Here comes our exciting “Sweet 16” Car Show so get ready and get involved! The Rotary Club of Tucson has raised over $2.2M to support local charities focused on literacy, education, development of job skills, and senior assistance. This year’s proceeds will be no different as we support JTED and the fabulous programs they produce for Tucson students, with this year having a special emphasis on their Medical component.

 

Our signature event will hopefully host over 20,000 guests, feature a field of 420 gorgeous Classic Cars, have three cars worth over $1M each, and have plenty of tasty food and drink to go along with a full array of vendors and great music. We will wrap the day up with prizes for our incredible top cars, 5 prizes for lucky winners, and one ecstatic person who will win the Classiest Raffle Car we’ve had yet, a 2015 C7 Shark Grey Convertible Corvette. With only ten days to go, we are excited to share all of the plans and hard work that will come to fruition on Saturday October 15^th at 10:00 am. on The Gregory School field. Come to hear all of the opportunities to be a vital part of this fun event that includes setting up the field on Friday, October14^th, the always fun Friday Night Dinner, the fantastic day of show, and the camaraderie of the clean up on Sunday morning.

 

And don’t forget at our October 5^th Club Meeting we will have a fun smaller Silent Auction to raise a few extra dollars for JTED and get the lucky winners some delicious wines from Jerry Harris or a couple of other “surprise” gifts!

 

Bobby Larson is the 2022 Classics Car Show Chair and has been a RCOT member since 2009. Bobby is the President of The Villas in both Tucson and Green Valley.

WOW, it is hard to believe that the first three months of serving as your Club President has come and gone. What a Quarter it has been. During that first meeting I shared a few goals for the year.

 

1) Increase Engagement 2) Inspire & Create Memories Together 3) Enhance Members Experience.

 

I feel we have made some progress in these areas but still have a long year ahead to make a greater impact and enhance your Rotary experience. I shared with you to “Imagine” the impact Rotary can make on the world as stated by RI President Jennifer Jones.

 

Two key goals have been to grow our membership and to have outstanding speakers and believe we have made progress on both fronts. Although we have had some natural attrition, we have added two new members and three additional members being processed by the committee. I believe we have positive momentum behind us and encourage every member to try to bring one guest each month. Sadly, we lost one of our longest members this past quarter and that was Gordon Graham.

 

We had Renee Gonzales the CEO from Long Companies, Chad Kasmer the new Chief of Police and no one can forget the amazing presentation by Mike and Oksana Schulte on their personal experiences with Ukraine. Other speakers included were Jan Lesher our new Pima County Administrator, Susan Dumon from Sun Corridor, Jansen Azarias founder of Higher Ground, our District Governor Anita McDonald and with our largest attendance in years with new basketball coach, Tommy Lloyd.

 

We also managed to have some fun, fellowship, and service along the way. Alan Rogers coordinated our first mixer of the year at Noble Hops. There was the Hiking Fellowship lead by Bruce Richardson, Golf Fellowship lead by Wayne Meyers, and congratulations to Bruce Tunze who won the 3^rd Annual Match Play golf tournament who fought off some tough competition. We just celebrated our first meeting with the new Whiskey Fellowship headed up by Brett Stein and Mitch Pisik.

 

As Rotarians we profess service above self, and we are back to doing more of that. After many years of not having participated in an international project we helped in the purchase of a new van for the Company in Nogales that we helped start with what is known as “the wheelchair project” expanding their reach into more rural areas. This effort was led by Pat Patton who has forged ties with new organizations to do more projects with Sonora Mexico. In September, many members turned out to work on the DEK project in support of the Boys & Girls Club lead by past president Mark Irvin.

 

The end of September we capped off the month with an outstanding District Conference which we had 10 Club members attend. It was the first one I attended and know I will be back in the future. I would highly recommend if you have never been to consider attending next year. Last, I would like to thank all of you that have helped to support me in the “Miles for Memories” campaign. Contributions have gone toward members polio/Paul Harris, some to the president’s discretionary fund as well as other great causes supporting Rotary.

 

As we start on the next quarter of OUR YEAR, I wanted to thank all of you for your support. Thank you for your ideas, suggestions, and friendship. I am proud to be able to serve as your president and of the work that we do together in making the world and our community a better place for all.

President BRUCE started off the meeting by introducing Dr. DOUG LOWELL up to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance and started us singing “You’re a Grand Ole Flag” accompanied by the talented KHRIS DODGE on Jen the keyboard.

 

KYM ADAIR inspired all of us, reminding us to be grateful. Treat each day as if it is both your first on this earth and your last to be kind and make a difference. Agreed KYM, this is sound advice.

 

Sergeant at Arms KHRIS DODGE introduced our guests.

 

One of the amazing things about Rotary is how efficient and thorough our Grants Committee, led by JIM, MURPHY is in vetting potential beneficiaries. During today’s program was the presentation of the three finalists of this process; Pima Community College Foundation, Old Pueblo Community Services and Big Brothers Big Sisters Services. Each of these deserving organizations had six minutes to share with us: who they are, what they do, how they help the individuals they serve, what the money donated would be used for and how they will help promote our Tucson Classics Car Show. WOW! What amazing organizations and what an impact they have on our community… super hard to decide which one to vote for but vote we must.

 

 

Birthday time for LYNN DEVOU, it was fun to hear about her days as a shot girl and fantastic to hear that she is six years cancer free. She also reminded us that October is breast cancer awareness month.

 

New member time!!! MATT BLAIR introduced us to our newest member JIM GARRETT. We can thank JIM for bringing dinosaurs to Tucson, specifically T-Rex’s. He is a first-time father at 55, Wow! So many reasons to congratulate you. Welcome to the club.

 

The amazing CHAR HARRIS introduced us to our most recent Paul Harris recipients: JIM LUBINSKI and MIKE SAGARA. Congratulations!

 

SAA KHRIS DODGE had LYNN pull the winning raffle ticket…. JIM LUBINSKI went home with a little cash but not the big 50/50 bank…. Be sure to bring your cash to next week’s meeting, you never know whose ticket will be drawn next.

 

Announcement time:

We had a blood drive today! I hope ya’ll donated enough to fill up a tanker truck. Thank you to those that did!

BLUE BADGES presented by JEN HOFFMAN to SANDRA JOHNSON. SANDRA received her Blue Badge before DON ROLLINGS presented RAY SMITH his Blue Badge.

KHRIS DODGE spoke on behalf of JON WANG reminding us to get our Rotary Service shirts so we can REPRESENT when we are working at the car show and in the Community.

A Car show update…. KANDIE VACTOR spoke for Car Show Volunteer Chair MARCY EULER…. Go online and sign up, in fact sign up everyone you know…. Fun times are had at the car show especially when we volunteer for a cause that gives back… SIGN UP today!

Car show ticket sales update…. We are getting there, BUT we aren’t there yet. Sell a ticket to everyone you know and people you’ve just met, business associates, vendors. The more tickets we sell the more $$$$$$ we are able to give to JTED!

 

The charity chosen to be the primary beneficiary of the net proceeds for the 2023, 2024 and 2025 TCCS goes to Pima Community College Foundation.  Congratulations!

 

Our October 12th meeting is a PINK OUT in honor of Breast Cancer awareness with Ginny Clements..

 

Next meeting is our very own BOBBY LARSON… he is going to give us the DL on the car show and share the details that will ensure it is the BEST CAR SHOW IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD.

 

President BRUCE then ended the meeting with a toast!

We are still filling all the volunteer positions for our Tucson Classics Car Show ~ “Sweet 16”.  The car show really needs volunteers for the parking lots and slotting. Please sign up by going to  https://TucsonClassicsCarShow.com/volunteer. All of the open jobs are listed on the site.  We are hoping everyone can volunteer in some capacity for our annual signature event.  Thanks so much.  See you on the field!!!!

EVERY  Rotarian should be properly outfitted at our Tucson Classics Car Show. Jon Wang will have the Club’s High Performance, Moisture-Wicking, Tailored Polo-style service shirts available for purchase at Wednesday Lunch Meetings on September 28^th, October 5^th and October 12^th. If you need to purchase a shirt, please see Jon at the meetings.

 

I shared with those in attendance on the 13^th 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 102^nd year one where we create memories together.

 

YIR

Bruce

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