Events

This is a joint meeting with the RC Austin South and will be held on Wednesday, not Thursday.  Space may be limited.  Please RSVP to your Rotary connection. 

”With the Bark Off”: his new book about the UT Tower shootings, LBJ,Lady Bird,LBJ Library & the Bush Presidents.

Brittany Radford was born in Austin, Texas during the 1980’s. She is a 5^th-generation Texan and developed a passion for learning where her family came from. She has lived most of her life in Texas Hill Country. A perfect day for her would be strolling through vintage shops, while visiting Huntsville, Texas, where most of her family comes from. By day, she works in the mortgage industry, and by night, she enjoys dusting off old diaries of her ancestors and learning how her family’s history ties into world history.

Hosted by the Cataldos.  Please consider parking at Panera and walking to their home.

Please join us for a club assembly - recap of first half of Rotary year and planning for second half.

Mike is a PGA Professional with over 16 years of experience in successful management of golf operations, golf instruction and tournament operations.  he has hosted, organized and competed in well over 200 tournament experiences over the course of his career handling all aspects of the event including planning, scheduling, fundraising, prize gathering/determination and execution.

Mike is a local realtor with Culhane Properties. He enjoys concerts and sporting events. He has an English bulldog named Kase. When asked what is the best piece of advice you have received, his response was  -  be a windshield person - not a rearview mirror person. 

Club planning for annual golf tournament.

Bob will share with us about the evolution of Ukraine over the last 128 years and Rotary's impact there. 

Bob has many educational accomplishments: graduate of Penn State; University of Miami, Department of Nuclear Medicine; Miami and Miami Comprehensive Cancer Center; Researcher in Clinical Cancer Research; NIH Research, Tumor Specific Antigens; Graduate of A T Still University. He retired in 2022 after 42 years of service as a Osteopathic physician.  

He now lives in South Austin with wife Becky Fedora, a retired Speech Therapist and ceramic artist since age 5.

Karen Schobel is a Certified L.E.A.N. (*Lifestyle *Exercise *Attitude *Nutrition*) Coach with the Dr. Sears Institute and a National Marketing Director with Juice Plus. She was previously in Administration for Law Enforcement for 18 years before taking an interest in nutrition. 

Joanne made her first trip to WISE Zambia’s headquarters in Kaoma in 2013. That adventure led to a lifelong commitment to the nonprofit. She visits every year — except during the worst of COVID-19 — and has taken several small teams and individuals from the US to Kaoma and environs. Her relationships with staff and students in Zambia provide the inspiration for her advocacy and devotion to the work. Joanne was Board President for one three-year term and in 2022-’23 serves as both Secretary and Interim Board Chair as WISE transitions to a governing board. She presents the WISE Zambia story for schools, churches, and civic groups, and on radio and television. In addition, she tours the US occasionally, creating friends for WISE through presentations and fundraisers. 

Joanne enjoyed a career as a singer, music educator, and choral director, with a degree in music from Indiana University. She’s grateful to the many individual donors who provide the majority of WISE Zambia’s funding; to her home Rotary Club of Lewiston-Auburn, ME and its activism in facilatating District International Grants for WISE; and to HDR Foundation for its generous support. With two grown children who live in Maine, a son in Austin, TX and two grandchildren, she is also known as “Kuku Jo-Jo” to her many “grandchildren” in Kaoma.

Emily Ball Cicchini, PhD
Executive Director

Serving as the Executive Director, Emily has balanced BookSpring’s hopeful vision for the future with its strong tradition of promoting reading in the home since 2015. She’s inspired by the critical work of sustaining a steady stream of the right books to the right kids at the right time. She has over 30 years of experience in nonprofit and education sectors, including leadership roles with Texans for the Arts, VSA Arts of Texas, ZACH Theatre, The University of Texas at Austin, The International Centre for Women Playwrights, and One Voice Central Texas. Her work is guided by a strong interest in social justice, access to knowledge for all, and a deep passion for language and stories. She’s a prolific and award-winning writer in a variety of genres. As a lifelong learner with a BFA in Theatre, MFA in Dramatic Writing, and Ph.D. in Organizational Communication and Technology, she loves poetry and enjoys gardening and space-watching with her family. Her favorite children’s book is The Golden Books of Poems for the Very Young by Louis Untermeyer, pictures by Joan Walsh Anglund, and also the Basher Science Series.

Jessy Morris
Volunteer Coordinator

No matter if you’re an individual looking for a way to give back or leading a group of volunteers for a team building event, Jessy is the person to reach for helpful activities across all programs and book donation deliveries. Jessy recruits, trains, and oversees all BookSpring volunteers, and also manages our Open Book and BookSpring Days community based partnerships. She helps manage book donation requests and coordinates with our partners to connect the books we receive with those who need them. Before joining this staff, Jessy worked as a Literacy Tutor through AmeriCorps, helping students in first and second grade improve their reading skills. Outside of her role at BookSpring, she likes to make new clothes, repurpose secondhand items into unique pieces, play guitar, and practice yoga. Her favorite children’s books are the Madeline series.

"Community and Collaboration” are key to success.  In today's world we need people more than ever.  Thom Singer has been turning live events into human laboratories for over 15 years, allowing the participants to have more meaningful conversations while on site and long after the conference is over.

As COE at the Austin Technology Council and a professional speaker on the topic of human connection and trust, Thom brings his high energy presentations and action-oriented content corporate and association audiences. Thom knows that as the speaker or master of ceremonies he has a responsibility to set the tone for a strong conference attendee experience. Known as "The Conference Catalyst" he creates an atmosphere of fun and interaction that lasts beyond his presentation. His most popular keynote, “Uncommon Connections: We are stronger together” is the right message for our turbulent times.

He earned his Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) in 2014 and is committed to the business of meetings.  He is the author of 12 books and is the host of five podcasts;  "Making Wave at C-Level" podcast, the “Digital Enterprise Society Podcast”, "Speakernomics", "The Sales Tech Podcast", and the “Webinar Talk Show”.  On his shows he has interviewed over 1000 business leaders with a focus on discovering how the most successful people get farther across the gap between potential and results.

At 50 years old Thom decided to reinvent his life and make age 50 to 75 the best years of his life. This meant saying yes to things that scared him, and trying new things. Since that time Thom has jumped off buildings, took up running (and lost 30 lbs), plays chess, and began performing stand-up comedy.

Nicholas Goettsche is a skilled attorney specializing in appraisal district litigation and collection matters at McCreary, Veselka, Bragg & Allen, P.C. (“mvba”). He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from West Texas A&M University in 2013 and a Juris Doctorate from Texas Tech University in 2016. Before joining mvba, Nicholas served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Texas, where he represented transportation entities in eminent domain, premises liability, and tort matters. Admitted to the State Bar of Texas, Nicholas routinely practices before all levels of the Texas court system.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Nicholas is deeply committed to his community. He serves as the President-Elect of the Rotary Club of Pflugerville, where he looks forward to advocating for educational and vocational opportunities for local youth and underserved populations, among other initiatives. Nicholas also serves as a member on numerous boards and committees, many involving the City of Pflugerville and Baylor Scott & White of Central Texas.

Gene Davenport is a retired public school teacher/ administrator.  He joined Rotary in 1981, have been a member of 7 clubs in 4 different districts;  18 years in Georgetown RC; club president in 2001-2002; District Governor in D5870–2004-2005.  He received the citation for Meritorious Service from Rotary International in RY 2008-09 and the Service Above Self Award, Rotary International highest honor, in RY 2009-10. He is currently an active member of Denton Lake Cities RC in D5790, as well as an honorary member in Georgetown RC and the D5870 E-Club.

Gene brings much experience to the table in club and district administration and is well versed with Foundation, Membership, and Strategic Planning. He has international experience with GSE, Polio NID, Rotaplast medical trips!He is a Major Donor in support of RI Foundation. 

Gene seeks to achieve the high ideals of Service Above Self and The 4-way Test!  He has been married to Janet for 60 years, they have 3 adult children, and 6 grand children. And the family motto is: Life is good! 

Past District Governor Gene Davenport will focus on growing membership and having a strategic plan for our club. Please don't miss this meeting!