https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85900479873
Doubletree, 1011 W Holmes
Mesa, AZ 85210 United States of America
Our hybrid meetings are held weekly on the 1st thru 4th Thursdays of each month. The meetings are broadcast via Zoom to include all, whether attending virtually or in person.
CLICK HERE or on the title (above) to download information Wayne will be discussing at our April 10 Mesa West Rotary Club Meeting. For those who truly want to learn how to take better photographs, Wayne suggests reading his 24-page document before the meeting so you can be prepared with questions to ask if you don't hear them answered during his presentation.
Members are encouraged to invite family and friends to join us for this activity. Each participant should register.
CLICK HERE or on the image above to register to participate in our club's Rotary Week of Service project
Midwest Food Bank generally has opportunities for adults, families, and teens. Specific age requirements or limitations can determine on the type of task assigned. It's best for younger volunteers (under 18) to be accompanied by an adult.
Parking is limited, so carpooling is encouraged. Please plan to arrive early so everyone can be in place to receive instructions promptly at 9:00 a.m.
At the Club Leaderhip Academy held by District 5495 at Paradise Valley Community College on March 8, Mesa West President, Jay Paulus was joined by Mesa West Rotary Foundation President Pam Cohen and our soon-to-be District Governor member Jim Schmidt in presenting a $2,000 donation from Mesa West Rotary Foundation to Paradise Valley Community College (PVCC) for their scholarship fund for students in need. The donation was presented to Mario Marquez, who is a Senior Development Officer with PVCC in their Office of Strategic Partnerships. Mario is a member of the Rotary Club of Paradise Valley. Mario gave a shout out to The Rotary Vocational Fund of Arizona (TRVFA) for the grants they have provided to benefit students in vocational programs at the college.
Erwin Reimann led the Pledge of Allegiance. Dick Myren offered the invocation.
Introduction of Guests
Our speaker, Paige Kistner, and her service dog, Nellie, were introduced.
Deb Koeneman introduced visiting Rotarian Blaise Vitale from Wisconsin. Blaise said he would soon be heading back to Wisconsin, but plans to make Mesa West Rotary his Rotary home-away-from-home club when he returns to the valley next year.
Our newest, but yet-to-be-inducted member, Neil Theobald was introduced.
Auction - Chuck Flint
Connie and John Bunyard had spent the prior weekend in California. At an Italian restaurant, they noticed that some attractively packaged Italian chocolate treats were for sale. They brought one of the attractively wrapped packages to the meeting to be auctioned. The bidding was pretty competitive and active, but no one offered to top John Pennypacker's bid of $75.
Ace of Clubs Raffle - Chuck Flint
Chuck asked Neil Theobald to draw the winning raffle ticket which was held by Joan Reimann. Chuck delivered the small pot of $35 to her and let her check to be sure the Ace of Club was in the deck so she would have a fair chance of drawing it to win the large pot which was up to $900. Joan looked very thoughtful and deliberate while shuffling the cards, but sadly (for her) the card she drew was the King of Diamonds.
Happy Bucks - Sgt at Arms - Andy Bradford
Gaby Cutlip was glad to be back after her schedule kept her from attending some recent meetings.
Colleen Coons was happy to share that PDG Jim Erickson, who is a 38-year Rotarian with perfect attendance shared that he was glad he signed up to be a McKinney Vento mentor this year. In fact he has already said he would volunteer to be a mentor again next year because he has found the experience so touching. Colleen also put in a plug for the District Conference. She urged members to sign up and enjoy The Magic of Rotary.
Jim Schmidt contributed $10 sad bucks, saying he had to miss the Cubs game because he was in Cancun with family. He pledged $100 to the sponsor program.
Joan Reimann contributed happy$ saying Rotary was wonderful and more Rotary is needed.
Andy Bradford contributed asking members to attend an April 1 initial meeting of those who have shown interest in possibly starting a satellite club. The meeting will take place from 4-5 at The Barrio Brewing Co near Mesa Gateway Airport. He hopes several members will show up and share their Rotary stories.
John Pennypacker was happy to have something to take to his son's lady Saturday night when they celebrate Jay's 54th birthday. John said he's not old enough to have a 54-year-old son.
Don LaBarge contributed $5 saying he'd sold his business, building and all. Monday would be his last day. The new owners will take over April 1. Don plans to take a rest - at least a week.
Jim McGown pledged $100 for Polio Plus. He told about a friend who had recently lost their son. He said the son had an injury that broke his spine as a boy. He finished high school, graduated from Boston College and travelled to Europe before passing. Jim said his limitations for those last several years were very similar to those experienced by polio survivors.
Harry Grossman wanted everyone to know that Harry Caray was not always with the Chicago Cubs. He spent more time with the St. Louis Cardinals, and several years with the White Sox before joining the Cubs.
Ed Koeneman was happy Paige and Nellie were at the meeting. He reminded everyone to RSVP and plan to attend the Spring Olympics at the Koeneman hacienda Saturday, April 5.
Dick Myren made his traditional $2 donation, happy he and Rod Daniels are with the Ace of Clubs. He contributed a bit more to alert members to a scam where someone saying they represent ADOT was promoting a Toll Payment Easy Pass. Since we have no toll roads or bridges in Arizona, it's an obvious hoax.
President Jay was happy to report the Guaymas Rotarians who had visited Mesa the prior week were treated to breakfast March 22. Mesa Sister Cities were included in the breakfast invitation along with a few club members who are working on getting the recently donated hearing booth down to the school and other ways the two communities can work together to make the wonderful program Bob Jensen started over 30 years ago keep getting better.
Warren Williamson told about when John Pennypacker was commander at Fort Pickett. John noticed soon after taking over his command that there was always a private standing guard by a bench at the parade field. He asked someone why, and was told that his predecessor had issued a standing order not to let anyone sit on the bench. John reached out to Col. Sackers to find out why. Col Sackers said, "Hasn't that paint dried, yet?"
Paul Harris Recognition - John Pennypacker
John was very pleased to be able to present Jim McGown with his Paul Harris Plus Two recognition pin. With the pledge made during Happy Bucks, Jim obviously is not finished supporting the work done through The Rotary Foundation.
Announcements
Before moving on to the announcements, Jay shared a 1981 quote from Mother Teresa in 1981 -"If we really want to love, if we really want to live, we must love until it hurts." No Rotarian whose motto is Service Above Self, I think, should call himself a Rotarian if he does make time to serve. If we love, we begin to serve. And this is where that beautiful motto begins that the Rotarians have made this year, "Take Time to Serve."
Jay encouraged members to attend "Ignite Innovation" that evening. The field of entrepreneurs has been narrowed to five. The five will each have a set amount of time to make their presentation. The judges will include Toni Thompson, Jim Schmidt, Kayla Mudge and Neil Theobald. It seems a fitting project for our club to be involved in this year when our district theme is "Rotary Means Business." He said there would be free food, but no alcoholic beverages at the event. With our District Grant, the winning pitch will be granted $5,000 to start their enterprise.
He reminded everyone of the April 1 meeting to start organizing the Satellite Club.
Ed Koeneman shared more information about Spring Olympics and encouraged members to RSVP and attend.
Jay suggested members register to attend the District Conference May 2-3.
Jeanie Morgan suggested that they also sign up to attend a paddle boat sunset cruise on Saguaro Lake Thursday evening, May 1. The pre-conference event will raise funds to support The Rotary Vocational Fund of Arizona.
Exavier King asked members to put Saturday, April 19 from 9-11on their calendar to participate in a food-packing event at Midwest Food Bank for our Rotary Week of Service project. Members were encouraged by Jay to register themselves and other family members to participate. Children are allowed, but they need to be old enough to make a meaningful contribution to the work effort.
District Governor Michelle Holcomb did a great job of promoting the Rotary license plate that is now available when she made her official visit to our club September 26. Mesa West Rotary members often lead the way. We want to encourage our members to get their plates purchased so we can be known for having the highest percentage of members displaying the Rotary license plate on their car(s). To that end, we have two incentives to offer:
The first Mesa West Rotary Club member who can honestly tell a story about how they met someone who showed interest in Rotary because of their plate AND that conversation resulted in an approved membership application into Mesa West Rotary or any other Rotary District 5495 club will get one free quarter of their Mesa West Rotary Club dues.
CLICK HERE or on Michelle's photo to go to the order form on the MVD website, scroll down alphabetically and get yours ordered.
Well, maybe NOT the shirt off your back, but instead some old t-shirts out of the back of your closet.
Westwood Interact Club will again be making dog chew toys for a couple of animal shelterswhere the Paws For Peers program rescues and trains dogs to work as therapy animals with teachers within Mesa Public Schools. .They make these dog toys out of old t-shirts. So, dig way back into your closet, or that drawer where all your old stuff is, and bring a shirt or two to lunch at one of our Thursday meetings this September.
As most of you know, Arizona has a very unique state tax credit program. If you pay taxes to the state of Arizona, you can specify where your tax dollars go (state taxes only). These instructions are for your reference only. Please consult a tax prep professional with any specific questions about state tax credits.
There are many different nonprofit organizations that AZ recognizes as authorized recipients of these tax funds. Mesa West sponsors the Interact Club at Westwood High School, and they are a qualified recipient of these tax credit funds in the Extra Curricular Activities (ECA) category. Here's how you can donate up to $200 as an individual or $400 as a couple filing jointly and deduct that amount from your state tax burden.
If you have children currently enrolled in Mesa Public Schools, you can use your existing login information. Otherwise, it's easy to setup a guest account.
Once you are logged in, select 'Items At All Schools'under the 'Shop/Donate' list on the Home page.
On the next page select 'High Schools', then select 'Westwood High'
Select the link for 'ECA Tax Credit', and then 'Programs G-K' on the following page.
Interact - ECA is under code 8646. Enter a dollar amount in the box, and click the Add button. That dollar amount should then appear in your cart (highlighted in green at the top of the page).
You can then proceed to the Checkout process and pay with a credit card. You will receive a receipt that you can print out and save for when you do your taxes.
Thank you for supporting Westwood Interact and all of our youth programs.
As Rotarians, we are regularly exposed to opportunities to support various causes with our time, talent and treasure. Sometimes it is hard to sift through all the information and decide where we are going to use our available financial resources.
It would be wonderful if every Arizona Rotarian would make the following BIG FOUR their Rotary charities of choice and support every one of them every year, we could make a bigger difference than we are making today.
The Rotary Foundation (TRF) Annual Fund - The Rotary Foundation transforms your gifts into service projects that change lives both close to home and around the world." Giving a small amount each month adds up. CLICK HERE to download a form you can use to sign up for Rotary Direct, electing "Annual Fund - Share" for your recurring donation.
The Rotary Foundation (TRF) Polio Plus - Rotary's commitment to eradicate polio is so well known and respected that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation matches donations $2 for $1. To take advantage of this opportunity to multiply the effect of your giving, CLICK HERE and download a second Rotary Direct form, this time electing electing "Polio Eradication" for your recurring donations. Those who donate $100 or more annually to Polio Plus qualify in District 5495 as Polio Plus Society Members. If you would like to make that commitment, CLICK HERE to download the commitment form.
The Rotary Vocational Fund of Arizona (TRVFA) provides vocational education grants to Arizona Residents who meet specific low-income guidelines. The grants enable the recipients to lift themselves out of poverty, benefitting themselves, their families and the economy of our state. TRVFA is a 501(c)(3) charity. They also are a Qualifying Charitable Organization for Arizona Tax Credit Donations. Their QCO Code is 20698. Many Arizona Rotarians say giving to TRVFA is a "no brainer." If you can help someone lift themselves out of poverty and it won't end up costing you anything why would you not do it? Mesa West Rotary has the highest number of members who have signed up for automated monthly recurring donations by electing that option on the "Donate Now" button on the TRVFA website. Click the image to learn more or CLICK HERE to DONATE NOW.
Mesa West Rotary Foundation, Inc. is the funding and fundraising arm of our own Mesa West Rotary Club. It is a 501(c)(3) charity. We have had successful sponsorship campaigns the last few years enabling us to spend our energy on service rather than on holding fundraising events. Charitable grants that we get involved with are funded through our charitable foundation, Our signature Gift of Hearing Project in Guaymas Mexico is funded through this foundation. Scholarships are awarded annually to Westwood High School Students (the high school where Mesa West Rotary sponsors an Interact Club). Funds are used to support a variety of activities in four of the Rotary Avenues of Service:
Community Service
International Service
Vocational Service
Youth Service
The process isn't quite automated at this point in time, but we hope it soon will be. For now, you can email our executive secretary who can help you work out a recurring donation plan should you wish to make that arrangement to support our own club's charitable activity.
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Well, maybe NOT the shirt off your back, but instead some old t-shirts out of the back of your closet. 
As most of you know, Arizona has a very unique state tax credit program. If you pay taxes to the state of Arizona, you can specify where your tax dollars go (state taxes only). These instructions are for your reference only. Please consult a tax prep professional with any specific questions about state tax credits.
Mesa West Rotary Foundation, Inc. is the funding and fundraising arm of our own Mesa West Rotary Club. It is a 501(c)(3) charity. We have had successful sponsorship campaigns the last few years enabling us to spend our energy on service rather than on holding fundraising events. Charitable grants that we get involved with are funded through our charitable foundation, Our signature Gift of Hearing Project in Guaymas Mexico is funded through this foundation. Scholarships are awarded annually to Westwood High School Students (the high school where Mesa West Rotary sponsors an Interact Club). Funds are used to support a variety of activities in four of the Rotary Avenues of Service: