Ron Thompson was asked to offer the invocation.  Jack Rosenberg then led the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

 

Penny shared how being a member of Rotary has enhanced her ability to enjoy world travel.  Rotarians are welcome to visit Rotary meetings anywhere.  She encouraged members to go on line and find a club and visit it anyplace our travels take us.  She spoke enthusiastically about the two Rotary International Conventions she has attended.   She was particularly impressed with the vivid colors of the beautiful silk sarees worn by the women from India.  She imitated a greeting heard loudly, enthusiastically and frequently from attendees from the Figi Islands.  She thought the women from Africa must be seven feet tall.  Their beautiful long dresses and matching or coordinated headdresses were a stunning sight.  The speakers at both conventions were world class.  At the two conferences she attended, the President or Prime Minister of the country addressed the conference - and stayed to participate.  They had the opportunity to dine in local Rotarian homes.  The home she remembered visiting was not a castle, but the owner did send a limo to pick her up and deliver back to the hotel.  The dinner in Glasgow Scotland ended with everyone singing Auld Lang Syne before they parted.

In Tai Pei, she found the international meals interesting.  One encounter with some Rotarians from Switzerland, someone showed them their swiss army knife and all the Rotarians from Switzerland pulled their own out of their pockets.  They had fun singing karaoke together - but not at all well.

 

Penny touched briefly on Rotary Friendship Exchange.  Rotarians from another part of the world visit your district where they enjoy attending potlucks and being shown the sites, and then they return the hospitality when the experience is reciprocated for a group of local Rotarians traveling to the home district of the visitors.  Lifelong friendships are often formed during these Rotary travel encounters. She remembers being welcomed with open arms, enjoying the adventure and cherishing the memories.

 

 

Chuck Flint asked speaker Ginger Lamb to draw the winning raffle ticket which was held by Ray Smith and Wendell Jones.  Wendell and Ray generously donated their $45 winnings back to be sent to The Rotary Vocational Fund of Arizona.

 

 

 

 

 

President Dan served as auctioneer of a bag containing items from South Dakota donated by Erwin and Joan Reimann.  On their advice, bidding started low - at $10.  Frank Rosenberg's bid of $20 prevailed.

 

 

 

 

 

Chris Krueger shared an inspirational thought for the day essentially reminding everyone that there is a direct relationship between optimism and success.  Lola McClane led the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

 

Polly shared information about Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI).   Polly is the current Chairman of RLI in Rotary District 5495.  Many Rotary educational activities are directly related to job training for club and Rotary leadership positions.  The "L" in RLI does stand for leadership, but all Rotarians are leaders, and most are likely to serve formally or informally as a leader in their own club.  RLI is a series of three sessions which have standard curriculum throughout the Rotary World to provide information about Rotary beyond the club level. 

 

Some call RLI Rotary's "college of knowledge."  Polly  indicated she first attended RLI after being a Rotarian for over twenty years and testified the experience was eye-opening.  She'd had no idea what she hadn't known.  One of the benefits of attending RLI is the ability to expand our network of Rotary friends and acquaintances.  Topics are introduced and basic information shared by the facilitators, but the real benefit occurs when others in the session participate in a facilitated discussion about each topic, sharing their personal related experience and knowledge.

 

The three sessions will run concurrently, via Zoom, Saturday, November 6 from 8:00 AM to 12:30 PM.  Because it will be online, it will be free.  When RLI meets in person, there is a nominal fee to attend.  The planners try to move where it is offered to various locations in the district, making it accessible to attend as well as offer a little in-state Rotary tourism.  CLICK HERE to email Polly if you have questions or would like to register for the September 6 session.  If you have never attended RLI in the past, you will need to register for the first session, as the curriculum is intended to be studied in sequence.  For more information, download a flyer.

 

Don Boucher was presented with his RLI completion certificate and pin by Polly. Don was not able to be present to receive the items from District Governor Bret McKeand during his recent official DG visit to Mesa West Rotary.

 

 

President Dan thanked John Benedict and Jack Rosenberg for arriving early to give members and guests a warm welcome to the meeting.

 

 

Chuck Flint explained that each week the funds taken in from raffle ticket sales are divided with 1/3 going to the club operating fund, 1/3 available to the person whose ticket is drawn, and 1/3 being added to an accumulating pot.  In addition to winning the small pot, the person whose ticket is drawn also wins the opportunity to attempt to draw the Ace of Clubs from a deck of cards.  Any card other than the Ace of Clubs is immediately destroyed.  Each week, the deck gets smaller making the odds of drawing the ace and winning the large pot just a little bit better.  Chuck announced that the small pot would be $60 and the large pot was up to $535.  Chuck asked Don Boucher to draw the winning ticket, which was held by Shelly Romine.  Unfortunately for her, the card Shelly drew from the deck was the King of Hearts.