Duck Race Fundraiser Approved; Community Service Projects Presented
 

Jane Anne Shimizu recommended, on behalf of the Fundraising Committee, that our club sponsor a Duck Race at Watson Lake on May 4, 2024, to serve as our primary fundraiser for next year's service projects, when Christy Manning will be Club President.  The popularity and effectiveness of Rotary Duck Races has spread worldwide.  When A.J. and Vicky Sheridan were visiting Scotland a couple of weeks ago, they encountered, and participated in a Rotary Duck Race, sponsored by one of the clubs there (although A.J. notes that their ducks didn't happen to win).  Interested participants purchase in advance numbered rented ducks for $5 per duck, or 5 ducks for $20, with the possibility of winning prizes, if their ducks are winners in the race.  The ducks are an easy-sell, and these fundraisers always prove to be great fun, as well as effective generators of large amounts of Rotary service dollars, if they are well-organized and promoted.  They can also become an annual tradition for a club.  The recommendation was unanimously approved by all club members attending the meeting.

 

President Laura's Let's Make A Project program consisted of three presentations by club members of their proposals for a new Community Service Project.  Each person present was given a score sheet to rate the projects on (1) How well does it address a community need; (2) How likely are you, as a member, to participate in it; and (3) How likely is it to be successful?

 

Richard Hernandez, citing a recent survey identifying a serious food insecurity situation among a surprising number of our Yavapai College students, proposed that our club sponsor a monthly food drive at one of the supermarkets to collect food to help stock the college's food bank, which is currently unable to keep up with the demand.  Many responders to the survey said they could not afford to eat a balanced diet, and were having to skip meals 3-4 times a week — and sometimes for days.  He suggested this might become a 3-club project.

 

Lisa Dougherty, also noting a large food insecurity situation within our area population, said many of these families depending our our local food banks are unable to afford to have birthday parties for their children.  She proposed that we provide 100 "Birthday-in-a-Pan" kits, at a cost of $18 each, to our local food bank, which families could request when they have a child's birthday approaching.  The demonstration kit she brought to the meeting included cake mix, frosting, candles, balloons, and a birthday card, all in an aluminum baking pan.  She suggested that, moving forward, this might become a 3-club project. 

 

Cassidy Stauffer, who had to be represented by Pres. Laura, due to her having a flat tire on the way to the meeting, noted that the South Tonto Park, located at 4700 N. Tonto Way, in Prescott Valley (where a number of our club members live) is a small neighborhood park, which was created and donated some years ago to the city by the Prescott Valley Rotary Club, which no longer exists.  The park is branded with a bronze plaque, identifying it as a Rotary Park, and stating when it was created by that Rotary club.  Since the park no longer has a Rotary sponsor, Cassidy proposed that our club adopt this Rotary Park, taking over its sponsorship, and providing monthly clean-up, painting and repairs as needed.  A secondary goal would be to promote Rotary to the community with something like a Rotary BBQ Day in the Park.

 

 

Rotary International Presidents serve for one year.  Last year our first woman President was a public relations specialist from Canada.  This year our President, R. Gordon R. McInally, is a dental surgeon from Scotland.  Each President selects a theme, and creates a theme logo, for his/her year of international leadership.  Gordon's theme is "Create Hope in the World."  He is prioritizing projects this year that aim to support mental health.  In addition, he has this to say:

 

"This is a critical year for polio eradication efforts as Rotary and our Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) partners are aggressively working to interrupt transmission of the poliovirus in the remaining endemic countries and other areas.  Polio eradication is Rotary's top humanitarian priority until we deliver on our promise to protect children everywhere from polio.  We had the audacity to take on this mission, and we have the tenacity to finish the job."

 

In his free time, Gordon enjoys rugby, good food and wine, and stick dressing, the traditional Scottish craft of making walking sticks.

 

 

 

 

Matt Greenlee, our Roadside Cleanup Project Chair, has announced that our next semi-annual Roadside Cleanup of our section of Highway 89, south of Prescott, will be on Saturday morning, October 14.  We will be meeting, as usual, at 8:00 a.m. in the parking lot of the Safeway on White Spar Road.  Plan to bring a hat and gloves, along with your coffee.  Matt says donuts will be provided.

 

 

 

Members of our Prescott High Interact Club will be meeting this Tuesday, Sept. 18, at 3:00 p.m. at Ron Williams' Ponderosa Mini-Storage, 555 N. 6th Street in Prescott, to do an inspection of the crutches & walkers which are currently being temporarily stored there, before they are shipped to Kenya, to determine how many of them need repair and renovation.  Once they have a list of the replacement parts which will be needed, they will be ordered in time to be here for our scheduled Crutches Rehabilitation Joint Project, involving members of our Rotary club and members of our PHS Interact Club, on Saturday, October 21, at 9:00 a.m. (also at Ponderosa Mini-Storage).  Please mark that Oct. 21st date on your calendar, and plan to join us. 

 

Plan to shop Ace Hardware, 7211 E. First Street, in Prescott Valley, during October for any of your home repair and hardware needs, since that business will hosting a Register Roundup in support of our Interact Crutches 4 Africa and Ambassadors program  For the entire month of October, customers will be asked to "round up" their purchase, with the proceeds donated to our Interact District 5495 Ambassadors Program.  Our thanks to the Long family, owners of Ace Hardware, for their second year of support for this program which transforms lives and benefits so many! 

 

 

 

Todd Clancy, who is representing our club in the planning and local arrangements for our Prescott Rotary clubs' hosting this year of the Mexico-U.S. Friendship Conference and Global Grants Exchange, is seeking club members who are willing to open their homes to provide lodging for some of our Rotarian partners from Mexico who will be participating in this annual event.  Home hospitality is needed for Thursday - Sunday nights, Oct. 26-29.  This is a golden opportunity to get acquainted, and establish friendships, with Rotarians from another country.  Contact Todd at (480) 285-7719, or taclancy2000@yahoo.com for more details, and to volunteer your hospitality.