https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3748672091
Doubletree, 1011 W Holmes
Mesa, AZ 85210 United States of America
Our hybrid meetings are held weekly on the 1st thru 4th Thursdays of each month. The meetings are broadcast via Zoom to include all, whether attending virtually or in person.
All Mesa West Rotarians are encouraged to help make this event a success. Ways you can help:
Send photos from 1973 and/or important Rotary moments in your membership tenure to Ed Koeneman.
If you are aware of a volunteer who has made a significant difference in Mesa or the East Valley Community, nominate them before the end of April to be recognized with our People of Action award. CLICK HEREto download the nomination form.
Share the invitation with former members, potential members, members of other Rotary Clubs, you get the picture! We want to share our celebration with as many people as possible.
Don't forget to email Jeanie Morgan to make your own reservation for yourself and any guest(s) you plan to bring with you.
CLICK HERE or on the image to be taken to a site with more information and the opportunity to register.
The Board of Directors of Mesa West Rotary voted this year to support reimbursement of registration fees for members who have not yet graduated from RLI. Rotary Leadership Institute is designed to expand the knowledge of Rotarians beyond their local club level. It can be enjoyed by new Rotarians as well as individuals who are long-time members of Rotary but find themselves in a position where they have time and motivation to learn more about our wonderful organization.
Rotary founder Paul Harris was born on 19 April 1868 in Racine, Wisconsin, USA. Thanks to his extraordinary vision, to this day, Rotary members around the world are united in fostering friendship and creating lasting change. One possible way to celebrate this occasion might be to review mementos from a trip he took to Central and South America. CLICK HERE if you’d like to do so.
You can subscribe to a quarterly newsletter to get updates on the Paul Harris Society, including the latest on membership, what motivates our contributors, and what’s new at the Foundation.
Logan Harper was one of a group of Mesa West Rotarians who participated in the District 5495/Sleep in Heavenly Peace Rotary Week of Service Bed Build project. Logan received an informative email from our District Governor his service, which he shared for the Messenger: Take time to follow the links contained in the message.
Here is a quick four and a half minute long video.
I want to thank all of you who gave of your time and energy to serve your communities for this launch weekend of Rotary Week of Service (RWOS) in our District. A special thanks to those of you who were able to participate in our Launch Event Saturday at American Furniture Warehouse to assemble 100 beds for children who don't have beds in partnership with Sleep In Heavenly Peace. I could not be any more proud of our Rotarians who lead the way Saturday to show how we support our community. Here are a couple of links from media coverage from the bed build:
Fox 10 NewsArizona's Family 3 & CBS 5 Please share these on your personal and club social media accounts to spread the word of Rotary Week Of Service. Tell them to visit AZRotary.org to volunteer. We aren't done yet. Many of your clubs have projects going on through the week and this upcoming weekend. Please take as many photos of our service as you can and send your best pictures to editor@rotary5495.org
I want to personally thank, the RWOS Team Chair, Dan Coons (Satellite Club of Queen Creek), and the promotions team of Bret McKeand (RC of Peoria North), and Jason Jantzen (Satellite Club of Queen Creek). Not only were they able to get Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs to officially proclaim this week as the Rotary Week Of Service, but marketing directed at least 500 non-Rotarians to service project opportunities for RWOS. What a great way to grow Rotary.
The response in support of this year's District Conference Celebration this early has been impressive to say the least. There is still time to register so please click here. I've attached a copy of the conference agenda. Hospitality night looks to be epic with the theme of "family reunion" and gorgeous venue. Also at Hospitality Night will be the premier of Iron Lung Lager, our District's own beer to benefit PolioPlus for Rotary International. If you'd like to pre-order some beer you need to do so quickly because supplies are very limited. Click here to make a donation to get your Iron Lung Lager.
Lastly, your Arizona Diamondbacks are leading the division and you can get a chance to see them while giving back to The Rotary Vocational Fund of Arizona (TRVFA). On Sunday, Rotary Day at Chase Field has us in the Coors Light Strike Zone for the 1:10 PM game vs. the Washington Nationals. Here is a fun video. All proceeds benefit TRFVA and you can register here. The DBacks are also giving away a replica jersey to early entrants for the game.
Keep doing big things People Of Action, and keep inspiring your communities with your powerful service.
Colleen Coons presented the Rotary Minute. She shared information about the Rotary Open World program which replaced Rotary Group Study Exchange several years ago. In May of 2024, District 5495 will be hosting an Open World Team. Colleen thought Mesa West Rotary would might want to accept the challenge of being very active in the planning of their 8-day program while in our district. Members who agree to host would need to see that the visitors get to their planned activities, providing meals and the comforts of home. In addition to 8 days in Arizona, the incoming team will spend two days in Washington DC.
Pam recognized Pai Bethea and Polo Santiago who were both attending via Zoom.
Introduction of Guests
Diane Ware introduced her sister, Janice Wagner, an Arizona native who will soon be moving to Hawaii.
Polly Cady introduced Shane White, who has visited before. He is director of Imaging and Facility at Arizona General/Dignity Hospital in Mesa. One of the member noted Shane's accent and he responded saying he grew up in North Carolina and spent fifteen years in Atlanta.
Ted Williams introduced speaker PDG Abe Feder, saying Abe is one of two Past District Governors in his family. Barb Feder was a Rotarian before she drug Abe kicking and screaming into Rotary, but once in, he loved it.
President Pam introduced Tom Yuzer who spends about half the year in Arizona and the balance in Minnesota. Attending Mesa West while in Arizona helps him maintain his perfect attendance status.
Ace of Clubs Raffle - Chuck Flint
Chuck explained that raffle tickets are sold for $5 each. A third of the revenue goes to the club operating account, a third goes to the daily pot, which he announced would be $40, and a third goes into the large pot which was up to $355.
The holder of the winning ticket would win the small pot plus the opportunity to try to draw the Ace of Clubs which would entitle them to the large pot or a joker, which would entitle them to $20.
Chuck asked Abe Feder to draw the ticket. It was held by Lola McClane. Since Lola is our photographer, there was no photo taken of her drawing the Queen of Spades from the deck.
Happy Bucks - Ron Thompson
Ron was happy to have won a medal - even though it wasn't gold - at the Spring Olympics.
Colleen Coons was happy Ron has again agreed to be Sgt at Arms next year. She was also appreciative of having the opportunity to share in the Microcredit experience by travelling to Hermasillo Mexico with a group led by Abe earlier this year.
Dick Myren contributed his traditional $2 - happy that he and Honorary Member Rod Daniels were fortunate to be members of the Ace of Clubs. He was also very happy to see Abe Feder, saying Abe and Barb are long-time friends.
Pam was happy that she had exchanged houses with her daughter and son-in-law the prior weekend, meaning she got to spend the weekend with her grandson, Wilder. She was delighted to see what a good little boy he is when his parents aren't around.
Allan Cady complimented Mesa West Rotary for being a wonderfully giving club. He pointed out that Jeanie is President of TRVFA. Of the $230,000 in donations received by TRVFA this year, Mesa West Rotarians and their network were responsible for $37,050 of that total amount.
Jeanie Morgan contributed. She was happy to report that our CPA member, Ray Smith has been responsible for a significant amount of the donations brought in or donated by our club members. She was also grateful that her COVID brain-fog had mostly lifted.
Ed Koeneman was very happy for everyone who attended and helped make the Spring Olympics a success. Someone had sent Ed a video of Jeanie to share - Jeanie's reaction is shown in the final photo. Your editor was unable to figure out how to share it in the Messenger. Ed also reported that John Pennypacker was on his way to his 60th high school class reunion, and John pledged $60 to his team's sponsorship fundraising effort.
Announcements
Jim Erickson gave an update on Polio Plus. Following are numbers he shared about cases of the wild polio virus.
2017 - 22 Cases
2018 - 33 cases
2021 - only 6 cases
2022 - 30 Cases
2023 - so far, only 1 case so far. It was reported in Pakistan
He said the leaders are hoping this is the year we will break the transition - and we seem to be on the right track. He hopes he will live long enough to see the official statement that the world has been declared polio-free. Ten years has to pass with no new case(s) of wild polio virus in order for that declaration to occur.
The last time Jim checked, Mesa West was the highest giving club in our district for Polio Plus. In addition to the total amount, there is a per capita giving factor that could allow some smaller club(s) to overtake us. We have a very good chance of winning the traveling Polio Plus Champions trophy back. The Rotary Foundation has budgeted $50,000,000 for Polio Plus. If we make that goal, the Gates Foundation will match it $2/$1
David Brauchler reported that the New Life Center was very appreciative of the donations given to them from the joint project we participated in with Mesa Sunrsise Rotary Club. They said it was an amazing surprise. Many of the items could be put into immediate use. Many who will benefit are survivors of violence.
Dave is trying to put a project together with Sunshine Acres, but is having difficulty connecting.
Dave asked members to watch for a registration link opportunity to sign up to give blood at the Ross Farnsworth YMCA May 11, when Mesa West will be holding our lunch meeting at the YMCA facility. (In fact information was emailed by David to members April 18. We need to respond within a week. After that, the registration link will again be available to the public.)
Program - Abe Feder - The Face of Microcredit
President Pam introduced Abe saying that she got to know Barb and Abe just under 33 years ago - before any of them were in Rotary. Pam was trying to schedule a baby-naming event in their synagogue. The date she wanted conflicted with the Feders' son's bar mitzvah, which was being held Friday and Saturday of that weekend. The Feders agreed to sharing the time. with Pam saying it made perfect sense to combine the celebration of a new life coming into the synagogue with their son becoming a man. Pam has always appreciated their gracious attitude.
Abe said that seven years ago Sherry Mischell invited him to participate in Microcredit. there was no job description. There was a micro-credit issue, and Sherry asked Abe to "go fix it." Abe said on his first trip to visit borrowers, he found himself. He has a sense that many who make that excursion have that same experience. Since Mesa West Rotary is an "invested partner", Abe encouraged members of Mesa West to travel on one of the future trips. He was happy to show a slide of the Fin Reg office, saying it is "not the Ritz." They are the company we use to manage the program.
The problem was that the projects had started out as matching grants or global grants, the there was no way to say the project was completed and all the funds used. The borrowers repay their loans, paying a pretty high interest rate, and the funds are loaned back out to new borrowers or prior borrowers whose businesses are growing.
In a recent electronic newsletter published by Blessman International, a project which Mesa West Rotary Club helped fund was featured.
"With the help of generous donors, including Rotary International, we have built over 250 toilet seats in schools across the Limpopo Province. These waterless toilets are safe to use and help save water, a scarce resource in South Africa. Our staff visited some of these sites a few months after the construction. The teachers were grateful for the toilets and explained the benefit it has been to the children and thanked Blessman International for the wonderful donation."
As Rotarians, we are regularly exposed to opportunities to support various causes with our time, talent and treasure. Sometimes it is hard to sift through all the information and decide where we are going to use our available financial resources.
It would be wonderful if every Arizona Rotarian would make the following BIG FOUR their Rotary charities of choice and support every one of them every year, we could make a bigger difference than we are making today.
The Rotary Foundation (TRF) Annual Fund - The Rotary Foundation transforms your gifts into service projects that change lives both close to home and around the world." Giving a small amount each month adds up. CLICK HERE to download a form you can use to sign up for Rotary Direct, electing "Annual Fund - Share" for your recurring donation.
The Rotary Foundation (TRF) Polio Plus - Rotary's commitment to eradicate polio is so well known and respected that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation matches donations $2 for $1. To take advantage of this opportunity to multiply the effect of your giving, CLICK HERE and download a second Rotary Direct form, this time electing electing "Polio Eradication" for your recurring donations. Those who donate $100 or more annually to Polio Plus qualify in District 5495 as Polio Plus Society Members. If you would like to make that commitment, CLICK HERE to download the commitment form.
The Rotary Vocational Fund of Arizona (TRVFA) provides vocational education grants to Arizona Residents who meet specific low-income guidelines. The grants enable the recipients to lift themselves out of poverty, benefitting themselves, their families and the economy of our state. TRVFA is a 501(c)(3) charity. They also are a Qualifying Charitable Organization for Arizona Tax Credit Donations. Their QCO Code is 20698. Many Arizona Rotarians say giving to TRVFA is a "no brainer." If you can help someone lift themselves out of poverty and it won't end up costing you anything why would you not do it? Mesa West Rotary has the highest number of members who have signed up for automated monthly recurring donations by electing that option on the "Donate Now" button on the TRVFA website. Click the image to learn more or CLICK HERE to DONATE NOW.
Mesa West Rotary Foundation, Inc. is the funding and fundraising arm of our own Mesa West Rotary Club. It is a 501(c)(3) charity. We have had successful sponsorship campaigns the last few years enabling us to spend our energy on service rather than on holding fundraising events. Charitable grants that we get involved with are funded through our charitable foundation, Our signature Gift of Hearing Project in Guaymas Mexico is funded through this foundation. Scholarships are awarded annually to Westwood High School Students (the high school where Mesa West Rotary sponsors an Interact Club). Funds are used to support a variety of activities in four of the Rotary Avenues of Service:
Community Service
International Service
Vocational Service
Youth Service
The process isn't quite automated at this point in time, but we hope it soon will be. For now, you can email our executive secretary who can help you work out a recurring donation plan should you wish to make that arrangement to support our own club's charitable activity.
Ace of Clubs Raffle - Chuck Flint
David Brauchler reported that the New Life Center was very appreciative of the donations given to them from the joint project we participated in with Mesa Sunrsise Rotary Club. They said it was an amazing surprise. Many of the items could be put into immediate use. Many who will benefit are survivors of violence.
Mesa West Rotary Foundation, Inc. is the funding and fundraising arm of our own Mesa West Rotary Club. It is a 501(c)(3) charity. We have had successful sponsorship campaigns the last few years enabling us to spend our energy on service rather than on holding fundraising events. Charitable grants that we get involved with are funded through our charitable foundation, Our signature Gift of Hearing Project in Guaymas Mexico is funded through this foundation. Scholarships are awarded annually to Westwood High School Students (the high school where Mesa West Rotary sponsors an Interact Club). Funds are used to support a variety of activities in four of the Rotary Avenues of Service:.png)
