Meeting Notes 8/25/26 (ZOOM)
Mark called the meeting to order at 7:00 am leading the group in the Pledge of
Allegiance. (Thanks, John, for the hand-held flag on screen!)
Happy Buck$:
Bev: Thinking about the recent tragedy involving a young Marana
student…looking for ways to support/educate bike safety… excited that next
week she will be subbing at Vista right after our meeting in the Dental Assisting
Program!
Cindy: Youth Exchange student from South Korea is settling in nicely - no
problems making friends! Part of the Ironwood Ridge HS Football Team! She and
John attended last Friday’s football game! Go Eagles!
Gregg: It’s Tuesday! Enough reason to celebrate! 😄
Peter: Just got back from his trip to Mallorca, Spain, to witness a total, yet
cloudy, sunset eclipse. Even though he set up at 4:30 am, there were another
half a million people all wanting the same shot…14 hours later… clouds parted
for a beautiful sunset…planning to go to Egypt and then Australia for the next
ones (Bev volunteered to be an assistant 🙂
John: Hosted a great Family Game Night on Saturday!! All 3 kids were able to
be there and a former exchange student, about 15 people in total - Fun!! (Maybe
our September social is game night at the Doolings’ House 😂 Remember you
wanted to bake, Cindy?!)
Laura: Claims to have a new puppy, yet we saw no photographic proof…but she
is a Great Dane (aka slobbery goofball) named Dulcinea… she may have a
dislike of windmills…iykyk) - Excited to be a part of the Legal Community Against
Hunger (assuming the co-chair position) and attended Pima County Bar
Association Awards Gala this past Saturday - excited about a matching grant for
the Southern Arizona Community Food Bank
Mike: shared a great story about his hiker friend’s son…this 22-year-old is
Autistic and has struggled with substance abuse, executive function, and just
coping…but this summer he achieved amazing grades and is now able to go to
Barcelona, Spain, for a semester. He plans to get a degree in Marketing and
possibly pursue his MBA…way to go!!
Bob - From “cooler” Virginia - enjoying the grands - they went back to school on
Monday…so a little different now - The club has interviewed 18 candidates as
vocational students with the TRVFA, and he will be presenting at this year’s
conference
Harold - Club received District approval and matching funds ($500) for the Book
Vending Machine at Roadrunner Elementary School - Yay! Let’s get those books
purchased, labeled, and in that machine!!
Mark: week of emotions, was in Phoenix for a safety conference last Thursday
when he received the tragic news - shared the “I Love You” protocol used in
MUSD that will be adopted statewide… Spent the weekend with his son and new
puppy, Romeo 🥰; daughter is in NC as a traveling nurse and then will be
heading to Johns Hopkins in DC…can be a permanent gig :)
Updates & New Business:
Guest Speakers -
● September 8 - Adam Ostmeyer - Safety presentation
● Bev & John met a representative from MADD - Gretel Cruxmer - at the
district backpack event - possible interest in membership and guest
speaker - John emailed her but no reply; Bev will check her info and reach
out to Bob
SHU Shoe Donation Project
● Mark provided an update on the SHU project, explaining that two clubs
have been chosen to collect shoe donations, which will be distributed
through the school district's Family Resource Center
● Requested help with two tasks: responding to Don Jorgensen about the
pass-through process and creating a flyer to promote the shoe donation
initiative to other clubs. Gregg offered to help design the flyer, while
Michael volunteered to assist with corresponding with Don regarding the
pass-through details
Meals at Hope
● Cindy explained that Charlene (Dove Mountain Club) is leading an initiative
to purchase large quantities of food items, which will be bagged into
family-sized portions by Rotary Clubs...
● Ways to identify organizations where families need intermediate assistance
beyond what food banks provide, with Cindy reaching out to Louisa Palma
at the Marana Food Bank for guidance
Tour de Cookie Part 2 - Part Deux
● Group has agreed to focus our efforts on our March Tour de Cookie and
start planning now for October 2027, when we can do a Part Two Event
● Bev suggested involving the Interact and other HS groups…Maybe do
teams & themes
District Conference - September 18 & 19 - Tubac Convention Center
● This year’s theme, “How Has Rotary Impacted You”
● Cindy & Bob will be presenting!!
Next Steps:
Bev - Send MADD info to Bob
Cindy - Follow up with Louisa re. Meals at Hope
Gregg - Design a flyer for the shoe project and will incorporate photos from our
trip to the Resource Center; content and info provided by Mark
Laura - Reach out to Carol Buell about partnership for the Meals at Hope project
Mark - Forward notes from Don to Mike for pass-through; October Marana event
details - consideration for club’s participation; send Gregg info for flyer
Mike - Pass-through for the shoe donation project - notes from Don via Mark
Harold - Bank info for electronic donations for SHU to the Marana Rotary
Foundation to Gregg & Mark
Mark concluded the meeting at 8:04 am, Our meeting ended with the 4 Way Test

Special Guest:  Kristina Brewer, Principal of Roadrunner

Mark called the meeting to order at 7:05 am; Gregg led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Marana Events/Planning

• Laura met with town officials on Friday (see email update)
• Good to go for March 6, 2027 for Tour de Cookie
• Expressed concern with October being too soon and a possible conflict with the Marana Fall Festival on October 17
• Marana has requested 6 months' notice - Laura will start the paperwork in September for our March event 
• December activity was cancelled…maybe we take that event date??
• Gregg discussed surveying the Facebook followers to gauge interest

• Differences in registering events with Town of Marana vs. Pima County
• Who maintains The Loop? County vs. city upkeep
• Mark suggested we “adopt” a section of the Loop, maybe by Crossroads Park…could provide club visibility, improve our public image - similar to the Casas Adobes club

Next Steps

• Contact cookie vendors to gauge interest in a 2nd event
• Notify past participants?
• Adopting part of The Loop - Mark will discuss at tonight’s Presidents’ meeting
• Post survey on Facebook to gauge rider interest in 2nd ride

Interactive Math Demonstration with Mr. Beck, Math Teacher at Vista Academy

• Our group had the privilege to spend some time in Mr. Beck’s classroom as he led us in a hands-on, cooperative activity - “Legal Tax Evation” 
• This teaching method focuses on helping students think independently rather than just copying information
• Mr. Beck wants to know that his students are able to think critically for themselves; he also stressed that it is essential to build community, get to know his students before the content…

Mark concluded the meeting, thanking Mr. Beck and gifting him the coveted blue Rotary Cowbell, and invited him to join us in the 4 Way Test.

The meeting was the installation of Mark as president of the Rotary Club of Marana, with District Governor Emma Carrillo presiding. Emma recognized outgoing president Cindy Dooling, installed Mark and the club’s officers and directors, and delivered a message focused on creating lasting impact, membership growth, Rotary Foundation support, and service projects. She highlighted the club’s strengths in education, literacy, and food security, shared a poem about the club’s work, and discussed strategies for onboarding, engagement, and retention of members. Members shared what impressed them about the club, including its sense of community, involvement, and impact, and long-time members explained what kept them in Rotary, such as friendship, philanthropy, and a sense of family. Bob reported that the club led District 5500 in donations to TRV and per-member giving. The group discussed ideas for increasing and retaining membership, the value of visiting other clubs, and the importance of mentors and follow-up with new and prospective members. The meeting closed with the 4-Way Test and recognition of Cindy’s service as a poll worker.

Next steps

Aleta Weiner, District 5500 Asst Governor

• Support the Rotary Club of Marana in growing its membership, including providing training and resources.
• Compile a list of speakers from the region to share with other clubs, as part of the district-wide speakers bureau initiative.

Mark Gologowski

• Identify and confirm who will serve as the Membership Chair for the Rotary Club of Marana.
• Organize for the Rotary Club of Marana to attend the Dove Mountain Club meeting on August 6th as a group.
• Designate a central person to coordinate all speakers for the club's meetings this year.
• Reach out to potential new members who have visited the club, connecting them with an individual for follow-up (e.g., coffee meeting).
• Encourage new members (e.g., Greg) to attend the District Conference on September 18th and 19th.
• Consider organizing a social event or gathering for potential new members to showcase the club's accomplishments.
• Implement a mentorship or sponsorship program for new members, ensuring regular check-ins and engagement.
• Identify the tech person and the person in charge of speakers within the club for coordination purposes.

Summary

Meeting Setup and Content Planning

Mark and John arrived early to the meeting location and helped set up, offering coffee and refreshments to attendees. 

New District Governor Introduction Meeting

Mark introduced Emma Carrillo, the new district governor, highlighting her extensive background in education and previous leadership roles in the Tucson Kino Rotary Club. Emma's career spanned four decades as an educator, including serving as a retired elementary school principal and mentoring future administrators. She has been actively involved in various district committees and community service projects focused on literacy.

The meeting closed with the 4-Way Test and recognition of Cindy’s service as a poll worker.

All members in attendance with the exception of Laura and Cindy.

 Dove Mountain is hosting a meeting on Thursday with northwest clubs to determine if Meals of Hope is a project we can undertake.

• MCAT Star Student recognition dates for the 2026-27 Rotary year have been identified. We will continue to volunteer in the Food Bank afterwards.
• Next week’s meeting is the standard business meeting and they the club will recess until July 14.

• 

   The Zones Institute check for $2,500 was delivered to Don. He’ll help to bring the shoes for MUSD’s FRC in September.

 Gene Medina Inter-Country Committees (ICCs) by guest speaker Gene. He noted his extensive involvement with the Intercountry Committee, global grants, and educational initiatives across multiple countries including the USA, Philippines, Belize, and Guatemala. He shared his  own 33-year involvement in Rotary, including his role as a foundation trainer and work with basic educational literacy programs since 2014.

Gene explained that ICCs are international Rotary partnerships connecting clubs across countries to promote peace, friendship, and humanitarian projects, noting that District 500 has six active ICCs connecting to about 50 districts nationwide. He shared examples of current projects including eco-toilets and water filters in Guatemala, and discussed how smaller clubs can participate in international initiatives with modest funding. The club also discussed upcoming activities including the Tour de Cookie fundraiser, MCAT student recognition events, and a new Shoes for Students project collecting children's shoes for donation to local schools.

Marana Rotary Volunteer Initiatives

The meeting began with introductions, including Linda Seidel, who recently retired and is interested in volunteering with Marana Rotary. The club's primary focuses were outlined as education and alleviating food insecurities, with their main fundraiser being the Tour de Cookie event in early March. 

Rotary Club Member Introductions

The meeting featured introductions from various club members sharing their experiences with Rotary, highlighting the club's impact on local and global communities through projects like the Shoes for Students program and Shelterbox. Members discussed their reasons for joining, including a desire for volunteer work and connection with like-minded individuals, and emphasized the importance of fellowship and service. The group confirmed upcoming meeting cancellations on June 30th and July 4th week, with the next online business meeting scheduled for July 7th and the next in-person meeting on July 14th.