Stories

The Rotary Club of East Montgomery County met on Tuesday, January 20, during which members discussed upcoming club events and welcomed guest speaker Katie Blanco from Patriot Paws Mobile Imaging.

Patriot Paws is a Houston-based, woman- and veteran-owned mobile ultrasound partner that works alongside local veterinary clinics to provide dependable, on-site diagnostic imaging. The company partners with veterinarians throughout the greater Houston area, helping clinics deliver timely and accurate diagnostic care without the need for off-site referrals.

Sometimes accidents happen. So one of the Rotary Club of East Montgomery County's (RCEMC) projects is to equip local school nurses with extra underwear. In the event of an accident, New Caney and Splendora elementary school nurses now have the necessary supplies for their youngest students. This year, the club donated 30 pairs of underwear to each elementary school in the New Caney and Splendora school districts. Rotarians are committed to improving the quality of life for people in their communities and serving the public interest.

Splendora ISD Superintendent Dr. Dustin Bromley was the featured speaker at the Rotary Club of East Montgomery County on November 4, where he provided an update on district growth, student achievement, and major projects designed to support the community's needs.

Dr. Bromley began by highlighting the district’s continued enrollment growth, with student numbers reaching nearly 6,000. He emphasized that this growth reflects families choosing Splendora ISD for its community atmosphere, high-quality programming, and commitment to student success.

The buzz was strong on October 21 at this year’s Rotary Spelling Bee, where friendly competition, learning, and community support came together for a great cause. Thirteen teams representing local organizations, schools, and businesses took to the stage to spell their way toward the top. A total of 32 words challenged participants throughout the evening, with the championship word OLEAGINOUS closing out the competition in winning style.

Winning Teams:
🥇 1st Place: ALL Word Wizards – Lone Star College–Kingwood
🥈 2nd Place: The Queen Bees – Heritage Museum of Montgomery County
🥉 3rd Place: Bee-utiful Minds – Lone Star College–Kingwood

Over the past year, the Rotary Club has expressed appreciation to its luncheon speakers in a special way—by donating a book in each speaker’s honor to a local elementary school library. Recently, it was time to deliver those books to Timber Lakes Elementary (TLE) in Splendora ISD.

The Rotary Club of East Montgomery County had the honor of hosting District Governor (DG) Charley Gilliland at its recent meeting. DG Gilliland shared his experiences in Rotary, highlighting the value of building lasting relationships, fostering membership growth, and engaging youth through Interact Clubs.

He emphasized that Rotary is not just about service projects but also about developing lifelong friendships and creating opportunities to experience new places and cultures through Rotary’s global network. During his visit, DG Gilliland also provided updates on district initiatives and encouraged members to continue supporting programs that inspire the next generation of Rotarians.

The Rotary Club of East Montgomery County welcomed Alicia Thompson-White, owner of Abundance Coffee + Marketplace, as this week’s guest speaker. Located in Splendora, Abundance Coffee represents one of the many small businesses making a big impact across East Montgomery County.

The Rotary Club of East Montgomery County had the pleasure of hearing from Matt Calvert, Superintendent of New Caney ISD, at its September 16 luncheon.

Mr. Calvert, who has served as superintendent since 2021, shared insights from his leadership journey and provided an overview of New Caney ISD’s growth, challenges, and future plans. His presentation highlighted the district’s commitment to strategic planning and capital improvements designed to meet the needs of a rapidly expanding student population.

The Rotary Club of East Montgomery County is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of our President-Elect, John Burgess IV, his beloved wife Julia, and their two young sons, Jack and James, who passed away on July 4, 2025, after being caught in devastating floods in Kerr County.

The Rotary Club of East Montgomery County recently had the pleasure of hosting Harry Field, the Horticulture Program Lead at New Horizons, as their guest speaker. Mr. Field brought a wealth of knowledge to the meeting, sharing his expertise on maintaining healthy lawns and plants during winter.

In his presentation, Mr. Field provided practical advice on how to care for winter lawns, emphasizing techniques to ensure their longevity and vitality despite colder temperatures. He also delved into the topic of hearty winter vegetables, offering tips on what to grow and how to cultivate them successfully. To round out his talk, Mr. Field discussed the benefits of incorporating spice cabinet immune boosters into everyday life, showcasing how common spices can enhance overall well-being.

At the Rotary Club of East Montgomery County’s October luncheon, members enjoyed a fascinating presentation from fellow Rotarian Brian Stanley, also known as Don Brian Mac Cael, a long-time participant in the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA). The SCA is a global community dedicated to researching and recreating the skills, arts, combat, and culture of pre-17th-century life. Through interactive events and demonstrations, participants not only gain a deeper appreciation for history but also have a blast in a fun and engaging way.

Members of the Rotary Club of East Montgomery County gathered for a lunch filled with fellowship, thought-provoking conversation, and community support. The club welcomed guest speaker Leland Dushkin, CPA, who provided valuable insights during the meeting.

Rotary Club of East Montgomery County (RCEMC) members focused on disaster planning and response this quarter. Lake Conroe Division Manager Bret Raley spoke at their March 21st luncheon, providing insight into the San Jacinto River Authority’s (SJRA) role during a disaster. Raley talked about how the Conroe dam is an earth-fill embankment, 11,300 feet long, including the levees. The crest elevation of the dam is 212.0 feet above mean sea level and has a height of 82 feet above the old riverbed. A controlled emergency spillway is located near the center of the embankment. Control for the spillway consists of five tainter gates, 40 feet in width by 30 feet in height, with a top elevation of 202.5 feet. The gates are computerized and can be controlled from the control room or via an app.

On August 16, Sally Yan, Baylor graduate and Rotary Global Scholar recipient, was the guest speaker for the Rotary Club of East Montgomery County. 

Rotarians were happy to hear from Dr. Katherine Persson, retired Lone Star College-Kingwood President, at their monthly luncheon.   One of Katherine’s retirement projects was to attend the Master Gardener Class in Conroe.  She has completed her class and shared her knowledge on the benefits of trees.

President/CEO of the East Montgomery County Improvement District (EMCID) Frank McCrady was the guest speaker at the March 1 Rotary luncheon. McCrady has spent 20 years at EMCID, strategically elevating the area to a community, ready for growth. McCrady gave Rotarians an overview of projects underway and those planned for the future.

This quarter, Rotarians of the Rotary Club of East Montgomery County (RCEMC) are focusing on supporting education and literacy. As part of that initiative, fellow Rotarian and Splendora ISD Superintendent Dr. Jeff Burke was the guest speaker at the August 18th RCEMC meeting. Dr. Burke leads Splendora ISD with a current student enrollment of 4,269 and 641 employees. Students began the new school year on Wednesday, August 11. 

For 40 years, Ralph Hays has been coaching youth baseball at East Montgomery County ball fields. In recognition of his exceptional leadership and devoted service to the community, the Rotary Club of East Montgomery County presented Coach Hays an Outstanding Service Award plaque. 

Rotarians of the Rotary Club of East Montgomery County (RCEMC) heard from Lake Houston Wilderness Park (LHWP) Naturalist Lauren Hollenbeck at their June 1st meeting. LHWP is a lushly forested expanse of nearly 5,000 acres, located three miles east of New Caney off US Hwy. 59. 

On May 13, at the Splendora High School Senior Awards night, senior Ashley Carle was the proud recipient of the Rotary Club of EMC Scholarship.  Ashley plans to attend the University of Texas at San Antonio and major in business.

Rotary Club of East Montgomery County (RCEMC) members got some valuable financial planning information from fellow Rotarian Felicia Cumby at their April 6 meeting. Felicia is an Edwards Jones Financial Advisor and gave some smart advice to fellow members.

For their final meeting of the year, members of the Rotary Club of East Montgomery County provided 25+ gift bags for Meals on Wheels participants. Past District Governor Dr. Rose Austin sent out the request for items and members responded! Rotarians brought blankets, fuzzy socks, along with practical items such as toothbrushes, soap, and lotion. The gift bags were decorated by New Horizons patrons and will be delivered along with the regular breakfast bags.  What a great way to end the year!

Rotary 5910 District Governor Becky Mason made an official visit to the Rotary Club of East Montgomery County (RCEMC) at their weekly meeting on September 22. While the official visit was held virtually, RCEMC members shared the Club’s activities and accomplishments over the past year and District Governor Mason provided direction for the club during these unusual times. 

Professor Becky Norton, Lone Star College-Kingwood Department of Nursing was the guest speaker at the weekly Rotary Club of East Montgomery County (RCEMC) luncheon.