Welcome to District 5495 Club News

Submitted by: Dr. Honora Norton, RCSL Public Image Director
 
The Rotary Club of Sun Lakes was honored to present its 2025 Educator of the Year Awards to Chandler Unified School District (CUSD) teachers and scholarships to CUSD High School Students.
 
At a recent morning RCSL breakfast meeting Peter Meade, RCSL President and Becky Kerr, RCSL Education Committee presented award checks to: Angelica Abbey—6th Grade Teacher at CUSD Frye Elementary—RCSL’s Educator of the Year—$2,000 award; Monica Garcia-Larson—English Language Development Teacher at CUSD Hamilton High School—Runner-up—$500 award; and Kim Meyer—Pre-AP Biology Teacher—CUSD Arizona College Preparatory Middle School—Runner-up—$500 award.  Thank you to Earnhardt Automotive for RCSL‘s Educator of Year sponsorship and TrustBank for RCSL’s runner-up sponsorships.
 
Additionally in May 2025, Leo Schlueter, RCSL Rotarian/CUSD Executive Director of Elementary Education presented scholarship awards to: Courtney Hartle—graduating from CUSD Perry High School—attending Arizona State University—Service Above Self Scholarship of $2000.00; Deborah He—graduating from CUSD Hamilton High School—attending Vanderbilt University—Service Above Self Scholarship of $2000.00; Tessa Chadwick—graduating from Casteel High School—attending University of Utah—Service Above Self Scholarship of $2000.00;  Tecate Phair—Incoming Junior at CUSD Hamilton High School—attending EVIT Cosmetology Program for two  years—Vocational Scholarship of $2000.00. RCSL Scholarship Awards are sponsored by proceeds of RCSL’s Annual Golf Tournament—thank you to all its supporters.
 
For more information about RCSL see www.snlakesrotary.com
 
Submitted by Honora Norton, RCSL Public Image Director
 
The Rotary Club of Sun Lakes has named Leo Schlueter the RCSL April 2025 Rotarian of the Month. March 2025’s ROM Dave Ouradnik presented Leo with the ROM plaque.
 
With this award, RCSL acknowledges Leo’s support of the Club’s education programs, especially teacher of month/year awards, high school scholarships, procuring CUSD leaders as meeting program speakers and more.
 
Leo is often the facilitator of RCSL Fireside chats in which new Rotarians receive information about Rotary International, club programs and ways members can volunteer within the community and beyond. 
Leo has been associated with Chandler Unified School District for over 28 years. For the past three years, as Executive Director, Elementary Schools West Region, Leo has overseen CUSD elementary operations for the second largest school district in Arizona.
 
For more information about RCSL – see  www.sunlakesrotary.com
 
Submitted by Gary Whiting, Past District Governor, and Past RCSL President,
and Dr. Honora Norton RCSL Public Image Director
 
April is a special month for our Rotary Club of Sun Lakes (RCSL). RCSL, chartered on April 22, 1986, celebrates 39 years of service within the Sun Lakes Community.
 
RCSL was conceived in 1985 when Chandler Rotarian Andre Felix put an advertisement on the Sun Lakes Club House Bulletin Board to see if anyone was interested in attending a Rotary meeting at the Palo Verde Country Club. Rotarian, Wayne Johnson, had just moved to Sun Lakes responded. Wayne and seven other Sun Lakes retirees met with Andre and decided there was a need for a Rotary club in this fast-growing Sun Lakes Community.
 
After working with the Arizona Rotary District 5510 and Rotary International, final approval was granted and RCSL was charted as a Tuesday morning club with 15 members. Allan Gustafson was elected the Charter Club President. Over the years RCSL, has become known as the “Education Club” because of its youth projects, teacher recognition, and scholarships provided for K-12 education, vocational education, and higher education.
 
RCSL has participated in several RI “Global Grant” projects through the RI Foundation and Sun Lakes/Chandler community projects. For example, a RCSL Rotarian delivered the Sun Lakes Splash Newspaper to your driveway. If you hear about inside running tap water being furnished to off-the-grid Navajo homes on the Navajo Nation, that was RCSL providing this humanitarian project through an RI Foundation Global Grant. RCSL provides over 4,000 dictionaries each school year to third graders in the Chandler Unified School District.
 
This school year, RCSL provided dictionaries to the Casa Blanca Community School and the St Peter Mission School on the Gila River Indian Community.
 
RCSL grew to 140 members in year 2000 from the start of 15 members and now there are over 85 men and women members. In Rotary year 2001, RI recognized RCSL as one of the most involved Top 50 clubs in the world with the 21st Century Challenge Award at the Rotary International Convention held in San Antonio, Texas. Rotary celebrated its 100th year in 2004-2005. Arizona Rotarians selected RCSL Past Club President Gary Whiting as Arizona Rotary District 5510 “Centennial” Governor overseeing 46 Rotary clubs and 1,648 members in the Northeastern part of Arizona, USA.
 
Sadly, Charter Member, Wayne Johnson recently passed away. He was a Rotarian for 66 years and served as club president, director, and committee chairmanships and was a RI Paul Harris Fellow in support of the RI Foundation.
 
To learn more about RCSL, visit www.sunlakesrotary.com and our Facebook page. Come for a visit and join us as people of action.
 
Kristy Armijo was inducted Wednesday March 5, 2025, as the new Winslow Rotary Club President.  Jessica Atha Cox was on hand for the Swearing in Ceremony.  Jessica has been the President of the Winslow Rotary Club for the last 2 1/2 years. Thank you, Jessica!
 
Michelle Holcomb, Rotary International District Governor 5495, visited the Winslow Rotary Club on Wednesday February 5, 2025.  Michelle's presentation updated the Winslow club on the district goings-on, including activities and fundraisers around the district.  Some of the presentation included Rotary International updates as well as some history of Paul Harris and the Paul Harris fellowship.  
 
Jessica Atha-Cox, Winslow Rotary Club president, on the right, presented Michelle a gift bag of Winslow Standing on the Corner essentials, while on the left is Kristy Armijo, Winslow Rotary Club president-elect.  Kristy Armijo brought the District Governor up to date on Winslow Club St Mary's Food Bank distribution project including its successes and challenges. Michelle had an opportunity to talk one on one with a few members of the Winslow Rotary Club.  
 
Michelle's presentation included ideas on ways Rotary clubs can work together.
The Scottsdale North Rotary Foundation announced it has received Candid's coveted Platinum Seal of Transparency, previously recognized as GuideStar's Platinum Seal of Transparency.
 
Candid is the world's largest source of nonprofit data and this designation demonstrates that the Scottsdale North Rotary Foundation (SNRF) is an organization focused on measuring progress and results in order to provide current and potential funders accurate and detailed information. The designation is only awarded to charities illustrating the highest level of responsible fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency.
 
"It is with great pride that we accept Candid's Platinum Seal " said Scottsdale North Rotary Foundation Chairman Ron Junck. "Our Board of Directors and our members work hard to maintain a transparent and efficient organization while ensuring the highest possible portion of the money we raise is directed to funding vital charitable organizations in North Scottsdale, Carefree and Cave Creek as well as throughout Arizona and around the world."
 
Established 14 years ago to serve the growing community, SNRF has provided more than a quarter million dollars in grants to support worthy causes with six areas of focus: Community Health, Family and Community Support, Youth Education and Development, Cancer Research and Treatment, Food Bank Support, and Global Water, Health and Disaster Recovery.
 
Rotary Club of Scottsdale North President, Tom Lewellen, added, "Candid's Platinum designation is reflective of our success in attaining full financial transparency. This seal is crucial for financially trustworthy and responsible non-profits. This designation enhances our ability to fund new and existing programs and to continue Rotary International’s mission to eradicate polio and promote lasting peace."
 
In today's ever-changing philanthropic environment, donors seek transparency and accountability from the organizations they choose to support. The Candid Seal of Transparency reconfirms that SNRF and the Rotary Club of Scottsdale North are worthy of its donors' confidence and generosity.
 
ABOUT ROTARY INTERNATIONAL and the SCOTTSDALE NORTH ROTARY FOUNDATION
Rotary International is a global network of more than 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves. We provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through our fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.
The Scottsdale North Rotary Foundation, Inc., a 501 (c) (3) organization is the charitable arm of the Rotary Club of Scottsdale North. We are a casual Arizona evening club with a passion for both community service and friendship, exemplified by our motto; “Helping others while celebrating life!”   Our grants and community service projects help those in need in the North Scottsdale, Carefree, and Cave Creek communities, and across the globe.
For more information, visit  https://www.rotaryscottsdalenorth.org/
 
Submitted by: Dr. Honora Norton
 
Rotary Club of Sun Lakes (RCSL) just completed its Dolly Parton Imagination Library (DPIL) Fundraiser with a reverse raffle, in which 906 tickets were sold for a total of $18,120.
 
The raffle winner won $9,060. The winning ticket was sold by an RCSL member. The other half will help RCSL register more kids in the program. Co-chairs of the program, Val and Bill Crump extend a heartfelt thank you to all who supported this fundraiser. 
 
DPIL is a book-gifting program. RCSL pays for the costs involved in gifting eligible children an age-appropriate book a month sent directly to the child from the Dollywood Foundation. The cost to RCSL is approx. $2.50 per book. The benefits to this early-childhood educational opportunity to children are immeasurable. RCSL has enrolled children ages 0 to 5 and who live in the cities of Guadalupe and Chandler.
 
Currently 1,231 kids are registered in RCSL’s DPIL program and six hundred kids have graduated out of the program. Since April 2019, RCSL has provided over 37,000 books to 2,102 kids. 
 
For information, contact Val Crump at mcrump9544@hotmail.com. To donate online, visit this link: tinyurl.com/2c9snm8n.
We are excited to announce the re-establishment of the Rotary Club of Prescott Valley, a beacon for service, leadership, and community collaboration. With the support of civic leaders, Rotary visionaries, local business professionals, and dedicated citizens, we are embarking on a mission to uplift Prescott Valley and make a lasting difference.
 
Our Mission
The Rotary Club of Prescott Valley is committed to improving lives through impactful projects and fostering connections among service-minded individuals. Together, we can build a stronger, more vibrant community.
 
How We’re Making a Difference
Rotary members are united by a passion for community service and creating solutions to local challenges. Some of our upcoming initiatives include:
  • Supporting Food Banks: Helping provide essential supplies to families in need.
  • Organizing Blood Drives: Partnering with the American Red Cross to save lives.
  • Empowering Schools: Supporting students and educators through meaningful programs.
  • Honoring Seniors, Veterans, and First Responders: Recognizing and supporting those who serve and shape our community.
 
Why Join Us?
Rotary is a global network of 1.4 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who believe in taking action. As a member of the Rotary Club of Prescott Valley, you will:
  • Make a tangible difference in your community.
  • Grow your personal and professional network with like-minded individuals.
  • Develop leadership skills through collaborative service projects.
  • Be part of a global movement tackling pressing issues like health, education, and sustainability.
 
We Need Your Help
Rebuilding the Rotary Club of Prescott Valley is a community-wide effort, and we’re looking for passionate, service-oriented individuals like you. Whether you're a civic leader, business professional, or concerned citizen, your skills and dedication can help us achieve great things for Prescott Valley.
 
Join Us Today!
Be part of a movement that’s transforming communities and changing lives. Reach out to us for more information about how you can get involved, attend our meetings, or support our projects.
 
Let’s make Prescott Valley a shining example of what community collaboration can achieve. Together, we can achieve more!
 
 
Meeting Information

Our first meeting will be Tuesday, January 14th @ 4:30 PM
 
The Rotary Club of Prescott Valley will meet twice a month on Tuesdays at 4:30PM. Meetings last approximately 1.5 hours and are held at the Elks Lodge, located at 6245 E. Second Street, Prescott Valley.
 
For more information, please contact:
Joe Sweeney
(928) 642-4252
Email: rotaryjoe5495@gmail.com
Bob Ticer
(928) 642-6198
blt4490@hotmail.com
 
 
 
 
Photo and story by Past President Lawrence Kenna
 
Winslow Rotary club awarded nine Paul Harris Fellow awards at its regular club meeting on Wednesday December 11, 2024.  
 
This Christmas-themed meeting welcomed District Foundation Chair Tom McLarty from the Cottonwood club and Past Governer and current District 5495 Interact Chair Art Harrington from the Prescott club to help in the festivities.  
 
In the photograph, from left, receiving their Paul Harris Fellow certificates are Kristy Armijo, Winslow Rotary Club President-elect; Rotarian Erna Snukis, Rotarian Connie Gover, Rotarian Ben Harris, Past President Kevin Coolidge, Winslow Rotary Club President Jessica Cox Atha, and Past President James Atha, Not shown are Rotarians Frank Guzman and Bob Hall; Tom McLarty from the Cottonwood Rotary Club, Art Harrington from the Prescott Rotary Club, and Past President Greg Hackler from the Winslow Rotary Club also shown officiating the occasion.  Art Harrington led the group in singing "Silent Night," an old tradition of the Winslow Rotary Club.
 
Erna Snukis is the club secretary and Kevin Coolidge is the club treasurer.