-We had many wonderful guests for Colonel Roosevelt’s presentation!
-New member Col. Jon Berry was inducted. He currently teaches as ROTC commander at ERAU, and is planning on retiring in July. He chose Rotary because he is a believer in “service before self”. Welcome, Col. Berry!
-The Russian dance troupe will perform at Camp Pine Rock on 1/31. Tickets are $10. (928)308-6780. Proceeds benefit Rotary children’s fund.
Sgt. at arms: Jane Anne and Gus kept it short for our speaker. The Wheel spoke, and all paid $4 in lieu of happy bucks.
Speaker from 1/15: Joe Wiegand/Teddy Roosevelt
With his booming voice and sometimes self-depricating humor we were entertained and educate about Teddy Roosevelt by historian Joe Wiegand!
Joe Wiegand is considered the world's premiere Theodore Roosevelt reprisor. As an actor and historian, Joe's portrayals of Theodore Roosevelt in live performances and in television and film have people wondering if TR has come back to life.
Joe Wiegand is a political science graduate of The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. Twice elected to head Sewanee’s student government, Joe had earlier been elected President of the American Legion Boys Nation program. Joe served as a graduate assistant at the Center for Governmental Studies at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois, before launching his own business as a political campaign consultant and public opinion survey expert. Joe has been named a Wilkins Scholar, a Harry S. Truman Scholar, and a Thomas J. Watson Fellow. While at the pinnacle of a twenty-five year career in public policy and political campaigns, soon to run gubernatorial and presidential campaigns in Illinois, Joe began performing as Theodore Roosevelt in 2004. In 2008, Joe, his wife, Jenny, daughter, Sam, and golden retriever, Faith, traveled across America in celebration of Theodore Roosevelt's 150th birthday and the final centennial year of TR's historic presidency. Performances at the White House and TR's New York City birthplace highlighted the fifty state adventure. Joe has been featured as President Roosevelt in “The Men Who Built America” on the History Channel, served as the model for the newest TR sculpture at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, and has a feature role in “National Parks Adventure” a film about our national parks still showing in IMAX theaters throughout the country. Today, the Wiegands live nearby Colorado Springs, Colorado. Joe is a twenty-seven year member of Rotary International and a member of the National Association for Interpretation. Joe’s performance tour is highlighted in summer by a daily matinee in Medora, North Dakota, host city of the Medora Musical and gateway to Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Wiegand’s national TR Tour is sponsored, in part, by the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation. Visit www.medora.com
Well if you missed last weeks meeting, you missed a trip back in time! Joe Wiegand as Teddy Roosevelt was spectacular! Everyone who attended left inspired. Saw some familiar faces that had not been seen at a Rotary meeting in quite awhile. Looking forward to seeing everyone at next weeks meeting, if I survive RYLA.
Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn. Benjamin Franklin
Help Spread Sunshine: When you know of a member's loss or hospitalization, please alert Par Wood at (928) 777-0500, ext. 207 of the Sunup Sunshine Committee, or email her at parnisi@msn.com.