Paul Cicala has been nominated for multiple EMMY’s in news and sports, and after a career that’s taken him to Southern California, Las Vegas, Texas and Mexico, Paul’s proud to be back in the area he was born and raised: Tucson, AZ.

As a Sports Anchor for KVOA News 4 Tucson, Paul Cicala has won Regional Associated Press Awards for “Best Sports Reporting”.  At KVOA he’s also been nominated for EMMY’s and took home first place as “Best Sportscaster” by readers of the “Tucson Weekly” and the Spanish-language magazine “Perfil Social”.  Cicala was also a news reporter and fill-in anchor at KOLD News 13 from 2000-2003, where he also won Regional Associated Press Awards for his reporting on both sides of the border.

Before Cicala returned to Tucson, he was a Sports Director & Special Assignment Reporter in the El Paso, TX/Las Cruces, NM/Juarez, Mexico area, where he was nominated for multiple EMMYs for his sports and news reporting. Cicala also won the second Edward R. Murrow award of his career for a 3-part series reporting in Medellin, Colombia & Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Cicala made such an impression on the borderland, he was voted the 2013 El Paso-area's "Best Newscaster Under The Age Of 40".

However, Cicala's "true love" is sports, and he's excited to be back in the Old Pueblo covering the college he grew up cheering for: The U of A. The proud product of the Sunnyside Unified School District is making his second stop at KVOA. The Tucson native left News 4 in 2006 for a Sports Director position at KESQ in the Palm Springs area. Cicala also filed reports in Spanish for the area's Telemundo affiliate.

Cicala's anchoring & reporting career has also included stops in Las Vegas, where he served as a sports anchor & reporter, and Yuma, Arizona. In Las Vegas, Paul had the chance to cover some of the biggest boxing matches in recent history.

Cicala's first TV job was at FOX Sports in Los Angeles, while attending the University of Southern California (USC), where he graduated magna cum laude. He then produced for NBC Network News in Burbank, where he had the chance to travel and cover stories all throughout the U.S. and Mexico.

Paul Cicala's endeavors in news have also landed him on national TV shows. In 2004, Cicala had the honor of being a guest on the Oprah Winfrey show, providing perspective as an objective journalist after covering a story about a Tucson High guidance counselor who posed nude in an adult magazine. Cicala has had an equally active life outside of news, with experience as a teacher at Sunnyside & Desert View High School, a mentor to at-risk youth on Tucson's south side, and as a Rotary Ambassador of Goodwill in Mexico.

When Paul's not anchoring & reporting at News 4, he can be found at local gyms working out or playing basketball. He also enjoys cultural activities, taking the quick drive south of the border to Mexico, and volunteering with the community whenever possible.

 

This year's District Conference will be held on October 13-15, 2017.  We are returning to the Hilton DoubleTree Hotel Reid Park in Tucson.  Rooms are available for only $79 per night, plus taxes.  Early Bird Registration is only $185 for the entire conference - and what a conference it will be!  Keynote speakers are Jennifer Jones, Susan B. Neuman, Michael Angelo Caruso and John Matthews - our own Rotary International Director.  There will be more than 20 breakout sessions and special events for our Interactors and Rotaractors Saturday morning.  Sunday morning will be special, with a salute to Rotarian veterans and active duty personnel.  A special conference website will be up and running by Sunday, July 16. Watch for the link on the District 5500 website: rotaryd5500.org.  Sign up early to qualify for the low room rates and special Early Bird Registration.

 

The Rotary Club of Tucson will be hosting a Hospitality Suite on Friday and Saturday evening during the conference, along with other Rotary Clubs in our District.  This is a wonderful opportunity for you to meet Rotarians from all across southern Arizona.  If you have never experienced a Rotary hospitality night, come on out for the fun and fellowship! 

 

Scholarships Available!  If you want to participate in the District Conference but the cost is stretching your budget and preventing your attendance, contact President Cliff.  President Cliff is offering up to four scholarships for RCoT Rotarians covering the full district cost of $185.  No forms to fill out, no documents required - just one easy phone call or email. 

The Southern AZ Chapter of the American Red Cross will be installing FREE 10 year smoke alarms in locations throughout Tucson on Saturday, September 23, 2017 from 8:00 AM to Noon.  We are in need of volunteers to help install the smoke alarms.  There will be training available at the beginning of the event at a location to be announced.  The goal is to install 1,000 alarms throughout Southern AZ, with a reach to 450 homes using 350 volunteers.

For more information and to register:  www.redcross.org/local/az-nm-el-paso/home-fire-safety

Any questions, please contact Mike Sagara, Public Information Officer, 520-403-7408, or mike.sagara@redcross.org.

Our monthly social mixer will be held at Trident II, 2900 N. Swan on Thursday, September 28th, start time is 5:30 p.m.  Come out for a fun evening where members and guests get together to enjoy friendship and fellowship. Cheers...

 

The Association of Fundraising Professionals Southern Arizona Chapter will host its 29th annual National Philanthropy Day Awards luncheon on Friday, November 17, 2017 at The Westin La Paloma. Registration is at 11:00 AM.  Luncheon is from 11:30 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.  Our Rotary Club will be honored at this luncheon and receive one of the five major awards. A film will also be shown that features our Rotary Club in the video. The  ticket cost of the event is $80.00 and a portion of that is tax deductible. We hope many of you will attend and represent the Club and show how supportive Rotary is of community engagement and service. Registration can be made on our website under "Upcoming Events" but your club account will not be billed for the luncheon. Money for your tickets will be collected by Ellie Patterson and checks should be made payable to "So. AZ AFP" (So. AZ Association of Fundraising Professionals).   We have four tables reserved and money needs to be turned in by October 27^th. This is such an honor for our Club. Thank you to former member, Cheryl House, who nominated us for this award.

Several Rotarians and friends met together early Saturday morning, September 9th, to do some painting and sanding at the Arizona Theater Company's office in the historic Glenwood Hotel.  Dave Gallaher organized his posse, provided supplies and direction, and set the troops to work for four hours of gainful employment.  The crew painted everything a lovely Rotary blue and sanded one of the outdoor decks. Joining us in the task was one of our scholarship students, Isabella Blum.  Thanks to all for their hard work!  ~President Cliff

 

The Caregiver Training Institute (CGTI) was founded in 2000 as a response to two community needs: to meet the needs of seniors who require personal and medical assistance, and to increase the supply of professional certified caregivers where a shortage exists in the local market. CGTI’s mission is to recruit, educate and develop men and women who will provide quality care for our elderly and individuals with disabilities.

 

The need for caregivers is significant. 12,000 Baby Boomers turn 65 each day. Pima County faces a shortage of 1,200 caregivers annually.  By 2030, Arizona's elder population will increase by 255%, yet the caregiver workforce is expected to increase by 60%. CGTI meets a critical need in southern Arizona.

 

To address the shortage of qualified caregivers in our community the Caregiver Training Institute provides vocational training, licensed as a training facility by the Arizona State Board of Nursing. CGTI has raised the standard for caregiver training -- and, thus, the quality of senior care throughout Tucson and statewide. Each year, CGTI receives A+ ratings, the highest scores possible, from the Arizona State Board of Nursing and they regard CGTI as a model for other training programs to follow. Last year at the 2016 AZBN state conference, CGTI was singled out from the podium as the "poster child" for training programs throughout the state.  One hundred percent (100%) of CGTI students are very low-income.  Most come to CGTI unemployed, underemployed, or currently accepting government assistance. CGTI also trains refugees who seek to establish careers in their new country. Many refugees lack high school or higher education altogether, or their formal education is not accepted as valid in the United States; because of their experience caregiving for family members and neighbors, they gravitate toward and are successful in our program.

 

Funds from the Rotary Club of Tucson are used to sustain CGTI’s core existing programs, training an anticipated 250 students.

- Licensed Nurse Assistant (LNA) Certification + Caregiver Training: This training leads to dual credential as a licensed nurse assistant and certified caregiver. State regulations require caregivers to hold either a LNA or CNA to work in hospitals, hospice, and home health agencies, and Caregiver Certification to work in assisted living facilities. 200 hours in length, completed in 6- 11 weeks, includes written exams for both certificates as well as a clinical practical exam for the LNA.

- Caregiver Certification: This training prepares students for certification as a Caregiver, and also offers a "Bridge" class for LNAs to gain their Caregiver Certificate to work in assisted living facilities.