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Welcome - Dan Coons As members and guests were arriving for the meeting, they were greeted by Carla Krcmarik. President Dan opened the meeting by introducing himself then reciting the Rotary International theme - Serve to Change Lives. He then reminded everyone of 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 John Pennypacker was prepared to offer the invocation with a prayer focussed on the value friendship: Heavenly Father, I cannot imagine how storms can be navigated, burdens borne, and hardships handled without the company of a few good friends. I praise you today for the gift of friendship - for the joy, encouragement, and refreshment you give me through my friends. When we walk through difficult and draining seasons, we're inclined to think, "No one can possibly understand what I'm going through. Nobody can relate to my feelings and confusion. Everyone would handle this mess much better than I am." Those are the times when it's easy to withdraw into isolation, fall into the it of condemnation, and reach for some iss-chosen medication. That's when the gift of long-standing, all-weather, burden-bearing friends becomes especially precious. Father, I praise you for the gift of hearing my friends say these two words: "Me too." I praise you for friends who know how to "refresh the hearts of the saints_ - including this saint. I praise you for friends who remind me of the truth and power of the gospel, of the love of Jesus, and of the bigger story you are always writing. I praise you for friends who share their lives and not just their gospel. I praise you for friends who offer tears and not just their answers. I praise you for friends who give life-giving wisdom and not just mess-fixing formulas. Father, my all-weather friends turn my heart heavenward. They simply remind me that the foundation and fountain of all good friendship is found in the gospel. It's overwhelming, settling, and centering to hear Jesus say to us, "I no longer call you servants... I call you friends" (John 15:15). Indeed, Jesus is the friend that sticks closer than a brother (Prov. 18:24). What wondrous love is this, indeed? "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends" (John 15:13). Hallelujah, what a salvation! Hallelujah, what a Savior! So very Amen I pray, in Jesus' most glorious and gracious name. Warren Williamson led the Pledge of Allegiance. Introduction of Guests: - Greg Bouslog introduced his father, Steve Bouslog, a visiting Rotarian from Princeton, Illinois. Steve was prepared with a Rotary flag from his club to exchange with President Dan.
- Diane Ware was introduced by Colleen Coons. Colleen was happy to share that Diane has a membership application in process.
Ace of Clubs Raffle - Chuck Flint Chuck announced that the holder of the stub of the ticket drawn would automatically win $45. They would also win an opportunity to try to draw the Ace of Clubs from the deck which would make them the winner of the big pot which is now up to $1,220. Guest, Steve Bouslog drew Carla Krcmarik's ticket. After Chuck shuffled the cards, Carla drew the Nine of Hearts. Happy Birthday Colleen Coons had baked a cake, and Ray Smith led everyone in singing Happy Birthday to Jeanie Morgan. A frew trick candles that didn't want to be blown out were on the cake.  Rotary Minute - Tim Troy Tim used his Rotary Minute to talk about the the House of Refuge - the organization who will benefit from the project at House of Refuge our club will be working on and providing funding for utilizing the funds received from a Rotary District 5495 grant combined with funds from our own Mesa West Rotary Foundation. Tim explained that the signup date to work at the project was originally set to be February 26. That date will have to be pushed into March. Oter volunteers working on other projects at the facility have exhausted the number of House of Refuge employees available to work with volunteers on Saturdays at their site. The House of Refuge houses families in transition. It is a hand up, not a hand out. Housing is provided by House of Refuge to families who are able to live independently in one of the eighty-eight residences located at what used to be Williams Air Force Base. In addition to the homes, there is a chapel and an office on site. They have been in operation since 1995. The families are housed for a year. No government funding is involved. New residents are typically homeless, at risk of becoming homeless, or victims of domestic violence, and must have at least one child. In addition to providing housing, for the year that families are there, resources are provided to help the residents grow in their ability to manage their families independently when it is time for them to leave. In addition to volunteer work maintaining the residences, volunteers are needed on an ongoing basis in many other areas - one of which would be tutoring of the children living in the community. With the grant funds, Mesa West will be painting and providing new flooring in one of the residences, as well as painting. We had hoped to replace cabinets, but supply-line issues may prevent that from happening at this time. Since having available House of Refuge staff available on Saturdays is a challenge, Tim asked if members would be willing to do the painting portion of the project on a Friday. Several members raised their hands indicating they would be able to be there on a Friday to help, so Tim was going to work on making that happen. Rotary Peace Fellow Candidate - Erica Henderson Bob Zarling introduced Erica Henderson and AG Lee Holmes who were both attending the meeting via Zoom. Bob and Lee met and were very impressed with Erica when they went to South Africa to visit a project at Blessman International's operation there. Erica worked for Blessman International as an Agricultural Specialist from January to October 2019. Erica has applied for a Rotary Peace Fellowship. Bob would like for Mesa West Rotary to be her sponsoring club. There is no cost to the club for doing . The Rotary Foundation awards up to 130 fully funded fellowships for dedicated leaders from around the world to study at one of their peace centers. Up to 50 fellowships are for Master's Degree programs and up to 80 are for certificate study programs at premier universities. CLICK HERE to learn more about the Peace Fellow Program. Erica spoke for a few minutes introducing herself and her passion for what she wants to accomplish with her life was apparent. CLICK HERE to download her resume. Happy Bucks - Ron Thompson - Dick Myren contributed $5. He enjoyed hearing about Erica. He spoke with Rod Daniels who says he is feeling pretty well and has a granddaughter who is in nursing who is staying with him.
- Jeanie Morgan pledged $80 to the sponsorship campaign to celebrate the beginning of her 80th trip around the sun.
- Greg Okonowski pledged $100 to the sponsorship campaign.
- John Pennypacker contributed $10 - he was happy Rod Daniels had a good friend - Don LaBarge - who recognized that Rod was not well and sent him home from work early. Rod made a brief stop at an urgent care facility. They had him transported to the hospital. He was having a "ghost heart attack," which he learned is not unusual for those with diabetes. He now has two stents in his heart and is resting at home feeling pretty good.
- Frank Rosenberg contributed and offered to do a program on how to recognize and respond when with someone who is possibly having a heart attack. He also reminded members he can help them get certified to do CPR.
- Steve Ross Pledged $78 to his Paul Harris account to celebrate his successful surgery.
- Visiting Rotarian Steve Bouslog contributed. He was happy to be visiting Greg Bouslog and his family - especially his grandsons. He was looking forward to seeing the Iowa Hawkeyes battle the Fighting Illini on the basketball court on March 6. He also commented on how nice it is to hear a local weather forecast that does not mention the wind chill index.
- Penny May contributed. She was happy that her friends in Mesa West Rotary took her complaints about the cold temperatures in Arizona made at the February 3 meeting seriously. She said "You've come thru in spades!" with pleasant weather this week.
- Bob Zarling announced that on March 15 he is helping host an event at the Gilbert History Museum. They are going to open their train center, and there will be a tour of the museum. Lunch will be provided by Gilbert House.
- Chuck Flint contributed $1 to announce that he had a report with him at the meeting if anyone wanted to check with him to see how far they were from reaching their first or next level of Paul Harris Fellow recognition. He said Robin Harris has pledged to donate $200, and Chuck is going to match that donation by transferring recognition points to Robin's account. Chuck will match recognition points for dollars in $100 increments for any other club member who requests that he do so.
- Jack Rosenberg contributed $6 to get to his next Paul Harris fellow recognition level.
- Ron Thompson contributed. He said he's been flying for years and never thought much about it, but his son has been taking flying lessons and was scheduled for his first solo flight. Now Ron thinks that flying is pretty scary.
- Carla Krcmarik contributed the $45 she had won in the raffle
- Pam Cohen pledged $100 to the sponsorship campaign. She was happy because she had the opportunity the prior weekend to travel to California to see the Blue Angels.
- Dan Coons contributed to celebrate Jeanie Morgan's birthday, thanking her for all she does for the club. He wondered aloud if maybe he creates a wind chill when he talks.
Auction - Warren Williamson Warren Williamson had a beautiful scarf created by Son Hee Williamson to auction with the proceeds to go to the Sponsorship Campaign. Steve Ross was the top bidder at $100 to ensure the donation was credited to his team of which Warren is a member.. |
After Greg concluded his presentation, Shelly Romine presented him with a $2,000 check from Mesa West Rotary Foundation to support the programs Greg had described. 
State 48 Shirts - Sean Green
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:
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