Becky Burke enters her second season as head coach of the University of Arizona Women’s Basketball program after being named the Wildcats’ 10th head coach in 2025.
Widely regarded as one of the rising stars in collegiate basketball, Burke recently secured the No. 17-ranked recruiting class in the nation according to ESPN and the top-ranked recruiting class in the Big 12 Conference.
Prior to Arizona, Burke led the University at Buffalo to a historic 30-win season and the 2025 WNIT Championship in just her third year as head coach. She has built a reputation for transforming programs, including successful head coaching stops at USC Upstate, the University of Charleston, and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona.
Burke was named to the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s prestigious “30 Under 30” list in 2019 as the only head coach recognized that year.
A former standout player at the University of Louisville, Burke helped lead the Cardinals to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including the 2009 NCAA Championship game. She remains a member of Louisville’s 1,000-point club and was runner-up in the 2012 State Farm College 3-Point Championship.
Originally from Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania, Burke and her wife, Savannah, have one son, Banks, and are proud to call Tucson home.
Our May 13th Events Around Town (EAT) lunches brought Rotarians together once again for an afternoon packed with connection, conversation, and delicious local dining.
Small groups gathered around town at favorite spots including Redbird Scratch Kitchen, Corbetts, Sonora House and other local favs, where the menus were excellent and the conversations were even better. From sharing Rotary stories and community ideas to plenty of laughs over lunch, every table had its own memorable moments.
One of the best parts of EAT is the chance to slow down, sit with fellow members in a relaxed setting, and connect beyond the usual luncheon routine. New friendships were formed, familiar faces were reunited, and everyone left a little more energized for the rest of the week.
A special thank you to all of our hosts for organizing such welcoming gatherings and helping make these lunches a continued success. Your hospitality keeps EAT one of our club’s favorite traditions.
If you missed the May edition, don’t worry—another opportunity to “eat around town” will be here before you know it. We hope to see even more members at the next one!
Posted by Marcy Euler and Debbie Sheppard on May 14, 2026
On May 12, Rotarians traded name badges for wine glasses and gathered for a relaxing evening of fellowship at the charming Arizona Wine Collective in beautiful St. Philip's Plaza.
The evening was filled with laughter, lively conversation, and plenty of opportunities to connect outside the usual luncheon setting. Members enjoyed sampling a variety of wines while catching up with friends old and new in the cozy atmosphere of the plaza.
From stories shared to spontaneous toasts celebrating friendship and Rotary spirit, the night perfectly captured what fellowship is all about — building connections and enjoying time together.
A big thank you to everyone who joined us for this “grape” evening of camaraderie. Judging by the smiles and full glasses, this fellowship event was definitely worth raising a toast to!
It was a beautiful morning this past Saturday and the perfect way to launch this year’s Summer Hiking Series. For our first trip to the top of Mount Lemmon, Martha and I were joined by fellow Rotarian and hiking enthusiast, Rich Flynn. We enjoyed perfect temperatures, calm conditions, and spectacular views along the Meadow and Mount Lemmon trails, with a quick stop at the Lemon Drop Fire Lookout.
Looking forward to a great summer ahead, and please save the date for Saturday, June 20th, when we will hike the Sunset and Marshall Gulch Trails.Hike On!
(L to R) President Elect Bobby Larson Admires Our Efforts, Patrick Randles Collects Shopping Carts and Rotaract Students Henrick Reed and Robert Ponza Collect Another Shopping Cart of Trash
Final Tucson Clean and Beautiful Road Clean Up For This Season…
Thank you to our small but hardy clean-up crew for their efforts. We were happy to see two UA Rotaract students join in this service project. An unusually cool morning and sunny weather made for a pleasant mid-May cleanup.
This also completes 3 years of supporting Tucson Clean and Beautiful’s program under which we conduct this service project. With that in mind, Lee will be retiring from this project. If a Club member would like to continue, please contact Lee prior to September. If we do not have another member take over, we will notify the City that we are no longer going to continue. A special thank you to all members, family and friends that have participated over the prior 3 years. YIR, Lee Olitzky.
RCOT members, it’s time to register YOUR car for the car show!
This year we’re going to have some amazing special displays, and folks are definitely going to want to be part of the show. If you have friends or family members who’d like to enter, they need to register soon too.
Last year registration closed the first of August, so don’t delay.
Ticket Packets as well as Classic Club tickets are now available for pickup at Rotary meetings along with posters, business cards, and ticket-selling partner agreements.
If you haven't completed the Ticket Survey yet, please click on this link: (https://forms.gle/jot5D3JstDyYvoBs5) and give us your feedback by May 20. If you can’t access the link, please complete a paper survey at the Ticket Table to let us know whether you'll sell paper tickets, online, at events, through partner seller groups you recruit, and/or donate instead. THANK YOU!
As a fellow Rotarian, I hope you have read the article, "No needle, no fear, no pain" in the May 2026 issue of The Rotarian magazine regarding the use of a jet needle-free injection for polio vaccinators in Afghanistan. This provides a way for inactivated polio vaccine, normally administered through a syringe with a needle, to be administered with no fear and no pain. Parents are now bringing their children who previously avoided the injectable vaccines through a needle.
Both the oral vaccine, providing drops on the tongue, and the jet injection are used to offer stronger protection against paralysis.
This has been part of a campaign from August to October in 2025 to protect more than 1.2 million children under the age of 5 from polio. Over 10,000 polio workers were part of this effort.
Update on Wild Polio Virus Type 1(WPV1)
No new cases reported this week, but unfortunately, we had 2 new cases reported last week: 1 in Pakistan and 1 in Afghanistan so the 2026 total year-to-date increases to 6 cases (3 in Pakistan and 3 in Afghanistan). This compares to 10 cases as this same time this year.
Wild Positive Environmental Samples. Also, unfortunately there were also 20 positive Wild Environmental Samples reported last week, with 6 from Afghanistan and 14 from Pakistan increasing the YTD 2026 total to 94. The 2025 total is adjusted to 760. Also, there was 1 Positive Type 2 Environmental Samples reported this last week. Of special note is that it was collected in Western Australia as part of their routine environmental surveillance. It was traced back to a positive sample last collected in Germany in 2024. At this time there is no evidence of local transmission and risk assessment and monitoring the situation is ongoing. It does give credence to the saying, however, that “Polio is only a plane ride away”.
Pakistan and Afghanisan unite to protect millions of chidren in synchronized polio campaigns (Story shared from D5130)
Amid geopolitical tensions and insecurity across the Region, health workers in Pakistan and Afghanistan came together from 13 to 19 April 2026, a nationwide vaccination campaign in Pakistan reached 44.8 million children. Simultaneously, Afghanistan launched its first nationwide campaign in 2026, reaching 12.8 million children under 5. Vitamin A was co-administered to children between the ages of 6-59 months in both countries.
Despite ongoing geopolitical stresses, both countries have continued to support technical coordination through long-standing cross-border mechanisms. This collaboration is essential in the 2 remaining endemic countries for wild poliovirus globally. Afghanistan and Pakistan form a single epidemiological bloc where transmission on one side of the border directly affects the other. By aligning campaign timing and strategies, the 2 programs are working to stop transmission on both sides of the border – protecting communities that are among the most vulnerable and hardest to reach.
In the early 1990s, Pakistan and Afghanistan experienced a high burden of polio, with Pakistan reporting an estimated 20000 cases annually and Afghanistan approximately 2000. Due to intensified eradication efforts since 1994 under the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, polio cases in Afghanistan and Pakistan have decreased dramatically. As of May 2026, six cases have been reported across both countries.
Do you know someone in our Club who deserves Rotary recognition? If you’re aware of a recent achievement, special honor, or noteworthy accomplishment involving one of our members, please let us know.
Kindly reach out to President Dot, SAA Dan Kalm, or the Rotary office with the details. We would love to recognize them at an upcoming lunch meeting.
Let’s celebrate the great things happening within our Club — Way to go, Rotary!
Our Home Hospitality events are scheduled for the week of May 26–31, and we’re looking for members to serve as hosts throughout the week. These social gatherings will take the place of our regular lunch meeting on Wednesday, May 27.
If you’re interested in hosting—whether at your home, place of business, or even a restaurant—please let Dorinna know your preferred date, time, location, and how many guests you can accommodate. Hosts will be eligible for food reimbursement based on the number of attendees.
This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with fellow Rotarians in a more relaxed and personal setting. We hope many of you will consider participating! Thank you!
We have a new date (to replace our previously scheduled date of May 9th)! Saturday June 6th from 9:00AM - noon, our Club is scheduled to work together at the Community Food Bank. They will be ready for 50 us to be there, so please check your calendars and email/text/call Lori or I if you (or others you know at least 16 years of age) can make it.
Where: Community Food Bank at 3003 S Country Club Rd. Tucson, AZ 85713 When: Saturday June 6, 2026, 8:45 AM to check in then work 9:00 AM - noon Why: To help our Tucson and Southern AZ neighbors Who: The Rotary Club of Tucson, family members/friends/neighbors etc. What: Have fun with your Rotary friends packing food boxes for people in need
This is my infrequent email to all members to assure everyone is aware of our awesome non-fiction book club fellowship.
Our next meeting is Monday, June 15 at noon, held at The Ranch Bar and Grill, 9155 E Tanque Verde Rd. #177, Tucson, AZ 85749. All members and guests are invited. We will be discussing the book, The Idea Factory: Bell Labs and the Great Age of American Innovation.
On a separate note, please remember that RYLA applications (Rotary Youth Leadership Award, which is leadership camp for high school aged students) become available in October.
Thanks everyone!
Nancy Stockton
The Idea Factory: Bell Labs and the Great Age of American Innovation
Jun, 2026
The Firing Line
Jul, 2026
Dealers of Lightning -Xerox Parc and the Dawn of the Computer Age
At the Rotary Club of Tucson, we believe in giving back to our community and supporting causes that make a real difference. And now, it’s easier than ever to contribute to our efforts!
We’re excited to highlight a new way for you to make your donations directly to the Rotary Club of Tucson Foundation – all from the comfort of your own home! Simply head to our website, where you’ll find the gold Donation button at the top right of the menu bar. Whether you're contributing to our Scholarships, making a General Donation, or supporting our Local Charities, your generosity will help fund important initiatives that uplift our community.
But wait, there’s more! If you're joining us for lunch at the next meeting, don’t forget to look for the blue scholarship cups on the tables. These cups now feature a QR code that will take you straight to the Donation Page with just a quick scan. No need for cash or checks – donate right from your phone!
We can’t thank you enough for your ongoing support of our Foundation. Your donations directly benefit our community and empower us to continue making a meaningful impact. If you have any questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Rotary office.
Let’s continue to do good in our community – with a click, a scan, and your generous heart!
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Becky Burke enters her second season as head coach of the University of Arizona Women’s Basketball program after being named the Wildcats’ 10th head coach in 2025.
Our May 13th Events Around Town (EAT) lunches brought Rotarians together once again for an afternoon packed with connection, conversation, and delicious local dining.
The following new Member application has been submitted for membership in Rotary Club of Tucson:
On May 12, Rotarians traded name badges for wine glasses and gathered for a relaxing evening of fellowship at the charming Arizona Wine Collective in beautiful 
RCOT members, it’s time to register YOUR car for the car show!
2026 TLT meeting schedule.
Good evening Rotary family-
Hello Rotarians!
At the Rotary Club of Tucson, we believe in giving back to our community and supporting causes that make a real difference. And now, it’s easier than ever to contribute to our efforts!
