Plainview Rotarians gathered on Tuesday, 11th July, in the PISD Board Room, located at 2411 Yonkers, for their weekly meeting.
They kicked off the meeting with a commemoration of July anniversaries, celebrating a combined 34 years of service within the club. Members commemorated include Ron Hanby (18 years), Steve Gauntt (2 years), Hari Kotaiya (9 years), and Dr. H.T. Sanchez (5 years). The group also took a moment to remember the late J.B. Roberts, who joined the club in 1958 and would have marked 65 years of service this month.
In the guests' corner, the club welcomed Caleb Haines, the September 2022 Student of the Month. Haines is a recent graduate from Plainview Christian Academy and will be furthering his studies in Electrical Engineering at WTAMU.
The club's usual "brag session" witnessed several members making generous contributions to The Rotary Foundation. Dr. Lon Jones proudly announced his recently published book, "Common Sense Medicine", now available on Amazon. Angie Gauntt revealed the forthcoming Interact Club’s Back-To-School Bash, scheduled for August 3rd at the 16th Street Pool. She appealed to the club for support in the form of hot dog dinner and school supplies donations. Dr. Jay Givens encouraged fellow Rotarians to check out the Plainview TV Segment on Facebook and YouTube, featuring President Jeri Strange.
In club announcements, Service Chair Steve Gauntt emphasized the need for volunteers for the club's Meals-on-Wheels delivery on Thursdays, encouraging Rotarians to sign up online or in person.
The day's program also saw the installation of the 2023-24 Rotary officers, directors, and committee chairs, officiated by Past District Governor Steve Long. After the ceremony, President Jeri Strange was inaugurated as the new Rotary President.
In her introductory remarks, Strange unveiled the theme for the forthcoming year - "Create Hope in the World". After a member survey highlighted the priority of projects collecting items for those in need in our community, the club has decided to start gathering toiletries, laundry supplies, and school supplies. These collected items will benefit the Blessings Closet at Wayland and the Interact Back-to-School bash. Additionally, the club has organized a Blood Drive on July 26, taking place from 10 am to 2 pm at the YMCA.
To foster camaraderie among club members, a social event is slated for the fifth Tuesday of August at the local bowling alley. During her address, Strange reiterated the value of the Rotary in her life and her family, concluding, "The best people are Rotarians."
Looking forward, she called on members to embody this year’s motto, “Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change - across the globe, in our communities and in ourselves.”
Following the meeting, the Rotarians dispersed, committed to the Rotary's ethos of "Service Above Self" as they seek ways to "Create Hope in the World."
The Rotarians' next assembly is scheduled for noon on July 18th in the lunchroom adjacent to PISD’s Board Room, featuring a talk by Cassie Mogg, CEO of Covenant Hospital Plainview. The meeting will be catered by the Fieldhouse Sandwich Shop.