The invocation was given by Jeanie Morgan, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Bob Zarling.  Ray Smith led everyone in singing "He Has the Whole World in His Hands." 
 
Among the guests were Carlos Sotos, from Argentina and an aspiring youth exchange student who was attending with his mother.  Carole Kralicek won the attendance drawing.  Warren Williamson was the holder of the lucky raffle ticket, winning $33 in the weekly drawing, but failed to pull the Ace of Clubs.  The growing pot is up to $427. 
 
The happiest donor of happy bucks was Polly Cady because she and Don LaBarge have finished a peanut butter project they have been working on.  Apparently, they now know more about how to make the best deal in large quantities of both creamy and crunchy spreads than they ever imagined they would want to know.  The also discovered that when purchased in large cartons, the weight and space were both overwhelming surprises. 
 
Don LaBarge delivered a District Grant check for $2,000 which will be matched by a like amount from the Mesa West Rotary Foundation for United Sound - a total grant of $4,000.  Earlier this year, new members were asked to submit grant requests for worthy projects.  Our member, Julie Duty, who is Executive Director of United Sound, submitted the winning request.  Rather than posing for a photo receiving the check, she wanted a photo of the members of Mesa West Rotary, so United Sound can give them credit in their PR communications.
 
Chuck Flint circulated the Buck Board after briefly explaining the background of The Rotary Foundation and Paul Harris Fellow recognition.  
 
Bob Zarling announced that October 24 is Polio Plus Awareness Day and encouraged members who had time to attend the webinar that RI will host that day.  He brought a Polio Plus Trick or Treat bucket, which was circulated for donations.
 
President, Alan Cady made the following announcements:
 
  • When attending Andrea Murphy's Induction at Westwood High School Interact meeting, the Interact Club was given permission to attend our October 10 meeting, raising Polio Plus awareness with a Purple Pinkie Day.
  • He reminded members of the Fireside Chat and Chile Cookoff to be held October 7 at Tim and Angie Troy's home.
  • He also reminded members of the Guaymas Sendoff being planned at 7:00 AM, November 8.  Mesa West will be hosting a light breakfast for members who can attend to support the team headed for Guaymas that morning.  The entrance to Red Mountain Campus of MCC is found on McKellips between the 202 and Power Road.
  • He also announced that the Sponsorship is nearly up to $19,000 including pledges and the deadline for the steak and beans competition has been extended through October.
  • Volunteers are still needed at the Midwest Food Bank the morning of October 14 from 9 to Noon. 
PDG John Pennypacker reminded members to sign up to attend the Foundation Dinner and to take time to read the items to be considered at the Council on Legislation which were recently distributed.
 
Steve Ross announced upcoming speakers prior to announcing the program which was presended by Dr. Scott Russell on Arizona Indian Tribes.  Dr. Russell is an anthropologist who has been an instructor at MCC for 30 years.
 
Dr. Russell shared some recent news articles showing "a month of news about Native Americans in Arizona.  Some of the information highlighted:
 
  • Native Americans represent 4.5% of Arizona's population, but reservations represent 25% of Arizona's land.
  • 25% of tribal children attempt suicide.  The challenge as cultural identity erodes is "Who am I?  How do I fit in?"
  • Pharmaceutical companies are taking advantage of a situation that will impact health costs by letting tribes own their patents on new medications.  Because the tribes are sovereign nations, those medicines would never be able to be duplicated by generics.
  • Economic development on reservations is by necessity more socialistic than in the US as a whole, since the reservations are owned by the tribes, not by individuals.
  • Worldwide, indiginous people are not treated well.  Statistically, an average of two cultures are disapearing each week from our planet.  Native languages are disappearing.  With no land base, cultures disappear.
  • Coal mines on reservations create a challenge.  If they go away, jobs go away.  If they stay, energy production is more expensive.
  • Monument valley is beautiful and tribes are doing well there, but tribal people do not want tourism. 
  • Tribes along the Mexican border do not want a border fence.  Their people go back and forth regularly.
  • Some tribes are in the pot business
  • Diabetes among Native American population is highest in US.
  • Dropout rates are higher than in rest of state and performance of our schools is worst in nation. Lowest teacher salaries result in inability to keep talented educators but also indicate a poor priority of education in state budget planning.
  • Alcoholism being high is an overstated myth, but there is a tendency to binge drink.  Most Native Americans do not drink at home.