RCOT Mystery Editor ~ 6/25/25

KHRIS DODGE serenaded us with his gentle piano playing as we enjoyed lunch. And the Bar was open…well, you had to pay for your drink but alcohol was served to those who paid.

 

PRESIDENT KURTIS called the meeting to order and welcomed KENT BURBANK to the stage for the pledge and song, “America The Beautiful.”

 

KHRIS DODGE, who had a lot of microphone time at this meeting, offered the Inspiration. He said that science shows that hugging and being hugged can make a real difference in someone’s life. Find a moment and give someone a hug.

 

KHRIS was then welcomed back to the stage to introduce our guests. PRESIDENT KURTIS’ wife, Sasha, and daughter, Olivia, were in attendance to support PRESIDENT KURTIS at his last meeting as President.

 

The meeting schedule was changed around a bit, and we engaged in Club Business first. BRITTANY BATTLE, who also had lots of microphone time, introduced our newest member, KENT BURBANK. KENT grew up in Nebraska and went to school at both the University of South Dakota and University of Chicago.

 

PRESIDENT KURTIS noted that KHRIS DODGE received the Jazz Journalists Association Jazz Hero of the year! Congrats KHRIS!

 

KHRIS was back again for the 25/50/50 Raffle, and we had a guest who won the cash…but not the pot that’s worth about $1,400 at this point.

 

PRESIDENT KURTIS had a few announcements:

Events/Projects are noted on the website as well as printed and left on the tables.

Red Badge selfies. We need to see more outside of the weekly lunches.

Wilbur was not traveling this week.

 

PRESIDENT KURTIS and Co-Car Chair, JEN HOFFMAN next awarded some special individuals with the Presidents Coin for outstanding Rotarianship: JENN DELANY, KHRIS DODGE, NANCY BEVINS, BRUCE TUNZE and JON HARNED all received the coin and a nice certificate of their achievements. KURTIS also introduced and thanked his board members.

 

KHRIS DODGE and BRITTANY BATTLE blew the top off the TCC with their performance! It started with a great cover of Hotel California – Rotary Club of Tucson (RCOT) style. It was a bit of a roast on KURTIS and was really great!

 

Then, they did a most excellent cover of Margaritaville only RCOT style with another roast on KURTIS. But that was just the beginning. They wanted to thank the true leader of the RCOT this year, so they gave KURTIS’ wife Sasha a bouquet of flowers. They also gave KURTIS a really nice parting gift. It was an Instant Audience key fob and Microphone…so that KURTIS could remember all of the attention that he enjoyed this year. Next, they directed us to the screens where they showed the “One look for KURT” which was a sport coat and collared shirt. By the time they were done, they both were dressed up as KURTIS to include matching hair courtesy of wigs.

 

PAUL HARRIS was called, and they gave KURTIS the phone. He wasn’t so impressed with KURTIS this year. There was a “Where’s KURTIS?” moment that showed he had been at the Olympics, Coachella, a strange Where’s Waldo gathering, and at MITCH PISIK’s Colonoscopy exam.

 

Highlights of some of the achievements this year:

PRESIDENT KURTIS made it back to the stage and thanked his wife, Sasha, as well as Dorinna, Deborah, the Past Presidents (at least most of them), and our club for putting up with his humor that is as dry as the Tucson desert in June.

 

PRESIDENT KURTIS passed the very large gavel to PRESIDENT ELECT DOT KRET who received the gavel and noted that it was just about as big as her. PRESIDENT DOT announced the new Sargent at Arms for 2025/2026, DAN KALM, as well as the new board members income this year, BRITTANY BATTLE, JONATHAN WALKUP, ALAN SCHROPE.

 

Next week PRESIDENT DOT will be presenting the 2025/2026 goals.

 

THANKS VERY MUCH TO PRESIDENT KURTIS ON A REALLY FUN AND HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL YEAR! Most importantly, thanks for bringing the cookies back!

 

KHRIS DODGE toasted to Past PRESIDENT KURTIS, New PRESIDENT DOT and the Club at large. Cheers!