Happy Holidays Rotarians!

 

I just want to say thank you to everyone for the tremendous support you have given me for the first half of my Presidency of the Rotary Club of Tucson. It has truly been an honor and I am looking forward to the second half of my year in leadership to our club. 2020 has brought a lot of challenges and I think it speaks volumes about how we as Rotarians have stepped up to meet them. 

 

With that being said, it is with a heavy heart that I am cancelling the Holiday Mixer. With the recent surge in COVID-19 cases coupled with the announcement from the Pima County Health Department that our hospitals are running close to capacity, it is the responsible thing to do. I know how disappointing this is for all of us, but it boils down to The Rotarian’s 4-Way test. 

 

Hopefully with the pending distribution of the vaccine, 2021 will bring more opportunities for all of us to get together to celebrate, enjoy our friendships, and provide the generous spirit of Service Above Self.

 

Happy Holidays to you all! 

President Jen

President JEN HOFFMAN called the meeting to order at 12 noon outdoors in the beautiful and sun-filled courtyard of Hacienda Del Sol featuring music performance by KHRIS and Rylande Dodge. The opening of the meeting featured a rendition of “America the Beautiful” introduced by SARA GAAR EHRENS with musical background performed by KHRIS.

 

The lunch featured a juicy chicken dish with a delicious sauce and some healthy vegetables. As always Hacienda Del Sol banquet staff were attentive to the hungry Rotarians.

 

Following lunch several guests were introduced by President JEN including, Dan Devou, and Sandra Solial, who are checking out our remarkable club and musician, Rylande Dodge.

 

President-Elect MARK IRVIN was called up to introduce the new President – Elect, who to everyone’s surprise, not really, was our very own and successful Car Show leader, BRUCE JACOBS.  We all know that Halloween is BRUCE’S special holiday, but there was nothing scary about his gracious acceptance and pledge to be a better President and not lead a “Reign of Terror” as Past President, BOB LOGAN had done. Just kidding!

 

Following BRUCE’S comments MARK IRVIN began to tell a story about a member who well deserved becoming the recipient of the Orville McPherson Award.  Orville McPherson Award is an annual award, and our club’s highest, given to a member of the Rotary Club of Tucson who best exemplifies the ideals of Rotary. The recipient of this award is someone who consistently goes above and beyond giving 100% to make our club a very special place for all of us. Orville McPherson, for whom this award is named, was a charter member of our club since its founding, April 1, 1921.  MARK introduced the recipient as being an extraordinary leader with positivity and creativity gushing from his every word spoken. The recipient was described as being the not-so-typical Rotary President, who was the “right person, at the right time” to be our leader of Tucson Rotary. MARK with overwhelming enthusiasm announced BOB LOGAN as being the winner of the Orville McPherson Award. BOB graciously and being completely surprised, thanked everyone for this great award and was amazed by the huge plaque given to him. BOB, you deserve the world’s largest plaque for giving all of yourself to Rotary as President during our lifetime’s first global pandemic and got us all through with a smile and a pleasure to observe the Rotarian 4-Way Test.

 

Not to be anti-climatic to the afternoon’s celebration, two Birthdays featured MARGARET HIGGINS and BOBBY LARSON were introduced with brief remarks by all. Happy Birthday you two!

 

There was no Sergeant At Arms announcements for the afternoon so President JEN talked about her Running for Rotary and how she was going to get back at it; and encourages more folks to support her run that was up to 73 miles for November.  An announcement of the upcoming Holiday Mixer was announced, however at the time of this writing it was cancelled to help keep everyone safe from the COVID-19 surge happening in our community at this time.

 

With that MARK IRVIN came back to the podium to announce and introduce this afternoon’s entertainment featuring KHRIS and son Rylande (on the drums) DODGE.  The weather was perfect for our mini-Concert in the Courtyard.  The winner of the hat contest was new member, ANNA LANZI, who was chosen by the Hacienda del Sol wait staff.  Congrats ANNA!

 

Meeting was adjourned at 1:20 with a Holiday Cheer and toast by JEN.

It is with a very heavy heart to announce the passing of longtime member, Sid Hirsh.  Sid passed away on a “Rotary Wednesday” - 12/9/20.  He was a member of our club for 36 years joining in 1983.  Sid was 90 years old and had been in a nursing home.  We have been informed by wife Martha and daughter Jen; a Celebration of Life will take place when all can be together sometime hopefully soon.  Let us all take a moment to remember Sid and take some steps to walk in his shoes as he touched the lives of so many in our club and in our community.  Below is a link about Sid.  We will certainly miss him.

 

In the category of “Service Above Self”, cudos go to the many members of the Rotary Club of Tucson who stepped up again to help where needed by participating in the District 5500 Handbags for Hope project, providing 52 handbags full of personal supplies for the women of The Haven. Chairs Lynn Devou and Ann Marsh handed the bags off to our own RCOT member Margaret Higgins, Executive Director of The Haven, an outpatient and residential service for women recovering from alcohol and drug dependency. She assures us that their need has been great during these COVID months and that this donation is deeply appreciated.

 

Some participants, friends of members, even donated purses and goods to fill them. Additionally, students and faculty of the Pima College Fashion and Design School donated approximately 75 hand-sewn protective masks. Thank you Nancy Spaulding, Head of the Department (NSpaulding@pima.edu. for information regarding their holiday mask making. There is no charge, but is a gift for donations to their program funds.)

 

From Margaret Higgins:

“I’m very thankful and grateful for these amazing donations! They are a wonderful resource for the ladies here at The Haven and will be put to good use. I am very grateful to receive such necessary items during this unprecedented time. “

 

This year we have two ways to participate in the Salvation Army Kettle fundraising, the traditional Bell Ringing effort of course and a virtual method.  The COVID 19 Pandemic has posed some challenges for the Salvation Army this year, in regards to the bell ringing scheduled on 12/19/20.  We secured three locations and fortunately all the shifts at these three locations have been filled.  The Rotary Club of Tucson has stepped up with volunteering to ring the bells once again this year.  THANK YOU!

 

 

 

If you would prefer to stay home this year, a virtual Kettle Donation site has been set up.  You will be able to make on-line donations and send the link to friends and family in an email or copy and post it on your social media platforms as well.  We are set up as a team "Rotary Club of Tucson", our link should default to this,  as well as default to your donation going to Salvation Army Tucson.  You can add yourself as a member of the team or just donate.  The link to donate and that you can copy and paste is, https://give-sw.salvationarmy.org/team/331869.  All donations are recognized as being from RCOT and will be combined with our actual kettle bell ringing  collections for a total that we know will benefit the Salvation Army's programs and hope will once again earn us a position as the leader in collection efforts. 

 

Yes, this is a competition as well and we are the reigning champions for Kettle Donations amongst local service clubs and organizations.  This year we are getting a bit of a late start and there are some with a distance ahead of us so we have some catching up to do.  Let's get at it. 

 

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact your Kettle Captains Kurtis Dawson, Kurtisd@tucsonymca.org and Cindy Barbee (520)240-6303.

 

Please join us for a High Performance Driver Education event January 16, 2021.  Continuous lapping with a passing zone.  The most track time for a one-day event in the Tucson Area!  All makes of vehicles are welcome.  Because of COVID this event is for experienced drivers only.  Registration Fee:  $175.  Registration is limited to 30 drivers so sign-up early.  No registration at the track.

 

New requirements as follows:  We now have minimum track entry requirements and a Corona Virus Mitigation Plan you MUST read, download and sign below.

If you are interested contact Lee Olitzky – Lee@wit2tucson.com or 520 444 4109 and or go to Motorsportreg.com and look for PCA Southern Arizona, 1-16-21, Musselman Honda Circuit for registration and more info.

To view on the RCOT YouTube channel go to our Home Page of the Club website and click on the YouTube link on the right hand side of the page.  Or, go to YouTube and type in Rotary Club Of Tucson.  You will be able to click on the video you wish to watch once they are posted.  Here is the link to do this: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=rotary+club+of+tucson

 

Enjoy watching our meetings virtually if you are not able to attend in person.  Please stay safe and stay healthy!