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.
Includes: Continental Breakfast Lunch Study Materials
CLICK HEREto register or contact Polly Cady at pcady@cadyfam.com
Why Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI)? Participant Interaction and FUN!
Come interact with fellow Rotarians about:
Rotary Basics
Community Service Ideas
Leadership Styles
Ethics & Vocation
Rotary’s Impact Worldwide
Engaging Members
RLI is a world-wide organization that some refer to as Rotary’s “College of Knowledge.” RLI touches on “everything Rotary” and is not a “leadership” course to become an officer of your Club. RLI is made up of three one-day Sessions to give you an overview of what Rotary is and what it does worldwide. Its goal is to create ENTHUSIASM for Rotary and show the enormous potential of Rotary service and how with knowledge and excellent leadership in Clubs, the world will benefit.
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.
Several Mesa West Rotary Club members signed up and showed up to help set up for the Trunk or Treat Event hosted by the Mesa Police Department Fiesta Division on October 25 to create an colorful setting for an evening of fun for local children A few more members helped with the distribution of candy during the spooktacular event!
President Jay shared a quote from Ben Franklin: "An investment in knowledge pays the best interest”
He reminded members that the Rotary International theme this year is "The Magic of Rotary." He then recited the Rotary Vision Statement
TOGETHER, we see a world
where PEOPLE unite and take action
to CREATE lasting CHANGE
across the globe, in our communities
and in ourselves.
Ray Smith offered the invocation. Dr. Ron Thompson led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Introduction of Guests
President Jay's mother, Marie Paulus, was introduced. Frank Rosenberg introduced his daughter, Danielle Rosenberg, as a former outbound Rotary Youth Exchange student and a current ASU Rotaractor.
Ace of Clubs Raffle
Chuck Flint asked Danielle Rosenberg to draw the winning raffle ticket. Dr. Ron Thompson was the happy winner. After receiving the weekly pot, he shuffled the cards face down. When he attempted to draw the Ace of Clubs from the cards remaining in the deck, sadly (for him) he drew the 8 of Diamonds, which was destroyed. At our next in-person meeting at the Doubletree, the large pot will have grown and the odds of drawing the Ace of Clubs will be even better.
Auction - Chuck Flint
At our October 31 event at Sloan Park, we will have the opportunity to have someone from our club throw out the first pitch. Chuck officiated over an auction to have that privilege. President Jay bid $5. Pam Cohen countered with a bid of $10. Jay bid $15, and was the top bidder at that price. When he asked why Pam hadn't bid again, she said the only reason she bid was because she didn't want him to get the privilege for a mere $5.
Happy Bucks - Andy Bradford, Sgt at Arms
Andy Bradford announced that all the Happy Bucks would go to Polio Plus since October 24 is World Polio Day. He made the first contribution sadly remembering that their little Lucy lost her battle with cancer on October 24, 2014.
Ron Thompson contributed.
Jim Erickson shared some current polio statistics. In looking at the time of this writing, as of October 23, in the two countries where the wild polio virus is still active, Afghanistan has reported 23 cases so far in 2024, and Pakistan has reported 39 for a total of 62 cases so far in 2024. Our immunization efforts are extremely important. As long as polio exists anywhere, it has the potential to spread everywhere.
Deb Koeneman pledged $100.
Jim McGown contributed and verbally celebrated the delivery of several mobility devices to the storage container where Interact collects devices for their Crutches for Africa Ambassador mission. He personally shops online for bargains as well as visiting his local Goodwill store.
Chad Reid contributed - he was happy he was to be inducted as a new member into the club.
Ted Williams made a pledge. They had recently made a trip to Finger Lakes New York. They also visited Ohio. He said the fall color was perfect. Ted said one of his sons and his wife had adopted two boys from Ethiopia when there was a famine there. They are now grown and one of the boys travelled to Ethiopia to try to meet some of his birth family. He met an uncle and first cousin. His brother joined him and they visited the original village and met the rest of their birth family. On the 23rd, Susan's granddaughter delivered their second great grandchild.
Dick Myren added $10 to his traditional $2 pledge.
John Pennypacker celebrated that 24 years ago, at the helicopter plant, Hal Wochholz asked John if he'd ever been involved in Rotary. After John told him he was a former Rotarian, things moved quickly and shortly thereafter John was the first President of the new Rotary club chartered at the plant.
Ed Koeneman announced he was scheduled to have his second knee surgery on December 18.
Shelly Romine contributed. She was very thankful for all the kind messages received after the loss of her father. When she saw that Andy had donated blood that day, she was reminded that the club's blood donation event had to be postponed the last time it was scheduled, but that it has been rescheduled for January 4 at the YMCA.
Connie Bunyard contributed. Their son and granddaughter had been in a biking accident. They were hit by a truck. Fortunately, both are okay.
Pam Cohen made a $100 pledge.
Jeanie Morgan made a pledge.
Harry Grossman celebrated the Cardinals third win and talked about a recent trip to the Sedona area. He voted. He had breakfast with the Sedona Village Club. He visited the Verde Valley Rotary Club where they were hosting a Rotary Friendship Exchange group from Australia. They announced that there were seven Rotary Clubs represented - the four clubs in the Sedona area plus three clubs in Australia. Harry corrected that number reminding them that Mesa West Rotary was also represented, making eight clubs in all.
Jay Paulus contributed celebrating that his mother and sister had come for a visit.
Warren Williamson contributed for the privilege of sharing a dad joke about three golf clubs who went into a bar. The putter ordered a pint of beer. The pitching wedge ordered a shot of Jack Daniels. When the bartender asked the third club what he wanted, the club replied. "I'll just have water - I'm the driver.
Installation of New Member - Chad Reid
President Jay was very pleased to be installing Chad Reid into Mesa West Rotary. He had planned quite a swearing in ceremony. Chad was pleased that all he had to do was answer "I will" rather than have to repeat all that Jay had said. We all clearly understood that among other things, Chad was agreeing to our motto of Service Above Self. Jay gave Chad his new member packet and Pam Cohen pinned jour newest member while those present stood to welcome him.
Announcements
Shelly Romine reminded members that the next day, during the daytime, there was an opport6unity to volunteer to help set up for the Trunk or Treat event being hosted by the Mesa Police Department Fiesta Division, and that more volunteers would be needed in the evening to pass out candy at the drive-through event. She said that in 2023, 700 children drove through to receive candy. Shelly also mentioned that bell ringing for Salvation Army would start the day after Thanksgiving and continue every day through Christmas Eve. She asked members to plan their time so they could volunteer for multiple shifts in front of the Bass Pro Shop.
President Jay announced that the hotel was over booked on November 14, and that John Pennypacker has arranged for us to have a happy hour meeting that evening from 5-7 at Long Bow Golf Club. Full members would be able to enjoy the food served at the happy hour, but it would be a "cash bar."
Mike Lutcher announced that Friday, November 8, the club has ten seats for the kick-off breakfast for the bell ringing season. Contact Jeanie Morgan to claim a seat at the table if you would like to go. He said there would be "asks" to give at the event but he urged members to put their annual donation in the Mesa West Rotary bucket at Bass Pro.
President Jay made a similar announcement about the College Bound Luau event to be held at Modern Moments November 15. Mesa West Rotary has ten seats for that event as well. Contact Jeanie Morgan if you would like to claim one or two of the "seats" for that opportunity. Plan to wear your festive island apparel if you do!
Gary Whitehall was attending via Zoom. He made an announcement about an FBI academy opportunity. Applications are due November 1.
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.
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.
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.
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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. 
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:
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.
