To celebrate Valentine's Day a day early, President Jim Schmidt opened the meeting by asking the women in the room to come to the front to be serenaded by the men in the room led by Ray Smith in singing Let Me Call You Sweetheart. Darl Andersen offered the Invocation and Lola McClane led the Pledge of Allegiance. President Jim thanked Polly Schumacher and Shelly Romine for serving as a greeting team making members and guest feel welcome as they arrived.Guests
Tom Palazon and Bud Knox were introduced as visiting Rotarians from Columbia Center, Washington. Scott Ramsey from the Salvation Army was introduced as a very likely potential new member. Melodie Jackson introduced Konrad Milde of the Rotary Club of Dubai. President Jim took time to exchange club banners with Konrad. Last, but not least, John Pennypacker introduced District Governor David Simmer.
Drawings
After three attempts to draw a token with the badge number of a Rotarian who was present at the meeting, it was announced the $5 prize would roll over to February 20 when it could pay $10 to attend Rotary.
Chuck Flint announced that the holder of the weekly raffle ticket drawn would win $30 and have a chance to draw the Ace of Clubs which would win the big prize of $1,011. Ron Thompson and Greg Okonowski were joint owners of the ticket drawn. They split the weekly winnings, but they were not lucky enough to draw the Ace of Clubs, so the big prize will continue to grow.
Rotary Minute
Dan Coons is coordinating the new tradition of having a Rotary Minute to educate members each week about something about Rotary that fascinates the presenter. He said there is a wealth of information available on the RI and District websites. He had a sign-up sheet which he handed off to be circulated at the meeting. Dan chose to use his minute to share some facts about the Rotary Wheel.
A wheel has been the symbol of Rotary since our earliest days. The first design was made by Chicago Rotarian Montague Bear, an engraver who drew a simple wagon wheel, with a few lines to show dust and motion. The wheel was said to illustrate "Civilization and Movement." Most of the early clubs had some form of wagon wheel on their publications and letterheads. Finally, in 1922, it was decided that all Rotary clubs should adopt a single design as the exclusive emblem of Rotarians. Thus, in 1923, the present gear wheel, with 24 cogs and six spokes was adopted by the "Rotary International Association." A group of engineers advised that the geared wheel was mechanically unsound and would not work without a "keyway" in the center of the gear to attach it to a power shaft. So, in 1923 the keyway was added and the design which we now know was formally adopted as the official Rotary International emblem.
Announcements
- Dan Coons reminded members that the exchange student our club is sponsoring this year is Marcella from Brazil. Marcella is studying in Flagstaff but will be in the Phoenix area February 22nd and 23rd so she can attend the Interact District Conference on February 22. She will also be spending the week of March 14-22 with Mesa West members. She loves sporting events. If anyone would like to make sure she gets to a spring training game or other fun activity, they should e-mail Dan to make arrangements.
- Pam Cohen shared information from Andrea Murphy, the sponsor of the Interact Club at Westwood High School. Andrea wanted to share an opportunity with the Mesa West Rotary club to participate in a community service project on November 14. The project is called "Sleep in Heavenly Peace. Volunteers will spend the day building bunk beds for children without beds. Rotarians would be working with staff and students who are over the age of 18. All the beds will be twin-size. They will need donated mattresses and bedding for the project.
Presidential Humor
President Jim chose not to tell a joke about accountants since our speaker for the meeting was a member of that profession and he did not want to offend him. Instead, he shared the greatest law-firm names:
- Low, Ball and Lynch
- Ball & Weed
- Boring & Leach
- Alicia A Slaughter, Personal Injury attorney
- Jim's favorite - Divorce attorneys: Ditcher, Quick and Hyde
- Bickers and Bickers
- Dumas and McPhail
- The London Firm of Butt Solicitors
- Eggers Eggers Eggers and Eggers
- Raper and Leary
"Mr. Smith, I have reviewed this case very carefully," the divorce court judge said, "and I've decided to give your wife $1200 a week." "That's very fair your honor," the husband said. "And every now and then I'll try to send her a few bucks myself.
Happy Bucks
Chuck Flint had a happy buck for the activity he enjoyed when he was absent from the February 6 meeting. He had the opportunity to see some of the world's finest retrievers in action at an event in the desert. He also contributed a sad buck for the loss of a close friend. Pam Cohen was happy to announce she would be leaving Friday morning to go on a Polio Immunization trip to Caborca, Mexico. She said Melodie Jackson and Chuck Flint were also going. Don LaBarge said that his wife Chris had been named Impact Chair of the Year in her Sorority, and that it was going to cost him big bucks for her to wear a fine new outfit for her portrait which would appear in their national magazine. He also contributed for his good fortune the week prior when he had dinner with Rod Daniels. Don won $500. The Sgt noted that Don did not contribute anywhere near that much. DG David Simmer was happy Valentine's Day would be celebrated on Friday, but sad that he would not get to celebrate the day with his wife. Darl Andersen was honored to have DG David Simmer at their table and noted that Daryl Bethea had to sit at a different table. Dick Myren contributed his traditional dollar for Rod Daniels being "happy to be a member of Mesa West," and a sad dollar because he would have to leave early because of tax season. Penny May said those going to Caborca would enjoy a fabulous time, but they should make sure their livers were in good shape. She was planning to attend an upcoming hockey game between the University of Alaska and Arizona State University. She may not be so happy when she reports on the game at the November 20 meeting. Just sayin'. Wendell Jones was happy for the wonderful program "Busting Myths about Hospice" at the February 6 meeting. It has already proved to be a blessing in their lives.
President Jim Schmidt opened the meeting by asking Ray Smith to lead members and guests in singing "My Wild Irish Rose. Dick Myren offered the invocation and Ted Williams led the Pledge of Allegiance. 
Mesa West Rotary was well-represented at Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) Saturday, February 8, 2020.
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