Bishop T. K. Gorman High School Choir presented their annual Christmas concert to the South Tyler Rotary Club. It was an exceptional performance, directed by Mrs. Liles.  The Gorman Choir has performed for the South Tyler Rotary Club each Christmas Season for over ten years.  This musical group gets better each year.  Several members will receive musical scholarships this year upon graduation.

STR participated with the other two Smith County Rotary Clubs to provide a combined donation of $6,000 for the purchase of smoke alarms including some with flashing strobe lights for hearing-impaired people.  (BTW, if you wear a hearing aid, take if off and have someone test your smoke alarm – if you don’t hear it, consider purchasing a strobe smoke alarm!).

As part of our education about the necessity of smoke alarms, we learned where to place them and why, how to select the best smoke alarm for our own homes and what not to do.  I know at my house, all smoke alarms, including the hard-wired ones, will be replaced over the Thanksgiving holidays.

Alison Sterken holds bachelors in social work and masters in clinical psychology from SFASU.  She has worked in a variety of settings and roles within the developmental disabilities community, as a QMRP, a community liaison worker, a clinical psychologist, a social work counselor, an ICF and HCS administrator, in state schools, community mental health centers, the regional center system in San Diego and in the private sector. She has been an employee of Andrews Center for over 11 years, and serves on several state boards.  In January of 08, she launched an Applied Behavior Analysis program outreach program serving children with Autism and on November 2, 2009, she opened the doors of the Treatment and Learning Center for Autism, a full time, intensive ABA program under the auspices of the Andrews Center.  She is currently a graduate student (again) at UNT working toward her BCBA.  She is married and the mother of three children. She is an avid runner, yogi, and foodie  and works part time as a food critic and writer for Texas Monthly.

Broadcaster and Commentator of KTBB “You Tell Me Texas” Paul Gleiser has spoken to our club on many occasions.  He has presented us with coverage of the Democratic National Convention, the Republican National Convention, the national debt, and photography.

His programs are always enlightening.  On this day he delivered a repeat performance of his photography presentation that was first delivered at the Women’s Building in approximately 2005.

Tom DeWitt will passed the gavel to Jacque Fowler as she became the President of South Tyler Rotary Club for the 2011-2012 Rotary year.

The Group Study Exchange program from Australia was presented to The South Tyler Rotary Club.  STR participated with District 5830, hosting this international group.

Nothing will get you in the Christmas spirit like hearing angelic Christmas music.  For several years the Bishop TK Gorman High School Choir has blessed the South Tyler Rotary Club with its musical talent.

Jim Franz, is a member of the South Tyler Rotary Club and served as president in 2007-2008.  He is also the Principal of TK Gorman.  This year’s program was among the finest Christmas programs we have had.  presentation.

Mayor Bass returns to the South Tyler Rotary for an update on the status of Tyler Texas local government.

It is always great to hear from our own US Representative, Louie Gohmert.

Representative Gohmert is longtime member or the South Tyler Rotary Club and served as President in 1090-1991.  Come hear first-hand Representative Gohment’s take on all things legislative.

Candid.  No script.  No teleprompter.  Nothing held back.

At the conclusion of the program Derrith Bonderant presented a motion to make US Representative Gohmert a Lifetime Honorary Member of The South Tyler Rotary Club.  Mrs. Bondurant continued that Representative Gohmert certainly exemplifies the ideal of Rotary International of Service Above Self.  She also mentioned his continued service to the South Tyler Rotary Club, including serving as its president in1990-1991.   President Tom DeWitt presented US Representative with a certificate depicting his new title.  Representative Gohment commented that he relied on his local Rotary Club to help him “keep it real.”