President BOB opened our meeting with a sonorous bell ringing followed by the Pledge and Song led by TAMARA CRIMANDO accompanied by GARY HIRSCH (“God Bless America”.) President BOB then introduced an inspiration courtesy of DOT KRET that included a poem and slides for the anniversary of the Tucson shooting. A moment of silence followed. We also had Moments of Silence for the passing of two long time members of our club, GORDON SHAW and BILL GILKINSON. You both will surely be missed!
The esteemed ELLEN WHEELER introduced our guests and visiting Rotarians, and then we launched into our program.
Assistant District Governor Anita McDonald reintroduced us to our own ELLIE PATTERSON, current District Governor. Anita told us some things we didn’t know about Governor ELLIE: she grew up on a barley farm, barrel-raced quarter horses, and bicycled from Canada to Mexico. In addition to starting an amazing staffing company (the Temp Connection), Governor ELLIE developed her passion for Rotary after joining more than nine years ago. ELLIE appreciates Rotary’s ability to break things – for example, breaking the cycle of poverty, breaking through illiteracy, breaking the hold polio has on the few remaining countries where it exists. She noted that she’s enjoyed her time as District Governor, visiting clubs, promoting joint projects, riding to end polio, and working to grow Rotary membership. We’re blessed to have one of our own as District Governor!In other Rotary news, we had three Birthday Rotarians:
BOBBY LARSON has served as our able Sergeant at Arms for the last year, and also has a brother Peter who played in the NFL. DAVE EAGLETON went from Hughes Aircraft to the PGA tour… and proved man does not live by golf alone. DAVE is a proud graduate of Amphi High School (in other words, not Salpointe). LEA MARQUEZ PETERSON has transitioned from honorary to active to honorary membership due to her recent appointment to the Arizona Corporation Commission. Come back soon 
LEA!
LEA!ELLIE PATTERSON and SCOTT VAUGHAN introduced our newest member MIKE TANNENBAUM. MIKE has multiple degrees and worked for many years as an education administrator. More importantly, he is a Red Sox fan and a former carnival barker. Welcome MIKE!
Sergeant at Arms BOBBY LARSON conducted a 50/50 raffle with two prizes, and then recognized President BOB for sneaking onto the field as Santa during the halftime of the 1979 Fiesta Bowl. We then had the following announcements:
President BOB reminded us of the social mixer on 1/15 (sign up by Friday).
President BOB asked us to join MARK IRVIN when he receives the Man of the Year Award.
MARK in turn offered a Happy Jackson in honor of the opening of a lounge for soldiers travelling through the Tucson airport, which MARK raised all the funds for from local donors. Thank you MARK!
Wiley Faron, president of the UA Rotaract Club reviewed the Club’s activities for the year (including help at El Tour, attending the Big West Roteract convention and activities every two weeks.)
Mike Kloehn introduced the award winning Amphi High School Interact Club who conducted 28 separate activities, 100 hours of service, raised $1,200 to build a specialized bike for the Children’s Clinic, and a Thanksgiving dinner for refugee families.And LYUDA EISENMAN introduced our UA and Pima Rotary Scholarship Recipients. In the words of President BOB, so many marvelous young people!
President BOB closed the meeting with a toast and a quote: “Let your smile change the world. But never let the world change your smile.”
