Events

About Elle Erickson (Founder & Creator)

Suzanne Stone will speak on how Livestrong impacts those affected by cancer, what we are working on in 2024 and how everyone can be a part of it.

About Suzanne Stone 

Rotarian Lupe Barragan will speak to us of the joys and delights of tequila!
 

In his own words: 
Since 1987, we have been making our vision a reality. Our family's goal is to bring a festive atmosphere and fresh flavors to the fun city of Austin, TX. Our inspiration comes from the town of Chapala, one of the beautiful cities that surrounds the largest lake in Jalisco, Mexico. Our authentic cuisine originates from our family recipes from the central and coastal regions of Mexico; Mainly the states of Zacatecas and Jalisco. Together with our extended family and staff, we strive to create a genuine traditional Mexican experience. We offer over  200  tequilas and other agave distilled spirits. From our family to yours, buen provecho and muchas gracias. We welcome our guests with a heartfelt greeting, as we say in Mexico:   

“MI CASA ES SU CASA.”

About Guadalupe "Lupe" Barragan, Principal Owner Casa Chapala Mexican Cuisine & Tequila Bar

Since a very young age I have been incredibly driven, and had that 'entrepreneur mentality'. 33 years ago when I started the restaurant with my wife, Lucina, I had no idea I'd be so fortunate to be in the position I am. Working in the Hospitality Industry has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my life thus far, I've been able to network, and meet so many different people in my position. I love what I do.

In my spare time I love to spend time with my beautiful family and 4 grandchildren!

www.casachapala.com 

Sharon Dobbs will speak to us about HeartGIft. 

HeartGift provides life-saving congenital heart defect surgery to children from around the world where specialized medical treatment is either scarce or nonexistent. Established in 2000, the foundation has served more than 1,000 children, in over 36 countries.

One million children are born globally each year with a congenital heart defect, making it the most common type of birth defect. Only 10% of the world’s children have access to appropriate medical care. Congenital heart diseases are approximately 60 times more prevalent than a childhood cancer diagnosis. Without care, many of these children will not live to see their next birthday. HeartGift was founded to address this disparity of care.

About Sharon Dobbs

Sharon Dobbs is a Board Member of HeartGift Foundation, where she chairs the Mission Committee. Sharon and her family have supported HeartGift since its founding in 2000 and she has served in various Board capacities since 2010.  Her contributions have positioned the HeartGift Foundation strategically and financially to expand its global impact, increasing by over 10X the number of children served per year and enabling over 1000 children with congenital heart disease to grow to adulthood. Sharon’s deep passion for HeartGift was ignited by her daughter, Elizabeth, who was born with congenital heart disease and had open heart surgery when she was two months old.  Sharon recently retired from IBM as Associate General Counsel, where she led the legal team facilitating IBM’s global acquisitions, divestitures and complex alliances, as well as regulatory compliance in the Americas.  In addition to HeartGift, she currently serves on the Boards of Texas Advocacy Project as Vice Chair, and Camp Allen Camp, Conference and Retreat Center as Development Committee Chair.

Ms. Reina Wiatt will share a recent update about ChatGPT, Generative AI, and the IT industry boom for all things AI.

About Reina Wiatt:

Reina G. Wiatt, CMA, CPA  has over 25 years experience in the fields of accounting and tax and serves clients through her consulting company, Wiatt Consulting Services, LLC.  She is also an adjunct professor at Concordia University, the Treasurer of the Recognize Good Foundation, and a member of both the International Management Accountants (IMA) and the National Association of professional Women (NAPW).

In addition to her consulting work, Ms. Wiatt has authored several articles on tax, accounting, charitable giving, and cutting edge technology.  Her 2019 article and accompanying case study on Blockchain Technology earned her the United States Silver Medal.

Ms. Wiatt can be contacted at trwiatt@swbell.net.

China is an active competitor for the US in economic terms, political structure and human values. KC Cerny will share with us the latest insights to the new emerging world order and geopolitical tensions.

About KC Cerny

K.C. founded Management Information Analysis (www.mia-consulting.com) in 1990 with the  goal of providing analysis to support corporate decision making. Over the years, he has helped build a well-rounded team. Corporations increasingly capture more and more data, without having a centralized solution to process it, and often they have multiple warring information systems. Having a team that can unravel and manage data allows us to support quantitative decision making at a very high level.

Dr. Cerny received a BA from Princeton University and Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin, TX.

Management Information Analysis is a team of proven professionals that support you with data integration services, custom application development, and enterprise and strategic planning solutions

Rotarian Mike Wyszkowski will introduce and guide our members through the RCWA Club Website (rotaryclubofwestaustin.org), and a deeper dive into the ClubRunner capabilities to support the Club administraiton.

Bring your laptop, iPad or mobile phone to log into our Club website and follow along with the demo.

About Michael Wyszkowski

Michael Wyszkowski is a High-Tech Supply Chain executive with Hewlett Packard Enterprise, where he has led various customer & partner facing teams since 2013. Michael is a Dell Alumnus, and was a member of the Bazaarvoice executive team leading global expansion in client services. Mike started his career in Oil & Gas with Schlumberger, signing his first contract in Dubai and returning to the US after 11 years overseas.

Michael has been a member of the Rotary Club of West Austin since 2008, and was President from 2012-2013.  He has been a Board Member and on various committees since he started. Michael is active in the Austin Sigma Chi Alumni orgazization, and was recruited to join RC of West Austin by Howard Brunson. Michael is a proud & engaged member of the Leadership Austin program, BCE 2012,

Michael was born and raised in Canada, and moved to Seattle for his Engineering graduate studies at University of Washington. Michael also has an MBA from the UT McCombs School of Business.

Michael and Amanda are empty-nesters living in Dripping Springs, TX. They look forward to summer vacation in Naples, FL, every year, and any opportunity to join their grown daughters in Boston or NYC.

www.rotaryclubofwestaustin.org

Jeff Coleman,  who is our Rotary District 5870 Central Texas District Governor Designee for Rotary Year 26/27, is going to talk to us about how to energize Rotarians!

About Jeff Coleman

I am a 1988 graduate of Corpus Christi State University (Texas A&M – Corpus Christi) with a BA in Political Science. My wife and I moved to Pflugerville in 2001 after opening my State Farm Insurance Agency. I have three grown children, one son-in-law and three beautiful grandchildren that are the light of my life.

I have been the independent owner of a State Farm Insurance Agency in Pflugerville TX since 2000. My Agency has won the prestigious Chairman Circle award on six different occasions, and I am a 20-year member of the State Farm Honor Club, making me a Crystal of Excellence award winner.

I am the three-term former Mayor of Pflugerville TX. I served in this volunteer position from May of 2007 until December 2016. During my 9.5-year term, Pflugerville grew from a population of 34,000 to just under 60,000 and the budget grew from under $10,000,000 to over $28,000,000. In 2008, I was honored to be named the “Elected Official of the Year” by the Central Texas Section of the American Planning Association. In 2016, Pflugerville was recognized as the 12th best city in America for a population of 50,000-300,000 by Money Magazine. During my terms, I served as a board member on CAMPO and CAPCOG, both of which are heavily involved in the planning and transportation development of Central Texas. In 2019 I was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Pflugerville Chamber of Commerce.

I joined the Rotary Club of Pflugerville in 2000 a few months after opening my insurance agency. I have served in his club as three-time President, Board Member, Fundraising Committee Chair and on various committees and club projects. At the District level I have served on the District Membership committee and am the current District Community Service Chair and District Insurance Representative. I am a Paul Harris Fellow +8, a Major Donor Level 2, a member of both the Benefactor and Bequest Societies.

Retired Judge Lee Yeakel will lead the installation of the Rotary Club of West Austin Officers for the Rotary year 2024-2025.  Outgoing President Angela Smith will share a recap of her year as Club President.  Incoming President Bruce Cardwell will share his vision for our Club and the objectives he is setting forth.

Judge Lee Yeakel (Retired):

There is no meeting

There is no meeting due to the US Independence Day Holiday!

About Mike O'Krent:

Mike O'Krent is the founder of LifeStories Alive, LLC a business specializing in the making of personal history "legacy" videos for families , businesses and non-profit organizations.

In a life-changing experience, from 1996 through 2000 Mike interviewed Holocaust survivors for Steven Spielberg’s Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation, now the USC Shoah Foundation.  It was through that experience he discovered the significance and technique of recording the life stories of loved ones, which forms the basis for his LifeStories business.

Since founding the business in 2006, Mike has expanded its expertise beyond capturing personal histories for families to now include recording the histories of businesses and non-profit organizations. The professionally produced videos can be used externally to promote the organization or internally as a training tool for new employees/volunteers.

https://lifestoriesalive.com

John Coffman will talk to the Club about Living with Cancer.

About John Coffman

Born in Indiana I got my BS in engineering from Purdue University.  My dream was not to be an engineer in an office but a builder of impressive projects.  My career brought me to Austin which has been our home base since 1984.  I was licensed as a Professional Engineer in Indiana and then in Texas when it became apparent we were going to be Texans for a while. 

Most of my career was spent with Hensel Phelps construction company, a Colorado based company with an Austin office since the late ‘70’s.  Hensel Phelps has a reputation for technical competence which allows them to pursue projects that scare everyone else away.  As a result, their niche isn’t geared toward any particular segment of the market as most companies are.  Because of that I was able to build high rise offices, hospitals, airports, trains, prisons, highways, embassies, high-tech cleanrooms, and restore a 70-year-old tunnel that was on the verge of collapse.  My jobs took me to Hawaii, South Africa, Europe, and all over the mainland US.  My two favorite projects are the 620 bridge over the Colorado River by Mansfield Dam and the US Embassy in Berlin Germany. 

My wife, Rayann, and I raised a son and daughter in Austin where they went all the way through Pflugerville schools from kindergarten through high school.  They each have two kids of their own and still live in north Austin.  My wife, both our kids and all our money went to UT.  A Boilermaker does not stand a chance in our house.

There is no Club meeting on Thu, 25-Jul-2024

Past-Presidents Angela Smith & Nancy Ray embarked on a Great Adventure to the RI Conference in Singapore.  Following that, they toured Vietnam and bring back some amazing stories and pictures. Can't wait to hear about their experiences!

About our Speakers

Past-President Angela Smith

Angela Smith is a a native Texan who grew up in Beaumont. Her first life defining experience came when she flunked Jell-O making in seventh grade.  On the advice of her home ec teacher, she went in another direction and took up journalism and music, which to this day have served her  better than any cooking skill.  Her current culinary expertise is limited to opening a bag of Cheetos.

A graduate of the University of North Texas, she was the first female editor in chief of the daily newspaper. Until then only male students were allowed to be editor because of a 10:50 curfew for women.  She took on the dean of women and won that battle not only for herself but for other women who would serve in that post in the future. 

The day after she got her degree, she went to work for the Associated Press and was assigned to the Capital Press Corps to cover LBJ and his administration. After leaving AP, she went into educational PR and then served for nine years as  executive director of the Writers’ League of Texas. She now proudly holds the title of Executive Director Emeritus, which she describes as a cushy job with no responsibility other than to act like the queen mother.

Today she spends most of her time working as a freelance writer and editor and  nonprofit management consultant. She also serves on the boards of several organizations and is an outspoken advocate for the arts and women’s rights. Her most recent two books are STEEL DRUMS AND STEELBANDS: A HISTORY and WOMEN DRUMMERS: A HISTORY FROM ROCK AND JAZZ TO BLUES AND COUNTRY, which is the basis for a documentary titled Chicks with Sticks.

She’s involved in lots of music activities and plays the steel drum, cello, piano, and hammered dulcimer – but not all at the same time. She’s also an avid amateur astronomer, and loves helping others take that first look through a telescope eyepiece to see the rings of Saturn and light from galaxies that’s traveled from millions of light years away.

Her most recent adventure was being cast in a PBS movie on women’s suffrage called CITIZENS AT LAST, scheduled to air on the anniversary this year of the women’s vote.

Her philosophy of life: every day is another chance to get it right.

Past-President Nancy Ray

Nancy was born and raised in Mineral  Wells, Texas, graduated from the University of Texas and bleeds burnt orange. She is married to rancher Bruce Wittig whom she met through her 85-year-old mother-in-law (known as the matchmaker) .

Nancy has two grown daughters and four amazing grands, 2  stepsons and another set of six amazing step grands. 

She is gleefully retired and her passions include faith, family,  friends,  Rotary and being a weekend cowgirl! As a Rotarian for over 30 years she once had the privilege of meeting the first female Rotarian president. 

Our RYLA campers will join us with their parents to talk about their recent experiences at the District 5870 Rotary Youth Leadership Award camp held in early-July.

About our speakers

The RYLA Campers sponsored by Rotary Club of West Austin are:

• Ashley Mankinen
• Fox Redmond
• Ben Reiff
• Lily Steinhauser

Congratulations for particiating in the 2024 RYLA Program!

The Arc of the Capital Area is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering Central Texans with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families through compassionate case management and innovative programs. This year, The Arc proudly celebrates 75 years of service to the community. Join our Chief Development Officer, Annie Wells, to learn more about The Arc and discover how you can make a positive impact in your community!

About our speaker - Annie Wells, Chief Development Officer

NO MEETING

NO MEETING

The first meeting of each month is programmed for "Table Talks". Members will be encouraged to shuffle their regular seating positions, meet new members and engage in fresh conversations.  This is a great way to build new and enduring fellowship amongst Club members.

About our speaker

District Governor Doug Smith will talk about the state of District 5870 and our district goals for RY2024-2025

About District Governor Doug Smith

At TerraClear Foundation, we maintain a steadfast commitment to the welfare and rights of children, acknowledging their crucial role in shaping the future. Our programs are designed to protect children from exploitation, ensure their access to education, and provide the necessary resources for a safe and nurturing environment. Recognizing the significant link between environmental health and human well-being, our efforts also extend to environmental protection. We address climate change, promote sustainable practices, and conserve natural resources. Join us in our efforts to ensure clean water accessibility, uphold children’s rights, and preserve our environment for future generations.

About Dawn Marie Lewis

Dawn has been with TerraClear since 2020, working with TerraCare and TerraKids. Dawn is currently Executive Director of TerraClear Foundation and brings with her lots of experience, and a passion for people and getting things done!

NO MEETING

About TBD