A challenge to clean the world's riversIn 2009, Salvador Rico stood in the waters of the Russian River in Northern California with other members of the Rotary Club of South Ukiah. They were there for a river cleanup, during which they
Rotary partners with Mediators Beyond Borders to bring local solutions for lasting peaceEVANSTON, Ill. (Aug. 17, 2018) — Preventing conflicts from escalating into violent crises is 60 times more cost effective than intervening after
Rotary announces US $96.5 million to end polioEVANSTON, Ill. (August 15, 2018) — Rotary today announced nearly $100 million in grants to support the global effort to end polio, a vaccine-preventable disease that once paralyzed hundreds of
Since 1993, Rotarians in Chile and the United States have teamed up to provide life-altering reconstructive
Club Information
“This is a changing world; we must be prepared to change with it. The story of Rotary will have to be written again and again.”
— Paul Harris, This Rotarian Age, circa 1935
Having Fun While Changing Lives
We meet Wednesdays at 12:00 PM
Corpus Christi Country Club
6300 Everhart Rd.
Corpus Christi,
TX 78413-2638 United States
News from Anthea Ojadi - Costa Rica Scholarship Recipient
The Evening Rotary Club of Corpus Christi sponsored Anthea Ojadi for a Costa Rica Scholarship and she has sent a terrific blog link about her adventures. Hopefully it will inspire more students to get involved in international studies through Rotary International.
Club Vocational Visit to South Texas Lighthouse for the Blind
Southside Rotary met at the South Texas Lighthouse for the Blind on Wednesday August 1 for lunch and a fascinating tour of their manufacturing facilities and warehouses. The place is massive and we were so impressed at the amount and variety of products they produce. It was so impressive to meet the folks behind the scenes and see what great work they do. At times in the warehouses it was like a scene out of the end of "Raiders of the Lost Ark" there are so many boxes with production materials and/or items ready to be shipped out!
Nicky Ooi, President and CEO (and fellow Rotarian in the downtown Corpus Christi Club), hopes more groups will come and tour the facility to see the place and wanted us to know, that they never have produced light bulbs, even though that is what most people think. Below please find information from their website that sums up their history and production. But you have to see the machinery and their staff in action for yourself to truly appreciate the work they do. Contact them today at: https://www.stlb.net/contact-us/
South Texas Lighthouse for the Blind has been changing the lives of individuals who are blind or visually impaired since 1964. Since its humble beginning at a small warehouse on North Mesquite Street in Corpus Christi, the Lighthouse has grown from only three to nearly 200 employees, from a small building to a 70,000 square foot facility on over seven acres, and from providing brooms and mops to providing a series of office products, military supplies, services to government agencies and training opportunities to members of the community who are blind. Although our locations and list of manufactured products has changed over the years, the purpose and heart of the Lighthouse has remained the same: to provide the opportunity for people throughout South Texas who live with vision loss to be productive and improve their quality of life. Our mission is to EMPLOY, EDUCATE, and EMPOWER our neighbors who are blind or visually impaired. We strive everyday to fulfill our mission and make a positive difference for those we serve and the community as a whole.
In the beginning, Lighthouse employees produced mops and brooms and packaged other items for sale – all of which were then sold door-to-door to citizens in the community. In 1965, the Lighthouse increased its number of employees from three to ten and new services and products offered new employment opportunities for employees with vision loss. Employees repaired pallets and cases for Coca-Cola, produced rubber doormats for scraping shoes, and also took on several small projects for Memorial Hospital. To accommodate the growth in business and number of employees, the Lighthouse moved just down the street to a larger facility that was later destroyed by Hurricane Celia in 1970. Our new home on Leopard Street allowed us to expand our business even more by taking on new products and services, and as a result, provide more employment opportunities for blind citizens of Corpus Christi. New products included sea-dye markers, helmet pads, portfolio cases, postal trays, three-ring binders, mouse pads and candles.
In September 1999, the Lighthouse opened our second manufacturing facility about 100 miles north of Corpus Christi in Victoria, Texas. In 2002, with over 100 employees at its Corpus Christi location, the Lighthouse again found itself in need of an even larger facility and moved to its current location on Agnes Street. Our current home is over 70,000 square feet and sits on more than seven acres of land. This spacious facility allows us to continue to grow, adding more products and services, which in turn allows us to hire more individuals who are visually impaired and expand the training services we provide for our employees and other visually impaired citizens in the community.
The products we manufacture today are created primarily for the U.S. Government and include a variety of sizes and colors of three-ring binders, computer mouse pads and wrist pads, index tabs, candles, mail trays for the U.S. Postal Service and flyers gloves for the military.
In addition to manufacturing, we also operate base service stores at military bases in Texas, Mississippi and California. These include Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Naval Air Station Kingsville, Naval Station Ingleside, Naval Air Station Meridian, Columbus Air Force Base, and Travis Air Force Base. We also operate the Safety Store at Corpus Christi Army Depot and HAZMAT facilities on three military bases.
South Texas Lighthouse for the Blind looks forward to continued growth and expansion. As always, your continued support and encouragement are greatly appreciated as we strive to provide more services for our neighbors who are blind or visually impaired.
You can find more photos from our tour on our Southside Rotary website in the left-hand margin.
SOUTHSIDE CORPUS CHRISTI ROTARY INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS 2018-2019
The Southside Corpus Christi Rotary Club had their installation of new officers for 2018-2019 at Ara’s Euro Fusion Restaurant on Saturday, June 30, 2018. The members congratulated Scott Sutherland on the past great year for our club including getting the Presidential Citation. They welcomed in Christine Udeani to “Be the Inspiration” for this Rotary year. Some of the goals for the year is to increase member participation, secure sponsors for the Early Act First Knight Club, and to increase Wheelchair Ramp projects with the District Grant funds recently granted to our club. The club “Beauty Award” was presented to Leo Barrera from the CC Downtown club as he has better attendance at our meetings than many of our members! As our Rotary International President Barry Rassin states, “Be the Inspiration to your clubs and your Districts. Show them what we can do in Rotary, and what we can be.”
All photos from the event can be viewed in our list of photo albums on the left margin of our website. Thank you to Dr. Gary Blum for the photographs!
From Steve Clarkson, President Rotary Club of Rockport. “Southside Corpus Christi Rotary Club and Rockport Rotary Club build a ramp for a polio survivor in Rockport whose home was destroyed by Hurricane Harvey.”
Remembering Joe High, First Dude, spouse of Past District Governor Debbie High of the Southside Corpus Christi Rotary Club.
Rotarians and friends in D5930 who knew Joe High, First Dude, spouse of Past District Governor Debbie High of the Southside Corpus Christi Rotary Club are deeply saddened by his death on June 11, 2018. He passed away due to complications from interstitial lung disease. He lived life to the fullest.
Our deepest sympathy and thoughts are with Debbie and their sons Brian of San Antonio and Michael (Corisandra) of Houston, grandchildren Madeleine and Iden, and their extended family.
Dr. Joseph High (CAPT United States Public Health Service) made his mark on humanity, Rotary International, US Army, US Public Health Service, National Cancer Institute - National Institutes of Health and the pharmacy profession. He truly gave his life for his country (CAPT USPHS). Joe was previous Scout Master of BSA Troop 1070, Walkersville, Maryland and a Wood Badge “Owl.” Joe lived our Rotary Motto of Service Above Self. We are proud of his dedication to the pharmacy profession and practice.
Rest In Peace First Dude Joe
The High Family invites you to “Celebrating First Dude Joe High’s Life” this Saturday, June 16, 2018 from 1 pm to 4 pm. The Open House will be held at Ara's European Fusion Restaurant, 6917 S Staples St Suite 104, Corpus Christi, TX 78413.
Interment will be at a future date at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas.
Joe High loved his Rockport/Lamar house. Finally getting to go back for a few weeks after repair of Harvey damage. He was very touched by two projects to help the residents of Aransas County recover. In Lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to ACT Now for Rockport and the Spring Creek United Methodist Church Relief Fund (Please make donations to the following and remember to put ACT NOW FOR ROCKPORT on the memo line of your check. Spring Creek United Methodist Church (Make check out to Spring Creek United Methodist Church) 28970 Old Fredericksburg Rd., Boerne, TX 78015) or Houses to Homes, A Project of the Rockport Rotary Club and District 5930, use this link to make a donation - http://www.cbcfoundation.org/?page_id=7323
Deborah G. High Rotary International District 5930 District Governor 2016-2017 Southside Corpus Christi Rotary Club
David Walker is looking for some great Rotarians to help fill in our program dates in the summer. Interesting programs boost attendance and attract new members!
Southside Rotary Honored by Corpus Christi ISD for Early Act First Knight Program
On March 29, 2018 Southside Rotary was recognized by the Corpus Christi Independent School District for our Partnership In Education by supporting Rose Shaw Elementary School and their Early Act First Knight Program.
Plan on attending our April 18 meeting to learn about the recognition award and meeting some Early Act students presenting a program on their EAFK Service Club activities.
Nicky Ooi, President and CEO (and fellow Rotarian in the downtown Corpus Christi Club), hopes more groups will come and tour the facility to see the place and wanted us to know, that they never have produced light bulbs, even though that is what most people think. Below please find information from their website that sums up their history and production. But you have to see the machinery and their staff in action for yourself to truly appreciate the work they do. Contact them today at: 
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