As the Rotary 2019-2020 year winds down, we have a number of achievements that we accomplished this year and should be proud of Scottsdale Sunrise Rotary.
Added eight new members as of June 15, 2020: Hector Dessis, Austin Sigrist, Dale Shafer, Danielle Vogle-Bos, Lauren Wheeler, Rich Leibundgut, Kathleen Elmer, and Judith Wilson. We also added Greg Podd as an Honorary member. Unfortunately we lost four members: Riche Linde, Keith Morris, Zack Smith, and Danielle Vogle-Bos.
Achieved our EREY (Every Rotarian Every Year) goal of $100 donation per member to Rotary International.
Contributed $1,000 to Polio Plus Fund.
Provided $11,000 to Vista del Camino for the back to school program, this included the 50% match from BHHS Legacy Foundation. We also volunteered at this event and experienced the joy of the kids receiving back to school items.
Provided a $400 scholarship to Amigos de Guatemala for Sandra Rodriquez who we have sponsored for the last few years.
Completed our International Project in Rwanda.
Joined forces with Club Rotario Mar de Penasco to provide playground equipment in Rocky Point, Mexico.
Continue to sponsor two Interact Clubs, Saguaro and Desert Mountain.
Working weekly at Vista del Camino to distribute bread to those in need, thanks to everyone who give up their Tuesday morning for this great event. Hopefully we’ll be back at it after Covid-19.
Big thank you to all club members to contribute to TRVFA (The Rotary Vocational Fund of Arizona) the club total was $11,455, #1 contributing club in District 5495. What a great way to give people a hand up in furthering their education.
Can’t forget our third grade Dictionary Project distributing dictionaries to five Scottsdale Elementary Schools at a cost of $1,728. Five hundred eighty dictionaries were distributed to seven schools Pima, Tavan, Pueblo, Salt River, Kiva, Yavapai, and Hohokam.
Contributed over $1,000 to the Alli Ortega Empty Bowls event.
With the help of a District Grant, we built 30 bicycles and provided helmets for the Vista del Camino Holiday Program. This was a $3,000 which included the $1,500 coming from the District.
Whiffle Ball Tournament with Miracle League provide a great social event for club members. Thanks to our Vision Care Foundation for paying our $800 entry fee.
We supported Arizona Industry for the Blind with $1,400 from the Visions Care Foundation for a birdie and driving range sponsor. Thanks to Ed Gonzales for putting together our foursome.
October brought us to our annual social event at McCormick Ranch Golf Club. We spent the evening socializing and building better friendships.
October was also the month we had our Fire Side Chat and introduced new members to the history of Rotary and our Club.
Dave Lewis and Neil Sutton went to Rocky Point Mexico on November 3 for the dedication of the playground equipment that was donated. We purchased an additional $250 in items for the special needs school.
November was the month for the Mexican-USA Conference in which both countries were able to pitch projects. We agreed to support the following projects
Chapala Women Sanitation $500, these women are making washable reusable pads you never throw away. Looking to do commercially. Project in the process of being funded.
Wheelchairs, $500, project where kids in wheel chairs repair chairs for others and also buy chairs. We paid $525 to this project.
Equipment for Physical Rehab, $250, getting equipment for a rehab center.
Education in Peace $250
Positive Peace Cuernavaca $250, reduce conflict in Mexico with training of younger generation.
December was our Holiday Party at Craig and Julianne Rethwill’s home, thanks for hosting!
We elected our Officers for 2020-21.
President – Clark Gilhart
President Elect – Craig Rethwill
Immediate Past President – Keith Walter
Treasurer – Madge Adams
Secretary – Evie Haberer
Administration – Lisa Winslow
Community Services – Co-Chairs, Duncan Jensen and Dale Shafer
Youth Services – Co-Chairs, Lauren Wheeler and Hector Dessis
Membership – Co-Chairs, Alli Roth and Steve Classen
Vocational – Austin Sigrist
International – Co-Chairs, Dave Lewis and Kathy Lane
Foundation – Bill Adams
President Club Foundation – Keith Walter
Sargent at Arms – John Burgraff
Project proposed to supply Hospital Equipment in Cuautla, Mexico (outside Mexico City) in connection with Project C.U.R.E. The Club Foundation has pledged $5,000 to this project, $3,000 which was spent so Project C.U.R.E can do a visit to determine what equipment is needed. Project is on hold due to the Corona-19 virus.
January brought on a new fund raising project for us in connection with Raising Special Kids. We hosted a breakfast, speaker, and auction. After expenses, our share of the profits was $ 8,799.65 which will be used for Special Day for Special Kids.
Clark Gilhart attended PETS training in February. Grants Management training was attended by Dave Lewis, Duncan Jensen, Dale Shafer, and Craig Rethwill.
First time in 34 years…..Special Day for Special Kids was cancelled due to a down pour of rain. What a disappointment. We returned what items we could, put some in storage, and donated anything could, and lost some money to vendors while others gave us a credit.
Helping Hands gave us some Radio ads (101.5 KIMLE and 94.5) via a podcast to promote our golf tournament. Unfortunately the tournament was rescheduled to November 2, 2020 due to Cornoa-19.
We had 41 people ready to go to a Spring Training game in March, but it was cancelled due to the Covid-19 virus.
Golf Tournament scheduled for March 23 was rescheduled to November 2, 2020 due to Covid-19.
RYLA and Rotaract/Interact Convention were both cancelled due to Corona-19.
Facing Covid-19 virus in April, not being able to meet face to face, we transformed our meetings to ZOOM. Not as good as meeting at the Club, but we get to catch up and continue to work on programs important to our Club.
In May we had an unofficial Club project at Keller School in Mesa. Terry Kutzbach requested that we assist with support for the kids with supplemental food and members stepped up and volunteered to pack and deliver food and also to provide funding by donating personally to this cause.
Scottsdale Sunrise Rotary matched money left from the Keller School event and sent $2,000 to the Vista del Camino Food Bank to help with the Emergency Food Drive that was held in May 2020 as a result of Covid-19.
June, our Vision Care Foundation agreed to help AZ Industry for the Blind in their Golf Tournament September 2020. The Vision Foundation will give $1,000 as a Birdie Sponsor which includes 4 players, cart fees, lunch, award party, hole sponsorship, recognition in event brochure and a $400 Driving Range Sponsor. Total of $1,400. Keith will open the foursome up to Club members and if we cannot fill it, it will be donated to a military foursome.
We’ve had a very successful 2019-2020 year and have accomplished so many important tasks. We had a number of disappointments due to RAIN and COVID-19. Keith Walter was a great leader and made the year a success even considering all the obstacles.
.png)
