Events

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

Aubrey WIlson is turning 100 years old on Wednesday, October 16th. Join us to celebrate his birthday and the remarkable life that he's led!

It’s rare to hear the experiences of someone who’s made 100 spins around the sun, but West Austin Rotarians will have that opportunity at this week’s meeting. We’ll be celebrating Aubrey Wilson’s 100^th birthday by featuring highlights in his extraordinary life.  Mike Wray, Mark Kurusz, Nancy Ray, and Angela Smith chatted with Aubrey about different aspects of his life, and we’ll be sharing those conversations at Thursday’s meeting in a special video.  You’ll learn about Aubrey’s growing up in Kentucky, attending UT, joining IBM and becoming one of their top sales people, his experiences with A&M and working with H. Ross Perot.  You’ll also learn about his world travels, his many varied interests, and how he’s seen the world change in 100 years.   

About Aubrey Wilson

Aubrey Wilson has a 1947 degree in Economics from UT (Austin) and a 1950 MBA from the University of Chicago. He describes his 38 years with IBM as "selling, advising, cajoling, teaching, planning, consulting, developing and implementing information systems for many of the greatest national and international corporate names in the world".

Aubrey is an Emeritus Member of the Rotary Club of West Austin, and we look forward to the insights he will share with us.

Past District Governor Jerry Chapman will talk to us about his recent Honor Flight experience.

About Past District Governor Jerry Chapman 2018-2019

Look at your Bible. The first five books of the Old Testament (the Torah or Pentateuch) consisting of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy are called the Five Books of Moses. For centuries, anyone who challenged the idea that Moses was not the author of these writings was either excommunicated, exiled, imprisoned or executed. Yet for hundreds of years, scholars have defied these risks in attempts to determine who actually were the authors, when did they write and for what purpose. It was not until 1943 that a major turning point for scholarly research occurred when Pope Pius XII issued an encyclical encouraging scholars to pursue knowledge about the Biblical writers as the “living and reasonable instrument of the Holy Spirit”. 

The result for today is what is known as the Documentary Hypothesis, identifying five primary writers and compilers known as J (Jahweh), E (Elohim), P (the Priestly Writer), D (the Deuteronomist), and finally the Redactor (the person who assembled the books of the Old Testament from Genesis to Ezra/Nehemiah and also wrote the Chronicles.  This hypothesis provides a historical framework and context upon which the major and minor prophets can then be placed like ornaments on a Christmas tree. 

 Above all the Documentary Hypothesis gives the reader a deeper insight into understanding and interpreting  the stories and events of the Old Testament and an insight into the way Jesus would deal with the Scripture he encountered in his day. 

About Chris Harrison

About Francis Pearson

We will celebrate a our Club Holiday party.