In 1989, Alan Day created a unique industry. He took 1500 excess, unadoptable government-owned wild horses and put them on his 35,000-acre ranch in the Sand Hills of South Dakota. There, he managed, cared for and even trained them to follow a cowboy on horseback. Alan had the horses - and many adventures with them - for four years. Today, he advocates establishing private sanctuaries as a solution to the huge challenges facing the Bureau of Land Management's Wild Horse Program.
BIOGRAPHY
If it’s possible to say that someone can be born a cowboy, then Alan Day was born one. He was part of the third generation to grow up on the 20,000-acre Lazy B cattle ranch that straddled the high deserts of southern Arizona and New Mexico. The ranching and cowboy lifestyle appealed to him so much that after graduating from the University of Arizona, he returned to manage the Lazy B for the next 40 years. During his career, he received numerous awards for his dedicated stewardship of the land. Alan and his sister, Sandra Day O’Connor, tell the story of the Day family and of growing up on the harsh yet beautiful ranch in their co-authored New York Times bestselling memoir, Lazy B. Alan continues his ranching and cowboying adventures in his new book, The Horse Lover: A Cowboy’s Quest to Save the Wild Mustangs, the story of how he created the first government-sponsored sanctuary for unadoptable wild mustangs and trained and cared for 1500 wild horses. Among other awards, the book has received the New Mexico – Arizona Book Award, the Arizona Author’s Award, was named a Southwest Book of the Year, and is hailed by Booklist as “an instant classic.”
A large group of club members took advantage of the “dark day” at the club to visit Make Way for Books. Every part of the experience was impressive. The building is beautiful, bright and welcoming. The leadership and staff are enthusiastic and very knowledgeable in early childhood literacy. The organization has multiple programs addressing early childhood literacy and each seemed to be well thought out and executed. The members of the Rotary Club of Tucson and its Foundation recently chose Make Way for Books to be the major beneficiary of the Tucson Classics Car Show for each of the next five years. Make Way for Books Executive Director, Jenny Volpe responded on learning the news, “We are thrilled that the Rotary Club of Tucson has chosen to invest in early childhood literacy so that our community’s youngest children realize their full potential in school and in life. We are exceedingly grateful to have been chosen because this generous support will help us impact thousands of more children, giving them the chance to read and succeed.”
We need to get to know our new partner and they need to get to know RCOT and about the TCCS. The Club is planning an open house for RCOT members to meet and tour Make Way for Books on March 8, (5:30-7:30). Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details.
BEING ENGAGED BY CONTRIBUTING EXPERTISE, MATERIALE OR ACCESS
Continuing a look at how members are engaged, and how they contribute to Rotary, labor and money are not the extent of methods. Consider the following…
First is specific expertise. You may have served on a non-profit Board of Directors that tried to maintain one Board seat for an attorney or accountant to cite two examples. The specialized skills these Directors bring, typically at no charge, keep the organization within legal and regulatory limits, and save cash to put toward other uses.
Rotary’s extensive community service often calls for particular abilities and knowledge. Should the club:
- hire a hydrologist, or find one to become a member and lead a water project?
- hire a structural engineer, or entice one to join the club and help on a building activity?
- use members with medical degrees to conduct a mercy mission, or hire the personnel?
This is not quite the same as the very general “giving of one’s time” way of club engagement, which tends to be measured by volume. Some time needs can be filled by most anyone in the club, regardless of vocation. But developing a complex web site is not a task for just the next person on the volunteer pool list. Creating ad campaign pieces requires more than picking a red-badge member at random. Our large club undertakes so much, and thus needs so much in the way of particular talent. Our success would be greatly diminished if we had to hire all the focused knowledge we need – and our capabilities will be greater as we bring even more experts as members.
Similar to expertise is materiale. Members who produce a product, or own the means of production/distribution, can contribute to Rotary by providing those items free or at lower-than-retail cost. Once again, the absolute cash savings enables the club to do more, while keeping dues affordable to a greater part of the potential member pool. A member who supplies thousand of dollars of supplies free to our Car Show – but is terrible at selling tickets – is still valuable and engaged.
Access is the last part of today’s fourth “way to be engaged.” This is the world of who you know, rather than what you know. Everyone has a story about a friend of a friend or relative who opens doors to get things done. Rotary can benefit from entreés to politicians (local and beyond), regulatory agencies, higher education, major industry, other non-profits, etc. Whether it’s a required permit, or prospective member outreach, or forming a collaboration, there are times when “normal channels” are unlikely to make it happen on time and within budget. The networks nurtured by a club member may make a task possible or feasible, and that capability may mean just as much to RCOT as service on a club committee.
Pausing for a recap: we’ve covered four ways to be an engaged and valued club member…
#1 - give your time
#2 - give your money
#3 - secure other people’s time or money
#4 - provide your specialized knowledge or needed material, or tap into your network
Next week, number five of seven: a necessary commodity for all groups, including Rotary.
Rotary Club Day in Tucson will be held on Saturday, April 23, 2016 at the Triangle Y Ranch Camp from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Please save the date and sign ups are available on the Club website at www.tucsonrotary.org under Upcoming Events. Thank you!
Field Green Salad: Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette and Ranch Dressings
Tilapia Veracruz: Tilapia with Green Olives, Tomatoes and Capers, with Cilantro Lime Rice, Pinto Beans, Sauteed Squash and Red Peppers
Doubletree Cookies Served Family Style
Coffee, Decaf or Iced Tea
Chef Salad: Ham, Turkey, Cheddar/Jack Cheese Blend, Hard Boiled Egg, Tomato, Cucumber & Croutons over chopped Romaine Lettuce. (PLEASE DO NOT ASK THE SERVERS TO ALTER THE SALAD, IT WILL BE SERVED AS DESCRIBED ABOVE. NO CHEF SALADS MAY BE ORDERED AFTER THE FRIDAY DEADLINE)
Vegetarian - Eggplant Rollatini:Grilled Eggplant with Stuffed Ricotta and Mozarella Cheese, Marinera Sauce Served with White Bean Wild Rice
Fresh Fruit Plate: Fresh Seasonal Fruit served with FLAVORED Greek Yogurt and Low Fat Cottage Cheese
Gluten Free: The main meal as a Gluten Free option
NESDAYS, 12:00 PM-1:20 PM
A large group of club members took advantage of the “dark day” at the club to visit Make Way for Books. Every part of the experience was impressive. The building is beautiful, bright and welcoming. The leadership and staff are enthusiastic and very knowledgeable in early childhood literacy. The organization has multiple programs addressing early childhood literacy and each seemed to be well thought out and executed. The members of the Rotary Club of Tucson and its Foundation recently chose Make Way for Books to be the major beneficiary of the Tucson Classics Car Show for each of the next five years. Make Way for Books Executive Director, Jenny Volpe responded on learning the news, “We are thrilled that the Rotary Club of Tucson has chosen to invest in early childhood literacy so that our community’s youngest children realize their full potential in school and in life. We are exceedingly grateful to have been chosen because this generous support will help us impact thousands of more children, giving them the chance to read and succeed.”
