Rotary Club of Marana
Meeting Minutes, 11-24-2020, 7:00 AM
Submitted by Randy Brooks
Attending: President John, Harold, Randy, Andy, Bob B., Mary, Suelee, Dan, David, Don G., Peter, Laura, and Joyce Zwick
Pledge was led by John. 
Discussion of handbags and it appears we donated over 115 bags to Gospel Rescue Mission and Sister Jose Center for Women.  Both agencies appreciated our efforts.  Thank you to all the Rotarians, family members and friends that donated purses, those that packed them, Carl for letting us use his office and those that delivered the purses. 
Dan Contorno, not to be out done, went shopping with Heather (his spouse) and shopped for Thanksgiving dinner for a family of 10 people.  It was wonderful to see the photos of the food, as we all prepare to overdose on food, dessert and drinks ourselves in a few days.  Thank you Dan and Heather.  Christmas is around the corner and the Club (Dan, Mary and others) will shop for this same family for Christmas dinner and gifts for the family. 
John announces four members are not on “My Rotary” at the Rotary International site.  Please update your records and visit our Rotary Club of Marana website as well.
Next Monday, Nov 30, the Board of the RC of Marana will have a meeting with Governor Diane Ventura-Goodrich. The following day she will visit our club meeting so please attend.
RYLA program: It will be virtual this year and the cost is only 50.00.  Please encourage your friends and family to send their high school kids.
There will be an In Door Ride to End Polio soon ….. Did not catch the date and planning is underway for the high school 4-Way Speech Contest as well.
Happy Bucks:
Harold had breakfast with John Zwick and John is hoping we get back to face to face meeting you he can join us and actually hear the conversation.  Has no one shown him to hit the volume button on his computer? Harold also discussed distribution of 600 turkeys a year in Kansas and that it is hard to find a freezer that large.
Randy: Happy about club projects and proud of our efforts.
Andy: Happy to be back in Tucson – sad about accident on Interstate 10 and looking forward to a simple Thanksgiving.
Bob B., is in Oklahoma staying with his mother in law … happy holidays Bob.
Mary: congratulated Richie on the project of special air filters for disadvantaged children in the MUSD for students. 
Laura gave a website for a podcast that would give those of us that are challenged instructions on how to split a turkey in two, pound on it and then cook it.  Ask Laura if you need help finding the website. She is also happy her brother Sister is visiting as well.  They all were evaluated and practicing safe distancing.
Suelee, application for membership has been sent to John D., welcome Suelee it is wonderful to have you back.
Don J., Happy about the uplifting meeting and projects.  Sad about the loss of a friend’s spouse.
Peter: Discussed that he is happy about the holiday, will have a quiet day, glad the political season is coming to a close and glad a vaccine will soon become available for Covid.
Joyce: Wishes us in the US a happy Thanksgiving (hers was in October, of course).
Dan: Loved helping with the needy family and the club 300 budget was perfect.
David: is happy with his family.  His daughter joined the Marana High School Cross Country Team.  But became ill …. However after running with his daughter he’s now in good enough shape to run in a race (Turkey Trot) himself.  Go David.
Richie: has a brand new puppy and reminded us to remind those that surround us. Nice
John was driving to the airport with his granddaughter early in the morning and she saw her first sunrise. She was astonished and John was as well.  Great story.
Speaker Today: Club Foundation Chair Mary Straus
Mary provided a great presentation on The Rotary Foundation and The Rotary Club of Marana:
President John established a goal of $10,000 giving for club members this year. Whew, that is up from $7,000.00 last year.  Let’s all help him reach that goal.
She discussed how our club has participated in numerous District Grants, Global Grants and have been generous to the Rotary Foundation and our own Club Foundation.
Brief discussion on the Areas of Focus: Disease Prevention, Peace and Conflict, Maternal and Child Health, Water sanitation, Basic Literacy and Community Development, Environment
Our donations to the Annual Program Funds are sent to the Rotary Foundation where they sit for 3 year and the interest helps pay the overhead of the foundation.  50% of the money is returned to the district and allocated for District grants (under 8,000) or allocated to Global Grants (minimum of 30,000).  The remainder of the fund donated are allocated to assist in the global grands requested by clubs.  We are rated at the highest level …. 5 by Charity Navigator. 
A few of the things our club has done are;
Coyote Trail School by building a park for handicapped children …. You should have seen the expression of sheer joy when a little girl was able to swing for the first time.  Her mother and Mary beamed.
We purchased a bus in India for blind children to be able to go to and from school and not be marginalized any more.
We provided a school and a playground for a Primary school near Victoria Fall, Zimbabwe.  Several club members traveled to Zimbabwe to assist on this project.  Interestingly $16,000, was stolen via computer fraud.  Randy told the club and many stepped forward to insure the project continued.  $19,000 was raised in a week.  And you ask why you are in Rotary?
Also outside of Zimbabwe, we helped build a huge garden, watering system in a village where Randy had met a man starving …. Don J., Randy and our spouses started a program with the Rotary Club of Marana that is credited with saving 8,000 lives. 
We purchased thousands of dollars for books to be distributed by the Marana Healthcare system to low income pregnant women.
This is just a few of the things we have done …. I think you’re getting the picture at this point.  We are a generous and kind club...
Nearly all of the members of our club are Paul Harris Fellows (one who has donated 1000 to the Foundation), 7 club members are Paul Harris Society Members (donate 1000 per year to the Foundation.)
This month (Ending 30 November) we are matching up to 500 points for a 500 or less cash contribution.  Several club members have taken advantage of this (this is off the top of my head so I apologize for any one I missed – John D., Randy, Don, Andy, Bob, Mary and Peter. Thank you and remember you have a few days to contribute before the 30th.
Thank you Mary, for a wonderful presentation. 
 
Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving