JOE DANISZEWSKI gave the inspiration, a quote from A. P. J. Abdul Kalam: Where there is righteousness in the heart, there is beauty in the character. When there is beauty in the character, there is harmony in the home. When there is harmony in the home, there is order in the nation. When there is order in the nation, there is peace in the world.

 

JEFF RONSTADT continued his self-described “reign of terror”, leading us in the Pledge and song “Old MacDonald Had A Farm”, which led to cries of “more volunteers!” NICK JONES introduced our guests and visitors – thank you NICK.

 

We had three Birthday Rotarians:

Past President JIM MURPHY introduced the second half of his Dynamic Duo of Daughters, TAMAH DONALDSON. TAMAH is a graduate of Salpointe, Pima, and NAU, and has held positions with American Airlines, an investment services company, and most recently with Madden Media. TAMAH has three children all of whom have participated in RCOT events, and thanks the Club for teaching them kindness in a multitude of ways.

 

Past President CHARLOTTE HARRIS presented a Paul Harris Fellowship to Grace Vaughan Sacks (SCOTT VAUGHAN'S granddaughter). Grace is an incoming Freshman at Catalina Foothills High School where she is a member of the band and hopes to march in the Macy’s Parade at Thanksgiving.

 

Sergeant at Arms BOBBY LARSON recognized JASON GRABOSCH for being selected to help found the newest Foothills Bank in Tucson. We had the following announcements:

 

 

PAT ZUMBUSCH introduced our speaker, Ken Cummins, lightning researcher and scholar at the University of Arizona. Professor Cummins has published more than 80 papers, owns 9 US patents, and is quite possibly the funniest researcher ever to address the RCOT. Professor Cummins explained the physics of lightning, technologies for locating and tracking lightning strikes, and unusual examples of lightning phenomena (including a record 14 simultaneous strikes on wind turbines in Kansas. He also advised us on the risks of tin roofs on Mount Lemmon (invest in grounding), swimming during monsoons (when thunder roars, get indoors), and his own worst nightmare (being struck by lightning and having to read the headline “Lightning Researcher Struck by Lightning”). He signed a book for our lending library: “I Spy In The Sky.” Thank you, Professor Cummins!

 

President CHUCK closed with a quote from Lee Trevino (If you are caught on a golf course during a storm and are afraid of lightning, hold up a 1-iron. Not even God can hit a 1-iron.) and a toast to the excellent professors at the U of A.

 

Our Rotary Youth Exchange student, Pedro Ritt, arrived on Friday morning after a long journey from his home in Pinhais, Parana Brazil.  Pinhais is part of the larger metro area referred to as Curitiba and is in the south part of Brazil.  Pedro had a great welcome at the airport with his first host family, Sean and Jennifer Hoffman and their two boys.  Rotary Club of Tucson members really stepped up the welcome and eight members showed up:  Roger Harwell, Aimee Graves, Gary Olsen, Jon Wang, President Chuck Sawyer, Drew and Kandie Vactor, and Ernie Minchella.  Thanks to all who came.  Please reach out to Pedro when he attends our meetings and functions.  One more plug:  We need a host family from the Ironridge High School area who would be interested in hosting. Please contact Dave Gallaher/Jennifer Hoffman.