Recently, HPD Lt Cathy Richards of the Vice Division stopped by our meeting to speak about human trafficking in Houston. This story recounts the facts and stories she shared with us.
Houston is referred to as the hub of human trafficking. We have international airports, a large port, three major interstate highways and proximity to the Mexican border. An anti-abuse charity called The Polaris Project set up a hotline for victims to call for help. Over the last ten years, more calls for help have come out of Houston than any other US city.
In Houston, many young women from China, Korea, Viet Nam, and Latin America are sexual indentured servants. They work the streets or they work massage parlors. They must earn a certain amount of dollars in order to buy their freedom. But as has happened since the 1700’s, an indentured servant rarely, if ever, pays off those debts in the minds of the master.
There are a few issues that impede HPD from helping these young women and getting them to a better life.
First, HPD is not able to ask anyone about immigration status. This helps to keep illegal aliens and the predators who feed off of them on the streets.
The pimps and madams who have brought these girls to the US engender both fear and loyalty from their slaves. A young woman who is arrested by the police will not turn on her captor. She will leave the police station and go right back to work at the brothel/massage parlor.
There are also language and cultural issues. Women coming from countries where police are corrupt are not likely to trust HPD.
HPD is becoming creative in stopping human trafficking. The Vice Division opened their own massage parlor and used it to arrest the male customers attempting to buy sex from undercover officers.
HPD is partnering with local charities to be on site when a raid takes place. This allows the charity to step in, explain the situation in a girl’s own language, explain how her situation relates to US law, and explain that there is a way out.
Another program, focuses on arresting everyone in the brothel/massage parlor, winnowing out the children, and taking those children to homes where they can find help. Unfortunately, this is a slow and frustrating process. Out of twenty girls arrested, nineteen will return to work for the pimp or madam.
Human trafficking runs rampant in Houston. Look for suspicious behaviors in your neighborhood. For instance, most legitimate massage parlors won’t have traffic at 10pm. Report what you see and join Rotary in helping local charities to find a solution to these horrible crimes.
Genevieve Keeney, is currently the president of the National Funeral Home Museum of History.
Genevieve began her career in the US Army serving 12 years. She spent six years in Germany where she received two Army commendation medal's, three achievement medals, three good contact medals, and the military outstanding volunteer service medal. Through her duties of diagnosing and treating the grief stricken, she discovered her passion that brought her into her funeral service career. She is a licensed funeral director, holds a BS in psychology from the University of Maryland, and has a degree in funeral service education as well as being a certified bereavement counselor facilitator.
She will speak about the many interesting and timely exhibits this unique museum has to offer.
Wayne Dolcefino is one of the nation's most decorated journalists. Thirty Emmy Awards from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Five Charles Green Awards, an Edward R. Murrow award, a Jack Howard Award for investigative reporting, numerous honors from the Associated Press and Texas Association of Broadcasters, and an unprecedented three medals from the international journalism organization Investigative Reporters and Editors.
For nearly 27 years Dolcefino headed up the 13 Undercover Unit at KTRK TV. This investigative unit specialized in exposing public corruption, wasted taxpayer money, government malfeasance and fraud. As head of the unit, Dolcefino managed the investigative process, and was involved in the marketing and advertising of KTRK TV's investigative news product.
Between 1985 and 1979 Dolcefino was an investigative reporter and radio talk show host at KTRH Radio. Prior to that he worked at KLBJ Radio in Austin , Texas.
In December 2012 Dolcefino created Dolcefino Consulting. This firm consults on crisis management, ethics reviews , informational marketing and media relations and provides production , investigative services and expert testimony in litigation. Dolcefino has significant experience in courtroom litigation relating to first amendment issues.
In early 2013 the Association for Certified Fraud Examiners gave Dolcefino the Fraud Impact of the Year Award for his painstaking investigation of a lawman’s charity.
When Rod Mace shares his stories with you, it’s easy to assume he has a background in opthamology or some other sector of the medical field. That’s not the case. Rod is a retired insurance agent and a member of the Memorial-Spring Branch Rotary.
Why the confusion? Twice a year, Rod volunteers at the Guerrero Eye Clinic in Guerrero, Mexico, mapping eyeballs using an auto-refractor machine. Eye doctors use these maps during the examinations that follow.
I recently sat down with Rod to learn more about his annual pilmgrimages to Guerrero.
Twice a year, a group of twenty to thirty volunteers travel to Guerrero, Mexico to work at the eye clinic. This year, they will be traveling from October 19th to the 25th. These volunteers include doctors, technicians, and folks who don’t know a stethoscope from a thermometer. Rod said, “There is a lot of work to do supporting the doctors and helping the 800 or more locals who will visit us. Medical training isn’t a necessity. We just need Houstonians willing to help.”
The helping provided is more dramatic – and more wonderful – than you would expect. Rotary will reach out to chieftans, priests, mayors, and other civic leaders to make them aware that the clinic will be open. Many folks will walk to the clinic – walks of up to 20 or 30 miles – to receive care.
Once those in need reach the clinic, they receive medical examinations in one of eight examination rooms. If necessary, there are three operating rooms for procedures. Local bilingual teenagers volunteer to translate.
Many of those who are treated have cataracts that have lead to blindness. This is a dangerous situation as in poor and remote areas, blindness can be a death sentence. Doctors perform up to 40 cataract surgeries per day removing those cataracts. Elderly and children who have not seen in years are suddenly blessed with the gift of sight.
We all want to make a difference. Can you imagine a simpler way to make such a large impact? I asked Rod about this, about what is the most rewarding aspect of his work, “Watching a child see for the first time in two or three years. That’s amazing.”
The cost of this trip for the volunteers surprised me. They fly from Houston into Chihuahua, take two vans to Guerrero, stay in a local hotel, and eat well. Rod said the trip typically costs about $1000.
Rod finished by saying, “That’s a low price for the opportunity to help people see again, to make a quantifiable difference in people’s lives.”
If you’d like more details on sponsoring a volunteer or traveling to Guerrero with Rod’s group, contact Rod at rodmace@gmail.com.
MSB Rotary will have two nights at Tully Stadium to support SBISD schools. We will be announced at halftime and there will be no charge for the games.
On Friday, October 23rd we will sit on home side in support of Spring Woods HS at 7:00 p.m.
The address for Tully Stadium is 1050 N Dairy Ashford Rd, Houston, TX 77079 . Please wear rotary shirt or pin to designate you are with rotary. Bring raffle tickets as well for the Rolex Watch fundraiser.
The District is in process of forming an Educators Fellowship, and if you are an educator or have interest or passion for education, this is your opportunity to get in on ground floor. Plus the cost is nominal, $20.00/year.
You do not have to be an educator to become a member of this fellowship. Rotarians, their spouses, and Rotaractors may be members.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is a Rotary Fellowship and who may join?
Rotarian Fellowships are independent groups of Rotarians, their spouses, and Rotaractors who have a similar interest or passion and are organized around a specific vocational or recreational interest. Being part of a fellowship is a fun way to make new friends around the world.
What is the purpose of this proposed fellowship?
The International Fellowship of Rotarian Educators would be a group dedicated to promoting quality education (both public and private) as well as other types of training and development such as Continuing Education (CE), Further Education, Adult Education, Lifelong Learning and other forms of instruction as an opportunity for fellowship.
What would be the dues for this new fellowship?
Nominal dues are to offset administrative cost. Dues for this fellowship would be assessed at $20.00 annually, $50.00 for three years, or $100.00 for a life time membership.
What do I need to do?
Forward these two attachments to those you think may have an interest in becoming a charter member of this proposed fellowship. As mentioned above, send to Rotarians, their spouses, and Rotaractors. Also, please forward to Rotary and Rotaract Clubs around the world* as well as to District Fellowship Chairs. Please remember to send to e-clubs too!
What if you want to become a member?
Please send your name, country name, Rotary club name, Rotary district number and email address you want to use for this fellowship to Dr. Charles Grant, Rotary Club of North Shore at charles1grant@aol.com.
To get on the club website, go to: http://portal.clubrunner.ca/3941 Click on the Member Area button, and enter your user id which consists of your first name, a period, your last name, a period and 3941. (gwen.corolla.3941)
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Wayne Dolcefino is one of the nation's most decorated journalists. Thirty Emmy Awards from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Five Charles Green Awards, an Edward R. Murrow award, a Jack Howard Award for investigative reporting, numerous honors from the Associated Press and Texas Association of Broadcasters, and an unprecedented three medals from the international journalism organization Investigative Reporters and Editors.