This year, Mesa West Rotary is trying some new things. One idea was to look for hands-on service projects to replace our regular Thursday meeting any month that there were five Thursdays. Another new idea implemented this Rotary year, was switching one meeting each month (the 4th Thursday) to the evening. We will soon ask our members to complete a brief survey to evaluate the impact of these changes.
President Jim Schmidt opened the meeting by asking Erwin Reimann to offer the invocation and Wendell Jones to lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
Presidential Humor
Q. When do accountants laugh out loud?
A. When somebody asks for a raise.
Q. What is a budget?
A. An orderly method of living beyond your means.
Drawing
Steve Ross announced that if the holder of the winning raffle ticket were to draw the ace of clubs from the deck, they would win $941 in addition to the $20 they were assured of winning. Erwin Reimann was holding the winning ticket, but after he shuffled the remaining cards in the deck, the card he drew was the seven of spades.
Happy Bucks
Greg Okonowski served as Sgt at Arms collecting happy bucks. Erwin Reimann was the first to contribute. He contributed the entire $20 he had just won. He reported he had been having a lot of heart health issues. Last June he had a pacemaker implanted. He had spent the day prior to the meeting (January 22) in the hospital and received two new stents. He said, "I feel terrific today!" A stent that had been implanted last March had become 90-95% blocked. Joan Reimann came to the meeting prepared with a $1,000 check to The Rotary Foundation for the Polio Plus campaign. Joan was thankful to report that after she was diagnosed with cancer last October, undergoing two surgeries in November and December, and completing her radiation therapy, she now knows and feels she is cancer-free. Ray Smith said he was broke so had no money to contribute, but was happy to have had a great time at the post-holiday party on January 18th. Wendell Jones contributed for the same reason and made an additional contribution to cover Ray's buck. Warren Williamson also enjoyed the party. Dan Coons contributed enough that members who were present were sworn to a "Don't ask, won't tell" commitment as to the Rotary-related confession he made. The club appreciates his generosity, but the likelihood of anyone remembering what he told on himself is probably very slim. If anyone reading this remembers, please also remember the group commitment not to tell! Melody Jackson was happy to have delivered the requested toiletries and other contributions for this month's hands-on service project. Melody was the only Mesa West member who attended the training to help with the homeless count that is required in order for the Mesa community to continue to qualify for federal programs to support the support services provided to the homeless population. The volunteers will walk the streets for a few hours early in the morning. They will have an app downloaded on their phones to aid them in engaging individuals by asking a set of common questions. When the answers obtained are tallied it will help develop and refine programs that are needed. The volunteers will go out in teams of five. Melodie is thankful for the experience.
Announcements
There will be no regular meeting Thursday, January 30.
Bill and Melinda Gates have recommitted the Gates Foundation to matching $2 for every $1 given to The Rotary Foundation for Polio Plus.
Program
Melodie Jackson introduced Steve Ferguson with the Scottsdale Fire Department. He has been a firefighter for twenty-six years following four years in the US Navy.
Steve was born in Iowa but has called Arizona home since he was twelve. Growing up, he always wanted to be a fireman. Steve graduated from Westwood High School in Mesa in l986 and immediately joined the Navy. While in the navy from 86-90, he worked on an aircraft carrier, the US Constellation. He loved his job in the Navy where he hooked up planes when they were going to be shot off the catapult.
Following his time in the Navy, Steve worked for The Rural Metro fire department at first part-time, then full-time. He spent six years as a firefighter in Yuma, then was able to get back to Scottsdale.
Like most firefighters, Steve has a side business. He got into the smoke detector installation and service business when he was inspired to do so by a situation involving a lady who was 80+ who had fallen off a ladder while changing the battery in her detector and broke her hip when she fell. In addition to his smoke detector business, he has a couple of additional ways he supplements his income. One involves servicing golf-cart battery needs, and the other is one where he watches around twenty homes for snowbirds when their owners are away from Arizona.
Steve is an engineer with the Scottsdale fire department. The engineer drives the truck. The captain tells the engineer where to go. In addition, there are two paramedics on each truck.
In addition to his primary occupation and side jobs, Steve occasionally teaches. He has done training at coal-burning power plants in Texas, where he has taught first-aid, CPR, and Hazardous Material handling protocols. He also had a similar teaching opportunity in Austin Texas at a Samsung semi-conductor plant.
Smoke Alarms in the Home
If you hear a beep or "bird chirp" it is typically an indicator of a low battery. It is most commonly heard between 10 PM and 2 AM and is punishment for failing to change the battery every year.
Three beeps is an alarm. In many homes the alarms are wired together so that if one sounds an alert, each of the others will follow. They want to get you out of the house.
Coincidentally, the most common time for fires is in this same time period. Someone falls asleep with the stove turned on or a candle burning.
Latching Alarm - is caused by something like burned toast. When the smoke dissipates, the alarm will get quiet.
If the light is on - it only means the detector has power. It does not ensure it is working.
Smoke detectors are nearly always white when new. they tend to turn yellow over time.
If the detectors in a home are more than 9-10 years old, it is a good idea to replace them. There is only a 50% chance they will actually work when needed.
Where homes have a full system, the smoke detectors are wired into the alarm company's system. If they receive an alarm, they will attempt to call the resident. If they get no answer or there is an actual emergency, they turn it over to the 9-1-1 emergency system. All 9-1-1 calls are first directed to the police department.
Steve suggest detector batteries be changed every year and each device tested weekly
They are not fail-safe. The smoke sensor can be "done" if too old.
Steve suggested that every household should have a plan in place that answers two questions:
Where is your family's outside meeting place?
Does each person have a cell phone and a working flashlight by their bed?
One of the most frequent causes of death in a house fire is someone going back into the house to check on someone who is unaccounted for. It is typically the smoke - not the fire - that causes death.
"I am pretty sure most Mesa West Rotarians think they know full well the benefits of attendance at a Rotary Leadership Institute session. Many have attended and benefited from it.
"Personally, it was more the interchange of ideas with others that benefited me more than any of the information presented. But that is the best part of being in Rotary.
"I would hope that at least a couple of members of our club will register and go to the February 8 Institute to be held at Grand Canyon University, and not just the NEW members. Very often it is the old crusty members who need this form of rejuvenation more than anyone."
CLICK HERE for a link to more information about session content and a link to register.
Pam Cohen is Club Service Chair for the Rotary Club of Mesa West. Among the many things she does are:
Transport, set up, and manage the audio-visual equipment needed to support our speakers
Plan our social events including
Flyer preparation
Maintain a list of responders and their commitments
Set-up - which often includes bringing her own chairs, tables, or other equipment
Manage to make everyone feel welcome
Coordinate logistically arranged food lines
Manage activities to keep those in attendance engaged
Have storage containers available for leftovers
Effectively manage clean-up.
Work with hotel staff to make sure any changes in meeting times and dates are communicated.
For many first-time attendees at Mesa West meetings, Pam's warm welcome is their first impression.
In the article about the Post-Holiday Party held on January 18, Pam was not given credit for the baked chicken entrée and salad, which she personally prepared. Nor was she given credit for her fun and effective management the gift exchange while strictly enforcing the rules.
Pam would be the first to say that she gets a lot of support from others in and related to the club, including her brother Mike and sister-in-law Chris Krueger.
Pam does much more than most members are even aware needs to be done - and MUCH more than most Club Service chairs do. Mesa West members have a better Rotary experience because of our awesome and amazing Club Service Chair!
The Rotary Foundation is the charitable arm of Rotary that enables the amazing work we, as Rotarians, are all proud to be a part of. Every Rotarian is strongly encouraged to support TRF every year by donating to the General Fund of TRF. The target gift is $100 per year per member. That has been the target for a very long time and in the US the average family income has multiplied a few times since that target was set. Many Rotarians who have the means to do so have set their personal target at the $1,000 per year mark making them eligible for the Paul Harris Society level of donor recognition.
The End Polio Now campaign is a separate fund to gifts are matched by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Many Rotarians choose to support both the general fund and the fight to end polio.
No matter what level you decide to donate, please support the Foundation by giving through Rotary Direct. CLICK HERE to get answers to commonly asked questions about this program. DOWNLOAD A FORM to authorize your Rotary Direct donations. By giving through Rotary direct, the opportunity for human error is eliminated and recognition credit for the Rotarian and their club is much more accurate and timelier.
President Jim Schmidt opened the meeting by asking Erwin Reimann to offer the invocation and Wendell Jones to lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
Pam Cohen is Club Service Chair for the Rotary Club of Mesa West. Among the many things she does are:
Arizona Rotarians have a unique opportunity to support this Rotary Avenue of Service by donating to
