We at Resolve It like to think like Benjamin Franklin and invest in this “ounce of prevention”, rather than in a pound of cure. Resolve It’s programs offer kids the tools to help them turn their lives around before they are in too deep. I am no longer willing to “miss another prevention opportunity”.      What about you? Where can you make a difference in the life of a young person standing at the Gateway to the rest of their life?

Coats was jointly nominated by two RNASA advisors: previous Trophy winner and former NASA Administrator Dr. Mike Griffin; and former NASA Kennedy Space Center Director Mr. William Parsons. In nominating him, they cited his management as the tenth director of Johnson Space Center “NASA’s leading human space flight center,” and his “leadership to the retiring Space Shuttle Program, the International Space Station Program, and his advancement of the capability for human exploration and utilization of space research development.”

“We are thrilled that the Board of Advisors has selected Coats for recognition this year,” Rodolfo González, President of the RNASA Foundation, said. Coats will receive the award at a gala at the Houston Hyatt Regency on April 27.

As director of Johnson Space Center (JSC), Coats provides management and administration of NASA resources, programs, projects, and research activities in support of NASA’s strategic goals. He’s responsible for a team of more than 3,200 civil servants and an annual budget in excess of $4.5 billion dollars.

In the award citation, former KSC Director Parsons wrote that, “Coats worked diligently to effectively balance institutional and program demands, ensuring the safe and successful fly out of NASA’s Space Shuttle Program.” During 2011, he directly contributed to the successful completion of the International Space Station (ISS) assembly, the final three Shuttle flights, four automated cargo flights, Progress flights, and Soyuz flights. These flights delivered critical spares, supplies, crew, and the final elements to sustain and position the ISS for the coming decade of utilization.

Former NASA Administrator Griffin called Coats, “a naturally gifted leader with excellent communication and people skills.” He noted that this past year has been extremely demanding, as well as an emotional one for JSC. “Leading the close-out of the 30-year Space Shuttle Program, a program which has in many ways defined the workforce at JSC, was possibly his most challenging leadership task to date,” Griffin said. “Coats was successful because of his abilities as a leader and his consistent approach of proactively sharing information with the entire workforce about on-going program transition activities. He has proven to be an absolute standout among a group of very talented and intelligent directors.”

Under Coats’ leadership, JSC implemented 80 partnerships with other NASA centers, industry, federal agencies, and academia. With the Greater Houston Partnership, Coats hosted the Innovation and Successful Partnerships Summit to map aerospace skills into non-aerospace industries. The summit included 50 to 70 CEO’s from industry along with JSC senior executives. He also worked with contractor and community leaders to ensure those facing job losses had ample resources to find new work by hosting three community job fairs such as a June 2011 event attended by more than 80 employers and 1,000 displaced workers.

His commitment to improving the work environment for civil servants and contractors while maintaining NASA’s future leadership capabilities was demonstrated through three significant programs: the Program Project Management Development Program, Space Systems Engineering Development Program, and the Project Leadership Program. His other initiatives included a Joint Leadership Team to advance teamwork at all organizational levels, an Employee Leadership Team to engage lower-level employees, a Formal Mentoring Initiative to develop junior employees, and the Innovation and Inclusion Consortium to promote diversity and innovation throughout the workforce. His Young Professionals Group provided the younger workforce access to senior managers.

Originally from Riverside, California, Coats has spent most of his life serving his country. He earned his BS degree from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1968. His highly decorated career in the Navy included 315 combat missions in Southeast Asia. He holds a master’s degree in administration of science and technology (George Washington University, 1977) and in aeronautical engineering (U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, 1979).

Selected as a NASA astronaut in 1978, Coats first flew as pilot of STS 41D in 1984. He commanded STS-29 and STS-39 in 1989 and 1991, respectively. He assumed his first leadership role at NASA in 1989 by serving as the acting chief of the Astronaut Office. Following his third flight, Coats left NASA in 1991 to pursue a successful career in private industry. He was vice president of Avionics and Communications Operations for Loral Space Information Systems, vice president of Civil Space Programs for Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space, and vice president of Advanced Space Transportation for Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company. He returned to NASA in 2005 as the director for JSC.

Coats has been recognized with numerous awards and honors throughout his distinguished career including induction into the Astronaut Hall of Fame in 2007. A man who has publicly noted the importance of maintaining a balance between work and family, he is happily married to the former Diane Carson of Oklahoma City. They have two grown children and identical twin granddaughters.

The RNASA Foundation invites members of the public and aerospace community to attend the black-tie event on April 27 at the Houston Hyatt Regency where Mike Coat’s will be recognized with the National Space Trophy.

About RNASA: The Rotary National Award for Space Achievement (RNASA) Foundation was founded by the Space Center Rotary Club of Houston, Texas in 1985 to organize and coordinate an annual event to recognize outstanding achievements in space and create greater public awareness of the benefits of space exploration. The nonprofit Foundation presents the National Space Trophy and Stellar Awards each year.

The RNASA Foundation, P.O Box 58009, Houston, Texas 77258-8009

President Dennard noted that the May 21 Club meeting would be at the South Shore Habour Convention Center for the Excellence in Education program.

John Swartwout introduced Paul P. Rachmanides, author of his autobiography titled To Persist and Never Give Up.  His talk can be summarized by his personal biographical writeup which follows: This is the story of a man from Greece and the journey that would eventually take him to the USA, the country of his dreams.  Paul P. Rachmanides was born on November 19, 1949 in Dikea, Eyros, Greece.  Paul’s early life on the farm and the strict rules of his father, helped establish principles for the future.  After graduating from high school in June of 1967, Paul served honorably in the Greek Special Forces as a Second Lieutenant and graduated from both the Ranger and Jump schools.  Paul set his mind on acquiring a student VISA and would make it to the United States on August 23, 1971.  Without knowing a word of English or anyone, he received a Masters Degree from Thunderbird, the School of Global Management through perseverance and dedication.  He worked for CBS Records International in Europe as an Executive Trainee for one year before resigning so he could return to his dream country, the USA.  Paul felt his dream of living in America slipping away, but he would struggle but also succeed in returning.  For the next twenty years Paul experiences his own Odyssey, desperately trying to build the life he wants for himself.  On January 18, 2001, Paul founded State Inspection of Kingwood.  He was profitable by the fourth month of operation and never looked back.  Today he continues to be a very successful small business owner.

Paul gave some principles he has learned during life, one being the four most important words are “It can be done” if you want it bad enough and work for it.  There are no short cuts to success.  “Those who give up don’t realize how close they are to success” he quoted from Thomas Edison.  Also he quoted success is “1% inspiration and 99% perspiration”.  He noted two concepts that were the core of his autobiography, (1) discover the purpose for life – the purpose of life is worth living for and gives us meaning; and (2) importance of pursuing the American Dream.  America allows you to grow, develop – you are only limited by your imagination.  American dream is not the little cottage with a picket fence, it is in the heart, in the mind, not defined by boundaries – it is the exploration of the mind.  He thanked the members for making America a magnet to draw people like him to her and to allow him to “Pursue the American Dream”.  Paul took questions and President Dennard adjourned the meeting.

James Schroeder, Senior Project Manager, for HDR Engineering, Inc., gave a slide presentation on METRO HOT Lanes and the light Rail System. The HOV lanes system was started in 1979 with one lane using pylons, bus and vanpool to the Kathy managed lanes on I-10 using electronic bill boards and gates in 2010. Interstates 45N, 45S, 10W, and US 290, 59N and 59S now have HOV lanes. Schroeder stated that METRO was putting in HOT lanes to better use under–utilized HOV’s. HOT means High Occupancy Toll Lane which is a High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lane with available capacity that can be used by Single Occupant Vehicles (SOV) for a toll. The extensive available (SOV) capacity during the “off peak” hours will be better utilized. HOT lanes came about due to the advances in technology which provides administrated control at reduced costs. Two hundred cameras have been added. Key elements are automated reversible gate operations and tolling systems. The tag system is interoperable with other systems such as the Texas Turnpike Authority. The project schedule is IH-45S February 2012; US-59S. Q2/3 2012; IH-45N, Q3/201; US-290, Q4/2012; and US-59N, Q1/2013. The light rail system is scheduled to open the following three lines currently under construction in Spring 2014: East End Corridor, North Corridor, and Southeast Corridor. The University Line in environmental review process. The status of the Galveston – Houston Mobility Corridor is: City of Galveston sponsoring the Alternatives Analysis and Conceptual Engineering work with the FTA, looking at Commuter Rail, Bus Rapid Transit, TSM, may be an “evolutionary” approach. Mr. Schroeder took questions and then President adjourned the meeting.

Dick Meyers opened the program with remarks about the Rotary Exchange Program noting that 8000 students are participating in the program carrying international understanding and peace throughout the world. He also said that the Rotary Club of Space Center was among the few clubs who sponsor more than one student and that the Club also has two outbound students; Kerry Baldwin in Brazil and Sophie Gonsoulin in Denmark. The inbound students gave a presentation about their homeland and their experiences in America. The students were Julie Ahrendt Jorgensen (counselor Alice Sexton) from Denmark, Malte Schmittler (counselor Philip Harris) from Germany, and Beatriz Maziero (Bea) (counselor Alan Wylie) from Brazil. They answered questions after their presentations.

President Dennard adjourned the meeting.

John Branch introduced Dr. Dion McInnis, professor at University of Houston at Clear Lake who spoke on photography using a slide presentation titled “The Seeing, Not the Taking”.  He is the Owner of Dion McInnis Photography (1977-1994), freelance business providing commercial, portrait, public relations and fine art work in the Houston area and currently teaches at Houston Center for Photography.

The essence of McInnis talk was said in a poem “Owning Pride” which he wrote apparently in 1962 regarding Christmas.  The real gift was the priceless moment in time caught forever in a photograph.  The poem says:

“Wrapped, enclosed, covered, So no one could see, Was a very special present, Under the ’62 Christmas tree, The family didn’t see it, When I opened the wrap, Or pulled the camera out, Or grabbed the camera’s strap, No one saw the real gift, That came Christmas day, To the six-year old child, Who saw things his own way, The gift came weeks later, When photographs arrived, “That’s what I saw,” I said then, And since then, I’ve been alive.”  McInnis encouraged the members to “Think of the tips for photographers…and apply it to the moments of the day.”  Seeing is enhanced by the five senses where ever you are, use them to broaden and enlighten the vision.  He noted “Ways to Focus on Seeing, Not

Taking are: …To see better, close your eyes…To see better, read…To see better, write”.  He showed some very interesting and descriptive B & W photographs noting that what he has learned over the years as a photographer applies to life: Not Just for Photographers: Seeing, not the taking…in life; Do we see, hear, smell, taste and feel? Do we encourage one to illuminate and inspire the other? and Think of the tips for photographers…and apply it to the moments of the day”.  He also writes: “Listen to Life: Wisdom in Life’s Stories”—the book and the newsletter and “Daddin’: The Verb of Being a Dad”

President Dennard noted that the Board would meet tomorrow at 7am at Bay Oaks Country Club and then he adjourned the meeting

Past District 5890 Governor and Past Club President Suzi Howe and Past Club President David Coney presented Bill Geissler with a Paul Harris plus Fellow.  District 5890 Governor Nominee Bob Gebhard assisted District 5890 Governor Elect Chris Schneider in presenting new member Rosemary Lengefeld to the members.

John Swartwout introduced Rabbi Jack Segal, Author of the book, You Can’t Live on Hope Alone but You Can’t Live Without It.  Rabbi Segal gave some excerpts from his latest book which was on a positive attitude, the key to good health and a happy life.  Rabbi Segal gave several real life examples of hope.  One was on four groups of persons who were to have heart surgery.  The bottom line was that those who wanted to get the surgery over and get back to work recovered lived longer and were at a much higher percentage than those who thought they may die.  He also related the history of the Jewish people going back to 600 BC noting that regardless of the attempts to destroy and/or exile the Jews, the Jewish people always had hope.  He noted that whenever the Jews were exiled from a country, the economy of that county declined significantly.  He gave a couple of more examples one being a of a person who was stranded on an island not giving up hope even though the circumstances for survival was almost nil.  He had his book to sell after the meeting.

President Dennard adjourned the meeting.