This is a reminder to sign up for the Member Social Mixer on Wednesday, 8/31/16 at El Molinito. This Mixer will be a replacement meeting for our Wednesday lunch meeting. All members and guests must sign up on Clubrunner. Go to our home page atwww.tucsonrotary.org, scroll down the left hand side to Upcoming Events. Guest fee is $25. Deadline for sign ups is Friday, 8/26/16.
PAULINE HECHLER inaugurated our meeting with words of inspiration, followed by NANCY GUTT vocally escorting us through THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER assisted by GARY HIRSCH tickling the ivories in fine style.
After chewing the fat, both literally and figuratively, at lunch, KEVIN WONG announced and welcomed 15 guests and visiting Rotarians. Happy Birthday kudos to SID HIRSH, CONRAD PLIMPTON, and PHIL GUTT, all who regaled us with good humor.
Old friend, yet brand new member, NANCY GUTT was introduced by hubby PHIL. NANCY is our club's first, that's right, first spousal member, or co-member, or whatever you want to call it! She's manager of Limited Additions women's clothing store at St. Phillips...and she's already had some 27 years of Rotary involvement by osmosis. Welcome aboard, NANCY!
BOBBY LARSON in a car show minute reminded us of the good work that Youth on Their Own do, ROBERT O’BRIEN presented a car show poster tribute to PAT ZUMBUSCH. CLIFF BOWMAN reminded us that car show volunteering opportunities are nigh. TOM STRASBURG gave much due title sponsor recognition to ARNIE JACOBSEN and Lucky Wishbone for the blood, sweat, tears, and garlic bread they've contributed to the Car Show. GARY SCHEER shouted out our MAJOR GENERAL JAY PARKER for his recent induction into the ROTC Hall of Fame at Ft. Knox.
Don't forget there's no Rotary meeting next Wednesday, replaced by a happy get-together at El Molinito that day from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
MARK IRVIN introduced Brian Sandy, President of the Tucson Roadrunners hockey team. With his staff, he gave us insight into Tucson's latest professional sports team and it's shortly commencing schedule at the remodeled TCC.
PRESIDENT ELLIE welcomed our guests, and bade us farewell with a fine toast.
As we approach the end of August, which in the Rotary world is Membership Month, I want to take this opportunity to thank our Membership Committee for their dedication to engaging new members throughout the year. The Committee warmly welcomes the new members who have been reviewed and voted upon, appoints mentors, provides orientation, training and guidance, and offers an excellent STAR meeting (Special Training for Action in Rotary) each quarter. In addition, informative letters are mailed to the new members in their first 6 months. The Membership Committee assigns new members to committees, matching them according to their interests and extends a helping hand when the need arises in those important first few months. Our Membership Committee is hardworking and dedicated and it shows. As I’ve said before, our strength lies in our membership. And that’s where our club membership shines. Keeping members is a top priority for our club and there’s not a meeting that goes by that a longstanding member is not visiting with one of the newer members or sitting beside a new face of membership and asking him or her about their interests and what they especially like about Rotary. Whether members decide to stay or go is affected by the club experience and our Tucson Rotary club truly stands out as offering the best experience to all members. Memories are made and good times are shared at the amazing Tucson Classics Car Show event, at any one of the fun and important works projects, during social events such as Home Hospitality and at the weekly club luncheons. More good memories will be created and fun times will be had when we all meet next Wednesday evening for the member mixer at El Molinito. Guests that are invited will have a chance to experience just what makes our Tucson Rotary Club the best ever…..and they may decide to join the best Club ever.
Ruby Peckford, a member of our club since June 2015 and a media consultant, is one member who divides her Rotary time between Tucson and Oakland:
"One of the most unexpected experiences for me as a Rotarian this year is to be involved with two very large clubs: The Rotary Club of Oakland 3, the third established club in the world over 100 years ago and now boasts 300 members, and Rotary Club of Tucson, started in 1921 and now has 230 members.
When I discovered that the Oakland club was walking distance from where I was staying downtown, I just showed up one Thursday for their luncheon and what a great welcome I received. They just embraced me like I was a long lost cousin. That's the way Rotary membership is. You need never be alone on a trip anywhere.
Like our club, Oakland 3 meets for lunch and the format is basically the same, except they don't sing the national anthem and their luncheons are quite informal with a buffet lunch. Members and guests enjoy conversation as they go through the line to get their food. Interestingly, too, not everyone has the lunch. Oakland has structured their membership fee so that you pay for lunch as you go! Even as a regular visitor now, I don't always buy the lunch, but usually I do since I think it's my way to contribute. A wine bar is set up so you can buy a glass of wine before the meeting starts and take it to your table. Other differences include: a wider age range, as many women as men, cultural diversity, and mixers that are not in lieu of a luncheon but a 'cocktails with the President' event, such as a wine tasting or beer tasting at a local brewery. I've also noted a little competitiveness with who invites the most guests to Rotary.
Both clubs are very dynamic, with professional networking, discussions about active involvement in the community, fundraising and overall great camaraderie. Both clubs have a woman as president this year and both are very similar in their style of fun leadership, keeping a good pace and starting and ending meetings on time. Many thanks go to Ellie for introducing me to Rotary. Who knew what perfect timing it was for me to become a member! I now regularly attend Rotary in two states. One perk of membership - it's easy to be a roving Rotarian!"
The Rotary Office is in search of a part time Administrative Assistant to work 19-20 hours a week on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays. If anyone has a person interested in this part time position, please contact Dorinna at the office - 623-2281.