January 21st, 2010

Rotary Club

of Temple

Thursdays at Noon

Wildflower Country Club

www.templerotary.org

2009-2010 Board & Officers

Upcoming

Program

Heather Wooten:

The Polio Years of Texas

January

Birthdays:

Jody Donaldson:

January 20

Don Gidden:

January 26

Perry Cloud:
January 27

Susan Connolly:

January 31

Spouse

Birthdays:

Lynda Stokes:

January 25

January

Anniversaries:

Notes from the President

Early Act First Knight had a successful kick-off at Lakeway Elementary School in Belton last Friday. There was a wonderful article in the newspaper Saturday about the event. The kids were so excited to have the opportunity to become knights by learning about, and showing, good character qualities.

Early Act First Knight - Kick-Off

The Temple Rotary Club is sponsoring the Early Act First Knight Program at Lakewood Elementary School this year. It is an exciting program that teaches children what Rotary is and does. More importantly it is a character training program that includes the Four Way Test.

Below is the Schedule of events at Lakeway Elementary School:

Friday February 5, Lunch Time  - Service Meeting

This is a meeting that Rotarians and a handful of children meet to discuss and direct their international and local community service projects.

Friday February 19, Lunch Time  - Service Meeting

Friday February 19, 1:00pm  - First Knighting Ceremony

Friday March 5, Lunch Time  - Service Meeting

Friday March 19, Lunch Time  - Service Meeting

Friday April 2, Lunch Time  - Service Meeting

Friday April 16, Lunch Time  - Service Meeting

Friday May 7, Lunch Time  - Service Meeting

Thursday May 20, Second Knighting Ceremony

If you are interestd in joining this committee please get with Barbara Bozon. To find out more about this program go to the Early Act First Knight website is www.eafk.org.

Last Weeks Program

A Brief History of Texas Rangers

       J. Brown, the Rotarian of the Day, introduced Casey R. Eichhorn, Education Coordinator of the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum (the “Museum”).

       Casey set the robust crowd at ease with his Baylor University and Texas A & M connections.  He then proceeded to rope us in with a wonderful discussion of the history of the Texas Rangers.

       Between 1821 and 1823 Stephen F. Austin hired 10 men to protect the 300+ settlers he was bringing to the new land that would become the Republic of Texas.  Their primary task was to protect the settlers from warring Native Americans.  By 1835 this informal group evolved into the official and renowned Texas Rangers.  From the initial mission of protection of settlers, the Rangers became involved in supporting the Confederacy during the 1860’s to 1870’s.  They were briefly disbanded during the Reconstruction period and replaced by the Texas State Police.  This group was extremely unpopular with the locals.   After about three years, in May of 1874, then Gov. Richard Coke and the Texas Legislature allocated $75,000 to organize six companies which were known as the Frontier Battalion.  The Frontier Battalion consisted of “peace officers” rather than being part of a “semi-paramilitary” organization.  This period set the tone for the new Texas Ranger mission of law enforcement.

       In addition, Casey explained that there were “special rangers” who protected specific business interests such as railroads. 

       Today there are 134 Texas Rangers covering the 254 counties in Texas.  The Texas Rangers are brought in at the request of a public safety department such as a local police department or county sheriff department.  Texas Rangers may apply their skills to crime investigation or they may be a liaison coordinating several agencies involved in solving crimes.  The Texas Rangers have access to 8 crime laboratories which makes them an excellent resource to local organizations faced with waves of criminal activity. 

       There are currently six companies comprising the Texas Ranger organization.  Company A is in Houston.  Company B is in Garland.  Company C is in San Antonio.  Company F is in Waco.  Company G is in McAllen.  Company K is in El Paso.  Each company, except Company K, has a Captain who reports to Senior Captain, Chief Tony Leal.  Company K has a Lieutenant in command.  Chief Leal reports to the head of the Texas Department of Public Safety. 

        Texas Rangers are former members of the highway patrol.  Individuals interested in becoming a Texas Ranger must meet several criteria, including, having 8 years of experience with the Department of Public Safety, pass rigorous tests, pass physical fitness tests and have at least 60 hours of college.

       Casey explained that fighting crime is a key role for the Texas Rangers, but they also give back to the institution and the community.  By this I mean the Museum is also a research center with records pre-dating the inception of the Texas Rangers in 1823.  Active Texas Rangers are asked to give records to the Museum, which allows the Museum to continue to paint a detailed picture of who served as Texas Rangers.  These records can also be used for genealogical research. 

       Casey really hit his stride in describing some of the community programs that the Museum sponsors.  There is a crime scene investigation (“CSI”)-style program tailored to kindergarten and older enthusiasts.  For example, children are introduced to DNA fiber analysis.   There is an “orienting/map-making” program in which youngsters are asked to create a map of the front of the Museum using very basic tools, such as a compass and chains that a Texas surveyor would use (e.g., vara chains).  For pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and first grade students there is the “Can You Ride, Shoot and Cook” program.  Riding consists of covering an obstacle course on a stick horse.  Shooting is done with simulated frontier weapons.  Cooking consists of simple recipes.  I am tempted to take the course just to finally taste “good ole western hard tack.”—NOT!!

       A recent Halloween program called the Safe and Spooky Community Carnival was created by the Museum.  This event was so successful it was moved from the Museum to the Waco Convention Center.  Aside from safe “trick or treating” participants will hear various health and safety tips from organizations specializing in those areas (e.g., the FBI, Scott & White, Hillcrest, etc.)

       Lastly, Casey told us about the Captain Robert K. Mitchell Education Center that will open in May.  The facility will be available at no charge to groups that wish to hold events focusing on public safety.  The Museum must pre-approval any use of the facility.

       If you visit the Museum you will also see new headquarters being constructed for the Texas Rangers.  Currently some Texas Rangers are using a Museum conference room as a base of operation.  The new headquarters will more easily accommodate the Texas Rangers, as well as, free up Museum space.

      In short, there is a lot going on at the Museum.  It is clearly worth the trip north on I-35 to Exit 335B.  For more information visit www.texasranger.org, or contact Casey at caseye@ci.waco.tx.us.

ITEMS OF INTEREST

District 5870 Information

The district newsletter is currently posted on the District Website.

The link to the district newsletter is http://www.rotary5870.com/Newsletter.cfm

Scheduled Programs for December, January & February

Please let me know if you have a program you would like to share

and we will book them.