Opening and Welcome - President Jay Paulus
President Jay asked Dick Myren to offer the invocation. Jay led the Pledge of Allegiance.
The Rotary International theme this year is The Magic of Rotary. Jay witnessed some of that magic Saturday September 28 when Mesa West Rotary volunteers worked with over 100 volunteers to build 153 beds for children in our community who do not have beds. He learned a new trick. The way Sleep in Heavenly Peace stains the wood in their beds is to let steel wool rust in vinegar and run the stained vinegar into the wood.
He also mentioned a collaborative partnership between College Bound and Mesa West Rotary in which food from Midwest Food Bank was delivered to Benedictine University to start a food pantry for students at the university who might be experiencing food poverty. The Rotaract Club at the University helped with setup and will help keep the pantry neatly managed.
Dick recited 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.
The Mesa West Rotary motto is: Transforming Communities, Creating Opportunities, and Impacting Youth.
During the recent service projects building beds and working in the rose garden at MCC, Jay said he felt like he needed four arms and four legs. That reminded him of something from Greek mythology. Plato said we were originally created with four arms and four legs and two faces, but were condemned to lose two arms, two legs and one face so we would have to spend life in search of our other half.
Introduction of Guests
- Chad Reid was introduced as a potential member who would like to combine his Toastmaster activities with Rotary.
- Clem Leslie, a local attorney, was introduced. Jay would like to invite local business owners/professionals to come in and talk briefly about their business.
- Polly Cady introduced Gary Whitehall from the Sedona Rotary Club. They met Gary at RLI. He wanted to attend so he could take ideas back to his own club.
Ace of Clubs Raffle - Chuck Flint
Chuck asked our speaker, Kim Slaughter to draw the winning ticket. He explained the large pot was up to $260. The small pot was $30. The holder of the ticket drawn would have the opportunity to try to draw the Ace of Clubs from the cards remaining in the deck. If they should draw the joker, they would win an additional $20. If they were lucky enough to draw the Ace of Clubs, they would win the big pot. The ticket Kim drew belonged to President Jay. Jay asked Chuck to have Liz do the shuffling and drawing on his behalf. The card Liz drew was the Four of Diamonds.
Happy Bucks - Andy Bradford - Sgt at Arms
- Liz Paulus contributed $20 for her new twin grandbabies.
- Colleen Coons was happy Connie Bunyard was at the meeting and thanked Connie for making three McKinney Vento blankets. Son Hee Williamson is making ten more. Colleen was very happy she had been invited to visit Justin Hart at Just-In Time Moving to receive a $4,000 check for our McKinney Vento Program.
- Chuck Flint contributed sad dollars because he had not won the raffle.
- Don Boucher contributed sad dollars. He had withdrawn from active participation in Rotary during the last quarter after the June passing of their two good friends and extended family members and the passing of Sharon's mother in August. He contributed happy dollars because he was back in attendance. He and Sharon had returned Tuesday from a trip to LA where they visited their son, daughter-in-law, and their three children which included the newest arrival Madison Ashlee, born 09/18 at a weight of 10lbs, 5ozs. On Saturday, he was able to complete his annual Federal firearms qualification (HR218) at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Weapons Training Facility and visit with former colleagues.
- Harry Grossman was happy to announce a win by the Cardinals.
- Polly Cady was happy to see so many guests. She said RLI was fun. Dick Myren and Deb Koeneman from our club club were both in attendance. Andy Bradford plans to attend the next one which is planned for November 16.
- John Pennypacker contributed to urge members to hold the microphone near their mouths when speaking. He was happy because his grandniece had recently given birth to twins - a boy and a girl. They each weighed less than two pounds when they were born two months early. They are home now and doing well.
- Don LaBarge contributed. He had camped at Greer for two weeks. He recently sold his business and had been overwhelmed. He enjoyed the Westwood High School students who borrowed his trailer to decorate for the homecoming parade.
- Chad is happy for the future. He said Toastmasters International formed an alliance with Rotary International in 2019. COVID got in the way. His hope is for a stronger future for both organizations through bringing the alliance to fruition.
- Dick Myren contributed for his traditional joy of he and honorary member Rod Daniels being associated with the Ace of Clubs. He asked to be billed for $100 for his Paul Harris account to celebrate his and Sandy's anniversary Saturday and Sandy's birthday on the 20th. As the elder statesman of the club, he said he found RLI interesting. He suggested any member who has not gone should do so - the club pays for it. He said Polly does a great job running it with Allan's help.
- Jay Paulus contributed $2 to celebrate a planned burger burn the Benedictine University Rotaract plans to hold to recruit new members. Currently, they only have five members in their club. He also pledged $50 to celebrate his and Liz' 23rd Anniversaty October 6.
- Warren Williamson said he had recently contributed to the Annual Fund to celebrate his and Son Hee's 18th anniverary Monday. He went on to say that Son Hee is a handwork expert. Colleen Coons wanted to learn how to be as creative as Son Hee. Colleen asked about the source of the word "crochet." Son Hee explained it was a french word meaning "hook." With that new knowledge, Warren explained that his wife is teaching Colleen how to be a hooker.
Announcements
- Soup to Nuts Service Project October 5 at the home of Pam Cohen.
- Week Without Violence contest winners to be honored October 5 at MCC at 1:00 PM
- Jeanie has come up with a Member Handbook to be introduced at Soup to Nuts. CLICK HERE to download your copy. It is available in the Member Resources tab on our club website: mesawestrotary.org.
- There will be no meeting at the hotel October 10. There will be an open house at the main library in Mesa at 10 a.m. to introduce the Virtual Reality headsets donated to the library by Mesa West Rotary. Lunch will follow the open house.
- On November 15, the hotel will not have room for us. John Pennypacker has arranged an offsite meeting opportunity.
- On October 15, the annual Child Crisis Lunch For Love will be held at the Biltmore. Mesa West Rotary has a table. Check with Pam Cohen to see if any seats remain available.
- Ray Smith has announced that the annual Guaymas Hearing Project will take place November 6-9. He says he has ten volunteers from our club who will be providing logistical support for the project.
- Connie Bunyard reminded members that our club is a member organization of the Mesa Chamber of Commerce. She said their is an economic development bus tour planned for October 9. It will begin with a breakfast at EVIT. She said there were just a few spots left. Interested members could visit the Mesa Chamber website to sing up. She said there are many ways to get involved. Once a month, there is a Taste of Mesa event. There is a morning coffee once a month.
Program - Kim Slaughter - Together Saving Paws
Kim expressed appreciation for being at the meeting. She said she has long been a friend of Chuck Flint and Pam Cohen. She said she has a background in real estate as an investor. She is now semi-retired and can follow her passion. She started a non-profit. Born in Michigan, she moved to Arizona at the age of two. She is a Uof A graduate.
Your editor apologizes. It was difficult to hear the presentation via Zoom. CLICK HERE or on the image above to see the slides Kim shared during her presentation.
She shared some links to videos she tried to show during her program:
The above QR codes will take you to her website and brochure.