Welcome - President Dan Coons
After introducing himself and welcoming everyone to the meeting, President Dan reminded those present that the 2021-22 Rotary International Theme is Serve to Change Lives. 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.
The invocation was offered by Dick Myren, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, which was led by Warren Williamson.
Jeane's Word Power
Jeane Crouse explained the difference between Capitol and Capital.- Capitol - When spelled with an "o," you are always talking about the building where the legislature meets. Secret to remember when to use the "O" - think of the perfectly round Rotunda in our nation's Capitol.
- Capital - can be a noun - generally meaning a store of useful assets or advantages. Spelled with an "a" it is used as an adjective
- A capital offense
- Capital letter
- A capital experience, like when Geoff White is able to attend a Mesa West meeting
Ace of Clubs Raffle - Chuck FlintChuck briefly announced that the holder of the winning ticket would win $45.00 and a chance to draw the Ace of Clubs with the hope of winning the big pot which is now up to $665.00. He asked Lola McClane to draw the winning ticket. She drew her own ticket, but her luck stopped there. The card she drew was the 3 of Hearts.
Auction of Items from Georgia - Jeane Crouse
Georgia is famous for their peaches and vidalia onions. Jeane assured potential bidders they would enjoy both if they purchased the items she brought back from her recent trip to Georgia. Jim Erickson's bid of $40 let him take home the prize. In looking over what he had purchased, he felt he had received more than his money's worth of culinary delights.
Happy Bucks - Bert Millett
- Penny May was happy to announce she would be leaving Monday for eight days in Hawaii.
- Greg Okonowski was happy to be at the meeting.
- Shelly Romine was happy she was able to observe and participate in a Sleep in Heavenly Peace bed build project on Saturday, October 23. She said Mesa West member Andrea Murphy helped show her the ropes. Shelly said that Andrea has recently completed her paralegal training program and is looking for work.
- Chuck Flint pledged to donate $100 on line to The Rotary Foundation in memory of a good friend he knew professionally since 1977. Chuck had travelled with Dean Rice on African veterinary adventures. Dean passed away suddenly and unexpectedly. He was only 71.
- John Pennypacker had recently returned from a trip to Virginia where he had traveled on to South Carolina to attend his niece's daughter's wedding. He had a good time at the wedding and enjoyed seeing two of his sisters he hadn't seen for a while. On the drive back to Virginia, he announced he had the good sense to pull of the road and stop when driving in rain coming down so hard he had not visibility.
- Wendell Jones put in $5. He was happy to not have to put up with Ray Smith while Ray was off enjoying a vacation with his wife.
- Don LaBarge was happy to have gotten a statute of limitation question answered in his round-about way of asking.
- Dick Myren contributed his tradition $2 for his and Rod Daniels' association with Mesa West Rotary. He also pledged $75 for Poilio Plus to celebrate Sandy's 75th birthday the prior week.
- Jim McGown contributed. He told of two situations that occurred while spending the summer in New York. He was in a shop and a young lady learned he was a Rotarian. She said she had spent the best year of her life in Germany as a Rotary Youth Exchange student. The other situation happened in a barber shop where a young man said he had spent the best year of his life in Croatia as a RYE student.
- Jack Rosenberg announced his glass art will be displayed with his bio in a gallery in Sedona.
- Bert Millett contributed $20 for a tribute to Bert's football hero, Whizzer White, who was Geoff White's grandfather. Whizzer was the first Arizona State University All-American football player and still ranks third in school history with 1502 rushing yards in the 1950 season. He played halfback for the Chicago Bears from 1951-52.
- Chris Krueger contributed happy to be at the meeting and happy that being in Rotary makes the world seem smaller.
- Lola McClane contributed $25 of the cash she'd won when she drew her own ticket.
- Dan Coons said that Colleen has found her retirement niche with her appointment as District Rotaract Chair. Colleen is out of town and Dan had attended the ASU Rotaract meeting for her. What had started out as plans for a Rotaract BBQ at the Coons home grew into plans for a long-weekend Rotaract campout at their house.
Announcements
- Shelly Romine announced that she had the minimum required number of volunteers to help with the Halloween parties being held at both Mesa Senior Centers October 29, but more volunteers would be welcome. She also announced that our November and December project would be our traditional Salvation Army bell-ringing.
- Don LaBarge announced that he is Chair of the Salvation Army Board. Bob Zarling has been serving as a member of the board but his personal challenges have made it necessary to step down from that role. They are looking for a new board member. Anyone interested in learning more should get in touch with Don.
Program - Foundation Report - Chuck FlintThe Rotary Foundation (TRF)
This is where the majority of Paul Harris and Polio Plus Donations go. The total inflow or the last audited year, which was 2019-20 was $342 million which was down from $360 million the previous year.
When donations are made to the Annual Fund, Rotary International invests the funds for a period of three years. They are then spent on programs unless the funds were restricted by the donor(s). Restricted funds could be legacies from donors that can never be spent, with only the income earned on the funds being spent for specified programs.
Typical expenses for programs are Polio Plus which is about half of the total, Rotary Grants (like our Aqua Africa Global Grant) and other programs.
After the three years, funds go back to local districts in the form of District Designated Funds (DDF). Those funds can be used for district grants like the one Mesa West used to fund the 7th Street Food Pantry renovation early in 2021.
The Rotary Foundation has seven Areas of Focus:
- Promoting Peace
- Fighting Disease - Polio, HIV/AIDS, Malaria - of all the people who have ever been on earth throughout history (105 Billion) half of them have been killed by malaria.
- Providing Clean Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
- Saving mothers and Children - 6 million children under the age of 5 die each year because of nutrition, poor healthcare and sanitation.
- Supporting Education - more than 775 million people over the age of 15 are illiterate.
- Growing Local Economies - carry out service projects - The Microcredit project Mesa West supports in Mexico is an example of this, as are many of the service projects Shelly coordinates.
- Protecting the Environment - this is the newest area of focus of The Rotary Foundation.
Without our donations to The Rotary Foundation, none of this will or can happen. Chuck said that he had reports with him if anyone was wondering when they last donated. CLICK HERE to email Chuck and ask him about your most recent donation.
At the bottom of the Messenger is information about how to give to TRF. Rotary Direct is the best - and most painless way to give - is to set up a monthly, quaarterly, or annually repeating gift from your credit card or checking account. Using that method, you don't have to remember when you last donated - it happens automatically. $10 is the minimum on-line donation.
Mesa West Rotary Foundation
Mesa West Rotary Club has its own 501(c)(3) charitable foundation.
Funds which were received specifically for the Aqua Africa grant are held in a separate checking account. Funds to be used for our charitable work and donations is held in another checking account, and a significant sum of money is invested to ensure we will be able to continue our charitable endeavors even in a bad year.
Chuck shared a recent Mesa West Rotary Foundation Balance Sheet on the screen but it was such fine print that members had difficulty seeing it. CLICK HERE if you want to review the balance sheet he shared.
The Gift of Hearing Project in Guaymas, Mexico is our largest ongoing charitable project and shows the largest balance of restricted funds.
When Mesa West has our sponsorship campaigns, donations go to the foundation so donors can use their donation as a tax deduction. Donations can be restricted for one or more specific purposes or unrestricted so their donation can be used where the need is greatest.
Paul Harris Fellow Recognition
After the first $1,000 in cash is donated to The Rotary Foundation, for each additional amount donated the donor accrues recognition points, which they can transfer to recognize someone else as a Paul Harris Fellow. Paul Harris Fellow recognition can be received for cash donated, transferred recognition points or a combination of both. Each time an additional $1,000 increment has been reached, a new level of Paul Harris Fellow is awarded up through PHF+8
The next level of TRF recognition is Major Donor Status. Recognition points cannot be used to receive this recognition. It can only be received through accumulated actual donations. The first level of Major Donor Status is $10,000. The next level is $25,000, the third level is $50,000 and the fourth level is $100,000-249,999. Donors with accumulated donations of $250,000 or more are recognized as Arch Klumpf Society donors.
Receiving recognition at this meeting were:
- Carla Krzmarik received her first Paul Harris Fellow pin and certificate. Dan Coons was very proud of this achievement by this new member who he sponsored into the club.
- Dick Myren received his PHF+3 pin and accepted Sandy Myren's PHF+1 pin for her.
- Joan Reimann received three pins - PHF+1, 2, and 3.
- Erwin Reimann received two pins - PHF+3 and 4.
- Chris Krueger received her PHF+5 pin.
- Daniel Coons received his PHF+6 pin.
- Don LaBarge received his PHF+7 and 8 pins. It was noted that Don is already a Major Donor level 1.
As an explanation as to why there were multiple recognition pins for some individuals - recognition pins are presented at scheduled meetings or events and if the recipient is not present to receive their recognition it is held to be presented later.
Close of Meeting
Before officially adjourning the meeting, President Dan recognized that Pai Bethea and Shenaaz Shaik were both attending via Zoom. Even though the meeting was officially over shortly after 12:30, many stayed longer to enjoy socializing.