Opening and Welcome - President Jay Paulus
President Jay asked Ted Williams to offer the invocation. Connie Bunyard led the Pledge of Allegiance. John Pennypacker led the Four-Way-Test the way he memorized it - musically.
Introduction of Guests
- 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.
Ace of Clubs Raffle - Chuck Flint
Chuck briefly explained the raffle. The holders of the ticket drawn by Ted Williams, and the winners of the $300 small pot were the three musketeers at the "AARP table." John Benedict was their dedicated teammate to try to draw the Ace of Clubs, which would have entitled them to the large, accumulating, pot of $1,010. Sadly (for John, Steve, and Jack) the card John drew was the King of Clubs.
Paul Harris Fellow Recognition - Foundation Chair John Pennypacker
John asked his guest, PDG Elsa Gillham, to present President Jay Paulus with his Paul Harris Fellow+2 recognition pin. It was noted that the birthday of Paul Harris, Rotary's founder, would be celebrated Saturday, April 19.
Happy Bucks - Andy Bradford, Sgt at Arms
- 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.
Announcements - President Jay Paulus
- 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.
Program - Brian LaPlante and Geoffrey Valenzuela - AI/Robotics and Manufacturing
Eric Silverberg introduced our speakers. Brian LaPlante was originally from Rhode Island. He started his career in the electrical trade as an electrician. He graduated from New England Technical Institute in 2004 with a degree in Electrical Technology. He moved into the Industrial world as a Controls Technician for multiple P&G plants including Gillette and Duracell. Prior to working with FANUC Robotics, Brian spent seven years in Siemens Energy as controls technician troubleshooting automation at a turbine/generator plant in Charlotte North Carolina. Most recently he has spent the past six years with FANUC . He satrted as an Inside Sales Specialist at their Southeast office. He was promoted in 2020 to the role of District/Account Manager covering New Mexico, Arizona, and Nevada.
Geoffrey Valenzuela is a Business Development Manager for Samuel Automation. He hails from Pasadena, California and recently transplanted to Tucson by way of Spartanburg South Carolina. He has 28 years of experience in the automation industry with a focus on custom-built machinery for complex manufacturing. He spent 18 years in the US Army on both active duty and in the reserves. He is a combat veteran that served in the infantry as a Captain/Company Commander overseas in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He was a charter member of the Azusa Rotary Club in Azusa, California and assisted with building orphanages in Ensenada, Mexico as well as helping fund life saving water wells in Africa. He lives on a ranch in Tanque Verde with his wife and four dogs.
The program was very interesting. When a company starts to explore the idea of automation, they need to involve the kind of expertise these companies can provide. They typically have no idea where to start without involving this kind of expertise. Some factors that might lead to a need to automate are: poor labor retention and relations, need for process flexibility, need to decrease down time and increase throughput, excessive scrap issues, as well as safety issues. If work is dull, simple, and repetitive, it is difficult to retain labor. It's even harder if its also dirty, nasty, and unpleasant.
They can begin with an automation audit. They can walk through and identify each step of the operation and evaluate return on investment. FANUC can help corporate customers evaluate the full plan. They can provide a lifetime of service and support. They believe in "service first." They provide a collaborative robot workshop.