Today was a special day for our Club, as we were visited by District Governor Frank Presson, Assistant Governor Jim Lamb, and District Governor Nominee Joe Hentges. Past President of Marana Rotary Kim Holaway also joined us to thank us for thinking of her and husband Dave. And Honorary member Deb Hume was there along with our amazing exchange student Matus! President Elect, Mary Straus, stood in for President Alice Rigney. We all hope you feel much better very soon, Alice!
 
When you think of Randy, think of “taskmaster.”
Or so says District Administrator Liz Cohn, also our guest this Tuesday. She was talking about none other than Randy Brooks, PDG and District Vice-Governor and an all-round extraordinary human being.
 
When you think of chicken wings, think of Denise.
Mary reminded us that items for the silent auction at our upcoming Service Before Self awards dinner are still be sought. To help us identify items that would suit that purpose, MCAT Principal Denise Coronado staged a group exercise, part of which involved something we were supposed to write on cards AND holding one’s elbows out to the side like chicken wings. Many of us were completely distracted by the latter and could no longer recall what the exercise was about. Thank you Principal Coronado for a very special Rotary moment.
 
Calendar Update: 
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
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.
 
Fri Oct 9
Our annual Service Above Self Awards Dinner at Dove Mountain Highlands Clubhouse. You can buy your tickets for this event right here on our website!
 
Wed Nov 7
Rotary Foundation Day includes a seminar at PCC from 9am to 3pm, and dinner at the Omni, reception at 6pm, dinner at 7.
 
 
Breaking News:
THIS FRIDAY at Nana’s, Randy Brooks will be strummin’ and singin’ along with his good friend Bert Beatty from Las Vegas. You won’t want to miss it on Sept. 18 from 6-8pm! Randy and friends always play for a good cause.
 
Presentation of Paul Harris Society membership to Mary Straus
Guest Charlotte Harris, past President of the Tucson Rotary Club, introduced our President Elect Mary who received her Paul Harris Society pin today fro DG Frank Presson. The Rotary Foundation recognizes those members who contribute $1000 or more every year to the Annual Fund, Polio Plus, or approved Foundation grants through induction into the Paul Harris Society. We know Mary as the Mom of Lilly, a frequent guest at our meetings, but did you know that she has a MA in Psychology and a BS in Occupational Therapy? She has worked in behavioral health for over 25 years with people living a wide range of socio-cultural experiences. Mary currently owns her own private practice. She joined Rotary in Dec 2013 and also serves on the board of Owl and Panther, a non-profit group that uses the arts and community partnerships to address refugee families affected by political torture and trauma. All of us in Marana Rotary want to thank and congratulate Mary on her dedication to Rotary!
 
Guest Speaker:
AG Jim Lamb, the immediate past President of Saddlebrooke Rotary, greeted us all in Cherokee, a proud part of his heritage. In introducing DG Frank Presson, Jim reminded us that Frank is a past President of the Rotary Club of Catalina. Frank shared several inspirational stories with us, including his experience with a 16 yr old boy in Mexico who was paralyzed and could only move around by dragging himself or being carried by someone. Through Rotary, the boy received his first wheelchair, and was suddenly granted a new level of independence. This was Frank’s Rotary moment.
 
Frank talked about the issue of retaining members world-wide. He emphasized the importance of local projects that engage a wide range of members. Local projects change lives, Frank said, right in front of you. And that changes your life as well. Past President Maeve Johnson asked Frank for his primary, overarching goal as DG, which he said in his response was to increase service projects with youth groups. To this end, he praised our club for our newly re-formed Interact Club at Tortolita Middle School and our local service projects that benefit young people. Thank you Frank, for your visit and inspirational message!