President CHUCK opened our meeting followed by KATHLEEN WICKS who gave the inspiration on the themes of grace and nature. President CHUCK followed with a moment of silence for the passing of RICH FLYNN’s Dad and TONY PEDROSA’s Mother-in-Law who both passed last week.
CHRISTOPHER SHIREMAN led us in the Pledge and Song accompanied as always by GARY HIRSCH: “You’re a Grand Ole Flag” BOB HOPKINS introduced our guests and visiting Rotarians, and we had a veritable slew of Birthday Rotarians:
- BRUCE TUNZE is originally from St. Louis, enjoys golf and adventure traveling with his wife Sandy in their RV. BRUCE is thankful for his sponsor Leslie Galloway and good health and family.
- PAT DAVITT is the Past President of a Rotary Club in Green Bay, multiple times an entrepreneur, and is starting a new travel business after the first of the year. PAT treats stress the way a dog treats everything: if you can’t eat it, or make friends with it, pee on it. (Sorry, had to repeat that one!)
- NICK JONES is a Vietnam Veteran, former CEO of Old Pueblo Community Health and current CEO of Recovery in Motion. NICK thanked his sponsor MARGARET HIGGINS and urged everyone to remember to ask for support of charitable efforts so as not to deny people the benefits of giving.
- JACK PARRIS is a long time member of the media world who once worked with Tom Brokaw in Nebraska. JACK thanked his sponsor JIM RONSTADT and all his Rotary friends.
- DALE BERG is our resident Sergeant at Arms pinch hitter, former Marine and current CEO of the Pima Medical Institute. DALE is thankful for his sponsor Past President MARY MARTIN, mentor CINDY GODWIN, and our wonderful Club in general.
Sergeant at Arms DALE BERG conducted the raffle, and we had the following announcements:
President CHUCK reviewed our Holiday schedule and reminded everyone to sign the Car Show banner.
NANCY PURDIN still has slots for Salvation Army Bell Ringing on 12/15 (sign up – it’s fun!)
FONDA INSLEY reminded us of the Holiday Mixer on 12/20 at the Playground.
ROBERT O’BRIEN noted that there is still time to buy tickets to the Arizona Bowl to benefit local charities and our Car Show.
JIM MURPHY awarded a Blue Badge to his daughter MICHELE MURPHY. MICHELE is the Development Director for the College of the Humanities at the U of A, has been involved with this Club since her Dad joined, and most importantly is proud to be her father’s daughter.
BOB LOGAN introduced our newest President Elect Nominee JEN HOFFMAN. JEN is a fourth generation Arizonan who grew up on a ranch, plays the violin, won Silver in some kind of Martini Olympics, and received a pink Luger 22 from her fiancée for Valentine’s Day. JEN is honored to be a member of this Rotary Club and noted that with BOB LOGAN as a mentor, what could possibly go wrong?
KEN TUCKER i
ntroduced our speaker Robert Samuelsen - Chief Financial Officer of the Regional Partnering Center. The RPC won the contract to develop state of the art transport vehicles known as the “Sabino Canyon Crawler”. These electric vehicles will provide cleaner, quieter transportation in the lower part of the Sabino Canyon trail, enhanced by narration delivered through individual ear buds and triggered through geo-located “fences”. The content is being developed to address the rich environmental and cultural legacy represented by the desert waters of the canyon. Look for the program to begin in mid-March 2019. Mr. Samuelsen signed a book for our lending library: “Never Follow a Dinosaur”.
ntroduced our speaker Robert Samuelsen - Chief Financial Officer of the Regional Partnering Center. The RPC won the contract to develop state of the art transport vehicles known as the “Sabino Canyon Crawler”. These electric vehicles will provide cleaner, quieter transportation in the lower part of the Sabino Canyon trail, enhanced by narration delivered through individual ear buds and triggered through geo-located “fences”. The content is being developed to address the rich environmental and cultural legacy represented by the desert waters of the canyon. Look for the program to begin in mid-March 2019. Mr. Samuelsen signed a book for our lending library: “Never Follow a Dinosaur”.President CHUCK closed the meeting with a quote from John Muir: “In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.”
