Events

Roger Kaplan has over 40 years’ experience in the hospitality industry as a nationally acclaimed chef, owner, operator, entrepreneur, concept developer, manufacturing liaison and consultant.

Kaplan earned his chops through a varied career path that took him through some of the premier restaurants, hotels and restaurant companies in America. From his initial start in hotels at the world-famous Jockey Club restaurant at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Washington, DC to the Conservatory and Beau Nash restaurants at the Hotel Crescent Court in Dallas TX. As a nationally acclaimed chef/owner of the City Grill Restaurant and corporate chef of the Peasants restaurant and Mick’s group in Atlanta GA to Vice President of Operations for Ruth’s Chris Steak House worldwide, Roger has always taken the lead in concept evolution, menu engineering, maximizing profitability, and leadership development. In a quest to gain the knowledge of manufacturing in the QSR segment of the industry, he joined Boston Market as director of new product development and concept evolution. Roger’s background in both operations, culinary and manufacturing affords him a global perspective that encapsulates the total restaurant dining experience and its many facets.

As a culinarian, he earned a reputation as a nationally acclaimed chef being featured in Great Chefs-Great Cities, Great Chefs of the South, and Great Chefs of America on The Discovery Channel. He has been featured in national magazines like Food and Wine and Fitness magazine where he was selected as one of the 16 Healthiest Chefs in America. At Ruth’s Chris during his tenure the group earned the Platinum Choice in Chains Awards, Rob Reports best restaurant in America, and Consumer Reports best restaurants in America. In 2005, when Hurricane Katrina destroyed the City of New Orleans and Ruth’s Chris moved their headquarters to Tampa, chef Kaplan moved to Dallas.

15 Years ago, Kaplan’s entrepreneurial spirit guided him to depart the corporate world to found RK iNNOVATION; A collaborative consulting practice that allow him to fuel his passion for creating Zagat Rated, profitable concept creation, R&D, menu development, manufacturing, operations, developing emerging growth brands and licensing utilizing all of his experience.

Kaplan, a former Society of Fellows member of the Culinary Institute of America, is a board member of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, the past Chairman of the TRAEF, TRA Executive Board Member, on the advisory board for El Centro College and Medical City for Kids Teaching Kids.

Join us for some beverages and fajitas catered by Mexicali! We will welcome our new Red and Blue badge members in a casual setting at the White Rock Boat Club. $15 Admission can be paid by clicking the link below. 

State Rep. Eric Johnson (D) and Dallas City Councilman Scott Griggs are running in a June 8 nonpartisan runoff election for mayor of Dallas, Texas. This is an open-seat race; incumbent Mike Rawlings (D), in office since 2011, was prevented by term limits from seeking re-election.

Both candidates discuss their records in elected office as evidence of their fitness to serve as mayor.

Johnson says he has a record of bringing people together across party and rural/urban divides in the state House, where he's served since 2010, and that he is the candidate to mend divisiveness on the Dallas City Council. He says he has worked to increase affordable housing and for full-day pre-K during his time as a state legislator.

Griggs says his record on the city council, where he first began serving in 2011, attests to his ability to accomplish things on the council. He lists among his accomplishments his role in passing salary increases for police officers and economic growth in the North Oak Cliff neighborhood he represents.

Economic development has emerged as a policy area of difference between the candidates.

Griggs said, "For far too long in Dallas, we’ve focused too long on the postcard, building the fancy bridges, building the convention center hotel, a golf course, a horse park. We need to get back to the basics."

Johnson said of development, "I don’t think it’s as simple as saying everything that’s not a pothole is a vanity project or everything that’s not fixing a street is a boondoggle. We need to have a certain amount of big dreams and big ideas but we also need to make sure the city works for its residents."

Griggs has been endorsed by several unions, including the Dallas Fire Fighters Association, as well as environmental and LGBT groups. Johnson's endorsers include NAACP President Arthur Fleming and a number of local business leaders, including Republicans, who signed a letter in February asking people to donate to his campaign.

For coverage of the May 4 general election, click here.

Dallas is the ninth-largest city in the U.S. with a population of 1.3 million. Johnson represents District 100 in the state House, which covers portions of Dallas and Mesquite and had about 161,000 residents as of the 2010 census. Griggs represents District 1 on the city council, which had around 84,000 residents as of 2011.

Dallas uses a council-manager system. In this form of municipal government, the mayor serves on the city council—the city's primary legislative body. The council and mayor appoint a chief executive called a city manager to oversee day-to-day municipal operations and implement the council's policy and legislative initiatives. The mayor of Dallas appoints city council committee members and chairs, determines what policy-related agenda items will be considered by the council, and makes policy and budget recommendations. The mayor does not have veto power.

President Dana DeVance will pass the gavel to Charles Dowden! 

Service Above Self Teacher Awards Luncheon

You are invited to join the fun at the 5th Annual Dallas Rotary Club Foundation Charity Golf Tournament benefiting Safer Dallas and Dallas Rotary Club Foundation. Hosted by The Rotary Club of Dallas. Take this opportunity to play with Dallas Police Officers and learn first hand the issues they face each day.

 REGISTER AS A PLAYER or SPONSOR HERE!!!

About the Benefiting Organizations

Safer Dallas Better Dallas, a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, was founded in 2005 by community leaders Jack Hammack and Charles Terrell, who pledged to seek solutions and funding necessary to make Dallas the safest city in America. The mission of Safer Dallas Better Dallas is to protect citizens from becoming victims of crime through a unique partnership with the Dallas Police Department. We believe we have helped usher in a decade of falling crime rates through leadership training and improved equipment and technology for the men and women in blue. During the past 13 years, Safer Dallas Better Dallas has raised millions of dollars, and has funded the Caruth Police Institute, neighborhood security cameras, bait cars, narcotics dogs, sexual assault programs, body cameras, and much more. Every dollar donated to Safer Dallas Better Dallas from the Dallas Rotary Club Foundation Charity Golf Tournament is used to support the Dallas Police Department and their needs that are not funded by the city.
 

The Dallas Rotary Club Foundation was established June 2, 1954, as a non-profit agency of The Rotary Club of Dallas with aims to make loans from the Trust Fund to qualified students for college, post-graduate and professional study. As well as to provide revenue from interest to support The Rotary Club of Dallas participate in selected local projects such as; Salute to American Veterans, building sanitation stations, participating in "Let's Talk", the Bike Rodeo with Texas Scottish Rite Children's Hospital, and "I Like Me!"

Why Sponsor the Golf Tournament? 

Sponsoring The Rotary Club of Dallas Charity Golf Tournament provides company exposure at the event and in the community, and the opportunity to interact with and support both Safer Dallas Better Dallas and Dallas Rotary Club Foundation. Most importantly, without your help the good work we do would not be possible. We hope you will partner with us to make a difference. 

Sponsor Levels                             
Download 2019 Sponsor Packet