It's a new Rotary Year, with Gordon McInally from Scotland as our Rotary International President, his new theme of "Create Hope in the World," and a new District Governor — Kevin Pitts, from the Rotary Club of Prescott.

 

Larry Horton, 2022-23 Governor, presented to Kevin Pitts, our 2023-24 Governor, at his installation in  Phoenix on Saturday night the new district symbol, which will now be passed from DG to DG, with each being its caretaker during his/her year as the district's leader.  This symbol, along with the format and content of this year's DG Installation, featured and emphasized the importance of our District 5495's international partnerships, relationships and projects. 

 

Multiple representatives from Kenya and Central Mexico had travelled to Phoenix to participate in Kevin's installation as Governor; and in turn, he installed two of them as incoming Presidents of their clubs in Kenya and Mexico.  Numerous projects which our district has co-sponsored with our partners in these countries were featured, along with the unique work our Interact Ambassadors have been doing in these countries each summer, while being hosted by these trusted partners. 

 

It was noted that Prescott will be hosting the Mexico-USA Friendship Conference & Global Grants Exchange on October 26-30, and that we will be having a Bi-District Conference this year with a district in Mexico.  The Bi-District Conference will be held in Puerto Vallarta.  A.J. & Vickie Sheridan, along with Art & Sharon Harrington, represented Prescott Sunup Rotary at this event, where two of our club's international projects were featured.

 

 

Damon Olsen, CEO of the Prescott YMCA, shared with us a number of impressive facts about the YMCA program, including their being the largest child care provider in the world, in this country, in this state and in our own community — enabling many parents to work and earn a living for their families, who otherwise would not be able to do that.  A majority of his message focused on the plans for building a new $42 million YMCA in Prescott Valley.  The new facility, will offer child care and exercise programs, and will include an olympic size swimming pool, with a focus on special needs people.  Also in the planning are some summer camps and some summer education-loss-prevention, classes as part of their child care program.  The land has been donated for the new PV YMCA, state and city grants are in the works, and about $3 million cash has been raised so far — with another $9 million still to be raised.

 

Greg Raskin, former owner of Raskin's Jewelers, and long-time member of our club, was introduced and recognized as our club's newest Honorary Member.  Greg had left the club after he decided to retire and sell the business.  He was warmly welcomed back in this new membership status.

 

Assistant Governor Joe Sweeney announced that his Prescott Rotary Club has raffle tickets available, for a chance to win one of several Ruger rifles.

 

Tim Wiederaenders, as the new Program Committee Chair, announced his committee will be meeting at 7:00 a.m. at Waffles & More, on Tuesday, July 11.

 

John Scholl, recently-returned from his daughter's destination wedding in Hawaii, asked the members to please let him know any dates during this summer when they will NOT be able to attend a club meeting, so he can avoid scheduling them for club meeting responsibilities on those dates.

 

International Service:  According to Rotary's Standard Club Constitution, International Service, the fourth Avenue of Service, comprises those activities that members do to advance international understanding, goodwill, and positive peace by fostering acquaintance with people of other countries, their cultures, customs, accomplishments, aspirations, and problems, through reading and correspondence and through cooperation in all club activities and projects designed to help people in other lands. 

 

Our Sunup Rotary club has sponsored several major humanitarian service projects in Kenya and in Mexico, and has helped to fund other projects in these and other countries.  Our Yarnell Water Project, which was the key to restoring water service for the residents of Yarnell, after their entire water system was destroyed by the devastating fire 10 years ago, was possible only with the help of many of our international partners.  In the past several years, the International Service focus of our club has involved financially assisting with several projects in Mexico and Kenya, which had been presented at the Mexico-USA Friendship Conference & Global Grants  Exchange, and sponsoring and supporting our local Prescott High School Interact members in their Interact Ambassadors Service in Kenya and in central Mexico.

 

 

Update on Jerry Fohrman:  Janet says, "Jerry is doing better and making small improvements every day. Considering where he started on this journey, it is remarkable. I admire his strength and courage every day. He still cannot tolerate the blood thinners so the team of doctors are taking him off the blood thinners for now, will get him through physical therapy, back home, and then work on the a-fib. We are thankful and blessed for your continued prayers and holding us in you love."

 

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Some days I amaze myself. Other days I put my keys in the fridge.
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What did the left eye whisper say to the right eye? "Between you and me, something smells!"

 

 

Ambassadors to Mexico team with ALEM — the incredible mobile wheelchair mechanics who repair and rebuild wheelchairs for 3,000 disabled persons each year.

Prescott High Interact Ambassadors Ciara and Violet working with ALEM to rebuild a wheelchair.

Our Interact Ambassadors to Mexico Team safely returned to Sky Harbor Thursday night from their learning and commendable service in central Mexico.

A.J. Sheridan took this photo early Sunday morning, as we sent our Ambassadors to Kenya team off on their Rotary humanitarian service mission in that country.  Our two Prescott High members of the team, Malia and Jenna, are in the front of the group.  This team will be returning on July 17.