A huge thanks to Dan and Colleen Coons for hosting another Mesa West Rotary Post-Holiday Holiday Party in their home! Beyond typical for our Club Service Chair, Pam Cohen not only did an outstanding job organizing the event, providing tables, heaters, and other items required for a dinner party for so many, she also did the cooking of the main course.
President, Chris Krueger officiated the gift exchange making sure the rules were closely observed. There were several gifts that were coveted and changed hands the maximum number of times allowed.
Rotarians attending the event provided appetizers and desserts. In preparing and shutting down, Pam had a lot of help transporting what she needed from Chris and Mike Krueger and Chuck Flint.
Members appreciated District Governor Jim Erickson attending the party. District-Governor Elect David Simmer wanted to attend, but had a great excuse. He was at the International Assembly with all of his classmates from all over the world who will be serving as District Governors in 2019-20. Our Assistant Governor Lee Holmes was unable to attend as he is helping his wife convalesce from an injury sustained in a recent fall. We wish her a speedy recovery.
CLICK HERE or on the photo of the darling penguin hors d'oeuvres created by Lolita Wiesner to see Facebook photos of most of the Rotarians and guests who attended the party. To quote Lolita: "Great pictures of the party! And that was a very lovely evening - great food and great company." The photos were taken during the gift exchange, which is a highlight of the annual event. Most of the photos posted on our Facebook page were taken by our Club President, Chris Krueger.
The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:
FIRST: The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;
SECOND: High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying of each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society;
THIRD: The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian’s personal, business, and community life;
FOURTH: The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.
The Four-Way Test
The Four-Way Test is a nonpartisan and nonsectarian ethical guide for Rotarians to use for their personal and professional relationships. The test has been translated into more than 100 languages, and many Rotarians recite it at club meetings:
Of the things we think, say or do
Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
Avenues of Service
We channel our commitment to service at home and abroad through five Avenues of Service, which are the foundation of club activity.
Club Service focuses on making clubs strong. A thriving club is anchored by strong relationships and an active membership development plan.
Vocational Service calls on every Rotarian to work with integrity and contribute their expertise to the problems and needs of society. Learn more in An Introduction to Vocational Service and the Code of Conduct.
Community Service encourages every Rotarian to find ways to improve the quality of life for people in their communities and to serve the public interest. Learn more in Communities in Action: A Guide to Effective Projects.
International Service exemplifies our global reach in promoting peace and understanding. We support this service avenue by sponsoring or volunteering on international projects, seeking partners abroad, and more.
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.
In Arizona, Rotarians have a unique way to do great Vocational Service in our local communities through The Rotary Vocational Fund of Arizona. Individual members can support vocational education grants for the working poor and get a dollar for dollar credit for their donation as a deduction from their state income tax obligation. Individual donors have until April 15 to make their tax credit donation for the 2018 tax year. They can make their donations on line at donate.trvfa.org.
Clubs also support TRVFA when they are approached by students who have applied for grants for club sponsorship of their application. Clubs are urged to develop relationships with their sponsored scholars and include them in club projects and activities. Some clubs choose to donate from their project budget to support the work of this find
TRVFA was incorporated by Rotarians as a 501(c)(3) public charity which is managed by a board made up entirely of Rotarian leaders. It is an on-going multi-district project which was "blessed" by Rotary International in 1993. For over 25 years, this organization was been a model of vocational service enabling the benefitting vocational scholars to move into well paying professions. The Rotary equivalent of choosing to "teach a man to fish so he will be fed for a lifetime as opposed to giving him man a fish and feeding him for a day."
Even though TRVFA is a Rotary-organized, Rotarian managed charity, supporting TRVFA is not limited to Rotarians. The tax credit donation opportunity is open to all Arizona residents who will have a state income tax obligation for 2018. Share this opportunity with your family, friends, and associates.
CLICK HERE
In Arizona, Rotarians have a unique way to do great Vocational Service in our local communities through The Rotary Vocational Fund of Arizona. Individual members can support vocational education grants for the working poor and get a dollar for dollar credit for their donation as a deduction from their state income tax obligation. Individual donors have until April 15 to make their tax credit donation for the 2018 tax year. They can make their donations on line at 
