Alan Shorr is a multi-Tony award-winning Broadway producer. He achieved the rare feat of winning the Tony for Best New Play 2 years in a row, in 2022 and 2023. He had the 3 highest grossing Broadway plays of 2025. His latest production “3 Summers of Lincoln” is due to open at Broadway's Stephen Sondheim Theater next year and is already being touted by Broadway experts and critics as the next Hamilton.
Allan Pressel
Allan Pressel is a Broadway co-producer of several current and recent musicals and plays. Allan is founder and CEO of PowerSite123, which helps nonprofits and for-profits create world-class websites. Allan was named as one of the world’s leading e-philanthropy experts by the ePhilanthropy Foundation. He was given the Volunteer Service Award by President George W. Bush. Allan is the co-author of Internet Management for Nonprofits: Strategies, Tools and Trade Secrets. Allan has co-founded and sits on the boards of several nonprofits. Allan is also an All-American springboard diver and has visited over 117 countries. Allan has been in the Guinness Book of World Records!
This is my first correspondence to all of you for the 2026–2027 Rotary year, so buckle up and hang on—we are off to an incredible start!
In just our first three months, we have already accomplished so much. We’ve welcomed four outstanding speakers to our meetings, all well-known within the Tucson community, and we’ve welcomed 10 new members into our Rotary family.
Service continues to be at the heart of who we are. During our Service Projects Meeting, we celebrated 15 projects planned for this Rotary year, and four of those projects are already underway. We also had the privilege of giving away 250 pairs of shoes to children and families in need within the Amphitheater School District. And we are just getting started!
Of course, we are now gearing up for a major milestone—our 20th Tucson Classics Car Show, hosted by THE Rotary Club of Tucson! Our ticket-selling crews have been out in force at major events throughout the city and state, spreading the word and selling tickets. A group just returned from Pinetop after selling an impressive 950+ tickets!
Work has also begun on the fields at The Gregory School in preparation for the show. What has been equally rewarding is the fellowship that happens while we work together. Whether we’re preparing the grounds, selling tickets, or participating in a service project, new friendships are being formed and existing friendships are becoming even stronger. That is Rotary at its best.
We’ve also added some fun to our meetings with the introduction of our new Membership Booklets, presented by Mike Anderson. Be sure to take a look at Page 17, where we recognize an extraordinary group of 17 Rotarians who have each been members of our club for 40 years or more. What an incredible testament to their commitment to Rotary and our community!
Another special moment this quarter was welcoming 12 visiting Rotarians from Romania. Sally Montagne presented each of them with a Paul Harris recognition—a truly memorable and spectacular Rotary moment.
And because Rotary is also about fellowship and having fun together, we certainly haven’t slowed down there! So far, we’ve enjoyed 18 EATs Events that were very well-attended at some of Tucson’s great restaurants, six golf outings, three Book Club gatherings, two Whiskey/Tequila get-togethers, and two fantastic mixers at Hacienda del Sol and Trident II.
Three months in and look at what we’ve already accomplished.
Thank you to everyone who has volunteered, sold tickets, attended events, supported our service projects, welcomed new members, and simply shown up ready to make a difference. It is your energy, commitment, and fellowship that make this club so special.
And remember—bring a friend to a meeting, service project, social event, or the Tucson Classics Car Show and let them experience what THE Rotary Club of Tucson has to offer. It is truly EXCEPTIONAL!
Here’s to a fantastic year ahead!
Bobby Larson 2026-27 President The Rotary Club of Tucson
Rotarians traded the usual meeting room for the patio at Trident Grill II—and judging by the smiles, laughter, and lively conversations, nobody was rushing to get back!
The food was exceptional, the drinks were flowing, and Mother Nature clearly decided to show off with perfect fall weather and a gorgeous Tucson sunset as the evening’s backdrop. The atmosphere was relaxed, the turnout was fantastic, and the patio was filled with laughter, stories, and plenty of good-natured Rotary banter.
It was one of those evenings where the conversation kept flowing, the laughter came easily, and everyone seemed to be having just a little too much fun—which, of course, is exactly how a Rotary night out should be. Great food, great company, beautiful surroundings, and plenty of reasons to smile made this an evening worth repeating!
A big thank-you to everyone who joined us and helped make the evening such a memorable one!
October is shaping up to be a very exciting month for the Rotary Club of Tucson with an outstanding lineup of programs and events you won’t want to miss!
We’ll kick off the month on October 7th with a truly special program, “Behind the Scenes of Broadway Blockbusters.” Multi-Tony Award-winning producer Alan Shorr will join our very own Broadway co-producer Allan Pressel for what promises to be a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at bringing a Broadway production to life. This is sure to be a spectacular meeting!
Then, on October 14th, we’ll gather at the Tucson Convention Center (TCC) for our 2026 Car Show Kick-Off Lunch Meeting. It’s always an exciting event, and we’re looking forward to getting everyone fired up for another great car show on October 24th! Remember, no Events Around Town lunches on this 2nd week of the month.
On October 21st, we’ll welcome Scott Altman, a retired U.S. Navy Captain and former NASA astronaut. Scott flew on four Space Shuttle missions and commanded the final servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.And here’s a fun connection you may not know about: Scott has a Top Gun connection! He flew the F-14 Tomcat aerial stunts and served as a flight double for the flying scenes in the original 1986 movie Top Gun. How cool is that?
With three outstanding programs, October is definitely a month you’ll want to mark on your calendar. Bring a guest, invite a friend, and come enjoy this awesome lineup with us!
Meeting Sponsorship Opportunities
We’re also looking for Meeting Sponsors for these upcoming programs. If you or your business would like some productive exposure and an opportunity to connect with our Rotary membership, we’d love to hear from you.
Reach out to the Rotary office to learn more about becoming a meeting sponsor. We’ll be happy to help connect your business with our membership and make the most of your sponsorship.
Polio Update 10.01.2026 - The Final Two Polio Endemic Countries
PakistanNo new Wild Polio cases reported this week. Four Wild Polio cases reported in 2026. Thirty-one Wild Polio cases reported in 2025. Seventy-four Wild Polio cases reported in 2024.Six Wild Polio Cases reported in 2023. The most recent case had an onset of paralysis on 8/7/26. No new WPV1 Environmental Samples and no cVDPV2 Positive Environmental Samples were reported this week in Pakistan.
AfghanistanThree new Wild Polio cases reported this week. Thirty-five Wild Polio cases reported in 2026. Twenty One Wild Polio cases reported in 2025. Twenty-five Wild Polio cases reported in 2024. Six Wild Polio Cases reported in 2023. The most recent case had an onset of paralysis on 8/31/26. No new WPV1 Environmental Samples and no cVDPV2 Positive Environmental Samples were reported this week in Afghanistan.
The International PolioPlus Committee is deeply disappointed with the polio situation in Afghanistan and the increasing number of children and environmental samples testing positive for the wild poliovirus. Rotary is one of the most important donors to polio eradication efforts in Afghanistan with PolioPlus grants accounting for an increasing portion of the budgets for both WHO and UNICEF. In FY26, Rotary provided US$41.6 million in grant funding for Afghanistan. These funds vaccinated children, strengthened surveillance, supported frontline workers and engaged communities, but money alone will not overcome challenges such as access, insecurity, missed children and misinformation.
We resolve to continue working with our partners to reverse the current situation and reach more children with the polio vaccine to protect them from this terrible disease. Over the years, we have faced many challenges and overcame them. We will do so again.
On the positive side, we are encouraged by the progress in Pakistan. We recognize the extraordinary commitment of the government, Rotarians, and our partners all working together on behalf of children in that country. We are an equally important donor in Pakistan and provided US$58.6 million in grant funding in FY26 to fund activities similar to Afghanistan.
We are very close to achieving our goal of a polio-free world and our leadership and steadfast commitment is more important than ever.
We’re looking for Cookie Sponsors! 🍪 Next available Date: November 4th
Help us keep our luncheons sweet, welcoming, and delicious by becoming a $260 Cookie Sponsor!
As a sponsor, your business will get some tasty exposure with: ✨ Recognition on the Rotary website & in the Meeting Running Slide Show ✨ A shout-out in the Rotary bulletin ✨ A special announcement at the luncheon ✨ Your business logo featured on table tents placed right on the cookie trays!
It’s a small investment with a BIG helping of visibility—and everyone loves cookies!
Want to be our next Cookie Sponsor? Let’s get this cookie jar filled! 🍪
Rotary is all about the people who make our lives special—and now it’s your turn to introduce them!
For just $50, join our Family Fun Club and share a special photo of your friends or family.
📸 Your photo will be featured in our Family Fun Club collage, proudly displayed at every Rotary meeting!
And when it’s your turn, you’ll get the spotlight at a lunch meeting to share a little story about your favorite people—the laughs, the memories, and what makes them so special to you.
$50 to join • Share a special photo • Tell your story • Show off your favorite people! ❤️
Because Rotary is better when we get to know the people behind the Rotarians!
Just a reminder to everyone participating in a Service Project: be sure to obtain a raffle ticket from the Project Leader on the day of the project. Write your name on the back of the ticket and return it to the Project Leader.The Project Leaders will then turn in all raffle tickets to either Joe Daniszewski, the lunch meeting registration table or to the Rotary office. At the end of each month, all tickets will be placed in a basket, and one lucky winner will be drawn to receive a prize!
Project Leaders: If you have not picked up raffle tickets to distribute at your project, please remember to grab tickets from the registration table before your event.
And one last reminder: please bring a couple of pens with you to the event so everyone can complete their raffle tickets.
Thank you for helping make this a fun part of our Service Projects!
What a wonderful day giving back with the Rotary Club of Tucson at the Family Food Project! We got our food packaging system down to a science and even enjoyed a behind-the-scenes tour of the food storage area. It was a great opportunity to learn, work together, and make a difference in our community. Service Above Self in action! 💪
The Car Show Friday Night Dinner will take place the evening of October 23rd at the Gregory School, 3231 N. Craycroft, from 5:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Cost Per Person is $20 (includes two drink tickets, cash bar after) and will be billed to your account. The dinner is Lucky Wishbone Chicken. Please register on the club website www.tucsonrotary.org under “Upcoming Events”. Remember to register your guests. Hope to see you all there!
Please join the Rotary Club of Tucson Wine Fellowship at Sunshine Wines located at 15 N Santa Rita (just north of Broadway) for a wine tasting on Tuesday, October 27 from 5:30-7:30p.
The cost to participate is $35 per person which includes tax and gratuity and 4 tastings of Spanish wines. Guests are welcome so please feel free to share this information with anyone who may be interested in joining us! We ask that attendees register in advance using this link.Please register by Thursday, October 27.
We look forward to seeing you at Sunshine Wines later this month!
It's Time to Pick Up Speed and Get to the Finish Line Strong.
Club members have sold 11,477 tickets as of 10/4 which is 38.3% of our 30,000 goal.
Start bringing in ticket money because there are only a few meetings left before the Car Show.
Oct. 7 is the deadline to turn in donated tickets for Davis Monthan AFB personnel
Oct. 15 is the last day to buy raffle and Classic Club tickets online to be mailed.
Oct. 21 is the last day to buy raffle tickets online for auto-entered ticket stubs
Oct. 21 is the last meeting to bring in money and unsold tickets.
Oct. 24 is the Car Show where we'll accept the last of the money and unsold tickets at the Command Center. The number of tickets sold to qualify for seller prizes is set this day.
At the Rotary Club of Tucson, we believe in giving back to our community and supporting causes that make a real difference. And now, it’s easier than ever to contribute to our efforts!
We’re excited to highlight a new way for you to make your donations directly to the Rotary Club of Tucson Foundation – all from the comfort of your own home! Simply head to our website, where you’ll find the gold Donation button at the top right of the menu bar. Whether you're contributing to our Scholarships, making a General Donation, or supporting our Local Charities, your generosity will help fund important initiatives that uplift our community.
But wait, there’s more! If you're joining us for lunch at the next meeting, don’t forget to look for the blue scholarship cups on the tables. These cups now feature a QR code that will take you straight to the Donation Page with just a quick scan. No need for cash or checks – donate right from your phone!
We can’t thank you enough for your ongoing support of our Foundation. Your donations directly benefit our community and empower us to continue making a meaningful impact. If you have any questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Rotary office.
Let’s continue to do good in our community – with a click, a scan, and your generous heart!
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Fellow Rotarians,
Rotarians traded the usual meeting room for the patio at Trident Grill II—and judging by the smiles, laughter, and lively conversations, nobody was rushing to get 
back!
It was one of those evenings where the conversation kept flowing, the laughter came easily, and everyone seemed to be having just a little too much fun—which, of course, is exactly how a Rotary night out should be. Great food, great company, beautiful surroundings, and plenty of reasons to smile made this an evening worth repeating!
The following applications have been submitted for membership in Rotary Club of Tucson:
Polio Update 10.01.2026 - The Final Two Polio Endemic Countries
🍪 Got a Sweet Spot for Supporting Rotary?
❤️ Family Fun Club: Show Us Your Favorite People!
At the Rotary Club of Tucson, we believe in giving back to our community and supporting causes that make a real difference. And now, it’s easier than ever to contribute to our efforts!
Food Tent Next to the Gregory School Lawn
