Events
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Mar. 17, 2021 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Join us via zoom for our Annual Dallas Rotary Club Foundation Awards Ceremony.
The Dallas Rotary Club Foundation was established June 2, 1954, as a non-profit agency of The Rotary Club of Dallas with the following aims:
The Dallas Rotary Club Foundation incorporated these funds of the Dallas Rotary Student Loan Fund, which was founded in 1919 and was the first student loan fund established by any club in Rotary International. Under the leadership of Deryl Hull, President of The Rotary Club of Dallas, 1953-1954, the Dallas Rotary Club Foundation was endowed with additional capital and thus created.
The Foundation now serves as the philanthropic arm to The Rotary Club of Dallas and to help it reach its mission.
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Mar. 17, 2021 4:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
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Mar. 18, 2021 5:30 p.m.
Join us EVERY 3rd Thursday for Rotary After Hours! Virtual via zoom link - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6241406228?pwd=azF1YTNUWitranZZZW91T2NaZjhaZz09 Meeting ID: 624 140 6228 We meet every 3rd Thursday at 5:30PM for Happy Hour, currently virtually. Once safe to do so we will meet again at various locations around Dallas. Please contact social chair, Amanda Melo if you have a favorite spot you'd like to meet, or an exciting program for This is a great opportunity for networking, and getting to know your fellow members of the club in a casual environment. It is also a great opportunity to invite a guest! |
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Mar. 23, 2021
The BackPage meetings are held every 4th Tuesday of the month, unless that date conflicts with a major holiday in which case they are usually moved up one week, at the Park City Club. The contact is Jim Smith as the sponsoring Park City Club member. Jim makes all the arrangements and will email the monthly RSVP notices to BackPage advertisers. If you would like more specifics, or are interested in joining the BackPage please let Jim Smith know.
Jim Smith jsmith@dallascpas.com or (214) 276-5001 (Direct) |
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Boy Scouts of America / Circle 10 Council
Mar. 24, 2021 11:45 a.m.
Samuel “Sam” Thompson is the Scout Executive/CEO of the Circle Ten Council in Dallas, Texas. With a passion for what Scouting provides the youth of America, Sam is committed to growing the number of Scouts within the 24-county council territory. In fact, his goal is to increase the membership to over 114,000 youth members by the year 2027 (doubling the number of Scouts from when he took the reins). Sam grew up in Reno, Nevada. He earned his Eagle Scout Award in 1979 in Troop 152. Sam graduated from University of Nevada with a Bachelor of Science in Resource Management. Sam’s scouting career began in 1990 when he served as District Executive in the Reno, Nevada council. Sam also held the positions of Senior District Executive, and Director of Field Service. He became the Assistant Scout Executive, in Sacramento, California, in 1999. In January of 2002 Sam moved into the position of Scout Executive for the Ore-Ida Council in Boise, Idaho. In 2006, he was promoted to the Cub Scout Division Director at the National Council. Sam became the Membership Impact Department Manager in 2008. In 2010, Sam took leadership of the Regional Support Department and in April 2014, he became department manager of the Strategic Performance Office. In 2015 he took the helm of the Information Technology Group, responsible for transforming BSA systems into a user-friendly experience that addresses the needs of the membership, making extensive progress in Online Registration, Scoutbook, Blackbaud CRM, My.Scouting tools. Sam is married to Debi and they have a son, Nicolas. Sam’s hobbies are: parenting, golfing, hunting, fishing, camping, and gardening. |
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Mar. 24, 2021 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
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Mar. 31, 2021 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
During the Club Assembly you will learn about The Rotary Club of Dallas behind the scenes. Many club members will take the podium to discuss upcoming club events, and important topics. Shelby Abeyta, Dream Team; Kerney Laday, Major Donors; Ronnie Johnson, Membership; Jim Smith, Club Finances ; Brent Holtz, Charity Golf Tournament, and to conclude President Jim Frankiewicz, Presidential Discretionary and Covid-19.
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Apr. 01, 2021 5:30 p.m.
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Reshaping Dallas' Crown Jewel
Apr. 07, 2021 11:45 a.m.
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. |
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Apr. 14, 2021 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Speaker: The Honorable Michael Williams Michael Williams has served Texas and the nation in a remarkable and spirited public service career spanning more than 30 years that encompasses significant contributions, ranging from serving as a federal prosecutor with the Department of Justice to leading Texas state agencies, all while breaking racial barriers and providing insightful leadership and thoughtful perspective.
Williams’ career has placed him squarely in the role of a number of groundbreaking firsts. He currently is the inauguralDistinguished Leader in Residence at the University of North Texas at Dallas. From 2012-2016, he served as the first blackcommissioner of the Texas Education Agency, overseeing pre-kindergarten through high school education for more than five million students. And from 1999 - 2011 Williams became the only Black American in Texas history to be elected to the Executive Branch of Texas state government as the Texas Railroad (Oil and Gas) Commissioner.
Williams’ service as TEA commissioner was one of many Governor Rick Perry appointments including his designee in 2005 tolead Texas ’ long-term relief efforts following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and echoed Williams' lead in dealing with the Texasresponse to the tragedy in Darfur.
After earning a Bachelor’s, Master’s and law degree from the University of Southern California, Williams returned to hishometown of Midland, Texas where he served as an assistant district attorney. Williams ’ particular talent for prosecutingand winning difficult cases led him to accept an assignment in Washington D.C. as a federal prosecutor at the U.S. Department of Justice, earning the Attorney General ’s Special Achievement Award for the conviction of six Ku Klux Klan members. Williams prosecuted the KKK cases under the protection of federal agents after receiving death threats.
President George H.W. Bush appointed Williams as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Law Enforcement at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, where Williams exercised policy oversight responsibility for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Customs Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and the Financial CrimesEnforcement Network.
In 1990, President George H.W. Bush named Williams the Assistant Secretary of Education for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education. He established much of the DOE civil rights policy still in effect today regarding increased investigative resources to issues such as the overrepresentation of minority males in special education, the underrepresentation of females in advanced placement courses, racial harassment on college campuses, and the treatment oflimited-English proficient students.
In 1998, Governor George W. Bush appointed Williams to an unexpired term on the Railroad Commission of Texas, the oldest regulatory body in this state (and worst named state agency in American politics since it has nothing to do with railroads). The three-member commission oversees oil and gas regulation. Texans subsequently elected him to this position in 2000, 2002 and 2008. He became the first Black American in Texas history elected to a position in the Executive Branch of Texas Government.
Williams narrates short stories for children and is a past Honorary State Chairman of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Texas and chairman of the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission. Williams has followed in his parents’ professional educator footsteps as well, having served as an adjunct professor at Texas Southern University, the University of Texas at the Permian Basin, the Texas Wesleyan School of Law and now, the University of North Texas at Dallas.
Michael and Donna, have been married 35 years. |
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Apr. 15, 2021 5:30 p.m.
Join us EVERY 3rd Thursday for Rotary After Hours! Virtual via zoom link - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2147425451?pwd=Q3N2WkVuMFA4WUcvbUFCbG5ia3MwZz09 Meeting ID: 214 742 5451 We meet every 3rd Thursday at 5:30PM for Happy Hour, currently virtually. Once safe to do so we will meet again at various locations around Dallas. Please contact social chair, Amanda Melo if you have a favorite spot you'd like to meet, or an exciting program for This is a great opportunity for networking, and getting to know your fellow members of the club in a casual environment. It is also a great opportunity to invite a guest! |
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Musicals & Marketing in the Age of CoVid
Apr. 21, 2021 11:45 a.m.
Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) announces the appointment of Kenneth T. Novice as its President. Novice will begin his position on May 1, 2017 with an immediate plan of action to continue the work that David Hyslop, DSM’s Interim Managing Director, started last year of instilling stability and sustainability for the organization. “We are thrilled to welcome Ken to Dallas as the next President of the Dallas Summer Musicals,” said Ted Munselle, DSM Board Chair. “His experience is the perfect blend of what DSM needs to continue to excel at what we do best, and to build upon our storied history as a leader in the Dallas arts community. Ken has an engaging personality, as well as a broad vision of where we can and should go as an organization. His ability to think outside of the box will help keep DSM relevant and exciting for future generations of arts patrons. We sincerely believe that Ken is the best person to take us forward into our next 77 years, continuing and expanding DSM’s great legacy, while ensuring DSM’s financial and artistic success in the future.” |
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Apr. 23, 2021 - Apr. 24, 2021
Yes, it is time again for our annual District Conference CeLeBrAtIoN.
It is time to CeLeBrAte what WE as a District have done this Rotary year.
Friday, April 23 and Saturday, April 24, those are the dates – write them down. You can attend in person or virtually.
Friday let's all gather for the annual ALL CLUB LUNCHEON...cancel your club meeting and bring everyone to the Courtyard by Marriott in Allen. Bring your club bell to ring open the event. We are CeLeBrAtInG. Our guest speaker will be RI Director Suzi Howe.
You won’t want to miss our “grab bag” room and Service Project competitions. Saturday, our conference will be honored to hear RI President Holger Knaack address the group.
And in the evening, we'll have our long delayed Roaring 20's gala...including dinner, live music, silent auction and lots of fun.
District Conference & Roaring 20's Gala
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Early Registration | Late Registration | |
Live In-Person Attendence | Up thru March 15 | After March 15 |
All Club Lunch Only | $45 | $60 |
Conference Only: Excludes Gala | $70 | $95 |
Full Conference: All Club Luncheon & Gala | $110 | $135 |
Gala Only | $55 | $75 |
Virtual Only | ||
Full Conference All Events including Gala | $50 | $50 |
The BackPage meetings are held every 4th Tuesday of the month, unless that date conflicts with a major holiday in which case they are usually moved up one week, at the Park City Club. The contact is Jim Smith as the sponsoring Park City Club member. Jim makes all the arrangements and will email the monthly RSVP notices to BackPage advertisers. If you would like more specifics, or are interested in joining the BackPage please let Jim Smith know.
Jim Smith jsmith@dallascpas.com or (214) 276-5001 (Direct)
China Threat
Patrick Walsh is a Senior Advisor in Oliver Wyman’s global Aerospace & Defense Services practice based in Dallas, TX., and a retired, four-star Admiral. As the 59th Vice Chief of Naval Operations, he served as a member of the Deputy Secretary of Defense-led Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC), and provided testimony to the House Armed Services Committee, Senate Armed Services Committee, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and the Seapower Subcommittee on matters related to the Readiness, Manpower, and Acquisition accounts for the Department of the Navy. He held significant leadership positions across a 34-year career to include command of US Pacific Fleet, the largest naval force in the world where he led the US military response to the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake, tsunami, and radiation release.
Overview to Relevant Experience
He has Fortune 50 business leadership experience within Aerospace & Defense and Cybersecurity, leading P&Ls from small businesses to Original Equipment Manufacturers, and Defense Prime Contractors.
Enterprise Growth & Transformation
- Recruited to initiate business transformation, turnaround, and divestiture leadership experience within industrial manufacturing, government aviation and supply chain distribution.
- Successfully transformed a $1.3 billion-dollar defense services business from low-single-digit annual growth to a 3-year 33% CAGR
Operational Excellence
- Identified a $200M+ balance sheet issue as a result of ineffective warehouse inventory and investment management.
- Retired this risk with accelerated cash generation and an aggressive working capital efficiency strategy.
- Launched lean sigma resulting in a 15% reduction in supply chain / distribution operational expenses.
- Extensive experience with organized workforce containment strategy and implementation.
Prior to Oliver Wyman, Pat was Vice President of The Boeing Company, Global Services Navy Marine Corps Services business. Prior to Boeing, Pat was the Senior Vice President/General Manager at iSIGHT Partners, a FireEye Company, (NASDAQ: FEYE), and President, Strategic Programs, Academic Partnerships, LLC. Pat has an extensive executive-level record of leadership and management of a multi-billion-dollar enterprise, as well as demonstrated performance in crisis action, conflict resolution, coalition building, and international diplomacy over the course of a career as a carrier-based, combat fighter pilot and former Slot Pilot for the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels.
Pat has an established record of leadership in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. He holds a Bachelor of Science from the US Naval Academy, a Master of Arts in Law & Diplomacy and Doctor of Philosophy from the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy, Tufts University. He was a White House Fellow assigned to the Office of Management & Budget during the Reagan and Bush administration. Pat is the Chairman of the Board of Visitors, National Defense University, the Chairman of the Dallas Committee on Foreign Relations, and a Senior Fellow at Southern Methodist University.
C H A R L E S H A L E Y
Born in Gladys, Virginia, Charles Haley attended William Campbell High School. There he played football throughout High School and won many accolades his Senior year, but unfortunately, he was not highly recruited. When James Madison University offered him, he accepted, as that was the only school at the time to offer. JMU took a chance on Haley because he was a great football player but he struggled badly with reading. While playing football and juggling school he eventually graduated and earned his diploma. From then on, he got drafted to the San Fransisco 49ers, won 2 Super Bowl rings, then got traded to the Dallas Cowboys and won 3 Super Bowl rings. During that time he also got married and started a family and had 4 children. In 2015 he got inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame. Going into college, Charles Haley was 3 grade reading levels behind. James Madison University saw the potential in Charles Haley and that is what inspired him to partner with Dallas Civic Leader, Bob Bowie and start Tackle Tomorrow in 2014, a non-profit organization that provides resources and support to students who struggle to read and write across Dallas, TX. On top of that the organization beautifies each of the 3 schools that they work with. Charles Haley has impacted and continues to change the lives of numerous students in the Dallas Independent School District with Tackle Tomorrow’s programs and mission.
K E I T H R U S S E L L
Keith Russell’s lifelong passion for covering sports has taken him on a journey for over 25 years. His creative story telling ability has captured the attention of hard core and casual sports fans on the local and national stage. A graduate of Morgan State University, Keith’s career started in Hattiesburg, Mississippi and has gone on to stops in Jackson Mississippi.... Providence Rhode Island.... ESPN... Philadelphia...Washington DC.... And finally, CBS11 in DFW .... Where he has worked as a Sports Reporter/Anchor since 2015 and he doesn’t plan on leaving.
Join us EVERY 3rd Thursday for Rotary After Hours!
Virtual via zoom link - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6241406228?pwd=azF1YTNUWitranZZZW91T2NaZjhaZz09
Meeting ID: 624 140 6228
Password: 1911
We meet every 3rd Thursday at 5:30PM for Happy Hour, currently virtually. Once safe to do so we will meet again at various locations around Dallas. Please contact social chair, Amanda Melo if you have a favorite spot you'd like to meet, or an exciting program for
This is a great opportunity for networking, and getting to know your fellow members of the club in a casual environment. It is also a great opportunity to invite a guest!
The BackPage meetings are held every 4th Tuesday of the month, unless that date conflicts with a major holiday in which case they are usually moved up one week, at the Park City Club. The contact is Jim Smith as the sponsoring Park City Club member. Jim makes all the arrangements and will email the monthly RSVP notices to BackPage advertisers. If you would like more specifics, or are interested in joining the BackPage please let Jim Smith know.
Jim Smith jsmith@dallascpas.com or (214) 276-5001 (Direct)
Fundraising veteran Kit Sawers left the chief development officer role with United Way of Metropolitan Dallas in 2018 to help Dallas’ Klyde Warren Park bloom. Since taking the helm, she has increased attendance and created several new events, such as the Memorial Day Music Fest. Up next: an expansion of the urban greenspace. About 1.5 acres are planned to the west, with construction starting in 2021.
During World War II thousands of British cadets learned to fly at six civilian training schools across the southern United States. The first and largest of the schools was in Terrell, Texas. More than 2,200 Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Corps cadets earned their wings over North Texas between 1941 and 1945.
The museum celebrates this little-known chapter of World War II history with an archive that contains the most extensive record of the No. 1 British Flying Training Schools in existence.
The collection includes hundreds of historical items: log books, training materials, WWII memorabilia, uniforms, and much more. Perhaps more importantly, the museum explores many fascinating “personal stories” behind the artifacts. These stories will give you insight into the cadets’ backgrounds, their training, and the lives they led after leaving Terrell.
OUR MISSION
- To celebrate the spirit and sacrifices made by those men both British and American who trained to be pilots at the Number 1 British Flying Training School (1BFTS);
- To educate all ages of all nationalities as to the history and importance of the cooperation between the British Commonwealth and American Government in both war and peace;
- To honor the strong bonds of friendship formed between the cadets and the community of Terrell and the North Texas area.
From 2000 to 2010, Mr. Spencer served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Texas. He specialized in securities fraud, financial fraud, and money laundering prosecutions, and personally prosecuted more than 100 federal cases. Mr. Spencer was selected as one of the trial lawyers that prosecuted criminal violations arising from the collapse of Enron. Among other high profile cases, he prosecuted a South American casa de cambio for violations of the Bank Secrecy Act, and obtained the one of the longest sentences ever imposed by a federal judge against a defendant for money laundering. At the Justice Department, Mr. Spencer was a national speaker, author and leader of nationwide implementation of SAR Task Forces. In 2006, the Attorney General for the United States awarded Mr. Spencer the John Marshall Award, the highest award presented to a Justice Department attorney for contributions and excellence in legal performance.
Prior to his civil service, Mr. Spencer worked at Haynes & Boone, LLP in Dallas, Texas and Morgan Stanley in New York. He graduated from Amherst College and the University of Texas Law School. He is married to Mary McClendon Spencer, and has two boys.
The DRCF Board of Trustees meets quarterly on the 1st of the month to review financial statements, investment reports and development reports. A Zoom code to join the meeting will be emailed to each board member in advance. All Club members are welcome to sit in, if you would like to join please email our chairman. Dennis Connally.
The DREAMTeam, Dallas Rotarians Enabling Achievement Mentoring Scholars, began in 2004 by The Rotary Club of Dallas members who wanted to improve the chances of a college education for students of need, preferably those who would be the first in their families to attend the tertiary level of education.
Join us EVERY 3rd Thursday at 5:30PM for Rotary After Hours!
In Person Season 52
Virtual via zoom link - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6241406228?pwd=azF1YTNUWitranZZZW91T2NaZjhaZz09
Meeting ID: 624 140 6228
Password: 1911
The Rotary Club of Dallas members meet every 3rd Thursday at 5:30PM for Happy Hour, both virtually and in-person at various locations around Dallas. This is a great opportunity for networking, and getting to know your fellow members of the club in a casual environment. It is also a great opportunity to invite a guest!
Please contact social chair, Amanda Melo if you have a favorite spot you'd like to meet, or Miles Zitmore if you have an exciting program for the virtual meeting.
The BackPage meetings are held every 4th Tuesday of the month, unless that date conflicts with a major holiday in which case they are usually moved up one week, at the Park City Club. The contact is Jim Smith as the sponsoring Park City Club member. Jim makes all the arrangements and will email the monthly RSVP notices to BackPage advertisers. If you would like more specifics, or are interested in joining the BackPage please let Jim Smith know.
Jim Smith jsmith@dallascpas.com or (214) 276-5001 (Direct)
Wendy Hanna, Executive Director, The Turning Point, Collin County Rape Crisis Center
Our Mission is to provide counseling, education, and advocacy for those impacted by sexual violence.
Our Vision is to deliver the highest quality of comprehensive treatment services for survivors of all forms of sexual violence and to set the standard for prevention education that promotes social change to end bullying, sexual harassment and sexual violence.
Wendy Hanna
Executive Director
The Turning Point & Courtney’s SAFE Place
Wendy Hanna serves as the Executive Director of The Turning Point, an agency serving survivors of sexual violence through advocacy, counseling and education. Prior to joining The Turning Point in October 2014, Wendy spent over 25 years in healthcare, most recently 12 years at Children’s Medical Center as Director of Ambulatory Services for both their Plano, Southlake and THR Presbyterian Dallas campuses. In her role at The Turning Point, Wendy oversees the daily operations of all services and programs to include advocacy, education, counseling, Courtney’s SAFE Place as well as fundraising and development. Through Wendy’s leadership, The Turning Point has experienced significant growth to include a satellite location in South Dallas serving survivors at Methodist Dallas Hospital, advocacy and forensic nursing services at Children’s Medical Centers in Dallas and Plano and University of Texas at Dallas, the addition of a law enforcement training program, implementation of a state recognized Primary Prevention Education program, and significant increases in counseling, case management services, hospital accompaniment and forensic nursing services. In November 2018, The Turning Point opened the first on-site forensic medical clinic in North Texas, the second in the state.
Wendy has a passion for volunteerism and has worked with many local agencies including Body & Soul homeless mission, Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County, Ronald McDonald House and various other charities through Outreach Mission. Wendy has a Bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University in Sociology with an emphasis in social work.
The mission of The Turning Point is to provide counseling, education and advocacy to those impacted by sexual violence and it is through this mission that Wendy has experienced true passion in working to bring hope and healing to survivors of sexual violence.
Program Title: Teaching America-Freedom Foundation at Valley Forge
Speaker: David Harner
Bio: David Harmer is president and chief executive officer of Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge. To this role he brings a wealth of government, public-interest, and private-sector experience.
A graduate of Brigham Young University, Mr. Harmer was mentored through law school by former Solicitor General Rex Lee. Mr. Harmer began his legal career as counsel to a subcommittee of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, appointed by Senator Orrin Hatch. Taking his expertise in constitutional law to Pacific Legal Foundation, Mr. Harmer litigated in defense of personal and economic freedoms, particularly those recognized by the First and Fifth Amendments to the United States Constitution.
After serving as Bradley Resident Fellow at the Heritage Foundation, Mr. Harmer authored pro-freedom works published by major newspapers, law reviews, and think tanks, including the Cato Institute. His publications include op-eds, law review articles, policy analyses, and a book. He also served in leadership roles in various education-focused non-profit organizations, including Junior Achievement.
Private practice at the Los Angeles-based law firm of O’Melveny & Myers prepared Mr. Harmer to spend the heart of his career as regulatory-compliance counsel to major financial institutions including Providian Financial, Washington Mutual, JPMorgan Chase, and Ally Bank.
Following in the footsteps of his father, John Harmer (who served as lieutenant governor of California under Governor Ronald Reagan), David Harmer twice won his party’s nomination for the U.S. House of Representatives, turning purportedly uncompetitive San Francisco Bay Area districts into hotly contested battlegrounds.
Of his current role, Mr. Harmer says, “Leading Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge is the capstone of my career, the greatest honor of my professional life, and the single best way I can foster freedom.”
Mr. Harmer and his wife, Elayne, care about our country’s future for four particularly important reasons: Madison, Jonas, Ariel, and Ben—their children.
Todd Bensman is the author of the new book America’s Covert Border War: The Untold Story of the Nation’s Battle to Prevent Jihadist Infiltration (Posthill Press/Bombardier Books, February 23, 2021). He currently serves as the Texas-based Senior National Security Fellow for the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), a Washington, D.C. policy institute for which he writes, speaks, and grants media interviews about the nexus between immigration and national security. He frequently reports from the southern border, in Mexico and in Latin America. He has testified before Congress as an expert witness and regularly appears on radio and television outlets to discuss illegal immigration and border security matters. Separately, he has written about homeland security and terrorism subjects for Homeland Security Today, Townhall, The Federalist, the Investigative Project on Terrorism, SpyTalk, The Daily Wire, The National Pulse, The National Interest, and other publications. He serves as a Writing Fellow for the Middle East Forum and also teaches terrorism, intelligence analysis, and journalism as a university adjunct lecturer. (Sign up for his newsletter to receive alerts when new columns and reports publish.)
For nearly a decade prior to joining CIS in August 2018, Bensman led counterterrorism intelligence for the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Intelligence and Counterterrorism Division and its multi-agency fusion center. Before his homeland security service, Bensman was a journalist for 23 years, covering national security after 9/11 as a staff writer for major newspapers.
Intelligence Career
In 2009, Bensman left journalism to join the Texas Department of Public Safety as a senior counterterrorism programs specialist, analyst, and manager of an analytical unit. He designed and directed collection operations that fed the Intelligence Community, prompted or advanced FBI counterterrorism investigations, and produced confidential human sources.
He routinely briefed DPS leadership, elected leaders and members of Congress about domestic and international threats. Holding a DHS security clearance, Bensman worked frequently with FBI Joint Terrorism Task Forces, ICE and its Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI’s Terrorist Screening Center, the National Targeting Center, DHS Intelligence & Analysis Division, and the National Counterterrorism Center.
Journalism Career
Prior to his government service, Bensman worked on staff for The Dallas Morning News, CBS, and Hearst Newspapers, covering the FBI, federal law enforcement and serving on investigative teams. He reported extensively on national security issues after 9/11 and worked in 25 countries. As an investigative projects reporter, he authored long-form stories with emphases on homeland security and counterterrorism efforts. His reporting on migration from Islamic countries and cross-border gun smuggling to cartels earned two National Press Club awards (2008 and 2009), an Inter-American Press Association award, and two Texas Institute of Letters awards. His reporting on corruption spurred numerous federal investigations, indictments and convictions.
During the early 1990s, he reported on the Gulf War, to include scud missile attacks and refugee issues, from Israel, Egypt and Jordan. He went on to cover Eastern Europe from Prague, to include armed conflict in Moldova, and spent a year covering warfare in Bosnia, where he provided frequent dispatches from the siege of Sarajevo at the height of hostilities.
Education
Bensman holds an M.A. in Security Studies from the Naval Postgraduate School, Center for Homeland Defense and Security (2015, Outstanding Thesis designee). He also holds an M.A. in Journalism from the University of Missouri School of Journalism (2009). He holds an undergraduate degree in journalism (with honors) from Northern Arizona University. In 2017, he completed a 350-hour State of Texas Command College leadership program sponsored by the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Robert Riggs is a Peabody Award-winning investigative reporter and content entrepreneur. He has received three coveted Alfred I. duPont Columbia University Journalism Awards for Investigative Reporting. The Peabody and duPont are respectively considered the broadcast TV equivalent of the Oscar and the Pulitzer.
Texas A&M University named Robert an Outstanding Alumnus from the College of Architecture in recognition of his journalistic accomplishments. It is a distinction received by fewer than 1% of the College’s graduates.
Riggs is the co-host and creator of the True Crime Reporter™ Podcast, and the SWAT Brothers Podcast.
Riggs’ stories impacted millions of people during thousands of hours of reporting on television and in online media. During some assignments, his reporting literally occurred under fire while he was embedded with the U.S. Army during the invasion of Iraq.
Among the three Alfred I. duPont Columbia Journalism Awards for Investigative Reporting, judges described his Gulf War report about the censorship of religious services for U.S. soldiers, “as the story every other news organization missed.”
Riggs journalistic ethos is to illuminate important public issues, right wrongs, speak truth to power, change flawed public policy, and in some cases save people from harm by violent criminals. Serial killers were caught and terrorist networks exposed. Corrupt public officials did time in federal prison behind his reporting.
Riggs is a member of the FBI’s North Texas Chapter of InfraGard which was formed in response to the 9/11 terror attacks. He is a longtime member of the Investigative Reporters & Editors (IRE). It is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving investigative reporting around the world.
Shelby Abeyta as a moderator (as Sr Dir of Comms/Engagement from Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute) featuring RCD Members, Courtney Underwood and Matt Gerber as guest panelists.
Courtney, as a survivor of a loved one who committed suicide, and Matt as an individual who survived two dark moments of suicidal ideation--and how Rotary and service quite literally saved his life.
Join us for this 'fireside chat' which will also highlight the startling rise of adolescent, first responder and veterans suicide.
Honor and Remember our Nation's Heroes
The Rotary Club of Dallas will join Carry The Load on Friday, September 10 for a National Day of Service and Remembrance volunteering to beautify sacred grounds at the DFW National Cemetery. If you would like to participate, please register using the link provided. In your registration be sure to select DFW National Cemetery and include in the notes you are part The Rotary Club of Dallas.
Those who would like, we will meet for breakfast at Norma's by NorthPark at 8:00AM. Welcome to carpool to the cemetery!
Service and Fellowship - A great day to be a Rotarian!
Every 3rd Thursday the Dallas Rotary members meet at various locations around Dallas for fellowship and Happy Hour. This is a great opportunity 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.
We will be celebrating the induction of our newest members as well!
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