Our Weekly Dinners Are Each Monday, 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
We meet during HAPPY HOUR at The Union Kitchen in Kingwood

We meet In Person
Mondays at 5:30 PM
The Union Kitchen
23918 US-59 North
Kingwood, TX 77339
United States of America
Phone:
(713) 598-7129
Meetings each Monday from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM at The Union Kitchen, a casual restaurant where we meet during HAPPY HOUR! Address is: 23918 US-59 North which is located directly behind the Texas Road House.
WHILE WE MEET IN KINGWOOD, OUR MEMBERS LIVE & WORK IN SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES...AND WE ALSO DO OUR SERVICE PROJECTS IN ALL COMMUNITIES! 
 
Ethics, Service, Leadership, and Fellowship - Kingwood Rotarians are community leaders and friends uniting to do good in the world!.
Kingwood Rotarians meet during HAPPY HOUR for dinner & drinks each MONDAY from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM at The Union Kitchen, which is a casual restaurant!  Their address is 23918 US-59 North which is located just behind Texas Road House.
 
WATCH VIDEO BELOW TO SEE OUR MEMBERS IN ACTION AT A FEW COMMUNITY PROJECTS IN OUR LOCAL AREA!
 
 

Meet Our Members!

 
Rotarians Are People Of Action!
 
      
 
 
Custom Widget
 
Kingwood Rotary News & Stories
                                
Welcome, Friends & Neighbors!
 
I've been asked why I'm a Rotarian.  Well, I joined Rotary to make difference in the world...and I've stayed because I AMJoining Rotary has changed my life!
 
Kingwood Rotarians are PEOPLE OF ACTION, and I'm so proud to be member!  I thank you for taking the time to visit our website to learn more about our club, and Rotary International!  Each day, our members pour their passion, integrity, and intelligence into completing projects that have a lasting impact.  We persevere until we delivery real, lasting solutions.  
 
We meet each Tuesday from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM at The Union Kitchen at 23918 US-59 North which is located just behind Texas Road House and Los Cucos Mexican Cafe at the North Park Drive exit on US Hwy 59.  Visitors are always welcome, and we'll pay for your first meal when you visit us - just let us know you're attending by call or text me at 713-598-7129 or email at CJS@SuddenLink.net
 
All of us are committed to seeing all of our Rotary friends, and hear about how they're are helping their communities. 
 
Starting with our dinner on November 7th, we now have our weekly dinners & drinks each MONDAY from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM...which is during Happy Hour!
 
It would be great for you to come visit us because we'd love to get input from you about how we can work together to help our community with impactful service projects.
 
Our weekly dinner meetings are in the Boardroom at The Union Kitchen in Kingwood!  Click here to checkout their awesome menu!
 
In lieu of our regular weekly meeting the 4th week of the month, we get together for a social.  Recent socials include axe throwing, Kingwood Escape Room, "Steak Night" at the local VFW post, margaritas as Los Cucos Kingwood, and karaoke at a community tavern, and more!   
 
The address is 23918 US-59 North at the North Park Drive exit in Kingwood located in the same shopping center as the Texas Roadhouse, Los Cucos Mexican Cafe, and IHOP!
 
Our meetings are where we discuss upcoming service project ideas, share fellowship, and FUN so please accept our invitation to attend a meeting and get to know us!

While we have our weekly dinner meetings in Kingwood, we welcome members that live and work in ALL communities. 

If you are a young professional, business leader, or community leader, or retired and wanting to make a positive change in your community and around the world...Come Join Us!

 
 
 
 
Kingwood Rotarians are proud to have donated another $2,000 to support Trees for Kingwood to help sponsor their "Trees for Students Program" in Humble ISD.
 
Our members understand that the whole world is their backyard. "Protecting the Environment" is one of Rotary's 7-Areas of Focus so we are proud to support activities that strengthen the conservation and protection of natural resources.
 
This program partners with local schools to teach Humble ISD students about the importance of trees in our environment. As part of the program, the students receive a small tree they can plant in their community or at one of the partner organization sites.
 
This is the second donation from Rotary Club of Kingwood in support of this initiative.  With our first $2,000 donation, Trees For Kingwood planted 35 trees along Woodland Hills Drive with help from local Kingwood organizations.   Click here to learn more about this environmental project.
 
 
 
It has become a tradition to purchase and donate chicken to help fill the freezers at FamilyTime's shelter for battered women and families, The Door.  We ask them what type of meat they need, and then we start shopping to get the best deal.
 
HEB always come through by giving us a great price so we can stretch our dollars to provide as much meat as possible...and they did it again . 
 
We met the FamilyTime van and picked to two orders totaling 1,300 pounds of chicken and we thank Justin and his HEB team for working with us and helping load the van with the boxes of chicken.  Thank you to our Kingwood Rotarians for helping.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Our club's most impactful projects come from our members!  When our new member, Laura Valladares, a school counselor of a local elementary school, told us that students at her school didn't have winter coats, we knew we had to take action to help them.
 
Another new member, Rhonda Zack, purchased coats for 15 girls, and Charlie Buscemi, our club president, purchased coats for 15 boys.  This will be an ongoing project throughout the school year because the need is so great.  The photo on the left shows us delivering the 30 coats to Laura which she will deliver to the students in need.
 
Anyone interested in donating winter coats please contact our club president, Charlie Buscemi by calling or texting him at 713-598-7129.
 
We would love to hear your project ideas, so contact Charlie to share your thoughts or come to one of our weekly meetings to talk to us.
 
Below are photos sent to us from the School Counselors, the Assistant Principal, and School Principal presenting the coats to the students (yes, the school gave us permission to use the photos of the students.)  When given their coat, the students said "uy, esta bien calientita!," ("uy, these are very warm")
 
 
This project is about “Peace and Conflict Resolution” which is one of Rotary’s Areas of Focus.  Our project will be located in the Holocaust Remembrance Association’s (www.HRA18.org) “Holocaust Garden of Hope” which is a free, one-of-a-kind, open-air outdoor museum currently under construction in Kingwood next to Zammitti's Italian Restaurant on the banks of Lake Houston.  It will serve as a memorial garden in remembrance of Holocaust victims (children & adults), survivors, rescuers, WWII Veterans, descendants, Christians, and liberators.
 
Click here to read a Houston Chronicle article, "Houston garden project prepares to bloom on the banks of Lake Houston"
 
Kingwood Rotary will be a $10,000 Premier Level Sponsor.  Our exhibit will be the “Chai Symbol Sculpture” in the Life Before the Holocaust Exhibit at the entrance gate (see attachment for photos) and will include our club’s logo.  The Hebrew word, Chai, means “alive”, “living” or “life.”  Other exhibits will be sponsored by the Consulate of Israel, the Consulate of Poland, plus other international organizations.    
 
The goal is to educate our children and community that they have a choice when they see someone being made fun of, or when they see someone being taunted because they are different.  The project is designed to bring together Jews and non-Jews alike as a community united against hate.
 
 
The Kingwood Veteran's of Foreign Wars (VFW) is a key partner of Kingwood Rotary's "Flags Across Kingwood" fundraiser, and we're very honored to work with them.  You'll see these heroes delivering the USA flags to home, village, and business subscribers four times each year, so they are a valued partner.
 
Cecil McConnell with the Kingwood VFW recently spoke at our club meeting sharing the multitude of ways his organization helps youth in our community, and beyond, with funds they receive from our club.  The are involved with over 100 projects, and they are making a difference!
 
Charlie Buscemi, our Kingwood Rotary Club president, proudly presented Cecil with a check for the Kingwood VFW in the amount of $2,350 to help them continue serving our community.  We thank Cecil, and all of his fellow VFW members for their service to our country, and their great service to our community!
 
This project has become one of our year round favorite service projects...the Blue Star Mom's "Care Packages From Home" for our troops service in harm's way overseas. 
 
Our club goes shopping and filling multiple shopping carts with over $1,000 of items.  Then we deliver everything and help set-up at the American Legion Hall in Humble, then we volunteer the next night to pack the 250+ care packages.  We get to work side-by-side with the mothers, wives, and children of our remarkable U.S. Military members to fill each box to the brim with goodies and handwritten holiday cards.  Letting them know they are loved and respected is a huge gift for them.
 
The Blue Star Moms then ship the packages to our local troops serving our country.  It really is a great way to help lift their spirits, and we love being able to help make a difference.
 
 
It was exciting for our Kingwood Rotarians to visit our $32.468 community service project at the Kingwood Branch Library.
 
When Hurricane Harvey hit the Kingwood Area, the Kingwood Branch Library was flooded by several feet of nasty, dangerous flood water, including the Children's Section of the library.  Since our members wanted to do a project that would help the entire community, we decided the library would be our community project.  We asked Ryan Fennell, Branch Manager, what was his "Wish List" was and he said the restoring the section for the children.  When he provided us the $32,468 list, he didn't expect us to provide everything and we weren't sure where we would get the funds, but we did.    
 
 
 
Below are photos of our Kingwood Rotarians with Ryan Fennell, Branch Manager, giving us a recent toug to see all of the wonderful items we donated to "Friends of Library Kingwood" which then purchased all the items on their "Wish List".
 
 
 
Kingwood Rotarians proudly sponsored a table at the 5th Annual Texas Fire Fighters Home Gala at the Hilton Post Oak Galleria. This project was founded firefighters that are members of the Rotary Club of University Area Houston with a mission to provide short-term housing at little or no cost to firefighters and other first-responders while they are undergoing treatment at The Texas Medical Center (TMC).
 
Visit www.TexasFireFightersHome.org to learn more about this amazing project and how you can help as "a doer" (volunteer),  "a donor" (funding or donation of materils), or "a door opener" (help the Texas Fire Fighters Home make connections and create partnerships)
 
They are currently leasing apartments at The Maroneal Apartments Complex which is located near the Texas Medical Center which is a 5-minutes drive from the apartments! Click to view photos of one of the apartments and amenities.  First responders wanting to apply can use this "Lodging Application" to apply - Click here
 
Rotarians volunteer to welcome the first responder when the first arrive in Houston, take them on a tour of the apartment and complex, then serve as their contacts during their stay.  The purpose is to let the first responder and their family know that they are part of the Rotary family.
 
 
 
The 31 community villages in Kingwood did an outstanding job decorating their homes this year!  It is always amazing to see how creative homeowners get when creating their lights and decorations.
 
The Kingwood Rotary Club and Kingwood Civic Club had yard signs which were presented by the 31 judges which had to make the very hard decision for the winners in 5-categories:  Best Lights, Santa's Favorite, Best Religious, Best Traditional, and Best Doorway.  In total, 155 awards were presented to homeowners on December 15th which was the day of the judging.
 
As a special gift to each one of our judges that volunteered their time, we filled special holiday goodie bags and created a "2023" ornament as a thank you gift.  To assemble all 155 yard award signs, our members gathered on a cold winter's night and had a great time putting the signs together!
 
We'll be doing this again in 2024...So start planning now and maybe you'll receive the coveted yard sign declaring your home as a winner!
 
 
 
Helping other organizations that change the lives of others in our community is important to our Kingwood Rotarians.  Richard and Dawn Abrams started Kingwood Kindness, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization when Hurricane Harvey caused so much damage in 2017.
 
From that time on, they've never stopped making an impact in the lives of those that are too often forgotten.  They are "servant leaders" that have hearts as big as the needs they try to fill for those in need. 
 
Once again this year, Kingwood Rotary has purchased and delivered $1,000 of toys to help Kingwood Kindness this holiday season. 
 
If you have a desire to help others, visit the Kingwood Kindness website to learn more:  www.KingwoodKindness.org
 
 
We're so proud that Kingwood Rotary partnered with Operation Turkey-Houston by donating funds to provide food for veterans, senior citizens, the local battered women's shelter, local first responders, the homeless and those in need.
 
On Thanksgiving morning, our members started volunteering a 6 AM to pack meals which we delivered 200 meals by lunchtime.
 
Special thanks to all our members!
The Rotary Club of Space Center has asked Houston area Rotary clubs to partner with them on a $126,333 Rotary Foundation Global Grant for a Recovery Center for Girls Rescued from Sex-Trafficking in Houston and from other Texas cities.  Rotary club partners are also from Korea, and South America. 
 
What is the project?  Helping teenage girls rescued from sex-trafficking at one of the few facilities of its kind in Texas!
Outside a small Texas town (about halfway between Houston and Dallas), a group of dedicated Child Advocates and Counselors have acquired a fully secured, well designed, 20+ bed facility to be used as a recovery center to house rescued sex-trafficked teenage girls during their first 9-12 months of rehabilitation.  This facility and its staff have been vetted and assessed by the local and state government officials in charge of medical, psychological, and educational support for traumatized and abused victims of this horrific crime. 
 
Due to the cautious and controlled process for testing the initial operations of the facility and its partnering with multiple Child Protective Services across Texas, the facility is in need of between $150,000 to $200,000 to open their doors and reach a full, sustaining patient population (in about 9 months), before state agency reimbursements can kick in.  
 
It's time for the Annual 2023 Holiday Decorating Contest of the Kingwood Civic Club & Kingwood Rotary Club!
 
Kingwood has 31 villages in over 14,000 acres...so this is a BIG contest with lots of homes beautifully decorated for the holidays!
 
Judging will be Friday, December 15th from 6 PM - 9 PM and judges will present the coveted "Best..." yard signs in all 31 villages in each of the five categories that night to the homeowner!
 
Learn more at:KingwoodCivicClub.org
 
The Civic Club accepts entries and suggestions from each Village's Community Association representative. We then roam the streets appraising these nominations and awarding recognition for various categories.
To participate in the contest, please have your home and yard decorated by December 10th, 2023. Be sure to leave your lights on each night from December 10th through December 15th for initial judging by the HOA's.
 
 
Final winners will be selected on Friday, December 15th, 2023. Winners will be announced on this website on Saturday, December 16th so you can tour the winners!
 

The categories that will be judged are:
 
Best Traditional
Best Religious
Best Lights
Santa's Favorite
Best Doorway
 
We also need Kingwood residents to help in judging the contest. If you would like to participate as a judge, click here or email us at kingwoodcivicclub@yahoo.com and we'll contact you as soon as possible.
We value the participation of each homeowner's association to nominate the top three favorites in each category.  It's impossible for our volunteer judges to know the neighborhood as well as they do.  Please encourage your homeowner's association board members to turn in the nomination form to us by December 13th at 5pm.  Let them know you would like for them to view your home's decorations. Yards should be decorated by Sunday, December 9th, for association judging and nomination December 12th-13th.
 
One of the "Seafarer Care Boxes"
 
For the third year, Kingwood Rotary is partnering with the First Presbyterian Church Kingwood thanks to Former Texas State Representative Joe Crabb and his awesome wife, Nancy.   Special thanks to Kingwood Rotarian Richard Briggs for suggesting this project to our club.
 
Imagine being a international seafarer on a ocean vessel that arrives at the Port of Houston during Christmas.  You're far from home in a country where you don't know anyone and can't disembark from the vessel.  To help them, the First Presbyterian Church members purchase and collect personal care items and create care packages for these seafarers. and then deliver them to the Houston International Seafarers' Center which then delivers these care packages when the vessels arrive here and Houston for distribution to the crew.
 
If you would like to donated items, please contact Kingwood Rotary President Charlie Buscemi - Click here!
 
Keeping victims of abuse safe is vital, but how do children in shelters celebrate a holiday?  You bring the party celebration to them at the shelter!!!
 
For the third year, Kingwood Rotary sponsored the Fall Fest Kid's Party" at FamilyTime Crisis and Counseling Center.  We've sponsored their Back to School Bash, last year's Fall Festival.  The "Fall Festival" is an event for the children living at The Door which is FamilyTime's shelter for battered and abused families.  Special thanks to Kingwood Rotarian Brad Jude for serving as our Committee Chair for this community service project with FamilyTime.
 
This year we sponsored $350 of food including sandwich trays, cookies, fruit, snacks, treats, and drinks including tea and lemonade and the serving supplies.
 
We also donated $300 of $10 gift cards we purchased from local fast food eateries and retail stores to serve as prizes for their "Gift Card Walk." This activity is similar to a traditional cake walk, with gift card prizes in place of cakes.
 
Once again, it was a wonderful opportunity to give the children a way of celebrating Halloween in a safe environment.
 
Visit https://familytimeccc.org/ for ways you can donate to help victims of abuse.
 
 
 

2024 Kingwood 4th of July Parade

While it several months away, the members of the Kingwood Civic Club and Kingwood Rotary Club are already planning and organizing the 2024 Kingwood 4th of July Parade!
 
Businesses and community organizations will once again sponsor a float in the parade.
 
We would love to have school marching bands in the parade to help the crowd celebrate Independence day.
 
If you would like to get involved as a volunteer at the parade or become a sponsor of a float, please contact Charlie Buscemi President of the Kingwood Civic Club and the Kingwood Rotary Club by clicking here.
 
 
 
Throughout the year, Kingwood Rotarians help the Blue Star Moms of Houston (which is based in the Humble/Kingwood area) by purchasing non-perishable to fill boxes of "Care Packages From Home" for our local military service members in combat zones in harm's way
 
Four times each year we help fill and pack the care boxes which are shipped immediately overseas.
 
Their November 2023 Care Packages Project will be on Tuesday, November 28th, and we're doing our shopping to fill up our SUVs and delivering the goodies on Monday, November 27th and sorting all the items.  If you would like to donate, please drop them off at our Kingwood Rotary Club meeting on Monday, November 20th at The Union Kitchen.  Contact Charlie Buscemi at 713-598-7129 with any questions.  
 
Please consider donating items to help us fill the boxes to the brim with items from home. 
Please see the photo on the left (and bottom of this story) for items needed which include (see photos at bottom of page):
  • Individual serving pop-top cans of:  fruit, soup, chili, etc
  • Individual packages of oatmeal
  • Granola bars
  • Hard candy (nothing that melts)
  • Chewing gum
  • Pop-top cans or pouches of tuna
  • Hard candies (peppermint, etc.)
  • Pop-top cans of Bean Dip (They are from Texas!)
We'll also pack 100+ boxes of personal care items (male & female):  
  • Non-aerosol shaving cream
  • Disposable razors
  • Chapstick / lip balm
  • Socks
  • Foot powder
  • Shampoo
  • Soap
  • Deodorant (non-aerosol)
  • Body lotion
  • Tampons and sanitary pads
 

"Flags Across Kingwood" subscribers for November 11th, Veterans Day!

Order your "Flags Across Kingwood" Flag Subscription today for $50!      

CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE

The funds raised are used to sponsor Humble ISD students to attend leadership camp, scholarships for local high school students, Literacy & Clean Water Projects, our local VFW, The Salvation Army in north Houston, local shelter for domestic violence victims and their families, and many other worthwhile causes.

Limited to these Zip Codes:  77339, 77345, 77346, 77365 (Oakhurst Village) and 77396 (Atascocita/Walden)

 
500 Thanksgiving meals!  In the last two-years, that's how many meals that Kingwood Rotary has purchased and DELIVERED meals to those in need, those that are home bound, in need, plus our first responders that are working. 
 
In 2023, Kingwood Rotarians will be delivering an additional 250 meals on Thanksgiving morning. It truly is the perfect way to spend the day!
 
 
That's what "Operation Turkey - Houston" is all about.  Tim Stroud, past president of the Rotary Club of Greater Houston Veteran's is the chair of Operation Turkey Houston, and it's the third year that Rotary clubs across the Houston area are involved. 
Dec 23, 2022
 
Trees for Kingwood Plants 35 Trees Along Woodland Hills Drive with help from local Kingwood organizations including $2,000 from Kingwood Rotary Club.

A new community group called "Trees for Kingwood" completed their first tree planting in November 2022. The group works across community and trails associations, local government and local businesses to facilitate reforesting the Kingwood area. The trees are planted with best practices (such as adding soil amendments and root stimulator) and a two year watering plan to get them established.
 
Special thanks to Brad Jude (see photo above, front row on right with shovel) a member of Kingwood Rotary and President of the Bear Branch Trails Association, for suggesting this project to our club's Service Project Chair for this ongoing project.  Click here to read article in The Tribune about this project.
 
City of Houston Mayor Pro Tem Martin joined volunteers with Trees for Kingwood in planting 100 trees donated by the City of Houston Urban Forestry. The mission of Trees for Kingwood is to restore the Livable Forest. Over the last 5 decades, Kingwood has lost over ten thousand trees due to disease, storms, and drought. Regeneration of the Livable Forest has been hampered by a number of invasive vine species that choke off new tree growth.

Contributions from area community and trails association with trees from the City of Houston allowed for the professional installation of some 35 medium sized trees in our service area. Many of the trees were planted in the bare medians of Woodland Hills Drive starting at Ben’s Branch continuing towards Kingwood Drive.
One Tuesday of each month, our Family of Rotary and friends gather for social event in lieu of our regular Monday evening meeting at The Union Kitchen.  We've done ax throwing, the Kingwood Escape Room, margaritas at a mexican food restaurant, karaoke at a local tavern, and more.
 
To support the VFW 4816 Post in Porter, we attended their "Steak Night" fundraiser which is a great opportunity to have fun, enjoy great food and beverages, meet these courageous men and women that have served our country fearlessly, plus gives us an opportunity to build connections in the community.   Each time we go, we love it more and more!
 
 
 
 
For the 20th year, Kingwood Rotarians will be honored again to help The Salvation Army by taking a shift to "Ring the Bell" to raise funds to help families in northeast Houston.
 
So far, we've raised over $30,299 since 2004, plus we've donated toys for The Salvation Army's Angel Tree for children at Christmas.
 
The Salvation Army Corps Community Center on Aldine Westfield Road helps families in northeast Houston throughout the year and are funded from donations.  If you're interested in helping, please click here.
 
 
The Kingwood Civic Club's Annual Holiday Decorating Contest recognizes beautifully decorated homes in Kingwood.  With 31 villages/subdivisions, it takes lots of volunteers to judge each village and select the "best of the best" in just one night.
 
For several years, Kingwood Rotarians have been proud to serve as judges at this great community event and ring the doorbell of each winner an present them with the yard sign declaring them as the winner!
 
In addition this year, Kingwood Rotary will once again create and donate the goodie bags that will be provided to each of the judges.
 
 
 
ABBY Foundation held their semi-annual Pet Vaccination Clinic recently where they provided free/low cost vaccines for 600+ dogs and cats. 
 
Kingwood Rotarians will once again volunteered at this community event to lend a helping hand. 
 
Special thanks to Kingwood Rotarian Juanita Zavala for organizing this community event for ABBY Foundation!
 
Kingwood Rotary Club is very proud to be an "Upstander Table Sponsor" at the Holocaust Remembrance Association's "Beauty for Ashes" Luncheon recently.
 
What is an "Upstander?" They stand in solidarity against persecution, prejudice, and indifference by standing up for what is right.
 
This fundraiser will help build the Holocaust Garden of Hope, an open-air, one-of-a-kind children’s memorial garden at King’s Harbor in Kingwood which will tell the story of the 1.5 million Jewish children that perished in the Holocaust.
 
Exhibits will include paintings, sculptures, music, physical structures, and creative educational tools to illustrate the experiences of children during the Holocaust at Jasenovac Camp and other European locations.
 
Click here to read a Houston Chronicle story about the project.
 
Kingwood Civic Club & Kingwood Rotary Club's 2023  Kingwood 4th of  July Parade!
If you weren't able to join us for our 2023 Kingwood 4th of July Parade,
please watch the following video of the event.
We had 82 floats and participants with over 10,000 people along the parade route (according to Houston Police Department which were on site)
 
 
 
We're already planning our 2024 Parade, and we say "thank you" to the 10,000+ that attended this year's 40+ year community tradition!  The 2023 Kingwood July 4th Parade was an opportunity for families, businesses and individuals, as well as non-profit organizations, to share in the celebration of Independence Day! 
 
Our Grand Marshal of the Parade was the Blue Star Moms Houston Area Chapter, which was started in 2004 by local Kingwood moms.  Their members are mothers who now have, or have had, children serving in the military.