"Service Above Self"

NOTE :  The  web site is not complete or completely functional

Archives and History
of the
Rotary Club of Space Center 
(Houston), Texas, U.S.A.
Rotary International District 5890
(District 589 prior to Rotary Year 1991-92)  
Club 2010  

         Chartered August 6, 1964          
Charter Presentation
to President Brown September 28, 1964





Our Club, Our Heritage
Commentary by Jerrold Dewease
August 6, 2011 

The Rotary Club of Space Center (Club) has an outstanding community service history since August 1964 due to its diversified members, all with a passion for "Service Above Self".  Not only this, but the Club shares a national heritage in that it grew alongside the manned space program located at the National Aeronautical Space Agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. The bond between the Club and the Johnson Space Center and the friendship that has developed is one of the Club’s enduring values and a rich heritage.

With honor the Club carries the name “Space Center” and its banner reflects the manned space program.  Many of the former and current members were pioneers in the manned space program and several of the earlier astronauts were honorary members of the Club.  There is a wealth of experience, abilities, and talents among its members such that long time member and President of the Club (1990-1991) Billy R. Smith said that the Club was coined the name, “The Can Do Club". 

As a tribute to the many Rotarians around the world including former and current members of the Rotary Club of Space Center who have contributed to the success of the historic manned space program, please view the May 1966 edition of the Rotarian  (page 19) about the start of this journey and a 2011 article and video  on the final journey of the shuttle.  In addition, an   article on the 50th year anniversary of the manned space program by Mary Alys Cherry, Editor Emeritus of the Bay Area Citizen June 2011 and member of the Club as of this writing; and  a slide presentation ppt or pdf of the United States manned space program from 1958 to 1992  provided by Bill Geissler, President of the Club Rotary year 1999-2000 and a member as of this writing, are included in the Club's history.  Additionally, a video titled Above and Beyond, Twenty Great Missions,  presented at the 1996 Rotary National Award for Space Achievement Awards Banquet can be viewed  here.  The video was produced by Stephen Gauvain of KTRK-TV Channel 13 (ABC).

Associated articles, photos, and information about the manned space program are also noted, as appropriate, in the respective Rotary year.    

The distinctive banner of the Rotary Club of Space Center, depicting an astronaut in an
Extra-Vehicular Activity of “Space Walk” while orbiting the Earth, is like the banner which was carried by
Rotarian Colonel Frank Borman on Apollo VIII in Lunar Orbit December 21-27, 1968 and
which was later presented to Rotary International President Togasaki in Honolulu, Hawaii by Colonel Borman. 
The banner is displayed in Rotary International Headquarters in Evanston, Illinois. 
Read more

Photo Gallery
of the
Club's Presidents
(click on icon)  

  Gallery 1964-1965 to 1979-1980         
   Gallery 1980-1981 to 1989-1990       
   Gallery 1990-1991 to 1999-2000      
  Gallery 2000-2001 to 2009-2010                 
   Gallery 2010-2011 to present                        
     

    HISTORY

The history of the Rotary Club of Space Center is complied on a Rotary year basis.  However there were some activities where the significance and/or the continuity are not fully reflected on a Rotary year basis.  These have been written in story form and are shown in the listing below by subject.  In addition to these activities, noteworthy events, usually the "first" or "origin", are in the Special Occasions and Recognitions link below.  Read more about the organization of the history.

All the history is contained in the subjects listed below and can be accessed by clicking on the Rotary emblem icon Those annotated by the Club's banner  are accessible by Rotary year  

 Banners, Exchanged  

 Banners, Exchanged Write up    

 Bench Project
    (Celebrating Rotary International Centennial Year)

 Board Meeting Minutes

 Bolivia, Update on Humanitarian Efforts    
     (Slide Presentation  January 7, 2008)

 Bolivia Water Project - Cochabamba  
     (Write Up  2008)
         Village of Aramasi - Spring Water Project
         Village of Aramasi - Dam Porject 
         Concepcion Water Well

 Bolivia, Dam Construction and Canal Restoration Project in Aramasi  
     (Slide Presentation November 2008)

 Brass Shrimp

 Committee Members

 Memorial to Deceased Club Members   

 Fund raisers

 Golf Tournament Trophy

 History and Archives, how organized 

 Important Club Documents  

 "Making a Difference" by Tom Weir 
      (A compilation of major Club accomplishments about year 1990)

 Membership and Club Directory  
    
 Newsletters (Blastoff)

 Officers and Board Members

 Paul Harris Fellows

 Previously Written Histories 

 Project Free Enterprise 

 RNASA Rotary National Award for Space Achievement (web site)

 Rotary (International) Student Exchange (not complete)

Rotary International and District 5890 historical information
   Links are on left border of this Home Page

Rotary Year Histories by Rotary Year
   Refer to upper right corner of this Home Page,  and select a Rotary year for
   "Rotary Year History for the year of ....."

 Rotary Year History by  President 
 
 Shrimp Costume

 First Shrimporee

 Sister Club Aeropuerto Club of Mexico City, Mexico  (1986 -1994)
 
 Space Center Rotary Club  Endowment Foundation 

 Space Shuttle Payload Project  

 Special Occasions and Recognitions

 Club Statistics 

 The Journey (not complete)
    (A narrative history of the Club)

 The Journey SV (not complete)
    (A summary version of The Journey) 

 Three Wishes for Christmas  
     (Bicycles for Christmas)

 Water Purification in Concepcion 
     (Slide Presentation November 2008)

 World Health Foundation     

Writeup Draft