President Chris Krueger opened the meeting asking Dr. Ron Thompson to offer the invocation and Jim McGown to lead the Pledge of Allegiance.  With the World Series imminent, Ray Smith led those present in a rousing rendition of Take Me Out To The Ball Game.

 

Michelle Holcomb was visiting from the Rotary Club of Fountain Hills.  Bob Zarling introduced Sierra Johnson, an applicant for a grant from The Rotary Vocational Fund of Arizona.  Sierra is a graduate of Westwood High School in Mesa.  Erwin and Joan Reiman were visiting from Rapid City, South Dakota.  Mark Sander and Shelly Incardone were introduced as guests who are working to start a new Rotary Club in Gilbert.  Our Youth Exchange student from Ecuador, Caiu, was present wearing his Youth Exchange jacket which is already heavy with pins he has collected since his arrival last summer.  Audra introduced her daughters, Brinn and Ellia.  Brinn was celebrating her 9th birthday, so the members and guests spontaneously sang Happy Birthday to her.

 

President Chris Krueger was the lucky winner of the attendance drawing.  Polly Cady was the holder of the raffle ticket drawn, winning the small $34 pot, but was not lucky enough to draw the ace of clubs from the deck of cards, so the larger accumulating pot will continue to grow.

 

Chuck Flint explained the Buck Board for the benefit of guests who were present.  It serves a dual purpose in our club by keeping The Rotary Foundation on the minds of our members and boosting our average per-member giving to the Foundation.

 

Michelle Holcomb pointed out that she had brought a sample of the wreaths which her club is selling to raise funds for their service projects.  The wreaths ordered can be shipped anywhere in the US. 

 

Caiu thanked the Rotary Club for his Youth Exchange experience so far.  Allan Cady contributed for the wonderful vacation in Europe he and Polly recently enjoyed.  He was especially touched by their visit to Omaha Beach.  He said they missed a Cardinals game, but noted they hadn't missed much.  He was also happy that his recent request to boost Guaymas donations had been somewhat successful, but hoped some who had not yet donated would be reminded to do so.  For the benefit of guests, he told about the project which has been an annual Gift of Hearing mission sponsored first by Mesa Baseline Rotary, and then continued by Mesa West Rotary after the two clubs merged.  Last year, they saw 350-375 patients of all ages and distributed 175 hearing devices.  In the 25-year history of the project 4,000 devices have been distributed.  Don Boucher was happy to announce that he and Sharon had celebrated their 10th anniversary with a Scandinavian Viking Cruise vacation.  He was also happy that one of his favorite trainees when he was a law enforcement training officer in California was doing well after being diagnosed and treated for colon cancer.  Dr. Ron pledged $100 to the Guaymas mission.  Chris also pledged $100 to the mission.  Greg Okonowski donated while he still could.  They are in the process of buying a new home.

 

President Chris asked if anyone could tell her which three Mesa West Rotarians had been honored by District Governor, Jim Erickson, during his official visit on October 11.  Even though she had been travelling, Polly Cady correctly answered that they were Pam Cohen, Lucinda General and Donna Goetzenberger because she had read about the recognition in the October 17 Messenger.

 

Our October 25 meeting will feature Rotarians from Russia who are being hosted by the Mesa Rotary Club while hear on a Peace Mission.  That evening, Chis will be hosting a reception for the group at her home.  Details previously e-mailed to club members were:  We will just have some snacks and cocktails and conversation.  Please let me know if you are available to attend.  The address is 4213 N Tabor St. Mesa, AZ.  We will begin at 6:00 pm.  If you plan to go, e-mail Chris Krueger.

 

Bob Zarling was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  He was the oldest of five children with two brothers and two sisters.  Bob has lived in Arizona since February of 2014.

 

In his lifetime, Bob has visited in more than twenty foreign countries throughout Europe, Brazil, Mexico, Canada and Guatemala.  He doesn't claim to be fluent in any language other than English.  In addition to Arizona and Wisconsin, Bob has resided in New Jersey, Oregon, Colorado and Michigan.

 

When Bob was a teenager, he dreamed of a career in chemistry or accounting.  He retired after 21 years in Strategic Sourcing.  Strategic Sourcing is the science of building a global sourcing strategy for the short term and long term to ensure all the companies’ manufacturing plants around the world have secure, reliable,  sustainable, and high quality raw materials at an economic scale to offer customers a competitive market advantage.  Bob was responsible for many unique materials in the speciality chemical and botanical markets for use in an industry of the related sensory traits of taste and smell. He worked for International Flavors & Fragrances (NYE symbol is IFF). 

 

Bob's most memorable vacation was a summer vacation in 2004 in Norway.  He says his most rewarding volunteer experience was a summer as a tour guide for the National Parks at Fort Hancock in Gateway National Recreation Area.

 

Bob joined Mesa West Rotary Club in 2017, and became active very soon when he replaced Rod Daniels as the District's Polio Plus Chair.  He currently is the Vocational Service Chair for Mesa West Rotary.

 

The District 5495 Foundation Dinner will be held Saturday, November 10, 2018 at the Sheraton Phoenix Airport Hotel, 1600 South 52nd St., Tempe, AZ 85281.  A reception will begin at 5:00 PM with dinner and show at 6:00 PM.  Seating will be limited CLICK HERE to make your reservation.

 

When attending a recent Mesa West Rotary Club meeting with Immanuel, Holly Beeson announced a new enhancement to the annual Red Kettle fundraising drive, in which members and friends of Mesa West Rotary have led the way in successful fundraising.  On Thursday, November 8, at The Salvation Army Mesa Citadel Corps Community Center, the first annual Red Kettle Kickoff Dinner will be held.

 

Holly would like for our club and/or businesses represented by Mesa West members to consider participating in the kickoff dinner, which will boost the revenue of their Red Kettle Drive.   The additional funds raised will enable our local Salvation Army Corps to better serve vital social service programs in the Mesa community.  CLICK HERE to download a letter from Holly with details about the event.

We carry out service projects that enhance economic and community development and create opportunities for decent and productive work for young and old. We also strengthen local entrepreneurs and community leaders, particularly women, in impoverished communities.