An update from the Executive Director of the Red Cross on current improvements and upcoming goals for how the Red Cross can continue to improve services in Southern Arizona.

 

 

Julia Dailey had her first interaction with the Cruz Roja de Mexico in 2002 as a recipient of their services during a life threatening medical emergency. That life changing interaction brought her into the Red Cross first as a CPR/ First Aid student, then a volunteer, before becoming an employee in 2012. She ran the Red Cross Disaster Service program for 20 counties in Texas before being promoted to support disaster relief across Texas, Arizona and New Mexico. She was excited to come home to Arizona as the Chapter Executive for Southern Arizona last year. Between Red Cross activities, she worked in Honduras conducting community resiliency assessments and developing response plans with the Peace Corps and got a couple degrees along the way, first a BA at the University of Hawaii then her Master’s degree in Regional Planning from Cornell University.

It's hard to believe it's April already but easy to believe that Rotary is still in the forefront of Serving Humanity. April is designated as Maternal and Child Health month which focuses our attention on making "high-quality care available to vulnerable mothers and children so they can live longer and grow stronger." Maternal and Child Health is also one of the six Areas of Focus.

 

A staggering 5.9 million children under the age of five die each year due to poor nutrition and inadequate health care. Rotary is standing in the gap in the neediest countries and is providing immunization, birth kits, education and mobile health clinics. Mothers are taught how to protect themselves and their children from disease. They are taught good hygiene and how to breast feed their babies. They are taught how to prevent mother-to-infant HIV transmission. One of the many examples of Rotary extending a hand is found in Haiti, the country with the highest maternal and infant mortality rate.  Rotary provided a fully equipped medical jeep so that volunteers and specialists could reach mothers and children in remote areas.

 

All over the world, Rotary is actively and strategically serving the poorest of the poor and the most vulnerable with initiatives that make a difference.

 

Our Tucson Rotary Club is making a difference by recently supporting the $113,000 Global Grant (Valley Verde RC’s project) to teach women in four rural Communities empowerment skills in Uganda.  The project was just approved by The Rotary Foundation. The 3-year grant will bring a Vocational Training Team from Uganda, India, Ghana, and Arizona which will cover topics such as women’s health, starting and growing a business, access to education, domestic violence, computer connectivity, and justice in the workplace and in the community. Yes, our Tucson Rotary Club is helping to make a difference, not only in our local community but in communities around the world.

 

Last Wednesday, Rincon Market, the local family-owned business and very popular spot for dining and picking up grocery items, found itself full of Rotarians, getting together for our Club’s  Replacement meeting.  Members and guests enjoyed a spaghetti dinner with a beverage of their choice and got caught up with other Rotarians on the recent happenings in their lives, sharing the latest family story, business challenge, or exchanging photos on smart phones. It was a lively and energized evening for our Club members and guests, an evening of fellowship and friendship.  A big thank you goes out to Darrell Stewart  for coordinating this event. Nice job!  A raffle of lovely artwork generated $315.00 for our scholarship program. Our next and last Replacement meeting for this Rotary year will take place May 31st, the 5th Wednesday of the month. (4 times/year).

 

Thirty five Rotarians and three family members undertook a wild and exciting new adventure in the long history of our Club’s Scholarship program: Suds for Scholars.  Never in the 65+ years of our program has the Club applied sweat equity to raising funds for our scholars – all previous funding has come from the generous donations of our members and a few outside philanthropists.  The weather at the Street Fair was fabulous and well conducive the beer/water/wine sales.  Our booth’s location away from the food court was not ideal but the close juxtaposition of the Johnsonville Brats MEGA GRILL was a big draw to our area and the major source of sustenance for our super scintillating beverage sellers and stockers.  These folks sold (not drank) over 114 cases of beer in 3 days!  There is no more fun and fellowship fostered than a bunch of Rotary wackos working willingly on behalf of others without expectation of reward, and this event was a another perfect example.  Have you heard Liz McMahon’s Irish brogue, heard Jeff Ronstadt karaoke to country oldies, heard Wocky Redsar try to say “Bud Light Lime”, heard Pat Zumbusch whinin’ because his hands ached in ice water, seen Jim Lubinski haul home 42 pounds of free brats, or actually seen Bobby Larson do a lick o’ work?  OMG!  You had to be there!  MEGA thanks to all who took time out of their busy lives and joined in the fundraising, frivolity, fun and fantastic fellowship. [To be clear tho, we STILL have not seen Bobby work.]

Members and guests enjoyed the March Social Mixer at Trident II last Thursday evening. Lots of laughter, a bit of networking, and fun conversation made an overall good time for all.  Our next Social Mixer for April will be the 27th, the last Thursday of the month.  Thanks again to Danny of Trident II Grill for making us feel so welcomed. It’s a place where everybody knows your name.

The 2nd Annual Rotary Daze YMCA Ranch Camp Project's dates are scheduled for April 14 & 15, 2017.

 

Once again we will have camp at the ranch Friday night and work on Saturday.  Sign up on Clubrunner under Upcoming Events!

Do you remember the first time you rode a bike? Or what it felt like to be part of a sports team? At the Children’s Clinics, they believe that every child is an athlete and that play is fundamental to health and well being.  The Adaptive Recreation Fund serves the mission of increasing access to recreational opportunities for children with special healthcare needs.  Through donations and volunteers, the Children’s Clinic support children and families in participating in play and physical activity. 

The Amphi Interact Club decided to participate in fund raising for bike and spent the fall working toward that goal.  They worked in the snack bar at sporting events, sold cotton candy at school events and raised donations from other Amphi students.

 

President Ellie agreed to match their fund raising efforts if they raised $500.  Well they did, and we did, and on March 29^th, eight Interactors and three staff advisors assembled bikes.   Those bikes will be handed out to children on April 28^th at the Catalina Brewing Company.   We are very proud of our Interactors and Advisors.