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March 14 - TRF Dollars at Work
On March 14, Mesa West Rotarians and Guests will have an opportunity to learn more about how a grant using The Rotary Foundation grant process successfully improved health in Mongolia.  The first Hepatitis Free Mongolia project was completed in 2017.
 
Meredith Potts will provide information about the initial project, and an amazing Rotary tour opportunity which will take place in September of this year.  Phase 2 of the project, which is in the final fund-gathering and planning stages will become a reality in the fall of 2019.  The Hepatitis Free Mongolia project and the Rotary Tour Trip to Mongolia were both featured in the March District 5495 electronic monthly newsletter.
 
The 2017 project was supported by 31 Rotary clubs, 17 individuals, and 8 districts with six countries represented.  In addition to Rotary Clubs, the pivotal partner was FIRE - Flagstaff International Relief Effort.  Meredith Potts, our March 14 speaker, is the Executive Director for FIRE and a member of the Flagstaff Rotary Club.
 
The grant to support Phase 2 of the Hepatitis Free Mongolia project was presented to the USA/Mexico Friendship Conference and Grants Exchange Workshop held in Acapulco, Mexico In the fall of 2018.  
 
This program will be interesting and will be an excellent way for Rotarians to understand how the dollars they give to The Rotary Foundation are multiplied through the matching grant process combined with voluntary efforts and collaborative partnership.
 
 
Highlights of March 7, 2019 Meeting
The meeting was opened by President-Elect Jim Schmidt with Pam Cohen leading the Pledge of Allegiance and Immanuel Beeson offering the invocation.  PE Jim thanked Polly Schumacher for serving as greeter.
 
PE Jim and Past President, Allan Cady had both attended President-Elect Training Seminar (PETS) March 1-2.  Allan was being trained for the Assistant Governor role he will assume July 1. It was noted that Allan sometimes talks to himself - he needs expert adivse.
 
Announcements
  • Allan Cady brought members up-to-date on progress of the Mesa West Foundation sponsorship program.  Over $30,000 has been collected.  With pledges, nearly $31,500 has been raised - over 3/4 of our $40,000 goal.  Dan Coons' Team Ribeye is currently ahead.  Dan offered anyone who wanted to join his team a buy-in price of $100.
  • Pam Cohen has a time share in Flagstaff.  It is reserved for her use March 31 through April 7.  April 5, 6, and 7, our exchange student, Caio will be hosted by Pam for the weekend, but March 31 through April 4 is available.  Pam offered Mesa West members the opportunity to use her time share during those days in exchange for the member making a donation to our sponsorship program.  If you are interested, CLICK HERE to send Pam an e-mail.
  • Don LaBarge provided a lesson in school zone traffic rules.  There is no passing in a school zone.  If the car next to you is going four miles-per-hour, you cannot go past them even if the speed limit is fifteen miles-per-hour.  If that car stops, you have to stop, too.  School zones are different than regular crosswalks.  The other car may be going slow or stopping because they can see a child you cannot see.
  • Harry Short from the Kyrene Rotary Club in Tempe announced that his 20-member club formed a charitable foundation and held their first fundraiser last year.  They made $17,000 and most of it was spent locally.  Friday, February 5, they will be hosting a golf tournament.  The cost is $125 per person or $500 four a foursome.  They hope to raise more money this year and participate in international projects.  For more information about their golf tournament, CLICK HERE.
  • Melody Jackson announced that a Community Service Project would be available Saturday, March 16, supporting Mesa Leadership's painting project at the House of Refuge.  
Visitors
Penny May introduced Dave Stratton with Lincoln National who was visiting form Penny's club in Anchorage, Alaska.  Dan Coons introduced Caio, our Rotary Youth Exchange student.  Jeanie Morgan introduced Salishian Smith, a candidate for a grant from The Rotary Vocational Fund of Arizona.  Jeanie and Bob Zarling were scheduled to interview Salishian following the meeting.
 
Shout Out
Jim Schmidt wanted members to know what an awesome job Mesa West Member, Donna Goetzenberger, did at PETS.  At the Friday evening dinner, he invocation was sung by Donna and Brian's daughters, Emilee and Paige.  Donna coordinated and narrated the presentation of Flags, involving 34 inbound and Rotex (returned outbound youth exchange students).  Following the presentation, Emmilee sang the National Anthem.  Jim also noted that Mesa West members Jeanie Morgan and John Pennypacker served as table hosts at the Friday evening dinner.
 
Program
Debbie Koeneman was aware that Steve Ross was looking for quality programs.  Debbie arranged for Claire McWilliams, an instructor from ASU Hospitality and Tourism to be our speaker.  Debbie was present to introduce Claire, a long-time friend, and her interesting program about her educational/scientific/research tourism experience in Botswana.
 
The first think Claire did was make sure everyone knew where Botswana is located.  It is a landlocked country in South Africa.  The location where her experience took place was on the Okavango Delta.  It is a unique location where the river absorbs back into the land and is home to some of the world's most endangered mammals.  There are five bordering countries.  There is a water commission with representatives of all six countries making decisions together that will impact the water and water quality.  While there, they used the local water, which is very safe.  
 
Pictures were shown showing the effects of overgrazing, which was stopped when fencing was installed to protect the delta.  The first result was death for some animals.  The beauty inside the fencing was contrasted with the negative impacts still present outside the fencing.  Some laws have been controversial.  Big game hunting was banned.  A "shoot to kill" poacher policy was instituted in 2013 and recalled in 2018.   Local hunters were not considered poachers.  Game poaching changes the landscape, but there is conflict of interest.  An aerial survey report showed dropped numbers of poached animals.
 
Claire had an opportunity to go to NG26, a Luxury Safari Tourism Camp.  She said each heard of elephants have their own story.  She met and worked with Mike Chambers, CEO of Elephants Without Borders.  To learn more about this organization, CLICK HERE to visit their website.
 
In 2017, a $30 tourism tax was started.  Tourism is much more than just travel.  It is an industry and involves activity.  Tourism impacts people.  Eco-tourism is evolving because without management the environment is not sustainable.  The key is to work toward sustainable tourism.
 
Adventure tourism is also available in Botswana.  There are hard and soft sides of tourism.  Both are available in Botswana.  Claire suggested checking out the Wonder Women of Botswana Safari.  CLICK HERE to read a story about this unique experience.  The story contains the photo she showed during her presentation.
 
The education and research part of the experience involved cross collaboration involving three universities.  They had a base camp.  They would spend five days on the delta and return to their base camp.  Those involved were leaders in their field.
 
A unique way of protecting some of the animals - a cow in particular - was to create an eye cow by painting eyes on the back side of the cow.  It fooled and discouraged predators from following the cow, which then appeared to the predators to be a much larger animal than it actually was staring back at them.  
 
Claire suggested watching a Netflix movie:  "Naledi - A Baby Elephant's Tale," to get a flavor for what she experienced.
 
Drawings
President-Elect Jim asked Salishian (our TRVFA grant candidate) to draw the attendance winner, which was Melodie Jackson.  Jim McGown handled the drawing and asked the speaker to draw the winning ticket.  Polly Cady was the lucky winner of the weekly winnings, but she was not lucky enough to draw the ace of clubs and win the larger, accumulating winnings.
 
Happy Bucks
Greg Okonowski served as Sgt. at Arms.  Pam Cohen was the first to contribute.  Dick Myren donated $1 carrying on Rod Daniels' tradition of being happy to be a member of Mesa West Rotary.  He also contributed another dollar, but the writer did not think she understood his comment because it sounded a bit political (which is not allowed in Rotary).  Allan Cady was happy - he really enjoyed PETS.  Polly gave her raffle winnings to Caio for his upcoming train trip with other Youth Exchange students.  She was also happy because someone she knows who is in Portugal wants to join Rotary having learned about Rotary through the Mesa West Facebook page.  Donna Goetzenberger was very impressed with the representation of Mesa West at PETS - Jim Schmidt, Caio, Polly and Allan, Jeanie Morgan, herself with Brian and their daughters, and Don LaBarge's flags.  She is very proud of Mesa West!  Don LaBarge was happy that his son, Robert, will be our speaker on June 6.  Dan Coons was happy that Caio and his host parents (Dan and Colleen) were invited by Allan and Polly Cady to go to San Diego.
 
Thanks to John Pennypacker for taking photos at the March 7 meeting.
Read more...
Microcredit Project in Hermosillo, Mexico
Chris Krueger and Darl Andersen both missed the March 7 meeting of Mesa West as they were away on Rotary business.  Chris, Darl, and District Governor Elect, Davis Simmer, along with several other Rotarians from District 5495 were in Hermosillo, Mexico getting an educational tour of the microcredit project we are sponsoring there.  They met some of the borrowers and heard their stories.  The Mayor of Hermosillo joined them for part of the tour as she wanted to know more about the program.
 
On Friday, March 8, President Chris posted these and other photos on Facebook with this comment:  "Spent the day today meeting some borrowers from our micro-credit project. Since 90% of them are women, it was a wonderful way to spend International Day of the Woman.  Micro credit are very small loans that enable these people to expand their business, care for their families and provide a better life for their children. I’m proud to be a small part of the process."
Grant Management Seminar (GMS)
 
 
 
REQUIRED by The Rotary Foundation to qualify for Global Grants and District Grants
 
For a club to qualify for grants funds in the Rotary year 2019-20, at least one club member must have attended GMS(See all qualification requirements posted on the District website.)
 
Who should attend: It is recommended that the club’s Chair for The Rotary Foundation and President-Elect attend. Please note: A Club can send as many participants as desired!
 
What will be learned: This 90-minute seminar will cover the responsibilities for grant stewardship, the application process, and the reporting requirements. This seminar will help a club start planning early for a District Grant.  A District Grant provides additional funds for a club’s local/community project in 2019-20.
 
A club can apply for a 2019-20 District Grant between April 1 and June 30, 2019.
 
No cost to attend this seminar!
 
REGISTRATION - Choose any of the following:
Saturday March 16, 10 AM, at Larry Miller (formerly Berge) Ford community room, 460 E. Auto Center Dr., Mesa, AZ 85204 https://www.123signup.com/register?id=rxfyf
Saturday March 30, 10 AM, at Huntington University Arizona, 8385 W Mariners Way, Peoria, AZ 85382 https://www.123signup.com/register?id=rxfnm
Webinar on Saturday, April 6, 10 AM.
Webinar instructions will be emailed prior to the seminar.
 
Contacts for District Rotary Foundation Committee of D5495:
Jim Bissonett, Chair, 480-299-4441, jim@jbsolutions.com
Dale Gray, Grants Sub-Committee Chair, 602-418-5316, dale@grayds.com
Today's Chuckle
For The Garden of Your Daily Living
 
Plant three rows of peas:
Peace of mind
 Peace of heart 
Peace of  soul 
 
Plant four rows of squash:
Squash gossip 
Squash indifference 
Squash grumbling 
Squash selfishness
 
 
 
Plant four rows of lettuce:
Lettuce be faithful
Lettuce be kind 
Lettuce be patient 
Lettuce really love one another
 
No garden should be without turnips:
Turnip for meetings 
Turnip for service 
Turnip to help one another  

To complete our garden, we must have thyme:
Thyme for each other 
Thyme for family 
Thyme for friends
 
Water freely with patience and cultivate with love.  There is much fruit in your garden because you reap what you sow.
From Neal Davis' "Ten Things to Enjoy" published March 10, 2019
 
Sponsorship Campaign Tips
WHY A SPONSOR PROGRAM?
  • Donors appreciate that all their donation will be used for good rather than support event costs.
  • Opportunity for both private and business donors to support our causes.
  • Past and potential members can support what we do even though they don't currently have time to participate as members.
  • MOST OF THESE DONORS WILL SUPPORT THE SAME CHARITIES EACH YEAR IF/WHEN ASKED.
  • One successful sponsorship program is the foundation for annual campaign successes.
Successful sponsorship programs are annual programs that take advantage of the needs of all types of donors.  Our sponsorship program will be at its best when all of our members get involved by sharing their "Rotary Moments" with the people they come in contact with.  
 
What is a "Rotary Moment?"  It is any moment that grabs our heart and makes us want to enthusiastically tell our family friends and business associates why we are active Rotarians.  Typically it involves a service project we've participated in.  Sometimes it is something like polio eradication - especially for Rotarians who are old enough to remember when polio was epidemic in the United States.  We are most effective when talking to potential sponsors if our Rotary experience is shared in a way that is personal, heartfelt and sincere.
 
In our sponsorship brochure there are several specific ways to direct donations, but we will have the greatest capacity to respond to needs presented to the Mesa West Foundation for funding if the majority of donations are received marked "Undesignated (to be used most needed)."
 
Allan Cady, said that members have asked him how he was so successful last year, and already this year in securing donations or pledges.  When he reaches out to those he knows have the means to be generous, he spends some time on their existing relationship, catching up on what is happening in their family, their business, and their known hobbies.  Then he moves on to talk about some of the things he is passionate about, ending with the things he enjoys most about his involvement in Rotary.  It frequently results in the person he is talking to indicating that they are impressed with all that Rotary does and admire his involvement.  It is then easy to offer to share a brochure that tells about some things we, as Mesa West Rotarians, specifically do.  Some offer to make a donation on the spot.  Sometimes it is a pleasant surprise after-the-fact to see how much they mail in after looking the brochure over.  Some of his donors are family - others are long-time business associates or friends.  The people who are closest to us are the ones most likely to support what we care about.  CLICK HERE or on the image to download this year's Sponsorship Brochure.
 
Some ideas of potential donors each of us can reach out to are:  school associates ♦ other professionals ♦ adult friends of our young children ♦ old business associates ♦ people frequently seen ♦ owners of our health club ♦ old neighbors ♦ children's school and PTA ♦ spouse's friends ♦ waiters/waitresses ♦ church associates ♦ cleaning establishments ♦ civic activities ♦ hair/barber salon ♦ insurance agent ♦ previous job ♦ real estate agents ♦ bankers or credit union ♦ doctor ♦ dentist ♦ restaurants ♦ country club ♦ neighbors ♦ relatives ♦ sports/hobbies ♦ accountant. 

TEAMS
 
Chuck Flint
Melodie Jackson, Aubrey Luma, Steve West, Sharon Spane, Ted Williams, Darl Andersen, Karen Chavez, and Immanuel Beeson
 
Frank Rosenberg
Rick Deponte, Dick Myren, Polly Schumacher, Daryl Bethea, Keith Deering, Robert LaBarge, and Kristen Klein
 
Steve Ross
Bob Jensen, Jim McGown, John Benedict, Donna Goetzenberger, Don LaBarge, Jim Crutcher, Bert Millett, and Mai Ly Duong
 
Tim Troy
Kevin Gustafson, Jack Rosenberg, Don Boucher, John Bethea, Brian Harvey, Mike Whalen, and
Mike Polley
 
Dan Coons - Team Ribeye
Wendell & Carolyn Jones, Aaron Huber, Jim Schmidt, Ray Smith, Polly Cady, John Pennypacker, and Colleen Coons
 
Terry Diedrick
Kurt Klingenberg, Chris Krueger, Jeanie Morgan, Geoff White, Lucinda General, Wayne General, and Erica Williams
 
Bob Zarling
Pam Cohen, Ed Koeneman, Greg Okonowski, Alex Cohen, Shane Buntrock, Warren Williamson, and
Ron Thompson
March is Water and Sanitation Month
  • $24 is all it takes to provide one person with safe water
  • 23 million people now have safe water because of Rotary
  • 21 million people have access to sanitation and hygiene thanks to Rotary projects
  • 2030 is the year Rotary hopes to finish providing everyone with safe water, sanitation, and hygiene
CLICK HERE to view a short video with more information about the importance to all of us in making clean water and sanitation available to everyone on our planet.
Aqua Africa the change we can help effect
CLICK HERE or on the image to view a video that will create understanding about why our President, Chris Krueger is passionate about wanting to support Aqua Africa with a first-time Arizona awareness and fund-raising event during her presidential year.
Upcoming Events
Mesa West Rotary Weekly Meeting
Mesa Hilton
Mar 14, 2019 12:10 PM
 
Mesa West Rotary Board Meeting
Mesa Hilton
Mar 20, 2019
7:30 AM – 9:30 AM
 
Mesa West Rotary Weekly Meeting
Mesa Hilton
Mar 21, 2019 12:10 PM
 
Mesa West Rotary Weekly Meeting
Mesa Hilton
Mar 28, 2019 12:10 PM
 
Mesa West Rotary Weekly Meeting
Mesa Hilton
Apr 04, 2019 12:10 PM
 
Mesa West Rotary Weekly Meeting
Mesa Hilton
Apr 11, 2019 12:10 PM
 
Mesa West Rotary Board Meeting
Webinar
Apr 17, 2019
7:30 AM – 9:30 AM
 
Mesa West Rotary Weekly Meeting
Mesa Hilton
Apr 18, 2019 12:10 PM
 
Mesa West Rotary Weekly Meeting
Mesa Hilton
Apr 25, 2019 12:10 PM
 
Mesa West Rotary Spring Olympics
Apr 27, 2019
5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
 
Speakers
Mar 14, 2019
The Mongolian Project
Mar 21, 2019
Law Enforcement
Mar 28, 2019
Arizona National Guard
Apr 04, 2019 12:00 PM
Rotary Scholar Experience in Scotland
Apr 11, 2019
Triathlete Training for 2020 Olympics
Apr 25, 2019
Mesa West Rotary will not have a regular meeting this week.
View entire list
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Dick Myren
March 3
 
Richard DePonte
March 12
 
Erica Williams
March 31
 
Join Date
Wendell Jones
March 1, 1989
30 years
 
Warren Haeussler
March 3, 2001
18 years
 
Michael Whalen
March 9, 1995
24 years
 
Kurt Klingenberg
March 17, 1994
25 years
 
Rotary District 5495 Links
District Links
Rotary Interact District 5495
Rotary District 5495
The Rotary Vocational Fund of Arizona (TRVFA)
Rotary Youth Exchange
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards - RYLA
RYLA Service Project Support
Executives & Directors
President
 
President Elect
 
Secretary
 
Treasurer
 
Club Service Director
 
Service Projects Director
 
The Rotary Foundation Director
 
Membership Director (480) 213-1617
 
Public Image Director
 
Executive Secretary
 
Bulletin Editor
Jeanie Morgan
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THE FOUR WAY TEST of the things we think, say or do

first  Is it the TRUTH?
second  Is it FAIR to all concerned?
third  Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
fourth Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?