Events

This is the day we smoke the Briskets! We have some open volunteer slots available that would help make this a smooth cook. If you just want to come out and hang out, you can do that as well. We will be at the location from Friday 4pm to Saturday 4pm - 12 hours. Come and go as you please or sign up for a volunteer slot, either was we have it covered and this will be a great event to fellowship. 

The Project Linus mission is to provide handmade blankets to children aged 0-18 in the United States who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need.  There are chapters in every state with Texas having approximately 17 chapters. The national website is https://projectlinus.org 

Our chapter, Brazos Valley, covers the Brazos, Burleson, Grimes, Madison, Milam, Robertson, Waller and Washington counties. Our blankets are distributed locally to organizations that support children. From time-to-time blankets may be shipped to other areas in the United States that may have an immediate extraordinary need. Some of the local organizations we distribute our blankets to are: Ronald McDonald House, Hope Pregnancy Center, Phoebes Home, Hope Locker - Bryan ISD, Casa (Bryan and Brenham when requested) and Chrissy’ Closet – College Station ISD (new).  

Our chapter makes machine quilted and knitted or crocheted blankets. Blankets are hand-made from new fabric or yarn by local volunteers. Blankets are dropped off at Sew Vac City in College Station, JoAnn’s Fabric in Bryan or at our monthly meetings at Sew Vac City.  Our chapter meets at 10AM on the 3rd Tuesday each month at Sew Vac City. Attending the meetings is not a requirement to be a member. You do not have to be a member to donate to the Brazos Valley chapter. 

You can make a real difference in so many ways by donating monetarily to Project Linus. We are a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. Monies are used for purchasing blanket supplies. Our chapter also welcomes donated materials to make blankets such as quilt batting, cotton fabric, or acrylic or cotton yarn. We also welcome information on additional organizations that we could provide blankets to for children in need. 

We are having a Christmas party, and you are invited!!

• Heavy Hors 'deuvers
• BYOB
• Favorite Book Gift Exchange
• Dessert Contest
• Karaoke!!

Enter your favorite homemade dessert in the contest - prizes will be awarded.

When registering , indicate if you would like to either enter the dessert contest or be a judge.

We have cancelled this meeting due to Gate12 not have availability. 

Luis Villanueva

Captain of the Salvation Army. Salvation Army Day is March 10th.

Luis is from Chile, South America. His parents are Salvation Army officers so he was able to experience a lot of the ministry with different cultures and backgrounds growing up. He got his degree in translating English and Spanish. After eight months of working through the visa process he stepped foot on US ground in Salt Lake City in 2007. 

When he was working for the Western Territory all of a sudden his visa was terminated, and he had to go back to Chile. One year passed, and then the Waxahachie Corps was looking for a youth worker. They saw his resume, called him and eight months later, he's here in the Texas Division with people that he doesn't know. 

He and his wife knew that they had a calling to be Salvation Army officers but they didn't know what was going to happen. They were in Texas, and met Major Betty Jo MacDonald, who attended their corps. After a year, she said, "I think you guys have a calling to be officers." They talked about their calling, and she said, "Sure enough!" 

His advice to anyone who God has been called to be an officer is to pray! Let God confirm you, at least two or three times. If you're not sure that this is what God wants from you, instead of being a help it could be a problem for you and your family. Pray and ask God for confirmation through the Scripture and through people. It can be the greatest ministry in your life if it is a calling because God will sustain you in all those years, whether good or bad. 

Being a Salvation Army officer is totally different than only being a pastor. That's something he learned. It is a lot of work. But this is going to be the greatest opportunity that you have to impact as many people you encounter. 

This was adapted from the Salvation Army website, you can read the original here.

Get to know youe fellow Rotarians - We will have a special introduction and a couple of members will be sharing.

Kevin Joyner is the Chief Information Security Officer at Brazos County. He been there six years, but has over 25 years of experience in IT, with almost 20 of that in municipal government. He is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a degree in Computer Science and has had a consistent and abiding interest in security since the earliest days of the internet in the 80s.

He is married and has 5 children, all boys, that range in age from 26 to 7. He is involved in his church, where he occasionally fills in for the pastor, and staying active with his kids' activities. He hopes to one day discover this foreign concept called “free-time.”

Our nonprofit offers essential support and resources to crime victims and their families, and the law enforcements that serve us all.

Lina has more than 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry. As Community Educator and Area Director for ten years in the hospice industry, she worked with families and health care providers educating and advocating for increased awareness and better understanding of issues that emerge during end- of- life care.

In 2013, she joined Mir Care Consultants, Inc. and is now CEO and co-owner of the firm. Mir Care Consultants, Inc. is a Certified Life Care Management firm focusing on Geriatric Care and Special Needs Children and Adults. Mir Care Consultants is also a private professional guardianship program serving those who have no family or advocate to oversee their care. She is responsible for growing the firm and expanding services to Austin, Bryan/College Station, and in the near future Houston, Texas.

Lina’s passion, commitment and dedication lies in patient advocacy, consumer health education, ensuring accountability, excellence in care, and assuring individuals’ choices are honored.

As a caregiver for her father and currently for her mom, Lina understands the complexities of aging and the support and guidance that adult children or those caring for elders can be challenging. Her expertise in care management allows for her to provide expert advice and guidance on coordination, care, and support during the caregiving journey. She continues her care journey as she is a caregiver for her mom who is living with Parkinson’s Disease.

Lina serves on several boards and is active in community events and efforts to support elders and their caregivers in Central Texas including the AGE of Central Texas where she is the Co-Chair for the Capital Campaign South Location and served last year as the Co-Chair for the She Thrives Program an event focused on the female caregiver.

Currently she is the Treasurer/Secretary for National Board of the Aging Life Care Association where she has served as Chair of the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee and is Chair of the PR Committee, and a member of the Finance Committee. On the local level she serves on the board of the South Central Chapter ALCA.

Recently Lina was awarded the 2022 Joyce Lauck Legacy Award which honors a person whose professional commitment goes above and beyond his or her job description to impact the lives of older adults and family caregivers. She has been awarded was the Aging Life Care Association Chapter Member of the year for 2022 and 2024.

When not working or volunteering, Lina spends time with her husband of 20 years, Orlando, three grown children, two dogs, playing and participating in pickleball tournaments and travelling.

Lina Supnet Zapata MBA, CMC, TxCG CEO Aging Life Care Professional-Advanced Professional Private Professional Guardian-Certified Board Member at Large -Aging Life Care Association Mir Senior Care & Care Consultants, Inc 3410 Far West Boulevard Suite 120 Austin, Texas 78731 T: 512.975.2444 F: 512.519.2304 www.mircareconsultants.com

Southwest Brazos County, Texas
Expertly Trained Stylist & Color Analyst

Howdy!  I’m Shana Elliott, fighting Texas Aggie class of 2002.  I've a MOSTLY lifelong resident of College Station, graduating from A&M Consolidated in 1998 and then attending TAMU.  My husband Chad is also a lifelong CS resident, we went to Consol together and started dating after graduation, eventually getting married in 2003.  We have twin 17yr old daughters Annabelle and Andie.  I'm a financial advisor and CFP® at Edward Jones for the last 21 years.  In November 2024, I purchased the Southwest Brazos County territory for House of Colour, and have enjoyed being a color stylist for the last few months.  I am pursuing this as a passion project, as I have recently formed a love for watching people's faces as they see themselves in their best colors and learn to find their best selves in the right color palate, and the right clothing style that fits their personality and body architecture. 

Howdy,

My name is Parick Lewis. I have been working with youth programs and activites most of my life. My main goal is to provide opportunities to make treasure memories that will last a liftime with the people who visit, work, or attend our program. 

Daniel Rudge, is the Executive Director of the Bryan-College Station Metropolitan Planning Organization (BCSMPO). Daniel, or Dan as he prefers to be called, has over 25 years of experience in the Transportation Planning profession and worked in six different states primarily in Virginia and Florida.

Prior to joining the BCSMPO, Dan was the Director of Planning for Lee County, Florida Transit Department, also known as LeeTran, involved in integrating transit into the local governments Comprehensive Plan. While at the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), Daniel served as the Chief of Planning/Manager of Mobility Programs and was responsible for statewide and local transportation planning initiatives across DRPT’s transit, transportation demand management and rail programs. Daniel also worked closely with Virginia’s Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO’s) serving as DRPT’s MPO liaison, with the Virginia General Assembly as DRPT’s Legislative Services Director, and developed and taught grantee training. Prior to joining DRPT, Daniel was the Executive Director for the Springfield, Missouri MPO. Prior to being an Executive Director, Daniel worked with three other MPO’s and has written longrange transportation plans, congestion management process plans, coordinated human service agency plans, transit development plans, and Transportation Demand Management (TDM) plans. In addition to his MPO work, Daniel was a Research Associate with the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) in Florida where he was involved in planning and implementation of transportation demand management programs, technical assistance to municipalities integrating alternative transportation/transit into local growth management initiatives, developing citizen participation programs, and developing strategic plans for public and private sector organizations. Daniel’s other activities included serving as a project planner for the State Transportation Policy Initiative, Land Use Regulations That Support Access Management, and various transit Development plans. Daniel also received national recognition for developing and conducting 16-40 hour transportation training seminars in nine states, co-authoring two award-winning transportation handbooks, and editing an international newsletter. Daniel holds a Masters Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Virginia Tech.

Stephanie Cooper
Master Gardener | Landscape Design Enthusiast

Stephanie Cooper is a certified Master Gardener and a proud Texas Aggie, holding a degree in Horticulture with a specialization in Landscape Design. With a passion for plants and sustainable gardening, she is dedicated to helping others create beautiful, functional outdoor spaces grounded in research-based knowledge. Outside of sharing her passion for plants, Stephanie enjoys volunteering in her church’s children’s ministry, spending time in her own garden, and most of all, she loves time with her husband and their three children.

Hanna Galloway-Hillestad
Program Manager, Texas A&M Institute for Equine Sciences
Hanna Galloway-Hillestad is the Program Manager for the Texas A&M Institute for Equine
Sciences, a position she has held since January 2017. In this role, she plays an integral part in the
development and execution of programs that enhance the university’s equine-related initiatives.
Prior to her current role, Hanna gained valuable experience as an administrative assistant to Dr.
Jim Heird, where she further honed her organizational and leadership skills.

Hanna was recognized as an Outstanding Young Professional by the Department of Recreation,
Park and Tourism Sciences at Texas A&M University in April 2024 for her outstanding
achievements associated with the Equine Institute and the Thomas G. Hildebrand, DVM ’56
Equine Complex.

Hanna earned her Master of Science in Recreation and Resources Development in 2019 from
Texas A&M University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, following her Bachelor of
Science in Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences in 2015. During her time at Texas A&M, she
also gained hands-on experience as an intern at the Thomas G. Hildebrand, DVM ’56 Equine
Complex, deepening her knowledge of the equine industry.

While at Texas A&M, Hanna was a standout athlete, competing in both track and cross-country
throughout her college years. Her academic and athletic accomplishments were recognized by
her inclusion on the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Academic Honor Roll for three consecutive
years. In addition, Hanna was honored with several prestigious awards, including the Fellowship
of Christian Athletes (FCA) Collegiate Athlete of the Year Award and the 2015 Collegiate
Character of Excellence Award.

Hanna is a 2011 graduate of Decatur High School where she was a multisport athlete and was
involved with FFA and 4-H.

Today, Hanna remains committed to advancing the Texas A&M Institute for Equine Sciences,
supporting the growth and development of equine-related programs at the university, and
fostering a positive and impactful environment for students and the broader equine community.

Rachael Altman
Carnegie Library
Rachael Altman will be speaking to us about the Carnegie Library in Downtown Bryan.

For those interested in learning more about the Carnegie Library:

It’s one of the most distinctive buildings in Downtown Bryan. With its neoclassical-revival-style red brick, tall windows, white exterior finishes, and four tall columns climbing the height of the two-story building, it’s certainly the most distinguished looking.

Just inside the double-door entrance are two narrow wooden stairways—one to the right, the other to the left. About ten steps ahead is the central help desk, the heart of the first floor. The space surrounding it is cozy in the best possible sense of the word. Except for a couple of large study tables and some chairs, the entire floor is packed wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling with books, photos, art, and historical artifacts, many relating to real estate in the region. Upstairs is more of the same. The building smells pleasantly of old wood and even older books. The atmosphere is conducive to the building’s intended purpose: historical research.

Welcome to the Carnegie History Center.

Originally the Carnegie Public Library, the building is now a repository for rare historical materials (although the name on the structure has not changed). The center’s holdings are astonishing. They include family Bibles, old court records and school records, countless photos and maps spanning the early 19th century through the 20th century, and collections of documents donated by some of the city’s founding families. Some materials document aspects of the area’s history that are unpleasant but no less important. For example, the center has a zoning map from the ’50s showing how schools were segregated and original bills of sale from the slave trade (one written on what appears to be stationary from a London hotel).

Armed with such a rich treasure trove of documents (plus a little time and a lot of patience), even the most amateur history buff could piece together a respectably detailed history of the Brazos Valley, its real estate, and its people. That’s why the library’s resources are used largely for genealogical research.

Learn more about the Carnegie Library here!