Judy McDermott is a veteran of professional golf management. She is the executive director of the Tucson Conquistadores Inc., the nonprofit civic group known for supporting youth athletes and athletic programs through professional golf.

 

Over $33 million has been raised for charity through the Tucson Conquistadores programs.

 

McDermott joined the Tucson Conquistadores in 1992 as marketing director for the Northern Telecom Open, a PGA Tour event operated by the Conquistadores. The Conquistadores soon named her tournament director for subsequent PGA Tour golf events held through 2006. McDermott's title was changed to executive director in 2007 when the Conquistadores served as the tournament leadership team for World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship.

 

Currently McDermott manages the Cologuard Classic, a PGA Tour Champions Tour event in its fourth year at Omni Tucson National Resort. In addition to her professional golf tournament activities, McDermott serves as executive director of the Conquistadores Foundation and The First Tee of Tucson, a program that teaches young people life skills through the game of golf. The program currently operates Life Skill programming through the game of golf at seven program locations in Pima County.

 

McDermott holds a B.A. from UCLA where she was also a member of the women’s golf team.

 

McDermott was inducted into the Pima County Sports Hall of Fame in 2015 and named the Women of Influence Non-Profit Champion Award in 2017.

 

She currently serves on the Southern Arizona board of Act One and is a member and past president of Women at the Top.

President CLIFF started the meeting with a moment of silence for JOE NEVIN who passed away on Saturday, February 3 and SONNY SOLOT who passed away on Monday, February 5. We will miss both Rotarians immensely.

 

ELLEN WHEELER gave an inspiration quoting Thomas Merton to say that love seeks only the good of the one loved. JO DECHATELET and GARY HIRSCH led us in the pledge and song – another rousing version of “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” And our own “DJ John” JOHN STROBECK introduced our guests and visiting Rotarians.

 

We had three Birthday Rotarians:  TIM PUNTENNEY congratulated President CLIFF on doing a good job and promised a check to follow, ROBERT O’BRIEN thanked Past President JIM MURPHY for having faith in the ability of the Arizona Bowl to generate additional contributions to the Car Show, and ALICE MILTON thanked everyone for the warm welcome in her first year as a member of RCOT.

 

For announcements, Sergeant at Arms DALE BERG marshaled the following:

 

 

JEFF RONSTADT introduced our speaker Lynn Wiese Sneyd, who is an author and literary consultant for the Tucson Festival of Books. The Festival is celebrating its 10^th anniversary and hosts 375 authors on multiple panels and presentations. Annually, the economic impact of the Festival exceeds $1.3 million. Lynn has worked extensively to promote the festival east of the Mississippi, and as a result the Festival is widely acknowledged as one of the best by authors across the country.   Lynn signed a book for our lending library: “Lola Reads to Leo”.

 

President CLIFF closed the meeting with a quote that identified literacy as a bridge from misery to hope.

Mark Clark is replacing Dave White on our club’s Board of Directors.  Mark will fulfill Dave’s term as Director for the years 2017-2019.  Mark is President and CEO of Pima Council on Aging. He has more than thirty-five years of executive leadership of human service, behavioral health, aging and faith based organizations. Mark is currently a board member of the Arizona Town Hall, TUSD Benefits Trust and Presidio San Agustin. He has been active in numerous community and professional organizations, including the Southern Arizona Leadership Council, Old Ft. Lowell Neighborhood Association, the National Organization of Social Workers and United Way.  The other Directors and I welcome Mark to the Board and look forward to his leadership in making our club better!

 

President Cliff

MARCH MADNESS IS HERE!!  Not the basketball kind of madness, but the Rotary Club of Tucson’s Membership March Madness.  Our coaches are in place and all members have been drafted to teams.  DO YOU WANT TO GROW OUR MEMBERSHIP?   Sit with your team mates at this week’s February 21^st meeting and receive all the strategies and information from your coach on how your team will win! 

 

 

The Community Food Bank is welcoming us Rotarians to come in and work together at sorting food, packing food boxes, food distribution, and more.  It will be fun to get together, work hard and make a difference in the fight to end hunger.  3003 S. Country Club Road.  Sign up on website Home Page under "Upcoming Events".  Wear your Rotary shirt! 

 

Our fourth annual day of service at the Ranch is open to all Rotarians and friends and families of Rotarians. Please bring your friends and neighbors.  The Ranch has been providing a one week camp experience to under privileged children from Tucson and southern Arizona since 1948 and they need our help.  Please bring the following: sunscreen, hat, landscaping tools of your choice, protective goggles if you have them, weed eater if you have one, and a ladder.  Please put your name on any tools you bring to the ranch.  The maintenance supervisor will have plenty of tools but it always helps to bring some things.

 

Lunch is included for no charge and will be served at 1:00 PM.  You will have a great opportunity to see all of the ranch facilities.  This is a great opportunity to introduce prospective members to what Rotary is all about. 

 

There is a “Cowboy Night” aka sleepover on Friday night at the ranch.  Modern lodging is available and includes breakfast on Saturday for $35 PP.  We will also have our usual steak and beans dinner for $10 PP.  Thanks again to Chef Darrell Stewart who has helped provide a great dinner the past several years.  You can register on Clubrunner  at the Rotary Club of Tucson website or email Dave Gallaher at dave@tucsonindustrialrealty.com or call 520-907-4983.  There will be carpooling available leaving from the parking lot of Trader Joes at the southeast corner of Oracle and Magee.  Please plan to meet there at 7:30.  It takes about 50 minutes to reach the Ranch from the lot.