Club President Kayla Mudge opened the meeting, announcing that today was National Purple Heart day, National Sea Serpent day, National Lighthouse day, and National Raspberries & Cream day. Jeanie Morgan, Harry Grossman, and Bob Jensen attended via Zoom.
Melodie Jackson lead the pledge of allegiance and John Bunyard gave an invocation. Next, guests were introduced: Deb Koeneman introduced her son and daughter-in-law, James and Amber Koeneman. John Pennypacker introduced Ron Kotloff and Lindsay Sherman.
Next Chuck Flint did the weekly raffle. The small pot was $45 and the large pot was $1465 with only eighteen cards left in deck. The winning ticket was held by Pam Cohen but she drew the 6 of hearts so the large pot lives on.
Melodie Jackson brought a lovely bag of auction items from her trip to Iceland. Guest Ron Kotloff had the highest bid at $100. The bag included Icelandic sea salt, a penguin eye mask, Icelandic candy, and Icelandic chocolates.
John Pennypacker then presented Ed Koeneman with his Paul Harris Plus 2 pin.
Next Don LaBarge asked Ron Kotloff and Lindsay Sherman to come up to the front. Don explained that Ron is his backup plan for the Salvation Army Red Kettle bell ringing each year. Ron provides his employees time off with pay to volunteer doing bell ringing for the Salvation Army. Ron has earned his Paul Harris plus five and his Paul Harris Society by pledging to donate $1,000 per year to the Rotary Foundation. He was presented with his pin plus the Paul Harris Society chevron ribbon. Ron says that he was motivated to be so generous in honor of his father’s giving to The Rotary Foundation. Don also thanked Lindsay for her time in helping to organize their employees as volunteers to ring the Salvation Army Red Kettle bell. Don also reminded everyone that last year, we raised $32,229.82 which was a new record!
Colleen Coons also received her Paul Harris Society chevron ribbon!
Following that, John Bunyard filled in for Andy Bradford to collect Happy Bucks:
- Jay Paulus was happy to give Don LaBarge a Rotary shirt and happy about the satellite club
- Deb Koeneman was happy that James & Amber’s marriage made her and Ed grandparents and announced that #2 on the way in early 2026
- Machel Considine was happy to attend Mesa West Rotary club and said that we fill her heart
- Pam Cohen was happy that she won the raffle, gave part of her winnings and pledged another $25
- Eric Silverberg was happy to have a speaker from Peace Corps here today
- Allan was happy that he and Polly just traveled to North and South Carolina to visit family and attend his daughter & son-in-law’s wedding; for that he pledged $100 to the Rotary Foundation
- Polly happy to be back and happy by what Machel said
- John Pennypacker was happy to ask if anyone knew who created the Purple Heart award; it was George Washington! He was also glad that James Koeneman was in Arizona and NOT at Fort Stewart when a shooting took place there
- Ed Koeneman was happy about James and Amber visiting, that another baby is on the way, and happy that James was not at work this week. He also asked the club for old t-shirts for Interact and said that yesterday was the first Interact and the first Rotaract meetings of the school year.
- Ted Williams was glad to see his old District Governor banner up at today’s club meeting
- Jack Rosenberg happy to be turning 71 years old next Tuesday and pledged $100 to Polio Plus
- Connie Bunyard pledged $25 because the is glad to be back, glad that her broken shoulder did not require surgery, glad to have had grandkids visiting recently, and announced that they are expecting a new grandson in January
- Polly paid another Happy Buck to announce RLI Session I will occur this Saturday at the DGE’s home in Prescott.
- Kayla told a joke since Warren was not here today: Why don’t Rotarians ever get lost? We follow 4-way test like it is GPS!
Kayla announced several upcoming events and reminded club members to keep up with the club calendar and Messenger. She also noted that the club is collecting school supplies for Rotary Builds Bridges/MV students, there is an upcoming service project at Feed My Starving Children (Aug 18th), and we need 10 Mentors for Rotary Builds Bridges/MV students. Also, on Thursday, August 21 will have a special remembrance of Polo Santiago (please send photos to add to the slide show).
Eric Introduced today’s speaker Anastasia Bannikova from the Peace Corps.
President John F Kennedy founded the Peace Corps in 1961. It’s mission has not changed since then, it is to promote world peace and friendship. Anastasia said that when she was 15 years old, some Peace Corps volunteers visited her school. This inspired her to come to the United States, become a citizen and be a part of the Peace Corps. Anastasia noted that the Peace Corps and Rotary have similar goals and areas of service.
Anyone of any age can apply to the Peace Corp. The typical length of service is 27 months, but there are some shorter programs too, including virtual service opportunities!
Kayla thanked Anastasia for her presentation. Then John Pennypacker invited Ted Williams up to the front where he gifted Ted his 1989-1990 DG banner.