Rotary Club of Marana
Minutes of Meeting
5-11-2021
Submitted by Randy Brooks
Attending: John D., Harold, Joyce (Guest), Sulee, Lynne, Andy, Denise, Don, Richie, Laura, Dan C and Beckie. Special guest and speaker Dot Santy
John let us know he will be receiving a new hip on the 19th of May. Good luck, John.
The club voted to move our meeting effective, June 1, 2021, to the Northwest Fire Department off of Ina. The actual street address is: 5125 W Camino De Fuego, Tucson, AZ 85743. Exit I-10 West at Ina Road. Turn South over the Freeway and get in the Right lane. Immediately after the Q Store turn right …. It is at the light. Just after the turn in the road and just before the trailer sales turn Left onto Camino De Fuego. Go about a block and you will see a large building and tower. Walk past the burned, railroad car to the main lobby. Say hi to Angellina and go down the hallway to your right to the second to last room on the right. We will be there. The club will provide coffee and pastries. As we go along we will refine the menu. You’re going to like this site. Call me if you get lost 520-403-4763.
Masks will be suggested but not mandatory …. Those with immunizations for Covid are suggested to attend. We will make every attempt to have a hybrid meeting but it may be a challenge the first meeting.
Fundraising – the 2nd Friday of June we will have an online poker tournament …. Dan C is arranging for this event the 11th of June. Details coming – when the flier is sent please distribute to everyone and everyone on your various mailing lists. They can be anywhere and join in on the fun. Sulee is helping with the tournament.
John announced that in the next few weeks we will have a visitor from the La Jolla Club whom is traveling to Tucson on occasion and is interested in discussing with us Alzheimer’s disease. She is asking for volunteers for a study. Details to come.
RI has asked that clubs in concert with one another or alone and attempt to find to help with the Covid situation in Brazil and India. Randy and John have contacted people in Brazil to determine need and Randy via of Shirley Grace (a friend of the club) has reached out to India. We may have up to 4 clubs and Jefferies Foundation willing to contribute to a few clubs and/or communities. Research in process.
Happy Bucks:
Harold: Sad actually, wife’s hard drive crashed. Joyce Z our Canadian friend is happy “spring is coming”, we skip that and go directly to summer.
Randy – neither happy nor; sad. Skip him; Sulee, Jim is receiving massive amounts of chemo to attempt to strangle his cancer. This will go on for 6 weeks. Keep him in your thoughts.
Andy – Not good or bad. Much like his friend Randy, Don J: Happy to be going back East tomorrow to see daughter, Grandson and old buddies, I mean really old buddy (96 years old).
Lynne entertained us with a joke and Denise said it was happy Tuesday. She did not explain herself.
Richie did a cool ‘Staycation’ that had an indoor water park. Dan had to leave because of a school bus accident. The child struck by the bus was later found to be OK and the incident will be investigated.
John awoke to six deer at his water through this morning. Now that is cool. Laura visit her mother’s grave at the VA cemetery in Phoenix. Her mother is buried with her husband …. Whom by the way was a “Pharmacist mate” … that is what Hospital Corpsmen are called today? The change was made in 1948.
Speaker: Dot Santy moved to Tucson many years ago to avoid cold winters, she bounced around and found her passion in helping children with few means to provide food, clothing and basic necessities for themselves. She started seeing homeless children and these events were an AWAKENING for her. Cindy Roust (Marana Community Services) and she started SOS – Success of Students – noticed that kids were hungry, could not afford to go on outings, they had no funds but Dot began asking for help. She raised $12,000 on her first fundraising activity. 40% of children need free or reduced meals in the Marana Unified School District. Her first year she raised 24,000. In 2019 her group was able to provide holiday meals to 700 families.
SOS goal: is to establish a sustaining committee that wants to support these children by fundraising and donations to these children in need. Here are the groups working to support her wanting to raise enough for 700 backpacks: Del Webb, Silverbell Mines, Cal Portland and Watermark as well as the Marana Police Department.
She stressed that children are innocent. The parents have found themselves in situation where they cannot help the children, Covid, economy, addiction, bad luck, lack of training …. Whatever. The children face the consequences of these issues.
John discussed how many years ago our club supported immunizations for children via of the Marana Health Center … Sulee remains on the board of MHC and will speak to the board to see if the need exists anymore for help.
If you would like to speak to Dot Santy she can be reached at dotsanty@gmail.com.
Dot left the meeting and Lynne suggested we pool funds and buy 30 backpacks stuffed with school supplies. The club at John’s direction voted to supply 30 bags at a cost of $900.00. –