Where business and community leaders come together to get great things done. Join us for community service, education and connecting.
The Rotary Club of Austin (RCA) is the oldest and largest Rotary Club in the City of Austin. Founded in 1913, RCA now counts approximately 200 businesses, civic and community leaders among its members. Each of these individuals is committed to Rotary’s “Service Above Self” philosophy that drives the club’s efforts to improve our community, our nation and the world. Learn more about what Rotary is.
Recent Updates
2023-03-21 Club Meeting: Harry Evans, Standing My Watch
Standing My Watch
Harry Evans recalls observations and experiences of 30 years as an Austin firefighter.
“Standing the watch”is the assignment of sailors to specific roles on a ship to operate it continuously. These assignments are constantly active as they are considered essential to the safe operation of the vessel, and allow the ship to respond to emergencies and other situations quickly.
About Harry Evans:
Harry Evans joined the Austin Fire Department in 1985. He was promoted through the ranks, working in nearly every division of the fire department. In 2009 Chief Evans was appointed to the rank of Assistant Chief and was named Chief of Staff. He served in that capacity until his retirement in 2015.
Harry is now a Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Water and the Environment at the University of Texas in Austin. He has over 37 years of experience in public safety and emergency management. In his role at UT, he works as a public safety liaison connecting scientists and researchers with emergency managers and public safety directors across the state of Texas. His primary focus is the development of decision support tools for emergency response in flood disasters.
Thank you Cluster Hosts & Attendees
This week, we came together at various locations around time to visit with other Rotary Club of Austin members. Thank you to our Cluster Hosts: Teresa Finney and Raymond Jams, Jon Yates and BSA Capital Area Council, Leslie & Gaines Bagby and Great Hills Country Club, and Todd Coleman and Helping Hand Home. What great fellowship! We will see you back at Ben Hur on Tuesday.
Promote your business, support our club!
* Advertising space costs only $250 for 6 months of promotion ($500/yr)! * ALL PROCEEDS go toward helping CLUB OPERATIONS! * Contact the Rotary Office for details
A note from the ARCF Celebration Dinner Chair
I’d like to say thanks again to all of you that attended the Austin Rotary Club Foundation Dinner on March 2nd. We had a great time and am looking forward to next year’s event! I would like to congratulate all of those that received awards. Some of our award recipients couldn't attend our event, but we look forward to recognizing them at upcoming club meetings. I want to thank Tillery Castillo, Michele Heyman, and April O’Quinn for all of their help with the event. Special thanks to Joe and Tillery Castillo for providing the signature drink for the event and to Anthony Gonzalez at Brinker Capital for sponsoring the bar! Also, I would like to say thank you to all of those who have donated so generously over the years to our club’s foundation and all of those who have served as trustees over the years! All of the Good Works accomplished by our Club is funded by the Austin Rotary Club Foundation – Camp Enterprise, Helping Hand Home, college scholarships, Global Projects, etc. If you have any questions about ARCF or if you would like to discuss how you can support our foundation, please feel free to contact me or one of our trustees. Thank you!!! Sincerely, Andy Swanson, Vice Chair – Austin Rotary Club Foundation
Rise Against Hunger - Thank you volunteers!
We want to thank all of the volunteers from The Rotary Club of Austin, the North by Northeast, Westlake, South Austin, Cosmopolitan, and West Austin Clubs for joining in this important service project earlier this month. Together, we packed nearly 25,000 food kits to send to those who need it most. We would also like to thank Casa Chapala for hosting us, and a special thanks to Harold Ingersoll for all of his time and coordination.
Over 30 Volunteers Needed - Books for Me, March 21st - 24th
The Rotary Club of Austin will be at Pecan Springs Elementary for their Books for Me program, passing out free books for children to take home at the end of the month in partnership with BookSpring. We need over 30 volunteers to help make this event a success. A HUGE thank you to those of you who have already signed up. Please consider signing up for a 30 minute shift as follows:
Tuesday, 3/21 - shifts at 8:10, 9:30, 10:15, 11:00, 12:15, 1:45 Wednesday, 3/22 - shifts at 8:00, 8:45, 9:30,12:15, 1:00 Thursday, 3/23 - shifts at 8:00, 10:15, 12:15, 2:00 Friday, 3/34 - shifts at 8:00, 8:45
Sign up for a shift or two here: or contact Paula Bookidis: PaulaB@gsctx.org
Volunteers Needed at Upcoming EAFKs
Early Act First Knight - Sign up for Knighting Ceremonies
We need at least 2 Rotarians per ceremony to be there to cheer on the honorees and their families.
Pecan Springs on 3/24, 8:15 am at 3100 Rogge Ln, Austin, TX 78723
Wayside Schools on 3/30, 8:30 am at 6405 S I-35 Frontage Rd, Austin, TX 78744
Sign up hereat https://qrco.de/EAFK EarlyAct First Knight is a revolutionary character and ethics education program for K-8 school children that, for the first time, puts Rotary into mainstream public education. Teaching the Rotary tradition of "Service Above Self" through a visually captivating theme of knightly heroes, with a comprehensive year-round curriculum-based character education program.
Spring Blood Drive - April 11, 2023 at Ben Hur
OnApril 11th, we will have a blood drive in the parking lot of Ben Hur from11:00 am – 2:00 pm. Members, please sign up for a slot to give blood here at https://qrco.de/blood041123 or for non membershere, or via the signup sheets during an upcoming Tuesday meeting. For questions, email Mary Reynoldsor office@rotary-austin.org.
Upcoming Events
Mark your calendars for ways to stay involved and connected with the Rotary Club of Austin.
3/21 - 3/24: Books for Me - Please sign up to pass out books to students at Pecan Springs Elementary for our Books for Me program in partnership with BookSpring.
3/21: RCA Board of Directors meeting will follow the regular club meeting on Tuesday, March 21st.
3/24: EAFK: at Pecan Springs Elementary at 3100 Rogge Lane at 8:30 and 9:15. Sign up to join in on the Knighting Ceremony.
3/30: North Breakfast Cluster - Join this informal gathering at Another Broken Egg for breakfast, fellowship, and great conversation beginning at 7 am.
3/30: EAFK at Wayside Schools at 6405 S I-35 Frontage Rd on 3/30, at 8:30 am. Sign up to join in on the Knighting Ceremony.
Rotary Club of Austin brings leaders together to do good service.
Our members are active in the community, business people, community leaders, people who are new to Austin as well as long-time and native Austinites. Our weekly meetings provide great fellowship, education and networking.
There are so many ways to get involved. Let us help you get started.
Our club meetings are not the only ways to participate. We host a variety of other volunteer activities, large annual projects, business discussions, and social events. Contact us for more information.
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