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Christy Shares Her Sunup Rotary Vision
 
 
President Christy Manning is optimistic about the future of Sunup Rotary, and she is excited about the year ahead.  She believes in "The Magic oF Rotary" — this year's theme chosen by RI President Stephanie Urchick.  She emphasized that Sunup Rotary is not her club — it is OUR club.   This is not her year — it is OUR year — and therein lies the Magic of Rotary.  The Magic happens when everyone in our club is parrticipating and working together to meet needs here in our community, as well as in other parts of the world, through our international service projects, which hav been a part of our club's proud tradition of being a leader in sponsoring Rotary Foundation Global Grant Projects.  She also emphasized that she will be working closely with Pres.-Elect Jane Anne Shimizu, and the President Nominee, when that person has been chosen, to assure that there will be a continuity of purpose and programs each year in the future..
 
Christy confirmed that the Sunup Duck Derby will continue to be our club's primary fundraiser, and she was excited to announce that Tiffany and Emmet Jones have volunteered to Chair the event this year.  She said there may additional fundraisers during the year, but she needs the commitment and help of every club member this year with this main fundraiser, so the essential work does not fall on just a few.  With the help of all, she is confident that the success and the income from the Duck Derby will continue to increase each year, as the word spreads about this unique Sunup Rotary event, and more sponsors are brought onboard.  Christy was also excited to announce that Joe Brown has vounteered to host the 2025 Duck Derby at Touchmark at the Ranch.   
 
After sharing her vision, Christy called on her officers and directors to share their vison and plans for each of their areas of club administration.  Included was a personal video message provided by Marsha Teller, our Community Service Chair, since she and Harlan are in Chicago, and could not be with us in-person.
 
Christy also presented a Community Service Award to Matt Greenlee for the exceptional community service which he and his company, Greenlee Surfaces, have provided.
 
RI President Stephanie A. Urchick promotes peace
 
Stephanie A. Urchick, 2024-25 Rotary International president, is asking district and club leaders to focus on peace this year and build on Rotary’s long history of peacebuilding. Connect with others who are committed to this cause at the 2025 Rotary Presidential Peace Conference, Healing in a Divided World. Urchick will lead this special one-time event in Istanbul, Türkiye, 20-22 February. Topics will include peace in a polarized world; making peace last; technology, media, and peacebuilding; and environmental issues in peacebuilding. The conference will also recognize the launch of our newest Rotary Peace Center, in partnership with Bahçeşehir University in Istanbul.
 
 
 
CLUB SERVICE
 
Lisa Doherty pins our newest member, Jennifer Faa, as Club Membership Chair Sarah Van Bourgondien happily watches.
 
We welcome Jennifer Faa to Sunup Rotary.  She is the Executive Director of Suzes Prescott Center for the Arts.  Jenn is sponsored by Lisa Doherty.
 
 
YOUTH SERVICE
 
2024 IDC Retreat is Huge Success
 
Rotary District Governor Michelle Holcomb presented this year's Rotary Theme Banner to Interact District Governor Anise Carroll Covarubbias, before she addressed, on Friday evening, the 27-members of this year's Interact District Council.  Each year the selected Council members participate in a mandatory intensive 3-day training and planning retreat, held at Camp Wamatochick, just south of Prescott on Senator Highway.
 
The Governor Serves
With her chosen 2024 Interact District Theme being "The Power of Service," DG Anise, on the camp's volleyball court, prepares to deliver a power serve during a game between competitive teams on Saturday.
 
 
 
A tour guide was showing a tourist around Washington, D. C. The guide pointed out the place where George Washington supposedly threw a dollar across the Potomac River.

"That's impossible," said the tourist. "No one could throw a coin that far!"

"You have to remember," answered the guide. "A dollar went a lot farther in those days."
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The other day I yelled into a colander and I strained my voice.
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The reason some people want cremation is it’s their last chance to have a smoking hot body.
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I used to run a dating agency for chickens.
 
But I was struggling to make hens meet.
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Everyone in the wedding ceremony was watching the radiant bride as her father escorted her down the aisle to give her away to the groom. They reached the altar and the waiting groom; the bride kissed her father and placed something in his hand.

Everyone in the room was wondering what it was that she handed to her father.  He felt the suspense in the air and all eyes were on him to divulge the secret and say something. Therefore, he announced, "Ladies and Gentlemen today is the luckiest day of my life."

Then he raised his hand with what his daughter had given him and continued, "My daughter finally, finally returned my credit card to me."

The whole audience, including the minister, started laughing.

For some strange reason, the poor groom did not... 
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Announcements
Meeting Wednesday @ 6:30 A.M.
The Granite Mountain Room at Touchmark
 
SPEAKER: Tom Benson & Clarke Tinney
 
SUBJECT: PHS Override
The Prez Says
Russ Davis, President
 

Nelson Mandela: “Children are our greatest treasure. They are our future”.

 

Our Club’s Brand…really our Strategic Focus Areas are supporting children and veterans.  We have and will be making great strides in both areas last week and this week

 

Special thanks to the 12 Sunupians able to help set up the Healing Fields this past Thursday.  Was a great turnout and we were able to identify a need for some of our 3X5 flags in storage.  Our club will be working to partner with the Healing Fields organizers in the coming months to donate several of our flags, they are currently short 26 flags for next year’s event—we can fix that!

 

This week’s meeting will focus on our club’s impact on the children within our community.  Our guest speaker will be presenting information on two possible bond issuances up for consideration in November. Those bonds are centered on improving the Prescott School District’s infrastructure, increasing the number of educators in Prescott and better compensating those on the front lines, shaping our nation’s future. 

 

Additionally, our club and foundation will be presenting a check for $3,000 to Mingus Springs Charter School to help them fight food insecurity. These funds will directly impact  1/3 of their students and their families.  Half of these funds were secured via a nomination by our board, later approved by the club, at large, back in April.  The other half were awarded to the club in the form of a District Grant. 

 

HOT OFF THE PRESS—our Club Service Director, Sarah Van Bourgondien will be hosting a Sunup Rotary Halloween Party on 31 October!  Be thinking about your costume now, there will be prizes for the best costume and a fine for those that arrive as a “Rotarian😊.”

See you Wednesday!

 

 Warm Regards,

 

Russ

 

Russell Davis, Colonel (ret), USAF

President

Sunup Rotary

928-495-9905

Speakers
Sep 23, 2026
Understanding Our Club's Global Grant Projects
Sep 30, 2026
It's Sunup Time!
View entire list
Meeting Assignments
Sept. 23
 
Setup/Takedown
Clancy, Todd
 
registration
Jones, Tiffany
 
greeter
Teller, Harlan
 
Prayer
Van Bourgondien, Sarah
 
Song
Savage, Danalyn
 
Thought for the Day
Jones, Emmett
 
SERGEANT AT ARMS
Hammond, Glen
 
Seot 30
 
Setup/Takedown
Schiller, Don
 
registration
Wood, Par
 
Greeter
Jones, Tiffany
 
Prayer
Shimizu, Jane Anne
 
Song
Van Bourgondien, Sarah
 
Thought for the Day
Brown, Joe
 
SERGEANT AT ARMS
Harrington, Art
 
Oct. 7
 
Setup/Takedown
Keys, Bob
 
registration
Mickel, Vicki
 
Greeter
Clancy, Todd
 
Prayer
Hammond, Glen
 
Song
Vanderberg, Laura
 
Thought for the Day
Cusack, Joe
 
SERGEANT AT ARMS
Wood, Par
 
Oct 14
 
Setup/Takedown
Sheridan, A.J.
 
registration
Garner, Judy
 
Greeter
Keys, Bob
 
Prayer
Smith, Robert
 
Song
Shimizu, Jane Anne
 
Thought for the Day
Clancy, Todd
 
Thought for the Day
Schiller, Don
 
Upcoming Events
Program Committee Meeting
Oct 13, 2026 7:00 AM
2nd Annual Chili Cookoff
Oct 24, 2026
5:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Program Committee Meeting
Nov 10, 2026 7:00 AM
Veteran's Day Parade
Nov 11, 2026
View entire list
Executives & Directors
President
 
President Elect
 
Vice President (RI)
 
President Nominee
 
Immediate Past President
 
Secretary
 
Treasurer
 
Membership
 
Public Image
 
Rotary Foundation (RI)
 
International Service
 
Community Service
 
Club Service Chair
 
Snack Shack
 
Club Service Projects Chair (RI)
 
Club Young Leaders Contact
 
Club Learning Facilitator (RI)
 
 Help Spread Sunshine:  If you currently know any Rotary members who are going through challenging times or if you'd like to volunteer to make calls and send cards to members and their families during sickness, hospitalization or loss, contact Laura Vanderberg <laura@newtonservicesconsulting.com>