Saturday, May 5, 2018, John and Jane Benedict again opened their home for the Mesa West Rotary annual Spring Olympics. The date, "Cinco de Mayo," could not be ignored, so a delicious menu of Mexican food was arranged by Club Service Chair, Pam Cohen. Click on the image to link to the Facebook album of the outstanding collection of photos taken by Wayne General at the event.
Special guests were present from the Westwood High School Interact Club including Colton Cagle, who was recently elected to serve the Interact District as their District Governor in 2018-19.
Members of the Gilbert High School basketball team again lent their support to the event by doing some of the heavy lifting with setup and tear down. They also served as referees to oversee the fairness of the games. Luin Ross (again) demonstrated her dominance as a first-place winner at this annual competition even though she had a different Rotarian, Greg Okonowski, participating as her partner this year.
President Allan Cady invited Wendell Jones to lead members and guests singing four verses of "If You're Happy and You Know It..." Following this energizing activity, Dick Myren offered the invocation and Kurt Klingenberg led the Pledge of Allegiance.
There were several guests present: Phyllis Avalon Rosh, who accompanied our guest speaker to the meeting; Donna Goetzenberger's daughter, Paige, and Donna's daughter-for-a-year, Rotary Youth Exchange student, Lissa; Wendell Jones' beautiful wife, Carolyn; Wayne General introduced his guest, Lola McClane from Scottsdale; and Jack Rosenberg proudly introduced his granddaughter, Sammy
Badge number 27 was drawn in the attendance drawing, making Don LaBarge the lucky $5 winner. Chuck Flint announced that the weekly drawing winner would receive $61 and the chance to draw the ace of clubs to try to win $1,335. Allan Cady's ticket was drawn, but his luck did not hold out to win the large pot - he drew the nine of clubs.
Dr. Ron Thompson was called on to collect happy bucks. Jeanie Morgan paid happy dollars for the privilege of knowing Chuck Denney, an enthusiastic member of the Lake Havasu City Rotary Club, but sad to have learned that he passed away earlier in the week. She was also happy to discover that she had the capacity without investing in new software to create movies with still photos on her computer, and happier still that she wasn't too old to learn that new skill. Polly Schumacher paid happy dollars celebrating Jim Crutcher's presence at our meeting.
Polly was also happy that she was going to be able to see Mary Jo West inducted to the ARIZONA WOMEN’S HALL OF FAME. She was the first prime-time television anchorwoman in Arizona in 1976, thus opening the door for the women who followed her. She was also an anchor the pioneer CBS all night newscast, Nightwatch. She did not just stand in front of the camera, she worked on issues that were until then not in the forefront. She was the first woman to go-into the Arizona State Prison in Florence and interview inmates for her documentary on sexual assault, for which she won a Rocky Mountain Emmy. She has been a staunch supporter of mental health awareness throughout her professional career and private life, not only in Arizona but national as well. Polly says "Mary Jo is a remarkable person and continues to be involved in serving."
Jack Rosenberg was happy that the transmission that died in his car recently was still under warranty. Wayne General thanked the models for his recent photography at the Donor Appreciation Reception. He thanked Lucinda for her help getting them uploaded and Jeanie for her work putting them into a movie. Paige Goetzenberger was happy to be at our meeting and happy to be finalizing her application to be a Rotary Youth Exchange student. Chris Krueger was happy that Dr. Ron would be available to help her with a needed crown. Donna Goetzenberger sarcastically said she was happy Bryan had spent their wedding anniversary with Don LaBarge, but quickly admitted that she went to California with youth exchange students the weekend of their anniversary. Dan Coons paid happy dollars saying he caught several Rotarians doing good Rotary service-above-self stuff as he went about his business during the past week. Jim Crutcher was happy to be back. Robert LaBarge announced that he had recently signed on as a new hire in the school system in Pinion, Arizona. The student body at the school where he will be teaching is 98% Navajo. He plans to remain a member of our club and hopes to introduce Interact, RYLA, and Rotary community service to his students and his new community.
Announcements:
Members were reminded of the Spring Olympics to be held Saturday evening, May 5, at the home of John and Jane Benedict.
Members should mark their calendar for a June 16 event. The specific time and location will be announced later. We will not have a regular club meeting on Thursday, June 14.
Colton Cagle, 20177-18 President of Westwood High School Interact has been elected Interact District Governor for 2018-19. He is involved with a mobility project in Africa and will be going on the trip to deliver all the devices that have been gathered. President Allan asked Rotarians to be prepared Thursday, May 10. At that meeting, we will be collecting " walking money" for Colton to take on his trip.
Next week, we will have another in our series of business networking programs with Bryan Goetzenberger and Greg Okonowski presenting.
Lucinda General introduced guest speaker, David Rosh, who she and Wayne became acquainted with when they attended his 12-week Grief Recovery Program offered by Banner Hospice.
David said that in his past he has had several professions: Priest, teacher, social worker, psychotherapist, marriage counselor, and for the past eighteen years, has led the Grief Recovery Program for Banner. He said that he never dreamed of spending that many years of his life dealing with grief, but after he discovered the program that enables people to find a natural pathway to connect following significant emotional loss. He discovered the program in West Hollywood, California and asked that we not discount its value because of that fact. It is a 12-week highly structured program.
After a significant emotional loss, which is defined for this purpose, as the end or change to any familiar pattern of behaviors. Death of a loved one, divorce, job loss, relocation, can all cause grief. With such a loss, it is a common experience to have a loss of "person powers." This can be evidenced by reduced ability to concentrate, change in eating or sleeping habits, emotional isolation, and many other similar manifestations.
It is a Medicare requirement for all hospices, whether for-profit or non-profit, to offer grief support services. The intention of the Grief Receover program is to convert pain to liberation and empowerment. Each 12-week program is open to new people during the first four weeks, but the group then becomes closed during the final eight weeks.
David used a visual aid, drawing an illustration on a flip chart as he spoke. The first stopping point in his illustration was birth - each of our first experience with significant emotional loss when we got kicked out of the security and safety of the womb. We instinctively knew how to express what we were feeling - pain, anger, fear, and love. We had sounds for these feelings that were communicated pretty clearly even though we did not have words.
In our environment, whether in our homes or our social experiences, we learned that some of those expressions of natural emotions should be squelched in order to meet our environmental social norms. It is important to get past those societal inhibitions and be able to tell our story. He gave some illustrations of things that are commonly said to those who are grieving which may be intellectually accurate, but touch the heart of the person who is grieving in a hurtful way. He said there is about 14-18" between our head and our heart, and that we should speak from our hearts when dealing with someone who has had a recent loss. For instance, we wouldn't tell someone who had lost a leg, that it would be okay because they had another one. Why, then, would we tell someone who had lost a child that they are lucky to still have another one. The pain of grief is intensified when a person is made to feel that the expression of their pain is not normal. Pain not expressed is energy bursting to get out. It is ignored at risk of great peril.
Grief is emotional. It is not intellectual. Grief is feeling. Grief is energy. It has to be allowed to surface and be honored.
At some point, those in grief "hit bottom" and if they are lucky and find a program like the one he works with, they find the opportunity to tell their story. The freedom to express themselves in a supportive environment is empowering. Through that freedom, they can regain their ability, which is uniquely human, to be creative and through that creativity, they can again find joy. They can find the ability to own and operate themselves again.
David ended by telling of a dream where "In my heart, in a white chamber, I saw golden bees making sweet honey from my past pain."
Those who are interested in joining a Grief Recovery Program can contact Banner Hospice, Bereavement Supervisor, at 480 657-1167.
Before everyone left, John Benedict reminded everyone about Spring Olympics, Saturday, May 5, at his house.
At our April 26 Meeting, Allan and Polly Cady were presented with recognition materials from The Rotary Foundation. Newer members may not have understood the significance of the presentation which was handled by our club's Foundation Chair, Chuck Flint, and the Cady's good friend from Yuma Rotary , Mark Hansberger.
Having reached over $10,000 with their lifetime giving, not including transferred recognition points, to The Rotary Foundation Annual Fund, Polio Plus Fund or one or more approved global grants, Allan and Polly have achieved the first level of Major Donor recognition. The crystal on the right and the bottom pin in the photo are given to donors who have reached this level of giving.
Allan and Polly were also welcomed into the Bequest Society, as having made a level 4 commitment in their estate plans to leave a legacy to The Rotary Foundation. The top pin and the crystal on the left were the gifts they received for making this significant commitment.
Mesa West Rotary has an unusually high percentage of members who are major donors, and Allan and Polly have now joined that prestigious group.
As Rotarians, we often get caught up in the work of our local club. When that is our primary focus, it is easy to forget that we are part of a much larger organization that is able to support projects all over the world, effecting positive change, because of the generosity of donors to The Rotary Foundation. An occasion celebrating that generosity from two of our own members is a good time to review the various levels of TRF individual donor recognition:
Sustaining Member - personally contributes $100 or more each Rotary year to the Annual Fund. These donations count toward Paul Harris Fellow, Multiple Paul Harris Fellow, Paul Harris Society, and Major Donor recognition.
Paul Harris Fellow recognition is given to anyone who contributes (or in whose name is contributed, using Foundation recognition points) a gift of $1,000 or more cumulatively to the Annual Fund, the Polio Plus Fund, or an approved global grant. Recognition consists of a certificate and a pin.
Multiple Paul Harris Fellow recognition is given at subsequent $1,000 levels of cash contributions and transferred Foundation recognition points. Recognition consists of a pin set with additional stones corresponding to the level of the recipient's recognition amount.
Level 1 - $2,000 to $2,999 - one sapphire
Level 2 - $3,000 to $3,999 - two sapphires
Level 3 - $4,000 to $4,999 - three sapphires
Level 4 - $5,000 to $5,999 - four sapphires
Level 5 - $6,000 to $6,999 - five sapphires
Level 6 - $7,000 to $7,999 - one ruby
Level 7 - $8,000 to $8,999 - two rubies
Level 8 - $9,000 to $9,999 - three rubies
Paul Harris Society recognizes individuals who choose to contribute $1,000 or more each Rotary year to the Annual Fund, the Polio Plus Fund, or an approved global grant. Members who give at this level receive a chevron-style medalion to be worn behind a Rotary or Paul Harris recognition pin.
Major Donor recognition is given when individuals or couples whose combined personal contributions to The Rotary Foundation(not transferred recognition points) have reached $10,000, regardless of the gift designation. Major donors receive a crystal recognition piece and pin(s) commemorating their gift at each new recognition level.
Level 1 - $10,000 to $24,999
Level 2 - $25,000 to $49,999
Level 3 - $50,000 to $99,999
Level 4 - $100,000 to $249,999
Arch Klumph Society - Donors who contribute $250,000 or more become members of the Arch Klumph Society. Portraits, biographies, and, in some cases, video clips are housed in the digital Arch Klumph Gallery on the 17th Floor of the Rotary International World Headquarters. Another digital gallery travels to Rotary events around the world. Members receive lapel pins and pendants, signed certificates, and invitations to the society's exclusive events, held worldwide. New members are invited to a special induction ceremony.
Trustees Circle - $250,000 to $499,999
Chair's Circle - $500,000 to $999,999
Foundation Circle - $1 million to $2,499,000
Platinum Trustees Circle - $2.5 million to $4,999,999
Platinum Chair's Circle - $5 million to $9,999,999
Platinum Foundation Circle - $10 million and above
Benefactor - someone who informs The Rotary Foundation in writing that they have made a provision in their estate plan for the Foundation or who makes an outright gift of $1,000 or more to the Endowment Fund. Benefactors receive a certificate and insignia to be worn with a Rotary or Paul Harris Fellow pin.
Bequest Society - couples or individuals who have made commitments in their estate plans totaling $10,000 or more. Donors may elect to receive an engraved piece and a pin commemorating the commitment at each new recognition level.
NBC News reports that a man named Homer Kingston was attending garage sales and bought this book shelf for $10.00. He bought it because it was very sturdy and old. Once he got it home he began investigating. After several weeks, he now is reporting to police that he believes this is a masterpiece of art created by Don LaBarge and Bryan Goetzenberger sometime around 2018. LaBarge and Goetzenberger were well known wood-working artists in 2018. They created this piece for Bryan's wife Donna. It is unknown how the book shelf wound up in a garage sale but authorities are saying it is probably worth around $2 million. Homer said he will probably donate it to the Phoenix Children's Choir.
Mesa West Rotary is sponsoring an inbound Youth Exchange student from Ecuador for the 2018-19 school year.
Carlos will arrive in Phoenix in late July, 2018. He will be a Junior at Campo Verde High School in Gilbert. His interests include: band, soccer, and American football.
We need at least one additional host family. The goal is the have each inbound student have the opportunity to reside in three different households during their stay to optimize their ability to see how different families function. The Frank Rosenberg and Dan Coons families have already agreed to host Carlos, and we are looking for a third host in or near the Campo Verde campus.
If you are interested in becoming a host family, it will be a three-month commitment. The responsibilities include providing room and board, sharing your culture and home, and treating Carlos as if he were part of your family. CLICK HERE for more information about hosting. You could also contact the inbound coordinator, Kaley Gilmore, at 480 993 4628 or via e-mail at 5495inbounds@gmail.com.
Rotary helps develop future leaders through several activities Mesa West is actively involved with: Interact, Rotaract, RYLA, and Youth Exchange
Other less familiar ways Rotary is involved in developing future leaders are: Rotary Peace Centers, Rotary Community Corps, Rotary Fellowships, and Rotary Action Groups.
Business networking is something President Allan Cady is passionate about. He has asked Jeanie Morgan to work on putting together a business directory of our members. We will be able to have the directory available as a download on our website, but since we will be adding new members regularly, it will be maintained electronically so it will be current at all times. The photo shown is a reduced size sample of what each person's listing might look like. To do this so it is a quality product, Jeanie will need digital images of your business card as well as a close-up, current photo. CLICK HERE to send yours to her.
Many members have commented on how much they have enjoyed this series. We have now finished publishing profiles of all the leadership team. It is time to move on to the general membership. To keep the profiles somewhat consistent, we have had everyone respond to the same questions. If you would be willing to let your fellow members know a little more about you, please CLICK HERE to download the list of questions.
You can send your answers to JEANIE MORGAN along with a head and shoulders photo of yourself. Selfies from smart phones work and can be texted to 928 486 4328. Please provide your name when texting so she can add you to her contact list.
If she receives multiple profiles, she will publish them in the order received. If she receives these at the same meeting, she will publish them in the order of time in Rotary - longest to shortest.
This article will reappear in the Messenger anytime there is not a waiting list of profiles to be published.
The winners were: 
President Allan Cady invited Wendell Jones to lead members and guests singing four verses of "If You're Happy and You Know It..." Following this energizing activity, Dick Myren offered the invocation and Kurt Klingenberg led the Pledge of Allegiance.
At our April 26 Meeting, Allan and Polly Cady were presented with recognition materials from The Rotary Foundation. Newer members may not have understood the significance of the presentation which was handled by our club's Foundation Chair, Chuck Flint, and the Cady's good friend from Yuma Rotary , Mark Hansberger.
Allan and Polly were also welcomed into the Bequest Society, as having made a level 4 commitment in their estate plans to leave a legacy to The Rotary Foundation. The top pin and the crystal on the left were the gifts they received for making this significant commitment. 
FOUND ART PIECE - MAY 3, 2090
Mesa West Rotary is sponsoring an inbound Youth Exchange student from Ecuador for the 2018-19 school year. .jpg)
Rotary helps develop future leaders through several activities Mesa West is actively involved with: Interact, Rotaract, RYLA, and Youth Exchange
Business networking is something President Allan Cady is passionate about. He has asked Jeanie Morgan to work on putting together a business directory of our members. We will be able to have the directory available as a download on our website, but since we will be adding new members regularly, it will be maintained electronically so it will be current at all times. The photo shown is a reduced size sample of what each person's listing might look like. To do this so it is a quality product, Jeanie will need digital images of your business card as well as a close-up, current photo. 
Many members have commented on how much they have enjoyed this series. We have now finished publishing profiles of all the leadership team. It is time to move on to the general membership. To keep the profiles somewhat consistent, we have had everyone respond to the same questions. If you would be willing to let your fellow members know a little more about you, please 
