Rotarian Ronni Pue Receives Paul Harris Fellow Recognition Ronni Pue received Paul Harris Recognition +2 at the September 7 club meeting. The Paul Harris Fellow recognition acknowledges individuals who contribute, or who have contributions made in their name, of $1,000 to The Rotary Foundation. |
New Members Inducted Pictured left to right Candy Cargill, Pam Bindseil and Shannon Millard were inducted to the Rotary Club of Blanco County at the September 7 meeting. The three new members are all realtors at Hill Country Real Estate in Blanco. |
Guest Speaker KK Welch of Rockbox Theater KK Welch of Rockbox Theater in Fredericksburg was the guest speaker at our club meeting September 7. |
Meeting TUESDAY, September 7Our next meeting is TUESDAY (not Monday), September 7 at 12:00 noon at Old 300 BBQ - Back Forty. Hope to see you there.  |
Blanco County Community Resource Center Dawn Capra and Alyce Sierra with the Blanco County Community Resource Center (CRC), located in Johnson City, were guests at the Rotary Club of Blanco County meeting August 16. Dawn is the Site Director and spoke about the wide array of services offered to citizens of Blanco County. The mission of CRC is to serve communities by connecting people to resources that meet needs and change futures. The center can connect individuals to resources for food, housing, safety, and transportation. In addition, they can assist with pregnancy and child resources, education, employment, health care, and legal services. The CRC asked for Rotary’s help in spreading the word that the center is there to offer assistance to individuals in need. Pictured left to right Dawn Capra (CRC), Joe Kustelski (Rotary President), Tracy Barr (Rotary Membership Chair), Alyce Sierra (CRC). |
Support our Friends at the Rotary Club of Fair Oaks Ranch |
Making the Internet Safer for Children and FamiliesThe Rotary Club of Blanco County supports several organizations that are bringing awareness to human trafficking and its adverse affects on children and families, such as the post below. Read on! |
Thank you to Cox Paving of TexasSidney Cox, President of Cox Paving of Texas, receives the thank you gift of an engraved candy dish from Leta Garcia for being a Gold Sponsor of the Joe Garcia Memorial Golf Tournament held in June.  |
Thank you to The GVTC FoundationThe GVTC Foundation receives the thank you gift of an engraved candy dish from the Rotary Club of Blanco County for being a Platinum Sponsor of the Joe Garcia Memorial Golf Tournament held in June. Pictured, top Row: Antonio Lucero, Brad Meyer, Rita Acker; bottom Row: Randy Inman, Sonia Aguillon (President of The GVTC Foundation), Bob Backle (Rotarian), Les Johnson.  |
The GVTC Foundation donates $3000 to the Joe Garcia Memorial Golf TournamentThe GVTC Foundation presented a check for $3,000 to the Rotary Club of Blanco County Joe Garcia Memorial Golf Tournament held June 7, 2021. Pictured, top Row: Antonio Lucero, Brad Meyer, Rita Acker; bottom Row: Sonia Aguillon (President of The GVTC Foundation), Randy Inman, Les Johnson, Bob Backle (Rotarian)  |
Guest Speaker, Rachel Lumpee, August 2 |
Rotarians volunteer at Blanco Elementary School summer program During the month of June, Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Blanco County provided assistance to the students and teachers at Blanco Elementary School’s summer program. Rotarians, Kathie Estrada (at top) and Jack Twilley (above), are shown volunteering their time and talents working with students and demonstrating the Rotary motto - Service Above Self. Other Rotarians who volunteered and worked with summer program students were Jan Gass, Jerry Gass, Sandy Switzer, Tracy Barr and Connie Cox. |
Guest Speaker, Tommy Weir, Blanco County Commissioner for Precinct 1 Tommy Weir, Blanco County Commissioner for Precinct 1, was the guest speaker at the July 19 club meeting. Tommy talked about some of the challenges faced by the Commissioner’s Court including HOT tax, the actual jurisdiction of the court and what they can and can’t do, development, density issues, growth in the county, water issues, road and bridge repair. He said that Law Enforcement expenditures are about 47% of the county budget. Sheriff Jackson addressed some of the challenges at our meeting a couple months ago. The court fully supports our Law Enforcement agencies and understand how full their caseloads are. Pictured is club President, Joe Kustelski, thanking Tommy Weir for a very interactive discussion. |
Foundation Achievement Banner At the July 19 meeting, Bob presented the club with the Foundation achievement banner for 2019-20. Our club has 100% participation in contributions and all members are Sustaining Members. Only 11 of the 54 clubs in our District are at this status! Way to go Rotary Club of Blanco County! |
President, Joe Kustelski, sworn in June 21. The Rotary Club of Blanco County 2021-2022 President, Joe Kustelski, was sworn in by District Governor, Kristy Vandenberg, at the June 21 meeting. |
Online Safety & Awareness TrainingOnline safety and awareness training - parenting event to protect your kids. FREE. Register on Eventbrite.  |
New Members Inducted  Three new members were inducted to The Rotary Club of Blanco County at the June 21 meeting. The club welcomes Teri and Doug McKenzie who are owners of RE/MAX Genesis in Blanco and Barbara Propes who is a self-employed event planner. Some of the reasons to join Rotary: • Friendship and fellowship • Opportunity to serve and do good both locally and internationally • Community involvement • Continuing education and speakers to keep members informed about what is going on in the community, nation and world. • Fun If you are interested in becoming a Rotarian, please contact Tracy Barr, membership chairperson, at (512) 576-1930 or Tbarr54@gmail.com |
2021-2022 Club Officers and Committee Chairs Incoming District Governor, Kristy Vandenberg was present at the June 21 club meeting to install the 2021-2022 Rotary Club of Blanco County Officers and Committee Chairs. Pictured standing left to right Jack Twilley (Service Projects and Youth Activities Chair), Dixie Van Eynde (Secretary), Bob Backle (The Rotary Foundation Chair), District Governor Kristy Vandenberg, Joe Kustelski (President), Gerald Gass (Sergeant-at-Arms), Harvie Lindeman (President Elect & Treasurer); seated left to right Tracy Barr ( President-Nominee & Membership Chair), Connie Cox (Public Image Chair). |
Outgoing Club President Recognized Bob Backle, 2020-2021 Club President pictured on the left, was recognized for his exemplary service and organization in leading the club for the past year. Incoming club President for 2021-2022, Joe Kustelski, presented Bob with a thank you plaque. |
Rotarian of the Year Award - Sandy Switzer At the June 21 club meeting Bob Backle, club President, presented the Rotarian of the Year award to Sandy Switzer. Sandy was recognized for her dedication and hard work on the many service projects and for keeping our club in the news despite the difficult year covid-19 presented for us. |
Service Above Self Awards Bob Backle, club president, presented Service Above Self awards to Frank Dubuisson (left) and Ken Smith (right) at the June 21 meeting. These two men worked extremely hard organizing the Joe Garcia Memorial Golf Tournament fundraiser held earlier this month. |
Outgoing 2020-2021 Officers and Committee ChairsBob Backle, club President, presented gifts to the outgoing 2020-2021 officers and committee chairs at the June 21 club meeting. Pictured below, left to right: Gerald Gass, Joe Kustelski, Sandy Switzer, Tracy Barr, Pat Clewell, Leta Garcia, Frank Dubuisson, Jack Twilley, Harvie Lindeman, Bob Backle. Not pictured Ronni Pue.  |
THANK YOUThe Rotary Club of Blanco County wishes to THANK the following businesses & volunteers for their support of the Joe Garcia Memorial Golf Tournament held on June 7, 2021. The tournament was a great success! Platinum Sponsor: GVTC Foundation Gold Sponsor: Cox Paving Silver Sponsors: Frost Bank Legacy Hills Kendall Country Abstract L & L Drilling Bronze Sponsors: Blanco Pharmacy & Wellness Dirt Works Hal & Sandy Switzer Henry House Mattuck Services, Inc. Special Events Sponsors: 42 on 32 RV Park Blanco Garden Center Blanco Hydrogas Frost Bank Henry House JB Hall Construction LLC Mahoney Custom Homes Property Medic Texas Farm Bureau WCR Land Surveying Hole Sponsors: Apache A/C Bill & Kathy Fusco Blanco County Friends of the Night Sky Blanco Dental Center Blanco Heating & A/C Blanco Pharmacy & Wellness Blanco Vet Clinic Guardian Title & Dean Mayne Hal & Sandy Switzer HC Wireless Hill Country Real Estate HNB Blanco Banking Center James Harris Josie’s Kitchen Lightfoot Realty Lone Star Capital Bank Peterson Tire RE/MAX St. Michaels and All Angels Episcopal Church Security State Bank Seymour’s Garage Sidco Enterprises Steve & Marcie Wagner Dr. Weaver Texas Cannon Brewing Company Trinity Lutheran Men’s Group Cash Sponsors: Blanco Swiss Lodge Hotel Greg & Cathy Miller Elaine Drum, CPA El Charro Mexican Restaurant Jazel’s Hair Studio & Barbershop Joe & Victoria Guidry Mike & Karen Robinson Thaddeus Millard Lunch Provided by SUBWAY Dinner Provided by CHICKEN EXPRESS Bottled Water donated by: Chicken Express Lowe’s Blanco & Johnson City Tractor Supply - Blanco RE/MAX MANY THANKS to our Blanco County Rotarian Volunteers, and to: Bernadette Reneau Carl and Liza Struck Blanco FFA students Diana Schwind Kellye Lane Rhonda Norville Michael Thomas – San Saba Rotary ClubMaelee Sowa Johnson City Print Shop for their excellent work! |
Golf Tournament Great SuccessThe Rotary Club of Blanco County held the Joe Garcia Memorial Golf Tournament at Vaaler Creek Golf Course in Blanco on June 7. Joe Garcia, who passed away December 26, 2020, was the founder of The Rotary Club of Blanco County and made many contributions to the Blanco community. 65 golfers participated in the tournament and a silent auction was also held. Funds raised are used for scholarships, Project Graduation, Human Trafficking Awareness, Blanco Education Foundation, computers, books and other equipment for schools. The winning team shot a 54 on the 72 par course while the second place team shot a 55 and the third place team 58. The winning teams and winners of other events are pictured below. The Rotary Club of Blanco County would like to thank the sponsors, golfers, and those who donated items for the silent auction. The tournament was a great success!  1st Place Team: Paul Antrim, Drake Robinson, John Antrim and Ryan Watts  2nd Place Team: Roger Burton, Dave Spenny, Mike Robbins and Doc Blanchard  3rd Place Team: Bill Fusco, John Rogers, Ron Hubbard and Tuffy Burton  Longest Drive Winners: Kayla Wersal and Mike Robbins  Straightest Drive Winners: Karen Maxton and Richard Fryover  Putting Contest Winners: Ryan Watts (1st) and Joe Bono (2nd)  Closest to Pin Winner: Ron Hubbard |
Joe Garcia Golf Tournament Silent Auction
The Rotary Club of Blanco County is proud to present the Joe Garcia Memorial Golf Tournament on Jun 7th, 2021 at Vaaler Creek Golf Club, 228 Jeff Vaughn, Blanco, TX. 78606. Tee-time is 12 noon. At SILENT AUCTION, there’s much to choose from in the way of gift certificates, gift baskets, clothing, and famous local artist’s renderings, prints, and paintings. Bidding will open at 11 am and close at 5pm. Winning bids will be announced during dinner which will be served at 5:30 pm. During the tournament players’ spouses/and or family members are invited to the Silent Auction to bid in person between 1 pm and 4 pm. The Auction Committee will also have a dedicated cell phone answered by a live person to take bids over the phone if patrons are unable to attend. Tracy Barr with the Auction Committee has provided a list of the more popular auction donations listed below. Bids can be made to this number 512-364-1724 between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm on tournament day. |
Joe Garcia Memorial Golf Tournament Scheduled for June 7, 2021 The Joe Garcia Memorial Golf Tournament will be held June 7, 2021 at Vaaler Creek Golf Course in Blanco, TX. Tee time is 12PM. The tournament is a fundraiser sponsored by The Rotary Club of Blanco County and will include lunch, dinner, raffle, and a silent auction.
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Rotary Club Presented a Check to BISD Safety Patrol The Rotary Club of Blanco County presented a check to the Blanco Independent School District Safety Patrol on October 30, 2020 |
Hygiene Kits Delivered to Schools and Senior Living Areas  Sandy Switzer delivered hygiene kits to Blanco ISD schools while Dan Van Eynde delivered additional hygiene kits to the senior living areas. |
CoAPT, Rotary Partner to provide funds for vape detectors at BHS by Jack Twilley
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Rotary Club Gives Back Through "Helping Hands" Program  Rotary Club gives back through ‘helping hands’ program By Sandy Switzer Ladies of the Rotary Club of Blanco County safely spaced themselves and dressed in masks united to put hygiene kits together for several Blanco County outreach organizations. Sandy Switzer, who is the hygiene kit project team leader, and Connie Cox, Pat Clewell, Dixie Van Eynde, Jan Gass and Leta Garcia decided to prepare the kits for Blanco County as safely as possible. The organizations the Rotary Club delivers kits to are: Blanco ISD schools, Johnson City ISD schools, the Community Resource Center in Johnson City and senior living areas. |
Put and end to Polio and COVID-19 by Jerry GassFor those of us old enough to remember, hearing the word polio brings back major discomfort. It brings the vision of young children being crippled for life or crying in agony while living in iron lungs. It was certainly a time of celebration when the Salk vaccine was developed and then widely dispersed. Since that time, tremendous improvement has occurred in most countries of the world in eradicating polio. |
Africa Region Declared Polio-Free It's with great pleasure to announce to you that the African region has just been certified wild poliovirus-free. Rotary members have played an invaluable role in the effort to rid the African region of wild polio. We should be proud of all the hard work that we’ve done to eliminate the wild poliovirus throughout Africa and in nearly every country in the world. |
Providing Supplies to CAPRA Blanco County Rotary is helping supply needed materials as soap, washing supplies, tooth paste, many hygiene needs to community families. We are working with the Community Resource Center in Johnson City, Blanco who touches many lives in our community. Rotarian Patricia Clewell is presenting kits to the site Coordinator, Dawn CAPRA. |
The Rotary Club of Blanco County Awards Scholarships by Niki Lockwood The Rotary Club of Blanco County recently announced the award of $1000 scholarships to four deserving high school seniors, two from Blanco High School and two from Johnson City High School. Each school will publicly announce the recipients at an appropriate ceremony of their choosing. The students will further their education at a university or technical training school. The students are: -Alvin Lopez and Dooley Smith, JCHS -Mitchell Barnett and Adelyn Seymour, BHS The Rotary Board evaluated twelve applicants, six from each school, all of whom were extremely qualified. The evaluation was based on their academic record, a personal letter to the board, extra-curricular actives, and community service. The board was impressed by the breadth and depth of each applicant’s credentials. All were outstanding students in their own right. They will be introduced to the membership at 7 p.m. on Monday, June 1 during a virtual club meeting. |
