Marana Rotary Club
January 18, 2022 weekly meeting
This week’s meeting was again held completely virtual given the ongoing Omicron situation. A poll was taken, and the majority wished that meetings remain virtual for the time being.
Randy introduced our guests, Purdy Albien and Aleto Wiener, from the Dove Mtn. Rotary Club.
Mary reported that the RI totals for the Ride to End Polio campaign has reached $56.3M over the past seven years with $2.96M raised this year alone.
Dan presented three mock up tees for the Tour de Cookie event; colors included green, orang and red. After a vote, the “cardinal red” color was chosen. Despite, I might add, the dismal showing of the AZ Cardinals team last night in the wild card playoffs.
Purdy announced that the Dove Mtn Club will be holding a casino night, Friday, March 18 at the Highlands. This is their major fund raising event. Entry will be $65 which includes food, one drink and “fun currency” for play. There will also be a “wine pull” where, for $20, you can pull one bottle of wine from a batch of 100 bottles valuing between $15 and 100 bucks.
Randy suggested we help out Dove Mtn. and asked that Dove Mtn help our=t in the Tour de Cookie fund raising event. Flyers will be delivered to DM in hopes that they will agree to sponsor a booth.
Speaking of the Tour de Cookie, Randy mentioned that he and Deb “worked” the bike path near the Rillito track between 9 and noon this past Sunday. Five candidates were for sure to participate with five more pretty good “maybe’s”. Dan suggested that bike shops be contacted and given flyers.
Happy Bucks
- Harold was happy to be again working on his airplane
- Peter was happy to see so many people and to report that his son has completely recovered from COVID
- Aleta was happy that her yard guy was coming to perform maintenance.
- Beckie was happy that her grandbaby, June, had started preschool
- Jeremy was happy to be here to talk to us today
- Denise was excited for the upcoming rotary club events
- John D. was happy for the ziplining event held this past Sunday in Oracle for his grandkids. When asked how HE did, he responded that he had learned his lesson from mountain biking that did not end well
- Cindy was happy for the gorgeous weather
- Mary pointed out that Randy’s birthday was coming this Sunday. She reported that her surgery was now scheduled for March 3, extending the time period for her to be extra careful with exposure. Frustrating for sure and we wish her expediency and success so she can participate the way she loves to.
- Andy was happy to have extracted he and Christie from the Portland OR experiment.
- Don was happy to have experienced the jazz festival yesterday
- Cathy was happily looking forward to the Feb. 5th distribution of vegetables to the Baptist Church providing food for those in need in the Marana area
- Bob was happily looking forward to returning to Tucson from VA after three more days of snow in the East. Earlier in the meeting, Bob shared that 12 of his extended family had suffered COVID. Six passed away. A sobering piece of information illustrating how dangerous this virus can be and how unfairly it can affect us.
- Purdy was happy to have two sisters visiting from Minnesota this coming Sunday.
- Sulee was happy to be looking forward to Jim’s 79th birthday. (Did I hear this right, 79th?! Way to go Jim and keep ‘em coming)
- Dan was happily anticipating ice fishing. Seems like a desperate way to go fishing.
Guest Speaker
Randy introduced Jeremy Casey, Warden of the Marana Treatment Center for the past 9 years. Jeremy described the functions and operations of the treatment center, located west of the Avra Valley Airfield. The facility is designed to handle 513 males who have been convicted of non-violent crimes such as substance abuse/possession, DUI’s, theft, etc. Due primarily to COVID, the population is only 260 at present. The facility was established in 1994 and supplies activities both in-house and on community projects such as roadside cleanup. There is substantial community involvement including local business support. The Center provides educational support in the forms of GED and trade training and certification. Support also includes a volunteer mentor program, AA meetings, and creative writing courses. Since Jeremy’s company only runs the facility on behalf of the state government, he did not have data regarding recidivism (in response to Peter’s question).