by Gopal Chandrasekaran

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December - Disease Prevention & Treatment

• Speaker: 03 December 2025 - Brookwood (and Poinsettas) - Vita Goodell 

  

  Vita Goodell has worked in a nonprofit all of her life.  Her mother, Yvonne Streit, founded Houston’s Briarwood School in the 1960s for children with special needs because Goodell’s nonverbal sister needed extra help in education and with life skills.  Her mom also founded the Brookwood Community in 1983. 

  Brookwood is a God-centered non-profit residential and vocational community for adults with disabilities located on 485 acres in Brookshire, Texas, just west of Houston. 

  Vita has held numerous past positions with the Briarwood School and the Brookwood Community, and continues to serve on both boards. 

  This past May, she stepped down as the Executive Director for the Fort Bend Women’s Center after serving in that position for many years.   Today, Vita enjoys traveling with her husband to visit their three children and grandchildren, who live in other parts of the country. 

   

• President's topics:
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• Volunteer Opportunities:
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• Social Events:
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• Toys for Tots
• 2026 Running With A Heart 5K
• 2025 Rotary International Convention
• Future Programs
• Lunch Menu
• Wit and Wisdom
• Membership Moments
• November 2025 - Rotarian of the Month - Tara McMartin
• Thanks to Our Rotary Corporate Members
• Sugar Land Rotary Club - P&L Statement
• Rotary Officers and Board of Directors
• December 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

The Toys for Tots Fort Bend has already started with handing out boxes to the local Middle and High Schools to collect toys last week.

We appreciate your help and still need many more volunteer hours for the following dates. Please mark your calendars and help support giving toys to our local area kids that need the help!

The next time we need help is every evening from 15 December to 19 December - Monday through Friday at 5:30pm to 8:00pm to sort toys at First Colony Church of Christ, 2140 First Colony Blvd, Sugar Land, TX.

Distribution Day for toys will be on Saturday December 20th from 7:30am to 7:00pm.

You can Mark Your Calendar now and/or contact me back to volunteer or wait until next email comes out with shifts and times to volunteer for.

Look forward to seeing you, your friends, your family and anyone else that wants to volunteer. Volunteer ages are from 12 years old and older. We do not have facilities to watch younger kids.

Taipei Host Organization Committee Welcomes You!

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

by 

10 December 2025: J. Todd Frazier - Center for Performing Arts Medicine @ SCCC – 11:45 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.

Salad

Baby Spinach, Red Onions, Spicy Pecans, & Mushrooms with a Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing

Entrée

Jambalaya Cajun Pasta

Penne, Red & Green Peppers, Red Onion, Andouille Sausage, & Blackened Chicken 

Dessert

Pecan Pie

November 2025 ROTM

She joined our club in 2019 and quickly became one of those members you can always count on. A former world history and German teacher, she brings a strong sense of mentorship and purpose to everything she takes on.
Her work with the Interact Club at Clements High School has been a standout example of her dedication—guiding students, building connections, and helping secure a district grant this past March to support their efforts.
Always steady, thoughtful, and willing to help where it matters most, this month’s Rotarian of the Month is Tara McMartin.

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