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The Allen Sunrise Rotary Club gathered on Wednesday, September 9, for our regular weekly meeting. It turned out to be a fantastic morning filled with great fellowship, intentional leadership discussion, and a warm welcome to district leadership.

Our featured speaker for the day was Charlie Poe, founder and principal coach of The 728 Group. Drawing from his background in executive coaching and organizational health, Charlie led an engaging conversation centered on building a healthy team culture. In particular, he explored the profound difference between empowering and disempowering language; he demonstrated clearly how the words leaders choose directly impact trust, accountability, and day-to-day morale. His practical takeaways resonated across the room and gave our members valuable perspective to take back to their workplaces and community service projects.

Adding to the morning’s energy, we had the distinct privilege of hosting our new District Assistant Governor, Diana Kolb-Torres. Diana joined us for breakfast and stayed throughout the program; she also took a few minutes to share exciting updates and upcoming initiatives across Rotary District 5810. Her visit served as a wonderful reminder of the shared purpose and service connecting our club to the wider Rotary family.

If you are interested in learning more about the Allen Sunrise Rotary Club, please email sunrisepresident2026@gmail.com, or feel free to be our guest at an upcoming meeting. We gather on the first through fourth Wednesdays of every month at 7:00 AM at Elke's Market Cafe in Allen; guests and visiting Rotarians are always welcome!

At today’s meeting, Allen Sunrise Rotary was pleased to feature fellow Rotarian Matthew Preston as our guest speaker. Matt serves as a local volunteer and U.S. Army veteran with Armistice Memorial Post 2195 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) in Allen, Texas, where he holds the role of Post Service Officer.
 

During his presentation, Matt provided valuable insights into the impactful work happening through the local VFW post. From advocating for veterans and helping them navigate benefits to supporting military families and fostering community involvement, the VFW continues to play a vital role in honoring and assisting those who served.

We extend our sincere thanks to Matt for sharing his expertise and dedication to serving our military veterans!

To learn more about the local VFW post or to get involved, visit the Allen VFW Post 2195 Website.

On August 26th, Allen Sunrise Rotary Club was privileged to welcome Retired United States Air Force Veteran Michael Wayne Williams.  Mr. Williams, founder of the Harold Michael Wayne Foundation and the visionary behind the Williams Ranch and Retreat initiative based in Celina, shared his deep-rooted passion for veteran advocacy, job training, and community leadership.  Drawing from decades of military and professional leadership experience, he offered Rotarians an inspiring look into how dedicated support systems can transform the lives of those who have served our nation.
 
During his presentation, Mr. Williams highlighted his organization's mission to empower military veterans and youth through specialized job training, mentorship programs, and residential support initiatives designed to build long-term stability and success.  He detailed plans for the Williams Ranch project, designed to provide hands-on skill development, transitional housing, and holistic support for returning service members and young adults.  His message of resilience, service beyond self, and community-driven advocacy left club members motivated and honored to support those who have sacrificed so much for our freedom.

On August 19th, Allen Sunrise Rotary Club was delighted to welcome Scott Bolton, Community Engagement Officer for Credit Union of Texas (CUTX).  Scott shared the rich history of CUTX.  CUTX was founded nearly a century ago in 1931 by a visionary group of Dallas teachers, and he highlighted the credit union’s evolving commitment to North Texas.  Rotarians learned about CUTX’s significant presence right here in our backyard, including the transition of key corporate and technological infrastructure to the Allen area, positioning the organization at the heart of our vibrant business community.

Scott detailed the wide range of financial benefits available to CUTX members, from competitive rates and personalized services to community-focused initiatives.  A standout moment of the presentation highlighted CUTX’s pioneering school-based branch model, which famously launched its first campus branch inside Allen High School.  This innovative program offers students hands-on financial literacy and real-world employment experience before graduation.  It was an inspiring look at how a local financial institution continues to invest directly in the future of Allen’s youth and community strength.

On August 12th, Allen Sunrise Rotary Club hosted an engaging and lively presentation by Robert Medigovich from Community Waste Disposal (CWD).  Mr. Medigovich took Rotarians on an entertaining journey through time, tracing the fascinating global history of sanitation from ancient civilizations to modern waste management, packed with intriguing facts about recycling, public health, and local heritage across Texas, Collin County, and the City of Allen.

The presentation also spotlighted the strong, long-standing partnership between the City of Allen and CWD.  As the metroplex's largest privately owned waste management provider, CWD plays a vital role in keeping our neighborhoods clean and sustainable through advanced single-stream recycling and community services. It was an informative and fun-filled morning, leaving club members with a fresh appreciation for the everyday systems that keep our city thriving and a shared anticipation for CWD's continued community initiatives.

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Club Calendar

September 2026

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Upcoming Events
Upcoming Speakers
Kelley Johnson, Gavin Dia
Sep 16, 2026
Community Engagement Advisory Board
Roxanna Iannarelli
Sep 23, 2026
Rotary Youth Exchange
Club Social
Sep 30, 2026
5th Wednesday Happy Hour - TBD
Henry Hernandez
Oct 07, 2026
LifePath Systems, Military Veteran Peer Network Coordinator
Speaker
Oct 14, 2026