Carol Stewart, a long-standing authority on research parks, is the Vice President for Tech Parks Arizona at the University of Arizona. Carol Stewart leads the UA Tech Park at Rita Road and is developing the UA Tech Park at The Bridges. She is also president of the University of Arizona Center for Innovation (UACI), a technology business incubator network serving the University of Arizona, Tucson and international community.
Stewart’s expertise in university research parks spans decades and nations with more than 20 years of experience working with research parks, technology commercialization, business incubation, governmental relations and business development.
As a pioneer in the research parks world, she has driven national policy, standardized programs, created national and international networks, built technology clusters, engaged stakeholders, and assisted countries with the development of their national science and technology policies.
Stewart is passionate about her community and serves as a champion in university-based economic development. She is a member of Southern Arizona Leadership Council, Flinn Foundation Steering Committee, a member of the Canadian Global Mentor Program and she also serves on the Board of Directors for Tucson Metro Chamber of Commerce, Pima County’s Workforce Investment Board, Arizona Technology Council, Desert Angels, and is the Vice President on the national University Economic Development Association (UEDA) board, and a member of the North American CEO Council for Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW).
She also serves as the North American Division President for the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP). IASP is the worldwide network of science parks and areas of innovation. IASP has nearly four hundred members in 74 countries. Previously, Stewart served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Association of University Research Parks (AURP), which represents 170 research parks in North America. She collaborates with numerous leaders world-wide to build and grow university-related research parks through education, unification, and collaboration. She helps to expand and advance the impact of research parks and areas of innovation by showcasing best practices across the globe.
Her proven success record also includes co-founding the Canadian chapter of the Association of University Research Parks, founding director of the David Johnston Research + Technology Park at the University of Waterloo spearheading the development of the park, advancing the park to over the one-million-square-foot milestone, leading the marketing efforts and launching the professional services division of Maplesoft, a global spin-off company from the University of Waterloo, and enhancing the entrepreneurial culture of Canada at the Canadian Industrial Innovation Centre (CIIC).
And what a Quarter it has been! A tumultuous but rewarding few months to say the least. Given the number of achievements and activities, I will of necessity be brief and to the point…otherwise this report will go on endlessly.
The most rewarding of our Rotary activities, as reported by Diana Madaras:
*We held a wonderful ‘drive’ on Jan 17th with RCOT members donating many personal items for clients and guests staying at Old Pueblo Community Services. Spearheaded by Wally Johnson, we are glad that we were able to help.
*The Reading Coach project is once again in full swing, with 13 coaches helping children at Robison Elementary School. With one-on-one interaction, the goal is to promote the love of reading and help students succeed in education. Thank you Jon Wang for getting this going again. It had lapsed for far too long.
*A group of us risked life and limb (I jest) walking along Oracle Road, cleaning up trash of all types (mentionable and unmentionable); we were lucky enough to find a $5 note which was of course donated to Rotary scholarships. Lee Olitsky: thanks for arranging this Adopt-a Road project.
*A similar project, headed by Chuck Sawyer, cleaned up an Arizona trail.
*Bobby Larson: thank you so much for arranging the Community Food Bank project which was so wonderfully attended by about 50 Rotarians, and so rewarding that we are repeating the effort in April. We packed 1000 boxes of food.
*Butterfly Trail- January 28th- RCOT assisted the passport project in conjunction with the Tucson Children's Museum with the goal of promoting peace in the world.
I am sure that I have not mentioned some service projects - forgive me - but rest assured that ALL such projects are valued and valuable for our community. Most importantly I must mention that the results of the October 2023 car show were recently reported by Lee Olitsky: While more than 430 vehicles were on display, more than 20,000 folks attended, and the TV personality Dennis Gage attended, the biggest success for RCOT was that we learned that we had a net amount of $161,421 to donate to local non-profits. Receiving the funds were Pima Community College/Gospel Rescue Mission’s workforce development program; Big Brothers Big Sisters; and Old Pueblo Community Services.
The most nerve-wracking events of the recent Quarter:
In order: Dr Robert Robbins, President of the University of Arizona cancelled his scheduled talk, less than 24 hours before he was due to speak. AND we had over 200 members and guests coming to hear him. Aiiieeee! Dorinna, other Rotarians, and myself went into high gear to design an alternative program. In brief: we had to find an alternative speaker; we had to advise all attendees, and work with the TCC on the possible adjustment to food needs; plus we had to work with President Robbins’ department at the UA, to ensure that our messaging about the cancellation was appropriate. Amazingly, hardly anyone registered for the luncheon cancelled……my hat goes off to all who worked so frantically on this issue - and most importantly, praise to Michael Guymon for finding Danette Bewley, of the Tucson Airport Authority (corporate member of the Club), as the alternate speaker, and to Dorinna for surviving a sleepless night and for ensuring the changes went off seamlessly. (Phew!!)
But it doesn’t end there…..
The new football coach, Brent Brennan was scheduled to speak; and he was to be introduced by President Robbins. BUT Coach Brennan had to cancel due to travel issues. Please read the above paragraph for a repeat of what we all went through. This time, Bob Logan came to the rescue acquiring none other than President Robbins stepping in for Coach Brennan, as the main speaker, and Coach Alonzo Carter as the support speaker. We were all entertained by a video of Coach Carter in his prior guise as a dancer for MC Hammer. Hilarious! Five other UA coaches attended the luncheon. Dorinna, Bob - thank YOU!!
Finally,
A re-scheduled Coach Brent Brennan spoke to the luncheon audience this most recent week. The meeting has been hailed far and wide as fabulous; it was indeed an excellent meeting. Thanks to almost all of us who wore red for the occasion. Immediately after the meeting a new club photo was taken (thanks to David Lex, the new Rotarian and professional photographer).
Humour has been injected into a couple of meetings: inspired by the topic of Artificial Intelligence, Bob Logan asked Chat GPT to write a humorous bio of me, resulting in a slew of funny but (mis)information surrounding Scotland, haggis, and saguaros. At the next meeting I was able to reply in kind, asking Chat GPT to write a humorous bio of Bob: this time it covered prickly cacti, gravelly voices, and desert chic clothing.
Membership:
Mitch reports that we are realizing some very encouraging results thus far.
* The number of members who are bringing guests has approximately doubled.
* The % of guests who become members has approximately tripled.
* The number of members who resign has been reduced by over 50%.
* Our membership will have increased by 10% by the end of April, and is expected to increase another 5% by June. March Madness is in full swing, spearheaded by Vickie Jacobs under the guidance of Mitch Pisik. Membership this quarter has shown a decided upwards trend, and with the advent of March Madness we expect a serious uptick in our member numbers.
Youth Activities:
RCOT sponsored 5 high school students to the RYLA camp; 29 Edge High School students attended their meeting on March 28th; Kanon Nakamura and Luca Diamente are enjoying their time in Tucson. RCOT has agreed to charter the revitalized Cub Scout Pack 339.
Social Events:
A new location has been successfully tested: a large group of RCOT members went to the new restaurant, Tesoro, on Oracle. Thanks Alan Rogers for finding this for us.
Second Wednesday Visits:
A private tour of the San Xavier mission was arranged by Diana Madaras…thank you so much for doing this. Likewise, there was a visit to the Pima College Aviation Center. Thank you Marcy Euler for arranging this.
Miscellaneous important activities:
*RCOT has formally stated that it supports the international service project related to The Forgotten Children, in Senegal, spearheaded by El Ndoye, our RCOT member, as we move ahead with applying for a Global Grant.
*Rotary International Major donor awards were given by Past President and Past District Governor Ellie Patterson to Cliff Bowman, and to Jeanne Zetah.
*In recognition of Rodeo Week, a very important feature in Tucson, all RCOT members were encouraged to wear Western clothing to a luncheon.
*Our Fellowship groups: golf, hiking, whiskey, wine, book club (and others?) have been very active….these groups serve to develop kinship and camaraderie among our membership.
Sponsors:
Thank you to The Port of Tucson and to We Buy Houses for sponsoring luncheons. In both instances we, RCOT members, learned a lot about these vital organizations in our community. Thank you members Mike Levin and Mike Anderson!
PRESIDENT MARGARET rang the bell promptly at noon and informed the large group of attendees to enjoy their lunch and fellowship. We had yet another terrific lunch thanks to the TCC.
New Member KIOTE ERICKSON gave the Pledge and we then showed a fun video of the UA Band playing “Bear Down” to our new head football coach, Brent Brennan.
PRESIDENT MARGARET welcomed back PAT ZUMBUSCH who had been out due to surgery.
SAA DAN KALM gave an insightful, joyful inspiration. He then graciously welcomed our guests. With so many guests in the audience, it would have taken too long to introduce them all. We appreciate the guests for attending, not only to see the Coach, but also to find out the many wonderful things about our Rotary Club.
DAN then ran the raffle. The large pot was not won this week. Better luck next week as the pot keeps growing.
VIC JACOBS gave an update on the thus far successful March Madness Membership drive. Keep bringing in those applications which are due by Monday at 5:00 p.m. to count in the team competition.
BOB LOGAN gave an impassioned recognition and gift to WAYNE MEYER who headed up the Golf Fellowship for many years. WAYNE, thank you for your many hours committed to this Fellowship and all that you do for the Club. BRUCE TUNZE presented a trophy to the winner of the fellowship golf tourny, JIM LUBINSKI. Congrats JIM!
JEN HOFFMAN/SEAN HOFFMAN, Co-Chairs of this year’s Car Show, announced DAVE WHITE as the 2025 Car Show Chair. We will be in good hands in 2025 as DAVE has devoted many, many hours to Event Ticket Sales over the years.
Our Sponsor of this well attended meeting was the Andersons and We Buy Houses. MARGARET introduced Mika Cole, who informed the group of the history here in Tucson of this family owned and family run business. They are truly generous sponsors and supporters of our club.
PRESIDENT MARGARET introduced BOB LOGAN with the help of a little AI. BOB then introduced the new UA Head Football Coach Brent Brennan.
Coach gave a charming, optimistic, and energetic presentation. We had quite a Q&A session with the Coach and the top discussion was about retention and acquiring players. It sounds like the wallets need to be opened wide in order to obtain and retain linemen and cornerbacks. He then signed the book: “Goodnight Football” – which will be given to the “'Make Way for Books'” library as we continue to promote literacy.
See article written of the program in the Arizona Daily Star: Click Here
MARGARET thanked everyone for coming to support the Coach and also our Club.
MARGARET reminded everyone to stay after for a Club photo. Everyone looked marvelous all dressed in red.
Rotary meeting next week- April 3rd. We are happy to welcome Carol Stewart- Vice President for Tech Parks Arizona at the University of Arizona.
Since April 10th is the second week of the month and there is no scheduled lunch meeting, we will be touring the Ignite Sign Art Museum. Here are the details:
When: Wednesday, April 10th (SIGN UP ON THE WEBSITE - UPCOMING EVENTS)
Ignite Sign Art Museum
331 S. Olsen Avenue
Time: 11:30 a.m.
(Flexible timing; folks can stay or go as they wish)
Cost: $12 Per Person
Come out for a tour of the museum, a demonstration of neon sign making, a quiz answering contest. Meet afterwards at Floras Market for those that can continue the fun and fellowship!
Rotary Club of Tucson is sponsoring an all-inclusive Rotarian service project Saturday April 13, 2024 at the Triangle Y YMCA Ranch Camp from 8:30AM-1:00PM. The 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 register at this link:https://rotaryd5500.org/event/rcot-service-project-at-triangle-y-ranch-camp/. A free 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 bring gloves, sunscreen and a water bottle.
Our Home Hospitality events are scheduled for the week of April 21st through the 27th and we are looking for members to host during the week. These social events will replace our Wednesday, April 24th lunch meeting. If you are interested in hosting a small or large group at your home, place of business or even at a restaurant, please let Dorinna know the date, time, location and the amount of guests you will host.
This is a great opportunity to meet your fellow Rotarians during this Home Hospitality Week!
Posted by Jeanne Zetah and Don Rollings on Apr. 01, 2024
Let’s Help UA Rotaractors with the Dental Kit Project on April 27 and May 2
The UA Rotaract Club has asked us to help them to pack 1325 dental kits on Saturday April 27th and deliver them to three schools on May 2. We’re cosponsoring this project so it would be great to join them in their efforts!
DENTAL KIT PACKING HELP NEEDED: SAT., APRIL 27 from 10-11:30 at University of AZ Modern Languages Building Rm. 311 (Just south of E. 2nd St. between Mountain and Cherry). Please sign up on ClubRunner if you can make it or contact Don Rollings who is our Rotaract advisor.
DENTAL KIT DISTRIBUTION DAY: THURSDAY MAY 2, 2024 – Can choose to help at one or all schools – Contact Jeanne Zetah at 612-859-6137 if you can help at one or more schools and if you’ll join for lunch.
8:30-9:30 at Gallego Elementary (6200 S. Hemisphere Place) for 525 students (8:30 K-1 & 9:00 Gr 2-3)
10-11 at Southside Elementary (2701 S Campbell Ave.) for 260 students
11:30-12:30 LUNCH with DISTRIBUTION TEAM - RSVP by April 30 to Jeanne Zetah at 612-859-6137
1-1:30 pm at Liberty Elementary School, (5495 S Liberty Ave.) for 540 students in Gr. K-3/4-6.
Nancy Stockton and Jeanne Zetah of the Youth Services Committee held an Interact kickoff meeting with new staff advisor, Lee Borzick at Edge High School, Himmel Park location. Many thanks to Rob Pecharich, Edge Principal, who facilitated the start of the club, and to rotarian, Brittany Battle, who introduced youth services to Edge HS. Over thirty students attended, and thirteen students expressed interest in volunteering with us at our community food bank service day, April 13th, this turnout far exceeded our expectations. If you also plan on attending, please give these students a special welcome!
April 13- Triangle Y workday at the camp – LEAD: Kurtis Dawson
April 13- Community Food Bank- LEAD: Bobby Larson
April 27- Adopt-A-Road- LEAD: Lee Olitzky
April 27- Rotaract Dental Kit Packing - LEAD: Jeanne Zetah
May 2- Rotaract Dental Kit Distribtion - LEAD: Jeanne Zetah
May 18- Camp Lawton Boy Scout Camp workday- LEAD: Don Riegger/Joe D
Weekly- ongoing- Reading Coaches- LEAD: Jon Wang
If you haven’t signed up yet but would like to participate, please contact the lead.
Find more detail on the RCOT website under Service Projects.
Why participate?
Service Above Self
Camaraderie with fellow Rotarians
Making a difference feels good!
Why turn in your point sheets?
$50 gift card awarded to the Rotarian with the most points that month. Incredible year-end prizes including a week-long stay in San Carlos, 4 nights in Pinetop, an airplane ride over Tucson, weekend at the Ritz Carlton and El Conquistador, $500 gift certificate to Madaras Gallery, one hour medical massage.
Good luck and thanks for your service to Rotary! --Diana Madaras
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Carol Stewart, a long-standing authority on research parks, is the Vice President for Tech Parks Arizona at the University of Arizona. Carol Stewart leads the UA Tech Park at Rita Road and is developing the UA Tech Park at The Bridges. She is also president of the University of Arizona Center for Innovation (UACI), a technology business incubator network serving the University of Arizona, Tucson and international community.
And what a Quarter it has been! A tumultuous but rewarding few months to say the least. Given the number of achievements and activities, I will of necessity be brief and to the point…otherwise this report will go on endlessly.
BOB LOGAN gave an impassioned recognition and gift to WAYNE MEYER who headed up the Golf Fellowship for many years. WAYNE, thank you for your many hours committed to this Fellowship and all that you do for the Club. BRUCE TUNZE presented a trophy to the winner of the fellowship golf tourny, JIM LUBINSKI. Congrats JIM!
Our Sponsor of this well attended meeting was the Andersons and We Buy Houses. MARGARET introduced Mika Cole, who informed the group of the history here in Tucson of this family owned and family run business. They are truly generous sponsors and supporters of our club.
Coach gave a charming, optimistic, and energetic presentation. We had quite a Q&A session with the Coach and the top discussion was about retention and acquiring players. It sounds like the wallets need to be opened wide in order to obtain and retain linemen and cornerbacks. He then signed the book: “Goodnight Football” – which will be given to the “'Make Way for Books'” library as we continue to promote literacy.
The following new Member applications have been submitted for membership in Rotary Club of Tucson:
Due to an avalanche of enthusiastic requests - we are holding our 6th Rotary Whiskey Fellowship event.
Since April 10th is the second week of the month and there is no scheduled lunch meeting, we will be touring the Ignite Sign Art Museum. Here are the details:
Community Food Bank Service Project-2nd Food Packaging morning (Need 30 to 40 volunteers)
Service Project at Triangle Y Ranch Camp.jpg)
Our Home Hospitality events are scheduled for the week of April 21st through the 27th and we are looking for members to host during the week. These social events will replace our Wednesday, April 24th lunch meeting. If you are interested in hosting a small or large group at your home, place of business or even at a restaurant, please let Dorinna know the date, time, location and the amount of guests you will host. 
The UA Rotaract Club has asked us to help them to pack 1325 dental kits on Saturday April 27th and deliver them to three schools on May 2. We’re cosponsoring this project so it would be great to join them in their efforts!
join for lunch.
Nancy Stockton and Jeanne Zetah of the Youth Services Committee held an Interact kickoff meeting with new staff advisor, Lee Borzick at Edge High School, Himmel Park location. Many thanks to Rob Pecharich, Edge Principal, who facilitated the start of the club, and to rotarian, Brittany Battle, who introduced youth services to Edge HS. Over thirty students attended, and thirteen students expressed interest in volunt
eering with us at our community food bank service day, April 13th, this turnout far exceeded our expectations. If you also plan on attending, please give these students a special welcome!
