Getting to Know Your Fellow Rotarians

Getting to Know Your Fellow Rotarians

Featuring Avalyn Langemeier, Liam Bonner, Beverly "Bev" Fitzgerald, and Joel Quiñones

Rotarians and guests are cordially invited to a special edition of our program, "Getting to Know Your Fellow Rotarians." On this occasion, we will gather to honor four remarkable members who have dedicated years, and in some cases decades, of service to our club and community.

Did you know that Avalyn Langemeier, a partner at Foster Global, was born in the Philippines, is the daughter of Leonel Castillo, one of the nation's most prominent Mexican American leaders, earned her law degree from the University of Texas, and completed her undergraduate studies at Harvard University? Her firm's reach extends around the globe, with offices in Edinburg, Mexico City, San Salvador, Beijing, Guangzhou, and Ho Chi Minh City.

Or that Liam Bonner, a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, enjoyed a successful ten-year career as an operatic baritone, made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera, performed the title role in Billy Budd with the Los Angeles Opera, and later built an impressive career in fundraising and nonprofit leadership, culminating in his role as Director of Development for Rice University's Kinder Institute?

Or that our wonderful Bev Fitzgerald, a Rhode Island native and proud Irishwoman, has distilled her life's journey into five simple yet powerful words? Those words are woven throughout her memoir and have served as guiding principles that define her character, shape her decisions, and inspire the way she lives each day.

What are those five words? You'll have to attend to find out. We promise they are well worth hearing.

And did you know that Joel Quiñones, a proud University of Oklahoma graduate, is one of Houston's young technology entrepreneurs and a principal in his own modern consulting firm, helping businesses navigate an ever-changing digital world?

Too often, we sit side-by-side at meetings without fully discovering the remarkable stories, professional accomplishments, life experiences, and personal passions of the people around us.

When we fail to look beyond the surface, we miss valuable opportunities to build the deep and lasting friendships that form the very foundation of Rotary. Meaningful relationships are the key to a strong and vibrant club. Without them, members can feel disconnected, diminishing the value of their Rotary experience and, ultimately, leading some to drift away.

This special program is designed to strengthen those bonds by allowing us to get to know four extraordinary Rotarians on a more personal level through brief biographies, personal reflections, and engaging conversation.

Please join us and meet, "Up Close and Personal," Four Great Rotarians. Bring a friend, colleague, neighbor, or prospective member to hear their inspiring stories and experience firsthand the fellowship, friendship, and sense of purpose that make Rotary such a rewarding organization.

You won't want to miss this unique opportunity to celebrate four exceptional members and discover the stories behind the people who make our club so special.

Yours in Rotary,
Joe Colangelo

Program Committe
A Proud Rotarian