Events

Rotarian Cass Grange will bring the topic  "Why we need friends".  She will talk about  new research from "The Good Life-- Lessons from the world's longest scientific study of happiness", by Robert Waldinger, MD and Marc Schulz PHD.There will be time for questions and Cass will pose questions for the group on friendship.  

About Cass Grange

Cass Grange has been in the financial services industry for 28 years. Cass and her husband Tom have been married 38 years. Originally from Nebraska, she graduated from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, with a journalism degree. She also holds a Master’s in Business Communications from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. Cass and her two partners have a financial planning firm called Watercolor Financial. Cass Grange is an independent investment advisor. Watercolor Financial is an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Their office is close to where the Rotary Club of West Austin meets, near the Arboretum.

Travis Country Treasurer Dolores Ortega Carter will talk to us about the role of Country Treasurer, and the legal authority within the Texas Constituion. Along the way, she will regale us with her experiences working with Bob Bullock

About Dolores Ortega Carter

Dolores Ortega Carter is the Travis County Treasurer.  She has served in this position since 1987. Prior to being elected, Ms. Ortega Carter worked for State Comptroller Bob Bullock in monitoring the investments for the Permanent University Fund and the Available University Fund for the State of Texas.   Ms. Ortega Carter is the first Hispanic woman elected countywide.  She is a Certified County Treasurer and a Certified Investment Officer.  She has served as the President for County Treasurers of Texas, is a graduate of Leadership Austin and has served on numerous boards and commissions.  She is a graduate of Texas A&M University, with a B.A. ’76 and a M.A. ’80. 

CEO Sharla Bell will talk about Project Transformation’s unique model that addresses the challenges of the 3 C’s—children, college-aged young adults, and churches—with one solution: engaging these three groups in meaningful relationships for the transformation of communities and individuals.

Since Rotarians unite to support education and literacy as well as youth and young professional leadership development, our organizations have like-minded causes and hopes. Sharla will speak to the ways that Project Transformation Rio Texas and Rotarians are aligned in our goals for our community and world.

About Sharla Bell

Sharla Bell is the CEO of  Project Transformation Rio Texas. Sharla has an MA in English from Texas A&M, a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Asbury Theological Seminary, and she is a certified teacher. As a high school English teacher, Children’s and Student Ministry staff leader, and summer camp staffer--she has had a wonderful and varied career building relationships with the next generation, propelling growth and change in others’ lives and her own. She believes that meaningful relationships with God and with each other can change the world.

Kevin Brackmeyer will speak to us about SkillPoint Alliance, an Austin-based nonprofit organization that provides fast-paced, no-cost job training in the construction and manufacturing trades to lower-income, underserved and under-accessed populations. 

About Kevin Brackmeyer

Kevin Brackmeyer serves as the CEO of Skillpoint Alliance, an Austin-based nonprofit organization that supports job training in construction and manufacturing. 

Kevin, a life-long Texan, has spent the majority of his professional career working in education, and is dedicated to helping Texans improve their lives through workforce development.   

There is a critical need for experienced labor in the Central Texas region, and Brackmeyer is passionate about bolstering the local economy and helping residents attain meaningful employment through partnerships with other local organizations and industry leaders.

Katie Nye will talk to us about the Texas Hunger Initiative, and the key programs they are driving in the Central Texas region.

About Katie Nye

Katie Nye is the Director of Hunger Free Community Accelerator for the Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty.  Katie works at the local level to convene stakeholders in creating an efficient system of accountability that increases food security in Central Texas.  She received her B.S. in Family Social Science from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, and has a Master’s of Science in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin.  Prior to working at BCHP, Katie was a social worker at a high school, and the Director of Operations for a statewide education nonprofit.

West Austin Rotarian Tab Barker will share stories with us about his experiences at the 2023 Burning Man festival. A little more than 1/2" of rain in early September turned the Black Rock desert plain into an impassable muck fest, with celebrities & notables evacuating on foot.

About Thomas "Tab" Barker, Director of Operations/ Founder & Board Member, Project Schoolhouse

Rob Cann will present "Man Does Not Live by Bread Alone" - Using Soccer to Fight Poverty and Strengthen Communities.

About Rob Cann Co-founder & Managing Director, Street Soccer USA 

Rob is one of 5 brothers from a large family in Richmond, Virginia.  Rob played Division I College Soccer at East Carolina University and after graduating, he joined the Street Soccer 945 program at the Urban Ministry Center in Charlotte, NC shortly after its founding in 2005. 

He and his brother then went on to co-founded Street Soccer USA and has been involved in the development of the program nationally since 2007. 

Rob, who moved to Austin last year, has been instrumental in growing the program from 1 in Charlotte to now 16 cities across the U.S. Rob earned a Masters in Sport Management from the University of San Francisco and holds a certificate from the Standford University Graduate School of Business Executive Program for non-profit Leadership. 

Recently Rob has pioneered the development of Street Soccer USA’s social enterprise arm, using Street Soccer Parks and leagues which have generated over $5 million dollars in revenue in the last 3 years being able to nearly match $1 earned for every $1 given charitably to Street Soccer USA. 

Rob lives in North Austin with his two children - Pearce (5) and Carlin (8) and his two dogs Abby and Josey. 

About Mark Kurusz

Mark Kurusz has been a member of the Rotary Club of West Austin since 2011. He was president of the Club 2020-2021, currently serves as chair of the Service Committee, and is a Paul Harris fellow. One of his goals has been to give at least one talk a year to the Club. Mark grew up in New Jersey, obtained a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree in 1971, got married the same year, and after spending five years in Hershey, Pennsylvania, moved to Galveston, Texas in 1997 but retired to Austin in 2006. He and his wife, Helen, had three daughters, are blessed with seven grandchildren, and, as of seven weeks ago, one great-grandchild. His talk will feature a visit to Big Bend National Park, a videoclip of a noted landscape painter named Bill Zaner, and will close with a few paintings placed side-by-side with views in the park.

Enjoy the Holiday Cheer with the Rotary Club of West Austin. We meet in person at the Casa Chapala Retaurant (NE Corner of Burnet Rd & Research Blvd).  We are collecting gifts (water bottles & sports balls) for the Center for Child Protection.

EveryChild's mission is to create a system that ensure children with disabilities grow up in families instead of institutions. EveryChild believes that all children can grow up in a family. Even children with the most significant disabilities and fragile medical conditions can live with families.

About Elizabeth Tucker

Elizabeth Tucker, Executive Director of EveryChild, has 36 years of experience in advocacy, policy, and program development to support children and adults with significant disabilities to live fully inclusive lives in their homes and communities. For the past 15 years, she has worked for EveryChild and has assisted more than 650 children living in institutions or at imminent risk of institutionalization to live with families. Over sixty percent of the children EveryChild has supported needed a host family. Elizabeth has a deep understanding of Texas Medicaid and works closely with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to develop public policy that improves the lives of individuals, children, and families. Elizabeth participates in a variety of state-level advisory groups including the Policy Council for Children and Families and as chair of the STAR Kids Medicaid Managed Care Advisory Committee.

Wayne will talk to us about the Disaster Aid USA program.  Volunteers can sign up directly on our web site. I will also stay after to answer further questions and sign up anyone interested in helping. The volunteer does not have to be a Rotarian to get involved so anyone visiting your Rotary Club will see the “SERVICE” Rotarians provide.  

 www.disasteraidusa.org 

About Wayne R. Beaumier (Rotary Club of Cypress-Fairbanks   Cypress, Texas District, 5890)

Past President of two Clubs in Rotary District 5890, Presidential Citation Award winner. He has served 4 times as Assistant Governor, Distinguished Community Service Award,   Club and District 5890 Rotarian of the year : Major Donor and Level 2 Benefactor.

2023 Rotary International ‘Service Above Self’ recipient. (Only up to 150 awarded worldwide)

DAUSA is an active member of VOAD: Voluntary Organization Active in Disasters, Gulf Coast Chapter. As Zone 25B Chairman he is charged with developing 8 Rotary Districts strike teams. Currently our Zone 25B has 5 Domestic response trailers and one commercial drying trailer to assist the public in case of natural or man- made disasters. He has been deployed out of the country four times and has responded to over 35 domestic disasters and has logged over 7,500 volunteer hours. DAUSA currently has a team on the ground in Tennessee cleaning up tree debris and tarping homes. That makes 56 Domestic deployments for DAUSA and counting.

He is employed by Standard Safety Equipment Company, a USA-based manufacturer of high-end reusable chemical clothing. His focus is on refineries and chemical companies that use Sulfuric or Hydrofluoric acid. He has worked there for more than 35 years and mixes Rotary with his work responsibilities as V.P. of Sales. 

FUN Fact: Wayne umpired in the 75^Th Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA in 2022

www.disasteraidusa.org

About Elizabeth Wright

www.jfon.org 

*** We will meet at 11:30 am for this Lunch meeting in the Wooldridge Elementary School Library ***

We will have lunch in-person in the Wooldridge Elementary School Library.  Mr. Galaviz and the Student Council will host the program.

Address:

Wooldridge Elementary School, 1412 Norseman Terrace, Austin, TX 78758

About Sean Winn

Sgt. Michael Telles witll talk to our Club about the inception of the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Bike Patrol. Where it started and where it is today.

About Sgt. Michael Telles

Sergeant Michael Telles, a native Austinite, has been employed with the Texas Department of Public Safety since 1996 after spending four years in The United States Marine Corps.  From 1996-2006, He performed the normal duties as a DPS Trooper. From 2006-2008, He was appointed as Corporal and supervised 28 DPS Security Officers. Additionally in 2008, He was selected to be a counselor (drill instructor) for Class A-2008 at the DPS Recruit Academy. In 2009, he was selected and assigned to the DPS Bike Patrol, and attended Bike Patrol school in Fort Worth, TX. Since then, he has served as a Trooper, Corporal, and now Sergeant since 2016. In 2011, he attended the Law Enforcement Bicycle Association Bike Patrol Instructors Course in Tampa, Florida. Prior to leading the unit, he helped coordinate and instruct the first series of schools taught by DPS troopers under the Law Enforcement Bicycle Association. In 2012 and 2013, hosted Bike Patrol school where we hosted other agencies for certification. In 2016, he fostered a tri-agency collaboration for training with Austin and Fort Worth Police Departments to conduct Public Order Training. In 2018, he was asked to speak at the International Police Mountain Bike Association's Conference in St. Louis, Missouri on how DPS Bike Patrol addressed the protest/riot group "Antifa". In 2019, The DPS Bike Patrol began hosting other agencies to become certified bike patrol officers, free of charge. In 2020, he led the DPS Bike unit through the series of riots/protest during the George Floyd Protest. Sergeant Telles has led the unit in hundreds of protests, rallies, special events and the riots since 2016. Today the DPS Bike Patrol has two team with allotments for a total of 20 Troopers and 2 Sergeants.

Mike Capps will talk about his remarkable career, and his recent role as the Voice of Round Rock Express.

About Mike Capps

From junior college player to CNN correspondent and back to baseball.  Mike Capps considers himself the most fortunate baseball broadcaster alive.  After surviving treks overseas during the original Gulf War, to Haiti and a bloody overthrow of a dictator, to the fiery end of the Branch Davidian Siege, with Mike and fellow CNN colleagues broadcasting live for ten hours in front of an audience between four hundred and five hundred million people worldwide, he walked away.

To baseball.

First, authoring a book written with legendary scout Red Murff, the fellow who signed Nolan Ryan and three other members of the 1969 World Champion Mets broke the baseball ice.

Then, while promoting the book, a serendipitous meeting  with a major league announcer who provided assurance that Mike could get a baseball job.  Two phone calls after the meeting, that’s exactly what happened.

After that, guidance from Bill Mercer the original voice of the Texas Rangers, and from Hall of Fame broadcaster Ernie Harwell provided passion and focus.  Icing on the cake?  Jay Miller and Reid Ryan invited Mike to Round Rock as the original voice of the Express.  Major league fill in work with ESPN Radio, the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers added fuel to the fire and radio and television audiences filled out the dream.

Add to all that, wife Karen, three daughters, a son, daughter in law and seven grandchildren (five young men, two young ladies) who understand Mike’s passion for the game, and love the game themselves and “Cappy’s” role in it. It’s easy to see why baseball, for the Capps family, isn’t simply a job, it’s a lifestyle.

W. Gaines Bagby, First Vice President of CBRE in Austin, will provide an update on the Commercial Real Estate market in Austin.

About W. Gaines Bagby

W. Gaines Bagby has been with CBRE, Inc. for 36 years and has been a licensed commercial real estate professional in Austin since 1983. The scope of his business is both consultative and transactional, depending on the needs of his clients. He provides his clients with the strategic, and often difficult to find, information they need to make important real estate decisions. His focus is on facilitating the real estate process in ways that deliver value added results to the bottom line in a timely manner. He brings three and a half decades of office purchase and leasing experience, as well as many years of industrial, retail and land experience to the table.

Gaines is a member of the Rotary Club of Austin, where he has held several executive positions both at the Club & District levels.