Quarterly News

Can you believe it? It is time to start preparations for the Ninth Annual Charity Sporting Clay Shoot. April 22-23, 2006, sounds like it is a long way off, but there is a lot to do between now and then to have another successful fundraiser. This year’s coordinator, Doug Anderson, is gathering his team and will start having regular meetings to further this effort.
This is our big fundraiser. In each of the last few years we have raised about $35,000 through this venue. Our next milestone would be to clear $40,000—a do-able goal.

Doug will be looking for people to prepare and serve the steak dinner, to register the sponsors and participants, to attend the grounds, to run the traps and games, to organize the auction (Normally a Boys & Girls Club responsibility), to solicit raffle items (Another B&G activity), to update the solicitation materials, to coordinate the campaign for donors, to operate the Saturday night bar, to put names with work tasks, to publicize the event, and to document the shoot with photographs and video. If you would like to be the team leader for one of these activities please contact Doug.

We plan to move the Shoot farther out Salem Road to another spot on John Beck’s ranch. It is a very scenic area along the creek and will all activities in one place. The downside is that there are no permanent shelters similar to the one that we use for the auction and steak dinner.

For those who have joined the club since last April, our clay shoot is a two-day affair where shooters attempt to break clay targets at each of five stations. Each station has two traps, so there are two targets on each “pull.” On Saturday the shooters register and practice. That night we serve a steak dinner and hold the auctions. There is a charity auction and a Calcutta. We only give trophies, but the shooters want a Calcutta for prize money. Sunday each shooter shoots 50 targets, ten at each station, to determine class. We normally have four classes. Finally, there is a shoot-off in each class to determine first and second place. Trophies and Calcutta purses are given for first and second place in each class. ▲

Joint meeting held to present RI Presidential Citations

The Rotary clubs of Victoria and Port Lavaca met at the Community Center on August 31 to facilitate PDG George Dawson’s distributing Rotary International Presidential Citations. These were earned for 2004-05.

Joe Truman, President—2004-05, accepted the award for our club. Our club has won this award every year since it started.▲

We are responsible for the Christmas party this year

The Victoria Rotary clubs hold a joint Christmas party each year and rotate the responsibility for hosting the event. We are the hosts this year. Let’s make it an affair to remember.

Mark your calendars for Friday evening, December 16. The gala event moves back to the Victoria Country Club this year. No theme has been announced.

Sally Covacevich, Jo Ann Dreves, and Nancy Stuart will be looking for help when we get closer to the date.
If you have ideas for making this a memorable affair let Sally, Jo Ann, or Nancy know. ▲

The District Conference scheduled as cruise

Mark your calendars for the weekend after the Clay Shoot. The District 5930 Conference will be held aboard the Carnival Cruise Lines’ Ecstasy, April 27-May 1, 2006. The Ecstasy leaves Galveston, cruises to Cozumel, and returns to Galveston. The registration form is available at http://www.victoriarotary.org/CruiseReg.pdf.

Infinity Travel agent, Pat Richey, is handling the arrangements. She can be reached at (800) 322-8186 or fax—(281) 859-9462. Register with Deyanira Serna (956) 740-4051 before making financial arrangements with Pat.

The cruise is going to be a big deal for District 5930 Rotarians and their guests. You can make it a family affair. For example, all of Jack Whitmire’s children and grandchildren are going to be there. ▲

Goliad Rotary Club changes its meeting place

Goliad Rotary club now meets at the Blue Quail Deli. The day and time remain the same—12:00 PM, Wednesday. ▲

KidsFest was another success

Terry Robinson

The efforts of Rotary International to eradicate polio in the world led our local Rotary clubs to once again offer free immunizations to children before beginning school. KidsFest 2005 took place again on August 13, 2005. The Rotary clubs of Victoria partnered with The Texas Zoo to bring free immunizations to children ready to begin the 2005-2006 school year. The families were admitted into the Zoo free of charge to enjoy many activities put on by community businesses and education groups. This year we saw over 75 families come through and make sure their children were ready for school. We gave over 50 children an average of almost 3 shots each. The children ranged in age from a few months old to teenagers. One child received 6 shots "OOOUCH" ". Over 40 Rotarians assisted in making KidsFest 2005 another success. Thanks to all of you who gave your time and effort to help with this annual event. ▲

Board approves funding for hurricane relief

The Victoria Rotary Club Board of Directors approved a motion to set aside $5,000 for hurricane relief. This was approved during the September Board meeting and Katrina was the driving factor. Subsequently, we have had Rita hit closer to home.
The funding will come from the Paul Harris budget line. The original budget called for spending $11,000 for Paul Harris Fellowships, so this will be reduced to $6,000. ▲

Do you have an idea for a program?

Peggy Cunningham has programs identified through October. She is looking for programs for the remainder of the year. We will have a member a month tell us about herself or himself and will alternate among new and old members so we may all get to know each other better. Known programs are listed on our home page and there is a link to suggest a program. ▲

Five join Victoria Rotary Club in the Summer quarter

             
             Jo Ann Dreves               James Johnson             Sheila Westerholm                  Nancy Stuart                 Guy Watts