Bernard A. Harris, Jr., MD, MBA, FACP
Chief Executive Officer, Managing Partner Vesalius Ventures
Founder, The Harris Institute/Foundation

Some of us remember being glued to the TV every time there was a space launch. Oh how we cheered "one giant leap for mankind" in 1969. Perhaps we take the Space Station for granted-until we learn there are two astronauts whose short trip has found the stranded for months. What happens to a human in space? With over 7 million miles in space, a medical doctor, and managing partner of a venture capital firm, Dr Harris is positioned well to discuss the new space economy.

Our speaker has a diverse background and has "been there" as an Astronaut with 438 hours and 7.2 million miles in space. Medical Doctor. Author. Philanthropist. Award Winner. Researcher. Business Leader. Flight Surgeon. Scuba Diver. 
Join us for a fascinating meeting.

Dr. Harris is currently CEO & Managing Partner of Vesalius Ventures, Inc., a venture capital firm, that invest in early to mid-stage Healthcare technologies and companies. He is responsible for managing a portfolio of private assets of early and mid-stage venture investments and operating companies.
He served as CEO and Executive Director, National Math & Science Initiative and led the organization’s efforts to improve teacher effectiveness and student achievement in communities across the country. He has been involved in math and science education for over 25 years through his philanthropy as founder of the Harris Institute & Foundation.

Dr. Harris was at NASA for ten years, where he conducted research in musculoskeletal physiology and clinical investigations of space adaptation and developed in-flight medical devices to extend Astronaut stays in space. A veteran astronaut for over thirty years, he has logged more than 438 hours and traveled over 7.2 million miles in space.

He is a member of the Board of Directors for Raytheon Technologies (NYSE: RTX), MassMutual, and U.S. Physical Therapy (NYSE: USPH). Dr. Harris served as a Board of Director/Trustee for Salient Midstream & MLP Fund and Salient MF Trust, and Barings Fund & BBDC. In addition, he is on the non-profit Boards of the Texas Medical Center (currently Chair), Astronaut Scholarship Foundation and the Harris Institute & Foundation.

He earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Houston, a Master of Medical Science from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Houston and a Doctorate of Medicine from Texas Tech University School of Medicine. He completed a Residency in Internal Medicine at the Mayo Clinic, a National Research Council Fellowship in Endocrinology at the NASA Ames Research Center and trained as a Flight Surgeon at the Aerospace School of Medicine, Brooks Air Force Base. He is also a licensed private pilot and certified scuba diver.

Dr. Harris is the recipient of numerous awards, including nine (9) honorary doctorates; (Stony Brook University (SUNY), Morehouse School of Medicine, New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), Washington & Jefferson College, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, University of Hartford, Indiana Institute of Technology, University of Houston and University of the Sciences), NASA Space Flight Medal, NASA Award of Merit, National Space Grant Distinguished Services Award, James Bryant Conant Award, a fellow of the American College of Physicians, a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the recipient of the 2000 Horatio Alger Award.

He is the author of “Dream Walker: A Journey of Achievement and Inspiration.”

Come out for fun and fellowship with your fellow Rotarians!

Each Month members of the Rotary Club of Houston sponsors a reception for patients and their families who are staying at Rotary House International. 

Volunteers will chat with participants and share their smiles. A small number of volunteers are needed. 

With so much focus on financial health, personal and government, we need to understand the  decisions that impact our every day life. Unraveling the complex and often mysterious questions of how our cities...in this case, The City of Houston, gets its money, where does it go, how does it fund city services, pensions, etc....let's go directly to the person who understand the flow of finances and has to ask difficult questions of those requesting money. 

WHAT DOES THE CITY CONTROLLER DO?
"_{The City Controller serves as the City's chief financial officer. The Office of the City Controller certifies the availability of funds prior to City Council approval of City commitments, processes and monitors disbursements exceeding one billion dollars annually, invests the City's funds, conducts internal audits of the City's departments and federal grant programs, operates and maintains its financial management system, conducts the sale of public improvement and revenue bonds and produces a comprehensive annual report of City finances (CAFR)"}

WHO IS OUR CITY CONTROLLER?
Chris Hollins is a native Houstonian who has served as Houston City Controller since January 2024.  As the independently elected Chief Financial Officer of the nation’s fourth-largest city, Controller Hollins provides oversight of a budget exceeding $6 billion and manages the City’s $6 billion investment and $14 billion debt portfolios.  Hollins is deeply committed to transparency, fiscal responsibility, and results-driven operations, using his office’s auditing authority to bring new ideas and best practices to City departments that result in cost savings and a higher standard of service to Houston residents. 
Prior to his service as City Controller, Hollins led the 2020 elections effort in Harris County as County Clerk, gaining national acclaim for protecting and expanding voting rights for 2.5 million Houston-area voters during the most important election of our lifetime. Hollins’s innovations – which included drive-thru voting, 24-hour voting, online mail ballot tracking, and tripling the number of early voting centers – led to eye-popping record voter turnout despite the ongoing global pandemic. 
Hollins holds a Bachelor of Arts with Phi Beta Kappa honors from Morehouse College and completed a joint program with Yale Law School and Harvard Business School, earning both his Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration degrees. 
Hollins is admitted to the State Bar of Texas and Federal Courts for the Southern District of Texas. Before being elected Houston City Controller, he was the Principal Attorney at Hollins Law Group PLLC.  Hollins spent the bulk of his career as a management consultant where he was dedicated to helping large government agencies transform their operations to better achieve their missions and meet the needs of those they were entrusted to serve. 
Hollins and his wife, Morgan, live in Houston’s Third Ward with their daughter, Vivian, and their son, George.  The Hollins family attends Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church.

Details coming soon...

Join Team Rotary Club of Houston to give cancer the boot!

Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024

MD Anderson's Boot Walk to End Cancer is a 1.2-mile walk in the Texas Medical Center — or in your own neighborhood. This 9th annual fundraiser provides support for patient programs, research, prevention and education at MD Anderson, and 100% of funds raised by participants directly advance MD Anderson's mission to end cancer.

There is no registration fee and no minimum fundraising requirement. However, we encourage all participants to fundraise! When you register for the Boot Walk, you will receive free online and mobile fundraising tools, as well as staff support to help you raise funds and awareness among your friends, families and communities.

On Saturday, Nov. 2, put on your favorite pair of boots — cowboy, rain, combat or other — and join thousands across the country for this year's Boot Walk. All ages are welcome to participate. There's fun for the entire family!

Together, we'll give cancer the boot.

Become part of Team Rotary Club of Houston:

https://mdanderson.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.team&teamID=5077&cmr=969D8C76D70A&language=en

Donate to Team Rotary Club of Houston:

https://mdanderson.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donordrive.participant&participantID=1508

Timeline:

• Registration Opens: 8 a.m.

• Opening Ceremony: 8:40 a.m.

• Walk Start: 9 a.m.

Location:

Texas Medical Center // 6883 Fannin St., Houston, TX 77030

Route:

1.2 miles (map and parking details coming soon)

The Veterans Committee of the Rotary Club of Houston invites you to participate in the “Veterans Day Celebration: Honoring All Who Served Our Country” at the Cloudbreak “Veterans” Community on Thursday, November 14, 2024 at 11:00 a.m.  Our Rotary Club will provide food, beverages, games, and fellowship to our veterans who currently reside at Cloudbreak located at 4500 Travis Street, Houston, Texas 77002.  Come out and celebrate the military service that these men and women provided to our great country.   Space is limited—so please register on-line.

The Cloudbreak Community is one of several active developments that provides supportive housing for homeless and at-risk veterans in nine cities across five states.  Owned and operated by Cantwell-Anderson, Inc, the Cloudbreak Community in Houston—originally a Days Inn Hotel—has housed nearly 3,000 veterans in transitional and long-term housing since 2003.  The mission at Cloudbreak is to assist “each veteran to overcome life’s obstacles and attain his or her potential through mutuality, dignity and respect for all.” 

If you would like to help support our veterans by donating toiletries and games, click here: https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/20L719YD2WJIV

Each Month members of the Rotary Club of Houston sponsors a reception for patients and their families who are staying at Rotary House International. 

Volunteers will chat with participants and share their smiles. A small number of volunteers are needed. 

No meeting due to Thanksgiving holiday.

The Veterans Committee of the Rotary Club of Houston invites you to participate in the “Thanksgiving Day Celebration: Honoring Our Veterans” at the Cloudbreak Veterans Community on Thursday, November 28, 2024, at 11:30 a.m.  Our Rotary Club, with the valued assistance of PDG Bob Gebhard and “Operation Turkey Houston,” will provide and serve a delicious Thanksgiving meal to our veterans who currently reside at Cloudbreak located at 4500 Travis Street, Houston, Texas 77002.  Come out and share the blessings of Thanksgiving with the men and women who served our great country.   Because this is a service project and not a luncheon, you will have plenty of time to celebrate the holiday with your family.  Space is limited—so please register on-line.

The Cloudbreak Community is one of several active developments that provides supportive housing for homeless and at-risk veterans in nine cities across five states.  Owned and operated by Cantwell-Anderson, Inc, the Cloudbreak Community in Houston—originally a Days Inn Hotel—has housed nearly 3,000 veterans in transitional and long-term housing since 2003.  The mission at Cloudbreak is to assist “each veteran to overcome life’s obstacles and attain his or her potential through mutuality, dignity and respect for all.” 

Supporting cancer research for over 50 years.

http://www.lombardiaward.org

BEAR ... BE A Resource for CPS Kids

The BEAR will provide lunch for participants.

Rotarians will separate gifts by age to create gift bags according to CPS children's wish list.

BEARing Gifts provides holiday gifts to children involved with Child Protective Services who otherwise would have no holiday cheer at all. Over 14,000 children were served with our help last year!

Let's do it again this year! Bring your donation of new, unopened toys to the Warehouse on Thursday December 12th 2024.

*Located at the end of the Brookwood Business Park next to Oaks Dads’ Club (baseball fields). Click here for directions!

Please join members and friends of The Rotary Club of Houston as we participate in our annual “Holiday Wreaths for Veterans” service project on Saturday, December 14, 2024 from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm.  For the fourth year now, The Rotary Club of Houston has partnered with “Wreaths Across America-Houston” to place holiday wreaths on the headstones of our fallen veterans at Houston National Cemetery. 

Bring your family and friends to this memorable holiday event. 

See the information below from the www.waahouston.com website:

Important Information –

Parking

• The best place to park is at Greenspoint Mall and take the free shuttle to the National Cemetery.
• The parking on the Cemetery grounds will usually fill by 9:00 a.m. so Greenspoint Mall is your best option.
• Parking on Veterans Memorial Road is not recommended due to the volume of traffic.

Timing

• 7:30 a.m. –  Free Shuttle Service Starts
• 8:00 a.m. –  Motorcycle Escort and Trucks Arrive
• 11:00 a.m. –Ceremony Starts
• 11:45 a.m. –Wreath Laying Starts  (no wreaths will be laid until the Ceremony is over)
• 2:30 p.m. –  Free Shuttle Service Stops

Each Month members of the Rotary Club of Houston sponsors a reception for patients and their families who are staying at Rotary House International. 

Volunteers will chat with participants and share their smiles. A small number of volunteers are needed. 

No meeting due to Christmas holiday.

No meeting due to New Year's holiday week.

Each Month members of the Rotary Club of Houston sponsors a reception for patients and their families who are staying at Rotary House International. 

Volunteers will chat with participants and share their smiles. A small number of volunteers are needed. 

Rotary Club of Houston Social

Nice Winery Guided Wine Class Experience

Each Month members of the Rotary Club of Houston sponsors a reception for patients and their families who are staying at Rotary House International. 

Volunteers will chat with participants and share their smiles. A small number of volunteers are needed. 

Each Month members of the Rotary Club of Houston sponsors a reception for patients and their families who are staying at Rotary House International. 

Volunteers will chat with participants and share their smiles. A small number of volunteers are needed.