Wow! We are already two months into our year! I cannot tell you how much I appreciate all of the positive responses, encouragement, warm welcomes and, most of all, our fellowship and camaraderie! Because of the contributions of so many, we have many great things happening in 5890!
Please take a look at these updates and reminders…
Hill Country Support:
We still need contributions to support our brethren in District 5840. Thank you for your generosity to date! Our campaign continues! See below for several ways to contribute:
2. Long Term Financial Support - The
Brazos River Rotary Club Foundation has pledged a
dollar-for-dollar match up to $50,000 for funds donated to District 5890 Charities. You may donate via credit card to Rotary District 5890 Charities:
https://rotaryd5890.org/donate/rotary-district-5840-disaster-donations/ or send a check made payable to Rotary District 5890 Charities, Attn: PDG Bob Gebhard, 1204 N. Riviera Circle, Pearland, Texas 77581.
Interact:
Because of the work of District 5890 Interact Committee Co-Chairs,
Emi Abiera-Chemat and
Erica Alderete, Interact Clubs are now grouped in
four zones, allowing for closer collaboration and communication. And, we just added a new Interact Club sponsored by the Rotary Club of Sugarland!
Rotaract:
We are working to charter another Rotaract Club! Stay tuned for more information to follow. For questions, please contact District 5890 Rotaract Chair,
Jenna Buscemi, or
Mindi Snyder.
Youth Exchange:
We are excited to welcome eight young people from around the world for their USA experience! Thanks to our inbound and outbound host clubs!
Inbound Students:
- Lise from France, hosted by Lake Houston Area
- Fu-chien (Fiona) from Taiwan, hosted by Katy
- Alexander (Alex) from Germany, hosted by Lake Houston Area
- Ticiane (Tici) from Brazil, hosted by E-Club of Houston
- Hitomi (Hito) from Japan, hosted by West U
- Alannah from Denmark, hosted by Lake Houston Area
- Matteo (Matt) from Belgium, hosted by El Campo
- Kritsawat (Bombay) from Thailand, hosted by Houston
Outbound Students:
- To Japan, sponsored by Lake Houston Area
- To Taiwan, sponsored by E-Club of Houston
- To Germany, sponsored by Seabrook
- To Brazil, sponsored by Lake Houston Area
- To France, sponsored by West U
- To Denmark, sponsored by Lake Houston Area
- To Belgium, sponsored by Bellaire/Southwest Houston
- To Thailand, sponsored by Katy
Vibrant Club Training:
We look forward to seeing all of our Presidents and at least three additional club members on Saturday, September 13, 2025 for our annual Vibrant Club training!
Click here for a special message from our host team, the dynamic duo of Dona Burke and Heather Rimato! Learn more and to register for the training on the
District 5890 Calendar event.
Rotary Learning Institute:
Join District 5890 and District 5910 as we partner to take our members' knowledge and skills about Rotary to a new level at Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) "Part I" on
Saturday, September 13, 2025. Click here for more info on RLI Parts II and III and to register.
PolioPlus:
Pies for Polio…
In case you wish to put a pie in the DG’s face, join us at The Club at Falcon Point (24503 Falcon Point Dr, Katy, TX 77494) on Thursday, October 16, 2025, from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. For questions, please contact
Karen Kurt.
Pumpkins for Polio - We are excited to raise money and awareness of our End Polio Now campaign at our 2nd annual multi-Club event October 23 - 25, 2025. Last year, we had 13 Clubs submit a carved pumpkin to be voted on at the First Colony Mall. Shoppers purchased tickets at $1 each to vote for their favorite pumpkin. The Sugar Land Club took home first prize last year! Will your Club take home first place this year?!
Click here for more event info.
All-Club Meeting:
Mark your calendars for our All-Club Meeting on Thursday, February 19, 2026! We will have a special focus on Polio this year. Stay tuned for more info to come!
Veterans Support:
Great things, as always, are happening in District 5890 to support our Veterans. Make plans now for our annual
Operation Turkey event, November 26 – 27, 2025. We need 54 clubs to support and help prepare and distribute Thanksgiving meals. For questions about Operation Turkey, please contact
PDG Bob Gebhard.
On December 13, 2025, we will participate in the national
Wreaths Across America day hosted by the Rotary Club of Greater Houston Veterans. For questions, please contact
Jeff Pickard.
Inter-Service Organization Collaboration:
We are excited that Lions District 2-S2 is formally partnering with us to support Operation Turkey! Planning is underway for collaborative projects with the Salvation Army too!
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, 2025 - March 1, 2026 at the DFW Hyatt Hotel! For more info, visit
www.lonestarpets.org.
2026 District Conference:
Many of you have been introduced to our Roses program during the District Governor presentations at the Multi-Club Meetings! We have awesome Rotarians in District 5890 and we want to highlight when others are giving Service Above Self. Roses are compliments or nice things that we say about each other. Any Rotarian can submit a Rose to anyone for a $5 contribution to PolioPlus per Rose. That compliment will post on the
"Wall of Roses" for all to see! Let’s continue to enhance a positive culture in our District, while amplifying our Polio support. Read more about Roses for Polio in the article on the side banner of this newsletter.
Multi-Club Meetings:
Finally, as you can see our Team has been busy! We just completed the fourteenth Multi-Club District Governor visit, with six more to go. The meetings have been wonderful! Thanks to our Presidents and Assistant Governors for all of the preparation! Many thanks to our Presentation Team for helping make our presentations fun and dynamic.
Ladies and Gentlemen… Fellow Rotarians… Remember, in all that we do, we seek the engagement of all 54 clubs across the District! It only takes a spark to get a fire going… and each of you carries that spark! This fire will continue to blaze as we serve children, adults, and communities making 2025 - 2026 a banner year for District 5890!
Thank you for all that you do. It is my honor and privilege to serve with you.
