SARSEF, the Southern Arizona Research, Science and Engineering Foundation, is on a mission to create the next generation of critical thinkers and problem solvers.  Experience first-hand how they are teaching students to make decisions based on data and form conclusions based on evidence, a skill that is essential in this day and age. Find out how SARSEF addresses the growing gap between STEM jobs and qualified workers in Arizona as they engage over 95,000 underrepresented students in areas of poverty, each year. And hear how being involved in SARSEF impacted not only student test scores across the state, it changes the lives of students, one at a time – most recently a student who will be attending the Nobel Prize Award Ceremonies this November.

 

 

Liz Baker serves as Deputy Director of SARSEF: Southern Arizona Research, Science and Engineering Foundation - an organization recognized for its innovation and impact as a Tucson Metro Chamber Copper Cactus Award Winner, Social Venture Partner Investee, and most recently as one of the top-10 finalists nationally for the Peter Drucker Institue’s Innovation Award.  Liz earned her Master of Science in Evolutionary and Comparative Psychology from the University of St. Andrews, and went on to become a Researcher for Koko the signing gorilla at The Gorilla Foundation.  Liz got her start through science research competitions, where she won over $260,000 as a three-time winner at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.  Now, Liz serves as Policy Chair for the Society for Science and the Public’s Advisory Board and Judging Coordinator for the International Science and Engineering Fair.  Through her work with SARSEF, Liz has received honors such as the Women’s Public Voices Fellowship, Women of Influence Education Champion, Greater Tucson Leadership 2016, the Award for Excellence in K-12 STEM Diversity, and Grand Prize at SVP's Fast Pitch. In her free time, Liz enjoys her time as a member of the Rotary Club of Tucson and Charter 100 Arizona.

Fellow Rotarians, the first two months of being your president have been quite the ride.  I cannot believe how much fun I am having leading our club – I do love a good roller coaster!  Our club is by far the best in the District and the state, and I have all of you to thank for that.  The work you do is phenomenal, and the next month with the Tucson Classics Car Show will require your full support – to be even “phenomenaler.”   I look forward to meeting the challenge with you and hope you are having as much fun at meetings, social gatherings, and work projects as I am.  If not, let me know what I can do to make it so!   Again, thank you for your generosity with your time and talents.  Together, we ARE making our community better.

 

President Cliff

 

PRESIDENT CLIFF started our meeting right on time.  PETER BEAHAN gave the Inspiration and the Pledge & Song were led by TOM MOULTON with GARY HIRSCH accompanying at the piano.

 

JOHN STROBECK introduced guests and visiting Rotarians.  We had a few birthday recognitions – NANCY PURDIN (9/9) – BOB ERNSTEIN (9/12) – ROGER HARWELL (9/12) and BILL GILKINSON (9/17).  We all had a good laugh when Chief Gilkinson came up to the podium and began to speak.  Some in attendance said “We can’t hear You!” and the Chief, without missing a beat said “Then move up closer”.  It is so great to see at age 92, the Chief still has his great sense of humor. DALE BURG (Sergeant at Arms) conducted the Raffle.

 

Announcements:

 

PROGRAM:  BOB ERNSTEIN introduced our program:  PAUL CICALA – Anchor/Reporter KVOA News 4 Tucson. Paul is a Rotarian Ambassador Scholar and explained how that made him who he is today with all the opportunities that position provided him.  He has been an Ambassador initiating Good Will since then.  He had a great program, including a video, on his trips to extremely remote areas of Mexico where he saw the need to help in the rebuilding of Sierra Norte Puebla and the extreme poverty, yet the indigenous people were very close in family lives under the dire conditions.  Paul’s reporting opportunities included Columbia as well. At the end of Paul’s program BOB ERNSTEIN presented Mr. Cicala with a Paul Harris Fellow from our club.

 

PRESIDENT CLIFF brought meeting to close with a quote and a toast.

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!

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.

GAP Ministries is a non-profit social-service agency founded in 1999 with a fervent mission to “stand in the GAP” for those who are vulnerable and struggling in our community. GAP Ministries has long been an advocate for the most vulnerable members of our community from its start as an agency caring for foster children, to its newest undertaking as a rehabilitative Culinary Training Program targeting the indigent, ex-offenders, youth “aging out” of foster care and other similarly vulnerable populations.  GAP Ministries serves the community in three core areas: Children, Family, Community.

 

CHILDREN: GAP cares for over 400 foster children and teens annually in 14 family-model group homes in Tucson. Siblings are able to stay together while in care due to the larger size of our homes and children are given love and support through the stability afforded through a family model. Teens and young adults are given additional support to successfully “age out” of foster care through mentoring, job skills training and independent living programs.

 

FAMILY: GAP certifies foster parents in order to provide a safe environment for children removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect. GAP also supervise court-mandated visitations between children and their families, in the desire that children and parents reestablish a healthy relationship while working toward family restoration when possible.

 

COMMUNITY: GAP’s Community warehouse partners with Good 360, local organizations and over 35 non-profits in order to redistribute fresh food and basic needs items to over 4,000 families weekly. Over 759,000 pounds of produce and perishable items are distributed annually throughout the community by GAP’s partner non-profits and churches. Southern Arizona nonprofits that serve the marginalized annually receive over $836,000 worth of hygiene items, paper goods, cleaning supplies etc. from GAP’s warehouse. GAP Culinary Training Program provides on the job training to young adults; students increase their marketability while giving back to the community by preparing meals for thousands of low-income, at-risk children and families throughout Pima County.

 

GAP kitchen was built in 2014 with a vision to impact those in need by reclaiming highly-perishable food, turning almost-spoiled tomatoes into marinara sauce, on-the-verge strawberries into preservatives. Since its opening GAP has served over 160,000 meals to the homeless and destitute!

 

GAP’s Culinary Training Program offers 10 weeks of tuition free culinary training to low-income, unemployed, underemployed, destitute, ex-offenders and youth who have aged out of foster care. This is an enormous undertaking with the capacity to impact the lives of so many hurting families and individuals in our community as GAP works to help them move from a position of surviving to truly thriving. The Culinary Training Program would not happen without the generous support of the Rotary Club of Tucson!