Events

The Rotary Club of Houston will have an off-site event Thursday March 19, 2026

You are invited to a tour and conversation at the University of Houston-Downtown.  It is a separate University from the UH central campus with its own president, curriculum and facilities at the northern edge of downtown Houston in the old M&M building and many new facilities.  You’ll meet some of the leading administrators, faculty and students and tour the campus and its beautiful views of our City.  A box lunch will be provided.

The University of Houston-Downtown is a comprehensive four-year university offering bachelor's and master's degree programs aimed at career preparation.  Growing Strong Since 1974.  UHD has expanded to serve the educational needs of America’s fourth-largest city. Now, UHD offers bachelor's degrees in 45 areas of study and 12 master's degrees with over 13,000 students.  UHD creates an environment that welcomes and embraces students from all backgrounds.

With an 18-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio, UHD provides a unique hands-on learning environment for each student. They can choose from face-to-face instruction downtown or on our satellite locations, degrees and classes offered completely online and even a combination of the two.  Some of our Camp Enterprise students have enrolled there with great success. 

Best of all, UHD offers everything for one of the lowest tuition rates among state colleges and universities. Please join us to learn more about this dynamic University in the heart of Downtown Houston.  Parking and lunch are included in your reservation.  Carpools are encouraged.  Contact Martin Cominsky for more information, 713-705-4829.

The University of Houston-Downtown is located at One Main Street. Detailed parking instructions will be sent to all who register to attend.  Here’s a link to the area.  University of Houston - Downtown.  Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about higher education in Houston and tour this ever-growing campus.

Click, Send, Gone: The Global Fraud Machine TargetIng Americans

Daily, hourly---too often we receive calls, texts, emails, and solicitations from what may appear to be trusted sources. How can you be sure? The voice sounds like a family member so we respond quickly! How do you really know? What should you do? Who do you contact? Our FBI speaker will provide enlightening, frightening, and important information for you, your family, your company.

Connor Hagan

FBI Public Affairs Officer

As an FBI spokesman, Connor Hagan manages daily press inquiries, coordinates media

matters during critical incidents, and amplifies major FBI investigations for public awareness. In

this role, Connor enjoys building lasting relationships with law enforcement partners, journalists,

and community leaders across Texas while maintaining a dynamic FBI presence on social media.

In addition to his public affairs duties, he also serves on FBI Houston’s lifesaving Crisis

Negotiation Team.

Over a decade ago, Connor began his FBI career as a covert member of FBI Milwaukee’s

Special Surveillance Group. As part of that team, he conducted clandestine surveillance

operations targeting foreign intelligence agents, suspected terrorists, and corrupt elected officials.

He later transitioned into an investigative support role where he assisted counterterrorism,

counterintelligence, and violent crime squads with complex investigations.

In 2018, Connor accepted an FBI public affairs position in Houston. Two years later, he

transferred to serve as the sole FBI spokesman for Arkansas. During this time, he was selected

for the FBI’s elite Media Fly Team where he deployed to numerous mass casualty incidents and

special security events across the country. Following this assignment, he moved back to Houston

in his current role as an FBI spokesman.

In his free time, Connor and his beautiful wife love cheering on their Ole Miss Rebels,

discovering underrated Houston restaurants, and spending time with their dopey dog, Morty.

They are also thrilled to welcome their first child in just a few weeks. Originally from his

beloved hometown of St. Louis, Connor is a proud graduate of the University of Mississippi (Ole

Miss), where he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history.

Michael brings over four decades of active participation in business and civic engagements in Houston. He earned his bachelor’s degree in history from Brown University and his Juris Doctorate from Emory University. Beginning in his career in law, Michael served two terms in the Georgia House of Representatives before assuming the role of General Counsel at Sysco Corporation in 1981. Following his retirement from Sysco in 2010, he assumed the position of Chief Operating Officer at Grocer’s Supply Company.

Following the sale of Grocers Supply, Michael transitioned into the non-profit sector by taking on the role of interim CEO at the Houston Parks Board, a significant public-private partnership pivotal in the development of over 150 miles of bikeway parks along Houston’s bayous. In 2019, he joined the Coalition for the Homeless, another impactful public-private partnership. During his tenure as President and CEO of Coalition for The Homeless (CFTH), he significantly improved its governance structures, promoted diversity within the organization, established new funding avenues for the homeless response system, nurtured strong collaborations, and showcased the positive impact of governmental involvement in societal welfare. Under his guidance, the Coalition and its collaborators successfully transitioned more than 10,000 individuals experiencing homelessness into permanent supportive housing.

Michael retired from his role on January 31, 2024. On March 4, 2024, he accepted Mayor John Whitmire’s Appointment as the Director of the Housing and Community Development Department for the City of Houston. In this capacity, Director Nichols is tasked with spearheading efforts to ensure all Houstonians have access to safe, affordable housing in communities where they can thrive. This appointment aligns with the Administration’s commitment to position Houston as the most affordable housing city in the nation.

Michael has shared a loving bond with Marcia Couch Nichols for more than 40 years, and together they have raised four wonderful children. His joy extends to embracing the role of a doting grandfather to five cherished grandchildren, a role that brings him immense happiness and fulfillment.

Since 1986, the Rotary Club of Houston has proudly sponsored Camp Enterprise, an immersive business training experience for 80 Greater Houston high school juniors.

Every year, 60 students are provided with all-expenses-paid transportation to the beautiful Camp Allen in Navasota, TX, along with accommodation, meals, and a once-in-a-lifetime experience they will never forget! Additionally, thousands of dollars in college scholarships are awarded each year.

The 2026 District 5890 Club Leadership Training will take place at the Beckendorf Center - Lone Star College in Tomball. 

The Leadership Traoining presents a great opportiunity to learn about taking on  leadership roles within our Rotary Club or to deepen your Rotary knowelkdge while connecting and networking with Rotarians from across District 5890.  

Attendance is highly encouraged for all Club members.

Please click on the link below for more information and to register.  

2026 Club Leadership | Rotary District 5890

Rotary District 5890 is co-sponsoring the Houston Airports' Human Trafficking Awareness Symposium at the Wortham Center.  As part of a recently apporved Anti- Child Trafficking Global Grant, Rotary District 5890 will be debuting a new Social Media video citing the signs, signals, and threats to our children by Cartel-Driven Sex Traffickers in Harris and Surrounding Counites. 

 The Symposium is free of charge and a light lunch will be provided.  

Please click on the link pasted below to register.

Rotarians Unite Against Child Sex Trafficking | Rotary District 5890

join us for our monthly RCoH after -hours social. Enjoy good conversation and fellowship with your fellow Rotarians and guests.  Food and drinks available for order. 

Rhonda Kuykendall is a seasoned professional with a diverse background in social work, human trafficking advocacy, and legislative policy. In her current role as Task Force Director for the Fort Bend Anti-Trafficking Collective (Fort Bend County District Attorney's Office and United Against Human Trafficking), Rhonda leads efforts to combat human trafficking. Rhonda's most recent role was as the Anti-Child Trafficking Consultant at Texas CASA, where she collaborated with key stakeholders to develop best practices and protocols for the 75 CASA programs statewide. In this capacity, she worked closely with the Office of the Governor's Child Sex Trafficking Team, the Department of Family and Protective Services, and care coordination teams to enhance statewide efforts in combating child trafficking.

She is an active member of several key organizations, including the Texas Human Trafficking Survivor Leader Council and the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault's Survivor Advisory Board. Additionally, Rhonda chairs the Legislative Advocacy Team on the Board of Directors for Child Advocates of Fort Bend.

As a TEDx speaker, Rhonda shared her insights on Familial Sex Trafficking: Healing Through Helping, discussing the importance of community-driven approaches to recovery and prevention. Her advocacy work continues to inspire change, drawing from her expertise and personal experience.

Details coming soon...

The Rotary District 5890 Conference will be held on April 30-May 3 at Moody Gardens in Galveston.

Please click on the link pasted below for Registration and Hotel Information.

Look forward to seeing you in Galveston

2026 District Conference | Rotary District 5890

Brandon Rottinghaus
Professor

Department of Political Science

University of Houston

Artemis Moon-to-Mars (M2M) Missions: Texas' Role in the Next Giant Leap

On May  14, 2026 join us as we take a look at that giant leap and understand how Texas will be involved in this new venture.

Patrick C. Suermann, PhD.,P.E., F.ASCE, F.SAME

Professor, Construction Science College of Architecture

Texas A & M University - College of Architecture

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