Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González
On February 26, 2024, a remarkable event unfolded at the Pasta Company on Nolana, marking a special moment for the local Rotary Club. This social evening, sponsored by Valley Land Title and spearheaded by Paul Rodriguez, a dedicated member of the Rotary’s mother club, was not just a gathering but a mission to breathe new life into an organization with a celebrated history of community service. The McAllen Rotary Club, under the leadership of its current president, Monica Rodriguez, hosted this mixer as part of a strategic membership drive aimed at revitalizing “The Mother Club” and ensuring its legacy continues to thrive.
The event opened with Monica Rodriguez extending a warm welcome to about thirteen attendees, emphasizing the informal yet significant nature of the evening. “This is not an official meeting, but we’re the McAllen Rotary Club, founded in 1920,” she stated, acknowledging the club’s impressive 104-year history and the critical occasion it faces today. Despite the challenges of dwindling membership, a common issue among service organizations in the modern era, the McAllen Rotary Club stands committed to growth and sustained community impact.
Taking the stage, Paul Rodriguez shared a personal journey highlighting the deep roots of Rotary’s influence in the Rio Grande Valley and his lifelong commitment to the club’s ideals. Returning to the valley in 1982 after starting his banking career elsewhere, Paul followed in his father’s footsteps, becoming an active member of the Pharr Rotary Club. His narrative traced his involvement through various local clubs, reflecting the challenges faced by Rotary Clubs in the region, especially in the wake of the pandemic.
As Paul noted, the pandemic dealt a significant blow to community organizations, with many clubs struggling to maintain membership and activity levels. However, Edinburg and Pharr have remained strong, setting an example for McAllen’s efforts to sustain a vibrant club. The dissolution of the McAllen South Rotary Club, among others, accentuated the urgency of these efforts, leading to the innovative approach of leveraging existing networks and lists to recruit new members and re-engage former Rotarians.
Paul Rodriguez’s vision for the McAllen Rotary Club extends beyond mere survival; he aims to ensure the club continues and flourishes as an example of service and community engagement in McAllen. The recruitment mixer at the Pasta Company on Nolana was a strategic step toward this goal, offering a new venue for weekly meetings and social events designed to foster friendship, engagement, and a renewed commitment to Rotary’s core values.
The evening’s discussions also touched on practical concerns such as meeting logistics, program planning, and dining arrangements, focusing on flexibility and accommodating members’ preferences. The shift to a new home for the club’s activities, coupled with a proactive approach to programming and member involvement, signals a promising new chapter for the McAllen Rotary Club.
In closing, Paul Rodriguez’s call to action resonated with those in attendance: “Rotary is all about service above self.” This message, highlighted by a night of fellowship and shared purpose, laid the foundation for a revitalized McAllen Rotary Club. As the club embarks on this journey of renewal, it carries forward a legacy of service and is sure to make an even greater impact in the years to come.
