San Antonio Northeast Rotary Club Chartered May 19, 1987 - District 5840 - Club #24625 www.sanortheastrotary.com

March 23, 2021

Tuesday, March 23rd at 6:00 p.m. La Fonda Alamo Heights, 8633 Crownhill Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78209 Zoom meeting - www.zoom.com Meeting ID: 971 0278 0940 Password: 925593 One Click Link - https://zoom.us/j/97102780940?pwd=WG9CQjZsYStVRlRuZEU0S204RDV2dz09

Rotary’s Four Way Test of the things we think, say or do: 1.) Is it the TRUTH? 2.) Is it FAIR to all concerned? 3.) Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? 4.) Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

Our speaker this evening is Bill Gerlt, Assistant General of the San Antonio Missions Baseball Club. Bill will talk to us about the 2021 Missions and the changes that have taken place to the minor leagues since last season.

Bill joined the Missions in January 1997 as the Director of Merchandising and remained in that role until September 2007 when he was promoted to his current role as an Assistant General Manager. Bill is Each year, Rotary responsible for selling season District 5840 holds a ticket and partial plan Raffle to help support memberships, group tickets, and hospitality areas as well as the Annual Fund of developing corporate partnerships. Bill graduated from Northwest Missouri State University with the Rotary a degree in Agricultural Economics and is from Red Oak, Foundation. In past Iowa. He is a fan of the and the Kansas years, the winner of City Chiefs. the raffle drawing won a cruise. This year, the raffle is completely different and should make it easier Birthdays & to sell raffle tickets and perhaps be a winner yourself.

The cost of each raffle ticket is $10. There will seven Anniversaries winning tickets and the prize is a prepaid $1,000 Frost Anthony Strickland will be celebrating Bank Card. For the third ticket drawn, the seller of the this 2nd Rotary Anniversary on March ticket will be the winner of the $1,000 prepaid bank card. 26th. Thank you Anthony for everything that you have done for our club. Tickets will be handled out at our Rotary meeting tonight. We have until May 1st to sell the tickets and the drawing will be held May 8th. Remember that each ticket that you sell counts toward your Paul Harris contributions.

As Lee Powers mentioned at our meeting last week, the City of Shavano Park will be holding a City Wide Garage Sale on Saturday, April 10th. As many of you know, Lee is a long time resident of Shavano Park.

This could be a possible fundraiser for our Rotary club. Lee said that club members could bring him items and he would make sure that they are part of the garage sale. Any money raised from the sale of the items donated by club members would go into the club’s general fund.

Please take some time to look around your homes to see if there is anything that you would not mind donating to the club, that in turn, could be sold at the Shavano Park City Wide Garage. To make it a little more convenient for everyone, if you have something to donate, please bring it with you tonight or our meeting next week. In turn, we will get the items to Lee. Thank you, Lee.

The San Antonio Northeast Rotary Club WILL NOT be meeting on Tuesday, April 6th. Our 50 / 50 raffle jackpot is at $830, In place of our meeting, plus any contributions tonight. That we will have a club means there is an opportunity for social at StreetFare SA someone to take home more than food truck park on $415 tonight if your ticket is drawn Friday, April 9th starting at 6:00 p.m. StreetFare SA is and you pull the 58 or 40 Bingo ball. located at 1916 Austin Highway, San Antonio, TX 78218.

Not just one hour a week, 3/16/21

but a way of life.

For the first time in almost 5 months, and for only the third time in the last year, members of the San Antonio Northeast Rotary Club met in person. We met at La Fonda Alamo Heights on Tuesday, March 16th. In addition to getting to see each other in the same room, and discuss some club business, we also enjoyed a pre-St. Patrick’s Day celebration. Even though we officially installed our newest club member Jordan Alonzo a couple of weeks ago via Zoom, club president Preston McKinney had the opportunity to pin Jordan with his Rotary pin. Club treasurer Becky Robles did not miss a beat performing her weekly duties. She truly lit up the room. Preston was in the spirit with St. Patrick’s Day socks and glasses.

Baseball and

Branch Rickey Award Rotary Smith Award

The Award is given to the The Rotary Smith Award honors (MLB) individual in College Baseball's Player of the recognition of his exceptional community Year, as voted on by college service. The award was named for former baseball publicists, former player and executive Branch Rickey. The winners and the coaches of Rotary Club of Denver, Colorado hosted those former winners. an annual banquet where proceeds The special award is given benefit Denver Kids, Inc., a charity that annually by the Rotary Club of benefits at-risk students who attend Houston, pays tribute to R.E. Denver Public Schools. "Bob" Smith - the force behind Each winner of the Branch Rickey Award the Houston Colt .45s / Astros and still finds time to help received a 24 inch (610 mm) bronze several charities. sculpture of a baseball player, named "Bob (Smith) was never very excitable at a game. I made "The Player", designed by sculptor up for it. I was always jumping out of my seat, screaming George Lundeen. A larger version of "The Player", standing at the umpires. Once, in the last innings of a close game, 13 feet tall, was erected at in Denver. I reached down for his hand and it was all wet. I said,

Branch Rickey, while 'What's this?' He smiled and said, 'That's baseball.'" - Vivian Smith (wife) president and general manager of the The official Rotary Smith Award website had some Brooklyn Dodgers, fascinating accounts of each award-winning recipient. broke the Major Here is one of them: League color barrier by "The first winner of the R. E. 'Bob' Smith Award, Andy signing Jackie Benes went on to become the first overall selection in the Robinson. Also, Rickey draft when the San Diego Padres tabbed him. After created the Knothole picking up the Smith hardware, he went on to lead the Gang, a charity that U.S. Olympic team in the Seoul Olympics and the allowed children to following year, he was pitching for the Padres. 2002 attend MLB games. marked his 14th season in the majors and his final Each MLB team strikeout of the season gave him an even 2,000 in his nominated one career to go along with 155 wins. individual who exemplified the Rotary Benes justified his status as the top college by Club motto: "service winning 16 games (including 13 complete games) for the above self". A vote was Purple Aces, while fanning 188 in just 146 innings. He then conducted by the remains the Aces season and career leader in strikeouts national selection and ERA."

committee, which The Rotary Smith Award pays tribute to Houston, Texas' consisted of members original baseball ambassador, R.E. 'Bob' Smith and his of the sports media, wife Vivian. It rewards the winner's character and previous winners of the leadership as well as his talent on the field of play. The award, and Rotary district governors in major-league cities. Award also benefits the Rotary Charities, Texas Beginning in 2013, fans were able to vote via Facebook. Children's Hospital and the Karl Young League.