



- John Pennypacker introduced Larry Gillham and his granddaughter, Kelsey. He then introduced his DG classmate, Elsa Gillham.
- Todd Harris, a visiting Rotarian from the Four Peaks Rotary Club introduced himself as the district's new Membership Chair. He came to the Mesa West meeting hoping to meet an individual who he had been working with so he could introduce her to our club.




- Eric Silverberg was happy to see some great guests at our meeting. He shared some good news about a friend's new kidney and encouraged his fellow members to consider being organ donors.
- Chad Reid announced his Toastmasters Club would be hosting an open house April 29 at 6:30 p.m. at Oak for Less Amish Furniture Creations1660 S Alma School Rd #100Mesa, AZ 85210.
- Colleen Coons contributed thanking
- Todd Harris for stepping up to the the District Membership Chairman.
- She was also happy to be receiving a reimbursement check from Mesa West Foundation for the $680 in stipends paid out to our mentored McKinney Vento students who are doing very well in their senior year.
- She announced that District Conference registration would close at the end of the day Friday, April 18. She reminded members that Chad Reid would be leading a breakout session at the conference where he would facilitate attendees to gain the ability to present Rotary in two minutes or less.
- Colleen has recently learned that McKinney Vento students will be able to utilize EVIT housing.
- Chuck Flint contributed hoping his contribution was enough to prevent John from ever singing again.
- Ted Williams is retired now, but was in the self-storage business for many years. His son Terrick, took over the business and Ted pledged $50 to the sponsor program because he had the privilege recently of being present when Terrick was recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award at a Self-Storage Trade Show.
- Dick Myren contributed with an update about his friend's granddaughter who was recently stabbed. She had been released from the hospital, but still facing a long recovery period.
- Harry Grossman contributed for having made another trip to Sedona and returning with a carload of stuff. He is gradually getting moved.
- Ray Smith contributed $500 to the sponsor program - glad that tax season was finally over.
- John Pennypacker contributed. He was happy to have had his family together enjoying one another for a few days. He was also happy to be enjoying his guests: DG classmate, Elsa Gillham and her husband, Larry and granddaughter Kelsey.
- Elsa Gillham contributed. She was happy to see her classmate and enjoy the warm fellowship of Mesa West Rotary.
- Pam Cohen announced that Ed Koeneman's team is ahead by $250 in the Sponsor Program. She said the total gathered to date was about $29,000.
- Jay Paulus contributed $2 celebrating a quote from Anne Frank "How wonderful it is that no one has to wait, but we can start right now to gradually change the world!'
- Frank Rosenberg, who is on John Pennypacker's sponsor campaign team, contributed $250 to celebrate that he has now passed 250 patients in his new practice.
- Warren Williamson told a story about a gentleman from the old Soviet Union who was migrating to the US to live with his nephew. As his luggage was being checked before leaving, a small bust was found. When questioned about it, the gentleman said it was a bust of Stalin, the founder and benefactor who had created a new and better way of life in the Soviet Union. Once in the US, his baggage was again checked and the same bust was found. When asked about it, he said it was a bust of the man who made him want to leave his country of birth because of the evil and suppression. After he finally arrived at his nephew's home, his nephew was helping him get settled. When he saw the bust, he asked who it was. The old gentleman said it really didn't matter who it was - it was six pounds of gold.
- CLICK HERE or on the image to learn more about the Zap the Gap event to be held at The Studios on April 29.
- Meta will be hosting an event similar to our Ignite Innovation on April 24.

- Dick Myren offered the invocation,
- Warren Williamson led the Pledge of Allegiance.

- Chad Reid introduced Pietro Ippolito. Chad explained he had invited President Jay to talk to his Toastmasters Club about Rotary. Pietro was at the meeting and accepted Jay's invitation to visit Mesa West Rotary.
- Jim Bannon introduced himself as a repeat visitor and told a little bit about himself.
- John Pennypacker introduced his in-person guests, his son, Jay Pennypacker, and Monica Monson. He also introduced his daughter Katie who was attending via Zoom.
- AG Dan Coons had a few words to say when it was his turn to be introduced.




- John Pennpacker was wearing a white jump suit to celebrate the first day of the Masters' Tournament in Augusta. He was celebrating the fact that his age is still less than the temperature. He was glad Katie, Jay and Monica were celebrating with him. John first joined Rotary in 1977 while in the Army, but was only in about a year when he was transferred. When he next joined, it was in 2001. He was working at Boeing in Mesa and was asked if he knew anything about Rotary. When he said he had been a member in the past, he soon found himself to be the charter president of the employee's Rotary Club being chartered at the Boeing plant. To celebrate his round-number birthday, his 25 total years in Rotary, and to honor his late wife, John has recently donated $1,000 to Polio Plus, $1,000 to The Rotary Foundation Annual Fund, and $500 to Mesa West Rotary Foundation with half designated for McKinney Vento and half designated for Crutches 4 Africa.
- Allan Cady said his 80th birthday is looming ahead of him. He pledged $100 to the sponsor campaign.
- Polly Cady said John was her favorite PDG. He was DG the year she served as Club President.
- Chad Reid donated. He was appreciative of Jay talking to his Toastmasters Club and glad Pietro wanted to learn more about Rotary and came to our meeting.
- Frank Rosenberg was glad to have recently seen the Suns play the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
- Jim McGown was happy to have been able to donate to The Rotary Vocational Fund of Arizona by transferring from his IRA directly to TRVFA instead of personally taking his mandatory distribution.
- Our guest - Pietro - was happy to celebrate John's 80th birthday, and thanked Jay for the invite.
- Marilyn Klingler wished John a happy birthday.
- Jim Bannon contributed $10 to TRVFA and $10 to MWRF Community Service
- Chuck donated to celebrate the occasion.
- Pam Cohen contributed to celebrate John's 80th birthday. She explained that the copper hat used for the raffle was actually the hat worn by Jack Rosenberg as Jellybean the Clown. The hat went with Jack to Bosnia when he went there after the war to cheer the children. When Jack retired as Jellybean the club had his hat bronzed.
- Harry Grossman enjoyed the Spring Olympics.
- Dick Myren contributed his traditional $2 for he and Rod Daniels being associated with the Ace of Clubs. He contributed $2 sad dollars. A young lady that was recently stabbed was the granddaughter of one of Dick's friends. She is stable, but facing many challenges from her injuries.
- Ed Koeneman was happy to have celebrated his and Deb's 28th wedding anniversary at Spring Olympics.
- Jay said his 14-year-old granddaughter had recently wanted a smash party to celebrate her birthday. They went to a facility where the attendees were given hammers and mallets to smash things up. He asked her if she had some pent-up anger. Her response was she was the second, middle child - what did he think?
- Warren Williamson told about Ronald Reagan who liked to poke fun at Democrats. One of the stories he told was about a woman who would sell pretzels for a quarter. Reagan would toss a quarter in he jar, but not take a pretzel. One day as he was walking past her after tossing in his quarter, she grabbed his arm. He thought she was going to ask him why he didn't take a pretzel. Instead, she told him the price for pretzels had gone up to thirty-five cents.

- Colleen Coons encouraged members to register for and attend the District Conference. Registration closes April 18. Frank Rosenberg will be facilitating two sessions. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn CPR. Chad Reid will have a session about Toastmasters. Attendees will learn how to convey Rotary in two minutes or less. He will also talk about leadership. Danny White will be the Saturday Keynote Speaker. Connie Bunyard will present a program about nurturing community relations. There will be a live auction that will benefit youth programs.
- Jeanie Morgan encouraged those attending the conference to go a day early and enjoy the May 1 Saguaro Lake dinner cruise tp benefit TRVFA. She also reminded members who had procrastinated about completing their tax returns that if they have an income tax obligation to the state of Arizona, they can direct some of that obligation by making a tax-credit donation to The Rotary Vocational Fund of Arizona.
- Pam Cohen told members to save the date of June 14 so they can attend Jim Schmidt's installation as District Governor at the Mesa Country Club.
- Members were reminded to register to participate in our Rotary Week of Service project at Midwest Food Bank - use the link in a separate article in this Messenger.
- President Jay announced that the fifth Thursday in May, the club will take a tour of the Alcor Life Extension Foundation in Scottsdale. The date is May 29.



There are many different nonprofit organizations that AZ recognizes as authorized recipients of these tax funds. Mesa West sponsors the Interact Club at Westwood High School, and they are a qualified recipient of these tax credit funds in the Extra Curricular Activities (ECA) category. Here's how you can donate up to $200 as an individual or $400 as a couple filing jointly and deduct that amount from your state tax burden.

If you have children currently enrolled in Mesa Public Schools, you can use your existing login information. Otherwise, it's easy to setup a guest account.
Once you are logged in, select 'Items At All Schools' under the 'Shop/Donate' list on the Home page.
On the next page select 'High Schools', then select 'Westwood High'
Select the link for 'ECA Tax Credit', and then 'Programs G-K' on the following page.
Interact - ECA is under code 8646. Enter a dollar amount in the box, and click the Add button. That dollar amount should then appear in your cart (highlighted in green at the top of the page).
You can then proceed to the Checkout process and pay with a credit card. You will receive a receipt that you can print out and save for when you do your taxes.
Thank you for supporting Westwood Interact and all of our youth programs.
The Rotary Foundation (TRF) Annual Fund - The Rotary Foundation transforms your gifts into service projects that change lives both close to home and around the world." Giving a small amount each month adds up. CLICK HERE to download a form you can use to sign up for Rotary Direct, electing "Annual Fund - Share" for your recurring donation.
- The Rotary Foundation (TRF) Polio Plus - Rotary's commitment to eradicate polio is so well known and respected that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation matches donations $2 for $1. To take advantage of this opportunity to multiply the effect of your giving, CLICK HERE and download a second Rotary Direct form, this time electing electing "Polio Eradication" for your recurring donations. Those who donate $100 or more annually to Polio Plus qualify in District 5495 as Polio Plus Society Members. If you would like to make that commitment, CLICK HERE to download the commitment form.
The Rotary Vocational Fund of Arizona (TRVFA) provides vocational education grants to Arizona Residents who meet specific low-income guidelines. The grants enable the recipients to lift themselves out of poverty, benefitting themselves, their families and the economy of our state. TRVFA is a 501(c)(3) charity. They also are a Qualifying Charitable Organization for Arizona Tax Credit Donations. Their QCO Code is 20698. Many Arizona Rotarians say giving to TRVFA is a "no brainer." If you can help someone lift themselves out of poverty and it won't end up costing you anything why would you not do it? Mesa West Rotary has the highest number of members who have signed up for automated monthly recurring donations by electing that option on the "Donate Now" button on the TRVFA website. Click the image to learn more or CLICK HERE to DONATE NOW.
Mesa West Rotary Foundation, Inc. is the funding and fundraising arm of our own Mesa West Rotary Club. It is a 501(c)(3) charity. We have had successful sponsorship campaigns the last few years enabling us to spend our energy on service rather than on holding fundraising events. Charitable grants that we get involved with are funded through our charitable foundation, Our signature Gift of Hearing Project in Guaymas Mexico is funded through this foundation. Scholarships are awarded annually to Westwood High School Students (the high school where Mesa West Rotary sponsors an Interact Club). Funds are used to support a variety of activities in four of the Rotary Avenues of Service:
- Community Service
- International Service
- Vocational Service
- Youth Service
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Rotary District 5495 Conference of Clubs
Fountain HillsMay 01, 2025 5:00 p.m. –
May 04, 2025 1:00 p.m. -
Mesa West Rotary Board Meeting
Via ZoomMay 20, 2025 5:30 p.m.
-
Mesa West Rotary Board Meeting
Via ZoomJun. 17, 2025 5:30 p.m.

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Transforming Communities, Creating Opportunities, Impacting Youth
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Mesa, AZ 85210
United States of America