Members of the 2005 sporting clay shoot committee have been busy preparing for the April 16 & 17 event. Solicitation letters have been mailed and over $7,800 in sponsorships have been received. That is almost $2,000 more than last year at this time when we had received slightly over $5,900.

If you have previously sponsored this event, we encourage you to send your sponsorship early. At present, we are also welcoming any donations or items for the live auction. You will find a sponsorship form in the envelope with your quarterly bill. One side explains the sponsorships and the other is the form to sign-up to be a sponsor. Complete it and return it to Jack Whitmire.

Please make yourself available for this very special event as a volunteer, for whether it be monetary donation, auction item or your precious time, your gracious help is greatly appreciated.

Our 2005 goal is to exceed last year’s donations to our local area youth programs that are dear to all of our hearts. Last year we cleared a little over $36,000 to split with our partner, Boys & Girls Club of Victoria. About 43 percent of the revenues came from sponsors, 34 percent from the auction, 10 percent from the raffle, and the remaining 13 percent from sales at the shoot.

Twenty-three sponsors have signed through the end of December. Six corporate sponsor have stepped forward along with a dozen station sponsors. Another three elected youth sponsorships. If you are doing the math, that leaves two auction sponsors.

The corporate sponsors are: Alexander & Marek, Brannan Paving, Crossroads Title, Palm Harbor Homes, Speedy Stop, and Texas Glass & Tinting.

Station sponsors are: Anderson Smith Null & Stofer, Barbara Biggs, Blackwood Toyota, JHC Insurance, KAVU TV, Lauger Companies, Peggy Cunningham, Shirley Breedlove, Truman Transfer & Storage, Victoria Advocate, Victoria Air Conditioning, and Victoria OMS Associates.

Youth sponsors are: Cole Cole & Easley, Don Krueger Construction, and The Glass Doctor of Six Flags.

The two auction sponsors are Boardwalk Properties and McAdams Floral. ▲

Joe writes. . . . The new year of 2005 dawned with humanity in great need. As you are well aware a tsunami has ravaged southern Asia and eastern Africa. To aid this international emergency operation Rotary International has asked its members to either donate to the Colombo, Sri Lanka club directly or for clubs and individuals to contribute to the purchase of Shelter Boxes. These shipping containers cost $900 and hold a tent and supplies (no food) to support a group of 10 people for up to three months. As the hat is passed at our upcoming meetings please be generous for the need is great.
On to lighter matters.

We will be organizing the final work detail for the completion of our Centennial Project Playground. We still need to stake in three edging pieces and distribute mulch as needed. We also will be placing three commemorative benches listing the clubs involved in this project. Terry will update us with details and times.

In February our club will sponsor teams for the “Knowledge Bowl”. Please let Jack or Doug know if you are interested in participating as team space is limited. This has always been a fun event in which we Rotarians battle for bragging rights in our club.

Our Sporting Clay Shoot is coming up in April. Omar needs your help to make this year’s event an even bigger success than last year’s. Let us know if you have anything you would like to donate for the live auction. Look for the sign up sheets to be coming out shortly. There are many different activities involved in making this fund raiser a success, please be generous with the donation of your time.

I can’t believe that my term is half over. I wish to thank all of you for making this such an easy assignment. We have made some remarkable accomplishments together as a team and I look forward to what will come in my next six months. I am particularly excited about attending my first Rotary International Convention to be held in Chicago this June. It is still not too late to register if you would like to attend. Please join me there where a good time will be had by all. ▲

Club Centennial Project to be dedicated in February                                            Terry Robinson

In August of this year the three Rotary Clubs of Victoria completed their 2005 Rotary Centennial Project. Over 40 Rotarians from all three clubs participated to complete a playground for a Victoria Housing Authority apartment complex. The playground is providing a safe play area for over 30 families.

On February 23, Rotary will celebrate its 100th birthday and the three Rotary Clubs in Victoria will celebrate its contribution to a better life in Victoria. We will be keeping everyone informed concerning the details so please be available to help honor Rotary and you're Rotary Club in February. ▲

Governor George endorses tsunami challenge                                                    George H. Dawson

Our participation in relief efforts for the Asian Tsunami disaster will be to work through Shelter Box USA. The project sends to disaster areas large crates containing a tunnel tent, a warm bed, lighting and heating equipment, clean water, a stove with cooking utensils, and tools -- all enough to accommodate 10 persons for six months. Shelter Box is a grass roots RI endorsed project and is administered in five countries by Rotary clubs. It's web site is http://www.shelterboxusa.org. District coordinator for this effort is Rick Ott. Rick's cousin in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, established Shelter Box in the United States and has organized it as a 501(c)(3) tax exempt charity. This is a means which is timely, appropriate and which unquestionably meets immediate needs.

In the few days since the disaster 200 boxes have been sent to the Rotary club of Colombo, Sri Lanka. 200 more boxes are being prepared to be shipped to the Rotary club of Madras in Southern India. Shelter Box reports that there is inventory on hand for 500 more boxes.

Each Shelter Box costs $900 including transportation. A national Rotary appeal for funds is being made which we are joining. Donations are tax deductible.
Rick has challenged every Rotarian in the District to match his $90 contribution. Ten such contributions will fund one box in the name of the district. His challenge is made to every individual Rotarian. The District has already made such a contribution on your behalf to get us started. Distribution will be limited to requesting Rotary clubs in the affected countries.

Our contributions are being channeled through Rick and the office of the Corpus Christi Rotary Club; contributions will be forwarded to the Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch, Florida, the US sponsor for the project. Send your check of $90 or more made out to "ShelterBoxUSA" to 418 Peoples St., Suite 300, Corpus Christi 78401. Or you may make your contribution via VISA or MASTERCARD by phoning (361)882-8672.

Rick challenges, "It's one of those times to live our motto of 'SERVICE ABOVE SELF'.....will you join me [and the district and Governor George] ?"▲

Four join Victoria Rotary Club in the fall quarter

Income