Highlights of February 16 Mesa West Rotary Meeting

 
Opening of Meeting - President Pam Cohen
 
Members and Guests who read their texts and emails arrived prepared with warm coats and some even brought blankets.  The hotel was colder than usual and our assigned meeting room was especially cool because of all the windows.  We had more guests than usual and less seating capacity.  Mesa West Rotarians enjoyed some warm conversation and adapted to the situation with flexibility and good humor.
 
The invocation was offered by Dick Myren.  Polly Cady led the Pledge of Allegiance.  Pam thanked John Pennypacker for serving as greeter.  President Pam extended greetings to those attending via Zoom:  Pai Bethea, Bob Jensen, Melodie Jackson, and Debbie Koeneman.
 
Introduction of guests:
  • Don Boucher introduced his good friend and brother-in-law, Sharon's brother, Bobby Moore.
  • Frank Rosenberg introduced his and Amanda's Rotary Youth Exchange daughter, Fanny Leinard.
  • Colleen Coons introduced her niece, Whitney Butler. 
  • Colleen also introduced her sister, Judy Roller.  Colleen is hoping Whitney will decide to move to Arizona.  If she does, Colleen is pretty confident Judy will move here as well.
  • Dave Brauchler introduced Kevan Carlson, a friend Dave first knew in California who has recently relocated to Arizona.
  • Pam introduced Shane White who attended the February 9 meeting on Zoom and decided to try an in-person meeting as well.  He is with Dignity,  Arizona General.
  • Also introduced by Pam was Joe Sweeney, President of Prescott Rotary Club.
Ace of Clubs Raffle - Chuck Flint
 
 
Because we had so many guests, Chuck briefly explained the raffle, then asked Fanny to draw the winning ticket.  The ticket she drew had been purchased by Don LaBarge who left the meeting early.  He had left his ticket stub with Chuck.  Chuck asked Fanny to draw a card on Don's behalf.  The card she drew was the Ten of Hearts, making Don the winner of $35, which Chuck will hold for him.
 
Happy Bucks - Ron Thompson
 
  • Polly Cady Was Happy to have Joe Sweeney at the meeting.  
  • Allan Cady fined himself for announcing the wrong Super Bowl winner at the February 9 meeting.
  • Dick Myren was happy.  He and Sandy had enjoyed a visit from their son, his wife, and their three sons.  One of the boys played 45 holes of golf in two days.  Because of their visit, Dick had missed the February 9 meeting, so he contributed $4 to get caught up on his $2/week tradition of he and Rod Daniels good fortune to be part of the Ace of Clubs.
  • Our server, Dana, was asked to stay available long enough for Rotarians and Guests to help her celebrate her birthday by singing "Happy Birthday" to her.
  • Colleen Coons contributed to thank her many Mesa West Rotary Club mentors who have helped her feel confident about her commitment to serve as President in 2023-24.
  • Dave Brauchler was happy about the February 11 service project at the Child Crisis Arizona emergency shelter.  There were eleven children there who had been removed from their families for cause.  They were ages 4-6.  One little guy had been fending for himself since he was about 2.  They created memory boxes for them and had some temporary tattoos to put on them.  Mesa West was allowed to do something no other service organization was allowed to do.  Our participating members really came through.  He said Colleen wanted to adopt one little guy.  One little boy was guarding a burger and was happily surprised when he learned it was his to enjoy.  Polo was the tattoo expert.
  • Colleen wanted to be happy again after being reminded of her affection for one little one.  His name was Chris.  He had just turned 3.  He was in a corner screaming and crying and could not speak.  Colleen held him on her lap.  She went on to tell about testifying at the state legislature advocating for passage of a bill that would help many but is very important for a Taiwan micro-processing firm moving here.  She was proud the bill passed the house.  
  • Joe Sweeney wanted to know who took his gift at the post-holiday party.
  • Warren Williamson contributed what he felt like was enough to tell about a successful wage increase negotiation between a relatively new housekeeper and the lady of the house.  He may have contributed enough to tell it, but not enough to get it in print.
  • Don Boucher was happy about Bobby and Angie's visit.  That evening they were going to visit Stephanie so they could meet Don's grandson.
Announcements:
  • Joe Sweeney moved to Arizona from California after retiring.  He is very active in Rotary.  He resides in Prescott.  While AG, he was asked to step in and be President of the Prescott Rotary Club which was struggling.  He has had a passion for blood donations for ten years or so.  In Arizona, he works with the Red Cross.  He is trying to get it to be a bigger part of what Rotary does in Arizona.  He is glad Mesa West is going to work with the Red Cross to host a blood drive at the YMCA in Mesa on May 11.  Rotarians can be there to help people check in.  One donated pint of blood can save three lives  He hopes to have twelve locations, with six events happening at each location (every 2 months) each year.
  • Dave Brauchler is still trying to get something going with Sunshine Acres - something hands-on not just writing a check.  In April will again be participating in a Sleep in Heavenly Peace bed build project.  Dave urged anyone with service project ideas to let him know.
  • President Pam announced that we would be reviving the Spring Olympics as a fun club social event this spring.
 
Program - My Story, My Life - Dr. Ron Thompson
 
Instead of hearing from Dr. Toni Thompson, we heard from Dr. Ron Thompson.  It will be interesting to unravel how it was that the news got out that Toni would be our speaker - but that news never reached either Toni or Ron.  When Ron discovered the miscommunication upon his arrival at the meeting, he made some phone calls and worked with Ed to have a slide show ready and we were treated to an excellent personal story.  To view his slides, CLICK HERE
 
Ron was born in Arizona.  He lived in the projects on Van Buren.  When he was five, his mom married Steve Thompson.  It turned out his stepdad was a bad abuser.  He did get to start going to a really nice new school where he learned that he didn't really know how to read.  He participated in a special course and learned how to read correctly.  He still loves to read.  It is a fact that schools in really poor areas are not able to provide the same quality of learning that is enabled in areas have better financial resources.
 
Keith was the name Ron grew up with.  When Ron was 12, his stepfather adopted him, so he became Keith Thompson instead of Keith Griffin..  In Arizona at East High School, he did not have a lot of friends.  He said he was a very skinny shy boy.  By the time he was 16, he had attended nine different schools.  Ron learned he had accumulated enough credits to graduate at mid-term so he took that route as he didn't really want to be in school anymore.  If we had known him back then, we would remember him as a boy with his head down who didn't talk a lot.  
 
Keith became aware that joining the Army might be a way to get his college education.  He went to see a recruiter.  He was told if he joined the infantry he could get out in three years and would get a sign-on bonus.  Keith knew he didn't want to sleep in the dirt, so the asked the recruiter what else was available.  He was given a book to look through.  He saw a photo of someone dressed in white.  He was pretty sure that guy would not have to sleep outside.  He went back to the recruiter and asked questions about that option.  The person in the photo was a dental tech.  Keith said that was what he wanted to do.
 
Keith knew that his full name was Ronald Keith Thompson.  He knew he wanted things to be different for himself.  He practices saying "Hi, my name is Ron."  When he went off to boot camp, he was Ron and has been Ron since then, except maybe with family and long-time acquaintance who first knew him as Keith.
 
Ron weighed 150 when he started boot camp and 175 when he finished - the opposite of what happens with most of the newly enlisted.  He was sent to Germany.
 
 
He saw snow for the first time.  He was also invited to go for a drink.  He was 17.  It was the first time he got drunk.  He loved his chosen career path. In 3 1/2 years Ron grew up.  He was determined to go to school.  After discharged, he went to ASU and finished in three years.  He went on to study dentistry at UCSF Dental Center.
 
Ron says,  The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing."  (Walt Disney is the original source of that bit of wisdom.)
 
The way Ron got involved with Rotary was when Lucinda was his patient, she invited him.  Ron has a lot of admiration for his mother.  He says she is a fantastic woman.  He has just recently sold his Scottsdale practice.  
 
Ron and Toni love to travel.  He is very proud of his sons, saying "Family is everything."
 
 
It might not have been the program we thought we were going to hear, but it was one those who were present will not forget.  
 
Fanny Leinard announced she was involved in a fundraiser selling gourmet popcorn at her school to raise funds for a dance recital she has earned her way to be performing in. It is too late to order the popcorn, but tickets will be sold at the door for the performances which will be April 12, 13, and 14.