About NW Austin Rotary - History of Our Club

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Northwest Austin Rotary was chartered in 1980, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Austin under the leadership of Bill Carssow.  It was the fifth club in the area since Rotary was founded in 1905.  It began with 29 members and ended the year with 36 members.

1981-1982   The club's first service project was the Leander Rehabilitation Center, whose director, Cal Evans, was a member of our club.  Participation in the District's One Million Dollar Fishing Rodeo the following year was a success and funds raised by our club were used for the Center.

Financial support and hands-on efforts for the Rehabilitation Center continued until the mid-eighties when land prices skyrocketed and the authorities decided to sell the attractive location.  Funds raised for this project, but not utilized at the time of the land sale, were placed in a Foundation, with proceeds to be used for scholarships.  The Foundation was named after Cal Evans, who died suddenly in 1987.

1983-1984   High school scholarship awards for graduating seniors began and continue to this day.  A sister club relationship was formalized with Lucea, Jamaica.  NWAR was recognized for achieving the highest percentage increase in membership, starting with 68 and ending with 84 members.

The first scholarships were awarded to Westwood High School students.  The number of scholarships and dollar amounts have increased over the years, and the program has grown from one high school to two.

1984-1985   Existing projects were continued, but the emphasis was on Rotary Foundation and contributions exceeded all previous years.  Rotary Ann participation by spouses was encouraged.

1985-1986   The club initiated the Toys for Jamaica program.  The Westwood Interact Club took a trip to Jamaica to help form a local Interact Club, taking with them a donation for their library.

Ken Braselton served as District Governor in '85-'86.  Under his leadership, the first Bi-District Friendship Reunion was held with Mexican District 4130.  During that conference, he presented an ambulance to them on behalf of District 5870 Rotarians.

1986-1987   The Hill Country Work Activity Center program was begun and the club participated in the Artists' Harvest Show.

1987-1988   There were a lot of firsts for the club this year.  The first lady joined our club (Rutha Leffell).  We sponsored our first new club in Cedar Park.  We were awarded one of only 50 yearly Rotary International awards for Best World Community Service Projects for our work in Lucea, Jamaica.

Over a period of five years with the efforts of the NWARC, 100 University of Texas students went to Lucea during the winter breaks, working as teachers' aides and conducting recreational programs for students.  Funds and hands-on efforts were instrumental in building a child care center.  Over 1000 books were donated to the Lucea Library, toys were flown in at Christmas, and an Interact Club was established.

1988-1989   The Club began a tradition of hosting a Christmas breakfast for exceptional adults from the Hill Country Enterprises, now Bluebonnet Trails Community MHMR Center.  Santa Claus always comes with presents for his friends.  The Club hosted its first exchange student.

1989-1990   We contributed more Paul Harris fellowships than ever before.  Our first matching grant for $40,000 was used to start an Arthritis Center in Monterrey, Mexico, in cooperation with our new sister club, Monterrey Obispado.  The clinic has developed into a hospital complex were past RI President Dr. Carlos Canseco has his office.

1990-1991   We sponsored two foreign exchange students, one from Russia who attended the University of Texas, the other from Lucea, Jamaica, who went to Central Texas Junior College. 

1991-1992   Our sister club in Monterrey Obispado helped us with a matching grant used for a pilot Teen Parenting Center at Seton Northwest Hospital.  This was significant in that it was the first time RI approved a matching grant for a D5870 community, as they are generally reluctant to grant funds to a developed country.  This effort began in '91-'92 and was finally approved in '92-'93 for $40,000.

1992-1993   RI's Rota-Tree project was spearheaded and organized in the Austin area by our club;  five thousand trees were planted.  The exchange student that year was from Japan.  We sponsored the Young Environmentalist Club and began to reactivate the Interact Club at Westwood H.S.

1993-1994    The reactivation of Westwood's Interact Club was completed.  Assisted Hill Country Enterprises in finding jobs for their exceptional adults.  In August, we co-sponsored the first immunization clinic in the Austin area with Seton Northwest Hospital.  We coordinated the area Rotary clubs' joint effort for city-wide immunizations during National Immunization Week in April.  We sponsored an exchange student from Brazil.  Our club received the Presidential Citation for outstanding achievements in all avenues of service.  RI began the Benefactor Program that year and our club had three benefactor's by year end.

1994-1995   With support from the Westwood Interact Club, NWAR held a spaghetti fund-raiser.  We sponsored two individuals for the Group Study Exchange (GSE) to Brazil.  Our exchange student that year came from Mexico.  We continued the immunization effort for our club and in coordinating efforts of other area clubs.  The Educational Competitions for middle schools were begun this year, as were out "Teacher of the Year" awards.  We sponsored the formation of the Lago Vista Rotary Club in a joint effort with Cedar Park Rotary.

1995-1996   Our own Gonzalo Garza was District Governor and the club gave him whole-hearted support.  The Pflugerville Rotary Club was formed under our sponsorship.  Existing programs were continued.  Camp Enterprise became a district effort and we were awarded two scholarships for Westwood High School students.

1996-1997   We participated in one quad-club and one tri-club joint meetings with clubs which we had sponsored, a first for the district.  Had a summer mini-exchange with our sister club Monterrey Obispado, and co-sponsored with them a $20,000 matching grant program for trade shops in a Monterrey school.  NWAR organized the GSE team's week stay in the Austin area.  We received another Presidential Citation for outstanding Rotary achievement.  We conducted our first fruit sale fundraiser this year, one of our most successful endeavors that continues to present day.

Our club sponsored an individual for an Ambassador Cultural scholarship.  The application was approved the following Rotary year and he went to Lisbon during the 1998-1999 year.  It was the first such scholarship ever awarded by a D5870 club.  He was a good ambassador for this country and enthusiastically supported the program upon his return.

1997-1998   We began a $16,000 matching grant program with Monterrey Obispado which was used for school supplies and equipment for a new school in the Monterrey suburbs.  All existing programs were continued.

1998-1999   As with the year before, all existing programs were continued in varying degrees.  In addition, more social events were planned, which was very well received by membership.  The $16,000 matching grant from the year before was approved.

1999-2000   Existing club projects and fundraisers continued.  A matching grant was made with Monterrey Obispado and we received another Presidential Citation.  We joined with eight other Austin area clubs in an Awards Luncheon honoring individuals in the city's public safety sector who had done exemplary volunteer work for non-profit organizations.

2000-2001   Our primary fundraiser, the annual fruit sale, cracked the $25k mark with $25,375 gross revenue.

2001-2002   We initiated many new efforts this year in addition to continuing most existing programs.  Recognized four non-Rotarians in our community who exemplified "service above self" with awards.  Started the Robert F. Lang Scholarship Program in memory of former member and friend Bob Lang.  Initiated the NW Austin Business Awards, which recognized both a "for profit" and a "non-profit" business for outstanding community service;  State Farm and Samaritan Ministries were the inaugural recipients.  We conducted a silent auction for Make-A-Wish Foundation, which increased the visibility of our club in the community and raised over $18,000 for a worthy cause.

2004-2005    International Service was prominent in our minds as we hosted eleven Russian media entrepreneurs and two host interpreters in February.  A great time was had by all involved as we experienced international comradery, diplomacy and compassion.

2006-2007   We hosted our 20th annual Christmas breakfast party for 60 clients plus about 30 parents and staff from the Bluebonnet Trails MHMR Center in December.  In conjunction with our sister Monterrey Obispado (Mexico) Club, we participated in an international water supply and distribution project for the town of Soledad, Mexico.  NW Austin Rotary hosted a 12-member delegation of private medical entrepreneurs in February, 2007.  The delegation included a translator and group coordinator plus 10 Russian healthcare professionals who were either doctors or physicians, owners, directors and administrators of private, independent medical clinics in Russia.  This was the fourth delegation that NWAR has hosted.

2007-2008   Under Kim Krahn's leadership, we continued many outstanding programs this rotary year.  We set a new record for our fruit sale fundraiser, grossing more than $82,000, and used the money to fund eight $1500 scholarships, 30 teacher/paraprofessional awards ($250 each) and numerous other community programs - Bluebonnet MHMR Christmas Party/Gifts, Hill Country Ministries, Fans for the Elderly, CD Fulkes Orchestra violins, Austin Boys & Girls Club, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, et.al.  Eight Rotarians participated in Junior Achievement at Spicewood Elementary and several others were mentors at Jollyville Elementary.  In a revitalized youth effort, we sponsored four campers at RYLA and an outbound Cultural Exchange student, reinvigorated the Westwood Interact Club, and sponsored a previous RYLA participant at this year's RI Convention in Los Angeles.  International projects included a joint effort with Monterrey Obispado - the Jollyville Victory Garden and Science Lab Project - and the continuation of the Soledad Water Project.  Sadly, this year marked the passing of NWAR Founder and long time Rotarian Bill Carssow.

2008-2009   NWARC continues to be an active and fun club, and we are able to look back to yet another successful year:

· Our membership grew a net of 13 to a total of 93. Twenty of our Rotarians could be awarded with their 100% attendance pin, some of them up to 27 years.

· In spite of the nation's difficult economic times, we achieved our goal of our main fundraiser: fruit sales were $92,000. Thank you to all of our faithful customers.

· The fruit sale allowed us to continue our work supporting the Round Rock ISD with 8 scholarships, honoring teachers and para-professionals, donating 2 defibrillators as well as making donations to institutions like Boys and Girls Club, Boy Scouts of America, House and Friends and many others.

· Some of us visited our Sister Club in Monterrey, Mexico, Monterrey Obispado, with whom we continue to carry out projects supporting schools on both sides of the border.

· We continue to be active on the District level: the most relevant is undoubtedly Tim Buckley, who in summer 2009 started his year as District Governor. Several other District positions continue to be filled by members of NWARC. Our members regularly attend District events such as District Assembly, District Conference, Bi-National Conference and others.

· Most of our members support the Rotary Foundation, be it as Sustaining members, Paul Harris Fellows, Benefactors and/or Major Donors.

And last but not least, we are having fun too. Our social events included Fireside Meetings, a Progressive Dinner and Christmas parties.