On Saturday, April 2, Mesa West Rotarians partnered with members of Chandler and Queen Creek Rotary Clubs and ASU Rotaract to furnish an apartment for a refugee family. Click on the link to see how Arizona's Family news staff covered the effort: https://www.azfamily.com/.../east-valley-community-helps.../
Whenever a month has five Thursdays, Mesa West Rotary Club does not hold their regular club meeting at the Doubletree. They typically schedule an offsite service project or social activity.
Thursday, March 31, Ed Koeneman hosted a tour of Keeper's Workshop and treated those who attended to a demonstration showing how to make a unique ball-point pen using a lathe. The pen that was made at the event will likely be auctioned at a future club meeting. In addition to the photos shown here, more photos are available on the Rotary Club of Mesa West Facebook page.
Following the tour and demo, those who attended enjoyed a meal catered by The Perfect Saiz Taco and a buffet of outstanding desserts provided by some Mesa West members.
Rotary Club of Mesa West is planning to collect pillow donations (standard size-new) from now until April 23rd to benefit Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP) as a kick off for our Rotary Week of Service Project. (see below or click on their logo for more info on SHP)
We now have a location where NEW standard-size pillows can be dropped off for this project. They can be dropped off between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Salvation Army, 241 East 6th Street, Mesa, Arizona. AZ 85201
Please save the date of SaturdayApril 23rd from 9:00 a.m. to Noon.
We will be coming together with the donated pillows to assemble bedding kits.
The Mesa West Rotary Foundation is contributing funds to purchase other bedding that will be matched with the individually donated pillows to be delivered with beds that are provided by other sponsors of Sleep in Heavenly Peace.
The planned location for the bedding kit assembly on April 23 is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, located at 848 North Westwood, Mesa, AZ 85201.
Club members can also bring donations of NEW standard-size pillows to club meetings. EMAIL SHELLY ROMINE if you have any questions or need to arrange for your donated pillows to be picked up.
In the coming weeks you will see additional communication for this project and requests for you to share the details on social media to help promote Rotary and all the good we do in the community.
Sleep in Heavenly Peace is a volunteer organization that builds beds for kids who are sleeping on the floor. Their motto is "No Kid Sleeps on the Floor in Our Town". A link to their website is below:
Did you know April 6 is National Tartan Day? (from the National Day Calendar)
On March 20, 1998, the United States Senate passed Resolution 155, designating April 6th of each year as National Tartan Day. The day recognizes Scottish Americans and their achievements and contributions to the United States. The House passed Resolution 41 on March 9, 2005, and George W. Bush signed the Presidential Proclamation on April 4, 2008. The following was apparently written in that time frame:
From its early beginnings, Americans with Scottish ancestry endeavored for freedom as much as any American. It was in their blood.
It was 400 years before the Scots declared, “For we fight not for glory, nor riches, nor honours, but for freedom alone which no good man give sup except for his life.” – from the Declaration of Arbroath
Surprisingly, of the 13 governors in the newly established United States, nine were Scots. There are 56 signatures on the Declaration of Independence. Some scholars suggest nearly a third of those signers were of Scottish descent.
Not only can we point to the country’s founding fathers, but of the 43 Presidents who have taken office, 33 have been of Scottish descent.
Those with Tartan blood were and are independent and resourceful. They are prolific inventors and writers. They are talented musicians and artists, experienced leaders, and scholars. In the United States today, over 11 million Americans claim Scottish or Scotch-Irish roots. That makes them the 8th largest ethnic group in the United States.
It's apparent PDG John Pennypacker is proud of his Scottish heritage. It's interesting to note National Tartan Day and John's birthday (April 10) fall within a week of each other.
As Rotarians, we are regularly exposed to opportunities to support various causes with our time, talent and treasure. Sometimes it is hard to sift through all the information and decide where we are going to use our available financial resources.
It would be wonderful if every Arizona Rotarian would make the following BIG FOUR their Rotary charities of choice and support every one of them every year, we could make a bigger difference than we are making today.
The Rotary Foundation (TRF) Annual Fund - The Rotary Foundation transforms your gifts into service projects that change lives both close to home and around the world." Giving a small amount each month adds up. CLICK HERE to download a form you can use to sign up for Rotary Direct, electing "Annual Fund - Share" for your recurring donation.
The Rotary Foundation (TRF) Polio Plus - Rotary's commitment to eradicate polio is so well known and respected that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation matches donations $2 for $1. To take advantage of this opportunity to multiply the effect of your giving, CLICK HERE and download a second Rotary Direct form, this time electing electing "Polio Eradication" for your recurring donations. Those who donate $100 or more annually to Polio Plus qualify in District 5495 as Polio Plus Society Members. If you would like to make that commitment, CLICK HERE to download the commitment form.
The Rotary Vocational Fund of Arizona (TRVFA) provides vocational education grants to Arizona Residents who meet specific low-income guidelines. The grants enable the recipients to lift themselves out of poverty, benefitting themselves, their families and the economy of our state. TRVFA is a 501(c)(3) charity. They also are a Qualifying Charitable Organization for Arizona Tax Credit Donations. Their QCO Code is 20698. Many Arizona Rotarians say giving to TRVFA is a "no brainer." If you can help someone lift themselves out of poverty and it won't end up costing you anything why would you not do it? Mesa West Rotary has the highest number of members who have signed up for automated monthly recurring donations by electing that option on the "Donate Now" button on the TRVFA website. Click the image to learn more or CLICK HERE to DONATE NOW.
Mesa West Rotary Foundation, Inc. is the funding and fundraising arm of our own Mesa West Rotary Club. It is a 501(c)(3) charity. We have had successful sponsorship campaigns the last few years enabling us to spend our energy on service rather than on holding fundraising events. Charitable grants that we get involved with are funded through our charitable foundation, Our signature Gift of Hearing Project in Guaymas Mexico is funded through this foundation. Scholarships are awarded annually to Westwood High School Students (the high school where Mesa West Rotary sponsors an Interact Club). Funds are used to support a variety of activities in four of the Rotary Avenues of Service:
Community Service
International Service
Vocational Service
Youth Service
The process isn't quite automated at this point in time, but we hope it soon will be. For now, you can email our executive secretary who can help you work out a recurring donation plan should you wish to make that arrangement to support our own club's charitable activity.
Club Information
Welcome to our Rotary Club of Mesa West!
THE ACE OF CLUBS
Thursdays at 12:00 PM
Via Zoom or in-person
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3748672091
Doubletree, 1011 W Holmes
Mesa, AZ 85210 United States of America
Our hybrid meetings are held weekly on the 1st thru 4th Thursdays of each month. The meetings are broadcast via Zoom to include all, whether attending virtually or in person.
Did you know April 6 is National Tartan Day? (from the National Day Calendar)
Mesa West Rotary Foundation, Inc. is the funding and fundraising arm of our own Mesa West Rotary Club. It is a 501(c)(3) charity. We have had successful sponsorship campaigns the last few years enabling us to spend our energy on service rather than on holding fundraising events. Charitable grants that we get involved with are funded through our charitable foundation, Our signature Gift of Hearing Project in Guaymas Mexico is funded through this foundation. Scholarships are awarded annually to Westwood High School Students (the high school where Mesa West Rotary sponsors an Interact Club). Funds are used to support a variety of activities in four of the Rotary Avenues of Service:
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