Welcome to District 5495 Club News

Rotary Club of Sun Lakes honors Rotarian of the Month
 
The Rotary Club of Sun Lakes recently named Sun Lakes resident Stan Kaufman its March 2023 Rotarian of the Month. 
 
Stan currently serves as RCSL Treasurer and was elected to serve 2023-24 Treasurer term.  Stan has been instrumental in implementing the Club's new banking services and coordinating with the Club's hired bookkeeper. 
 
Along with other Rotarians, Stan participated in RCSL portion of Navajo Water Project Rotary International Global Grant and upcoming Club fundraiser including the 2023 Golf Tournament. Additionally, Stan is a generous supporter of Club and Valley Veteran's projects and events.
 
Stan first joined Rotary with the Toronto Eglinton Rotary Club in 1982. After moving to Fargo, ND in 1991, he joined the Fargo Noon Rotary Club. He was also a member of the Walker Rotary Club, MN in 2001-2004 before returning to the Fargo Noon Rotary Club 2005-2011. In 2011 he transferred to the San Tan Crown Rotary Club of Chandler, AZ and now RCSL.  Over the years and with these clubs, he has held every Club Officer and Director position. 
 
Stan and spouse Susanne have home hosted two Rotary International Exchange students from Belgium and from northern Spain and their daughter was a Rotary exchange student to Belgium. 
Rotary Club of Scottsdale Stallion Stampede gains national attention during Super Bowl week
The Rotary Club of Scottsdale and students from Chaparral High School and Coronado High School Interact Clubs took part in the 70th annual Parada del Sol parade and used the opportunity to focus attention on the Stallion Stampede, a major fundraising project presently underway by the Scottsdale club.  
 
The float entry earned first place in the "Best Float" category.
 
The Stallion Stampede was the focus of the club’s entry into this year’s Parada del Sol Parade, held Feb. 4. Members marched alongside the Stallion Stampede float, which displayed four painted stallions.
 
The Stallion Stampede is a fun and interactive fundraiser to benefit the arts and business communities as well as our neighbors in need.  Stallions – 18 in total – were painted by local artists and are located throughout Old Town Scottsdale and Scottsdale Fashion Square. 
 
All of the Stallions were painted by local artists and will be auctioned off at the Stallion Gala Auction at Royal Arabians on April 15.  For more information about the Stallion Stampede and to see pictures of all the gorgeous stallions, go to stallionstampede.com
 
Eight of the artfully painted horses in unique equestrian poses are displayed throughout Scottsdale Fashion Square. The remaining 10 stallions can be found stampeding around Old Town Scottsdale.
 
The Rotary Club of Scottsdale had a fun week with the Stallion Stampede efforts the week prior to the Super Bowl.  The two NFL-painted horses were in Old Town along with the horses at Fashion Square and around town. The project was featured multiple times on national and local TV news outlets. Club “wranglers” (horse movers) were busy with the events all week moving horses to special fundraising venues. 
 
To view the online auction, visit  https://e.givesmart.com/events/tBq/i/_Stallions/
 
 
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Rotary Club of Sun Lakes conducts Dragster STEM competition
The CO2 Dragster STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) High School program started in Rotary year 2018-2019. This is a STEM program for Chandler Unified School District high school students and replaced the F1 In-School program that was sponsored by the Society of Automotive Engineers and supported by the Rotary Club of Sun Lakes.
 
Perry High School student teams competed by using 3D CAD (Computer Assisted Design) to design their Dragsters and CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) to build their dragster. The Teams competed at Perry High School Feb. 18 in a competition sponsored by the Rotary Club of Sun Lakes. 
 
The competition required each team to present readable renderings/drawings containing views and dimensions of the dragster. Each team was interviewed by the competition judges. Each team provided an overview of their team dragster's design, operations, construction, speeds, build experiences, CAD/CAM and final drawings, research, simulations and finishing techniques.
 
The teams were required to follow specific technical regulations in body construction and wheel definition.
 
According to the Anna Logan, longtime supporter of the event, trophies were awarded to fastest car, best in show, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place and overall dragster competition winners.
 
According to RCSL CO2 Dragster Competition Committee member Don Robins, a very knowledgeable group of engineering experts were on hand to do competition interviews and judging. The judges included representatives from Rotary Club of Sun Lakes, Chandler United School District teachers and retired members of the Society of Automotive Engineers and General Motors. 
 
The RCSL would like to acknowledge Clint Beauer, Perry High School Assistant Principal, for his support in arranging the competition.
Sun Lakes Rotary Club (chartered April 22, 1986) is a leadership organization made up of men and women from local businesses, professional, education, civic and emerging leaders.  RCSL meets regularly to get to know each other, form friendships, and through that RCSL can get things done within the East Valley and far beyond.  Come join us and share our passion for community service and friendship.
 
Visit www.sunlakesrotary.com for more information.
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DG Larry Horton makes official visit to Rotary Club of Sedona
 
The Rotary Club of Sedona hosted Larry Horton, District 5495's Governor during its Jan. 24 meeting.
 
Larry's home club is Tempe Rio & Satellite of Camelback Crossroads. A retired Phoenix Police Officer, Larry is heavily involved in planning and mentoring teen peer counselors for Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) retreats.
 
He and his wife, also a Rotarian, have a 3-year-old daughter and a teen son. Larry highlighted several of his goals for 2022-2023 which include growing Rotaract and Rotary club membership through service projects that feed member passions.
 
In keeping with Rotary's seventh focus area, Protecting the Environment, Larry's presented the District's Environmental Committee Challenge: Go One Week with NO single-Use plastic! 
 
The meeting concluded with the club's donation to the Rotary Vocational Fund of AZ in Larry's honor. Club President Jean Barton (left) also announced a new children's book will be donated to the Sedona Public Library in Larry's name, and the gift of an Imagination Library Book to Larry's daughter, "My Papi Has a Motorcycle," which he does!
Rotary Club of Sun Lakes honors two of its members
 
Submitted by: Dr. Honora Norton, RCSL Public Image Director
 
The Rotary Club of Sun Lakes named Ann Diamond, a Sun Lakes resident, its February 2023 Rotarian of the Month. 
 
Right from the start of joining RCSL, Ann has become an active new Rotarian by volunteering at the Electronic Recycling Project, making Amanda Hope blankets for kiddos with cancer, supporting the Club's upcoming golf tournament, and taking on Sun Lakes Splash and Sourcebook delivery routes.
 
Ann has not missed a meeting since joining; has joined the Club meeting's "setup/takedown" team; and participated in the Club's Visioning Project.  Club President, Stephen Phair, congratulated Ann for her extensive volunteerism.
 
At the club’s Annual Meeting, Victoria Flatley, Sun Lakes resident and RCSL President-elect, was honored for recently earning her certificate of completion of the Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) Graduate Course. 
 
RLI seeks to provide quality education in Rotary knowledge and leadership skills to Rotarians interested in developing their Rotary participation and to those identified by Rotary Clubs as having a potential in club leadership. These educational opportunities teach skills that will benefit the members in their lives and in their volunteer service.
 
Victoria completed the three-part RLI Basic Program prior to attending graduate-level courses.  The six-course Graduate Program allowed Victoria more in-depth exploration of topics of interest to the candidates and topics that explore current challenges Rotary clubs are facing. Each Graduate course had a different list of topics and a unique curriculum that meets the needs of the Rotarians attending the course.
 
RLI course topics include public speaking and presentation skills, design and use of PowerPoint, ethics and using the Rotary 4-Way Test, team building, conflict resolution and mediation, visions and strategic planning, event planning, and motivation and leadership.
 
 
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Rotary Club of Scottsdale North hosts 'Spring into Action' fundraiser
 
Client visits increased 50% at The Foothills Food Bank in 2022, and the Foothills Caring Corps saw a sharp increase in requests for their services over previous years, including meals, transportation, in-home visits and other help.
 
These two organizations play a critical role in the health of our community and our ability to help our neighbors. Now they need your help to continue their work. And you can help them while having a great time at the “Spring into Action” fundraiser.
 
Presented by the Rotary Club of Scottsdale North, the “Spring into Action” fundraiser is set for 5-8 p.m. Saturday, March 25 at The Holland Community Center, 34250 N. 60th St., Building B in Scottsdale. 
 
The evening will include live music, wine and beer, delicious appetizers and small plates, live and silent auctions as well as a wine bottle pull. Live auction items include a PHX Police Helicopter Ride-along. Tickets are $100 per person and can be purchase on-line at https://rotaryscottsdalenorth.org/ or at the event.
 
“This is the first time these three organizations have combined their efforts to present a single fundraiser”, said Daniel Eastburn, president of the Rotary Club of Scottsdale North. “It makes so much sense”, he continued, “because we often work together on specific projects and needs in the community. And we always support each other’s efforts and missions”. 
 
Leigh Zydonik, Executive Director, Foothills Food Bank and Resource Center said, “we share a common passion to lift up our community, and we look forward to collaborating with the Foothills Caring Corps and Rotary Club of Scottsdale on this fundraising event".
 
"It's a sign of a great community when leaders build each other up, and the Rotary Club is showing us all the strength we have when we work together," Zydonik added.
 
Nancy Cohrs, Interim Executive Director of Foothills Caring Corps said, “We’re grateful to be included in this wonderful community event. It takes a village to support our neighbors, and it’s because of your support that those who are aging in place are able to access supportive programs and services close to home.”
 
For information contact: Ann Burke at annburke1@cox.net
Rotary Club of Scottsdale North is a 501(c) (3) organization.
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