Rotary Club of Marana
 
                                                                            
Ya'll better read these damn things as I just spent forty minutes a huntin and a peckin just to have the work of art get lost in cyber land. Snivel.
 
The Wise, Benevolent and migraine free President Tony Hunter returned this week with guitar in hand. After The Pledge and Denise West's reading of the Thought for the Day (All family are not "blood. In the lost version I had more, but this was a very well received Thought of the Day) Tony attempted to make up for his past misguided foray into our collective musical minds when the Beatles Yellow Submarine went over like the proverbial lead balloon two years ago. This time, while not receiving the Gold Buzzer, Tony definitely made it into the next round with  his sing along rendition of Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire".  This writer hopes that President Tony has a few more "hankerings" to play some JC for us now that he knows our sweet spot.
 
RandyB then shared with us a little known fact that Mr Cash and the carter Family turned down a boat full of money from the maker of Preparation H who wanted to use the song in its commercials. It is this kind of nugget that keeps me coming back each week as a proud Rotarian yearning to learn.
 
Ellie Patterson, DGE was our guest.
 
Tony Hunter and Richie Benner attended Rotary member recruitment seminar in Green Valley and came back with lots of good information to share.
Bob Bishop attended Rotary/Hope 4 Kids water conservation seminar in Phoenix last Saturday.
 
Mary says Cameroon project progressing and she and RandyB are soon headed to Africa for the required project assessment. Safety is of paramount concern since apparently Cameroon is not in Kansas.
 
Joke Off
Lynne, the only contestant won easily with her joke about how Old Age and Treachery will overcome Youth and Skill on the golf course. (and many other places I might add).
 
Happy Bucks
Dan and John-Just plain happy
Randy-Canada is B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L. Good to see Ellie P.
Don-Good to be back to cooler weather. Don was visiting the State of Washington
Mary-Will be seeing old friends from grad school
Richie-Membership is everyone's responsilbility
Bob Bishop-New owner is FAAQ. In my first and lost version I had a lot more on this, but now I am more interested in just the facts.
 
Raffle
Don +ticket#01+card 4c=$0
 
Rachel Cheeseman spoke of the United Way and specifically on their VITA program.(See Richie Benner's excellent write up on our Marana Rotary Club Facebook Page). Rachel is the volunteer coordinator for the Pima County United Way and whose grandfather and mother were Rotarians in Lafayette, IN.
Rachel shared with us the fact that 40% of Americans are just $400 away from a fiscally devastating calamity. The all volunteer VITA program assists with tax preparation and saves the payer around $300 were they to go to HR Block. Also, were thy to go to a less than reputable tax return specialist they might be talked into a loan advance on an inflated return with outrageous monthly compound interest rates.
VITA has completed 15,000 free returns in Pima County. There are nine sites in the county including one at the Marana Senior center. 
Rachel may be contacted at 903-3919 or RCheeseman@unitedwaytucson.org.
 
Board Meeting at John Dooling's office tonight at 5:30.All welcomed.