Marana Rotary Club Meeting Aug. 4, 2015

 
 
 
What's Rotary?
 
We're a leadership organization.
 
We're made up of local business, professional & civic leaders.
 
We meet regularly, get to know each other, form friendships & through that, we're able to get things done in this community.
 
Another beautiful summer morning in southern Arizona saw Marana Rotarians flocking to their regular Tuesday meeting, like the swallows returning to Capistrano. Or almost like that. Nana’s Kitchen was cookin’ with President Alice Rigney presiding. Two members were welcomed home from long trips:  Alan Chestnut, who was in Colorado and Alaska, and John Dooling, who was somewhere in Wyoming with two grandsons, looking for Yogi the Bear. PDG Randy Brooks introduced a special guest, Mr. Brent Schlosser, the Store Director of Safeway at Twin Peaks and Silverbell (a great store).
 
Wouldn’t you know that John Dooling, the Marana Man of the Year, returns to find himself Song Leader for August? No problem here, John was in his element as he selected “Let It Shine” and the Marana Rotary Choir responded. Dan Contorno was immediately struck with a great fundraising idea. Record our morning songs and sell the CD at events! Now, Dan has had some great ideas, like the rebirth of the Tour de Cookie. Some of his ideas have saved the Marana School District millions of dollars. This wouldn’t be one of those. Still, he’s always thinking.
 
Jane Howell announced that someone left a pair of men’s sunglasses in her purse at a recent Rotary event at Mary Straus’ home. There were no takers, but a lively discussion ensued regarding a variety of theories as to how men’s accessories would find their way into Jane’s purse. Nothin’ but love, Jane.
 
Calendar Update: 
Sat Aug 8
From 5 to 6pm, Alice will be handing out tootsie roll pops on behalf of our Club at the free concert series held at Crossroads Silverbell Park (behind the Marana Wheeler Taft Abbett Sr Library). The concert starts at 7pm. Come join her to help spread the word about Marana Rotary, and enjoy the music as well.
Sat Sept 19
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.
Sept 24-26
District 5500 Conference 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.
Mon Sept 28
All Committee Chairs will meet in the evening with the District Governor Frank Presson at Jo Holt’s home in Oro Valley.
Fri Oct 9
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.
Fri May 21
In 2016, Mary Straus’ installation as Club President. Yes, 2016.
 
Other Announcements:
President Alice wanted everyone to know that Harold Burtzloff had donated the computer that the club is using to show slides at our meetings. Thank you for your generosity, Harold, and all the work you do to maintain our website!  George Rigney gave us an update on the Jim Click Mustang raffle. We have sold 75% of the tickets our club was allotted. Let’s get the rest of them sold, this is a great fundraiser that allows us to do great things!
 
Breaking News:
 
  Also joining us was our new incoming exchange student from Slovakia, Matus, who is now officially a junior at Marana High School. He presented Alice Rigney with several lovely gifts from Slovakia. Matus is staying with his first host family Randy Brooks and Deb Hume in Picture Rocks. Deb is on vacation, and so Randy and Matus are on their own. So far, so good!
 
 
 
Guest Speaker:
Sulee Edwards, John Dooling, Randy Brooks, and Mary Straus attended the Membership Seminar last Saturday, and Suelee, John and Randy gave us a summary of that event. John spoke about the diversity of Rotary membership and what a great strength that was. Randy spoke about how to invite people to the Club by emphasizing that Rotary lets us come together to make a real difference in our community. Fellowship, community service, networking, recognition – these are all important factors in belonging to Rotary. Sulee gave us a jigsaw to put together, which revealed a person and a Rotary icon. Her message: invite a friend to Rotary! She asked each of us to give her a name. It was clear that John, Randy, and Sulee got a lot out of Saturday’s seminar, and they passed a great deal of that along to us in just a few minutes. Now how great is that?