Rotary Club of
Tucson
"Tucsotarian"
Tucsotarian - February 20, 2019
We meet:
WEDNESDAYS, 12:00 NOON - 1:20 PM
DoubleTree Hotel
445 S Alvernon Way
Tucson, AZ  85711
United States
(520) 623-2281
 
 
Stories
The Lapan College Club: A Unique Academic Success Story - So. Tucson At Risk Students

When Patricia Lapan approached Wakefield Middle School in 2004 with the goal of helping more children from this impoverished community attend college, she had no idea of the challenges that lay ahead. 

Only 3% of children from this gritty urban middle school even attended first year of college. The neighborhood was plagued with high unemployment rates, diabetes, crime, gangs, neglect and to boot, populated with an inordinate number of sex offenders.

Within ten years the Lapan College Club has realized amazing changes. The number of students attending college surged ten-fold with some students successfully graduating from Ivy League schools and even Oxford University!

Evolving from Paticia Lapan’s simple idea of motivating students by awarding them $50 for “A’s” on their report cards, the program currently encompasses simple yet sophisticated mentoring programs whereby highly successful Lapan high school and college students teach middle school students their secrets to succeed in school and in life. In the process a metaphorical and physical garden flourishes in this once arid community. Lapan students have won state championships, performed at the Fox Theatre, studied abroad and gained a fresh vision for life.
 

Lucy Kin ~ Biography

Lucy Kin is the Executive Director of The Lapan College Club funded by The Lapan Sunshine Foundation, Inc.  Lucy transitioned to her “work of passion” with the Lapan College Club in 2008 after a 30 year career with the Tucson Unified School District working as the financial manager of all State/Federal and Private funding. She also served as a School Improvement Coordinator training district administrators, principals and school leadership teams in instructional and operational program design, implementation, and evaluation to increase student achievement and raise low-performing schools to a performing level.

Building on Patricia Lapans idea of $50 for every A” for students in 6th-12th grade, Lucy and her team incorporated their experience and the relationships developed from decades of working in the Wakefield community to address the systemic, socio-economic and cultural challenges that prevent students from taking full advantage of the Lapan Foundation’s unique offer.

Her job encompasses everything from strategic planning, to teacher, counselor, cheerleader, gardener, dreamer, advocate, coach, surrogate parent, detective and chief bottle washer. “It’s the personal relationships and being able to stay with the kids from 5th grade through their graduate studies that makes this job so fulfilling,” she smiles.

This Tucson native, raised in the small mining town of Silverbell, Arizona to become a policy wonk with TUSD and finally a mentor to mentors with the Lapan College Club finds her greatest pleasure in helping poor children from the inner city overcome every barrier to realize their wildest dreams in a global context.

Mystery Editor ~ 2/13/19
Past President HUGH THOMPSON gave the inspiration drawing upon an assignment for school children where they came up with ads to describe the qualities of God.  New member LUCY HOWELL led us in the pledge and song “America the Beautiful” accompanied by GARY HIRSCH on the piano.  New member SARA GAAR EHRENS introduced our guests and visiting Rotarians - a longer list than usual due to the august nature of our speaker.
 
We had three Birthday Rotarians:
 
ROBERT O’BRIEN thanked his sponsor Past President DICK DOBRAN and made a contribution to his daughter’s Paul Harris.  BOB’s daughters will appear at a future meeting to demonstrate their skills at Irish Dancing.
SCOTT EHRSAM is a former student body president and homecoming king at Palo Verde High School who once met John Belushi and Dan Akroyd at a college event. SCOTT made a donation for his birthday, followed immediately by a donation for his cell phone.
KEN LIGHT is the past president of the Jewish Community Center who is going back to skiing after 40 years at the request of his grandkids.  KEN made a donation to Polio Plus in honor of his birthday.
 
MARGARET HIGGINS introduced our latest new member TOM CAMPBELL.  Tom has a background in marine biology, and expert in stapling (surgical stapling), and swing dancing.  TOM thanked MARGARET his sponsor and his mentor BOBBY LARSON.
 
MARK IRVIN introduced FLETCHER MCCUSKER as our newest honorary member.  MARK described FLETCHER as someone with no off button, frequently sending texts at 3 AM, who has an interest as a musician and a collector of classic cars, and no interest in running for Mayor.
 
Sergeant at Arms BOBBY LARSON recognized SEAN FURRIER for winning the Reader’s Choice award for the umpteenth year (what is it about no hidden extras and valve stems included?)
 
We had the following announcements:
 
CHUCK SAWYER reminded everyone to wear Rodeo Attire at our next meeting on 2/20 and reminded everyone of the blood drive from 10 AM to 2 PM next meeting.
BRETT STEIN asked for existing and possible new leaders of fellowship groups, and he invited everyone to the first meeting of the Fine Beer Fellowship on 3/15.
SHARYN FELTON introduced My Lam who is in her second year of a Rotary Scholarship majoring in Business and Nutritional Sciences with a minor in East Asian Studies.
 
Our very own County Supervisor STEVE CHRISTY introduced our speaker, Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry.  Mr. Huckelberry talked in detail about several initiatives to benefit citizens of the county, including:
 
The proposed extension of I 11 to the Mariposa Port of Entry to promote trade (timeframe 20 to 25 years.)
A Sonoran Core Connection from Sahuarita to Rita Road (timeframe 5 years.)
The reauthorization of the Regional Transportation Authority in the next year or two with an increase from half a cent to one cent.
Increases to road repair funds of almost $20 M due to savings from the RTA budget.
 
Additionally, Mr. Huckelberry talked about County efforts to encourage economic development and increase the tax base.  The County plans to focus on existing employers such as Raytheon as well as cultivating new ones like Caterpillar. Even though almost 75% of the County budget goes toward criminal justice, Mr. Huckelberry highlighted some other achievements such as the renovation of the historic courthouse, expansion of the Kino soccer facility, construction of PACC as a 90% non-euthanasia facility, and finally the near completion of the Loop which he described as the best thing the County was ever forced to do.  Mr. Huckelberry signed a book for our lending library: “The Kiss That Missed”
 
President CHUCK closed our meeting with a quote from Peter Drucker:  Leadership is defined by results not attributes.
RCOT Blood Drive ~ 2/20/19
Our next Blood Drive will be held on February 20th between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. behind the meeting space at the DoubleTree.  Please give some blood to save lives!  Let me know the time you will be able to donate.
 

Mike Orcutt

Blood Drive Chairman

mike@angelvalleyfuneralhome.com

Rodeo Days - 2/20/19 Meeting
 
Rodeo Days are here and we will be celebrating at the February 20th meeting.  Please remember to wear your Rodeo Garb!
 
Let's have some fun!!!!
5th Annual Rotary Days Day of Service - Triangle Y Ranch Camp
Rotary Club of Tucson is sponsoring an all-inclusive Rotarian service project Saturday March 2, 2019 at the Triangle Y YMCA Ranch Camp from 8:30AM-3:00PM.  The 5th Annual Rotary Days Service Project is open to all Rotarians and friends of Rotarians and families.  There are jobs for all age groups and skill levels.  Generally, we help spruce up the Ranch for the incoming summer camp session that begins in June.  In the past, we have painted cabins, stained wood beams, assembled and painted picnic tables, trimmed brush, painted the bathrooms, performed some small masonry work, and general clean up.
 
Registration is Saturday morning 8:00-8:30 AM at the Ranch (please email or call Dave Gallaher to let us know you are coming) dave@tucsonindustrialrealty.com or 520-907-4983 and a free BBQ lunch will be served at 1:00PM.  Come for several hours or stay for just an hour.  This is a good chance to mingle with Rotarians from all over Tucson.  It is a great way to introduce Rotary to your friends and neighbors.  Please respond to Dave Gallaher at dave@tucsonindustrialrealty.com or call 520-907-4983 to register.  It would be great to have a head count for lunch on Saturday.  Please bring gloves and sunscreen and a water bottle.
 
 The Rotary RV Fellowship is having a Rotary RV Round-Up at the Ranch that begins at 6:00PM Friday night March 1 and ends on Monday March 4.  The Rotary RV Fellowship website and sign up can be found at www.rvfnra.org.  Come have fun at the camp facilities in your RV (dry camping available only) and do some community service work Saturday and for those who would like to do some more, there will be some left over tasks for Sunday AM.  There are many fun things to do near the Ranch include visiting Peppersauce Cave (https://skyaboveus.com), the Arizona Zip-Line (www.ziparizona.com), Oracle State Park (http://azstateparks.com/oracle/), and of course, the back side of Mt Lemmon.  Sign up for the RV Fellowship is necessary via the RV Fellowship website.  Cost for the RV Fellowship weekend is $75.00PP+$25.00 registration fee.  Membership is not necessary to attend the Fellowship but membership is available. 
Membership and Attendance
Membership         Scholarship Cups  

 

Total Active Members 249   
Cash Contributions
$
17.00
Honorary Members
19  
Quarterly with Dues
$
 

  252.00

Meeting Attendance - February 13, 2019   Total Scholarship Cups$

269.00

Members127  Raffle $

0.00

Active Members AE17  Auction RCOTF$

0.00

LOA/Honorary Members2     
Total Members Present146    

 

Guests7    

 

Guests of the Club 2    

 

Visiting Rotarians8    

 

Total Meeting Attendance 163    

 

Speakers
Feb 20, 2019
The Lapan College Club: A Unique Academic Success Story-So. Tucson At Risk Students, Still At Risk?"
Feb 27, 2019
New Response to New Disasters: Shelterbox 2019
Mar 06, 2019
How Not To Get Away With Murder
Mar 13, 2019
Irish Dancing
View entire list
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