University Area Rotary Club
One does not often hear of service clubs these days. For some reason they seem to be under the radar. Possibly they just go about their business and are content with their relative anonymity. The definition of a service club is that they are “voluntary, non profit organizations that meet regularly to perform charitable work.” We have all seen service club signs when driving through small towns. Most recognizable are Lions Club, Kiwanis Club, Rotary International, American Legion, the Elks, Eagles, and the Loyal Order of Moose. These organizations have dedicated their activities to support various causes. For example, Lions International focuses on the blind and visually impaired. The Kiwanis are active with the concerns of children. The American Legion historically has promoted youth baseball. The Elks and Eagles raise funds for local community needs and the Loyal Order of Moose does as well and also supports an orphanage and a retirement home. Personally, I am a member of The American Legion Post 77 here in Houston and Moose Lodge 933 in Dowagiac, Michigan.
For the past couple of years, I have enjoyed the company of several men and women of the University Area Rotary Club over a pint of cold beer at my favorite brewery, Baileson’s on Bissonnet, between Morningside and Greenbriar, on Thursday afternoons. These are not official Rotary meetings, just an opportunity to converse and enjoy each other’s company. For some reason, I seem to have been “adopted” and I look forward to these informal weekly gatherings.
The University Area Rotary Club “UARC” was formed in 1946 and it was the fourth Rotary Club to be chartered in Houston. It is not a particularly large group, with about 30 active members. They meet weekly every Wednesday, 7:30am, at the Hermann Park Golf clubhouse, 2155 N. MacGregor Way. They share breakfast tortillas and coffee and have brief conversations and then they have a “Speaker of the Day” who gives a talk of one half hour. I was honored to be the Speaker of the Day a little over a year ago.
The purpose of this article is to provide a well deserved shoutout about the University Area Rotary Club and to recognize how important their volunteer mission is to those in need. It is high time that their efforts be recognized.
For the last fifteen years, UARC has provided both US and Texas flags in the area at residences on each major federal holiday for a modest fee. This is the club’s major fundraiser each year. Early on the Club became aware of the limited availability of healthcare services in and around Matamoros, Mexico, just across the border from Brownsville, Texas. To help meet these needs the Club contacted Club Rotario Matamoros Professional and entered into a “sister-club” relationship that has addressed the creation of a Red Cross clinic with the city. An operating room and ambulance have been sourced and supplied from the US through the capable folks at UARC.
They also provide Matamoros “fire / emergency/ life support equipment” that is donated to the club or purchased directly by the club from the flag program. Additionally, they assist in the installation of private water services there due to old and corroded water pipes in the area and have expanded their activities to schools in Matamoros by taking literally truck loads of locally donated used student desks, furniture and uniforms from the Houston area and bringing the inventory to Mexico. Usually up to a dozen members take the equipment, both fire and school related, to Matamoros several times each year.
If any readers are interested in receiving more information or would be interested in joining the University Area Rotary Club please contact the club’s president, Richard Lazear, at 281.686.1122 or by email – Richard@ClubFunding.org.
Also, bring a copy of this article to meet at Baileson Brewing Company, 2322 Bissonnet, between Morningside and Greenbriar, on any Thursday afternoon about 5:00pm, and we will buy you a cold pint!
