Marana Rotary Club Meeting Aug.18, 2015

President Alice Rigney opened our Rotary meeting, and song leader and Marana Man of the Year John Dooling chose an inspirational song to greet the early morning in Marana. Very special, although not everyone could recall the lyrics to “Pop Goes the Weasle.”

 

We were very pleased to have Assistant District Governor Jim Lamb visiting us today, as well as Don Zavis, who is active in sales training (donzavis@comcast.net), and our speaker, Vanessa Gonzales with Saguaro National Park.

 

Alice, PDG Randy Brooks, and President-Elect Mary Straus talked about the upcoming District 5500 Conference and how important it is to attend (see Calendar Update below). There is no better way to get the vibe of Rotary, Randy says, than to attend at least part of the Conference! Alice announced that the Nogales water project, which is being led by Saddlebrooke Rotary, is still at the funding stage, but should get underway in the next few weeks. It’s exciting to partner with another Rotary club in an international project so close to home, and the importance of clean drinking water at school cannot be overestimated.

 

Secretary Jo Holt gave an update on the newly-formed Interact Club at Tortolita Middle School and the upcoming launch of our Financial Literacy Project. Honorary Club member Kathleen Neighbors, a teacher at Tortolita, is organizing the Interact Club, which will meet after school on Wednesdays. Jo reported that we will be using a financial literacy program from the Univ. of AZ (takechargetoday.arizona.edu). Kathleen is adapting the lesson plans to fit within the Interact Club time frame. Jo thanks both Kathleen and Principle Rex Scott for their support of our new literacy program.

 

 

A special Board meeting with District Governor Frank Presson and Assistant District Governor Jim Lamb in the evening at Jo Holt’s home in Oro Valley. All committee chairs will be reporting to the DG. Agenda, instructions, exact time, and directions to Jo’s will be sent to all participating Club members.

 

The Community Food Bank Hunger Walk will take place at Tucson’s Kino Sports Complex (www.HungerWalkArizona.org). Marana Rotary is sponsoring a bus to take Marana participants to the walk.

The annual District 5500 Conference will be held at the Hilton El Conquistador in Oro Valley. Our Club, in conjunction with the Dove Mountain and Oro Valley Clubs, will be hosting an ice cream social on Friday Sept 25. To register for the Conference, go to the District website, www.RotaryD5500.org, where you’ll be directed to the District Conference 2015 Site Page.

The Service Above Self Awards Dinner at Dove Mountain Highlands Clubhouse. Note to members:  now is the time to start rounding up raffle prizes for this gala event.

 

In 2016, Mary Straus’ installation as Club President. Yep, that’s next year, folks.

 

 

Alice presented Nana’s Kitchen owner and club member Javier Teran with a new Sergeant at Arms pin, which seemed to soften him up just a little.

 

Medical updates dominate our breaking news segment today. First of all, Harold Burtzloff re-joined us after his successful surgery. And would you believe it…? Yes, it’s Tony Hunter returning to the fold after his very serious cycling accident. Welcome back!! And the good news continues – Past President Maeve Johnson reported that Past President Kathleen Debiak had successful surgery and, after many months, her health is returning. Now that's worth celebrating!

 

 UofA senior Vanessa Gonzales, a wildlife conservation major and part of the Ranger Corps at Saguaro National Park East, gave us some of the history and current uses of the Park. A professor at the UofA and a local newspaper were instrumental in having the area set aside as a national monument in 1933. The monument became a national park in 1984, and is divided into East and West segments with a total of 165 miles of hiking. Saguaros are trees with long lifetimes, growing very slowly. Young saguaro are easily destroyed and damaged by trampling, and that was one of the main reasons for protecting their habitat. Although they begin blooming at 35 years, and develop arms at around 55 years, saguaro live beyond 200 years. The Western National Parks Association and the Friends of Saguaro are important funding partners of Saguaro National Park. The Park is truly a national treasure that we host here in southern Arizona. We thank Vanessa for her visit and wish her the best in her career!