028–2030!

Lisa, thank you for your dedication to Rotary and your willingness to serve our Rotary family in this meaningful role. We celebrate this exciting honor with you and look forward to the leadership, heart and vision you will bring! If there are no challenges, her position will be confirmed December 1st!

Congratulations, Lisa … so much to celebrate!

10/10/2026

Let's ! Our motorcycle ride today partnered with our friends from the ! Thanks to President Ute Schneider and PDG Christopher Schneider, PDG Bill Palko, Dr. Donald R. Nino, Art Bautista, Olga Bautista Rivera, PRID Suzi Howe and our very own Darryl E. Smith !

10/07/2026

From $1,500 to more than $108,000 in global impact.

Monday’s Space Center Rotary meeting was a powerful reminder of what can happen when Rotarians come together with a purpose.

Our member John Wren shared the completion of an incredible international water project in Chocopampa, Bolivia. Through Rotary’s Global Grant program, a local contribution helped grow into a $108,225 project providing safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, hygiene education and long-term community training.

That’s Rotary in action: local generosity creating change thousands of miles away.

October is also Polio Awareness Month, and our commitment to End Polio Now is front and center! ❤️ We have End Polio Now socks available for $20, and this Saturday, October 10, riders will hit the road for the 2026 Motorcycle Ride to End Polio Now. Meet at Buc-ee’s in Baytown at 9:30 AM, with kickstands up at 10:00 AM for a ride to Mama Jack’s Cafe in Kountze.

We celebrated another milestone as Past President Teri Crawford presented our newly revised bylaws for a vote following a year of dedicated work by Teri and the committee.

John also continued one of our favorite traditions by signing a book and adding an inspirational message for local children, with Kippy Caraway signing a second book.

And before we wrapped up, President-Elect Nurit Hinthorn and Richard Simmons unveiled an exciting fundraiser with one seriously incredible grand prize!

🎟️ The Space Center Rotary Major Raffle is officially underway! For just $100 per ticket, you’ll have a chance to win a 3-year lease on a brand-new BMW X3! The drawing will be held December 27, 2026.

Even better, every ticket purchased helps support Space Center Rotary’s local and international service projects, turning your chance to win into an opportunity to make a difference.

One ticket. One incredible prize. A whole lot of good.

Tickets are available at www.spacecenterrotary.com.

10/04/2026

Thank You for a Great Rotary After Dark!

A big thank you to everyone who came out and joined us! We had a fantastic evening filled with meaningful conversation, new connections, and fresh ideas about what we can accomplish together in our community.

We were especially happy to welcome Scott Stillman, President of the Seabrook Rotary Club, District Interact Chair Emi Abiera-Chem and her husband, Russ, as well as Paul and Gisela Vo. Thank you for spending the evening with us!

And if you’ve been curious about Rotary, consider this your invitation.....

You don’t have to be a Rotarian to join us at Rotary After Dark. Come meet some great people, learn what Rotary is all about, share your ideas, and discover ways to get involved in our community. No pressure, no formalities, just good conversation and an opportunity to connect.

Bring a friend and come see what Rotary After Dark is all about. There’s always a seat at our table for you. 🌙

09/23/2026

“It’s a good time for grassroots movements.”

That was the message from Stephen Bernardoni, founder and executive producer of KGTX7 News, at Monday’s Space Center Rotary meeting.

After being turned away by major news networks because he lacked experience, Bernardoni decided to create his own opportunity. Today, KGTX7 provides hyperlocal, independent and nonpartisan news covering Galveston County and surrounding communities.

But KGTX7 is doing more than reporting the news. It’s also helping the next generation of journalists get the experience they need to begin their careers.

“Emerging journalists can learn by doing,” Bernardoni shared.

Interns get hands-on experience from day one, including research, interviewing, field reporting, editing and working under deadlines.

After just one year, KGTX7 has grown to a newsroom of 14 and can be found online through YouTube, Facebook and TikTok.

𝗔𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆:
🎓 Members are working to grow Interact in local CCISD high schools and Rotaract at San Jacinto College.

🌙 September 28: There will be no regular morning meeting. Join us for Rotary After Dark from 6–8:30 p.m. at Sanabreh, 487 Bay Area Blvd. in Clear Lake.

🏍️ Ride to End Polio | October 10
Donations are being accepted to support Rotary’s fight to end polio. Contact Ute Schneider or Darryl Smith to donate or learn more about the ride.

𝘼𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚, 𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮!

09/19/2026

THE RIDE TO END POLIO IS BACK!

At Monday’s Space Center Rotary meeting, President Ute Schneider, along with the Blue Knights helped officially kicked off our END POLIO NOW campaign and the 7th annual Ride to End Polio!

On October 10, PDG Bil Palko will lead riders back onto the road for a mission much bigger than the miles they’ll travel: helping Rotary create a world where no child has to suffer from polio.

Roger Byers, his trusty koala Sir John, and fellow riders joined us Monday to help launch this year’s ride and remind us just how powerful one service project can be.

For decades, Rotary members around the world have worked toward one extraordinary goal: ending polio for good. Since Rotary began its fight against polio, billions of children have been protected through vaccination, and the world is closer than ever to eradicating this devastating disease.

October is Polio Awareness Month, with World Polio Day on October 24, making this the perfect time to learn about the mission, support the riders, and help us keep moving forward.

Every mile. Every donation. Every vaccination.
They all bring us closer to a polio-free world. 🌎

As President Ute Schneider shared:
“Together, we can pedal towards a brighter, polio-free future!”

🏍️ Ride to End Polio | October 10

Follow along as we gear up for the ride and learn how you can support this important Rotary mission!

09/16/2026

𝐒𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐤!

Good food, great conversations, and an evening to simply connect. Everyone is welcome, and you don’t have to be a Rotarian to join us!

📅 September 28 | October 26 | November 30
⏰ 6:00 PM

Bring a friend, meet someone new, and come see what Space Center Rotary is all about. Be sure to register at least 2 days before the event!

𝑻𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔. 𝑵𝒆𝒘 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔.

09/15/2026

A table full of books, and every one carries a little extra inspiration!

At each Space Center Rotary meeting, our guest speakers are invited to sign a book and write an encouraging message inside. Those books are then donated to local students, turning each presentation into something that keeps giving long after the meeting ends.

Last Wednesday, we gathered at the G.H. Whitcomb Elementary Library, where Principal Jennifer Toups and librarian Mariah Guidry joined us as we delivered a table full of books for their students!

Our Foundation Chair, Wayne Musial, is especially passionate about this project and the difference a great book can make in a child's life. Sheila Hamrick Self, John Branch, MarilynWayne Musial, and Ute Schneider had the pleasure of presenting the donation to the school.

We hope these books spark curiosity, encourage big dreams, and find their way into the hands of many eager young readers.

Because sometimes a few inspiring words inside a book can be just as meaningful as the story itself. ❤️

09/03/2026

What if AI could do more than make life easier? What if it could help someone find their voice?

Monday’s Space Center Rotary meeting gave us a fascinating look at artificial intelligence through a very different lens: not simply as technology, but as a tool for connection, discovery, and hope.

A featured speaker at the 2026 Rotary Intentional Assembly, Charles Elwood, a Rotarian from Holland, Michigan, shared how AI and creative thinking can be used to identify what communities are missing and then help build the bridges to fill those gaps.

Sometimes, he explained, what’s missing isn’t a program or a service. It’s connection. Connection to other people, colleagues, businesses, and the community around us.
One particularly powerful example involved using AI to create a synthetic voice for a DJ who lost his voice to cancer. In another, technology helped create a voice for a young woman who was born nonverbal, modeled to sound like her mother’s voice. ❤️

These are the kinds of possibilities that turn technology into something deeply human.

“The future of AI is centered and transformative.”

And speaking of creating possibilities... we have exciting news at Space Center Rotary!
Rotary District 5890 has approved a request for a $3,000 matching grant and forwarded it to Rotary International for a Library Book Vending Machine at Whitcomb Elementary! Space Center Rotary will contribute the matching $3,000.

The idea came from Whitcomb librarian Marian Guidry, with the grant authored by Wayne Musial. The machine will be wrapped in Space Center Rotary branding, and students will be able to earn tokens and use them to choose books of their very own. There will be no cost to the students. 📖✨

Our speaker book-donation program is also growing! This year, donated books will benefit both Whitcomb Elementary and Clear Lake Elementary, with John Branch and Enora Rogers signing this week’s books.

As President Ute Schneider put it perfectly:
“Reading is the key to success.”

We were also happy to welcome Katy Rotarian Scotty Jung, District Director of Community Engagement, along with Jamie Schatte of League City, who joined us to learn more about becoming part of our Rotary family.
From artificial intelligence to old-fashioned books, Monday’s meeting had one common thread: giving people the tools to connect, learn, grow, and discover what’s possible.

08/26/2026

Monday was a BIG day at Space Center Rotary, filled with international adventures, Rotary friendships, special guests, and a wonderful reason to celebrate!

𝐒𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐇 𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆!
We were honored to welcome Past District Governor Tom Kelchner, who presented Space Center Rotary with the Club Excellence Award for the last Rotary year! Out of all the clubs in Rotary District 5890, only 11 received this prestigious recognition.

This award belongs to our entire club and represents countless hours of quiet, consistent work by many hands. And a very special congratulations goes to Teri for her outstanding leadership throughout the year.

We were also delighted to welcome Assistant Governor Karina Wade-Gledhill to Monday's meeting!

𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐏𝐄𝐈
Stan Galanski and Scott Dyson took us along on their journey to the 2026 Rotary International Convention in Taipei, Taiwan, where more than 38,000 Rotarians and participants from over 140 countries came together!

They shared stories from an incredible gathering filled with inspiring speakers, humanitarian service, cultural experiences, and friendships that stretched across continents. Attendees heard from leaders including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai and experienced firsthand just how BIG the Rotary world really is.

The trip had an especially meaningful connection for Scott, who once lived in Taipei as a Rotary Youth Exchange student. His familiarity with the city gave Stan a guide who knew there was much more to experience beyond the convention doors!

Their stories were a great reminder that joining Rotary doesn't simply connect you with people around the table on Monday. It connects you with a family of Rotarians around the world.

𝑶𝒏𝒆 𝒎𝒆𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑨 𝒋𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒇𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅. 𝑨𝒏 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒂 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒆'𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝟖,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒚, 𝑹𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒂 𝒘𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒕 𝒔𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓.