Clear Lake Chatter 2

If Phoebe McCourt seems quite busy these days, there’s a good reason -- she has been selected to serve as the general chairman for the 57th annual Lunar Rendezvous Festival.

So, in addition to planning for the holidays as we all are, she’s also planning for the annual summer extravaganza this coming July.

And, she brings quite an extensive background as a community volunteer – a career of volunteerism that began when she moved to

Houston 20 years ago after earning her degree in journalism at Texas A&M University and meeting her husband, Brian.

They are the proud parents of daughters Piper and Posie and have made League City their home for more than 20 years. Phoebe loves to be involved in the community, promoting the arts, and has been able to do so with her husband’s support, encouragement, and love.

Together, they have worked hard building their business, Preferred Climate Solutions, and raising their girls who stay busy in school, activities and ballet.

JOINING LUNAR

She and her family became involved in Lunar

Rendezvous when her younger daughter, Posie, became a Little Lady in Waiting several years ago. Since then, she has served as the Big Court cochairman, where she says she collaborated with some incredible Lunar team members and their families.

Phoebe says she found her servant’s heart when her older daughter’s kindergarten teacher asked her to serve as room mom. She has since been honored to serve Clear Creek ISD in many capacities, including PTA Board

member, Arts in Education chairman, PTSA first vice president, “and proudly serving incredible CCISD teachers over the years.” Her favorite moments volunteering were in the art classes at Gilmore Elementary. And, she has taught many children over the years in Faith Formation at St. Mary of the Expectation Catholic Church. She and her daughter, Piper, are members of the Space City Chapter of National Charity League -- a mother-daughter philanthropic organization that focuses on leadership, culture, and fostering the motherdaughter relationship. They enjoy volunteering among different philanthropies in the community, and bonding with other mothers and daughters, while spending the extra time together. They look forward to welcoming little sis, Posie, as a NCL Legacy in the months to come.

BALLET MANAGER

For 12 years, Phoebe says she “has had the privilege of volunteering with the Bay Area Houston Ballet and Theatre, striving to contribute to their mission to enhance cultural awareness through performing arts in the community.” She currently serves BAHBT as company manager. Over the years, she has been an active member of the Leadership Team, serving in a variety of posts -- wherever she may be of help. She was the chairman for The Nutcracker in 2019, The Show Must Go On in 2020 and says she is honored Lunar Rendezvous chairman, Phoebe McCourt to be a 2021 BAHBT Volunteer Hall of Fame recipient, alongside her husband, Brian, who serves as the BAHBT production manager. He works alongside other dads behind the scenes pulling ropes, moving props, laying marley, and making the magic happen for his ballet-dancing daughters, and BAHBT’s beautiful ballet company. Phoebe says she “is grateful for the opportunity to serve the Lunar Rendezvous Festival as the general chairman this season and is committed to helping this year be a spectacular year!”

JSC hits home run in Astros' parade

NASA Space Exploration Vehicle in Astros Victory Parade. YES, THEY work a lot over at the Johnson Space Center, but they also take a little time for some fun. And, if you were watching the Astros victory parade through downtown Houston to celebrate their 2022 World Series win, you probably saw JSC Director Vanessa Wyche among the participants with the NASA Space Exploration Vehicle, which was drawing lots of cheers. “We enjoyed sharing our Space Exploration Vehicle with more than a million Houstonians celebrating our hometown team,” she said, adding “Congratulations to the home team!”

Johnson Space Center Director Vanessa Wyche at Astros’ Victory Parade.

Havana Nights Gala a big hit

IF YOU MISSED the Bay Oaks Women’s Association’s Havana Nights Gala, those who attended will tell you you missed a good time. In addition to dancing to the music of the Main Street Variety Band and a delicious pork tenderloin and shrimp dinner, there was even a touch of Las Vegas.

Gala Co-Chairmen Terri Steinkamp, Beverly Braden and Nicole Carlsen greeted the arriving crowd and kept the crowd in a happy mood all evening. As Pat Adams commented afterwards, "The tropical Havana Nights was a beautiful, bright evening on a chilly Bay Oaks night. Thanks to the BOWA team . . . for putting together a fabulous dinner party and more!!"