The story of Ben's Bells is rooted in the fabric of Tucson. With more than 200 mosaic murals across the country, including the beautiful one on the Tucson Convention Center, there are visual reminders all over Tucson to Be Kind. But what does that mean? Executive Director Helen Gomez, will tell the origin story of Ben's Bells, explain how they have kept kindness at the forefront and talk about what they are doing to systematically build kinder communities.
Biography - Helen Gomez serves as the Executive Director for Ben's Bells, now in her fourth year. As a native Tucsonan, Helen grew up knowing the Ben’s Bells story and the idea of keeping kindness at the forefront has always resonated with her. She loves being able to educate people about the positive impacts of practicing kindness. Her favorite part of her job is to engage with the community and make meaningful connections. Before joining Ben's Bells, Helen held leadership positions at the University of Arizona and the Jewish Community Center but she began her professional career as a high school English teacher after graduating from Pepperdine University. She sits on the boards of the Educational Enrichment Foundation and Downtown Tucson Partnership and over the years has been involved in various capacities, including the Women's Foundation, MOCA, Greater Tucson Leadership, the Junior League of Tucson and The Community Food Bank to name a few. At her core, Helen supports organizations focused on the arts, education and women. She loves to spend as much time as possible with her boys, Brady, 14 and Dylan, 13; her partner Kevin and her dog and queen of the house, Harper.
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!
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.
I am pleased to report that after 6 weeks without a hike, Martha and I are back from our travels and ready to hit the trails again. With earlier sunrise and warmer daytime temperatures, we are going to want to knock this one out earlier in the day. Anticipated temperatures will be around 60 at our start time of 7AM with projected high temps at 90 for next Saturday. Look forward to seeing you all next weekend (Saturday, May 6th) and let me know if you will be joining us!
Wasson Peak Loop – 6:45AM Meeting for 7AM Departure from King Canyon Trailhead
Located across the road from the Sonoran Desert Museum you will find a newly paved parking lot for King Canyon Trailhead. This hike takes you to the summit of the highest point in the Tucson Mountains offering spectacular views of Tucson metro with plenty of wildflowers in the spring and some people watching as well.
The hike is categorized at Intermediate/Difficult with just over 1,900 vertical feet in elevation covering 8.4 miles from beginning to end. With earlier sunrise, warmer temperatures and an anticipated hike time of 5.5-6 hours, please be sure to bring all the essentials. Sunscreen, plenty of water and food.
At our lunch meeting on May 17th, UA Athletic Director Dave Heeke will be visiting and presenting to our club. Since this will be a well attended meeting, all must register by Friday, 5/12/23 @ 3:00 p.m. This meeting will be capped at 175 so we are encouraging all to register early. If you would like to bring a guest, please register them as well. The guest fee is $35 which will be billed to your account. To register, go to the club website at www.tucsonrotary.org scroll down the left side under "Upcoming Events". The buffet menu is listed on the registration page, but if you need a Veggie/Vegan be sure to list your and your guest's light lunch in the Comment Section. By registering, you will be helping the office give a more accurate guarantee of meals for this meeting.
If you have any questions, contact the Rotary office. Please wear your RED!
I shared with those in attendance on the 13th that this next year I want us to share “Miles of Memories” together. I referenced the memories we have created together over the years and the impact we have had in so many others lives as well as our own.
The children and the parents receiving the grass ball field in San Carlos transformed from a dirt lot. The recipients and their families that obtained their mobility by receiving a wheelchair in Nogales. The memories of our member that participated along with the memories of working together on various local workday projects. Our hiking, golf, home hospitality fellowships and the list goes on.
I ask for you to help me on “our journey” over this next year by sponsoring me in the “Miles of Memories.” My goal is to walk a minimum of 35 miles a week, 1,825 for the year and honestly want to surpass 2000+. I would like for you to consider donating by the mile and we will share the outcome at the first meeting of each month on my progress.
Donations can go to the Foundation toward a Paul Harris, the President’s Discretionary Fund, or others of your choosing. I want us to have fun on our journey over this next year and to INSPIRE each other and our benefactors through the world of Rotary.
Thank you for your support in making our 102nd year one where we create memories together.
We will no longer be streaming our meetings live via Facebook but we will be streaming live via our YouTube Channel. We are encouraging you all to subscribe to our Channel in order to receive notices of when the meetings are streaming live. After the live meeting, this video will become a recording and immediately posted on our YouTube Channel. To view live CLICK HERE.
To view videos on the RCOT YouTube channel go to our Home Page of the Club website and click on the YouTube link on the right hand side of the page. Or, go to YouTube and type in Rotary Club Of Tucson. You will be able to click on the video you wish to watch once they are posted. Here is the link to do this: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=rotary+club+of+tucson
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The story of Ben's Bells is rooted in the fabric of Tucson. With more than 200 mosaic murals across the country, including the beautiful one on the Tucson Convention Center, there are visual reminders all over Tucson to Be Kind. But what does that mean? Executive Director Helen Gomez, will tell the origin story of Ben's Bells, explain how they have kept kindness at the forefront and talk about what they are doing to systematically build kinder communities.
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.
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!.jpg)
For all of you who enjoy the robust pleasures of whiskey and/or the robust pleasures of whiskey drinkers - outstanding news. The next event is:
Please join us for the club’s first Wine Fellowship of the year!
UA Athletic Director Dave Heeke Presents
