For the thousands of people diagnosed every year with life-threatening blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma, a cure exists. Over the past 25 years Be The Match ^® , operated by the National Marrow Donor Program ^®  (NMDP), has managed the largest and most diverse marrow registry in the world. We work every day to save lives through transplant.  

 

Our own Gary Carley is currently fighting leukemia and may need a marrow transplant in the future, which brings this closer to home.  Many of us have already registered with Be the Match, but for those who have not, this week Mark Heuchert will have the cheek swabs and paperwork necessary to join.  It's a simple process: swab your inner cheek and submit the swab with the information form.  You are then entered into the national database and available as a possible resource to those in need.  

 

We look forward to providing this opportunity to members to make a difference.  

Our speaker this week is Tommy Benizio, CEO of Texas Revolution.  Team majority shareholder Tommy Benizio spearheads the Texas Revolution organization as the team’s CEO following a four year stint as the Indoor Football League’s first Commissioner. Prior to being named Commissioner, Benizio was the owner and operator of both the Intense Football League and the Odessa Roughnecks for five seasons, winning Franchise of the Year and Executive of the Year awards for his work with the team. Benizio brings over two decades of experience in the operation of professional minor league sports franchises, getting his start in the early 1990’s as a player for the ECHL’s Roanoke Valley Rampage. Following his brief professional hockey career, he took a position in the front office of the ECHL’s Roanoke team. From that point on he worked hard at every position he held, while earning promotions through professional hockey teams in Dayton, OH, Baton Rouge, LA, Tucson, AZ, El Paso, TX, and Knoxville, TN. During his second stint with the team in Roanoke, Benizio served as a founding member of the af2 while operating both the hockey and football franchises. The dedicated professional continues to contribute to the success of the Revolution with great leadership and passion. He resides in downtown Dallas with his wife Jessica and daughter Giuliana.

 

Future presentations include Rotary Foundation update,  Frisco Bowl and Frisco Arts Organization.  If you have ideas for future programs, pass that along to Tony Felker or Laura Elmore.  Don't forget to invite your friends and colleagues for our meetings; it's a great way to see what Rotary is about.  

Frisco Fast Pacs wants to ensure that no child in Frisco has to endure hunger when school is not in session. Caring for kids, one pack at a time. Every week throughout the school year, we deliver individual pre-packed bags to FISD schools that include enough food for 7 meals for each qualifying child for them to eat over the weekend at home.  They began in 2013 with 1 school and 32 kids; currently they are in 42 Frisco ISD schools and are feeding close to 700 children.  Our Club plans to have a packing day project in early 2018; stay tuned for more details.  If you desire to donate or help this organization, check them out at:  friscofastpacs.org 

 

Last Saturday a group of members met at Sunbelt Plastics, our flag storage warehouse, to repair and replace about 100 flags.  These flags are deployed at local parks for national holidays and have to be replaced periodically due to the wear and tear they receive from the weather.  Thank you to Steve Weible for leading this effort and to Ted Barrett, Art Bourgeault, Al Brewster, Bernie Gillette, Glenn Hunihan, Jim Jensen, Chris Johnson, Mike Simpson, Ronan and Stefanie Wagoner and Mike Yarborogh for your time in keeping this important community service functioning smoothly.  

 

Preparations for the Community Parade float are being coordinated by Jon Kendall and Rene McGruder, in conjunction with our Interact members.  Last Thursday there was a planning session to finalize the float design and to develop a plan of attack.  Join us this Thursday at 6 pm at the home of Jon Kendall, to build the float.