It's hard to believe September is here! Hopefully, cooler temperatures will arrive later this month.
September is Rotary’s “Basic Education and Literacy Month.” Rotary works to expand access to quality education and literacy, helping students, teachers, schools, and communities build brighter futures. There are many ways we can support these efforts in our own communities.
Collaborative visits continue in September. I encourage you to participate in these multi-club meetings to connect, share ideas, and strengthen our impact across the district and beyond.
Finally, mark your calendar for the **Million Dollar Polio Walk on October 24th**. I hope every club will participate and help raise funds for this important cause. See more information in this newsletter.
Attention to all Motorcyclists! SAVE THE DATE for this year's Polio Plus Motorcycle Ride set for Saturday, October 10th, 2026, at 9:30am. We meet at Buc-ee's in Baytown at 9:30am. Kick stands up at 10:00am. We will ride the back roads to Mama Jack's cafe in Kountze for lunch and friendship. Then, return via the same back road route. Riders can separate and take their own route home as they see fit.
Riders should donate to Polio Plus and/or seek sponsors to donate to support them. For more information, please see the link below to visit the calendar event on the District website or contact PDG Bill Palko at bpalko55@yahoo.com.
Join us on Saturday, October 24, World Polio Day,to walk for those who can't! It's a one mile walk and a big step toward a polio-free world. Join fellow Rotarians, invite family, and friends and wear your Rotary attire to help raise awareness!
From October 1 - 31, when you give $100 (the registration fee) to $500 to The Rotary Foundation "Polio Plus" fund, not only do you become a Polio Plus Society Member, District 5890 will credit you with an equal number of Paul Harris recognition points, moving you that much closer to your next Paul Harris recognition!
Since the start of the new Rotary year on July 1, 16 amazing individuals have joined Rotary District 5890, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome YOU!
You joined Rotary to make a difference—but you’re about to discover there’s so much more! Friendships. Inspiration. Laughter. Service. Connections. And FUN!
Ready to jump in with both feet? Join us at District Conference in Waco, April 8–11, 2027, where Rotarians from across District 5890 gather to celebrate our impact, share incredible stories, hear inspiring speakers, and enjoy the fellowship that makes Rotary so special.
Here’s a special welcome just for YOU! NEW Rotarians SAVE $200 on registration!
Simply use Promo Code NEW when registering.
Come experience the SPICE of District 5890—Service, Peace, Impact, Community & Empowerment—and discover just how BIG your Rotary world can become.
Get ready — because the 2027 Rotary International Convention in Barcelona (June 26–30) is shaping up to be one of the most exciting gatherings in Rotary history!
Picture it: thousands of Rotarians, world‑class speakers, groundbreaking ideas, global friendships, and a city bursting with color, creativity, and culture. Barcelona is the perfect place to recharge your Rotary spirit and bring home fresh inspiration for your club.
This is your call to action
This is your invitation to step into something bigger
This is your chance to be part of the global Rotary story
Let’s rally our district, pack our bags, and show up in full force. The world needs Rotary — and Rotary needs YOU in Barcelona.
Preliminary information is available at the link below. Registration will open in September 2026, but you are encouraged to get your name on the advance notification list to take advantage of the very best prices and accommodation choices!
Introducing, EsperHope™! A free, youth-centered video game and learning ecosystem, available in English, Spanish, and French, that helps young people build resilience, confidence, life skills, and a stronger sense of belonging. Along the journey, players learn to better understand themselves, recognize their strengths, manage emotions and stress, communicate more effectively, and turn personal growth into meaningful action.
Supported by Rotary District 5890, the USA–France Intercountry Committee, and Secours populaire, and developed by Be Peace – Be Hope in partnership with Gaming Campus and with the involvement of a Youth Interact Committee, EsperHope creates a powerful bridge between learning, service, and real-world action. Young people are encouraged not only to grow, but to use what they discover about themselves to help others, strengthen their communities, and become active contributors to the world around them.
EsperHope™ will officially launch on October 24, 2026 in Houston and France, connecting young people across cultures and communities through a shared journey of personal growth, solidarity, and service.
Click to learn more about EsperHope™! Also, consider inviting Karine Parker to speak to your Rotary Club and discover how Rotarians and Interact students can help young people grow, serve, and become forces for hope in their communities.
It is with great excitement that Rotary District 5890 announces “Project: Save the Cord.” Once considered medical waste, today doctors recognize cord blood as a vital, non-controversial source of stem cells and encourage the collection of cord blood after a baby is born. Donated units are placed on public registries alongside bone marrow, helping thousands of patients each year. Yet, every day, someone’s ticket to life, through their perfect match found in umbilical cord blood stem cells, is making its way into the trash because someone either did not know their options or a hospital was not equipped to take the donation. This project aims to reverse that statement and get life-saving stem cells to those in need, educating doctors, hospitals, new mothers, and the public while supporting the expansion of collection sites.
Erin Eaton, Program Manager at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center's Cord Blood Bank, and committee members for this project are eager to speak at your club! Reach out to PDG Nick Giannone to coordinate: dgnick1516@gmail.com. All other questions can be directed to projectsavethecord@gmail.com.
HAPPENINGS AROUND THE DISTRICT
The Bellaire / Southwest Houston Rotary Club hosted it's Wine, Dine, It's Rotary Time Happy Hour and get-to-know-you for prospective Rotarians. With a big push on membership this year, the Club has implemented multiple efforts toward reaching new Rotarians.
Thanks to the generosity of our community, the Rotary Club of Angleton was able to purchase and deliver much-needed fans, dehumidifiers, cleaning supplies, and teddy bears for families recovering from the Central Texas floods.
The Rotary Club of Pasadena is busy organizing their annual Dictionary Project. Rotarians will visit all 36 elementary campuses in Pasadena ISD to deliver dictionaries to every 3rd grade student and their teachers. The Club has delivered over 70,000 dictionaries
and has been recognized by Governor Greg Abbott for their efforts to improve literacy.
It is with deep sadness that we share news of the passing of Dr. Georgia Provost, a longtime member of the Rotary Club of Hermann Park. Affectionally known as "Dr. P," in 1960, she and her husband Herman, were the founding members of RCHP. Her distinguished service to Rotary included multiple stints as President as well as Club Treasurer.
An educator and community servant, Dr. Georgia Provost will best be remembered as a passionate advocate for all things Texas Southern University - educating and mentoring countless students, challenging state and local leadership to provide the necessary resources in order for the University to thrive, and through her various business endeavors giving students a launching pad for future success, Dr. P's TIGER PRIDE was always on display. Dr. Georgia Provost was the best of us - a woman who embodied, "Service Above Self."
Rotary International has lost a giant, but her legacy will endure. She will always be remembered for her famous words; "I love you and there's nothing you can do about it..."
Please keep the entire Provost family in your thoughts and prayers.
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Remembering long-time Rotarian, Jack Hardin, of the Rotary Club of West U, who passed away on August 13, 2026. Please keep his wife, Janice, and their family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
Please Welcome these New Rotarians in District 5890!
Nan Linn Khan, Dr. Luca Zammataro, Melodye Martinelli, Elijah S. Woodard, Francisca Leal, Sethmini S. Rajagum, Houston International Rotary Club
Jillian Graham, Bellaire/ Southwest Houston Rotary Club
Are you Our Next District Governor?
From October 27 through December 11, 2026, our District 5890 Governor Nominating Committee will accept applications for becoming District Governor for the 2029-2030 Rotary Year.
One of the most extremely rewarding and challenging positions in Rotary is that of being District Governor. But with a district with the finest clubs in all of Rotary and over 2,000 Rotarians that astound you year-in and year-out with their extraordinary accomplishments, it is also one of the most, if not the most, rewarding Rotary positions you will ever hold.
Join the Nominating Committee for a District Governor information session on Tuesday, October 27, at 6pm. Hear from past District Governors about the duties of the role, the application timeline, and qualifications for applying. Click here for more info on this rewarding opportunity! Hope to see you on October 27th!
2027 DISTRICT CONFERENCE - WACO, TX
Your 2027 District Conference Team is hard at work to ensure we all have fun celebrating our year of Spicing things up: Service ~ Peace ~ Impact ~Community ~ Empower.
Make your plans now to Join Us in Waco at the AC Hotel in downtown. Located across from the Magnolia Silos, just steps away from the Dr Pepper Museum, and within walking distance to a plethora of shops and dining venues. We're certain everyone will have a grand time!
Everyone loves saving so REGISTER NOW to take advantage of the low rate of only $299 ... remember to enter Promo Code "FALL" to receive your discount. This discount is valid until January 15, 2027, but why wait - REGISTER NOW to guarantee your spot!
You may also RESERVE YOUR ROOM at the hotel today before they're gone!
LAST CALL!!!
Rotary International and District 5890 dues were due by August 31, 2026.
Not sure if your Club has an outstanding RI balance? Check by logging into www.myRotary.org, click the drop-down for My Rotary,
click on your club name, then on the Finance Tab, and Club Invoice. Any balance due for the July 1, 2026 billing will show here. If you have recently sent in payment, you may monitor your club's outstanding balance under the Payment section.
District Dues can be totaled by calculating $30 per member times the number of members on your July 1, 2026 Rotary International dues invoice. Use the District Dues form to mail in your payment to our District Treasurer, Beverly Hensley.
Here’s a special welcome just for YOU! NEW Rotarians SAVE $200 on registration!
