Mesa West Rotary Club volunteers were among the many working this past Saturday morning at Midwest Food Bank.  The job of the day was repackaging frosted flakes that were donated in very large plastic bags (about 4' x 4" x 8') into small, labeled individual serving-size bags. Dave Brauchler, Don Boucher, Sean Green, Debbie Koeneman, Ed Koeneman, Dan Lamborn, Lola McClane, Jeanie Morgan, Mike Schroeder, Gina Schroeder, and Rotary Youth Exchange Student, Fanny all participated.  In case any other members might wonder if they could stand up to the pace, not all did.  Sean helped Jeanie get redeployed when he saw she was in a lot of pain from standing too long on the hard concrete floor.  She was charged with labeling small individual serving-size bags for a future project at the facility.  Because of her new task, we now know one day in the near future some Cheez-Its will be similarly repackaged at the food bank.  The good news is, they were able to keep all volunteers productively occupied.

 

 

President Pam opened the meeting by asking Jim Schmidt to offer the invocation.  Jim McGown led the pledge of allegiance.  She then welcomed those in the room as well as Rotarians attending the meeting via Zoom - Melodie Jackson, Bob Jensen, John Pennypacker and Jack Rosenberg.  She thanked Steve Ross for serving as greeter.

 

 

 

 

Bob Jensen shared a brief summary of the recent mission to Guaymas, Mexico.  He said this mission marked the 30th anniversary of the project, but this trip was the first since 2019.  COVID precautions made the mission impossible until this year.

 

The 2022 left the morning of November 9.  Participating Mesa West Rotary Club members participating were Chuck Flint, Polo Santiago, Jim Schmidt, Ray Smith, and Erica Williams.  Bob said Polo's command of the language was a huge help and made getting the job done much easier.  Bob also wanted to acknowledge help received from Darl Andersen whose coordination efforts probably saved $5,000 in costs.  Also acknowledged was the free storage of equipment and materials provided by Tim Troy.  In addition to Mesa West Members, Guaymas Rotarians helped, five doctors from Alamos, and Rudolfo Fernandez, our program coordinator in the area.  Guaymas Rotaractors also helped.  The current President of the Guaymas club is their first woman President.  She contacted a fellow Club President from near the border who went to the checkpoint and helped streamline the team's entry into Mexico.  It was the smoothest entry in all 30 years.

 

Three years ago, they saw 470 patients with a team of about 50.  This year, with a smaller team, they say 67 children and 136 adults in the two days.  The team this year was half the size of the 2019 team.  This year's budget was set at $12,000, and Bob believes they will come in under budget.  The value of what was provided was closer to $60,900 in professional services, $137,500 in equipment, $9,760 in ear molds, and $11,000 in batteries - a total of about $210,370 in goods and services.

 

Following two long days of work, the team enjoyed a banquet at a restaurant on the beach.  Each team member received a plaque.  Larry Hagen was made an honorary member of the Guaymas Rotary Club for his many years of service on this project.

 

Bob said he needs a 10' x 15' in storage space on this side of the border going forward, and asked members to consider making that possible.  He said the participating Alamos doctors were very excited about the project and would like to be able to provide services throughout the year.

 

In answer to a question, Bob said he began the project about sixteen years before he became a Rotarian when he joined the Mesa Baseline Rotary Club.  The Guaymas Hearing Project remained that club's project until they merged into Mesa West in 2015.

 

 

 

 

 

John had the opportunity to meet and visit with Rotary International President Elect Gordon McInally, who is a dentist.

 

A highlight was the magnificent music John heard at the concert provided by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the West Point Glee Club. One of the young men in the glee club was from Farmington, Utah.  He sang a solo, and John could only imagine the tear-filled eyes of his proud parents.

 

Rotary International General Secretary John Hewko wrote the Ukraine Constitution.  He was on stage with a lady from the LDS church.  After listening to their exchange for a while, John held up one finger believing it likely she would announce a $1,000,000 donation from the church to support Rotary's Polio Eradication efforts.  John underestimated.  She announced a $5,000,000 donation.  After being matched $2 for $1 by the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation, the value of that donation will total $15,000,000.

 

John said you don't have to be a PDG or an officer.  Any Rotarian is welcome to attend the Zone Institutes when they are held. 

 

 

 

 

President Pam said her favorite thing to do as Club President is to induct new members.  Ed Koeneman is the proud sponsor of Debbie Koeneman, Gina Schroeder and Mike Schroeder who were formally inducted into the club at this meeting. 

 

Mike Schroeder introduced himself as a financial advisor, saying he has been practicing for 28 years.  They have an office in Tempe, Arizona.  The business has recently added a generation.  Their son recently graduated from ASU with his finance degree and he will now be learning everything he needs to do.  Gina does everything that makes the office nice, makes everything run and handles all their social media.  He said about three years ago they moved their broker/dealer relationship and Gina handled that change magnificently. 

 

Gina was asked to tell about their hobbies and interests.  She said Mike is an avid cyclist - mountain and gravel biking.  She gravel bikes with him.  They travel the state together enjoying that hobby.  They both enjoy the outdoors.  They enjoy spending time with their family.  They have dogs they enjoy as family.  A gravel bike is like a road bike with bigger wheels.  

 

Debbie's professional background is very interesting. She has a Bachelors and Masters degrees in Biomedical Engineering from ASU.  After graduating fro ASU, she worked at FDA as a scientific reviewer and as a Compliance Officer at Center for Devices and Radiological Health.  After leaving FDA to move back to Arizona and marry Ed, she worked for OrthoLogic Corporation (later Capstone Therapeutics).  After ten ears there, she became an independent consultant for medical device, pharmaceutical and combination biologic/device/drug companies.  In late 2018 she became a partner with NDA Partners LLC.  She helps companies figure out how to g4t their products through the FDA.  

 

Pam handed out the packets to each the new members and they received a standing ovation from those present at the meeting.

 

Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings,

turn routine jobs into joy, and

change ordinary opportunities into blessings.

This is a REALLY big year for Mesa West.

 

We will celebrate our 50th Anniversary June 29, 2023 at the Doubletree where we regularly meet.

 

 

SAVE THE DATE!  You won't want to miss this celebration!

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 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.