Events

This Thursday evening we will gather at Courtney Underwood's house to celebrate the holidays and our friendships build throughout the years with The Rotary Club of Dallas. Bring your favorite bottle of spirits to share, dinner provided by the club. Come alone or accompanied with spouse/friend! We are grateful to be welcomed into Courtney's beautiful home for another year of celebration!! 
Please RSVP if you know or anticipate joining so we can prepare accordingly! THANK YOU! 

We will not have a meeting this week! Enjoy the holidays. 

We will not have a meeting this week! Enoy your New Years Day! 

Mike Tharp has been a journalist since age 16. He has worked for the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Far Eastern Economic Review and U.S. News & World Report in Dallas. Tokyo, San Francisco and Los Angeles. He was also executive editor of a daily newspaper in California. For a dozen years he's taught journalism in California and Texas. He's been to 61 countries and covered seven wars as a correspondent--one in Vietnam as an Army combat correspondent and as a civilian in the Persian Gulf War, Somalia, Bosnia, Kosovo/Albania and two embedded deployments in Iraq. He also played on a small college national championship basketball team in Kansas. In 1967-68 he was a Rotary Foundation Fellow at the University of Wales in Cardiff, which he calls "the best year of my life.

Club Assembly will discuss all service projects, club financials, our foundation and much more! You want to be a part of this!

Every 3rd Thursday the Dallas Rotary members meet at various locations around Dallas for fellowship and Happy Hour. This is a great opportunits for networking, and getting to know your fellow members of the club in a casual environment. It is also a wonderful time to invite a guest. 

Karen Blumenthal is an author of award-winning nonfiction for adults and young people, including her latest book, Bonnie and Clyde: The Making of a Legend. The former Dallas bureau chief of The Wall Street Journal lives in Lake Highlands and is a hopeless Dallas sports fan. 

The Dallas Rotary Club Foundation Board of Trustees will meet quarterly following the club luncheon. 

Brian Luallen has more than 20 years of experience in destination tourism and experiential events. His career has been dedicated to developing and delivering impactful experiences for employees and guests, re-launching attractions, and growing public-private partnerships including Stone Mountain Park in Atlanta Georgia, The RMS Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA and the Witte Museum in San Antonio, Tx.

Brian’s work transforming concepts into reality has been featured in Time Magazine, The Wall Street Journal and numerous other national media outlets. He holds degrees in education and pre-law from Georgia State University and enjoys living in Dallas with his wife, Tina.

Every 3rd Thursday the Dallas Rotary members meet at various locations around Dallas for fellowship and Happy Hour. This is a great opportunits for networking, and getting to know your fellow members of the club in a casual environment. It is also a wonderful time to invite a guest. 

The Rotary Club of Dallas and Safer Dallas present the 11th Annual Dallas Police Department Distingtished Service Award and Public Safety Leader Award on Wednesday, February 26th at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. Please join us to celebrate the achievements of our 2018/2019 awardees and hear from our Keynote Speaker, DPD Chief Renee Hall. To RSVP please click the link below or email hillary@dallasrotary.org 

LEAP into creating a hunger-free world with The Rotaey Club of Dallas and Feeding Children Everywhere this LEAP DAY! Volunteer by clicking below! 

Texas Scottish Rite Parking - Parking is noted in the link to the attached map.  Please park in the surface lot marked “Street Level Patient and Visitor Parking” and enter the building at the Main Entrance.

John ‘Jay’ W. Cole III was born in Dallas and received his Bachelor of Arts with an economics major and a math minor from the University of Texas, Austin. He earned the Master of Divinity degree and Certificate of Specialization in Urban Ministry from Southern Methodist University’s Perkins School of Theology, as well as the B’nai B’rith Award for academic excellence in ethical studies and his social justice work in southern Dallas. Jay was an Associate Minister of Urban Ministry at First United Methodist Church, Dallas for 15 years until Crossroads became an independent 501(c)(3) corporation in 2015. Jay has been the Executive Director of Crossroads since 2003.
In 2006, Crossroads began creating a model where a network of churches, places of worship, low- income retirement and community centers, Dallas Housing Authority sites, and other non- profits/agencies can provide substantial amounts of nutritious food to their neighbors without becoming a full-fledged food pantry—they are Crossroads’ Community Distribution Partners or CDPs. Under Jay’s leadership, Crossroads created the first computerized system in the US that helps people select the appropriate amount and kinds of food based upon each person’s age, gender, and activity level, following the recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
Crossroads Community Services' mission is to nourish our community's low-income families by providing nutritious food and supportive education.  By distributing substantial amounts of wholesome food, Crossroads strives to meet the basic food needs of clients, supplement their incomes and collect research worthy data for academic and medical partners who analyze it to better understand the broader impact of food insecurity and food assistance on the well-being of low-income populations. As an example of relevant data, we were the first NTFB agency to capture height and weight, due to the challenge of coexisting food insecurity and rising obesity rates among clients.
In 2019, our dedicated Community Distribution Partners distributed 5.5 million pounds of groceries to 26,707 individuals throughout Dallas, Ellis and Navarro Counties—enough food to prepare 4.58 million wholesome meals and save clients $11,000,000 at the store.  In 2020, it may be 7,200,000 Lbs.

This will be a virtual meeting streamed on Facebook at noon - www.facebook.com/rotaryclubofdallas 

President Charles Dowden, will share the most recent updates from the district and club regarding cancellations due to COVID-19. What the Rotary Club of Dallas members can expect during this time and ways to prepare. Join us virtually through facebook live! 

This will be a virtual meeting streamed on Facebook at noon - www.facebook.com/rotaryclubofdallas 

This will be a virtual meeting streamed on Facebook at noon - www.facebook.com/rotaryclubofdallas 

Matt Gerber
Rotarian, The Rotary Club of Dallas ShelterBox USA Board Member
Matt Gerber grew up in Rotary. Although he was born into a farming family in Oregon with no connection to the organization, a Rotarian and neighbor invited him to apply to be a Youth Exchange Student. Since the age of 15, Matt has participated in Rotary programs from Youth Exchange to Camp Enterprise, being a founding Rotaract Club president at his university, a mentor to Interact Clubs, 11 years as a guest speaker at RYLA in District 5100, speaker to numerous district and zone events, service on district committees, being a Rotary Club president in Minneapolis, participating with Rotary as he lived and worked in several places overseas... until he finally moved to Dallas and is now a proud member of our club.
Matt's story highlights the potential of youth programs to inspire lifelong loyalty and participation in Rotary. For the last 24 years, Matt says that Rotary has been the most consistent part of his life, especially given that he has worked, lived and studied in 75 countries around the globe. Much of his professional work find inspiration in using the model of Rotary programs in unlikely settings. Matt came to Dallas four years ago when he was hired to start a vocational rehabilitation program for struggling veterans—which he based off the model of RYLA. The program was an immediate success and graduated nearly 200 veterans into new careers and purpose as certified personal trainers and giving them leadership and professional skills to help them succeed in civilian life.
Matt currently helps companies design and implement corporate social responsibility strategies around the globe, with current projects in Pakistan, Ukraine, Poland, Spain and the UK. Additionally, Matt serves on the US Board of Directors for ShelterBox, the official disaster relief partner of Rotary International. Originally started as a Rotary project 20 years ago by a club in Great Britain, ShelterBox has now been nominated two years in a row for the Nobel Peace Prize for its ongoing work in Syria, Somalia and the Lake Chad Basin Crisis. Today, Matt will be sharing about his Rotary journey and the importance of inspiring young people with the potential and purpose of being part of Rotary.

Jaime A. Davidson, MD, FACP, MACE

Dr. Davidson is a Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Touchstone Diabetes Research Center and a member of the executive committee on CME.  He is the past president of the Worldwide Initiative for Diabetes Education, a non-for profit international diabetes foundation.

Dr. Davidson served as the chair of the Texas Diabetes Council, Texas Department of Health Services appointed by Governor George W. Bush. He was appointed by Governor Perry as an advisor to the Texas Department of Health Services in 2004. He serves in the Diabetes task force of the National Minority Quality Forum. His previous experience includes:

Dr. Davidson served the FDA Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases advisory board for a six year period.

• Past President of Endocrine & Diabetes Associates of Texas

• Member of the National Diabetes Advisory Board, National Institutes of Health

• President of the Texas Affiliate of the American Diabetes Association

• Member of the Board of Directors of the American Diabetes Association and served in 

   different positions (chair of the Minority Task Force, the ADA Endocrinology Council, etc.

Dr. Davidson is a member of the Endocrine Society and has served in the Minority Committee and has been a presenter in many of the annual meetings, His work with the International Diabetes Federation includes Lifetime Member, member of the Executive committee IDF 2000 in Mexico City and 2003 in Paris, France.  He was a member of the scientific committee for both and remains active with committee work.

Dr. Davidson a charter member in the formation of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), and served several terms as a member of the Board of Directors. He chaired the AACE Diabetes Guidelines in 2001 and the initial road map for the prevention and treatment of Type 2 Diabetes.  He has also contributed to other guidelines for the American College of Endocrinology.  He has served as a Trustee of the American College of Endocrinology and served in several occasions as an advisor to the AACE board of directors. He spearheaded the initiation and organization of the international chapters  and served as the first chair .

This will be a virtual meeting you can watch from Facebook Live - www.facebook.com/rotaryclubofdallas 

Michael Brundy is a motivating and inspiring speaker and storyteller. He retired from AT&T with 39 years of service and he never missed a day of work. 

Michael identifies his passion as a desire to communicate with and empower others.  He does this through his writings and his public speaking.  He is a member of the National Speakers Association, a member of the Toastmaster International Hall of Fame, an author and the president of his own speaking company, called I Speak.  He is also an active member in the Dallas Storytelling Guild and the North Texas Storytelling Guild.

Michael believes in being involved.  For five years he served as the national president of Community NETwork, AT&T’s African American employee organization.  In this role he worked for equal pay, promotion and progression of black employees. He has served on the board of directors of the National Association of Black Telecommunication Professionals (NABTP) and as the editor of their newsletter, the Sphinx.  He is a proud lifetime member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and the past president of the Mansfield Cedar Hill Kappa Foundation and his local alumni chapter. In addition, he has served on the Core Council of the Center for Spiritual Living in Dallas.

Through his storytelling Michael aims to inform, inspire and entertain his audiences..

I suicide death of her son, Grant Halliburton. 

Vanita is a frequent speaker on youth mental health and suicide prevention in schools, at professional conferences, and throughout the community. She speaks from the heart about her son’s battle with depression and bipolar disorder, his suicide at the age of 19, and the need for a collaborative and comprehensive approach to suicide prevention in our community.

5th Wednesday Evening Social 

The Dallas Rotary Club Foundation Board of Trustees will meet quarterly following the club luncheon. 

Margaret Spellings serves as President and CEO of  Texas 2036, bringing with her knowledge and  experience developed over an exceptional career in  public service at both the state and national level.  

Most recently, Spellings served as the president of the 17- institution University of North Carolina System, leading the state’s public university into a new period of performance, affordability,  and growth with a focus on improving economic mobility, ensuring accountability, and  advancing the public good.  

Prior to that, Spellings served as president of the George W. Bush Presidential Center in  Dallas, Texas, where she oversaw programs on economic opportunity, education reform,  global health, and special initiatives on women’s leadership and military service.  
From 2005 to 2009, Spellings served as U.S. Secretary of Education, leading the  implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act, a bipartisan initiative to provide greater  accountability for the education of 50 million U.S. public school students. As secretary, she  also launched the Commission on the Future of Higher Education, a plan to address  challenges of access, affordability, quality, and accountability in our nation’s colleges and  universities. Prior to serving as Secretary, Spellings served as White House domestic policy  advisor from 2001 to 2005, overseeing the administration’s agenda on education,  transportation, health, justice, housing, and labor.  

Spellings experience also includes serving as senior advisor to then-Governor George W.  Bush of Texas, president and CEO of Margaret Spellings and Company, a Washington, DC,  consulting firm that provided strategic guidance on a variety of domestic policy matters,  and as a president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, advocating for more  effective education and workforce training.  
Spellings was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, but spent much of her childhood in Houston.  She is a graduate of the University of Houston, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in  political science. She also received an honorary doctorate and Distinguished Alumni Award  from the university in 2006. Spellings has two adult daughters and resides in Dallas.  

Kathleen McElroy LaValle
President and CEO, Dallas CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates)
Kathleen LaValle became president of Dallas CASA in July 2014 following three decades of practicing law, earning distinction in Chambers USA as a top tier counsel and preeminent practitioner and chairing the Texas State Bar Antitrust and Business Litigation Section. Today she leads the largest CASA program in the country in terms of total children served by volunteers, number of volunteer advocates, and annual revenue. In 2019, Dallas CASA and its 1,500 volunteer advocates will serve more than 3,500 children in foster care. Now advocating for 98% of Dallas County children in foster care today, Dallas CASA’s goal is to serve every child in need.
While a partner with Jackson Walker LLP, Kathleen headed the women’s initiative and served on the firm-wide diversity committee. She currently serves as a member of the Dallas County Child Welfare Board, the Texas CASA board of directors, and the Nonprofit CEO Council. Prior to transitioning to her nonprofit role, Kathleen served on the Dallas CASA board of directors for 12 years, including a term as board chair. Kathleen was recognized as an SMU Dedman School of Law Distinguished Alumni in 2018 and she was the recipient of the Dallas Regional Chamber’s ATHENA® Award in 2014.
Kathleen received her JD from SMU’s Dedman School of Law and her BA from the University of Notre Dame. Immediately following law school, LaValle clerked for the Hon. Robert Madden Hill, U.S. District Court (N.D. Tex.) and she later taught Legal Writing and Texas Pre-Trial Practice and Texas Trial and Appellate Practice as an adjunct professor at SMU

Every 3rd Thursday the Dallas Rotary members meet at various locations around Dallas for fellowship and Happy Hour. This is a great opportunits for networking, and getting to know your fellow members of the club in a casual environment. It is also a wonderful time to invite a guest. 

Senior Global Market Strategist Managing Director
Wells Fargo Investment Institute Wells Fargo & Company
Scott Wren is senior global market strategist for Wells Fargo Investment Institute, a subsidiary of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., which is focused on delivering the highest quality investment expertise and advice to help investors manage risk and succeed financially. Wells Fargo Investment Institute serves Wealth and Investment Management, a division of Wells Fargo & Company comprised of Wells Fargo Private Bank, Wells Fargo Advisors, and Abbot Downing businesses.
Mr. Wren is a member of the Investment Strategy Committee, which is the team that produces strategy and guidance recommendations for global financial, real asset, and alternatives markets. With his knowledge of the financial markets, he is often quoted in national media outlets including Reuters, The Chicago Tribune, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, The Associated Press, and The Wall Street Journal. He frequently appears in interviews on Bloomberg Television, the Fox Business Network, and CNBC’s “Nightly Business Report.” Prior to joining Wells Fargo Advisors predecessor A.G. Edwards in 1998, Mr. Wren worked as a senior foreign exchange dealer for The Boatmen’s National Bank of St. Louis. He began his career on the trading floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and has over 30 years of financial services experience.
He received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Kansas and a Master of Finance from Saint Louis University. He is located in St. Louis.