The meeting started with a Hawaiian themed Buffet. PRESIDENT BRUCE called the meeting to order and new member THERESA LINNANE led the pledge and a well piano played version of God Bless America. MITCH PISIK offered the Inspiration with a thought on prejudice and judgement. We all have them both. Those with high competency and compassion are favorably viewed in our society. Rotarians are not only highly competent and filled with compassion, but also help others to reach that status too.
KHRIS DODGE introduced our guests. Then, PRESIDENT BRUCE introduced our speaker, none other than Past President, Past Car Show Chairman and current Rotary Club of Tucson Foundation (RCOT Foundation) President, JONI CONDIT. JONI offered some insight into the RCOT Foundation and noted the reason that it exists is so that we may give away money to charities without being taxed. The Foundation is a 501C3 and currently has 17 board members. The Tucson Classics Car Show is a subsidiary of the Foundation so that we can give away money tax free. The Foundation has given over $800,000 in scholarships to local students with 250 of them being University of Arizona students and 150 attending Pima Community College. JONI noted that you don’t have to wait until your birthday or scholarship cups to donate to the Foundation, you can do it anytime. JONI signed the book Kindness Is My Superpower for the Make Way for Books Library.GRACIE QUROZ MARUM was celebrating her birthday and was noted that she did her first, and only, sky dive on her 40th birthday. CHRIS KIM was celebrating his birthday and commented that he is a 1.5 generation Korean. You’ll have to ask him how that is defined as it got a bit complicated.
LEE OLITZKY introduced our newest member, THERESA LINNANE, who is with Marshall Home For Men. Welcome to the Club THERESA and congratulations!
CHARLOTTE HARRIS led a Paul Harris Presentation to HOOT GIBSON who received his Paul Harris plus four. He received a gift of little to no value in the form of U of A Pom Poms that Hoot may use to celebrate his son receiving a PhD in Chemistry from the U of A next year. Congrats HOOT!PRESIDENT BRUCE shared a snippet of the 100 Year Anniversary of RCOT. You can find the full 21 minute video on our website: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8KZJgvL4CU .
KHRIS DODGE held a 25/50/25 drawing and ALAN ROGERS won…for the second time. He didn’t win the jackpot though.
The following announcements were made:
- Whiskey Fellowship will be at Brother John’s on May 10th at 5:30 to 7:30pm.
- Wine Fellowship will be at Flying Leap Vineyards Tasting Room at Plaza Palomino on May 17th at 5:30 to 7:30pm.
- JTED Groundbreaking Ceremony will be on Thursday, May 4th at 9:30am.
- U of A Athletic Director Dave Heeke will be speaking at our program on May 17th and ALL Rotarians and their guests must register.
- We need a couple of people to help sell raffle tickets at the Pima County Fair this weekend.
- DIANA MADARAS had a Happy Jackson. She told us that her dog named Max has become very popular. A popular publication asked to photograph Max in her yard with some beautiful greenery. BILL HARLOW came to the rescue and planted a nice flower garden for her just in time for the photo shoot.
- Helen Gomez from Ben’s Bells will be speaking next week.
PRESIDENT BRUCE offered a toast to our 102 years of Rotary and then we were dismissed.
