Happy New Year! We have accomplished so much already, and yet have much more to do as we go into 2026. As we move into the final six months of our Rotary year, let’s recommit to Uniting for Goodto continue our impact throughout the world!
We want to remind everyone of the goals that we set for Foundation giving and Polio! We look forward to our 2026 gatherings at the All Club banquet, P.E.T.S. (President-Elect Training), Club and District Leadership Trainings, and closing out the year at our District Conference.
As we go about our daily work as Rotarians – service projects, fundraising and all the rest – let’s keep in mind that the world, more than ever, needs us – needs Rotary! We do not fully realize the need or our impact in our communities, state, nation and around the world!
In these next six months, let’s endeavor to make 2025 - 2026 a banner Rotary year! District 5890 exemplifies Compassion in Action!
GLOBAL GRANT AWARDED: "REDUCING CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING IN METROPOLITAN HOUSTON"
In Rotary Year 2023-2024, the Rotary Club of Space Center, through the support of The Rotary
Foundation and numerous Districts/Clubs, completed a $108,000 Global Grant (Pilot)
Project to address Child Sex Trafficking in two counties of Southeast Texas. RI partnered
with a Commercially Sexually Exploited Youth (CSEY) Advocate organization known as
Unbound Now to test a 3-Tier Model of Training and Education, Early and Proactive
Intervention, and Survivor Advocacy. This Model was shown, over the course of 10 months, to be comprehensive and cost-effective in addressing the problem.
Hence, in RY 2024 - 2025 a follow-on $304,000 was authored to apply the same model
across the entire Houston Metropolitan Area. This latest grant (GG 2579105) was
approved on November 22, 2025, and will commence execution in early 2026.
The expanded 3-Tier curriculum will include:
A well-structured approach to provide training and education in schools*, hospitals, churches, law enforcement centers, and social service agencies, to help identify and respond to trafficked child victims,
A facilitation effort to intervene on behalf of children whenever and wherever it is suspected they are threatened or are being trafficked, and
Identify trafficked child victims and get them individualized survivor support services.
This Global Grant received funding support from 12 Districts and 20 Rotary Clubs from around the world. Succeeding at this multi-year project will enable this model to be extended to multiple cities and regions throughout Texas and the U.S.
*The plan is to have Unbound Now train Rotarians (volunteers) on a prescribed curriculum to educate high school students on how to recognize and report sex trafficking “groomers’ and their methods, and support fellow students who may be threatened. Any Rotarians interested in participating in this activity should contact Stan Galanski (stan.galanski.jr@gmail.com) to discuss
options available.
Click here to read more about this effort on the Rotary Club of Space Center webpage.
ROTARY LEGACY SPOTLIGHT
Meet Gordon Lane from the West U Rotary Club. He is their newest member of the Arch Klumph Society, inducted on November 2025.
Gordan Lane received his B.S. from Ithaca College and M.B.A. from Pepperdine University. Gordan was a Captain in the Air Force stationed in Adana, Turkey, and Colorado Springs, CO. He retired from the Naval Reserve as a Lieutenant Commander, and then worked in the oil industry in Houston until he retired in 1996 and moved to Sewanee, TN. In 2004, he became President of the Winchester Rotary Club, and in 2006, he served as Assistant Governor for District 6780. He attended Rotary International Conventions in Barcelona, Brisbane, Chicago, and Copenhagen.
Named after the sixth president of Rotary, the Arch Klumph Society recognizes The Rotary Foundation's highest tier of donors — those who have contributed $250,000 or more during their lifetime.
The Rotary Club of Houston is now accepting applications for Camp Enterprise 2026! Camp Enterprise will be held the weekend of March 27 - 29, 2026 at Camp Allen in Navasota, TX.
Children and grandchildren of Rotarians in District 5890 that are currently in their Junior Year of High School are eligible to apply. Please spread the word to other High School Juniors as well.
Since 1986 the Rotary Club of Houston has sponsored this business and leadership experience for high school juniors in the greater Houston area. Students learn entrepreneurship, teamwork, and ethics from local business leaders and Rotarians.
Operation Turkey Houston served 13,500 Thanksgiving meals this year.
A District wide effort led by The Rotary Club of Greater Houston Veterans.
Teaming up with Lions Club members, Rotarians smoked turkeys, packed meals, and delivered cheer on Thanksgiving.
Please Welcome
These Newly Inducted Members of District 5890!
Dois Sutton of the Rotary Club of Northshore
Benjamin Bellingerof the Rotary Club of Northwest Houston
LoneStar P.E.T.S.:
Incoming Club Presidents, mark your calendar to attend mandatory President-Elect Training Seminar (P.E.T.S.) on February 26 - March 1, 2026 at the DFW Hyatt Hotel! For more info, visit www.lonestarpets.org.
DISTRICT 5890 "ALL CLUB" GALA
Clubs! Start making plans today to purchase your table(s) for our District's annual "All Club" Gala on Thursday, February 19, 2026. Let us Unite for Good to End Polio Now. Wear RED orPurpleto show your support!
Say nice things and send compliments to fellow Rotarians while raising money for Polio! District Governor Tom Kelchner's goal is to raise $10,000 for The Rotary Foundation's PolioPlus fund by showing kindness and gratitude in our district!
Know who you want to give your first rose to? Get started by going to the Roses for Polio page on our District website.
Important! After you make your donation, don't forget to "Increase Your Impact" by writing a message, including the name(s) of the person receiving your rose(s), plus why you're donating. Then, "Share this Fundraiser." Click the Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and/or email icons to SHARE your Rose! Don't forget to TAG the person(s) receiving your rose(s)!
Check out the "Wall of Roses" to see all the gratitude roses that have been given across our district. Roses for Polio will run this entire 2025 - 2026 Rotary year!
