The Rotary Club of Blanco County gathered, wearing blue, to raise awareness against human trafficking on January 11. #WearBlueDay
by Tracy Barr
Rotary Club of Blanco County
Rotary Club of Blanco County
Rotary Clubs in Central Texas are participating in the Department of Homeland Securities WEAR BLUE DAY to bring attention to the issue of human trafficking, since January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month. The Department of Homeland Security Blue Campaign’s #WearBlueDay is on January 11th every year. On Jan 17, the Rotary Club of Blanco County is hosting Susan Burkholder, who will be speaking on the topic of teens lured into on-line and in person commercial sexual exploitation. Susan is a charter member of District 5840’s E-Club to Combat Human Trafficking, and a member of RAGAS (Rotary Action Group Against Human Trafficking). She is also the Director of Community Awareness of Ransomed Life, a Bexar County area based non-profit that provides a healing community for sexually exploited youth. Burkholder provides presentations to service clubs, parents and general audiences as well as in depth trainings for school staff, and people who work with at-risk youth.
Parents, teachers, community leaders and volunteers are welcome to attend. The Old 300 Barbecue - The Back Forty room, 318 4th St. Blanco. RSVP for dinner (mandatory) tbarr54@gmail.com which begins at 6pm or attend general meeting starting promptly at 6:30pm.
Members of the Blanco Women’s Club and the Rotary Club of Blanco County have joined together to support the Blanco Elementary School’s art program. The formal art program was discontinued after the district experienced financial difficulties several years ago. This year, first grade teacher, Rosalind Ellis, reached out to the Rotary Club to inquire if Rotarians would volunteer to teach art classes to Kindergarten through second graders. The answer was, of course, a resound yes!! In seeking the volunteers, the Rotarians contacted the Blanco Women’s Club to see if any of their members would like to help with the art project. They immediately stepped forward to offer their artistic expertise.
The program is conducted each Friday with volunteers alternating every other Friday to help the young students with their art projects. The most recent project was making “pinch pots” with clay. Each student made their own pinch pot, engraved their initials on the bottom, and will paint their pots during another class period. The students were excited that they could give the pots to their parents, relatives or friends as Christmas presents.
Pictured are the second grade artists learning how to work with clay in order to make the pinch pots. The students are watching retired art teacher, Ms. Kuebel demonstrate the technique of working with clay. Jayne Lightfoot, Rotarian Volunteer, and Betsy Scheffe, Blanco Women's Club Volunteer, are ready to help the young artists.
The program is conducted each Friday with volunteers alternating every other Friday to help the young students with their art projects. The most recent project was making “pinch pots” with clay. Each student made their own pinch pot, engraved their initials on the bottom, and will paint their pots during another class period. The students were excited that they could give the pots to their parents, relatives or friends as Christmas presents.
Pictured are the second grade artists learning how to work with clay in order to make the pinch pots. The students are watching retired art teacher, Ms. Kuebel demonstrate the technique of working with clay. Jayne Lightfoot, Rotarian Volunteer, and Betsy Scheffe, Blanco Women's Club Volunteer, are ready to help the young artists.
New Rotary member, Mykal Van Stavern (right), was inducted December 6. Mykal is an insurance agent with Van Stavern Insurance Group.
by Jack Twilley
Blanco Rotarian and Artist, Leta Garcia and local Artist Betsy Scheffe, along with Jayne Lightfoot and Jan Gass, are volunteering at the Blanco Elementary School as Artists and helpers to introduce and teach kindergartners through second graders art. They are engaged in learning art through seasonal projects like decorating for Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.
The project is spearheaded by first grade teacher, Rosalind Ellis, and supported by principal, Jowie Walker. The elementary school has been without an art program since 2017 when the district’s financial shortfall forced curtailment of its art program. The volunteers are now filling that gap and using their artistic knowledge and skills to teach the students the basics of art (shapes, colors, etc.) while allowing each individual’s own creativity to shine through their project.
The project is another example of the Rotary Club of Blanco County reaching out to help our community and its citizens - and living the Rotary Motto: “Service Above Self”. If you are interested in joining the Rotary club, please contact Rotarian Tracy Barr via email at: tbarr54@gmail.com. (photos by Sandy Switzer)
The project is spearheaded by first grade teacher, Rosalind Ellis, and supported by principal, Jowie Walker. The elementary school has been without an art program since 2017 when the district’s financial shortfall forced curtailment of its art program. The volunteers are now filling that gap and using their artistic knowledge and skills to teach the students the basics of art (shapes, colors, etc.) while allowing each individual’s own creativity to shine through their project.
The project is another example of the Rotary Club of Blanco County reaching out to help our community and its citizens - and living the Rotary Motto: “Service Above Self”. If you are interested in joining the Rotary club, please contact Rotarian Tracy Barr via email at: tbarr54@gmail.com. (photos by Sandy Switzer)
The Rotary Club of Blanco County held a Pints for Polio fundraiser event for End Polio Now on October 27 at Old 300 BBQ - Back Forty. The eradication of polio is one of Rotary's longest standing and most significant efforts and Rotary continues to raise funds to help immunize children all over the world.
Herman Weber and his wife, Nancy, stopped by to make a donation at the event. Herman, who was born and raised in Blanco County, was personally affected by polio. In 1955 when he was only 2 ½ years old, Herman went from running as a toddler, to walking, to crawling over a short period of time. He had contracted polio. At the event local club President, Joe Kustelski, shared a video about the progress in eradicating polio worldwide. Those in attendance enjoyed a BBQ meal and a beer or wine. The Joker's Wild drawing was won by Doug McKenzie who donated the money back to the polio fundraiser.
Tristan Schlinke attended the club meeting October 4 to thank Rotary for the scholarship awarded to him. Tristan attends Schreiner University in Kerrville. Tristan is pictured with his grandmother, Rotarian Leta Garcia.
Amber Corder, Program Coordinator for CoAPT, was our guest speaker at the club meeting October 18. Amber shared information regarding the mission and vision of Blanco Coalition of Awareness, Prevention, and Treatment of Substance Abuse. She shared statistics and strategies used to prevent/decrease substance abuse in our youth.
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