Opening of Meeting - President Pam
 
 
President Pam asked Jim McGown to lead the Pledge of Allegiance.   Mike Whalen then offered the invocation.  Pam thanked Diane Ware for reporting for Greener duty early enough to welcome members and guests as they arrived.  Pam welcomed Debbie Koeneman, Donna Goetzenberger and Melodie Jackson who were attending via Zoom.
 
Introduction of Guests 
 
 
Alexandra Gutierrez, a former Rotarian - a member of two District 5495 clubs both of which disbanded.  She is currently a teacher and would have difficulty attending club meets regularly.  Whe actually was responsible for arranging for the speaker for the March 23 program, working with Jay Stuckey and Don LaBarge.  Amanda Rosenberg is a member, but was welcomed like a guest since she rarely is able to attend meetings in person.  Frank Rosenberg was very obviously happy to have Amanda attending with him.
 
Ace of Clubs Raffle - Chuck Flint
 

Chuck asked speaker, Richard Gonzales, to draw the winning raffle ticket.  When no-one claimed to be the winner, Chuck checked his own ticket and found that he personally held the stub of the ticket drawn making him the lucky winner of the small pot.  Chuck then asked Allan Cady to shuffle the cards.  When Chuck then attempted to draw the Ace of Clubs, he instead drew the Nine of Clubs.
 
Happy Bucks - Ron Thompson
 
  • At Ron's urging, Allan Cady explained how he invested $25 in five $5 bets when in Las Vegas during March Madness, and won back his original investment of $25 plus a quarter more, so he came out twenty-five cents to the good.  Allan went on to explain that he had passed up an opportunity to be the Grand Marshall in the Annual Han's Day Parade,  A Yuma Foothills Club Member Allan has gotten to know through TRVFA is very involved with the parade.  This year they had over 70 entries in the parade which was followed by a barbeque with a live band providing entertainment.  Allan said if the opportunity came up again next year, he would want our club's support.  If he goes, we all go!
  • Polly Cady was happy be assured she was Allen's true love when he gave her his March Madness winnings.  
  • Colleen Coons contributed $5 for the club.
  • Dave Brauchler contributed.  He was happy he remembered to bring flyers to put out on the table about the choir concert he would be a part of on March 31 at Redeemer Bible Church.
  • Bob Zarling contributed.  He was happy to be part of an organization that provides very basic needs for people in other parts of the world.  He was happy to see the recent update when the Aqua Africa project we helped fund posted a photo of a well producing clean water for a community.  He also reminded members of the EnviraLoo sanitation solution we helped fund for the Blessman organization in South Africa.
  • AG Dan Coons contributed the rest of his change, saying he misses being in Mesa West Rotary.
  • Don LaBarge was happy to have met our guest - Alexandra - at the Mexican-American Friendship Conference when it was held at the Grand Canyon.  Since then, she has rung the Salvation Army bell for us at our Bass Pro station during the holiday season.
  • Chuck Flint contributed some of his raffle winnings.
  • Warren Williamson was happy to share a story about a traveler who stopped for gas at a remote general store/gas station.  He noticed a sign offering a talking dog for sale for $25.  He had to ask, "Really?  A talking dog?" He was invited to go out back and meet the dog for himself.  He asked the dog how long he'd been talking.  The dog explained that he'd learned to talk listening to humans talk from the time he was a pup.  He got good at listening and then telling his handlers what he'd learned.  With that skill, he was offered as an asset for the CIA.  He worked at several different embassy locations providing some very useful intelligence.  He had just recently been retired from a stint with TSA.  The customer went back inside, and asked, "Why would you sell a valuable animal like that for only $25?"  The proprietor responded, "Because he's a liar - he hasn't been out of our back yard a day in his life!"
  • Dick Myren contributed his traditional $2, thankful that he and Honorary Member Rod Daniels were part of the Ace of Clubs.  He went on to say that Rod's recent health challenges had been serious enough that Rod decided it was time he quit working for Don LaBarge, and asked that members keep Rod in their prayers.
  • Ed Koeneman was happy to have been part of a Westwood High School Interact service project.  He, John Pennypacker and Pam Cohen had been chauffeurs for 11 Interact Members and participated with them packing meals at Feed My Starving Children.  Ed was also happy to report it was 1,000 days until the release of the next Star Wars movie.
  • John Pennypacker contributed $20 to the Mesa West Rotary Foundation to celebrate an important day in history - when - at the Virginia Provincial Convention, the declaration "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" was adopted.,
  • Donna Goetzenberger pledged $26.  This year our district has four inbound and four outbound youth exchange students.  Next year, that number will grow to 26 with 11 outbound (one of which will be Sammi Rosenberg) and 15 inbound.
  • Ted Williams said he would long remember Warren's story.  His wife Susan's first husband was a CIA agent for a long time.  "He was a dog."
  • Pam Cohen fined herself for again forgetting to introduce Dan Coons as a guest.  Pam also reminded everyone it was National Math Day.  
Announcements
 
 
  • Community Service Chair Dave Brauchler reported 
    • He is applying for a District Grant for a project to provide playground equipment at the intake center at Sunshine Acres.
    • In April, our Rotary Week of Service project will be to participate in another Sleep in Heavenly Peace bed build project
    • So far this year, he has logged over 190 hours of community service for our club.  That number does not include the hours spent ringing the bell for Salvation Army or the Guaynas Gift of Hearing Mission.
  • Club Service Chair, Shelly Romine 
    • Reminded members to sign up for Spring Olympics to be held at the Koeneman's home.   Ed keepd announcing new events, one of the newest of which is a chicken chase, trying to herd six chickens at a time.  Mexican Food will be catered by A Perfect Saiz Taco.
    • June 29 needs to be reserved on all our calendars to celebrate our club's 50th Anniversary.  A special part of the event will be the recognition of a member of the community who exemplifies "Service Above Self."
  • Polly Coons presented an update from Donna Goetzenberger.  The Youth Exchange Enriches Coalition is trying to make youth exchange available for 2 youth from Ukraine.  Donna is looking for host families.  Their costs will be covered.  Donna is lookng for host families.
Progran - Barrio Bookmobile - Richard Gonzales
 
 
Dan Coons introduced Richard Gonzales, founder and President of Barrio Bookmobile a 501(c)(3) nonprofit promoting literacy and education in underserved areas.  They provide free books.  Richard himself has a life-long love of reading which began when he was a child and a bookmobile would visit his neighborhood.  Richard has dreamed of doing something like this for a long time and made it official six years ago.  He said forty-five years ago, when he was a kid, the arrival of the bookmobile at Summer Parks and Recreation was equally as exciting as the arrival of an ice cream truck,  Kids would line up and wait for their opportunity to go inside.  There were books everywhere.  The had thig was deciding which one.  Once he had his book, he would run off, find a quiet place and be transported to another place.  He never forgot the excitement!
 
As an adult, he would dream of winning the lottery so he could start a bookmobile service.  With his winnings, he could retire, buy a bus, fill it with books.  He's not retired, and he never won the lottery, but he decided there was no reason to wait.  There were lots of people with books who would be willing to donate them.
 
He wants to get kids excited about reading.  Reading is fundamentally important to learning.  In the lower grades, kids are learning to read.  In the higher grades, they are reading to learn.  He wants to improve educational outcomes in Title I communities throughout the Phoenix area.
 
When they first started, they would do school visits, holding classroom book parties, handing out goody bas.  He would wear his "Cat in the Hat" hat and read to kids.  They only got their bookmobile last year.  Now the can do all-day book fairs, where all students get to visit.
 
CLICK HERE to view the slide show Richard used during his presentation.  His personal passion was obvious.  Book and financial donations are very much appreciated.
 
CLICK HERE to visit their website and/or donate online.