Welcome to District 5495 Club News

Tempe Downtown President Marni Anbar chosen Tempe Volunteer of the Year
 
Congratulations to Marni Anbar, president of the Rotary Club of Tempe Downtown, as the recipient of the Tempe Community Council’s Volunteer of the Year Award for 2021.
 
The award is one of four distinguished awards to be presented at the 38th annual Don Carlos Humanitarian Awards to be held virtually 6:30 p.m. Sept. 29.
 
Admission is free. Click here to register for the online program.
 
Marni will receive The Spirit of Tempe Karma Volunteer Award, recognizing an individual “who has made a significant impact through dedicated volunteer efforts impacting those in Tempe.”
 
Her volunteer work over the past 17 years includes involvement with local schools and serving on a variety of boards, including with the Kyrene Foundation and Tempe YMCA Advisory Board. In addition to Rotary, she has been a member of Kiwanis, PEO, Hadassah and the Tempe Chamber of Commerce.
 
The Tempe Community Council is an organization that works to nurture and steward Tempe’s sense of community. Its mission is “creating a community where children, seniors, families and individuals care for and about one another.”
 
While volunteering with schools in Kyrene, she created and served as the director of an informal STEM program called DISCOVERosity Zone.
 
DISCOVERosity Zone (formerly Discovery Room) is a STEM curiosity space available to all K-5 students during their lunch recess at Kyrene del Cielo and Kyrene de la Colina Elementary Schools as well as Kyrene Traditional Academy.
 
The DZ is dedicated to students' self-directed exploration of Science, Technology Engineering and Math ideas. Students can choose to visit the DZ during their lunch recess to explore various stations that allow for self-directed discovery with biologic, geologic, and archeologic specimens, electronic circuits, mathematical and engineering concepts, magnets, etc.
 
Students can also choose to build with Legos, recyclable materials, and more. Optional small group activities are offered by community volunteers from a variety of businesses and disciplines. The spaces are supervised by parent and community volunteers who assist the students but allow them to focus on what makes them curious and to direct their own discovery.
 
 
The Tempe Community Council is an organization that works to nurture and steward Tempe’s sense of community. Its mission is “creating a community where children, seniors, families and individuals care for and about one another.”
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Rotarians invited to attend virtual meeting to learn about assisting refugees
 
Phoenix 100 invites all Rotarians to join them at their next virtual club meeting Sept. 24 to hear Nicky Walker from the International Rescue Committee discuss assisting refugees looking to enter the United States.
 
The meeting begins at noon via Zoom. If you or anyone you know would like to attend, please contact Valerie Bohonus at Phoenix 100 for the link.
 
Ms. Walker will present “Refugee 101: Welcoming New Neighbors to America.”
 
The International Rescue Committee responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Additionally, our International Outreach Committee (IOC) has selected IRC as a focus this Rotary year.

In 1933, on the behest of Albert Einstein, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) began rescuing people facing persecution and genocide and fleeing war and natural disaster. Now at work in over 40 countries, the IRC has resettled 19,000 refugees and 21,000 asylum seekers in Arizona since 1994. Who are refugees and asylum seekers, and how did they get here? Why should Arizonans welcome these families? And how can our community welcome these new neighbors? www.Rescue.org/Phoenix

Nicky Walker was born in Guatemala and raised in Colombia and Sierra Leone. Nicky's first language is Spanish, and she is proficient in French which she learned as a Rotary Exchange Student in France.
 
Nicky started her professional career as a fundraiser with St. Mary’s Food Bank, the world's first food bank. Seeking more direct program experience she moved on to become a Member Services Executive for the Girl Scouts. Nicky joined the International Rescue Committee in 2006 as Volunteer and Outreach Program Coordinator and became Development Manager in 2011.
 
As the IRC's Development Manager in Arizona, Nicky works with individual donors, foundations and corporations to engage them in the IRC’s work. She also directs local public relations and serves as spokesperson for the agency, along with managing local marketing and special events.
Sun Lakes names Rotarians of the Month
 
Submitted by Dr. Honora Norton, RCSL Public Image Chair
 
The Rotary Club of Sun Lakes is proud to name the duo of Dave Anciaux and Chuck Hawkins as co-Rotarians of the Month for September 2021.
 
Dave joined Sun Lakes Club in January 2018 and Chuck in August 2019.  Dave and Chuck are always ready to greet you with a smile and help whether its Rotary or personal related.  Both are there before club meetings, setting up and then staying after for the tear down and putting away of meeting materials in storage.
 
 They both are active participants on the Membership Committee and each have sponsored new club members.
 
 Dave coordinates and hosts upcoming Open House events in Sun Lakes.  Chuck and Dave along with others sets up and organizes the club’s new-member Fireside Chat gatherings  Both have Splash newspaper routes and pitch in when extra help is needed.
 
RCSL is very fortunate to have both Dave Anciaux and Chuck Hawkins as outstanding, contributing club members.
 
 For more information about Rotary Club of Sun Lakes membership and projects – see www.sunlakesrotary.com.
 
Rotary Club of Prescott celebrates 100th anniversary!
 

The Rotary Club of Prescott is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year and inviting Rotarians to join them as they kick off festivities with two special events Oct. 1-2 in Prescott.

October 1: Community Sing – 5 p.m. on the courthouse steps.

Oct. 1 is the club’s actual charter date, so the club is officially 100 years old on Friday. The club will gather at the courthouse, and because they are a club of song, they’ll host a community sing-along with special guests.

October 2: Centennial Gala Dinner – 5 p.m. at the Hassayampa Inn. Tickets are $100 and can be purchased here: https://www.givsum.com/opportunities/100-years-of-rotary-in-prescott-a0410cc6a

The event begins with happy hour and dance lessons. It’s a 1920s-theme evening, black-tie optional. A special 4-course gala dinner follows, specially designed by the Hassayampa Inn chef. There will be dancing, a silent auction, a historical perspective of Rotary and we are even going to auction off a piece of Prescott history.

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Phoenix 100 fund-raising efforts get messy!
 
Rotary Club of Phoenix 100 has set a goal of raising $50,000 for The Rotary Foundation – which would bring the club’s total TRF giving to more than $2 million.
 
To celebrate the milestone, Phoenix 100 member Jake Adams volunteered to take a pie to the face once the club reached its $50,000 goal.
 
To speed things along, however, Mike Stohler stood up during a recent meeting and volunteered to take a pie in the face NOW -- AT THE MEETING if club members raised $5,000 right there and then.
 
According to club member and PDG Craig Wilson, the challenge announcement and the Pie NOW was prearranged, but club officials didn't know if people would volunteer money during the meeting.
 
Craig said the club had some “ringers” ready to just in case -- but they were not needed! The $6,000 raised came in $1,000 increments from just six people.
 
“The venue was a mess afterwards, so we may re-think the approach,” said Craig.
Rotary Club of Sun Lakes awards TRVFA scholarship
 
By Dr. Honora Norton, RCSL Public Image Chair
 
The Rotary Club of Sun Lakes has partnered  with The Rotary Vocational Fund of Arizona to sponsor a $2,000 vocational scholarship to Omar Federico. Through partnering with TRVFA, RCSL is creating a lasting change by allowing individuals, like Omar, to get a step up and contribute to his/her community.
 
RCSL Rotarians Gary Kay and Jon Lyons interviewed Omar and their findings were: Omar was born in Yuma and moved to Mesa at an early age.  Omar lives with his mother, unfortunately his father passed away two years ago.  Omar is employed at a small company where he is helping the owner on small jobs that involve welding and applicable job setups.  Omar will be starting a one year welding program at East Valley Institute of Technology - EVIT.  
 
Per a statement from RCSL Club President, Jon Lyons: Omar’s current passion is welding and learning the business from his boss.  He is a very dedicated young man who has a great work ethic and wants to ‘earn his way to success.’   The RCSL is honored to sponsor Omar.  He will be invited to join future RCSL meetings - so members can hear how Omar is doing in the EVIT welding program. 
 
TRVFA’s mission is to ensure a revenue stream which will continuously fund vocational education grants requested by struggling Arizona residents who demonstrate the desire and will to enable themselves to thrive.  TRVFA is a non-profit organization under IRS Code 501(c)(3) whose purpose is to assist those people who qualify under Arizona law to obtain financial assistance to further their vocational studies.
 
TRVFA is an organization which meets Arizona’s Credit For Contributions To A Qualifying Charitable Organization requirements (QCO Code is 20698).  Candidates who meet the eligibility requirements are identified and recommended to TRVFA by financial aid counselors in vocational education institutions and/or Rotarians and their clubs. 
 
To learn more about being a TRVFA donor to support vocational scholarships for those in need and/or apply for a scholarship - see www.trvfa.org.  For more information about Rotary Club of Sun Lakes educational programs – see www.sunlakesrotary.com. 
 
Rotary Club of Sedona Village hosts Golf Extravaganza
 
 
The Rotary Club of Sedona Village is having a Golf Extravaganza at Oak Creek Country Club Sunday, September 26, 2021.
 
The event will raise money to support many Village Rotary Club projects including; the Community Garden, Veterans programs, books for preschoolers, Verde Valley Special Olympics, and many other noteworthy projects.
 
The Golf Extravaganza stands out as a unique golf experience and participants are encouraged to sign up just for that, the experience. The event will have “challenges” on every hole and if golfers are really good (lucky) a tricked-out golf cart, donated by Arizona Ranch and Resort Cars, could be won with a hole in one on the designated hole.  Besides being entertaining, the day will include prizes and a “best” golf outfit contest. Participants need to wear the costume during the competition and will be judged during lunch.
 
Cost is a donation of $65 for Oakcreek Country Club (OCC) members, and $125 for non-OCC members.
 
The event will begin with a shotgun start at 8:30am. For the donation cost, each player receives greens fees, golf cart, practice balls, morning snack, golf balls, goody bag, BBQ lunch, drink, and a day of fun that will be the topic of conversation for the following year.
 
Special Olympic athletes will be in attendance assisting Rotarians and golfers during the event and OCC golf pro, Heather Risk, will participate alongside the Special Olympics athlete foursome team.
Players are asked to secure pledges in support of their participation. Sponsorships are available for the event and for each of the holes.
 
Visit sedonavillagerotary.org/page/golf-extravaganza for more information or to register, contribute, and support the community. Donations, pledges, and sponsorships are to be made to the Village Rotary Club Charitable Fund, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
 
Contact: Rob Schaefer thlegalguy@aol.com
Rotary Club of Anthem awards scholarships
 

The Rotary Club of Anthem recently named its annual scholarship in honor of a long-time Rotarian Edward Varney who was a champion and critical member of the scholarship committee for many years.

It is now called the Edward F. Varney Memorial Scholarship fund. Ed passed away June 20 of this year.

 Despite battling the pandemic last year and the beginning of this year, Anthem Rotary had a record-breaking fundraising year thanks to the great community of Anthem and their support of our events.

We normally award five $1,000 scholarships to outstanding high school graduating students of the area for their academic accomplishments. This year we had 18 individuals apply which was by far the most applicants we have ever had.

Our Scholarship Committee, led by Krista Solomon, reviewed all the applications and we could not separate five winners. The Board of Directors agreed with the Scholarship Committee’s recommendation, and we awarded all 18 of the applicants with a $1,000 scholarship.

The club held a reception at Anthem Civic Building for all the winners and their families to celebrate the accomplishment. It was well attended by many, and seven of the recipients were there to recite the essay they wrote and told the club about their future plans in education.

The club has set up a system to be able to donate to the scholarship fund and already has received over $6,000 in donations. An incredible tribute to Ed Varney and his commitment to the Community.