After the September 7 meeting was called to order, Geoff White led the invocation and Steve West led the Pledge of Allegiance. Among the visitors, were PDG John Pennypacker, visiting Rotarian, Michael Polley, Cristy Setterman, Christy Citterman and her guest, Ray Schmal, who will be going on the project trip to Guaymas.
Jack Rosenberg won the attendance drawing. Visitor, Ray Schmal, was asked to draw the winning raffle ticket. He drew Christy’s ticket, making her the winner of the $28 pot, but she did not pull the ace of clubs, so the big pot, which is now up to $293, will continue to grow.
Chuck Flint explained our Buck Board, which provides opportunities at $10 each for members and guests to potentially have $1,000 donated in their name to The Rotary Foundation so that they could be the recipient of Paul Harris Fellow recognition and be credited with a receipt for the tax-deductible donation.
President Allan told quite a fish story about a fish Polly caught on their recent trip to Ontario. See the full story, as told by Polly, in a separate newsletter article.
Sgt. At Arms, Greg Okonowski, collected happy bucks. Frank Rosenberg contributed proudly announcing that their daughter, Sammy, would be singing the National Anthem with the Phoenix Childrens Choir at Chase Field Saturday, September 9, at the Diamondbacks game. Don LaBarge contributed as he announced that he had finally been successful in selling Snowy. He announced that the price was $7,000 which covered expenses and that we made $1,000 on the deal. He requested that two huge plaques be made to honor those who were instrumental In getting Snowy sold.
Members were reminded of the volunteer opportunity coming up Saturday morning at the Midwest Food Bank, and the Rotary Day at the Diamondbacks on Sunday, September 10.
President Allan announced his intent to honor those with perfect attendance for the past year at the September 14 meeting. He also announced that Janie Pierce has recently qualified to become a Mesa West Rotary Club member and her induction will be planned in the near future.
Chuck Flint provided Rotary education during the induction ceremony of our newest Member, Christy Citterman, who was sponsored by Allan Cady and accompanied by Ray Schmal, who was congratulated for supporting Christy in her commitment to Rotary service as she enters this new chapter of her life.
Steve West introduced our speaker, Marc Garcia, from Visit Mesa (formerly known as the Mesa Convention and Visitors Bureau). Marc is a graduate of Valley Leadership and has led Visit Mesa since 2012. Under Marc’s leadership the numbers have increased dramatically. Steve has long supported Visit Mesa and is currently a director emeritus. He has had the opportunity to observe the positive impact of Marc’s leadership.
Marc showed some short video clips that have been developed to be strategically utilized in attracting visitors to our area. One of the markets they hope to target is one that, if their dream becomes a reality, will attract families to our area to participate in and support youth and amateur sports tournaments. It will be a Multi-Purpose Youth & Amateur Sports Complex to be developed in Northeast Mesa. The fields will be large enough to accommodate games like soccer and lacrosse, which will automatically make them large enough for other popular games. While the fees charged to use the complex will not produce a profit, it is anticipated the increased dollars generated in hotel bed taxes paid by families coming for the competitions and staying at facilities in our area will allow the complex to pay for itself.
Pam Cohen was born in Lexington, Nebraska. She was the middle child of three children until stepchildren were added and she was the second oldest of six. Pam has been a resident of Arizona for thirty-six years, relocating here in 1981. She has resided in three states, Nebraska, North Carolina and Arizona.
She has visited 27 foreign countries: Singapore, Bali, Malaysia, Borneo, Japan, China, Tibet, Austria, Germany, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Italy, Spain, Mexico, Thailand, Hong Kong, South Africa, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Grand Cayman, Bahamas, Jamaica, France, England, Scotland and Canada. She is not fluent in any language other than English, unless we allow her to count South African, Scottish, Irish, Australian, and Canadian.
As a teen, Pam dreamed of being an artist or anthropologist. Instead, she has spent the last 33 years in real estate sales, escrow, finance and marketing.
Pam is not married. She is engaged to Chuck Flint. She has one beautiful daughter, one son-in-law and one granddaughter by marriage.
When asked to share the location and time of year for the best vacation Pam can remember, she responded it was her trip to South Africa in May of this year.
Pam's most rewarding volunteer experience to date is her service as the RYLA Director for District 5510 for eight plus years and being involved with RYLA for thirteen years. She still stays in touch with some of the students and am often surprised when someone recognizes her form their time at RYLA. "Growing Rotarians - they were my kids, too!"
Bob Zarling, Matt Rotty, and Allan and Polly Cady responded to the call for volunteers to report for work at the Midwest Food Bank Saturday morning, September 9. They helped stack goods to go to Texas the next morning for the flood victims. The boxes contained everything from personal hygiene items to paper goods to cleaning supplies. Others were packing boxes with canned goods, water, tea, coffee, and fresh dates.
Greg Okonowski and his family also were at the food bank to work Saturday, representing Mesa West Rotary,but were not available when this photo was taken.
Midwest Food Back has a new and wonderful facility where they provide a marvelous service. Polly wrote, "It was heart warming to know our efforts are actually doing good in benefiting the victims of hurricane Harvey."
Midwest Food Bank is an organization that collects non-perishable food items from vendors throughout the Phoenix Metropolitan area. These food items are collected using Midwest Food Bank trucks, brought to the Midwest Food Bank warehouse, repackaged by volunteers like us, then redistributed into Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, and Tempe. Our club will be participating the second Saturday of the month for the remainder of 2017. One thing that makes this project worthwhile is the ability to play a vital role in feeding our community. Another reason is that the work is simple; we repackage bulk items (crackers, chips, and so forth) into smaller quantities for out-going delivery. We are asking that at least 12 people attend each of the remaining three Saturdays. You are free free to attend for whatever amount of time is convenient. Members are encouraged to mark their calendars, and encouraged to bring their spouses, significant others, and friends because they need all the help they can get. Matt Rotty, who identified this volunteer opportunity says, "Thank you very much in advance!"
We were in a bay in Sand Point Lake in Ontario, not too far from Crane Lake, MN. It was such a windy, cold and rainy day we tried to find areas that were protected from the wind. We were fishing mainly for Walleye using minnows. In the area I caught the Northern Pike, we were catching a lot of small Perch and throwing them back. A Perch bit my minnow and the Northern Pike bit the Perch! According to Allan, it took about 15 to 20 minutes to pull it in but felt like two minutes to me. J
We did have a guide – a great and personable one who we’ve used before – he actually came to the US from Sweden when he was the age of 21 – he’s now 66. He’s very fun. Anyway, I’ve caught Northern Pikes before and know they really fight but this one felt like I was catching a Marlin! The guide coached me on what to do and I caught her (according to the guide, the larger girthed fish are female and that’s why I named her Northern Nancy). We did measure and weigh it. It was 45 inches long and weighed 26-27 pounds. In Canada, any fish longer than 29-1/2 inches has to be thrown back so, of course, we did.
When we show up to have fun at Chuck Flint's at the end of this year's Sponsorship campaign for our club's charitable foundation, will you be eating steak or beans? You will be eating steak if your team has raised the most in donations, or if EVERY member of your team has brought in at least one donation. If your team hasn't met either of these criteria, you are encouraged to come for the fellowship and to celebrate those who have worked at helping us make the funds needed to do the work we want to do in our community and the world, but Chuck Flint suggests you may want to bring some Gas-X.
"If it is to be, it is up to me," should be each of our attitudes. If you don't know what team you are on, CLICK HERE to download the team roster.
The donations are not supposed to come from us, it is hoped we will each give our personal Rotary "elevator speech" to friends, neighbors, associates, neighbors who might be too busy to join a Rotary Club, but who would be happy to help us make a difference, if asked. Just ask! Download our Sponsorship Brochure to give (or send) to those you ask.
Let's not try hard to make this program work, Instead, let's each try very hard to make it fun! (and pray you're not on a team of vegans)
Ray Smith is shown presenting our club's check for $1,010 to Director, Deborah Schaus at the East Valley Resource Center. which is located at 247 North MacDonald Street in Mesa. The photo was taken July 14 when Mesa West Rotary Club members were invited to be present for the check presentation, as well as enjoy lunch and a tour of the center.
There were 11 clubs that participated in a joint project using District Grant funds, matching the funds with their own money, each check was $1,010.00. The clubs each received $510.00 from the District Grants fund and matched it with their funds of $500.00. Mesa West was one of the 11 clubs and was the lead club for the project. The other ten clubs involved were Fountain Hills, Mesa, Gold Canyon Superstition Mountain, Paradise Valley, Mesa Sunrise, Flagstaff, Sun Lakes, Phoenix Camelback, Tempe Downtown and Tempe South. 2016-17 District 5510 Governor Tonya’s theme was “Assist the Elderly.” As District Grants Coordinator, Don LaBarge challenged clubs to take part. Many more clubs wanted to join the project, but there were only enough funds available from District Grant funds for eleven clubs to participate at $500 each. It was a great project. The total expenditure of items purchased for the Elderly center will be $11,110.
It is anticipated that the final purchases of equipment funded by this project will be completed this week allowing formal documentation of this joint project to be finalized.
RLI is an excellent way for Rotarians, especially those already moving up into leadership roles, to learn more about the larger world of Rotary. The institutes are held three times each year in various locations throughout the state. Each institute has all three sessions available. To graduate from the program, Rotarians need to attend all three of the sessions. The next institute is scheduled for October 7 in Prescott, Arizona. The cost is $60 per session. CLICK HERE to download a registration/information form.
Pam Cohen was born in Lexington, Nebraska. She was the middle child of three children until stepchildren were added and she was the second oldest of six. Pam has been a resident of Arizona for thirty-six years, relocating here in 1981. She has resided in three states, Nebraska, North Carolina and Arizona.
When we show up to have fun at Chuck Flint's at the end of this year's Sponsorship campaign for our club's charitable foundation, will you be eating steak or beans? You will be eating steak if your team has raised the most in donations, or if EVERY member of your team has brought in at least one donation. If your team hasn't met either of these criteria, you are encouraged to come for the fellowship and to celebrate those who have worked at helping us make the funds needed to do the work we want to do in our community and the world, but Chuck Flint suggests you may want to bring some Gas-X.
Lucinda and Wayne General joined with Allan and Polly Cady to enjoy Rotary Day at the Diamondbacks Sunday, September 10.
RLI is an excellent way for Rotarians, especially those already moving up into leadership roles, to learn more about the larger world of Rotary. The institutes are held three times each year in various locations throughout the state. Each institute has all three sessions available. To graduate from the program, Rotarians need to attend all three of the sessions. The next institute is scheduled for October 7 in Prescott, Arizona. The cost is $60 per session. 
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