JOE DANISZEWSKI gave the inspiration, a quote from A. P. J. Abdul Kalam: Where there is righteousness in the heart, there is beauty in the character. When there is beauty in the character, there is harmony in the home. When there is harmony in the home, there is order in the nation. When there is order in the nation, there is peace in the world.
JEFF RONSTADT continued his self-described “reign of terror”, leading us in the Pledge and song “Old MacDonald Had A Farm”, which led to cries of “more volunteers!” NICK JONES introduced our guests and visitors – thank you NICK.
We had three Birthday Rotarians:
- Past President HUGH THOMPSON an Olympic caliber rower and graduate of Yale noted how rewarding RCOT Service Above Self Projects are and kicked off his annual Ride to End Polio campaign.
- CONRAD PLIMPTON who had two parents in the intelligence services is thankful he is now eligible for membership in the Club due to his many successful business ventures. CONRAD showed off his rugby skills in honor of his sponsor President Elect ROBERTO LOGANO, launching a spiral pass into the audience.
- SANDY SANDERSON, longtime doctor at Tucson Medical Center and curator of an 160-year-old sourdough starter celebrated his birthday and hopes to be back soon at our meetings. Update given my President CHUCK.
Past President JIM MURPHY introduced the second half of his Dynamic Duo of Daughters, TAMAH DONALDSON. TAMAH is a graduate of Salpointe, Pima, and NAU, and has held positions with American Airlines, an investment services company, and most recently with Madden Media. TAMAH has three children all of whom have participated in RCOT events, and thanks the Club for teaching them kindness in a multitude of ways.Past President CHARLOTTE HARRIS presented a Paul Harris Fellowship to Grace Vaughan Sacks (SCOTT VAUGHAN'S granddaughter). Grace is an incoming Freshman at Catalina Foothills High School where she is
a member of the band and hopes to march in the Macy’s Parade at Thanksgiving.
a member of the band and hopes to march in the Macy’s Parade at Thanksgiving.Sergeant at Arms BOBBY LARSON recognized JASON GRABOSCH for being selected to help found the newest Foothills Bank in Tucson. We had the following announcements:
- FONDA INSLEY asked everyone to sign up TODAY for the Mixer at Top Golf next Wednesday.
- BOBBY LARSON reminded us of the Blood Drive on 9/5.
- and Past President DAVE GALLAHER called for the head of the Mystery Editor for getting the arrival time wrong for our Rotary Youth Exchange Student Pedro. Pedro arrives at 9:30 AM next Friday. Let’s all be there to welcome him!
PAT ZUMBUSCH introduced our speaker, Ken Cummins, lightning researcher and scholar at the University of Arizona. Professor Cummins has published more than 80 papers, owns 9 US patents, and is quite possibly the funniest researcher ever to address the RCOT. Professor Cummins explained the physics of lightning, technologies for locating and tracking lightning strikes, and unusual examples of lightning phenomena (including a record 14 simultaneous strikes on wind turbines in Kansas. He also advised us on the risks of tin roofs on Mount Lemmon (invest in grounding), swimming during monsoons (when thunder roars, get indoors), and his own worst nightmare (being struck by lightning and having to read the headline “Lightning Researcher Struck by Lightning”). He signed a book for our lending library: “I Spy In The Sky.” Thank you, Professor Cummins!President CHUCK closed with a quote from Lee Trevino (If you are caught on a golf course during a storm and are afraid of lightning, hold up a 1-iron. Not even God can hit a 1-iron.) and a toast to the excellent professors at the U of A.
