The Rotary Club of McKinney Sunrise will host a joint meeting with the members of the Rotary Club of McKinney, known as the “downtown club,” on Wednesday, November 11, at the Eldorado Country Club for breakfast at 7:30 AM.  In honor of Veterans Day, the program event will feature Calvin J. Spann, one of the famed Tuskegee Airmen who provided exemplary military service in World War II.  Mr. Spann will speak about his experiences in the military as an African-American at a time when the military and many of our nation’s institutions were still segregated. The program speaker is sponsored by Judge Nathan White, President of the Rotary Club of McKinney Sunrise. The President of the “downtown Rotary Club” is Jim Orr.

Veterans Day is the last of five flag holidays in 2009 where the Rotary Club of McKinney Sunrise has leased over 1,233 flags to subscribers in west McKinney this past season.  The Flag Lease program which has existed for 12 years is the major fundraiser for the club.  Proceeds from the fundraiser are distributed annually to fund local needs and Rotary projects internationally.  Recent projects included a partnership with the Payless Shoe Store in McKinney to provide shoes for McKinney ISD school children in need, a send-off party for a terminally ill child and his family through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and support for the Children’s Health Clinic in McKinney.  A future project will provide gift cards to the parents of economically-disadvantaged students in the MISD for the purchase of Christmas gifts. 

For the past two years, McKinney Sunrise Rotary Club has met the challenge of creating an endowment in the McKinney Education Foundation for the Classroom Grants program.  Melanie Perkins, Executive Director, and Patti Churner, Immediate Past President of the McKinney Education Foundation will accept a check for $7,000 as the last payment of a $20,000 endowment for this purpose.  The McKinney Education Foundation is now 18 years old and is the major source of scholarships for the graduates of McKinney high school students.  The Classroom Grants program provides funds on a competitive basis for McKinney ISD staff members who write a grant for an innovative project in their classroom or school.  In addition to Classroom Grants, teachers may also apply for a Professional Development Grant to enhance their knowledge of subject matter and skills.

The following Wednesday, November 18, 7:30 A.M., at Eldorado Country Club, Chuck Koehler and Jeff Caserotti, Vice Presidents for Fundraising, will honor the Rotary Partners for their service to the Flag Lease Program.  Those receiving checks and certificates of appreciation will include Lisa Zavala, Flag Coordinator of Boy Scout Troop 496, David Sutten, Flag Coordinator of Boy Scout Troop 531, Theresa Mills, Flag Coordinator of Boy Scout Troop 303, and Dr. Tom and Julie Marshall, Flag Coordinators of the McKinney Area Home School Association.  These Rotary Partners are responsible for the delivery and pick up the flags from the residences for each flag holiday.  Also, Deputy Ella Even, Collin County Sheriff’s Office SCORE program will be honored with a certificate. The SCORE program helps with the annual cleaning, construction and maintenance of the flags.  The local VFW provides a ceremony to retire worn and soiled flags that are no longer useable.

Members of area Rotary Clubs and their spouses are invited to both events; however, the courtesy of a reply would be appreciated by contacting Sandi Froese, Flag Corresponding Secretary at 972-569-8843 or e-mail her at swfroese@sbcglobal.net, or phone Juli Smith, Club Secretary at 972-562-1866. The cost of the breakfast is $10.00 for visiting Rotarians and their guests.