Highlights from February 10 Meeting

 

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:

 

 

Warren Williamson led the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

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.  

 

 

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.

 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

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..

 

 

 

 

Greg has worked at the Ross Farnsworth East Valley YMCA located at Recker and Baseline for twelve years.  He started working Part-time in their fitness center and has worked his way up.  Recently, he was promoted to Executive Director.  

 

He shared their mission - To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body FOR ALL.

 

Greg shared a lot of information in his presentation.  CLICK HERE to see all his slides.  One of the photos he showed was of James Mason who invented the game of basketball and introduced it to the YMCA as a fitness activity.  Another interesting was the transformation of their logo, which today is primarily "the Y" as it is a much more inclusive organization than it was in the beginning.

 

In March of 2020 when fitness centers had to close down because of the COVID pandemic, they became an emergency child care facility to care for the children of care workers.  During that same period, they had a program of reaching out to seniors by phone so they had someone to talk with.  They also started a Virtual YMCA - YMCA staff in Arizona was reduced drastically due to the pandemic.  Pre-covid, there were 1300 and after, that number was down to 250.  With PCP help, they were able to bring back staff to partner to hand out free lunches.  Between May 13 and June 20 they were open again briefly

 

At the Ross Farnsworth Center, child care became very important.  They pick up children from their schools in Y buses and take them to their center and provide snacks.  They operate a pre school child care option that opens at 6:30 AM and closes at 6:30 PM.  Attending children bring their own lunches.

Parents apply through the state to qualify for the program.  They have STEM activities, gym activities and occasionally go on field trips. 

Students from AT Still University come to their center to teach the youngsters dental hygiene.  

 

They have summer camp all summer long.  Youth sports is a large focus and the have a Jr. Suns Partnership.

 

Ted Williams asked about his son's observation that there were never winners or losers - just participants, but the kids knew who won.  Greg's response indicated that for beginner and early ages, that is true.

 

Not all of their activities target youth.   In their Fitness Center, they have a Silver Sneakers program.  

 

Safety around water is a huge focus.  For kids who don't know how to swim, The Y provides about 1,000 lessons each year in the valley.

 

There are charges for their programs.  Community support allows them to scholarship youth who cannot afford to participate.  They strongly feel no child should be turned away.

 

Dick Myren remembered attending a YMCA summer camp in Iowa when he was about 8 or 9.  At that time it was all boys and they swam in the nude.

 

Water safety is a big focus.  On the tables for everyone present were "Water Watcher Pledge Cards."  He led everyone in making the pledge:

 

to keep kids safe in and around the water.

 

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.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sean announced that he had State 48 shirts for most members who had ordered them.  He had them with him at the meeting and planned to stay afterward to give them to those who had placed orders for them.  The small shirts were not yet available.