President Jim Schmidt opened the meeting asking his guest, Jim LeCheminant, to offer the invocation and Wendell Jones to lead the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

It appears that as long as he is able to come up with material, our President, who is a CPA, will be providing some accounting humor as one of the legacies of his presidential year.  This week, we learned how to tell if an accountant is an introvert or extrovert.  An accountant who is an introvert looks at his shoes the entire time he is talking to you.  You know he/she is an extrovert if the accountant is looking at your shoes during the conversation.

 

Dan Coons was thanked for serving as greeter welcoming members and guests to the meeting.

 

Jeanie Morgan introduced her guests, Machel Considine, a Kyrene Corridor Rotary Club Member, and an integral part of the District Youth Exchange leadership team helping Donna Goetzenberger.

Jeanie also introduced Naomi Sellers and her father, Graem Sellers.  Ron Thompson introduced Kiana Okonowski, Greg's daughter, who is a University of Arizona student who wants to be a dentist.  She is shadowing Ron in his office this summer.  Frank Rosenberg introduced his daughter, Sammy, his guest, Olivia, a student at Basha High School, and his wife, Amanda.  Tom Bradford introduced his brother Ben from Flagstaff.  Ben is studying Business Management at NAU.  Ray Smith introduced Jim LeCheminant who was visiting Mesa West for his second week in a row.  Jim is a former member and Past President of Mesa Baseline Rotary, which is now a part of Mesa West.  Paperwork is in process for Jim to become a member of Mesa West. 

 

Bob Jensen's badge number was drawn making him the lucky $5 winner in the attendance drawing.  Don LaBarge was the holder of the winning ticket in the weekly raffle.  He won $20 and a chance to try to draw the ace of clubs.  His luck did not hold out, so the larger accumulating pot of $219 will roll over to grow a bit more next week.

 

Possibly the shortest new member induction in Mesa West history occurred when Amanda Rosenberg, wife of Frank Rosenberg, was welcomed as our newest member.  Amanda is already a familiar friend to members and has attended many Mesa West meetings and social events.  She has been a Rotary Youth Exchange host mom.  Amanda said she is glad to now be officially a member of the club she already felt a part of.

 

Don LaBarge reported that his recent surgery was successful.  He did not get pneumonia or experience any blood clots when they removed 10" of his colon.  He said they removed 6mm of what they believed to be pre-cancerous tissue.  Don has not yet been released to drive.  Wendell Jones drove Don to the meeting. 

 

Frank Rosenberg reported that Jack is home recovering well from his recent surgery to remove a cancerous kidney.  

 

Ray Smith contributed happy dollars and reported that Lucinda General and Wendell Jones would both be going to Guaymas this year.  Bob Jensen contributed, happy to have enjoyed a vacation in Europe recently.  Wendell Jones reported that 35 members of his family enjoyed quality, active time together the other side of Durango, Colorado.  Ron Thompson was happy to have Kiana interning in his office.  Greg was happy to report that Kiana does have ASU scrubs, but sad to report she refuses to wear them.  John Pennypacker was happy to report he would be spending the next two days at a Celtic Festival in Flagstaff.  Pam Cohen was enjoying getting to spend time with her daughter, but sorry that the reason for her daughter being in town was to have oral surgery.  She also paid happy bucks for the suspicious-appearing contents of a plastic bag  of seed pods which Warren Williamson delivered to Pam from Son Hee.  Lola Mcclane was happy to report she had recently enjoyed time with friends as well as two daughters and two sons in Kansas.  Chris Krueger was happy with the dessert as well as the opportunity to spend the prior weekend in Sedona with Mike and her favorite sister-in-law, Pam Cohen.  Dan Coons paid happy dollars for the opportunity to do the pack the bus school supply service project with Melodie and her daughter.  Tim Troy was happy to report he and his wife had enjoyed a great 4 1/2-week road trip with their family to celebrate their anniversary.  The low point of the trip was when he hit a tree while mountain biking.  Ed Koeneman reported it is 154 days until the next Star Wars movie.  Dick Myren contributed his traditional Rod Daniels "happy to be a member of Mesa West" dollar.  Don LaBarge was happy to have enjoyed time with Robert while he was on summer break from the Pinion school where he teaches. Chuck Flint was happy to report that Dick Myren is celebrating his 60th year as a CPA.  Chuck and his dog had enjoyed a weekend in Greer, Arizona. 

 

Tim Troy had a bag to auction calling it a family fun pack since the bag contained items collected during their family road trip.  Pam Cohen was the successful bidder.

 

President Jim presented recognition certificates to Ray Smith for 18 years, John Pennypacker for 18 years, John Benedict for 18 years, Lucinda General for 22 years, Don LaBarge for 23 years, Jeanie Morgan for 24 Years, Dan Coons for 26 years, Pam Cohen for 27 years, Wendell Jones for 30 years, Chuck Flint for 32 years, and Jack Rosenberg for 39 years.  At the end of this presentation, Jim stated that our club is growing larger.  One of his goals is to have more Rotarians involved in a robust committee structure.

 

Hannah Mason, from Westwood High School Interact, was either the most excited member of the Interact Crutches for Africa Ambassador team to be reunited with loved ones or the team member with the most energy left after travelling nearly half way round the world.  In any case, she was the first hurrying through the gate with a big smile on her face.  Westwood Interact's Sandra Franco appears to be close behind Hannah in third place.  

 

Family and Rotarians welcomed the Interact Ambassadors and their Advisors when they arrived home to Arizona Wednesday afternoon, July 17.  

 

Mesa West Member, John Pennypacker, enjoyed being present for their homecoming and captured some warm moments with his photographic skills.  

 

Shown in the bottom right photo is Lauren Lucas from American Furniture Warehouse.  She was one of the ambassadors.  Her company supported the Crutches for Africa mission by allowing used devices to be collected at their stores, allowing Lauren to travel with the team, and by providing sponsorship dollars.  With Lauren is Elizabeth Mahoney who will be District Governor of Rotary District 5495 in 2020-21.  Elizabeth was an advisor on the Crutches 4 Africa team in the summer of 2018.

 

"Just can’t get away from Rotary, even when on vacation. Nice benches and clock! "

 

This message and photograph were received July 22

By a few Mesa West Board Members

from 

President, Jim Schmidt.

 

The photo was 

Taken in Coronado California.

 

With the Rotary Wheel on the face of the clock,

and the backrest of the bench,

President-Elect Dan Coons

Thinks this photo might be proof of a Rotary makeup.

 

Pam Cohen agreed.

Each Year, on July 1, the leadership in Rotary changes.  Mesa West Rotary Club has a new President - Jim Schmidt.  He is the leader we, as members, will know best.  He will be supported by Rosalyn, who has been by his side for over 42 years.   

 

David Simmer is now the District Governor for District 5495.  He has been preparing for this role since he was selected as District Governor Nominee Designate in 2016-17.

 

Johrita Solari is one of the first two women to serve on the Rotary Board of Directors.  She represents the zone our District is a part of - Zone 26.  Hers is the only two-year position of our new leaders.  To ensure continuity, only half of the directors are new each year. 

 

Mark Daniel Maloney is our new Rotary International President.  Our Past Presidents, Chris Krueger and Ed Koeneman both had the opportunity to hear his remarks at the recent Rotary International Convention in Hamburg, Germany.  He is a member of the Rotary Club of Decatur, Alabama.

 

New leadership each year keeps Rotary fresh and full of energy.  The core values of our vision, the areas of focus of The Rotary Foundation, and our four-way-test keep Rotary dynamic, focused and ethically sound.