President CHUCK opened the meeting and ANN LANCERO treated us to a video set to Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World” in honor of Thanksgiving. VICKIE JACOBS led us in the pledge and song, the ever reliable “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” accompanied by the ever-mellifluous GARY HIRSCH.
Past President BOB SHAFF gave a moving remembrance of the inspiration he got from Former Member Fran Horkey and urged us to be open to the personal connections Rotary offers.New Member BROOKE FAWCETT introduced our guests and visiting Rotarians, and we had two Birthday Rotarians:
MARGARET HIGGINS, forever 39, has lived in nearly every country in the Commonwealth and still sports the best accent in the Club. She thanked her sponsors, new members, participants in the Ride to End Polio, and gave a donation to the International Scholarship Fund. DAN GUARE was born in New Jersey, worked as a miner when he first came to Arizona, and lived in a tent while building his first home. He thanked Rotary for support in difficult times, and noted that the Club has provided him with a Corvette and a girlfriend – wait, is that part of the Star Program I missed???
Sergeant at Arms BOBBY LARSON moved immediately to announcements, including the following:
- President CHUCK reviewed the Holiday Schedule (Closed Thurs/Fri – 11/22 & 11/23/18)
- President CHUCK also reminded us to sign up for Salvation Army Bell Ringing Dec. 15th
- GARY HIRSCH asked for 3 to 4 volunteers to participate in the Rotary Youth Leadership Academy retreat in Prescott.
- Past President ROGER HARWELL asked for volunteers to work at the 4th Ave Fair Beer Booth (email coming with sign up link!)
- FONDA INSLEY encouraged everyone to come to the Holiday Mixer on Thurs. 12/20 at The Playground (free parking across the street and easy access upstairs).
- ALLYN BULZOMI asked for members who want to have an Interact Toy Drive box in their businesses.
- And ALLYN introduced two members of our fantastic Rotaract club to speak about Camp Kesem. The Camp helps youngsters whose lives have been affected by cancer, and the Roteract Club is hoping to raise $30,000 to sponsor kids to go to the camp for free during an auction at the U of A on 11/27.
Our own JOHN STROBECK introduced his own brother, Ken Strobeck, the Executive Director of the League of Arizona Cities and Towns. Ken is a graduate of the University of Oregon, a former state representative in Oregon, winner of the 2013 Executive of the Year award, and past CEO of the League of Oregon Cities and Towns. Ken spoke in detail about the importance of cities and towns as the main truly voluntary unit of government and the most immediate provider of services such as water, public safety, parks, and high-quality neighborhoods. Surprisingly Arizona is one of the ten most urbanized states in the country with approximately 79% of residents living in cities and towns. The League is a non-partisan advocacy group that promotes local determination, provides training for newly elected city and public officials, writes model legislation and attempts to keep more local revenues in the cities that generate them. Thank you, Ken, for your advocacy and an excellent presentation. Ken signed a book for our lending library: “Sophie’s Squash Go to School”.President CHUCK closed the meeting with a quote from Richard Russo (“People in small towns, much more than in cities, share a destiny”) and toasted our municipal leaders.
