Lovely MARGARET HIGGINS interrupted the savory beef, chicken, mashed potatoes and yummy steamed vegetables to wish everyone a Happy New Year and hand off to JAMAL GIVENS to lead us in the pledge and a gorgeous rendition of “America the Beautiful” accompanied by our very own musical maestro KHRIS DODGE. Lovely MARGARET noted our esteemed guest’s beautiful voice and he should seriously consider joining our weekly, lunch choir!
Softly somber MARGARET then gave us a moment of silence for member, SARA GAAR EHRENS’ husband Bruce who has been in hospice and is close to passing.
And then … a 180 degree inspirational mood swing … with cheerful BRITTANY BATTLE listing 1924 predictions highlighting great, if sometimes optimistic, human imagination: 1) horses may become extinct; 2) life expectancy of 100 makes 75 “still young”; 3) conducting business via wire or even wireless = working from home; 4) Jazz will be classical music by 2024!
Two wheeled motor enthusiast DAN KALM thanked ALAN ROGERS for the fun, festive Holiday Party, and introduced guests Ellie Paterson, Kathleen Bowman, Kristi & Mike Wintrode, Kannon Nakamura, Domenick Smith, Carson Keegan, Bill Shaw, Christopher Foster, and TJ Juskiewicz.
Positive community transformater and Chamber leader MICHAEL GUYMON then introduced the Flowing Wells / TUSD / careered and Arizona education expert Dr. John J. Pedicone to enlighten us on significant education issues not so widely discussed. I was going to say lecture us, but the good doctor is way too down to earth for that!Starting with success: we passed every bond election & override, JTED’s growth, Pima early education Program rocks!
What you don’t hear details about, but really should know:
- Increasing expectations: Jamie Vollmer’s epiphany that Federal & State Education legislation stretches school’s required programming such that less time / attention for basics.
- AEL (Aggregate Expenditure Limit) in AZ must be passed each year and has become a political lever for concessions.
- ESA (Empowerment Scholarship Account “vouchers”): increased cost of education about $3k / participant, now reaching $1B. A battle in the AZ legislature coming over transparency, accountability, justifiable expenses.
- Academic issues: students from different demographics have different starting points and progression.Covid set most back.
- Teacher retention: crazy problem with enough qualified and certified, but thoroughly de-motivated and therefore not remaining teachers. Reasons boil down to treating them better.
- Solutions (Yes, we can impact this): vote education-oriented folks into local and state level office, who can civilly discuss contentious issues from each side of the aisle and are willing to compromise / work out solutions most can live with! If Newt Gingrich and Ralph Nader can civilly discuss differences, so can we! The good Dr. Pedicone then signed “Time For School, Little Blue Truck” for us to donate to the Make Way for Books library supporting children’s literacy in Tucson!
Suspenseful YMCA leader and current President elect KURTIS DAWSON threw out hints about our July 2025 President Elect to follow his upcoming reign. Born in Newark, New Jersey; grew up in Phoenix; a graduate from the local crazy fel
ine university; Masters from the University of San Francisco; married + 2 kids; two decades in our beloved Rotary; serial entrepreneur of three companies … DOT KRET !!! And best of all, DOT humbly, graciously, and funnily accepted in rhyme! And introduced her family in attendance, husband Michael Lex and sons David and Nathan Lex. Looking forward to more of that fun with DOT!
ine university; Masters from the University of San Francisco; married + 2 kids; two decades in our beloved Rotary; serial entrepreneur of three companies … DOT KRET !!! And best of all, DOT humbly, graciously, and funnily accepted in rhyme! And introduced her family in attendance, husband Michael Lex and sons David and Nathan Lex. Looking forward to more of that fun with DOT!
Gracious local and District leader ELLIE PATTERSON bestowed Rotary International’s Major Donor Award upon two of our most generous members: past Club President, past wing commander, A-10 pilot & instructor, proud Grampa and most importantly (to him) Salpointe grad CLIFF BOWMAN; and the always helpful Minnesoooota native, Eden Prairie School leader, MN Rotary President, now enlightened Tucsonan and hugely effective Rotary Club of Tucson “doer” JEANNE ZETAH ! 
Graduate of the greatest Arizona State University JIM WOOD presented still commuting from Denver and Tucson Airport Authority leader BRUCE GOETZ with his blue badge! He and CLIFF share Montana High School in common, small world!
Home sales guru VICKI JACOBS presented Nogales raised, Eller educated, world traveling mining explosives expert, and current Insurance expert NANCY GUNGOR with her blue badge! NANCY encouraged our guests to jump into the fun giving back, that is our Rotary!Sergeant at Arms but actually quite calm, DAN, did the raffle and for the umpteenth time I did not win! Even worse, JOHN DUVAL took the big pot of over $2k with the King of Clubs drawn. I grumpily congratulated him. At least we raised a boatload of money for charity, so there’s that.
Exceptionally talented DIANA MADARAS deservedly recognized for the addition of artistically designed wallpaper at the airport and generally for her exceptional involvement bettering our beloved club!
Sporty organization master KYM ADAIR deservedly recognized for building the AZ Bowl from nothing to the 7th of 41 college bowl games with 30k tickets sold, benefiting our beloved Tucson community!
Announcements by MARGARET, DIANNA MADARAS, WALLY JOHNSON, JEN HOFFMAN, JEANNE ZETAH, LYUDA EISENMAN:
Bring children’s books to the meetings to donate!
Rotary pins available at the registration counter!
A cool private Rotary tour of the San Xavier is in the works!
Generous CHRIS KIM is the December Service Project Winner!
1/17 Donation Drive for OPCS: Bring / donate Family size personal hygiene stuff, underwear, hats, gloves, socks for Old Pueblo Community Service to give to homeless, vets, and others in need!
Huge thank you to the members who volunteered at the 4th Ave. Street Fair getting a jump on selling 2024 car show tickets!
Charming exchange student Kanon Nakamura shared fun adventures so far and is now with her new host family Mike & Kristi Wintrode!
Our awesome club has raised and given away $843k in scholarships to 460 students over the last 23 years! Two current scholars at the local crazy feline University are grateful recipients of our Rotary scholarships: Domenick Smith studying accounting and Carson Keegan studying engineering. Future Rotary members for sure!
Lovely MARGARET re-capped the meeting and let energetic BRITTANY toast and adjourn another great meeting!
