President Kayla Mudge was traveling and PE Connie Bunyard was ill, so Past President Polly Cady led today’s meeting. Club member John Pennypacker recited a poem as the "thought of the day":

 

I thought of you today,

But that is nothing new.

I thought of you yesterday

and days before that, too.

I think of you in silence.

I often speak your name.

All I have are memories

and your picture in a frame.

Your memory is a keepsake

from which I will never part.

God has you in his arms.

I have you in my heart.

 

Club member Xavier King led the Pledge of Allegiance and then guests were introduced. Guests included Erica McBeth, a friend of Connie Bunyard, who is checking out the club; Bob Puritan from the Four Peaks Rotary Club; and Braly Moreno from the Benedictine Rotaract club.

 

Jeanie Morgan won the raffle ($35) but did not draw the Ace of clubs to win the big pot ($1320). Therefore, the big pot carries over to next week!

 

Next, Sergeant of Arms, Andy Bradford did Happy Bucks:

John Pennypacker was happy for the Rotary International Convention in Calgary, and then visiting friends (Lolita & Hans) and traveling to Banff afterward.

Bob Puritan was happy to talk to MWR Foundation board members for tips on enhancing his club’s foundation.

Harry Grossman was happy that this AC was repaired in less than 4 hours on Wednesday, which was the hottest day so far this summer!

Jim Erickson committed to donate online to Polio Plus in honor of his 50^th wedding anniversary.

Jeanie Morgan was happy to be going to Michigan for 3 months to get out of the Arizona heat. She also thanked the club for quickly paying their quarterly dues.

Deb Koeneman was happy about Jim Erickson’s anniversary and is happy that Ed Koeneman will be coming home from Kenya on Tuesday.

Gaby Cutlip was happy to be able to attend today’s meeting.

Pam Cohen was happy to have spent the 4^th of July with Mike & Kris Kruger!

Polly Cady was happy that she and Allan had many visitors to their boat in San Diego over the 4^th of July week.

Warren Williamson was happy to tell us his weekly joke!

 

Polly announced that Dick Myren was not in attendance today because he had a fall, but that he is doing okay. Club members are encouraged to reach out and let him know that we are thinking about him. John Pennypacker awarded Deb Koeneman her Paul Harris Plus 1 pin. Polly announced that the club-sponsored Rotary Youth Exchange student, Augustine Tessier, arrives at the airport this Saturday and encourages club members to greet her at the airport! Pam announced that during next week’s lunch meeting, Jay Paulus will receive his past club president’s pin.

 

Next, the speaker Kaylee Kuchansky, Community Relations Manager at Mesa Gateway Airport, was introduced. Kaylie manages the airport volunteers and therapy dog teams, executes sponsorships and events, provides airport tours, responds to community noise concerns, and maintains the airport's relationships with local schools, universities, and chambers of commerce. She is the self-described "people person" of Mesa Gateway Airport! Kaylie is an Arizona native and proud Sun Devil who enjoys the opportunity to connect with the community she grew up in. Kaylie presented about the airport’s current operations, development projects, and future plans. Additionally, various businesses are starting to be located on airport property, Virgin Galactic's spaceship manufacturing facility, and Gulfstream's West Coast service center. The airport currently serves about 2 million passengers annually and has plans for a new 24-gate terminal in 10-15 years, though funding remains a challenge.

 

Polly Cady then asked Kaylie to sign a donation book which will be gifted to Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Andy Bradford and Chad Reid invited Kaylie to check out the Gateway satellite club. The final announcement was that RLI Session 1 will be held on August 9^th in Prescott, AZ.