KAREN PUTNAM introduced our guests and visiting Rotarians and President CHUCK introduced our latest new member GARY FRANKS. GARY is continuing in the family business, Sunstreet Mortgage (formerly Ventana) and participates in a number of service clubs in addition to RCOT, hoping to instill a sense of service in his children and family. Among other interesting facts, GARY met his wife Ann while studying at the University of Warwick in England.
Sergeant at Arms BOBBY LARSON recognized MARK CLARK for his recent appearance in Tucson Lifestyle at the Pima Council on Aging’s Gala. MARK reminded everyone that September 21ST (the first day of Fall) is National Falls Prevention Day. ALAN ROGERS generously donated two tickets to the next UA Football game, and we had the following announcements:
- President CHUCK continued the Old Time Member Photo shoot with a photo of MIKE ANDERSON.
- FONDA INSLEY announced our first Monthly Social Mixer, Sept 27th at The Maverick.
- Past President JIM LUBINSKI reminded us to attend the District 5500 Conference including Saturday nights’ reception/dinner in honor of incoming District Governor ELLIE PATTERSON.
- Past President JIM MURPHY announced the upcoming release of the RFP for the Centennial Project where we are soliciting proposals for what will be a substantial set of grants and matching funds. The RFP is available on the RCOT website.
- President CHUCK updated us on the current Car Show ticket sales.
- NINA TRASOFF asked for a moment of silence to honor the passing of Tucson philanthropist Joan Kaye-Cawthorn.
Nina then continued the second half of our candidate interviews, which included the following improbable highlights:
- Past President JIM MURPHY, leader of the Potted Plant People, skillfully avoided NINA’s pointed question about pot by railing against “dark money” in the campaign.
- BOBBY LARSON standing in for Past President DAVE GALLAHER of the Shake, Rattle and Roll Party deflected the question of whether the party would sell car show tickets or just beer tickets.
- Past President MARY MARTIN head of the Green Party stuck only to recycled promises, including asking not what her party can do for you, but what can you do for me?
- And true to form, Past President CLIFF BOWMAN refused to answer NINA’s question and somehow managed to take five minutes to chant “Yes we can!”
Please… sell more tickets… soon!!
MARK IRVIN introduced our speakers today Ali Farhang Chairman and Executive Director Kym Adair of NOVA Arizona Bowl “NOVA Arizona Bowl”. In just three years, the Arizona Bowl has delivered $30 M of economic impact to our region each year, while giving over $500,000 in grants and matching funds to local charities. Last year, bowl attendance was more than 40,000, and this year the Bowl Team is hoping to fill the stadium with the help of their “Top Deck for Education” plan which allows local school districts to sell tickets and share in revenue from the game. The Arizona Bowl has also allowed the RCOT to sell tickets to generate additional revenue for our Car Show. The Bowl is uniformly voted one of the best experiences for the teams that attend and is a great advertisement for Tucson. Thank you Ali and Kym!Ali signed a book for our lending library: “Again”.
President CHUCK closed our meeting with a quote from Vince Lombardi: "The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will."
