President Chris Krueger opened the meeting with Darl Andersen offering the invocation in Spanish.  John Pennypacker led the Pledge of Allegiance.  She thanked seasonal visitor Tom Mellen, from Farmington, Maine for serving as greeter. 

 

President Chris explained that the reason the invocation had been delivered in Spanish was to remind members that Darl Andersen, herself, and Chuck Flint had missed the March 7 meeting as they were in Hermosillo, Mexico meeting borrowers and learning more about the micro credit project Mesa West is involved with.  They spent one full day meeting borrowers, and also met the Mayor of Hermosillo.  Initial loans are under $1,000.  Most are to women to help them start and grow small businesses which better enable them to provide for their families.   Darl will go back to do an audit.  Finreg manages the details of the loan process.  The audit will assure that the integrity of their process is sound.

 

Penny May introduced Ginger George-Smith with the Anchorage International Rotary Club.  While Penny and Ginger would like members to think their club name was earned because of their high participation in Rotary International projects, the club name has more to do with their close proximity to the Anchorage International Airport.  Pam Cohen introduced Erwin and Loan Reiman from Rapid City, South Dakota.  They have three grandchildren attending the University of Michigan.  They announced that since they are now in Mesa more months out of the year than they are anyplace else, they have started the paperwork to transfer their membership to Mesa West.  Guest Dave Stratton introduced his harem - his wife, Anna and their friend whose name is Sharon but is known as "Gus."  Jackie Hildebrand was introduced as a Rotarian form South Bend, Indiana.  Linda Roe, a former Rotarian in South Bend, but who now lives in Arizona, was also introduced.

 

As President Chris was asking a guest to draw a token for the attendance drawing, Chuck Flint called out his own badge number from across the room.  His suggestion worked as it was the token with his badge number that was drawn.  Chuck Flint announced that the weekly raffle winnings would be $33, and if the holder of the winning ticket were to draw the ace of clubs, they would win the accumulated winnings of $660.  Because there were so many guests, Chuck explained that each week, tickets are sold for $5 each.  One third of the money collected goes in the accumulating pot, one third goes to the weekly winner, one third goes to the club.  Aubrey Luma held the winning ticket, but drew the four of clubs rather than the ace.

 

John Pennypacker served as Sgt. at Arms.  Dick Myren donated his traditional $1 remembering honorary member, Rod Daniels' tradition of paying a dollar because he was happy to be a member of Mesa West Rotary.  Dick also contributed $83 because he had just celebrated his 83rd birthday.  Chuck Flint contributed because he had enjoyed a great time on the microcredit trip, and he applauded Darl Andersen's command of the Spanish language.  Ray Smith contributed sad dollars reporting that Carolyn Jones had fallen and broke her hip, which was surgically repaired.  Carolyn is recuperating in a care facility. 

 

Ginger George-Smith contributed and told quite a story about her car rental experience when she arrived in Phoenix from Alaska.  She said the Rotary flag she brought to exchange had been on quite an adventure.  The car rental agency had sent her to the lot to pick out a car saying the keys were in them and she was free to go.  She loaded her luggage and a package of frozen fish she had brought to Arizona for friends in the back seat of a car, but the keys were not in it.  She went back in to request the keys, but had to wait while another person was being served.  When she finally made it to the counter to be served, as she was explaining her situation, she saw the car containing her luggage leave the lot being driven by the man who had been ahead of her in line.  After some considerably frustrating communications, she was given that person's contact information and another car.  It took several hours before she was able to reach the other customer.  When she did, he was two miles away from Nogales.  He was on his way across the border to meet with his boss who was from Dallas, but in Nogales.  She explained to him that he not only had her luggage, but also had a package of frozen fish he would need to explain to border agents going out of and back into the U.S.  Several hours later, she met the other driver at a mall and collected her things which had been x-rayed and were still amazingly in good shape. 

 

Darl Andersen contributed as he believed Chuck Flint should be renamed "Mr. Rotary" for his 30-year history of participation in various missions and projects to benefit those less fortunate across the border in Mexico.  Aubrey was happy to be the weekly winner.  Erwin Reiman was happy to be alive.  He has had heart disease for over thirty years.  He saw a new local cardiologist who assessed his symptoms, and after placement of three stents, Erwin feels like he is "back to normal."  They were also happy to have recently become great grandparents and also enjoyed a visit from a son who was here from Michigan.  Pam Cohen was sad to hear the news about Carolyn Jones.

 

John Pennypacker was happy.  He was going to spend the next two days announcing from the first tee at Longbow for the Clover Cup Golf Tournament being hosted by Notre Dame.  Young ladies from fifteen colleges would be participating.  They would be representing colleges in Miami, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Houston, USC and Mississippi State, and others.  John has enjoyed announcing for a few years, but is humbled by the long drives made by the tiny coeds, and challenged by trying to pronounce names correctly which often contain many more consonants than vowels.

 

As members and guests arrived at the March 14 meeting of Mesa West Rotary, they were welcomed with the prestigious display of banners gracing the room.  They were the same banners that have been displayed at previous meetings, but the impression was very different.  

 

Thanks to new banner stands constructed by John Pennypacker, the banners were all hung and spaced evenly and the change in the atmosphere was apparent and appreciated.  This will also solve a problem where we were prevented from hanging the banners in some of the newly redecorated rooms in our meeting venue.

 

Thanks, John, for seeing a need and doing something about it!

Successful sponsorship programs are annual programs that take advantage of the needs of all types of donors.  Our sponsorship program will be at its best when all of our members get involved by sharing their "Rotary Moments" with the people they come in contact with.  

 

What is a "Rotary Moment?"  It is any moment that grabs our heart and makes us want to enthusiastically tell our family friends and business associates why we are active Rotarians.  Typically it involves a service project we've participated in.  Sometimes it is something like polio eradication - especially for Rotarians who are old enough to remember when polio was epidemic in the United States.  We are most effective when talking to potential sponsors if our Rotary experience is shared in a way that is personal, heartfelt and sincere.

 

In our sponsorship brochure there are several specific ways to direct donations, but we will have the greatest capacity to respond to needs presented to the Mesa West Foundation for funding if the majority of donations are received marked "Undesignated (to be used most needed)."

 

Allan Cady, said that members have asked him how he was so successful last year, and already this year in securing donations or pledges.  When he reaches out to those he knows have the means to be generous, he spends some time on their existing relationship, catching up on what is happening in their family, their business, and their known hobbies.  Then he moves on to talk about some of the things he is passionate about, ending with the things he enjoys most about his involvement in Rotary.  It frequently results in the person he is talking to indicating that they are impressed with all that Rotary does and admire his involvement.  It is then easy to offer to share a brochure that tells about some things we, as Mesa West Rotarians, specifically do.  Some offer to make a donation on the spot.  Sometimes it is a pleasant surprise after-the-fact to see how much they mail in after looking the brochure over.  Some of his donors are family - others are long-time business associates or friends.  The people who are closest to us are the ones most likely to support what we care about.  CLICK HERE or on the image to download this year's Sponsorship Brochure.

 

Some ideas of potential donors each of us can reach out to are:  school associates ♦ other professionals ♦ adult friends of our young children ♦ old business associates ♦ people frequently seen ♦ owners of our health club ♦ old neighbors ♦ children's school and PTA ♦ spouse's friends ♦ waiters/waitresses ♦ church associates ♦ cleaning establishments ♦ civic activities ♦ hair/barber salon ♦ insurance agent ♦ previous job ♦ real estate agents ♦ bankers or credit union ♦ doctor ♦ dentist ♦ restaurants ♦ country club ♦ neighbors ♦ relatives ♦ sports/hobbies ♦ accountant. 

 

Melodie Jackson, Aubrey Luma, Steve West, Sharon Spane, Ted Williams, Darl Andersen, Karen Chavez, and Immanuel Beeson

 

Rick Deponte, Dick Myren, Polly Schumacher, Daryl Bethea, Keith Deering, Robert LaBarge, and Kristen Klein

 

Bob Jensen, Jim McGown, John Benedict, Donna Goetzenberger, Don LaBarge, Jim Crutcher, Bert Millett, and Mai Ly Duong

 

Kevin Gustafson, Jack Rosenberg, Don Boucher, John Bethea, Brian Harvey, Mike Whalen, and

Mike Polley

 

Wendell & Carolyn Jones, Aaron Huber, Jim Schmidt, Ray Smith, Polly Cady, John Pennypacker, and Colleen Coons

 

Kurt Klingenberg, Chris Krueger, Jeanie Morgan, Geoff White, Lucinda General, Wayne General, and Erica Williams

 

Pam Cohen, Ed Koeneman, Greg Okonowski, Alex Cohen, Shane Buntrock, Warren Williamson, and

Ron Thompson

CLICK HERE or on the image to view a video that will create understanding about why our President, Chris Krueger is passionate about wanting to support Aqua Africa with a first-time Arizona awareness and fund-raising event during her presidential year.

CLICK HERE to view a short video with more information about the importance to all of us in making clean water and sanitation available to everyone on our planet.