Sonika Harish, winner of the Lewisville Noon Rotary 4-Way Test Speech Contest in March, once again took top honors for her impassioned speech about gender inequality, winning first place in the regional competition last week. She will be advancing to the district contest next, and is sure to wow the judges with her polished speaking style. Members of the Lewisville Noon club will be rooting for her!

 

Donations Committee chair Audrey Stansbury presented grants to three more local non-profit organizations at last week's meeting. Refuge for Women - North Texas is a faith-based, non-profit organization providing specialized long-term care for women who have escaped human trafficking or sexual exploitation. Philanthropy Kids is dedicated to celebrating and inspiring philanthropy in youth, and provides mentorship and resources to get kids involved in volunteerism, fundraising, or establishing their own charity. And First Lewisville New Hope Learning Center provides quality, loving, and nurturing low-cost child care for low income and at-risk families in Lewisville and surrounding communities.

 

Speaker Jim Hinshaw from Cross Timbers Rotary shared insights about the human psyche in his animated presentation on facing fear and embracing change during last week's LNR club meeting. A published author with three books on faith and family, Hinshaw has worked in HVAC more than 50 years and currently works as the Vertical Market Manager HVAC for Service Nation.

 

He opened his presentation with a series of rhetorical questions, asking Rotarians to consider what they are afraid of. Hinshaw offered several examples of things that incite fear, such as snakes, scorpions, grizzly bears, and sea creatures. What people are really afraid of, however, is change, he said. This has become glaringly apparent since the onset of COVID-19 in early 2020, as things we once took for granted no longer are available. Due to supply chain issues, anything with a microchip—cars, appliances, HVAC equipment—is hard to find, he noted. The inability to acquire items that once could be purchased the same day is unsettling to many, as are the societal changes that have come about as a result of the pandemic.

 

People fight change because they feel a loss of control or incompetent, Hinshaw noted. Uncertainty also makes us uneasy, because we are creatures of habit. Sometimes, the threat of danger is real. But more often than not, the perceived dire outcomes are figments of our imagination. The ability to adapt to change is pivotal to success, both for individuals and businesses large and small, Hinshaw said. Reflecting on how we adapted during past seasons of change—for example, changes implemented in the wake of the 9/11 attacks of 2001—can help us overcome resistance to changes we may be facing today. In a work environment, we can also make change a team effort, empowering the organization to pivot and succeed in the new environment.

 

Change is inevitable, Hinshaw said, in summary. Whenever change takes place, whether in our personal lives, within a company or industry, or on a scale that affects society as a whole, we should not only learn to accept it, but learn from the process of change itself. If you continue to evolve, said Hinshaw, you can not only survive but thrive.

Registration is open and sponsors are needed for this year's Big Fore Charity Golf Tournament on May 4th. The tournament is the Lewisville Noon Rotary club's biggest fundraiser of the year, and all net proceeds go to support more than two dozen local non-profit organizations. You can help make this year's event a big success by sharing the information with friends and colleagues, and bringing in sponsors at any level. (Pro tip: Right mouse-click the image below to save it to your computer, then use it to post on social media along with the link.) For more information, please contact Karen Johns or Rich Muller, or click the banner above.

Lewisville ISD recently announced the return of the Grand Ball, a fun-filled prom for special needs high school students. This year's event is scheduled for April 30th at Lewisville High School on Main Street and volunteers are needed to serve dinner to the students attending the event. (Dinner is generously donated by Chef Morris Salerno of Bistecca.) If you are interested, please contact Mary Jennings.