The All Souls Procession is the largest and most inclusive “Day of the Dead” inspired events in North America.  This year marks the 30^th Annual event, which had humble beginnings in 1990 with an intimate gathering that spilled onto the streets of Downtown Tucson with a few dozen participants.  Now this FREE public ceremony draws over 150,000 participants (worldwide) and creates over $27M in impacts each year.  Many Mouths One Stomach (MMOS) has been the sole producer and catalyst for harnessing this growth over the last 25 years.  Our story is one of determination, sacrifice and dedication to having a free public, ceremonial ritual that costs nothing to attend and is beholden to nothing but it’s direct, altruistic intention of honoring those who have passed without profit, commercialization or corporatization of any kind.

 

 

Paul Weir is the technical director of the All Souls Procession.  He has been a performer, designer, fabricator, technician and producer for 30 years.  As technical director for Flam Chen he has produced numerous performances in North Americas as well as overseas.  Flam Chen has innovated work that is often imitated and has inspired many in the entertainment and event industries.  Since 1998 Paul has been pushing the boundaries of public performance spectacle inside the Procession with his signature aerial and pyrotechnic effects as well as novel use of the urban space as a staging playground for large-scale civic celebrations.   He works with many civic authorities outside of Tucson as well, contributing to large-scale public celebrations and festivals throughout the U.S.

 

Flam Chen was instrumental in the development of the Mercado District and is the artist is residence and technical producer at the MSA ANNEX.

So I walk into Lowes over the weekend and what do I run into?  A bunch of Santas, snowmen, reindeer and Christmas trees….What is happening to our society?  Do we really need to have holiday displays up in mid-October?  I come to find out that this year, because of where Thanksgiving falls in November, is the LEAST number of shopping days between Black Friday and Christmas day.

 

Why do I tell you this in the quarterly Rotary President’s letter?  Because this is just a wonderful example of how we are slaves to our schedules, our calendars and our time.  Time is just racing by – did you know we are already four months into this Rotary year for me?  It is incredible how fast time goes by and how fast Thanksgiving and the holidays will be upon us.

 

How about some updates for the club…..

 

 

Congrats to Jason Grabosch, the entire car show committee and the hundreds of volunteers who made “Lucky 13” the greatest show ever.  We could not have asked for better weather and everyone I spoke to was having a great time.  So many were complimentary about the professionalism of the show, organization and the friendliness of all the Rotarians wearing the blue service shirts.

 

Jay Dobyns Meeting – Wednesday, November 6

If you have not seen Jay Dobyns speak, you are in for a treat.  Jay was a standout football player from Sahuaro HS and an All Pac-10 WR under Larry Smith at the University of Arizona.  Jay Dobyns will discuss his personal journey as a youth in Tucson, to his time as a football player at the University of Arizona, to becoming a Federal Agent, being shot after 4 days on the job, rejecting multi-million dollar settlement offers and for the next 27 years, defending and protecting the communities he served as an undercover operative, including his infiltration of the Hells Angels organized crime syndicate, and, after receiving a series of death and violence threats, maintaining his home in Tucson.

 

This meeting is open to friends of Rotarians and the first responder community may also be in attendance.  All Rotarians and guests MUST sign up on Eventbrite for this meeting. 

 

“CLICK HERE”  to go to the Eventbrite site to register or copy and paste this link in your browser:  https://rotary-dobyns-11-06-2019.eventbrite.com

 

Whiskey Roads Replacement Mixer – Wednesday, November 13 

 

To address some of our Rotarians who live on the northwest side, we wanted to find a location for a mixer that is easy for people who live in various parts of Tucson. This mixer will be on Wednesday, November 13 at a brand new restaurant and country music bar called Whiskey Roads.It is in the former home of a Macaroni Grill and is located on Ina and La Cholla, near the old Foothills Mall. Bruce Jacobs is putting together a nice package for us and this place is a “must see” – a great place to watch sports, do some country swing and have a nice meal as well.More details coming soon, but mark your calendars.

 

“Rotary In the Canyon” – Friday, November 22 10:30 to 2:30 PM

 

Come join us for a wonderful getaway for the Rotary Club of Tucson as we take our club on a field trip to Sabino Canyon.  This will take the place of our Wednesday, November 20^th lunch meeting.  The brand new, state of the art electric trams will be running and we will be one of the first groups to have access.  The trams have headphones and an audio program describing the flora and fauna of Sabino Canyon narrated by UA environmental scientists.  This Rotary field trip will include a full lunch from Mike Hultquist and Lerua’s/El Torero Mexican food.  (The best tamales in Tucson!).  It will include a 45 minute tram ride to the top of Sabino and back down to the Cactus picnic area, about .5 miles from the Visitor Center.  We will have a College of Science faculty member, Kevin Bonine, also a board member from the Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum providing an interpretation of desert animals with Gila Monsters, rattlesnakes and king snakes and other reptiles.  We might even have a violin concerto or similar playing under one of the ramadas.  Take Friday afternoon off, bring your spouse or significant other and enjoy Sabino!

 

Please be sure to bring sunscreen, wide-brimmed hats, long sleeve shirts, tennis or hiking shoes and a good attitude….Mark your calendars!

 

Ride to End Polio – Saturday, November 23

 

 

Let’s give a big shout out and a louder good luck to all of our fellow Rotarians, who have committed to ride in the El Tour de Tucson and the Ride to End Polio.  This is such an amazing event and to think that over $55 MILLION has been raised to support Rotary’s eradication of polio from the face of the earth is incredibly humbling.  Good luck riders!

 

Needless to say, there are lots of things going on with the club in November and I hope you enjoy some of the fellowship opportunities we are providing. Remember, the Bob Logan Reign of Terror included “HAVE FUN” as one of its guiding principles. So let’s have some fun as we roll into the Thanksgiving and Holiday Season.

 

Yours in Rotary,

 

Bob Logan

President 2019-2020

Our Scout Troop, Scout Troop 339 started in 1992 by Johnathan Lang, and chartered in 1993 by RCOT helped us slot cars, and did our opening flag ceremony at our car show. Please show your support for our Scout Troop by buying popcorn from them before the meeting or after the meeting in the back of the room on October 30th.