Highlights of May 23 Meeting

 

President Colleen thanked

 

 

 

Dick explained the raffle briefly.  The proceeds of ticket sales are divided three ways.  A third goes to the club operating account.  Another third goes to the weekly winner and the final third is added to the accumulating big pot.  The person whose ticket is drawn wins the weekly pot, which was only $15 as ticket sales weren't as brisk as usual.  They would also win the opportunity to try to draw the Ace of Clubs from the deck.  Should they be so lucky, they would win the big pot which was up to $571.  Should they draw the joker, instead, they would win an additional $20.  Dick asked Rafael to draw the winning ticket which was held by Shelly Romine.  After shuffling the cards face-down, the card Shelly drew was the Jack of Hearts.

 

 

 

Steve reported that we were close to reaching $52,000 in donations to Mesa West Rotary Foundation this year.  The Sponsor Program is a great way to raise funds to support our charitable endeavors.  Ray Smith's team is currently leading in fund-raising in this year's campaign.

 

With the sponsorship program, each member either contributes or solicits donations (or both), so there is little or no "cost of fundraising." Also, eliminated  are the countless hours of work involved in preparing for and holding a successful fundraising event.

 

Mesa West Rotary Foundation is the fundraising and funding arm of Mesa West Rotary Club.  It is a separate legal entity and is a 501(c)(3) public charity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Braly and Sage have benefitted from an amazing experience that has helped them bridge the way to their high school diplomas.  Club members first met Braly in September at Westwood High School.  She was very quiet.  Since then, she attended RYLA, where she gained confidence and found her beautiful smile.  She turned eighteen two weeks ago and is the recipient of a full-ride scholarship to Benedictine University.  She was very thankful for everything that was done for her benefit and what she has learned.  Pam, Colleen and Braly posed in front of the Zoom camera for a graduation photo as Braly would be graduating that evening.

 

Colleen had gifts for the girls - medals that say, "Oh, the Places You'll Go!"  The idea for the medals came from a Dr. Seuss book which is found in the children's section, but is a very adult book.

Braly was given a graduatin gift and a bag of goodies.

 

Sage is a Dobson High School student.  She will graduate this summer.  When she first got involved in our program, she and her older sister had been freshly kicked out.  She opened up to her counselor, List Grant, who has become her best friend.  She has never really felt alone.   She is thankful for lots of different things, and especially thankful she will graduate this summer.  She had feared she wouldn't graduate at all.  She is looking forward to coming back to celebrate her graduation.

 

 

President Colleen introduced Sara Anderson who she met when Mesa West Rotary had a booth at the Martin Luther King Parade and celebration event.  Sara is an Outreach Specialist with Just Serve Arizona.  CLICK HERE or on the image to visit their website.

 

Lisa said it is her job to find volunteers and funds.  Some of the charities they serve are some Mesa West is already familiar with - Paz de Cristo, and Midwest Food Bank, for instance.  Sara said she has known Ray Smith for a long time.  They used to live in the same neighborhood.

 

Sara said that their outreach is possible through their website and app, but she was glad to be at our meeting as she enjoys opportunities to connect on an individual level.  At Just Serve, they believe in building unity through community service.  She believes, that - deep in our hearts - that is something we all need and want to do.

 

Local non-profit needs are poste on line.  There are 100's of local projects.  Posting needs for volunteers is free.  They cannot guaranty that all needs will be filled.  They even have an international reach.

 

John Hewko with Rotary International is on the Just Serve Advisory Council.

 

Volunteering is good for both body and soul.  It's also been proven to be good for overall health.  Feel-good hormones produced through heart-warming volunteer work last longer than brief pleasant encounters.  For many, they feel they are doing what God wants them to do.  Communities are strengthened through volunteer service.  

 

Mesa is a "Just Serve" city.  She hopes that Mesa West will be involved in an end-of-summer event - a 9-11 Serve Your City Day.  The intent is to change the terror associated with that date to a pleasant memory of a Day of Service in a "Love Your City Day - which will be held September 7 this year.  She suggested some "What if's"

She told about a thankful vet who had been served a meal that tasted familiar.  When he asked, they were able to verify the meal had come from Famous Dave's.  Prior to that day, the vet had only had Famous Dave's when he raided their dumpster.  To be served and be seen gave him an immeasurable new level of dignity.

 

After Sara's presentation, Jay suggested she join Rotary as she clearly had a heart for service.  He asked if students could get service learning hours through the volunteer opportunities on their website and she said that they could.