A Tribute to the members of The Rotary Club of Mesa West, 2019-2020
Our members simply are the best!
Connections, friendships, we are blessed,
Like family welcome each new guest.
The Ace of Clubs is Mesa West!
This has been a different year
With COVID, loss, and racial fear.
Yet Rotary’s vision is crystal clear:
“Take Action” is our rally cheer.
We listen, connect, and find a way
To meet the needs of those whose pay
Is not enough for shelter lay,
Or have a running water day.
Hear ye Latins, Bob’s team has come!
A bus of docs, students, then some,
To help our friends whose hearing’s bum,
Or a carload of all Christendom.
They shout Bob’s praise, love gifts Chuck bears,
Pam’s jovial heart, Lucinda’s dare,
We feel their joy, embrace them there,
While “Logistics Ray” pulls out his hair.
Ray speaks their language, Wendell Chuck too,
The rest of us can barely do,
Chris organizes a thing or two,
Guaymas is blessed, and we are too!
Wendell, Chairman of the Speeches,
Steve Ross helped find these blathering leeches,
Wrapped in thought with what they teach us,
Instead we dreamed of white sand beaches.
Especially during isolation
Connecting Zoom increased frustration
Techie Greg, whose innovation
Distracting banners during invocation.
President Jim was always there,
Even in COVID with 8-week hair.
And Bunion Coons he didn’t care,
His locks are short and hardly there.
Banner John and AV Pam C.
Always early and sometimes fancy,
Hanging banners big and burly,
Usually straight, but sometimes squirrely.
Ray-O-vac Smith, with pep and fizz,
Led the singing, a tenor whiz,
Eating dessert—whatever there is,
And always conducting Guaymas biz.
Daryl Darl, Wendell Jim Ray,
After piling plates from the buffet,
Could always call on them to pray,
And they would know just what to say.
The Elder table “reserved” each day
Wendell Carolyn Bob and Ray,
Daryl, Darl, Warren will say
We’re not a clique, we’ll befriend a stray.
Chuck’s at the table, Aubrey there too,
Selling a raffle, a ticketing zoo,
Quality control our club was not
But all the money went in the pot.
New Members Jim LeChem-i-what?
And Shelley Romine, a banker’s glut.
Lola’s talk was full of smut.
John jokes a lot, can’t roll a putt.
Six dedicated PDG’s
They joke and serve and often tease,
Their year as gov, no job of ease,
Yet still they serve on bended knees.
Don’s dedicated Army bell,
The ringing I could never quell.
The merry ringers that he’d compel
To keep families from hunger hell….
And remember Alan Ramsdell.
Financial planner Don Boucher
Took us to task when wrong, Touché’!
Sergeant Greg would make us pay
For anniversary and birthday.
The surgeon thought he’d take a whack
And cut on Jack the Ripper’s back,
Still greets and yacks when Chuck’s out back,
Now fine, he has no place to snack.
Evening meetings did never jell,
In COVID bid them fond farewell
The food at night was their death knell
Will we get back to our Hotel?
Allan and Polly travel away
They say its Rotary business day
Instead on boat sailing away.
Chris goes to Ron for her inlay.
Frank sits at the family table,
His family’s there when they are able.
Pam wants fiber optic cable
And good Wi-Fi for speaker’s table.
John takes the books the speakers signed,
Bert greets with smiles, is rarely fined,
Melody serves, gets us assigned,
And Dick keep Rod each week in mind.
Large global grant with Chris and Buey
Son Hee’s eggrolls, crisp and chewy.
Microcredit loans aren’t screwy
Cause Darl’s tough and won’t take hooey.
Tom and Polly, devoted Zoomers,
Looking good, must be late bloomers,
Poor Jim Crutcher, lost Mom too sooner,
Those baby boomer car consumers.
Youth are Donna’s claim to fame,
She loves and knows each student’s aim.
COVID travel knew no shame,
The District all her work proclaim.
Lifetime awards to Pam and Chuck,
With them our Club won’t run amok!
Training, youth, Foundation, luck,
District, giving, won’t pass the buck.
Although awards this year are few,
One’s so deserving, she got us through!
Yes, Jeanie Morgan in her debut
No type of task did she eschew.
Cleaned up the books, we went on line,
Recorded every joke of mine,
The Messenger, detailed, so fine
Never a project she’d decline.
Behind the scenes she gives great counsel,
Her wisdom’s clear and always thoughtful,
She cleans up District and club financial,
The choice for her was never doubtful.
The Board’s exciting, insightful group,
When talking, sound like chicken coop,
But always kept me in the loop.
A dedicated amazing group!
Colleen and Dan, our awesome host,
Dan’s leadership you’ll love the most!
To this New Year, let’s give a toast!
Hope you enjoyed this rhyming roast!
With Jim playing the role of The Lone Ranger and Dan appearing as Tonto the brave masked man handed over his white hat and mask to Tonto who will be our hero for the coming year. Dan said the club can look forward to lots of projects in 2020-21 including making use of the $2,000 district grant we won for having the most members utilizing Rotary Direct. He indicated he would like to support the projects in Rocky Point, Mexico that were introduced to us by one of our 2019-20 speakers - Kathleen Duncan from Steps of Love. He mentioned the obvious "Elephant in the Room" COVID-19 which is causing us to continue meeting via zoom in the foreseeable future. There is some talk about starting to get back together with mini -small group - meetings where social distancing could be more easily achieved. More to come as this idea is explored. Dan's board will be President-Elect Bob Zarling, Secretary Lola McClane, Treasurer Geoff White, and directors, Don Boucher, Allan Cady, Pam Cohen, Chuck Flint and Shelly Romine,