Events

Arpitha Madduru Prasad is the Rotarian of the week!!

About Arpi: 

Arpitha Madduru Prasad (Arpi) graduated from Texas A&M University-Kingsville with a Masters degree in Civil Engineering. Arpi has been in South Texas since she started her journey to the land of dreams back in 2005. In 2007 she was hired by Testengeer and in 2011, transitioned to Formosa a move that further solidified her career in engineering.

She currently lives in Rosenberg. When not working, she enjoys doing community service with various organizations. Loves music, arts, travelling and socializing. 

About Speaker: 

Amy Boone is the Partners in Education Coordinator for Calhoun County Independent School District. Partners in Education (PIE) has connected the school district with strategic community partners for more than 30 years. Through her role, Amy facilitates grant partnerships, career exploration initiatives, and the volunteer mentor program. She also supports communications for the CCISD superintendent’s office.

Amy is a Calhoun High School graduate and an Aggie. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, cattle ranching, and volunteering with the Calhoun County 4-H. 

Mike Elgin is the Rotarian of the week!!

About Speaker: 

Parker Cox, hailing from the tranquil outskirts of Dallas in a town named Prosper, is deeply rooted in his Texan heritage, having been born in Bedford, Texas. His profound affinity for the Lone Star State has remained steadfast throughout his journey. During his high school years, Parker was an active member of the drumline in his school's band, cultivating an enduring passion for diverse musical genres, with country music reigning as his ultimate favorite.

In the year 2022, Parker proudly graduated from Texas A&M University, attaining a Bachelor of Science degree in atmospheric science. His enduring ardor for weather phenomena has been fortified by numerous encounters with climatic extremities. From the tumultuous Hurricane Harvey of 2017 to grapefruit-sized hail measuring over four inches in diameter, scorching temperatures soaring above 111 degrees Fahrenheit coupled with heat indices surpassing the 120s, the historic snowpocalypse of 2021, and numerous instances of tornado-warned supercells – each event has further fueled his dedication to the study of weather.

Parker enjoys watching hockey matches and UFC events. You may find him in the weight room and honing his skills in mixed martial arts when his schedule permits. Throughout severe weather seasons, Parker gets involved in storm chasing, bolstered by his certification from the National Weather Service in the realm of professional storm spotting and reporting.

Parker's journey now leads him to a new chapter as meteorologist and news anchor for 25 News Now Sunrise. If you run into Parker, say hello.

Evan Cardwell is the Rotarian of the week!!

About Levi:

Calhoun High School Senior Levi Harkey, in the top 4% of his class, with plans to attend Texas A&M in the Fall, has been shooting competitive archery for the past 5 years.  Recently, the Wave posted an article about Levi.

Levi was the 2024 Texas ASA state champion and shooter of the year in the Known 40 (adult division), the 2024 Minden, Louisiana ASA Pro/Am Young Adult champion, the 2024 Fort Benning, Georgia ASA Pro/Am Young Adult 3rd place, 2024 Houston Livestock Show Reserve Grand Champion, 2023 ASA Delta McKenzie Classic Pro/Am Young Adult champion. Placed Second at the Lancaster Archery Classic in Lancaster, Pennsylvania

More recently, Levi won first at the 2024 Texas Ringer in September. In October, the 2025 Houston Livestock Show Grand Champion in both the Target Archery and 3D Archery Divisions and in November won 3^rd at the Aggie Archery Invite.

Levi is a member of USA Archery, NFAA, ASA and Scholastic 3DA.

https://youtu.be/HLIiY60-3qc?si=IsQQkRd5qSZuB4Y5

Major upcoming shoots Levi will compete in include:

-ASA Pro/Am Tour

-NFAA Las Vegas Shoot

And the NFAA marked 3D Championship in Redding, California.

Felicia is the Rotarian of the week!!

Rotary Business meetings are essential for planning, organizing, and coordinating the activities of a Rotary Club. To keep these meetings engaging and productive, we are considering incorporating the following ideas:

1. Rotary program Updates: 

• Provide updates on ongoing Rotary Programs and projects. 
• Share success stories and testimonies from beneficiaries.

2. Interactive Workshops:

• Conduct workshops on leadership, team building, or personal development
• Rotate members as facilitators to share their experience. 

3. Rotary Fellowship Time:

• Set aside time for members to socialize and build connections. 
• Plan fellowship activities, such as networking events or themed gatherings. 

4. Goal setting sessions:

• Establish short term and long term goals for the club. 
• Break down goals into actionable steps and assign responsibilities. 

5. Rotary community needs assessment:

• Conduct a needs assessment in the local community. 
• Discuss potential projects or initiatives to address identified needs. 

Shayna Hoover and Heston Lovett will be the CHS March Rotary Students. They are attending on 03/27/25, Thursday with Brandi Williams and will represent CCISD early college/dual credit program.

Laura King is the Rotarian of the week!!

About Laval Simons (Speaker):

Laval Simons is the co owner of Smokin Gun Coffee with his son Milam Simons.  Laval is a 20 year veteran of the Army, 12 of those in Special Forces. He worked overseas and domestically in anti Terrorism for the government in various capacities.  Milam is also an Army veteran and is currently on Active Duty stationed at Fort Carson Colorado working as a Combat Engineer.  They have been in the  coffee roasting business for 6 years and have customers all across the country. 

Daniel Harry is the Rotarian of the week!!

About the Speaker: 

Wayne Shaffer is the Public Works Director for The City of Port Lavaca. In this role, He manages a team that provides repair and maintenance of all aspects of Public Works, including Water distribution and quality, Wastewater collection and treatment, Streets and Parks. Wayne holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration/Public Administration as well as certification from TCEQ in Water (B Distribution), Wastewater (A License) and CSI (customer service inspector). As an added benefit to the city, he also holds many of the necessary FEMA ICS certifications.

Wayne is no stranger to Public Works, having spent 7 years as a Water/Wastewater Operator and 12 years as a director, which taught him the importance of Water Quality, Customer service and employee development. Prior to starting in Public Works, Wayne spent 5 years as a CCTV Camera Operator/Sewer jet operator cleaning and evaluating municipal sanitary sewers and oily water Sewer lines in numerous refineries across the country.

Before joining Port Lavaca 6 years ago for the second time, Wayne worked for 13 years in a diverse range of organizations, including the City of Portland, City of Port Lavaca, City of Beeville and City of Palacios. In this role, he was responsible for Water treatment and distribution, Wastewater collection and treatment, until ultimately working up to the position of Public Works Director.

Dr. Tim McFarland is the Rotarian of the week!!

INVEST IN OUR PLANET 

Get Inspired. Take Action. Be a part of the green revolution.

Source: www.earthday.org

CHS Rotary students for April will be Anna Benavides, representing Sports Medicine (attending with athletic trainer Mackenzie Traynor) and Jack Sharp, representing Process Technology (attending with teacher Brian Franck).

Eric Teehan is the Rotarian of the week!!

Ron Flournoy Bio: 

Ron was born in Mobile, Ala.  He came to Calhoun County, Tx in 1957 with his ALCOA family when his father helped build the Point Comfort Refining plant.  Ron graduated from Calhoun High School and went on to college at Lamar University in Beaumont for his BS degree in Chemical Engineering.

Ron married Pamela Bundick of Bloomington and they have two daughters, Stacey Wynn (Greg) of Port Lavaca and Melissa DeMouy (Richard) of San Antonio.  Ron/Pam have been married for 60 years.  They have 4 adult grandchildren: 3 girls and 1 boy and 1 recent great-grandson.

Ron joined Alcoa directly from college and spent the next 34 years in various operational and technical roles at locations in Arkansas (twice), Suriname, SA, Pittsburgh, Mobile, Ala, Point Comfort (twice) and Jamaica.  Ron is a Registered Professional Engineer in the State of Arkansas.  He retired from Alcoa in 2000 and chose to remain residing in Port Lavaca.

Both while working and retired, Ron has been active in our community.  He’s led search teams for Port Lavaca City Managers, served on the CCISD school board, been involved in local public education as a Partner in Education member, mentored several CCISD administrators, served as Chairman of the Region III Education Service Center Board, and has served on both DeTar Hospital and University of Houston Victoria advisory boards.  He is a long-time member of International Bank of Commerce Upper Gulf Coast’s advisory board of directors.  He is a deacon at First Baptist Port Lavaca.

Ron joined Port Lavaca Rotary in 1984 and served as club president in 2004-5.  He has served as club treasurer and as secretary for 10 years from 2005-15.  He was a P.E.T.S. Ranger in 2007. His first Paul Harris was awarded in 2003.

Ron’s hobbies are fishing, both local and international, genealogy, traveling, reading, and restoring old family photos.  Ron also is a retired SCUBA diver.

Derek Schmidt is the Rotarian of the week!!

About Dereck: 

A seasoned banking professional with more than 38 years of financial experience and particular expertise in commercial lending, Derek Schmidt is making a positive difference in the Coastal Bend and Matagorda area through his leadership as president and CEO of IBC Bank-Port Lavaca. In his role, he oversees all lending activity at the branches in Port Lavaca, Victoria, and Bay City and is responsible for the growth and management of the commercial loan and deposit portfolios, including business development, loan negotiations, independent credit analysis, and loan package preparation.

            Schmidt is a member and past President of the Port Lavaca Rotary Club and a board member and President of Formosa Plastics-Calhoun County ISD Scholarship Foundation. Under his leadership, IBC employees dedicate their time by volunteering at various organizations including Warrior’s Weekend, Relay for Life Cancer Support, Calhoun County Food Pantry, Hardhead Derby Fishing Tournament for children, and others. IBC Bank-Port Lavaca has significantly impacted the area by teaching financial literacy classes to adults and children alike. In 2017 alone, employees reached more than 1,035 area students in March, April and May through Money Buzz, the bank’s proprietary financial literacy program for children in kindergarten through 8^th grade.

            Schmidt joined IBC Bank in 2012 as executive vice president and was promoted to head the market later that year when longtime CEO Richard Bothe transitioned to the role of chairman of IBC Bank-Port Lavaca’s board of directors. IBC Bank-Port Lavaca has been serving the region since 1994 and has three branches in the communities of Bay City, Victoria and Port Lavaca.

            Schmidt moved to South Texas in grade school and lived in Beeville and Corpus Christi. He graduated High School in 1980 and graduated from Tarleton State University with a BBA degree. He is a 2004 graduate of The Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at SMU, class XLV. He and his wife Kelli have been married for 32 years and have a son that is a graduate of Texas A&M Kingsville and a daughter that is a graduate of U.H. Victoria. When out of the office, he enjoys fishing and hunting.

The CHS May Students of the Month will be Stacy Zhang and Gregory Huang. They are being recognized as the highest-ranking girl and boy and will attend with Dana Dworaczyk, principal, and Lance Schultz, counselor along with Leather McCall (Principal for next year).

Jane Lane is the Rotarian of the Week!!

Zack Jurasek Bio: 

Zachary “Zack” Jurasek – Founder, GlowRow® | Co‑Founder, PaddlePOC

Zachary "Zack" Jurasek isn’t just the visionary behind GlowRow®—he’s the Calhoun‑County native who engineered the glow, flew above it, and made sure it could handle anything the Gulf Coast skies throw at it.

Engineering the glow

Before launching GlowRow®, Zack spent 14 years as an instrumentation engineer, honing the electronics savvy that produced GlowRow®’s patented glowing paddles and 20,000‑lumen lighting systems—still the brightest on the water.

Mastering the weather

Five years as a freelance commercial pilot gave Zack advanced weather‑analysis skills that now anchor GlowRow®’s safety protocols. From Port O’Connor’s back bays to San Luis Pass and all the way to Laguna Madre, his tours fly only when Mother Nature gives a green light.

Capturing the magic

Those viral aerial videos of neon kayaks threading through Calhoun County waterways? Zack’s the drone pilot—spotting dolphin pods at dusk and turning local estuaries into starlit runways for social media.

Building Calhoun County’s next wave: PaddlePOC™

Launched with capital generated by GlowRow®, PaddlePOC™ is Zack’s newest venture—an outdoor‑recreation hub designed for Port O’Connor, by Port O’Connor.

• External investment secured (2025) – New Partner Vincent Mercier accelerates infrastructure upgrades and eco‑tour projects across the peninsula.
• Top‑tech golf‑cart fleet arrives prior to Memorial Day 2025 – GPS‑equipped, phone‑charging, touch screen, bluetooth sound, fishing‑rod‑ready carts will shuttle visitors from the shrimp boats on Adams Street to the surf at Kingfisher Beach.
• Day‑to‑night synergy – PaddlePOC’s kayak clinics, guided dolphin tours, and golf‑cart rentals feed directly into GlowRow®’s nighttime glow tours—turning single‑activity tourists into all‑day guests who stay, shop, and dine in Calhoun County.
• Tourism‑mecca vision – By 2027, PaddlePOC projects 40,000 annual visitors, a 30 percent uptick in local hospitality revenue, and dozens of new seasonal jobs for county residents.

Awards & nominations

• 🏆 Attraction of the Year – Texas State Tourism (2023)
• 🏆 Best of the Best Destination in North America – ABA Magazine (2023)
• 🏆 Experience of the Year – Texas State Tourism (2024)
• 🏆 Tourism Champion of the Year – Keagan Wood, GlowRow® Guide (2024)
• 🏆 Innovative Experience of the Year – Travel & Hospitality Awards (Americas) (2024/25)
• 🌟 Nominee – North America’s Leading Adventure Tour Operator (2025, World Travel Awards)
• 🌟 Nominee – Best Kayak Tour (2025, USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice)

Why it matters for Calhoun County

GlowRow® ignited nighttime adventure tourism; PaddlePOC will power the daylight economy. Together, Zack’s ventures aim to position Port O’Connor as the Gulf’s must‑visit eco‑adventure capital, driving fresh revenue, sustainable jobs, and year‑round buzz—all while keeping safety, innovation, and local heritage at the heart of the glow.

Steve Marwitz is the Rotarian of the week!!

Robert Knox is the rotarian of the week!!

Gary Krenek is the rotarian of the week!!

Michelle Morales will talk about the growth at the Y 

Darbie Morris is the Rotarian of the Week!!

Larry Nichols is the Rotarian of the week!!

Rhonda Nielsen is the Rotarian of the week!!

About the speaker:

James Mertink, Consultant, Commercial Nuclear Power

James Mertink has over 40 years of experience in commercial nuclear power. Most recently, he served as the manager responsible for developing a culture and process of continuous improvement at the South Texas Project Nuclear Operating Company. In this position, he facilitated the station to develop a culture of continuous improvement with specific focus on understanding current levels of performance and mapping plans to improve in areas that did not reflect industry excellence. Currently, he serves as a consultant to the nuclear industry.

He has held positions from engineer and licensed senior reactor operator to senior leadership positions in key organizations including Operations, Maintenance, Training, Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement.

His experience includes a multi-year assignment at the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) where he supported the plant evaluation process and assisted in implementation of the continuous monitoring process. He was a member of evaluation teams and continuous improvement assistance teams that visited and assisted ten domestic nuclear power plants. This diverse experience has included support of the international nuclear power industry through World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) Peer Review at the Hungary Paks station and the International Atomic Enenergy Association (IAEA) working group concerning Nuclear Knowledge Management. And recently James consulted with numerous Japanese utilities in the areas of performance monitoring and nuclear safety culture.

Rotary Business meetings are essential for planning, organizing, and coordinating the activities of a Rotary Club. To keep these meetings engaging and productive, we are considering incorporating the following ideas:

1. Rotary program Updates: 

• Provide updates on ongoing Rotary Programs and projects. 
• Share success stories and testimonies from beneficieries.

2. Interactive Workshops:

• Conduct workshops on leadership, team building, or personal developement
• Rotate members as facilitators to share their experince. 

3. Rotary Fellowship Time:

• Set aside time for members to socialize and build connections. 
• Plan fellowship activities, such as networking events or themed gatherings. 

4. Goal seeting sessions:

• Establish short term and long term goasl for the club. 
• Break down goals into actionable steps and assign responsibilities. 

5. Rotary community needs assessment:

• Conduct a needs assessment in the local community. 
• Discuss potential projects or initiatives to address identified needs. 

Anne Marie Odefey is the Rotarian of the week!!

About the Speker:

Leather McCall - Principal, Calhoun High School

Leather McCall currently serves as the Principal of Calhoun High School, bringing 16 years of experience in public education to the role. Her career began with teaching Reading at Palacios Junior High, followed by five years teaching English at Calhoun High School. In 2015, she transitioned into a counseling role at HJM Elementary, where she served students and families for seven years.

Her leadership journey continued as she stepped into administrative roles, serving as Assistant Principal at both HJM Elementary and JR Elementary. In 2025, she was honored as the Region 3 Assistant Principal of the Year by the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association.

Mrs. McCall is passionate about student success and community impact. She is committed to fostering a positive, supportive environment for both students and staff at Calhoun High School.

She shares, "My goal has always been to serve our students and community in a role where I can make the most meaningful impact. I'm truly grateful for the opportunity and look forward to supporting the CHS staff and students in every way possible."

Tad Puckett is the Rotarian of the week!!

Jan Regan is the Rotarian of the week!!

About the speaker: 

Dr. Jim Nelson is the Associate Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs for the Texas A&M University System. Since late April, he has served as the TAMUS liaison for the transition of UHV into the A&M System traveling to Victoria for 2-3 days weekly to get to know the campus and community. He is spearheading efforts to bring agriculture and engineering programs to Texas A&M University-Victoria over the coming years.

Dr. Nelson joined the faculty of the University of Texas at Tyler in 2005, becoming the founding chairman of the Department of Civil Engineering and Dean of Engineering. Prior to that, Dr. Nelson worked in industry and had a varied academic experience, including stints at Texas A&M University at Galveston and Texas A&M University.

He received a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from the University of Dayton and a Master’s and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Houston.

Dr. Nelson is married and has a daughter, a graduate of the University of Texas at Tyler.

Mike Rivet is the Rotarian of the week!!