Last week the Rotary Club of Houston presented its 48th Distinguished Citizen Award to First Lady Barbara Bush in a beautiful ceremony at the Houston Intercontinental Hotel.  The event was Co-Chaired by Lavonne Cox and Denis DeBakey with Honorary Co-Chairmen President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush.  Since it was first presented in 1962, the Rotary Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award seeks to recognize outstanding individuals or organizations that have shaped and molded our community. The luncheon event was attended by many Rotary Club members, Houston Politicos, socials, friends of the Bushes, and corporate sponsors.  Former Secretary of State James A. Baker III introduced Barbara Bush and presented her with the award.  After the award presentation and lunch, there was a moving performance by the Aggie Singing Cadets of Texas A&M University.  

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Texas Gov. Rick Perry won the Republican primary Tuesday night with an outright majority (51%), avoiding a potentially costly runoff election against Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, who had 31% of the vote.

Hutchison called Perry to concede, when it seemed as if polls were indicating he would win.  She noted, “Now we must unite," she said. "We must win Texas for Republicans.”

Perry told his supporters at his election-night party that the message sent by voters was clear, “Conservatism has never been stronger than it is today.”  And that Washington must “Stop messing with Texas.”

Perry has just ended a year long intra-party battle against a tough moderate Republican and will be coming up against another tough race with a moderate Democrat in Bill White for the Governors seat in the November Election.  Perry is running for his 3rd consecutive term, which would be the longest in Texas history.

This should be an interesting race!  Stay tuned to RSVPsocial.com for all the latest.

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Bill White for Texas

Bill White got the Democratic Nomination!!!

Former Mayor Bill White defeated 6 other candidates to get the Democratic Nomination to run for Texas Governor.

White will face off against the winner of the Republican Primary in the November election.

Gov. Rick Perry, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and GOP activist Debra Medina are vying for the Republican nomination in a very close, very heated race.

White won the Democratic Nomination with over 75% of the vote. Wealthy Houston hair-care manufacturer, Farouk Shami, was also a Democratic candidate; and the other five were much lesser-known.

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How Courageous!

Houston Hadassah names Nancy Levicki and Renee Suchowiecky 2010 Women of Courage to be honored at Women of Courage Luncheon on March 7.

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Girls just having fun; while raising awareness for Women’s Health.

Lady Gaga and Cyndi Lauper have teamed up to fight HIV/AIDS.

The two Grammy Winners have joined forces to raise funds and awareness about HIV/AIDS on behalf of the MAC “Viva Glam” campaign to fight HIV/AIDS in Women.

These women health crusaders want people to know that HIV is more common in women than men, and awareness and prevention is as important as anything.

The duo said Mac’s Viva Glam program has already raised more than $150 million to combat the disease. The "$2.5 million off the top of money that we raise from the Viva Mac lipstick is going to go right to women right away," Lady Gaga said.

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Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston - Tapestry Gala Kick Off Reception – Sunday Afternoon, Jan 31, 2010 in Kemah, Texas honoring Jan and Dan Duncan.

Bill (Chairman of the Board) and Melissa King invited Houston notables for a fabulous afternoon at their historic Somerset Estate (a John Staub design originally owned by Albert Fay), to kick off the 2010 Tapestry Gala benefiting the Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston. Amongst the gathering were 2010 Tapestry honorees: Jan and Dan Duncan, Tapestry Gala Chairs: Philamena and Arthur Baird, Lily and Charles Foster, Honorary Chairs: Peggy and Bill Barnett, Lilly and Thurmon Andress, Amy and Rob Pierce, Paula Sutton and Bill Gross, and representing presenting Sponsor, Chevron was Joni Baird.  The 2010 Tapestry Gala will take place May 6th at Hilton Americas.  For more info: www.imgh.org.

(Pictured: Arthur and Philamena Baird, Bill and Melissa King, Dan and Jan Duncan)

The Tapestry Award recognizes community leaders who have shown remarkable dignity through tangible work for the betterment of Houston and the world.  The Interfaith Ministries brings people of diverse faith together for dialogue, collaboration, and service; and represents the great religious and cultural diversity in Houston.  IM believes that this diversity is one of Houston’s most valued assets.

Interfaith Ministries works with 10 communities of Faith in Houston, including Bahá'i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jain, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Unitarian Universalist and Zoroastrian.

Interfaith Ministries manifests the strength of its shared beliefs through 4 main areas of service to the Houston Community: Meals on Wheels, Refugee Services, Office of Disaster Preparedness and Response, and Interfaith Relations.

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Thursday January 28th the Houston Country Club ballroom made for the perfect setting for the 2010 Deep In Our Hearts In Texas gala benefiting the Tourette Syndrome Association of Texas.  Honorary Chairman Elizabeth Farish opened up the lovely evening honoring guests Melissa Binstock, Rocky Franzen, Carlos Guerra Jr, M.D., and Keith Seilhan.  On the menu featured Hill Country BBQ shrimp, Texas blackened rib eye steak, and chocolate praline pecan tart for dessert.

In between a great meal and a lively auction hosted by Auctioneer Renee Jones, Author Melissa Binstock shared her touching story with the patrons.  She wrote a book called “Nourishment:  When My Body Betrayed Me”, a memoir about her struggle to overcome Tourette’s syndrome, obsessive compulsive disorder, attention deficit disorder, anorexia nervosa and dyslexia.  Melissa is truly an inspiration for us all.

I had an opportunity to meet Ethan Brister, son of board members Daryl and Barbara Brister.  Ethan was diagnosed with Tourette's at the early age of six.  He and his brother both are living with this disorder.  Ethan says his family moved to Houston because of the amazing doctors.  He also says the Tourette Syndrome Association of Texas has allowed him to go camping, to swimming parties, and it has helped him improve his overall daily life.

(Event photos are at the end of this story)

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Legendary writer dies of natural causes after decades of self imposed isolation.

The Catcher in the Rye, published in 1951, begins with Holden Caulfield telling the reader, “If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you’ll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me”.

Enraged by all the "phonies" who make "[him] so depressed [he could] go crazy," Holden narrates this whole novel as he is expelled from his private school in Pennsylvania, Pencey Prep; and spends the next three days wandering around New York. He is very mistrustful of authority and rallies anxiously against corrupt adults as he makes his plans to decamp for the west.

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A Traditional English Afternoon Tea with Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York

Afternoon tea is considered to be that most quintessential of British traditions, with sandwiches and scones, tea and friends….and of course…Royalty.

Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York welcomed 45 Houston women to a private Afternoon Tea at Neiman Marcus to discuss her latest project and film, ‘The Young Victoria’. The film recounts the early days of Britain’s iconic Monarch and young Queen Victoria’s romance with Prince Albert. “The Young Victoria” opened this past weekend throughout the United States.

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Recently, Houston had a visit from E! Entertainments own reality star: Dakota Pike of “Leave It To Lamas” fame. During her special appearances at Johnny Vassallo's - Mo’s Steakhouse and Mercer Lounge, owned by Michael Caplan, I was given the opportunity to go behind the velvet ropes and get to know this up-n-coming star. (To see photos of her H-town visit check out our picture gallery)

I discovered quickly that Dakota is a genuinely kind and considerate person. In the same breath, this girl next door hasn’t appeared to let any of the newly acclaimed notoriety from “Leave It To Lamas” go to her head. Although she’s very cognizant that people are watching her every move, she’s still the same girl nevertheless. She’s beautiful, gracious, hysterically funny, charming and naturally “herself”. How refreshing! With 20+ people requesting photos, she never complained and made everyone around her feel as if she were their new BFF. She’s poised to perfection and her wicked wit never faltered for a moment.

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