Events

Diana McRae is a longtime resident of Walker County and a native Texan. Diana graduated from Huntsville High School and studied business at Sam Houston State University.  She and Clint have 3 daughters; ages 29, 25, and 19.

Diana was elected in 2008 and is in her fourth term as the Walker County Tax Assessor-Collector and County Election Officer.  During this time, she has focused on customer service, productivity, and efficiency.  Diana and her staff have many accomplishments to include initiating online vehicle registration, upgrading the County’s voting equipment to ensure security and integrity in the voting process, and implementing the countywide poll place program.

Bobby Chapman joined Rotary in 1993 as a member of the West Beaumont Rotary Club, now known as the Spindletop Rotary Club. A retired CPA, he served as Controller of Mason Construction for 25 years before retiring in 2020. Bobby and his wife, Karen, who is also active in Rotary, currently reside in Cypress, Texas, and are members of the Lone Star Rotary E-Club.

In July, Bobby began a 3-year term as District Rotary Foundation Chair following 8 years of service as the District Grants Subcommittee Chair. Bobby and Karen are members of the Paul Harris Society, Polio Plus Society, Bequest Society, and are Major Donors supporting Our Rotary Foundation.

David Glaser is the Chief Strategy Officer for Sam Houston State University (SHSU) the best regional university in the State of Texas.  After retiring as a Major General in 2021, he joined SHSU, opened Altiora Global Solutions (Consultancy) and joined the Babel Street Board of Advisors.  He continues to serve on the International Association of Chiefs of Police Homeland Security Policy Committee and has previously co-chaired the Army Protection Program Executive Board and served on the National Joint Terrorism Task Force Executive Committee, NATO Chiefs of Police Executive Board and the International Police Policy Board in Afghanistan.

Career highlights include Deputy Commander, 5^th U.S. Army; Strategist, Chief of Staff of the Army’s Strategic Studies Group; Fellow, Center for a New American Security, Provost Marshal General for the U.S. Army overseeing global policing and corrections operations and Executive Director, Defense Biometrics and Forensics Enterprise including criminal labs, biometric store, match, share program and forensic exploitation supporting contingency operations. 

A graduate of the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School Executive Development Program, Syracuse University – Martin J. Whitman School of Management (MBA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Executive Institute. David has also been selected twice by Army leadership to serve as a Fellow with the Center for a New American Security and directly for the Chief of Staff of the Army conducting Strategic Studies. Opportunities of this nature allowed him to write and publish on topics ranging from creating an Army Experimentation and Innovation Command (Led to Army Futures Command), combating international criminal organizations in the western hemisphere, advising at the strategic (Ministerial) level, military police credentialing and in-transit physical security.  He is instructor-certified in leadership curriculum, and the former Director of the Army’s Antiterrorism and Counter Drug Branches (Policy, Strategy, Programming, Planning, and Budget execution).

MG Glaser is an international presenter and consultant on a range of topics involving strategy, leadership development, innovation, crisis management, and security. He is a member of the FBI National Executive Association, and the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

Jean Becker grew up on a family farm in Martinsburg, Missouri and was valedictorian of her country high school. She graduated from the University of Missouri in 1978 with a bachelor’s in journalism and a bachelor’s in arts with a major in political science. Before joining the Bush White House staff in 1989, Ms. Becker was a newspaper reporter for 10 years. Ms. Becker served as deputy press secretary to First Lady Barbara Bush from 1989 to 1992. After, she moved to Houston to help Mrs. Bush with her autobiography, Barbara Bush, A Memoir.  Jean Becker served as the chief of staff for George H.W. Bush from March 1, 1994, until his death on November 30, 2018. She oversaw such events as the opening of the George Bush Presidential Library Center in 1997 and the commissioning of the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier in January 2009 and coordinating his special projects such as the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund. Ms. Becker is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Man I Knew: The Amazing Story of George H.W. Bush’s Post Presidency. Her most recent book, Character Matters: And Other Life Lessons from George H.W. Bush, was published in April 2024.

Matt grew up in the Houston area and graduated from Texas A&M with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 2012. He began his TxDOT career in 2013 at the Montgomery Area Office in Conroe where he worked in various departments gaining knowledge in design, construction, and maintenance. In 2017, he earned his Professional Engineering License and moved to the Huntsville Area Office in 2018 as a Project Manager in Construction. In 2021, he became the Assistant Area Engineer in the Huntsville Area Office overseeing all construction projects in the office that covers Walker, Madison, Leon, and Freestone Counties.

John Elliott is a retired business executive who spent his career in the petrochemical industry. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Laurie. John and Laurie have been involved in animal rescue for over 45 years. They are known to be “foster failures” meaning the foster animals they bring into their home for temporary special care always become permanent members of the Elliott family. They have been actively involved with Beaumont Animal Shelter, Greyhound Pets of America and the Montgomery County Animal Shelter prior to moving to Huntsville over 6 years ago. Currently, they volunteer at Rita B. Huff Humane Society where John is also on the Board of Directors.

Trivia Night is BACK!  Mark your calendar for Thursday, November 14th and join us for a night of fun and fierce competition!

Tickets are $50 earch, and include dinner and two drink tickets, or a full team table of eight for $375.  Proceeds from the event benefit Huntsville Rotary Charities, which donates ALL proceeds to our local nonprofit agencies, including those supporting our community's youth, housing insecure, domestic violence survivors, edcuation and literacy programs, public safety programs and more.  

For more information, or to purchase tickets or table, contact Marjolein Lemmon at mstenfert@yahoo.com 

We are excited to invite you to our upcoming Rotary Club Assembly! 

Our Rotary Club is hosting its annual service project to bring joy and support to those in need during the holiday season.  We're assembling care packages filled with essential items and thoughtful touches for the SAAFEHouse shelter. 

Please join us and let's share the spirit of giving and make the holidays unforgettable for those who need it most.    

In 2014 BY THE BOOK QUARTET was born out of the music ministry for First Baptist Church New Waverly Texas.  While some of the members have changed over the years, our mission remains the same.  To sing the Gospel message of God's redeeming grace, to lead His lost sheep to the fold and tell the world God still saves and He still heals.  

Our desire is to honor God by telling people about Jesus in song and showing His love by our actions and in the relationships we develop.  

Trey Wharton is the Republican member elect for Texas House District 12. He is a successful businessman, community leader, and Trustee on the Huntsville ISD School Board since 2015.

A graduate of Huntsville High School, Wharton attended Texas Christian University where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration-Finance degree. After beginning a career in the banking industry, Trey founded the Wharton Insurance Network in 1991 and has successfully grown the business while continuously giving back to the community. 

In addition to his service on the Huntsville ISD Board, Wharton previously served as a Board Member and later Chair of the Huntsville Walker County Chamber of Commerce. He also serves on the Huntsville Memorial Hospital Community Board of Directors, and has been an active leader on various church committees, Huntsville Boys Baseball, the YMCA, and others.

Trey has been married to his wife, JoLynne, for over 33 years and has two adult children. They are members of the Northside Baptist Church in Huntsville.  House District 12 includes all of Grimes, Madison, Robertson, Walker, and Washington County, and part of Brazos County.

Greg has lived in Huntsville since 1979. He is a member of Northside Baptist Church. He began his career with the City of Huntsville in 1988 and began with the Huntsville Fire Department in 1990. He held the rank of Captain from 1996 till 2018. During this time, he managed the Fire inspection programs, the Ladder Company and oversaw the technical rescue programs. These programs included Dive recovery, Swiftwater rescue and the beginnings of a rope rescue program. Greg holds the designation as an Urban Search and Rescue Specialist through Texas A& M University and served in that role and several others for 14 years with Texas Task Force One. Greg also spent 19 years as a wildland firefighter for the Texas Forest Service. Greg holds the designation of Fire Marshal Executive through the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas and the Texas Fire Marshals Association. He was promoted to Fire Chief in March of 2018. Greg holds professional designations as a Certified Fire Executive through the Texas Fire Chiefs Association as well as a Fire Service Chief Executive Officer through Texas A&M University. He serves on an advisory board with the Texas Fire Chiefs Association. He has been married to his lovely wife Suzie for 9 years all in a row. He has 6 daughters and 2 grandsons.

We are delighted to announce that the students who attended this year’s Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) program will be our featured speakers at our upcoming Rotary meeting.

These outstanding young leaders will share their inspiring experiences from the program, the skills they developed, and the impact RYLA has had on their personal growth and future goals. It’s always a joy to hear firsthand how RYLA helps shape tomorrow’s leaders, and we’re certain you’ll find their stories uplifting.

The Center for Community Engagement (CCE) is SHSU’s hub for campus-community connections and collaborations. Through Community Partnership Development, Faculty Development, and Student Development, the CCE designs, plans, manages, and promotes many initiatives that enhance the culture of community and civic engagement. The CCE is dedicated to maintaining SHSU’s status as a community engaged campus recognized nationally since 2010 by the Carnegie Foundation.  

The mission of the CCE is to promote community partnerships, initiatives, and research which enhance student learning and meet community needs. The Center also aims to strengthen the experiential understanding and commitment of our students to civic engagement.

💍 The Newlywed Game – Rotary Edition! 💍

At our next Rotary meeting, we’re turning up the fun with a special activity! A few of our own members and their spouses will take the hot seat to play The Newlywed Game!

Get ready for laughter, surprises, and maybe a few unexpected answers as we see how well our participants know their better halves. Whether you're playing or just watching, it’s sure to be an entertaining and memorable meeting.

Don't miss this opportunity to share in the fun and strengthen the bonds within our Rotary family!

See you there!

Kaye Boehning is a celebrated leader, visionary entrepreneur, and community advocate whose dedication to education, philanthropy, and customer service has left an indelible mark on Huntsville, Texas, and beyond. As the founder of Tomorrow’s Promise, a non-profit childcare center committed to nurturing young minds and creating a strong foundation for future success, Kaye has transformed early childhood education and inspired countless families over her more than 30-year career.

A dynamic and passionate leader, Kaye excels at turning visions into reality, fostering collaboration, and enriching the lives of those around her. Whether mentoring educators, spearheading community initiatives, or designing engaging events, she exemplifies the power of leadership and heart.

Patrick J. Shannon, FACHE, is Chief Executive Officer of the hospital. He joined HMH from Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas (BHSET), Beaumont, Texas, where he served as Chief Operating Officer. His other prior executive roles include: Chief Operating Officer for Ochsner Medical Center, Kenner, LA for three years; Vice President of Surgical Services, Ochsner Medical Center, New Orleans, LA for five years; and Administrator at HCA’s Surgical Center of El Paso and East El Paso Surgery Center, El Paso, TX. He holds a Master of Science, Health Services Administration, St. Francis University, Joliet, IL, a Master of Business Administration (Healthcare concentration) from Northeast Louisiana University, Monroe, LA, and a Bachelor of General Studies, from Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA. He is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE), a retired colonel in the United States Army, and a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Jackie Barham is the current Executive Director of Care Center Huntsville, a Christian, pro-life ministry in Huntsville, formerly known in the community as the Pregnancy Care Center of Southeast Texas. She was called to serve in this ministry in 2022. Jackie previously acted as the Chief Operating Officer of the Pregnancy Care Center of San Antonio. She holds a degree in Psychology from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. Jackie has been married to her husband for 29 years, has five adult children and one child that is with the Lord. She claims Jesus as her Lord and Savior and seeks to encourage the image bearers of God to see themselves as God sees them, of Infinite Worth.

Our Rotary Club is hosting its annual service project to bring joy and support to those in need during the holiday season.  We're assembling care packages filled with essential items and thoughtful touches for the children within CASA.   

Please join us and let's share the spirit of giving and make the holidays unforgettable for those who need it most.    

Benjamin Hirsch is the District Executive for Scouting America in the Arrowmoon District. The district serves the youth in the greater Brazos Valley and works to build the program to accomplish the mission of Scouting. 

As a product of the program and as an Eagle Scout, Benjamin believes in the program and its positive effects on future leaders.