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Club Information
Welcome to our Club!
Mondays at 11:45 AM
Flores Mexican Restaurant
2440 Hwy 290 E
Phone 512-858-2221
Dripping Springs, TX  78620
United States
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Russell Hampton
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Stories
Club News 7-7-17

Hope you had a great holiday last week and you won't want to miss our exciting program on Monday, July 10th!

Still looking for 2 people to arrange programs for November and January.

Board Actions:

* Howard to make recommendation for check signers on the Club Foundation account.
 
* Bonnie resigned as membership chair, we need to find someone to step up and chair that important committee.
 
* We will have a raffle to give away a shotgun and something else.  It would be like a “his and hers” raffle so thinking perhaps a spa day or other suggestions.  Board approved the idea and Karlon is to report back as things come together.  Raffle may also include a hunter safety course and absolutely will include a Free Trap Shoot for 4 people courtesy of Pete Edquist.
 
* Discussed adding another project that the Burke Center Boys would administer.  We would purchase flags and small flag poles that would be put in front of businesses (primarily along Hwy 290) but could be other locations.  Don’t want to encroach on similar project run by Boy Scouts that are put up at residences in the area.  Would charge $50 per flag each year and the flags would be put up/taken down by Burke Center Boys for 5 holidays each year.  Proceeds go to Burke Center.
 
* Glen presented the budget for the year, excluding projects.

 

 

 

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2017 Program Line Up

JULY PROGRAMS

July 10 - Mandi McNutt of School’s Out – Food’s In

July 17 - Jen  Young – Red Arena
July 24 – Daniel Campbell, Endeavor Real Estate – Preview of the new Belterra Shopping Center at Nutty Brown Road & 290
July 31 – Andrea Larsen– The Dr. Pound Farmstead
 

Speaker Coordinators

July - Bill Parmeter
August - Charlie Campise
September - Sam Callaway
October - Don McGraw
November
December - Ashley Tullis
January
February - Dan O'Brien
March -Karlon Cox
April - Mike Perdue
May - Rick King
June - Debra Maddox

 

 

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Fire Protection Sales Tax Election

Fire Protection Sales Tax Election:  Deciding the future of your fire protection and emergency medical first-response.

Fire Chief Scott Collard and Assistant Chief Todd Colvin spoke about Proposition 1 on the Ballot that is now open for early voting.  Proposition 1 reads: "The adoption of a local sales and use tax in Hays County Emergency Services District No. 6 at the rate of one-quarter of one percent."
 
Some interesting facts about Emergency Services District #6:
* They are a political subdivision/taxing entity paid from property tax.
* They are separate (but work together) from ESD #1 which is Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
* All firefighters are also EMS certified
* 2016 saw 233 traffic accident responses on HWY 290; and a total of 2,140 emergency responses with an average 8 minute response time, which is excellent considering the vast territory covered in our area.
* ESD#6 is the 2nd largest in Hays county (behind San Marcos), but covers the largest geographical area
* There are 6 fire stations in our district, 2 are career staffed and 4 are volunteer staffed
* We have 25 Fire Trucks and 90 personnel; of which only 27 are career personnel (paid), the rest are great volunteers
* Volunteers come I and staff 4-5 nights per week
* When responding to a fire outside of the city limits, the fire trucks have to shuttle water
* Federal guidelines require that a 1st alarm structure fire needs 15 people
* They can only bill for services rendered if it is a HAZMAT spill, but there is not really a collection mechanism. They only collect about $20K per year on these types of spill clean-ups.
* $4K is needed for basic gear for 1 single fireman
* The sales tax increase will only apply to areas that are not already at maximum rate allowed by the legislature.  The City of Dripping Springs and the City of Driftwood are already at limit and would not be affected.  The Comptroller projects that the 1/4 of 1% increase in the unincorporated and EJT areas (primarily Hays County ISD) will generate about $160,000 in revenue.
* The City does not pay for ESD#6 services, but does pay when they use the fire department for inspections/code inspections.
 
Our own Rotarian, Robert Avera is President of ESD #6 Board.  If you have questions, you can reach out to Robert or to Chief Collard at scollard@northhaysfire.com
 
 
 
News
Ted Strahan - How to write a spy novel
Have you ever wondered how authors come up with information for their novels?  Novelist, Ted Strahan share some excellent insight into how he gathers data and creativity in writing his intriguing spy novels.  First Ted shared some tips from the IRS.  One benefit of working at the IRS in the division he is in is that he sees some very interesting names come across his desk and often utilizes parts of them to create great names for his books. 
 
Some interesting factoids from Ted:
* Central America generates a lot of fake passports
* North Korea only has 300 miles of paved highway - oh and they are crazy
*Putin will always take care of Russia (and himself) first - and so will the US
* Clinton went to Russia as a Rhodes Scholar - the very best 'spy' opportunity
* There are 200,000 FSB (Russian Spies) in Russia
* SVR is the Russian Spy agency out of country
* Russia trusts no one
* Putin was trained by the KGB, he even has his own web page that creates his persona.  Recently he received a doctorate of economics without attending a university.
* The Russians are wonderful bad guys
* The Cubans recruit spies from Ivy League schools
* Most US spies are capitalists - in it for the money
* There is always a little truth in every good spy novel to make it interesting. 
* 20 years ago, Ted wrote about  the middle east and recruiting US home-grown terrorists - who knew it was going to become reality.
* Technology will not keep you safe
* Ted subscribes to Stratfor (Austin based intelligence gathering organization) to gather information about world events and threats.
 
You can get Ted's books:
The Borisov Dilemma - can be purchased a variety of sources
The Terrorist Mind - can only be purchased on-line
 
Visit Ted's blog:
 
 
 
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Jack Mayo "Why Rotary"

"Why Rotary" - the story of Jack Mayo's passion for Rotary

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