Attendees: Harold, Mark, Josh, Mike, Don, John, Bob, Gregg and Cindy; guest attendees Linda Seidl and guest speaker Gene Medina from the Rainbow Club
- 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.
Attendees: Bob, Don, Mark, Harold, Gregg, John, Bev & guest Joe, Cindy
The meeting was a Rotary club meeting with low attendance due to multiple members being on vacation. The meeting officially started with the Pledge of Allegiance. The club heard from their guest speaker Fran, who introduced Luke 5 Adventures Tucson, a nonprofit organization that provides adaptive hiking experiences for individuals with disabilities using specialized rickshaw-like devices called Rosies. The organization has grown from seven hikes in 2022 to 70 hikes in 2025, serving over 200 hikers with the help of approximately 130 volunteers.
Other updates included news about Andrea leaving the club to become assistant town manager, the installation of Emma as district governor, and plans for hosting a young man from South Korea at Ironwood Ridge High School through a youth exchange program.
Happy Bucks:
Bob – Headed to Oklahoma where 4 generations of family members will gather for a month-long reunion.
Don – Enjoying a vacation in Flagstaff with family. They took their grandson to Sunset Crater on Monday.
Mark - Spent the weekend in Flagstaff and attended a Jerry Seinfield show at NAU, the best Uni in AZ! He’s currently attending a state-wide administrator’s retreat at El Conquistador. Two of the school’s principals earned honors as Best in the State (MHS & Roadrunner)!
Harold – Lost his phone and his daughter could find it via the app. When he returned to the bank the next morning, they greeted him at the door with his phone.
John – Is impressed with the ability of AI to help plan a trip to Yellowstone with a grandson and his buddy. They’re leaving later in July.
Gregg – Looking forward to finishing a home project to provide shade for the 3 Sulcata tortoises. He discussed his experience with sulcata turtles, explaining how they unexpectedly had 43 baby turtles after one of their female turtles laid clutches. He described the challenges of caring for the turtles, including building an enclosure with railroad ties and creating a pool with rebar. Gregg mentioned that while the turtles were once popular and could be sold for around $50 each, he is not interested in selling them and is working to prevent future breeding.
Fran – Will be spending time with his 1 year old granddaughter and helping the family move from New Mexico to California.
Cindy – Announced that an exchange student from South Korea will e attending Ironwood Ridge High School. She’s headed to Yuma to meet with several exchange students including recently returned Maddie Brooks, outbound Bella Rector and current inbound Ilinca Vlasceanu.
Loop 5 Adventures Tucson Presentation
Fran Emmerling presented Loop 5 Adventures Tucson, highlighting their growth from 7 hikes in 2022 to 70 hikes in 2025 with over 1,600 volunteer hours. He explained their use of modified Rosie devices (single-wheel rickshaw-like equipment from France) to enable hiking experiences for people with disabilities, with three current devices and approximately 130 volunteers in their database. The organization conducts various activities including regular hikes, special events like date nights and sunset hikes, and partnership programs with Jonni and Friends and Tim Tebow's Foundation.
Attendees: Harold, John, Mark, Don, Kathy, Mike, Gregg, Peter, Bob, Beckie, Bev and Cindy
Quick recap
Cindy announced that the board had approved the Shoes for Kids project, providing $2,500 to the Zone Institute which will result in approximately 100 pairs of shoes being distributed through the Family Resource Center in the Marana School District.
The meeting also mentioned Emma's upcoming installation as the new district governor on Sunday, with Don noting her background as a former school principal.
The main presentation was a comprehensive overview of international youth exchange camps and tours available for students, showcasing opportunities across Europe, Asia, and other locations, with activities ranging from tennis and sailing to cultural exchanges and adventure programs. The conversation ended with the Four-Way Test, and members noted that speakers were scheduled for the next two weeks.
Rotary Club Member Updates Meeting
The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance led by Greg, followed by Happy Bucks where members shared personal updates and celebrations.
- Harold shared his 89th birthday and donated $89 to the Rotary Club
- Peter donated 4 pairs of shoes (1 from him and 3 from Josie) to the MUSD FRC
- John could control his hearing aides on his phone successfully
- Mike was quite pleased that a trip to the service garage with his car only cost him $69. No issues were discovered!
- Gregg is back to his work after helping his son move into his home
- Bob is loving the VA weather and opened granddaughter daycare with 3 youngsters
- Bev is excited for her grandbaby duty with a 6 month and three year old
- Kathy is enjoying grandma duty, spending time gaming at Peter Piper Pizza, Bookman’s and jumping castles
- Don wished Harold a very happy birthday and looks forward to a week in Flagstaff with family
- Becky shared details about her recent move and settling into a new home, including a story about her granddaughter's request for an elf.
- Mark is enjoying an intense week with MUSD leadership teams as they develop goals for the new academic year. Josh is leading some of the sessions. He helped his daughter move into a new place with a suitcase filled with clothes and one filled with shoes. He shared a ‘full-circle’ story of a youth summer camp where he met his wife, his two attended and his daughter is now the camp nurse. She aided a youngster whose grandfather introduced the camp to Mark.
- Cindy was happy to see a hot air balloon on her way to the meeting this morning.
- Laura, not in attendance, shared the news that she’s on a three-week vacation. Can’t wait to hear of the tales!
International Youth Exchange Programs Overview
Cindy presented a comprehensive overview of international youth exchange camps and programs available for high school students aged 15-18, showcasing opportunities across Europe, Asia, and South America including activities like sailing, hiking, and cultural exchanges. The camps are run by Rotarians and typically involve staying in Rotary homes, with most programs offering instruction in English. Don expressed interest in featuring the information in their impact newsletter to reach more clubs in the district.
The fourth Tuesday of the month business meeting focused on updates from recent activities and discussions about ongoing projects. Cindy shared her experience from a recent trip to Romania, where she and Don & Kathy Jorgensen participated in a Rotary friendship exchange program visiting orphanages and community projects. Joshua provided an update on last week's Family Resource Center tour, highlighting their services supporting 929 students and 865 families, including food distribution, school supplies, and clothing assistance. Don presented information about a new "Shoes for Kids" project in partnership with the Zone Institute, where sponsored clubs would receive new shoes to distribute to local families in need. The meeting also included happy bucks sharing where members discussed recent activities and experiences, including travel and local events. Financial updates were provided showing the club has approximately $7,400 and the foundation has about $32,000.
Next steps
Cindy
- Reach out to Becky to check on her settlement in Sherwood and determine an appropriate appreciation gift (e.g., basket of flowers, tomato plants) for her departure; coordinate with club members as appropriate.
- Await official notification regarding the recent grant submission; once confirmed, begin work on a new grant application for the Family Resource Center, incorporating lessons learned from the previous submission.
- Look up and send to Harold the original funding request/funding details for the teachers' grant for record-keeping purposes.
- Sit down with Mark to discuss plans for club officer roles and the upcoming installation dinner; respond to Rotary International's request for updated officer information.
Don
Gregg
Joshua
- Provide Harold with a brief summary/minutes of last week's meeting for posting on the club website.
- Look into and potentially provide statistics on the impact of the Family Resource Center programs (e.g., student retention, reduced dropout rates) as requested by Peter.
Peter
Family Resource Center Update
Joshua provided an update on the tour of the Family Resource Center, highlighting its services and impact on students and families in the district. The center served 929 students and 865 families, distributed food boxes and school supply kits, and provided various programs including parenting classes and holiday support. Peter asked about the program's impact on school attendance, to which Joshua responded that tracking statistics on dropout prevention would be a valuable follow-up.
Rotary Zone Institute Shoe Sponsorship
Don presented a new project where clubs can sponsor the Rotary Zone Institute in Phoenix by providing $2,500 in sponsorship and contributing new children's shoes, with sponsored clubs receiving approximately 100 pairs of shoes to distribute to local families. Joshua confirmed that the Family Resource Center currently provides clothing and shoes to both students and community families, with a particular need for new shoes of various sizes. Peter offered to donate two pairs of shoes he purchased but couldn't return, and Joshua explained that the center accepts both cash donations and direct item donations, preferring to donate to organizations that give items away rather than sell them.
Happy Bucks and Updates Meeting
The meeting focused on Happy Bucks sharing where members discussed their recent experiences and activities. Harold shared about visiting his grandkids, Gregg mentioned spending time with family and playing golf, and Joshua described attending an 8th grade promotion ceremony where he had the opportunity to address students and see former kindergarten students progress to high school. Robert updated the group on his work with the Rotary Vocational Fund of Arizona, including interviewing their 14th applicant of the year and completing bylaw review work, while also announcing they had exceeded their $350,000 fundraising goal. Peter shared details about his recent visit to Apache Point Observatory in New Mexico and explained the costly demolition process of the old National Solar Observatory telescope facility, which is estimated to cost $1 billion due to environmental cleanup requirements. John was happy about a family fishing trip to Mexico and VERY happy to get Cindy back home. This was their longest separation in 55 years! Don shared his positive experience from a recent trip to Romania, where he and Kathy participated in a Rotary friendship exchange. They visited service projects helping orphaned and abandoned children, including homes in Aradia and Bucharest, and were impressed by the generosity of Romanian Rotarians. Don mentioned that a group of approximately 15 Romanian visitors will be coming to their area from September 17-27 as part of a reciprocal exchange. Michael expressed enthusiasm about upcoming summer plans in Tucson. Has always liked the hot Tucson summers.
Rotary Trip Experience in Romania
Don shared a story about staying with a funeral director and his wife in Slutina who also ran a flower shop and provided support to bereaved families. He noted that all four Rotary host families they stayed with during their trip were outstanding, and that the Rotary meetings in the four cities they visited were primarily attended by younger members who meet in the evenings. Cindy mentioned a separate story about communist takeovers of farmland and homes, and discussed the community's pride in their mayor who became Romania's Prime Minister.
Don mentioned seeing their exchange student from Yuma during the visit. The conversation ended with Don leading the four-way test, followed by a brief discussion between Cindy and Harold about needing to update Rotary International on club officers and locate a previous funding request document for a $4,000 grant.
Meeting summary
Attendees: Harold, Don, Gregg, Mike, John, Kathy, Beckie and Cindy
District, where Stephanie Lippert, the CTE Director, presented on the district's 20 CTE programs serving 3,549 students with 475 industry certifications achieved last year. The discussion covered how CTE programs prepare students for both college and career pathways, with particular emphasis on industry certifications ranging from $10 to $300+ that help students gain workforce readiness. The presentation highlighted successful partnerships, including one with Marana Health Center that has hired 12 past dental assisting program students, and mentioned plans to expand programs to include construction and HVAC training on additional campus pads. The meeting also included updates about More Than a Bed's resource center for foster care families and the Rotary Vocational Foundation's $350,000 budget for statewide vocational grants.
Next steps
Cindy
- Send out the link for the ESREG (Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group) project seminar to interested participants.
- Check with Emily (Oro Valley president) on the status of the Guatemala water sanitation project and potential presentation by Rick Chimblo or others involved. (Note: Nothing has been submitted yet)
Informal Meeting Introductions and Updates
The meeting started with the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Mike.
Rotary Project Updates and Initiatives
The meeting began with welcome remarks to guests including Stephanie Lippert, Starr, and Bob Bishop.
The recipients of the Tour de Cookie charities received checks today for their organizations. Starr is the communications manager with More Than a Bed. She provided updates on the organization and their goals for future development, including a resource center that provides essential items to foster care families and an enrichment center offering off-site classes including creative expressions, chess club, and jewelry making.
Bob Bishop received the check for The Rotary Vocational Foundation of Arizona (TRVFA) and shared how the funds impact not only the recipient but the families, too. TRVFA provides approximately $2,000 in grants for vocational training across Arizona, with a recent budget increase to $350,000.
The club sponsored a luncheon for MCAT faculty for Teacher Appreciation Week. John Dooling delivered sandwiches, meat and cheese platter, chips, drinks and dessert to that high school.
CTE Programs Overview Presentation
Stephanie Lippert presented an overview of Career Technical Education (CTE) programs in Marana Unified School District, highlighting their 20 current programs across three high schools with an enrollment of 3,549 students. The programs focus on industry certifications, with students able to earn two certifications by the end of high school and noted their strong partnership with Marana Health Center which has hired 12 former students. The district charges $10 per semester for CTE courses, though some industry certifications can be expensive, and they are exploring ways to support students who cannot afford the certification fees. Stephanie will invite any interested Rotarians to attend the CTE ambassador event in September.
Career Technical Education Benefits
The discussion focused on Career Technical Education (CTE) programs and their benefits. Mark shared how CTE pathways can increase students' motivation for higher education, supported by examples from his children's experiences transitioning from CTE programs like business management to college degrees in nursing and construction management. The conversation highlighted specific partnerships and projects, including Marana's welding program's collaboration with the town for public art installations and the donation of vehicles for automotive programs. Gregg shared how his son enrolled in the welding and auto mechanics programs. He has been able to combine those skills in his career that at age 22 he purchased a home. When asked about basic life skills in education, Mark confirmed that CTE programs incorporate essential skills like cooking and typing, with some basic skills now integrated into core subjects after previous gaps were identified.
Attendees: Bob, Laura, Mike, Mark, John, Don, Kathy, Harold, Beckie, Peter and Cindy
Quick recap
The Marana Rotary Club meeting focused on updates and planning for upcoming events and initiatives. The club discussed their successful Tour de Cookie event, which raised over $21,000, with plans to donate $5,500 to two beneficiaries: The Rotary Vocational Foundation and More Than a Bed. The group addressed a $500 user fee owed to Pima County for using the urban trail during the event, with Laura advocating for payment based on the fee's reasonable percentage of total revenue. The club also discussed plans for upcoming activities including providing lunch for MCAT teachers and tours of the Family Resource Center. Don shared details about the Zone Institute's "Shoes for Souls" project offering clubs the opportunity to sponsor new shoe collections for children.
Happy Bucks
The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance led by John and others.
- Bob shared his happy bucks about the successful Run to Remember event, which had 30,000 runners and 5,000 volunteers, including his sister-in-law Paula who managed finish line activities.
- Laura then shared her happy bucks about winning a case at the Arizona Court of Appeals regarding a peace officer cancer claim against the city of Tucson, with the city not petitioning the Supreme Court for review.
- Mike is planning to hike the Sabino Canyon area after the meeting.
- Mark spent 6 days hiking and camping in the Grand Canyon with his son and long-time friend.
- John reminisced about his trek from Alton to Jacksonville, Illinois when he was in college. Making it in under 24 hours.
- Don has spent the last two Saturdays coaching his grandson’s baseball team and loving the fun with the kids.
- Kathy is planting tomatoes and has an expert helping to build her drip system.
- Harold is pleased he’s through with doctor’s appointments for the week and feeling much better after a recent hospital stay.
- Beckie is packing and has 3 open houses coming up as she and family plan their move to Sherwood, Oregon. She updated the group about her ongoing appeal with United Healthcare regarding a $15,500 medical claim.
- Peter is enjoying the morning breeze and life in general.
- Cindy noted the singers that entertained the audience during grandson Carter’s college graduation have been invited to Washington DC to participate in the 250 year celebration on May 17.
Updates
- Beckie will resign prior to June 1st and her departure to Oregon. We will all miss her and her dedication to helping the community.
Bob
- Email Craig to check if he can produce the big checks and offered to pay for production for TRVFA and More Than a Bed.
Bob mentioned he would be returning to Arizona for the upcoming meeting on the 5th and was still seeking a speaker. Laura suggested Charity Nelson from "Phones Down Just Drive" as a potential speaker for the distracted driving awareness program, providing her contact information. Bob agreed to follow up on both the ALS group, MUSD’s CTE Director and Charity Nelson as potential speakers.
Cindy
- Find a vendor to deliver breakfast/lunch to MCAT teachers by next Monday or Tuesday. Meal and transportation was approved up to $250).
- Bring gift cards and a card to Mark for the MCAT STAR student recognition.
- Coordinate with Mark and Josh about the possibility of a district grant to support the Marana School District backpack program after Josh's tour in May.
- Adrienne (Treasures4Teachers) mailed the final invoice to Cindy for the District Grant. Cindy will finalize the grant reports.
Laura
- Call the county to generate an invoice for the user fee for the event and ensure payment is made.
Club Brochure Recruitment Planning
The group discussed the need to create a trifold brochure about their clubs to help with recruitment and information sharing.
Tour de Cookie Fundraising Results
The board discussed two main items: Tour de Cookie fundraising results and a user fee for using a public loop facility. The event raised over $21,000 after expenses were paid, with the board deciding to allocate $5,500 to beneficiaries, leaving around $11,000 in proceeds. Laura raised concerns about a paying the $500 user fee for the public loop, arguing it was reasonable given the event's success and community impact, while others debated whether the club or county should decide how the money is spent.
Rotary Club Activities and Planning
The club discussed several upcoming activities and financial obligations. Cindy reported on a potential backpack program for Marana School District, which Josh would handle, and Don suggested creating a district grant to fund it. The club also addressed their "Every Rotary Every Year" designation, which requires a $1,500 donation to the Rotary Foundation.
Mark Goligoski
Cindy Dooling
President, Rotary Club of Marana, 2025–2026
Marana, AZ 85743
United States of America