President Kayla Mudge opened the meeting, Captain John Birks led the Pledge of Allegiance, and Eric Silverberg gave two thoughts of the day, one from Yoda “Do or Do not” and one from Bobby McFerrin’s song Don’t Worry Be Happy “Hey, I'll give you my phone number, when you worry, call me, I'll make you happy.”
Today’s raffle was won by Connie Bunyard. She did not draw the Ace of Clubs, so the large pot carries over. Today’s guests included Rae (McKinny-Vento youth coach), Beatrice Lopez, Lisa Grant, Hector Cruz, Ray Villa (Mesa Sunrise), Allison Guerrero Morales and sister Rachel, Jack Burns (potential new member), and Igor Glenn. Then Exavier King told a joke that rivaled some of Warren’s jokes!
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Three new MWR Club members were inducted: Barbara Glen, Dave Dacus, and Tara Dacus. Barbara was accompanied by her husband Igor who pinned her while John Pennypacker pinned Dave and Tara.
Next, the club celebrated two of the Rotary Builds Bridges-McKinney Vento students who are graduating seniors, Allison Guerrero Morales, Hector Cruz, and XX. They were each given the opportunity to speak, a Rotary “4-way test” coin, a book and money.
Andy Bradford then collected Happy Bucks:
- Connie Bunyard was happy that John will be seeing a doctor to help with health issues
- Allan Cady was happy to report that TRVFA has exceeded its fundraising goal for this Rotary-year and MWRC was the top giving club
- Polly Cady was happy to have Rotary Builds Bridges-McKinney Vento graduating students here and that the newly revamped Rotary Connections is coming up on May 30th
- Captain John Birks was happy thank the club for donating to the Salvation Army’s youth pizza party
- Harry Short was happy to have been here over the winter season and traded club banners with Kayla
- John Pennypacker was happy that Ray was here and for the newly inducted members
- Ed Koeneman was happy for his birthday yesterday, that some Interact students are graduating this evening, and the new Star Wars movie is HERE
- Dick Myren was happy to contribute for himself, Rod Daniels, and Don LaBarge
- Harry Grossman was happy that his building’s new AC unit has been installed, his condo’s underground parking lot has been fully restored, and he is feeling better after being under the weather
- Jim Schmidt updated the club on Wendel Jones
- Jim McGown was happy to go to New York for the next 4 months
- Kayla Mudge was happy that the Rotary Builds Bridges-McKinney Vento graduating students were here today
- Warren was happy that his sister, who fell this week, is going to be okay and he told his weekly joke
The speaker today was club member Captain John Birks from the Salvation Army. John discussed the history of the Salvation Army, which began in 1865 in England and he also gave the history of social services in general. Back in the 1800’s, differentiation was made between the “worthy poor” and the “unworthy poor”. Thus, only the worthy poor were helped. William Booth, was an English Methodist preacher who founded the Salvation Army, along with his wife Catherine. They believed in helping everyone without discrimination. The
Salvation Army’s Mission Statement is below:
Catherine Booth was one of the first women who preached the gospel. She and John Booth looked to the Bible to point out equality:
The Salvation Army has improved many things in the world such as
- Reducing white slave trade by lobbying to increase the age of consent
- Improving working conditions including getting industry to replace white phosphorus with red phosphorous, which is less toxic
The Mesa chapter of the Salvation Army serves Mesa and Fountain Hills. The help the community with energy assistance, groceries, senior meals, character development programs (e.g., their Thursday evening youth program), heat relieve, Angel Tree program, seasonal food boxes, summer camp, spiritual counseling, Celebration of Life service, and prayer. They also helped out displaced people of Globe, AZ after the horrible floods last year.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
