by Gopal Chandrasekaran 

Speaker: 03 June 2026 - Jair Bobys - Sugar Land Rotary Foundation

We have a very exciting program for this coming Wednesday. You may have heard Rotarians in our club refer to the Sugar Land Rotary Foundation. This Wednesday, Jair Bobys, President of The Sugar Land Rotary Foundation, will tell us about the foundation: what it is, why we have it, and how it can magnify the impact of Sugar Land Rotary in our community. In addition, we will have some of our Interact students, including the District 5890 Interact Essay Winner from Clements High School, speak to us.

• President's topics:
  • Meeting location:

Sweetwater Country Club Ballroom
4400 Palm Royale Blvd.
Sugar Land, TX 77479

• Volunteer Opportunities:
  •  
• Social Events:
  •  
• 2026 Rotary International Convention
• Rotary Sugar Land - Memorial Day Services
• Sugar Land Rotary Installation Dinner - 10 June 2026
• Promote Club Speakers
• Golf - Save the dates
• Future Programs
• Lunch Menu
• Wit and Wisdom
• Membership Moments
• May 2026 - Rotarian of the Month - Christie Whitbeck
• Thanks to Our Rotary Corporate Members
• Sugar Land Rotary Club - P&L Statement
• Rotary Officers and Board of Directors
• May Birthdays and Anniversaries
• History of Presidents
• Sugar Land Rotary Hall of Fame
• List of Rotarians of the Month
• List of Rookie of the Year
• List of Harris Griffin Awardees

Taipei Host Organization Committee Welcomes You!

Follow this link for details - https://convention.rotary.org/en-us/

Service Above Self in the Sunshine: Honoring Our Heroes at Sugar Land Memorial Park

This past Monday, May 25, our club showed up in true Rotary fashion to support the City of Sugar Land’s annual Memorial Day Ceremony. It was a beautiful, solemn, and deeply moving morning as our community gathered at Sugar Land Memorial Park to honor the brave servicemen and servicewomen who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

With a major turnout this year—including a visit from Governor Greg Abbott, alongside Mayor Carol McCutcheon and emcee Retired Brigadier General Dave Van Kleeck—the park was packed. The ceremony featured an incredible military flyover by the Houston Commemorative Air Force, a powerful 21-gun salute from the Sugar Land Police Department Honor Guard, and the deeply moving roll call inside the Remembrance Tower.

Hydrating Our Community
As the Texas sun started heating up, our Rotary crew did what we do best: rolled up our sleeves and jumped into action. We set up camp to distribute over 500 free water bottles to hundreds of attendees, veterans, and families arriving by the shuttle buses from Brazos River Park.

It sounds like a simple thing, but handing out a cold bottle of water gave us a chance to connect face-to-face with our neighbors, thank veterans for their service, and provide a little comfort during a hot, emotionally heavy day. The gratitude from the crowd was overwhelming, proving once again that small acts of service make a big difference.

Moments from the Day
Below are a few snapshots taken during the event, showcasing the solemn beauty of the Remembrance Tower and our team doing what we do best—connecting with the community. Check and see how many pics were taken of our Club members at work and at the front of the crowd:
https://cityofsugarland.smugmug.com/Events/Annual-City-Events-current/Memorial-Day-Ceremony-/Memorial-Day-2026

A Big Thank You!
Huge shoutout to every single club member who came out early, hauled ice, and handed out water. You represented the heart of our club beautifully!
Ramesh Lalwani

From Ziad Chbeir

I am honored to invite you to our Installation Dinner, where I will be installed as the incoming President for the 2026–2027 year.

📅 Wednesday, June 10, 2026
🕕 6:00 PM
📍 Fadi's Mediterranean Grill — 716 Hwy 6, Sugar Land, TX 77478

It would mean a great deal to have you there as we kick off a year focused on creating lasting impact together.

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REGISTER HERE:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2026-2027-sugar-land-president-installation-ceremony
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💳 Club Account Billing
If you'd like to bill your ticket to your club account, simply enter the code "Pay Later" at checkout.

💡 Heads up on Zeffy
Zeffy is a free ticketing platform that automatically adds a small donation percentage to your order. You are welcome to change that amount to $0 before completing checkout — just look for the donation field on the payment page.

Looking forward to celebrating with all of you!

Warm regards,
Ziad Chbeir
Incoming President, Sugar Land Rotary Club 2026–2027

To promote our upcoming speakers (we have some amazing ones coming up!) please click on the Facebook link below (see the round F logo on the bottom left), and to post their excitement/interest in having our new mayor present.  To open Calendar items, just go to our website, click on Calendar, then click on the person's name on 1/14.  You can already do this for each of the programs you listed - encourage everyone to do the same.

If you do not have Facebook, share this link to our Calendar with your friends by text or email: Sugar Land Rotary Club Calendar.

The following is the current scheduled golf games for this calendar year for our Club. Mark your calendars and prepare for a day on the green.

The name at the end is the leader of that day's golf. See you all on the green!

21 May Thursday, Sweetwater Dean Carpenter
2 July Thursday River Bend Timothy Taite
24 September Thursday, Sweetwater, Steve Harris
19 November Thursday River Bend Dean Clark

by Bill Griffin

Salad

Spanish Chopped Salad
Romaine lettuce, corn, beans, tomatoes, and cilantro dressing.

Entrée

Chicken Fajita with Spanish rice and roasted zucchini
Seasoned chicken with peppers and onions served with Spanish rice and roasted zucchini (Calabasitas)

Dessert

Chef's Choice

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." — Eleanor Roosevelt

May 2026 ROTM

She stepped in and made a real impact during our Community Awareness Night, taking ownership of the auction and making sure it ran smoothly and delivered results. Her organization and follow-through helped set the event up for success.
This month’s Rotarian of the Month is Christie Whitbeck.

We are pleased that PCCPA has joined the Sugar Land Rotary Club as a Corporate Member. Their website is https://www.pccpa.org/ 

Member Anniversaries 

Rookie of the Year                               Year              President at the Time

1          Marty Clayton                          2007             Robert Walters

2        Susan Barnes                             2017             Rick Smith

3        Josh Griffin                                2018             Jim Munnell

4        David Skateland                        2019             Margie Connolly

5        Dean Clark                                 2020             Raleigh Bailes, Jr.

6        Natalie Lerner                            2021             Todd Breton

7        Anna Finberg                             2023             Marvin Marcell

8        Ramesh Lalwani                        2024             Natalie Lerner

9        Yvonne Miller-Jones                 2025             Mark Heuchert

Harris Griffin Award                        Year              President at the Time

1.     Ziad Chbeir                                2024             Natalie Lerner

2.     Mateo Salmeron                       2025             Mark Heuchert