Open and Welcome - President Jay Paulus
President Jay shared a quote from Ben Franklin: "An investment in knowledge pays the best interest”
He reminded members that the Rotary International theme this year is "The Magic of Rotary." He then recited the Rotary Vision Statement
TOGETHER, we see a world
where PEOPLE unite and take action
to CREATE lasting CHANGE
across the globe, in our communities
and in ourselves.
Ray Smith offered the invocation. Dr. Ron Thompson led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Introduction of Guests
President Jay's mother, Marie Paulus, was introduced. Frank Rosenberg introduced his daughter, Danielle Rosenberg, as a former outbound Rotary Youth Exchange student and a current ASU Rotaractor.
Ace of Clubs Raffle
Chuck Flint asked Danielle Rosenberg to draw the winning raffle ticket. Dr. Ron Thompson was the happy winner. After receiving the weekly pot, he shuffled the cards face down. When he attempted to draw the Ace of Clubs from the cards remaining in the deck, sadly (for him) he drew the 8 of Diamonds, which was destroyed. At our next in-person meeting at the Doubletree, the large pot will have grown and the odds of drawing the Ace of Clubs will be even better.
Auction - Chuck Flint
At our October 31 event at Sloan Park, we will have the opportunity to have someone from our club throw out the first pitch. Chuck officiated over an auction to have that privilege. President Jay bid $5. Pam Cohen countered with a bid of $10. Jay bid $15, and was the top bidder at that price. When he asked why Pam hadn't bid again, she said the only reason she bid was because she didn't want him to get the privilege for a mere $5.
Happy Bucks - Andy Bradford, Sgt at Arms
- Andy Bradford announced that all the Happy Bucks would go to Polio Plus since October 24 is World Polio Day. He made the first contribution sadly remembering that their little Lucy lost her battle with cancer on October 24, 2014.
- Ron Thompson contributed.
- Jim Erickson shared some current polio statistics. In looking at the time of this writing, as of October 23, in the two countries where the wild polio virus is still active, Afghanistan has reported 23 cases so far in 2024, and Pakistan has reported 39 for a total of 62 cases so far in 2024. Our immunization efforts are extremely important. As long as polio exists anywhere, it has the potential to spread everywhere.
- Deb Koeneman pledged $100.
- Jim McGown contributed and verbally celebrated the delivery of several mobility devices to the storage container where Interact collects devices for their Crutches for Africa Ambassador mission. He personally shops online for bargains as well as visiting his local Goodwill store.
- Chad Reid contributed - he was happy he was to be inducted as a new member into the club.
- Ted Williams made a pledge. They had recently made a trip to Finger Lakes New York. They also visited Ohio. He said the fall color was perfect. Ted said one of his sons and his wife had adopted two boys from Ethiopia when there was a famine there. They are now grown and one of the boys travelled to Ethiopia to try to meet some of his birth family. He met an uncle and first cousin. His brother joined him and they visited the original village and met the rest of their birth family. On the 23rd, Susan's granddaughter delivered their second great grandchild.
- Dick Myren added $10 to his traditional $2 pledge.
- John Pennypacker celebrated that 24 years ago, at the helicopter plant, Hal Wochholz asked John if he'd ever been involved in Rotary. After John told him he was a former Rotarian, things moved quickly and shortly thereafter John was the first President of the new Rotary club chartered at the plant.
- Ed Koeneman announced he was scheduled to have his second knee surgery on December 18.
- Shelly Romine contributed. She was very thankful for all the kind messages received after the loss of her father. When she saw that Andy had donated blood that day, she was reminded that the club's blood donation event had to be postponed the last time it was scheduled, but that it has been rescheduled for January 4 at the YMCA.
- Connie Bunyard contributed. Their son and granddaughter had been in a biking accident. They were hit by a truck. Fortunately, both are okay.
- Pam Cohen made a $100 pledge.
- Jeanie Morgan made a pledge.
- Harry Grossman celebrated the Cardinals third win and talked about a recent trip to the Sedona area. He voted. He had breakfast with the Sedona Village Club. He visited the Verde Valley Rotary Club where they were hosting a Rotary Friendship Exchange group from Australia. They announced that there were seven Rotary Clubs represented - the four clubs in the Sedona area plus three clubs in Australia. Harry corrected that number reminding them that Mesa West Rotary was also represented, making eight clubs in all.
- Jay Paulus contributed celebrating that his mother and sister had come for a visit.
- Warren Williamson contributed for the privilege of sharing a dad joke about three golf clubs who went into a bar. The putter ordered a pint of beer. The pitching wedge ordered a shot of Jack Daniels. When the bartender asked the third club what he wanted, the club replied. "I'll just have water - I'm the driver.
Installation of New Member - Chad Reid
President Jay was very pleased to be installing Chad Reid into Mesa West Rotary. He had planned quite a swearing in ceremony. Chad was pleased that all he had to do was answer "I will" rather than have to repeat all that Jay had said. We all clearly understood that among other things, Chad was agreeing to our motto of Service Above Self. Jay gave Chad his new member packet and Pam Cohen pinned jour newest member while those present stood to welcome him.
Announcements
- Shelly Romine reminded members that the next day, during the daytime, there was an opport6unity to volunteer to help set up for the Trunk or Treat event being hosted by the Mesa Police Department Fiesta Division, and that more volunteers would be needed in the evening to pass out candy at the drive-through event. She said that in 2023, 700 children drove through to receive candy. Shelly also mentioned that bell ringing for Salvation Army would start the day after Thanksgiving and continue every day through Christmas Eve. She asked members to plan their time so they could volunteer for multiple shifts in front of the Bass Pro Shop.
- President Jay announced that the hotel was over booked on November 14, and that John Pennypacker has arranged for us to have a happy hour meeting that evening from 5-7 at Long Bow Golf Club. Full members would be able to enjoy the food served at the happy hour, but it would be a "cash bar."
- Mike Lutcher announced that Friday, November 8, the club has ten seats for the kick-off breakfast for the bell ringing season. Contact Jeanie Morgan to claim a seat at the table if you would like to go. He said there would be "asks" to give at the event but he urged members to put their annual donation in the Mesa West Rotary bucket at Bass Pro.
- President Jay made a similar announcement about the College Bound Luau event to be held at Modern Moments November 15. Mesa West Rotary has ten seats for that event as well. Contact Jeanie Morgan if you would like to claim one or two of the "seats" for that opportunity. Plan to wear your festive island apparel if you do!
- Gary Whitehall was attending via Zoom. He made an announcement about an FBI academy opportunity. Applications are due November 1.
Program - Chuck Byers - Thomas Tanner Village for Veterans
CLICK HERE to go to the website where the project Chuck Byers shared with those who were in attendance.
Chuck was a combat medic during the Viet Nam War. He was in the Army from 1966 to 1972. He was wounded June 1, 1968. He stayed in the service. He was awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart. When in New Jersey, he was on Chris Christie's task force. He has been an advocate for veterans for a long time. He said there is a big problem with veteran homelessness. He said there are estimated to be 7-800 homeless vets just in Arizona.
The project he came to present is a hand up - not a handout. It will provide transitional housing in very little houses to be constructed at 1803 East Broadway in Phoenix. They are casitas with 600 square feet of living space. Each unit has a kitchen, and a bedroom, and each unit will have a doggie door for those who have service animals. In addition to the dwellings, the community will have a community building with 2700 square feet of space.
Chuck said it has been a labor of love getting building permits and being allowed to tap into existing sewer lines. The financing is in place and they will be breaking ground soon and hope to have the units ready for occupancy by spring. He is currently going out to ask organizations and individuals to adopt a casita to allow it to be furnished. $1,000 will allow the adoption of a unit. From that, the occupant will receive a $200 voucher to allow them to personalize their residence.
After hearing the presentation, John Pennypacker, pledged $100 to be matched by nine additional members so that Mesa West Rotary could adopt one of the Casitas. Before leaving the meeting, nine additional members had volunteered to accept John's challenge.