Our first Replacement/Social Mixer for the 2022-23 Rotary year is WEDNESDAY, August 31, 2022 at Noble Hops (DoubleTree), 445 S. Alvernon Way from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.  This Mixer replaces our Wednesday lunch meeting.  Let's all have some fun and fellowship at Noble Hops!

 

 

PRESIDENT BRUCE JACOBS started the meeting and noted that SARA GAAR’s husband, Bruce Ehrens, has been diagnosed with a rare form of Leukemia. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. NANCY FARBER was introduced and led the Pledge and an always enjoyable group singing of the Star-Spangled Banner. BOB SHAFF offered the Inspiration and it was based on Birth and Death. It was a nice thought that in each instance, we have the opportunity for a first breath. KHRIS DODGE introduced our guests.

 

MICHAEL GUYMON introduced our guest speaker, Susan Hyatt Dumon, who is the Senior Vice President of Economic Competitiveness at Sun Corridor, Inc. MICHAEL and Susan worked together before MICHAEL took his leadership role at the Tucson Metro Chamber. Susan first decided that she wanted to live in Tucson while she was attending college in Indiana. She took a trip to Tucson and camped at Saguaro National Park West.

 

Susan offered background information on Sun Corridor, which is a regional economic development engine for Tucson. Sun Corridor is a non-profit organization and 75% of it’s budget is paid for by private businesses and investors who want growth in our region. Their mission is to “Generate Community Wealth” via businesses that manufacture goods and services that are exported outside of Tucson. Susan noted that no matter where the growth occurs in our region, there is a positive impact everywhere in the region. Sun Corridor focuses on four industry sectors: Aerospace & Defense, Transportation & Logistics, Bioscience & Healthcare, and Mining & Renewable Technologies. She noted that there has been a shift in the businesses that are interested in Tucson since 2019. There has been a decrease in Aerospace and increase in Automotive related businesses. They (Sun Corridor) will assess the opportunities and refocus as needed to ensure the most relevant and best opportunities remain the target. At a given time, Sun Corridor is working on 65 qualified projects with more than 90% of those projects with businesses that have no current presence in the region. They win 10 to 15% of those projects. The main source is Californian companies however there are companies interested in moving to Tucson from many other states as well. Susan will be focusing on the competitiveness of Tucson in the future to ensure we have our best foot forward as we approach new opportunities.

 

JIM LUBINSKI was celebrating his birthday that occurred on July 2^nd. He retired on June 30^th and has been jet setting since. He said that he’s been working hard at retirement and sounds like a 3-week trip to Europe really challenged him. JERRY SULLIVAN was celebrating his 80^th birthday. He showed a photo of when he was 8 and noted that he really hasn’t changed much.  Happy Birthday you two!

 

WES WIGGINS introduced our newest members SANDRA JOHNSON and SANDRA introduced her husband and Family Member, RAYMOND SMITH. They are realtors and host the IM Realtor Show on KVOI radio AM 1030, Sundays from 3 to 4pm. We’re glad to have them in our club!

 

CHARLOTTE HARRIS introduced Paul Harris award recipients BOBBY LARSON and his wife, Tracy.  BOBBY received his Paul Harris +6 award. Thanks for helping Rotary International, both of you!

 

KHRIS DODGE held a raffle with the grand prize-winning amount going over $800! The winning card was not drawn and we’ll soon have over $1,000 in the kitty.

 

ALAN ROGERS offered details on our Social Mixer next Wednesday, August 31^st, at Noble Hops at the Double Tree Hotel on Alvernon.  PRESIDENT BRUCE noted that U of A Basketball Coach Tommy Lloyd will be speaking to our club on September 21^st. All members and guests must register, and the guest fee is $35. It will be a “Red Out.” BRUCE mentioned that our Facebook page is up and running again. Be sure to make comments and share anything from the page that you like. BOBBY LARSON offered some news on the car show. Sponsorships are doing great with special thanks to MARY MARTIN securing all the Media Sponsors. Now, it’s time to sell tickets. That’s our bread and butter.

 

PRESIDENT BRUCE offered a toast to Tucson and the success of Sun Corridor and we were adjourned.

 

For more details and to register for the event, please click on the link below:

 

Dear Rotary Club Members,

 

The Member Support Committee is here to help all our members in any way we can in a time of need, not only in sickness and visitation. This could also include things like a ride to the doctor or our meetings or to offer support when there is a loss in the family, help with funeral arrangements if needed, or issues where one just needs a shoulder to lean on or a listening ear. Our challenge has been to encourage our members to reach out to us when there is a need.

 

Thank you.

Frank Dahl, Member Support Committee

Here is an update from Jan Lesher, Pima County Administrator, on Grant Road per our discussions during her program on September 17th.

 

The City of Tucson reports that Grant Road Phases 3 & 4 are scheduled to begin in early 2023. The design is 100% complete and the City is actively finalizing utility relocations and preparing the bid package. This project is expected to last 2 and 1/2 years and will widen Grant Road to 3 lanes in each direction from Venice Place to Sparkman which is just east of Country Club and west of Swan Road.

 

Here is the project website for more information: http://www.grantroad.info/

 

Best,

Jan Lesher

 

I shared with those in attendance on the 13^th that this next year I want us to share “Miles of Memories” together. I referenced the memories we have created together over the years and the impact we have had in so many others lives as well as our own.

 

The children and the parents receiving the grass ball field in San Carlos transformed from a dirt lot. The recipients and their families that obtained their mobility by receiving a wheelchair in Nogales. The memories of our member that participated along with the memories of working together on various local workday projects. Our hiking, golf, home hospitality fellowships and the list goes on.

 

I ask for you to help me on “our journey” over this next year by sponsoring me in the “Miles of Memories.” My goal is to walk a minimum of 35 miles a week, 1,825 for the year and honestly want to surpass 2000+. I would like for you to consider donating by the mile and we will share the outcome at the first meeting of each month on my progress.

 

Donations can go to the Foundation toward a Paul Harris, the President’s Discretionary Fund, or others of your choosing. I want us to have fun on our journey over this next year and to INSPIRE each other and our benefactors through the world of Rotary.

 

Thank you for your support in making our 102^nd year one where we create memories together.

 

YIR

Bruce

To view videos 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