President Kayla Mudge opened the meeting noting that today was National Lottery Day, National Tattoo Day, and National Yellow Pig Day!
Club member Connie Bunyard led the Pledge of Allegiance and John Bunyard gave an invocation. Next, our guest Sierra Eldredge who was attending via Zoom was introduced. She is looking for a Rotary club to join!
Jim Erickson won the raffle ($40) but did not draw the Ace of clubs to win the big pot. Therefore, the big pot carries over to next week!
Next, Sergeant of Arms, Andy Bradford did Happy Bucks:
- Colleen was happy that she attended the Gateway Satellite meeting and met some great potential members; She thanked Harry Grossman for being there too; She was also happy to report that her youngest son finished his internship for Paramedic school; and she was happy that Warren and Son Hee Williamson will be a host family for the South Korean Rotary Exchange student
- Machel Considine was happy that she, her husband, and extended family including four grandchildren just did their first camping trip with their new camper. They went to Bryce Canyon, Zion Canyon, and the North rim of the Grand Canyon where they had to evacuate two days in a row due to the fires
- Jim Schmidt was happy to thank the club for the great job on his installation celebration and he pledged $100 for the sponsor program
- Jay Paulus was happy that he and Liz travelled to Cabo, Bermuda Triangle, Boston, and Calgary (for the RI Convention). On the way to and from Calgary, they visited multiple national parks and stopped in Colorado
- Chuck is happy that next week he will be going to Oshkosh, WI for largest air show in the United States
- John Pennypacker was happy to have stayed with Lo and Hans Wiesner after the RI Convention and happy to have greeted Augustine (Rotary Exchange student from France);John told the story that he met a lady from France at the RI Convention who is from the same city as Augustine (Nance, France)!
- Don LaBarge was happy to share that he is still involved in Boy Scouts and is raising money to for replacement tents for Camp Geronimo
- Harry Grossman was happy that he attended the Gateway Satellite meeting
- Jim Schmidt also announced that he his youngest daughter delivered a baby at home at 4:00 AM on July 4th
- Pam Cohen was happy to have spent four days in Show Low to get out of the heat!
- Kayla Mudge was happy that the Kenya team finally made it back to Arizona and pledge $100 to the sponsor program
- Warren Williamson was happy to be hosting the exchange student and told his weekly joke!
During Happy Bucks, Liz Paulus recognized with her Paul Harris+1 pin. Liz told a story about meeting couple while charging their car on their National park tour. The couple shared several positive experiences they had with Rotary and said they really valued Rotary!
Pam Cohen then presented Jay Paulis with his Past President pin, which Liz Paulus then pinned onto his shirt. Pam also presented Jay with a special ballpoint pen made by Ed Koeneman. Jay then spoke, thanking all of the club’s Past Presidents and thanked all club members who made his year special and presented several shirts as a thank you.
Kayla Mudge made some announcements, including
- July 31st - Club will be dark. At 6:00 pm that day the Rio Salado Rotaract Club will have their celebration
- Sept 20th - Mesa West Experience and Chile Cookoff at Pam’s house
- She is very proud that our club is picking up a 2nd inbound exchange student and of all the club members who helped make this possible. The student will be hosted by the Williamsons this fall and the Millets in spring. Connie and John Bunyard, John Pennypacker, and many others really stepped up. Machel Considine is finalizing the paperwork and Frank & Amanda Rosenberg offered help out with any medical issues which arise during either student’s stay.
- There are 309 days until next Star Wars movie
Next, Connie Bunyard introduced today’s speaker - Janet McConnell who is Certified by the American College of Sports Medicine, and is a National Physique Bodybuilding Competitor. Her website is ignitefitnesswithjanet.com. She discussed four myths about aging.
Myth #1 – cardio is enough Truth: Muscle is your longevity savings account
Myth #2 – Aging is inevitable decline Truth: Genetics + blueprint, Lifestyle – change orders
(longer to warm up & recover)
Myth #3 – It’s Too Late To Start Truth: Your Body is always Listening and Learning
Myth #4 – Setbacks Are The Final Word Truth: A Setback is a Setup For a Comeback
After the speaker finished, Kayla asked Janet to sign a donation book, which will be gifted to Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
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:
