President CHUCK opened the meeting by welcoming back HUGH THOMPSON. President CHUCK also asked everyone to remember FRANK ZUNNO who is in hospice at Tucson Medical Center.
ELLEN WHEELER, now back with Pima County, gave the inspiration urging everyone to practice loving kindness, patience and peace. The inestimable BOB SHAFF, Past President, led us in the Pledge and song “God Bless America”. KAREN PUTNAM introduced our guests and visiting Rotarians.
We had three Birthday Rotarians:
- STACIA DECKER thanked her sponsors & mentors father GARY SHEER and mother-in-law IRENE DECKER. STACIA’S son is a world ranked Jet Ski competitor, and STACIA is a world class auction organizer!
- BOB ERNSTEIN, former head of the UA Student Union, remembered his sponsor BILLY JOE VARNER. BOB looks forward to his 61st anniversary with his wife CHAR on Saturday. CHAR continues to bless everyone with hugs and kisses.
- ANN PLIMPTON thanked her sponsor KATHY KITAGAWA, remembered receiving a rotary scholarship to help with her many educational accomplishments, and spoke proudly of her son JOHN, 6 children, and 18 grandchildren.
The Dynamic Paul Harris Duo of President Elect BOB LOGAN and Past President CHARLOTTE HARRIS made Paul Harris presentations to the following:- DIANA CANNON received her first Paul Harris. DIANA hales from Flint MI, is the proud parent of two children and six dogs and enjoys Rotary because it teaches us humanity.
- BUZZ DEMPSEY received his first Paul Harris. BUZZ is a retired soccer referee (an excellent one for certain), skilled mortgage lender with over $1 billion in residential mortgages to his credit, and a practitioner of hot yoga. BUZZ enjoys Rotary as a significant way to give back to the community.
- FONDA INSLEY is a graduate of Catalina Foothills, daughter of one of the founders of the Children’s Clinics, and recipient of Volunteer of the Year for her work to support AIDS research. FONDA supports Rotary because it serves as a role model for how we can relate to each other despite our differences and in service to others.
- Past President CLIFF BOWMAN received his Paul Harris plus 7. CLIFF is our own American Hero, having served four deployments to the Middle East, over 100 missions, and recipient of the Bronze Star. CLIFF believes in Rotary because of its ability to break down barriers to achieve great things.
Sergeant at Arms BOBBY LARSON conducted our raffle and auctioned football tickets donated by LARRY ADAMSON and Past President JON WANG. (BOBBY also guaranteed a win this Saturday…) We had the following announcements:
- President CHUCK brought us another Old Time Member Photo of the ever-funny STU GOLDMAN who never looked better.
- President CHUCK noted that the Rotary Office will be closed on 9/14 and limited hours week of 9/17.
- President CHUCK invited everyone, especially new members to the District Conference.
- President CHUCK reviewed the current Car Show Ticket Sales Results and invited everyone to participate in preparing two parts of the Gregory School Property for our show.
- Past President JON WANG reminded everyone to wear Rotary Club of Tucson Community Service Polo Shirts, available at the rear of the room for purchase.
- And DARRELL STEWART offered a Happy Jackson to celebrate the opening of his wife’s Botanica facials and body therapy studios.
President CHUCK invited Assistant District Governor Ann Huber to introduce our speaker Kirk Reed - District Governor of District 5500. DG Kirk is a 3rd Generation Rotarian of 27 years (his family represents 96 years of Rotary membership!) DG Kirk is a retired pastor who spoke about who inspired us (from the Latin root that means to breathe or infuse spirit) – his examples include a trip to see his heroes the Chicago Cubs and the president of a Sierra Vista Rotary Club who grew up without water. DG Kirk’s motto is: “Dream Big, Have Fun, Get Stuff Done!!” He suggests we join Rotary International President Rassin in bringing water to every household in Haiti, emulate his 97-year-old mother who enjoys every Rotary meeting she attends, and participate in the Rotary Peace Academy.DG Kirk signed a book for our lending library: “A Hippy-Hoppy Toad”.
President CHUCK closed with a quote from Ghandi: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
