Fifty years ago, Dian Fossey who devoted her life to the study and protection of the Virunga mountain gorillas, predicted that the species would be extinct before the end of the 20th century. Sadly, Fossey did not live to see that her own sacrifices and the work of many that followed in her footsteps insured that her dire prediction did not come true. Today, well into the 21st century, the mountain gorillas of Rwanda and neighboring countries are thriving as one of the best protected and studied ape species. While this is a remarkable and rightly celebrated “conservation success story”, our presentation will focus, from a first-person perspective, on the “untold stories”—ones that are not customarily revealed in scientific reports. Yet these stories help us fully appreciate why Fossey and the many others inspired by her have devoted their lives to saving mountain gorillas: They add to our deeper understanding of the gorilla’s mind and behavior, the nature of the human-gorilla relationship, and provide a full appreciation of the heroic efforts of so many and oft unrecognized gorilla protectors.
Dr. H. Dieter Steklis received a Ph.D. degree from the University of California, Berkeley. He is currently a Professor in the School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences at the University of Arizona.Before joining the University of Arizona in 2005, Dr. Steklis was a Professor of Primatology at Rutgers University, the state university of New Jersey. He also served as Director of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund’s Karisoke Research Center in Rwanda (1991-1993), the Executive Director (1993-1995), and Chief Scientist and Vice-President (1995-2005) of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, International. His research and publications include the ecology, social behavior, and conservation of mountain gorillas, the evolutionary psychology of human-animal relationships, emotions and sentience in animals, and the neurobiology of social behavior in primates.
Dr. Netzin Steklis received a Master’s degree in Ecology & Evolutionarily Biology from Princeton University, and a Ph.D. in Ethology & Evolutionary Psychology from the University of Arizona. Currently she serves as Associate Professor in the School of Animal & Comparative Biomedical Sciences at the University of Arizona. She is an ethologist who has studied a variety of nonhuman primates in captive and wild settings, especially the ecology, personality, social behavior, and conservation of wild mountain gorillas in Rwanda. More recently, she has expanded her research, publications, and teaching to include the history and consequences of animal domestication, and the biopsychology of human-animal interrelationships.
In 2002, Dieter and Netzin were jointly honored for their work with mountain gorillas with the Explorers Club “Champions of Wildlife Award”. In recognition of their innovative and outstanding “team teaching” at the University of Arizona, in 2021, Dieter and Netzin were co-recipients of the Univ. of Arizona’s David E. Cox Teaching Award.
Happy to report, our lunch meeting on August 23rd will be back in our normal meeting space, Coconino/Greenlee roomsfrom noon until 1:20 pm at Tucson Convention Center. Be sure to make note, or calendar on your phone so you don't head to the wrong room. Thank you!
The meeting started with another great Buffet. PRESIDENT MARGARET called the meeting to order and new member NANCY GUNGOR led the pledge and then was accompanied by Sergeant at Arms DAN KALM on the guitar for “America The Beautiful.”
JASON FLAX offered the Inspiration and noted that Inspiration serves as a bridge that unites us and is fundamental for humanity. DAN KALM welcomed a large group of visiting Rotarians and other guests.
Member of the best program committee in Rotary, MICHAEL GUYMON introduced our guest, Don Guerra.
Don Guerra owns Barrio Bread and won the 2022 James Beard Award for Outstanding Baker. He started as a baker in his early 20’s, then became a schoolteacher. In 2009 Don won the Arizona Teacher of the Year award. After that, he focused on his bakery business that started in his garage. In his second year of baking bread in his garage, he introduced native flower from White Sonoran Wheat. Don is very community focused and recognized that baking bread is only a small part of how he participates in Tucson. He also has a business that sources and grows local grains that use 40% less water than typical grains used for baking. As he gained success, he was told to hang on to his secrets and recipes to ensure a long life as a baker. He was reminded by an early-on fan that his secret was his hands and that he could share his techniques and recipes. Involving the community is truly what has made Don the successful businessman that he is. Don is a dynamic, local treasure for Tucson. After his talk, he signed “Noelle Bakes a Cake” that will go in the Make Way for Books Library.
PRESIDENT MARGARET offered a tribute to long time member DON ROLLINGS. DON has been a member of the RCOT since 1979. He was our 66th President in 1987-1988 and was the first President to allow women to be fellow RCOT Rotarians.
JERRY SULLIVAN was celebrating his birthday. He told the story of when he and his brother were at the 1989 World Series in San Fransisco when the Loma Prieta Earthquake struck. I’m glad he was okay. JIM WOOD was celebrating his birthday and mentioned that he spent a night with Blake Shelton about 16 years ago and noted that more details could be available over a cold beverage with him.
CHARLOTTE HARRIS showed a slide of her and TOM MCKINNEY giving a Paul Harris Award to our Tucson Police Chief Chad Kasmar. TOM gifted the award. It doesn’t appear that he received any gifts in addition that would have little to no value.
JOE DANISZEWSKI presented a blue badge to DON RIEGGER who had his wife Mallory alongside. DON participates in the hiking club and is the President of the Boys Scouts of America, Catalina Council.
DAN KALM held a 50/50 Raffle and good news, the King of Clubs is still available. There’s just about $1,000 up for grabs. A Recognition to Michael Guymon was brought up but apparently there will be more on that at next week's meeting.
The following announcements were made:
Our next meeting (8/23) will be back in our normal meeting room.
Hawaii Relief for Maui Donations are being coordinated by Hawai'i Rotary District 5000, https://rotaryd5000.org/.
There’s a new recognition box at the Sergeant at Arms table. Please place any news of Rotarians in our community in the box. DAN will contact them before publicly recognizing them.
NINA TRASOFF could use some help in Marketing/Public Relations for our club.
ALAN ROGERS announced our next Mixer to be held at Brother John’s on 8/30 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. All members and their guests must sign up on the website (Upcoming Events).
JON HARNED announced two Classics Car Show clean up days where he could use some volunteers. The days are September 16th and October 7th.
JEANNE ZETAH and LEE OLITSKY offered an update on the Car Show. We still have a long way to go so please start selling tickets!
PRESIDENT MARGARET offered a toast then we were dismissed.
All of us have seen the awful destruction of the disastrous fires in Maui. Many Rotarians of District 5000 (Hawaii) are directly impacted. There are nine Rotary clubs on Maui and it has been reported that the homes of two Club Presidents have been destroyed. Many of you have already reached out and asked how we can help.
Early in a disaster, often the most effective way to help is a contribution of cash to a trustworthy and reliable organization. The District 5000 Foundation has established a Maui Relief Fund. Below I have shared an appeal that District Governor Mark Merriam sent to all the Rotary members in District 5000. It includes a donation link to make contributions to the Maui Relief Fund. If you wish, this is an opportunity to help our fellow Rotary members in Maui and their neighbors. Thank you.
Our first Replacement Mixer for the 2023-2024 Rotary year is scheduled for August 30, 2023 at Brother John's, 1801 N. Stone Avenue, start time is 5:30 p.m. All must register for this event on our website tucsonrotary.org. under Upcoming Events - left side of the home page Also be sure to register your guests, the fee is $35 and will be billed to your account.
So come on out for some fun and fellowship at Brother John's! Hope to see you there....
We have a very exciting and challenging hike on deck for the next hiking adventure! We will be kicking off the Labor Day weekend with a full day excursion to the top of Mount Wrightson to the South in the Santa Rita Range. Please block the day and we will be meeting to carpool to Madera Canyon so RSVP is requested. Stay tuned for additional logistical details over the next two weeks.
Mount Wrightson Old Baldy and Crest Trails
This hike will be the culmination of training hikes for those on the way to Phantom Ranch in October. Total hiking distance is 10.3 miles with just over 4,000 vertical feet of ascent and decent. Please see below link for detail on the hike. As this is going to be a difficult/strenuous hike I am projecting 5 hours on the way up and another 3 hours on the way back down. If anything, please plan on the hike taking longer.
For any members that would like to join me I plan to tour the new Gem & Mineral Museum in the recently renovated historic Pima County Courthouse located at 115 N Church. If you have never been it is a world class gem museum. Feel free to tour the website to see if you are interested in attending.
Parking is available in the underground parking facility at 165 W Alameda and the elevator takes you up to Presidio Park which is on the back side of the courthouse. Tickets are $15 ($10 for Seniors.) Plan to meet in the courtyard of the courthouse at 11:30.
For those that have the time to join me for lunch after we can head over to Cafe a la C'art, which is a hidden gem in Tucson if you have never been. It is about a block from the courthouse located at 150 N Main.
No need to RSVP for the tour but if you do plan to join me at lunch, please let me know by Friday the 8th so I can set reservations. Hope to see many of you for a fun event. brucejacobs58@gmail.com
Public Relations Director, Nina Trasoff is looking for some members to serve on the Public Relations Committee. There is much needed help in the areas of Social Networking and Media, Marketing, and working on the Club website. If you are interested in joining this committee to help promote our Club, please contact Nina Trasoff.
If you have a new addition to your Family, whether it be a child, grandchild, niece, nephew, etc., for a “Happy Jackson” ($20) and one minute of mic time at an upcoming meeting, not only do you get a stuffed animal, but also you will receive a certificate welcoming them in as a Rotary Club of Tucson potential new member. You may pick a stuffed bear or hound dog for your little one (pictured here). And, the original purchase of these stuffed animals helped St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. So reach out to the Rotary Office for details. We’d love to hear of your new additions to your Family!
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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Fifty years ago, Dian Fossey who devoted her life to the study and protection of the Virunga mountain gorillas, predicted that the species would be extinct before the end of the 20th century. Sadly, Fossey did not live to see that her own sacrifices and the work of many that followed in her footsteps insured that her dire prediction did not come true. Today, well into the 21st century, the mountain gorillas of Rwanda and neighboring countries are thriving as one of the best protected and studied ape species. While this is a remarkable and rightly celebrated “conservation success story”, our presentation will focus, from a first-person perspective, on the “untold stories”—ones that are not customarily revealed in scientific reports. Yet these stories help us fully appreciate why Fossey and the many others inspired by her have devoted their lives to saving mountain gorillas: They add to our deeper understanding of the gorilla’s mind and behavior, the nature of the human-gorilla relationship, and provide a full appreciation of the heroic efforts of so many and oft unrecognized gorilla protectors.
Happy to report, our lunch meeting on August 23rd will be back in our normal meeting space, Coconino/Greenlee rooms
Don Guerra owns Barrio Bread and won the 2022 James Beard Award for Outstanding Baker. He started as a baker in his early 20’s, then became a schoolteacher. In 2009 Don won the Arizona Teacher of the Year award. After that, he focused on his bakery business that started in his garage. In his second year of baking bread in his garage, he introduced native flower from White Sonoran Wheat. Don is very community focused and recognized that baking bread is only a small part of how he participates in Tucson. He also has a business that sources and grows local grains that use 40% less water than typical grains used for baking. As he gained success, he was told to hang on to his secrets and recipes to ensure a long life as a baker. He was reminded by an early-on fan that his secret was his hands and that he could share his techniques and recipes. Involving the community is truly what has made Don the successful businessman that he is. Don is a dynamic, local treasure for Tucson. After his talk, he signed “Noelle Bakes a Cake” that will go in the Make Way for Books Library.
CHARLOTTE HARRIS showed a slide of her and TOM MCKINNEY giving a Paul Harris Award to our Tucson Police Chief Chad Kasmar. TOM gifted the award. It doesn’t appear that he received any gifts in addition that would have little to no value.
A Special Message from District Governor Don
Our first Replacement Mixer for the 2023-2024 Rotary year is scheduled for August 30, 2023 at Brother John's, 1801 N. Stone Avenue, start time is 5:30 p.m. All must register for this event on our website .jpg)
Welcome to the 2nd Wednesday in September.
Public Relations Director, Nina Trasoff is looking for some members to serve on the Public Relations Committee. There is much needed help in the areas of Social Networking and Media, Marketing, and working on the Club website. If you are interested in joining this committee to help promote our Club, please contact Nina Trasoff.
If you have a new addition to your Family, whether it be a child, grandchild, niece, nephew, etc., for a “Happy Jackson” ($20) and one minute of mic time at an upcoming meeting, not only do you get a stuffed animal, but also you will receive a certificate welcoming them in as a Rotary Club of Tucson potential new member. You may pick a stuffed bear or hound dog for your little one (pictured here). And, the original purchase of these stuffed animals helped St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. So reach out to the Rotary Office for details. We’d love to hear of your new additions to your Family!
