Twelve Mesa West Rotarians attended the District Conference June 1-2. Shown left to right in the photo are Chris Krueger, John Pennypacker, Bob Zarling, Jeanie Morgan, Frank Rosenberg, Pam Cohen, Lucinda General, Allan Cady, Polly Cady, Bryan and Donna Goetzenberger. Not shown, but also in attendance was Don LaBarge. In the center of the photo is a Peace Pole like many clubs have planted in public locations in our district and throughout the world.
May 31, the day prior to the conference, John Pennypacker, Bob Zarling, Jeanie Morgan, and Frank Rosenberg attended the Pursuing Peace conference hosted by District 5495. They heard excellent speakers make presentations on the subject of peace. Rotary, world-wide, is becoming a leading force in promoting peace. Slightly over half of those who attending this event were non-Rotarian community leaders.
Although there were many outstanding speakers and breakout sessions, there was some fun to be had at the conference, as well. The hospitality night on Friday night featured themed hospitality suites providing food and hosted by areas within our district. The hospitality suites surrounded a grassy park-like setting where many attendees chose to gather to socialize after their appetites for food had been satisfied.
Saturday evening provided some fun entertainment following dinner, the likes of which none of our club members had ever experienced before.
Aubrey Luma had the winning raffle ticket. The small pot was around $40.00 and the large pot was $1,508.00. Sadly, Aubrey did not choose the ace of clubs so there will be a chance for a big winner at this coming meeting!
Chuck Flint reported on EREY and said that there are only nine people who have not responded to his latest email urging everyone to donate at least $25 to the Foundation before June 30, 2018.
Happy Bucks: See Jack Rosenberg’s Jelly Bean story and a photo in a separate article. Chris Krueger had $5 happy bucks because Ron Thompson gave her a new crown and she had NO pain! There were several happy bucks for just being at Rotary. Pam’s happy bucks were for spending a day with her daughter, Alex, in Flagstaff.
Announcements:
Allan reminded everyone that the club will be dark (no regular meeting) June 14th and July 5th.
He also reminded everyone that the Changing of the Guard or Installation Dinner is June 16th at Don and Chris La Barge’s home. There were comments on how cool it will be due to Don’s misting system.
Takuma, our inbound Rotary Youth Exchange student from Japan, is going on a train trip with other RYE students from other Districts. He leaves in two weeks and will travel through the U.S. He is staying with Dan and Colleen Coons and Dan was overheard saying that they were all going to the Grand Canyon for a hike during the coming weekend!
President Allan exchanged flags with Takuma. When they posed for photos, Allan asked Takuma to "stand tall," so Takuma stood on his tip toes for one photo, then Takuma asked Allan to "stand short," and Allan obliged by crouching for a second photo.
Dan Coons introduced the speaker, Joachim “Jay” Mattisson from the Swedish American Chamber of Commerce. Jay was asked how he got to Arizona and he said it was through marriage. Jay has a background in Governmental Affairs and business/innovation, holding positions as Information Officer at Jonkoping University and Swedish Board of Agriculture, as well as running an boutique international investment company.
As President of SACC, Jay actively interacts with the burgeoning international business community in Phoenix and Arizona, finding opportunities for cooperation and mutual support that benefits both Arizona and Sweden. Currently Jay is involved with EventKey, an early-stage startup in the tech sector, as founder, director and mentor.
Some of the highlights of Jay’s talk:
Sweden has had a trade relationship with the U.S. since the 1700’s.
Their relationship with Arizona began in 1996, 21 years ago.
Sweden provides 6,741 jobs in Arizona and one million in the U.S.
The population of Sweden is just a little over 10 million.
It is a very green and clean country.
They are the second “happiest” country in the world. (The Netherlands are first.)
Jay talked about Sweden's history of trade around the world with Germany being the country they trade with the most. He had many questions from the Mesa West members regarding their healthcare system, their work week (he mentioned that Sweden has a normal 4-week paid vacation and sometimes longer), their school system, their taxes, wages, etc. Jay did say that their average income is much less than it is here in the U.S. He showed a tax graph that was a little outdated but it showed the U.S. as having the highest tax rate, with Japan very close to the U.S. Sweden was in the lower middle of the graph. Their taxes are included in the bottom line cost of everything purchased. Their taxes pay for schooling, healthcare and infrastructure. He also mentioned that there are few homeless and for those that are homeless, it is normally due to mental illness. If a person loses their job, for whatever reason, that person is given a stipend to live on while looking for a new job. The longer the person takes to find a job, the less money he/she receives. Jay said it is not a situation in Sweden where people want to stay at home and live off the stipend. They all want jobs and don’t even think the other way.
Jay talked about Swedish films that are shown routinely in downtown Phoenix. He also said to find to find other Swedish events you can go to their website: www.saccarizona.org.
I just had the most amazing experience! I stopped at Jerry’s Restaurant, in Phoenix, for a quick breakfast. I was speaking with a young man, named “Goren”. As we talked, I mentioned that I went to Bosnia, and Croatia, many years ago, as Jelly Bean, the Clown. I was volunteering my time, with some other Rotarians. My job was to make balloon animals, and entertain the Refugee children, to put smiles on their faces. “Goren” was one of those children! He was only 5 years old, and remembered me, as Jelly bean...
Rotary Fellowships are international groups that share a common passion. Being part of a fellowship is a fun way to make friends around the world, explore a hobby or profession, and enhance your Rotary experience.
Click on the image to find more information on the Rotary International website about existing fellowships, how to start a new fellowship, etc. The photo was taken at an event enjoyed by members of the Antique Automobile Rotary Fellowship.
Bert Millett is an Arizona native. He was born in Mesa, Arizona, and was the second of eight children. He was raised in Arizona, and has resided here most of his life, but had short stints in Utah, Mississippi and Virginia. He also lived in Mexico for two years as a missionary and in Spain for six months as a student.
Bert has travelled to six foreign countries, "and counting." He speaks Spanish.
As a teen, Bert dreamed of being a performer at Sea World, but instead is a business and real estate attorney. He has been practicing for twelve years.
Bert has been married to Kelly for eighteen years. They have five children. His best vacation memories are summer trips to Lake Powell.
Bert has memories of two volunteer experiences that stand out in his memory. In 2009, he coordinated an effort to build a new playground at the Park of the Canals. In 2011, he founded a local triathlon race called Mesa Sprint Triathlon that happens each fall to raise money for the Foundation for Mesa Parks and Recreation.
Plan to attend the installation to be held at the home of Don LaBarge. Festivities will begin at 6:00. For details, click on the image to download the event flyer.
We have in inbound young man from Ecuador who will be arriving in August.
He will be attending Campo Verde High School in Gilbert on Germann Road near Lindsay Road. We currently have two home hosts, Frank Rosenberg and Dan Coons, for the student but three is the magic number for the best experience. So here is your opportunity:
You’re accepting a teenage boy into your home and treating him as your own child for 3 months.
You’re making sure he gets to and from school everyday as well as any after or before school activities.
You will have to complete some paperwork and be approved by the District Youth Committee and the U.S. State Department.
Yes, this takes some energy and effort...BUT the rewards are enormous!
You get to build a lifelong relationship with a student and maybe his family from a different part of the world.
You get to see first hand the activities all of the exchange students are doing and participate if you like.
You get the great feeling of being an ambassador for our club, our state and our country.
If you have a trip or event planned that wouldn’t be conducive to having an exchange student you have Frank and Dan to back you up.
If interested please call Dan Coons at 480-216-7836. You won’t want to miss out on the fun!
A couple go for a meal at a Chinese restaurant, and order the "Chicken Surprise." The waiter brings the meal, served in a lidded cast iron pot.
Just as the wife is about to serve herself, the lid of the pot rises slightly and she briefly sees two beady little eyes looking around, before the lid slams back down. "Good grief, did you see that?" she asks her husband. He hadn't, so she asks him to look in the pot. He reaches for it and again the lid rises and he sees two little eyes looking around before it slams down.
Rather perturbed, he calls the waiter over, explains what is happening, and demands an explanation.
"Please sir," says the waiter, "What you order?" The husband replies, "Chicken Surprise."
(You're going to love this - and you're going to hate yourself for loving it.)
"Ah! So sorry," says the waiter, "I bring you Peeking Duck by mistake...."
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.
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.
Twelve Mesa West Rotarians attended the District Conference June 1-2. Shown left to right in the photo are Chris Krueger, John Pennypacker, Bob Zarling, Jeanie Morgan, Frank Rosenberg, Pam Cohen, Lucinda General, Allan Cady, Polly Cady, Bryan and Donna Goetzenberger. Not shown, but also in attendance was Don LaBarge. In the center of the photo is a Peace Pole like many clubs have planted in public locations in our district and throughout the world..jpg)
Although there were many outstanding speakers and breakout sessions, there was some fun to be had at the conference, as well. The hospitality night on Friday night featured themed hospitality suites providing food and hosted by areas within our district. The hospitality suites surrounded a grassy park-like setting where many attendees chose to gather to socialize after their appetites for food had been satisfied. 
Saturday evening provided some fun entertainment following dinner, the likes of which none of our club members had ever experienced before.
I just had the most amazing experience! I stopped at Jerry’s Restaurant, in Phoenix, for a quick breakfast. I was speaking with a young man, named “Goren”. As we talked, I mentioned that I went to Bosnia, and Croatia, many years ago, as Jelly Bean, the Clown. I was volunteering my time, with some other Rotarians. My job was to make balloon animals, and entertain the Refugee children, to put smiles on their faces. “Goren” was one of those children! He was only 5 years old, and remembered me, as Jelly bean... 
Bert Millett is an Arizona native. He was born in Mesa, Arizona, and was the second of eight children. He was raised in Arizona, and has resided here most of his life, but had short stints in Utah, Mississippi and Virginia. He also lived in Mexico for two years as a missionary and in Spain for six months as a student. 
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Submitted by John Pennypacker
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 
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. 
