Pam Cohen, who was presiding in the absence of President, Chris Krueger, opened the meeting by asking Bert Millett to offer the invocation and Warren Williamson to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. She thanked Steve Ross for serving as Greeter, welcoming Rotarians and guests to the meeting.
Ray Smith led everyone present in singing two verses of "He's Got the Whole World In His Hands." Pam, standing in front of the podium so she would obscure everyone's view of the 2018-19 Rotary International theme banner, asked if anyone knew the theme. John Pennypacker readily answered, "Be the Inspiration."
Guests
Polly Cady introduced their guests from New Zealand: Colin Nagle and his daughter, Carla Hechler. Erwin and Joan Reiman, who are on the path to becoming Mesa West Rotary Club members were again introduced as Rotarian guests from Rapid City, South Dakota. Harry Short was introduced as a visiting Rotarian from the Rotary Club of Seattle Washington and the Kyrene Rotary Club in Tempe, AZ. Scott Morris was welcomed as a former member who moved out of state, but is now back in our area and working at Gateway Bank. Melody Jackson introduced visitor, Gabriela Warrant, as a potential member. John Pennypacker introduced Jerry Abrams who was visiting from the Commonwealth of Virginia. Jerry is a graduate of Thunderbird School of Global Management.
Pam thanked those who helped at the greeters table filling in for Aubrey who was not feeling well and unable to attend.
Drawings
Dr. Ron Thompson was the lucky $5 winner in the weekly attendance drawing. Chuck Flint explained that when raffle tickets are sold, 33 1/3 goes to the holder of the ticket drawn; 33 1/3 goes to the club for administrative expenses, and 33 1/3 gets added to the accumulating pot that will be the prize of the person who one day draws the ace of clubs from the dwindling deck. Each week when a card (that is not the ace of clubs) is drawn, that card is destroyed. In the weekly raffle, Lola McClane held the ticket drawn, but her luck did not hold out. When she attempted to draw the ace of clubs so she could take home the accumulating winnings, she drew the seven of hearts, instead.
Happy Bucks
John Pennypacker was happy to have Jerry visiting in his home. Jerry is the brother of John's son-in-law. John was also happy that 62 years ago on April 18, the Army Aviation Association was formed. John joined a few years later. Lola McClane was happy to have won, was happy to be at the meeting, and happy she remembered to bring her badge with her as she had worn it home the prior week. Allan Cady was happy to report he took advantage of an opportunity to go parasailing when he and Polly were vacationing in Cabo San Lucas. Allan was also happy that they had recently celebrated Polly's birthday. Polly explained a little more about their guests. Colin's son, Aaron (who did not get to travel to the US this trip) was an exchange student in Polly's home when she was a District 5500 Rotarian in Yuma. Carla was a Rotary Youth Exchange student in Brazil, and her twin brother was a RYE student in Wickenburg, Arizona. None of the three siblings and former YE students are Rotarians - yet. Tim Troy was out of town last week on his birthday, but he made a birthday contribution anyway. Ray Smith was happy tax season was over for this year. Penny May contributed $2 with an actual $2 bill. She was happy to be heading home to Alaska, but also very happy she would be back in September. Dick Myren contributed $1 honoring Rod Daniels' tradition of being happy to be a member of Mesa West Rotary. Rod just completed his 60th year of preparing tax returns, and donated $60 to the RI Foundation for Polio Plus. Steve Ros was happy to announce he would be leaving for an extended vacation in Europe and would be enjoying time with his Son while there. Pam said she thought Steve should get extra credit for picking up the greeter table materials from Aubrey so we would have them at the meeting. She was also happy to see Scott and invited him to start the process of coming back into the club. Allan's parasailing story reminded Pam that she went parasailing when she was seven months pregnant with Alex. Alex was born early soon after that adventure. Alex wanted out of there!
Announcements
- Spring Olympics planning crew needs a headcount of who will be there. See separate article in this newsletter for link to respond.
- Allan Cady reported that with donations and commitments to date, the Sponsorship Program should bring in more than $45,000. He is hopeful in the last couple of weeks remaining that we will go over $50,000.
- Allan Cady also reminded Rotarians to RSVP to their No Ball Ball invitation. He said that just 45% of Mesa West members have participated in the sponsorship drive so far. Coons (aka team Ribeye) is out in front so far, but being challenged by team Krueger.
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Immunization saves millions of lives every year. Vaccination is one of the most successful and cost-effective health interventions. Yet outbreaks of diseases that vaccinations could prevent continue to put children's health at risk throughout the world. Rotary knows firsthand that Vaccines Work. We've contributed more than $1.9 billion and countless volunteer hours to protect more than 2.5 billion children from polio. Take action and help Rotary spread the word about the importance of vaccination during World Immunization Week April 24-30.
President Chris Krueger opened the meeting by asking Daryl Bethea to offer the invocation, and Dick Myren to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. 
Through The Rotary Foundation, we expand access to quality care, so mothers and children everywhere can have the same opportunities for a healthy future. An estimated 5.9 million children under the age of five die each year because of malnutrition, inadequate health care, and poor sanitation — all of which can be prevented..jpg)
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The mission of Rotary International is to provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through its fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.
