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Rotary Club District 5910 makes history with new District Governor
By:Kristy Thomas
For the first time in Rotary Club history, Rose Austin will be the first African American to serve as District 5910 Governor and only the third African American woman to serve as District Governor in the United States.
East Montgomery County Rotary Club chartered member Austin was installed as the Rotary Club District 5910 Governor on June 5.
Local rotarians and members of the community helped Austin start her new position as District Governor with Austin breaking many first time Rotary Club records. Austin also received a special presentation at her installation from the Rotary Club Installation 2010-2011 President Ray Klinginsmith.
For the first time in Rotary Club District 5910 history, Austin is the first EMC Rotary Club member to serve as District 5910 Governor. Along with those records, Austin is the first African American woman who will serve as District Governor in the state of Texas.
With her first time events for Austin, she also managed to have the Rotary International President Klinginsmith make a special trip out to New Caney to attend her installation ceremony.
Austin said the installation alone is a dream of hers and is a great way to start off the year of exciting things to come in her position as District Governor.
“The District Governor’s position is a lifetime opportunity and it takes you places you would not normally go and allows you to meet people you would not have dreamed of meeting,” said Austin.
Austin has served the Rotary Club in many ways in her years of service and in the community.
Austin has been a long time member of the EMC Rotary Club, she is a past president of the EMC Rotary Club, current editor of the club newsletter, past Assistant District 5910 Governor, and a member of other District 5910 committees.
Austin is also active in the Jackson State University Alumni Association and in the non-profit EMC organization New Horizons.
When Austin is not working in the community or with the Rotary Club, she works as an educational consultant and adjunct professor at Springfield College in Houston.
These involvement's and organizations Austin works with are one of the many reasons she was chosen as Rotary District 5910 Governor.
At the installation, Klinginsmith reminds rotarians that the Rotary Club is about service to the community and coming together worldwide to serve others.
“The Rotary Club is a place for fellowship, friendship, and networking through other rotarians. One of the main things rotarians does is service projects with the talent of all the members in the club that helps change the world,” said Klinginsmith.
Klinginsmith said that the Rotary Club has more than 1.2 million members in 33,000 clubs worldwide.
“With the Rotary’s community service projects, our club invest about 1 billion dollars in local communities and services,” said Klinginsmith.
Klinginsmith said this year’s goal for the Rotary Club members and elected officials is to get all clubs to be bigger, better, and more visible out in the community with service projects.
Austin agreed with Klinginsmith that the next year in her role as District 5910 Governor, she plans to get her district to be more involved and to get members excited about doing service in the community.
“This year I want to see more participation, collaboration, and innovation within the Rotary Club District 5910,” said Austin.
Austin also said that she realizes that members may not be able to give financially as much as before because of the difficult economic times in the area, but that the club should look for other ways to assist the community.
“The economic difficulties in the area only brings a greater need for service in the community by helping in other ways than financially,” said Austin.
In Austin’s position as District 5910 Governor, she will be assisted by District 5910 Governor Elect Ulli Budelmann, District 5910 Governor Nominee Brenda Walker, and Past District 5910 Governor Fred Sandberg.
According to Austin, the Rotary Club is the world’s oldest and largest service organization worldwide.
“Members are volunteers who work locally, regionally, and internationally to combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, provide education and job training, promote peace, and do service about self,” said Austin.
For more information on the Rotary Club District 5910, visit their website at www.rotary5910.org.
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The Jackson State University National Alumni Association congratulates alumna Katherine Cage '85 as the 2010 Alumnus of the Year. A Jackson, Mississippi, native, Ms. Cage now resides in Houston, Texas. She has held numerous positions at both the national and local levels. She has served as a board member, national reporter, national secretary, regional vice president, and now serves a second time as national treasurer. At the local level, she has served as reporter, secretary, and treasurer of the Houston Alumni Chapter. She has served on numerous committees including budget, Constitution and By-Laws, Biennial Alumni Conference, and Homecoming. She is a life member of the JSU National Alumni Association, Inc., and a member of the Second Century Gift Club at Jackson State University. Ms. Cage will be formally acknowledged during the Homecoming Class Reunion Luncheon on Friday, October 29, 2010, at 11:30 a.m. in Ballroom A of the JSU Student Center.