We we were privileged to have with us last Wednesday John Kava, the District Ranger for the West Zone of the Prescott National Forest. After serving 20 years in the U.S. Air Force, John earned his MS in Natural Resources Management from North Dakota State University. Prior to the position he holds now, he worked as Range Staff for the Chino Valley and Bradshaw Ranger Districts, administering permits and analyzing grazing practices. From his stories he shared with us, it is obvious that John brings a passion for science, land stewardship and community engagement to his work. Our Prescott National Forest is 1.25 milllion acres in size, and it contains over 950 miles of trails, four lakes and a Wild & Scenic River, along with camping and picnic facilities,
John told us that the lack of rainfall, snow and a hard freeze this year is making the trees in our forest susceptible to a scale type disease, as well as bark beetles. These conditions have also elevated the risk of wildfires, and fire restrictions are currently in effect in Prescott National Forest, limiting campfires, smoking, and certain equipment use due to the current high fire risk.
CLUB SERVICE
It was another fun time at our last meeting, when we had the opportunity to help Sarah Van Bourgondien celebrate her birthday. Happy Birthday, Sarah! We love and appreciate you!
Come help us celebrate this Saturday the chartering of our Sunup Rotary Club's PV Satellite Club as its own independent Rotary Club. This was our intent from the beginning, and it has happened in record time. Sunup Rotary can be very proud of this enormous accomplishmemt!
COMMUNTY SERVICE
Surviving members of this year's All-Vets Memorial Cleanup Crew, who made it to our club meeting last week.
YOUTH SERVICE
Past Pres. Clent Walker and Co-Pres. Laura Vanderberg had the pleasure of presenting last week a $500 Sunup Rotary Scholarship to Margaret Maneely, a graduating Senior at Prescott High School.
Also at Prescott High, Ava Logan hit the jackpot by landing two Rotary scholarships: Robert Wertz, from Prescott-Frontier Rotary, presented to her the $1,000 Nancy Van Pelt Peace Essay Scholarship, and our Co-Pres, Laura Vanderberg presented to her the $3,000 Gus Bergman Family Medical Arts Scholarship.
CONGRATULATIONS to boih Margaret and Ava!!
INTERNATIONAL SERVICE
For what is Prescott-Sunup Rotary best known?
Yes, we do a lot of Community Service — but so do all of the other service clubs in town. What do Rotarians in Arizona and the Western US, Canada and Mexico think of when they hear our club's name? We are best known for our leadership in YOUTH SERVICE and INTERNATIONAL SERVICE.
At the 2026 US/Mexico Global Grant Exchange Conference, RC Prescott Sunup received two high-level international commendations from the District Governor of District 4185 - Mexico for our international partnership collaboration on the success of two global grant projects in Mexico: first, the implementation of rainwater harvesting systems providing sustainable potable water to a local community and their elementary school, and second, a project focused the education and leadership development for young girls.
*There were only three such commendations presented at the conference, Prescott-Sunup Rotary Club was the recipient of two, providing a powerful testament to Prescott Sunup’s values and spirit of International Service.
*There were only three such commendations presented at the conference, Prescott-Sunup Rotary Club was the recipient of two, providing a powerful testament to Prescott Sunup’s values and spirit of International Service.
Todd Clancy has been doing an exceptional job of serving as our club's International Service Director. He just recently made this announcement: "I am very honored to announce that John Stewart will be taking over as International Service Director at the beginning of the next Rotary year in July. We are very fortunate that John has accepted the mantle of this responsibility and look forward to John leveraging his vast experience and diverse background with Sunup to make thoughtful decisions that will contribute to the growth and strength of our International Committee and our club." So what is happening with Todd?
It has just been announced by our district's Rotary Foundation Chair that our Todd Clancy will be serving as our Rotary District 5495's Global Grants Chair, beginning July 1.
Congratulations, Todd!! Our club has never in the past had a member who has served in this very important district leadership position. It is further testimony to the fact that Sunup Rotary has become a widely-recognized leader in International Service.
Todd is pictured with our Mexican Rotarian partners with the Water Harvesting Project.
Todd with our Mexican Rotarian partners with the Girls' Leadership Education Project
DISTRICT NEWS
A hacker called me and said he had all my passwords.
I got a pen and paper and said, “Thank God for that! What are they?”
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That’s the last time I order grain for my chickens from Amazon!
As soon as I got it, they sent me an email asking for my feedback.
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Q – What do you get if you cross an angry sheep and an angry cow?
A – Two animals in a very Baaaaaad Mooooood!!
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The burglar, who was invading her home, froze in his tracks when the female homeowner loudly shouted, “STOP!! ACTS 2:38!” He was still frozen in that position when the police arrived.
As the officer was cuffing him, he asked the burglar, “What made you stop and freeze when this woman shouted out that Bible verse?”
“Bible verse?” he asked. “I thought she said she had an axe and two .38s.”
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Someone asked me about my background and I gave a detailed reply, telling him about my education, career, relatives, hopes and dreams.
Turns out he just wanted to know what was behind me on our Zoom call.
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A husband and wife had been arguing all day.
They pass a herd of ‘jackasses’. The wife says "relatives of yours?"
Husband says, "Yep, in-laws."
They pass a herd of ‘jackasses’. The wife says "relatives of yours?"
Husband says, "Yep, in-laws."
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I found $20 in a parking lot, and I thought to myself, “What would Jesus do?”
So I turned it into wine.
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I’ve been in bed now for 20 minutes, and I’ve just remembered,
I only came upstairs for a pen.
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EDITORIAL NOTE: Apologies for something going wrong with the formatting of this issue in the ClubRunner software. We hope to have it fixed before the next issue.