Opening and Welcome - President Jay Paulus

Polly Cady led the Pledge of Allegiance and John Bunyard offered the invocation.

The event will be held February 1 at 6:30 PM at the SW Regional Library in Gilbert.
Members were encouraged to attend, compete for prizes, have fun and show off their smarts. More information is available at www.gilbertrotary.org. CLICK HERE to download the flyer that was available on the tables at the meeting.
Introduction of Guests

- Lu General introduced visiting Rotarians Tom Yuzer from Minnesota and Pamela Woodard George from Arkansas.
- Al Nunez proudly introduced his wife Suzanne.
- Brian Harvey introduced Neil Theobald, a visiting Rotarian from Laramie Wyoming. Neil said he retired two weeks prior. He said they have two grandchildren here. In Wyoming, he would be up before daybreak clearing his driveway. He was glad to be in Arizona.
- Wayne Barefoot introduced himself as a visiting Rotarian from Easton Pennsylvania and formerly from Toronto Canada. He was wearing shorts, saying the current weather was summer weather where he comes from.

President Jay has been honoring members who go above and beyond each month. This month, Lola McClane was honored for her service in providing photo journalism for our Messenger. Jay said a picture is worth 10,000 words. He expressed his appreciation for her contribution and her dedication to excellence in taking the photos.
In addition to the nice certificate, she also received a gift card for a local steakhouse.
Ace of Clubs Raffle - Chuck Flint

Before getting started with the raffle, it was pointed out that Jack Rosenberg was sporting Ace of Clubs socks...
Chuck explained the raffle. Tickets are sold for $5 each 1/3 of the proceeds goes to the club operating account. 1/3 is given to the winner of the weekly raffle. The final 1/3 is added to the growing balance of the large pot which accumulates until the Ace of Clubs is drawn from the cards remaining in the deck. The card drawn each week is destroyed so the chances of winning and the size of the pot bot improve each week. At this meeting the weekly pot was $40 and the large pot was up to $605. After the large pot exceeds $500. ticket sales are restricted to club members.
Chuck asked John Bunyard to draw the winning ticket which was held by Brian Harvey. The card Brian drew from the deck was the Six of Clubs.
Happy Bucks - Andy Bradford - Sgt at Arms

- John Pennypacker had a video chat with his primary care doctor and was happy to report his was still healthy.
- Pam Cohen fined herself for not remembering the gift to be auctioned at the club which she purchased on her recent 10-day cruise with Melodie Jackson
- Harry Grossman wanted to do something to benefit the areas affected by the recent fires in California. He pledged $20 toward that effort. He then told about another disaster which happened January 15, 1919. The Boston Molasses Disaster occurred on that date in the North End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. A large storage tank filled with 2.3 million US gallons (8,700 cubic meters) of molasses, weighing approximately 13,000 short tons (12,000 metric tons) burst. The resultant wave of molasses rushed through the streets at an estimated 35 miles per hour killing 21 people and injuring 150. The event entered local folklore and residents reported for decades afterward that the area still smelled of molasses on hot summer days. Harry thought it would put things in perspective to know that 106 years ago there was a sticky situation on the East Coast.
- Dick Myren was happy to report a wonderful family celebration which included four grandsons among the family members visiting from Iowa City, Boston, and Illinois.
- Polly Cady was happy to be at the meeting in person. She said Allan was recovering from COVID.
- Jim Schmidt was happy his scalp had healed enough he could get a hair cut again.
- Brian Harvey was happy to be at a meeting where we can enjoy each other and happy we live in a society where we can.
- Shelly Romine had happy/sad dollars. When they put their home on the market, it sold in two days. They will be moving to Washington state in February.
- Andy Bradford was happy be be in an organization where we build relationships.
- President Jay was happy Mesa West is involved in forming a Satellite Club in Southeast Mesa. There are many young leaders in businesses in that area. It should be a great project. Through getting to know Andy better, Jay learned that he worked with Andy's dad for twenty years.
New Member Induction - Al Nunez

Membership Chair Polly Cady asked Al to share a little bit about he choice to join Mesa West Rotary. He said he met Jay Paulus when Jay was delivering some food for the food pantry at Benedictine University. They spent some time talking. Jay invited Al to attend a couple of meetings. Al said Mesa West was the kind of group that "speaks to" him. He learned there are multiple Rotary Clubs in Mesa, but understands we are the best one so he joined ours. He is from Illinois. They moved to Arizona in 2020. He learned of the opportunity at Benedictine as was glad to be a part of his Alma Mater. He said he was honored to be part of our club.
Jay thanked Suzanne for attending this special occasion. He remarked that the Rotaract Club at Benedictine is small and we'd like to see it grow to at least twenty members, so help with their "pledge drive" would be appreciated. Jay said it was a privilege to welcome Al as an official member of the club and Rotary International. He recited the vision statement, and our principal of Service Above Self, and that we are People of Action. Suzanne pinned Al and everyone present gave Al a standing ovation.
Update on Potential Ways to Help Those Affected by California Wildfires

- Gary Whitehill shared an idea about developing a spreadsheet offering available housing for those who will be unable to return to their homes in the foreseeable future. It could include casitas, vacation homes, finished basements, etc. The spreadsheet could also include extra vehicles that could be used to fill transportation voids. It could also include available spaces in schools. Financial support could also be pledged. Gary told about one of his best friends who had started an alternative Charter school in one of the areas affected. The school burned down. Their CEO lived on top of the school, which caused the loss of his home and his job. When a house burns, money is not the only problem. Many have to move. Some may never be able to go back. The average rent in California is $6,000 per month. This creation of housing inventory is a simple way to put families in housing all around the world. Affected people need hope. It is not his intent to push things through. What does the club want to do?
- As Distric Treasurer, Lucinda General said that the District Budget is solely used for operating costs of running the district. There are no line items for this sort of thing. There is a District Foundation, but it is not cash rich.
- Jim Schmidt said he is are of $11,000 remaining in District Designated funds that could be used to match club giving. The housing idea is a good one. There are no hard costs to the club.
- Dick Myren mentioned that he was aware that the Mesa West Rotary Foundation has a significant balance of "undesignated" funds.
- President Jay said he wants these discussions to be very transparent. One idea was to adopt-a-family to give gift cards to handle basic needs of $250. He said he had learned that American Leadership Academy had plenty of capacity to add students.
Program - Chad Reid - Toastmasters

Chad introduced himself. He asked how many had been in Toastmasters, and asked how many had heard of Toastmasters. He wanted to get an idea of our expectations. He wanted to make sure everyone knew Toastmasters was not about toast. It could be helpful to prepare to make a toast.
Chad has been a member of Toastmasters for fifteen years. He's only been in Rotary for 3-4 months. There is a strong historical relationship between Toastmasters and Rotary As members grow in their leadership, it is necessary to become better speakers.
Chad mentioned that it's not uncommon to forget what someone said, but it's much more common to remember how they made you feel.
He showed a photo of himself as a teenager. He was in a "defensive" posture and remembers being uncomfortable in his own skin. Toastmasters brought him out of that. When taking a public speaking course, the professor suggested joining a Toastmasters club in Honolulu. At the first meeting he attended, he met Ron, who took him in, taught, trained, and mentored him and asked nothing in return.
Chad said most people are more afraid of public speaking than they are of death.
For new Toastmasters, their first speech is an icebreaker. It's common to be scared. You have to summon courage and bravery and start your journey.
Chad said that Dr. Ralph Smedley who founded Toastmasters in 1924 was also a Rotarian. The management structure of both organizations is almost identical, and easy to understand. In Rotary, we use the term "Governor" and in Toastmasters, similar positions would be Directors. In both organizations, members support each other. In 2019, Rotary and Toastmasters formed a strategic alliance. The two organizations can support and help each other. Toastmasters could help with service projects, and help Rotarians become better public speakers. His group meets on Tuesdays from 7-:30 PM and is only a quarter mile away from where Mesa West Rotary meets.
Next year, he will be running for senior leadership in Arizona and hopes to build a stronger relationship. Chad mentioned that Ted Talks and You Tube videos are popular today. The top five are not the most polished, but are the most passionate.
Pam Cohen talked about RYLA having a Toastmasters component.
Jay presented Reid with one of our hand-made pens to tank him for his presentation.

President Jay reminded members of the Post Holiday celebration which will be held at their home Saturday, January 25.
Ed Koeneman said Mesa West was sponsoring a few Westwood Interact Members as well as a few McKinney Vento students to attend Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) at Camp Pinerock near Prescott over the weekend where they will experience four days outside their comfort zones.
Ed also announced the Interact Senior Prom where they will host a social event for senior citizens and the Interactors can use the help of our club members with decorating, set-up, clean-up and being chaperones at the event.
January 30, we will not meet at the hotel. We will meet at noon at the Mesa Historical Society Museum on north Horne. We will have lunch there.
Members were reminded of the "girl power" bed build at Sleep in Heavenly Peach
Our day at the park - Cubs spring training game will be March 21.