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November 8, 2018 Meeting Highlights
The meeting opened with Darl Andersen offering the invocation and Bob Zarling leading the Pledge of Allegiance.
 
Three visiting Rotarians were present:  one from Mesa East, one from Gilbert, and one from Alaska.  Our Rotary Youth Exchange Student, Caiu, was also in attendance.
 
Don LaBarge reminded everyone that the Veterans Day Parade would be held on Monday, November 12.  Happy bucks were contributed by Lucinda General, Penny May, Don LaBarge, Kurt Klingenberg, and Dick Myren for Rod Daniels.
 
Members were reminded the club would be dark on November 15.  They were also reminded of the Chile Cookoff to be held November 16 at Pam Cohen's home.  
 
Don LaBarge reminded members that it is again time to start scheduling shifts for ringing the Salvataion Army bell at their donation kettle located in front of Bass Pro.  Members are encouraged to include family and friends to help them with their bell ringing commitment.  It is more fun to team up to engage people and have fun with them while encouraging their generosity.
 
Program
John Pennypacker introduced Colton Cagle as our speaker. November 5-11, 2018 is World Interact Week, Colton is a past president of the Westwood High School Interact Club.  He is also currently serving as District Governor of Rotary District 5495 Interact.  This past summer, Colton traveled to Kenya as an Arizona Interact Ambassador for the Interact District's Crutches for Africa deliver project.
 
Colton informed members that David Talbot from Colorado and a polio survivor from Kenya started Crutches for Africa to use excess mobility devices, which could be donated to take to Africa.  Interact saw Crutches 4 Africa as an important addition to raising money to eradicate polio - helping those who had suffered and been permanently harmed by that crippling disease.
 
Colton had only flown one time before his Ambassadorial experience.  It was a long trip from LA to Nairobi Kenya.  After a 1:00 AM arrival, the wake-up call was at 7:00 AM to start the day.  The first village where they delivered devices was very impoverished.  The Kids were sweet and took photos.    They visited homes and delivered devices.  The recipients were identified by community leaders. Rotaract provided young adult helpers.  There was a device storage site at a local high school.  They would determine what was needed for the day, and load on bus to go on the distributions.
 
There was great joy shown when receiving the devices.  It is a very difficult job being a caretaker to kids.  Many polio victims were randomly given devices.  The team made school visitations, some where the students were disabled.  They were very interested in the Helping Hands School.  It was better equipped to enable the disabled students.  They teach the disabled students' moms entrepreneurial skills enabling them to make and sell quality goods so they can better care for their families' financial needs.  The school exemplifies the common philosophy of the area:  UBUNTU - I am/you are; we are connected to and dependent on each other.
 
In Kenya, people with disabilities often have social stigmas.  Factory and cafe articles are sold to raise money for the Naivasha Girls School, a boarding school focused on academics and developing a strong work ethic.  The Interact ambassadors learned that kids are kids wherever they are - more similar than different.  The ambassadors are currently working with their new friends in Kenya on joint projects.
 
Colton had the opportunity to participate in building an additional bedroom and toilet onto a mud hut which was the home of an elderly woman.  He said it "was a blast" learning how to utilize what was commonly available and literally get his hands dirty to help build the addition successfully.
 
Colton said his trip was spectacular in so many ways.  Everyone ultimately had realizations about their own situations..  Hakuna Matada!  Be more grateful and humble.  He said it felt much like home.  So much kindness had come together to make a difference with the contents of their full 20' shipping container of Crutches for Africa.
 
The ambassadors were home hosted everywhere they stayed on the trip.  They met a young man who had studied at Prescott Community College there.  They stayed in tents at Maasai Mara.  Colton tried to stay tuned to historical background so he could better understand the current culture.  The team's experiences were widely varied.  One day, they visited a medical center where they donated devices.  On another day, on a long drive, they had the pleasure of seeing a variety of animal species which were freely living in a natural environment.
 
Colton said the trip was spectacular.  It was life changing to be directly involved in making a real difference. They all became more grateful and humble.  They were aware of the fact that many lives had come together to help them change lives.  They knew there was a story behind each of the devices collected with the Interact District's 2017-18 Crutches for Africa project.  The "excess" devices collected filled a 20' shipping container.
Read more...
2018 - 27th Annual Gift of Hearing Mission
This little guy is being screened to see what his needs are at the 27th Annual Gift of Hearing project in Guaymas, Mexico.  
 
To see more photos taken by Polly Cady, click on the image or CLICK HERE.
Mesa West Fireside Fun and Chili Cook-off
Friday, November 16th
6:00 to 9:00 pm
Pam Cohen's Home
3650 E Quenton Dr., Lot 8, Mesa, AZ
Just South of Thomas east of Val Vista
Gate code 1492
 
Sign up to bring your "Kick-@$$ Chili!"
Don't want to bring chili?
Sign up to bring your own 
prize winning dish
Guests $10 - Mesa West Rotarians Free!
 
The competition is fierce and not for the faint of heart!  Please sign up to bring a chili to share, another side dish of your choosing, dessert, an appetizer, or just condiments for the chilis.  For those who don't have time to cook - we will also need paper/plastic bowls and tableware, napkins and the like - non-alcoholic beverages - so feel free to BYOB or your favorite adult beverage.
 
This event is a fun way to meet our newest members and help to engage them in our club.  There will be short presentations by several Rotarians on various aspects of Rotary and how it relates to the club, its members, our community, and the world.
 
Don't miss this opportunity to mingle with club members and crown the newest Chili King or Queen!  CLICK HERE to RSVP to Pam Cohen.
 
Veterans Day Parade - November 12, 2018
A Rotary and Interact team effort to support the annual Veterans Day Parade on November 12.
 
To see more photos, visit our facebook page.  Thanks to our President, Chris Krueger, for providing the photos.
Today's Chuckle
November is Foundation Month
"It seems eminently proper that we should accept endowments for the purpose of doing good in the world."
Arch C. Klumph - June, 1917  CLICK HERE for a glimpse of Rotary Foundation history
Upcoming Events
Mesa West Rotary Board Meeting
Mesa Hilton
Nov 21, 2018
7:30 AM – 9:30 AM
 
Mesa West Rotary Weekly Meeting
Mesa Hilton
Nov 22, 2018 12:10 PM
 
Mesa West Rotary Weekly Meeting
Mesa Hilton
Nov 29, 2018 12:10 PM
 
Mesa West Rotary Weekly Meeting
Mesa Hilton
Dec 06, 2018 12:10 PM
 
Mesa West Rotary Weekly Meeting
Mesa Hilton
Dec 13, 2018 12:10 PM
 
Mesa West Rotary Board Meeting
Webinar
Dec 19, 2018
7:30 AM – 9:30 AM
 
Mesa West Rotary Weekly Meeting
Mesa Hilton
Dec 20, 2018 12:10 PM
 
Mesa West Rotary Weekly Meeting
Mesa Hilton
Dec 27, 2018 12:10 PM
 
Mesa West Rotary Weekly Meeting
Mesa Hilton
Jan 03, 2019 12:10 PM
 
Mesa West Rotary Weekly Meeting
Mesa Hilton
Jan 10, 2019 12:10 PM
 
Speakers
Nov 29, 2018
Hearing for Humanity
Dec 06, 2018
Ballet Arizona
Dec 13, 2018
Climbing Kilimanjaro
View entire list
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Kristin Klein
November 13
 
Keith Deering
November 24
 
Spouse Birthdays
Chris LaBarge
November 21
 
Anniversaries
Christine Krueger
Mike Krueger
November 8
 
Scott Morris
Tracy
November 10
 
Join Date
Alex Cohen
November 1, 2016
2 years
 
Dick Myren
November 1, 1995
23 years
 
J. Daryl Bethea
November 1, 1977
41 years
 
Wayne General
November 1, 2016
2 years
 
John Bethea
November 4, 2014
4 years
 
Geoff White
November 13, 2001
17 years
 
John Benedict
November 21, 2000
18 years
 
Rodney Daniels
November 30, 2003
15 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
 
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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