Community Service 2021-22

Community Service Opportunities

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Rotary Club of Sedona Village coordinates mental health training

Village Rotarians hosted Ivy Chamberlin from Matforce Youth Services at our recent Rotary meeting. Ivy provided valuable insights into Matforce's mission to combat substance abuse through education, focusing on K-12 drug prevention programs in the Verde Valley. She highlighted the critical role mental health plays, noting that anxiety and depression among young people often lead to substance use if not addressed with appropriate tools and strategies.

In light of these pressing issues, Carol Hess, President-Elect introduced the Rotary International Mental Health Initiative Rotary Action Group (RAG). The Rotary District and local Rotary Clubs have recognized the urgent need for community support in this area.

The Rotary Club of Sedona Village is spearheading an initiative to address this need. We are collaborating with all Rotary Clubs in Sedona and the Verde Valley to offer a comprehensive full-day training on Saturday, February 1, 2025. The training will commence at 9 AM, and participants will be required to complete an hour of pre-training homework to prepare effectively.

For additional details about the training, please contact Ivy at 928-708-0100 or Carol Hess at 916-690-7085.

During this training, the following essential skills will be addressed:

• Assessing the risk of suicide, self-harm, substance abuse, anxiety, and depression

• Listening non-judgmentally

• Providing reassurance and information

• Encouraging appropriate professional help

• Promoting self-help strategies and other support resources

• Recognizing common signs and symptoms of mental health issues and substance use

• Offering information about local resources

While this training primarily focuses on youth, the skills and knowledge gained will also be beneficial for addressing similar issues in adults.

We encourage everyone involved with youth in our community to mark your calendars and take advantage of this opportunity to enhance skills and support our young people effectively.

Rotary Club of Queen Creek pivots to growing sextortion & sex trafficking issues affecting teens

Rotary to partner with mental health professionals, the Queen Creek Police Department, Katey McPherson of Bark for Schools and Vice Mayor Martineau of the Anti-Trafficking Network for their third installment of “Raising Resilient Kids”

Coming off a hugely successful “Rotary Run for Resilience” last April, the Rotary Club of Queen Creek continues its mission of addressing mental health issues which affect our area youth.

The club represents a collective of business owners, professionals and parents dedicated to improving their community through volunteer work and is proud to announce its third public parent night, “Raising Resilient Kids” on Thursday, August 8^th at 6:30pm. This free community event to be held at the Queen Creek Community Chambers will focus on the very real dangers of sex trafficking and sextortion and how parents can prevent it.

Featured presenters include Detective Sergeant Lauren Wallace of the Queen Creek Police department, famed child advocate, Katey McPherson of Bark for Schools and Vice Mayor Leah Martineau with the Arizona Anti-Trafficking Network.

The goal of the parent night event is to provide parents with tools and information that help build resilience in teens which will better help them overcome the growing mental health issues that many teens struggle with today.

Also participating will be a diverse group of organizations dedicated to youth mental wellness and resilience making this a great opportunity for our community to meet representatives from organizations that offer coaching, counseling and therapy to families in need.

"Our community continues, like many, to be faced with the challenging issues of coping and resilience amongst our youth. So many are thriving but there are some that need more support and a front loading of preventative strategies to bolster their self-worth, self-advocacy, and agency so that they can take flight. I am honored to have the opportunity to partner with QC Rotary as we tackle these challenges head on,” explained Katey McPherson of Bark for Schools.

The event will start at 6:30 p.m. Seating is limited, those interested in attending can register at: https://rotaryclubqc.com/events/

About Rotary: Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.4 million members in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work improves lives at both the local and international levels, from helping those in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. For more information, visit https://rotaryclubqc.com

Rotary Club of Sedona Village awards summer camp scholarships

The Rotary Club of Sedona Village is proud to announce that it has awarded a total of $4,280 this year in summer camp scholarships to select local families, benefiting children from pre-kindergarten to high school age. An additional $1,135 was recently awarded along with the $3,145 of funds that were disbursed as part of the club's previous initiative in April, where five students from Sedona Red Rock High-Middle School were awarded summer camp scholarships.

Just this week, the Rotary Club stepped up for the 2^nd time this year, to support the community by awarding scholarships to seven children for summer camp programs offered through City of Sedona Parks and Recreation.

Derek Bond, father of student camper Daymon Bond, expressed his gratitude, saying, "Thank you for the email and for sponsoring my son, Daymon Bond! He is really excited about the camp and really appreciates you selecting him.” Allison Depuydt, mother of two twin camper students, shared her excitement, "I just registered them for the class …!! Yay!! We’re so excited!”

The Rotary Club of Sedona Village has a dedicated youth services committee with a proven track record of assisting local families with the financial burden of summer enrichment camps. Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, the club has been able to provide even more scholarships this year, with a special focus on STEM-themed programs. Holly Johnson of the Village Rotary Club was the organizer of this year's scholarship program.

The Rotary Club invites community members who are interested in contributing to or helping organize community service initiatives like this to contact them for more information.

For further details, please contact Jennette Bill, Rotary Club of Sedona Village Youth Services Chair, at JLBill@outlook.com or 928-301-1363

About Rotary Club of Sedona Village: The Rotary Club of Sedona Village is committed to serving the community through various initiatives that support education, health, and community development. By providing scholarships and other forms of support, the club aims to make a positive impact on the lives of local families and children.

Rotary Club of Silver Creek hosts third annual Community Prom

Kids from all over the White Mountain communities of Show Low, Snowflake, Taylor, Springerville, Eagar, Holbrook, Pinetop, and Vernon came together May 18 for the third Annual Community Prom, hosted by the Northern Arizona Academy Interact Club and sponsored by the Silver Creek Rotary Club.

The idea for the prom came from the Interact kids of the Northern Arizona Academy for the express purpose of giving kids who otherwise wouldn’t get a prom one of their own. With smaller schools, homeschooling, and the occasional conflict, this prom gives a chance for all high school-aged kids to come together and celebrate their school year.

It doesn’t matter that the kids don’t all go to the same school or live in the same area. The kids are just wanting to get out and dress up for an evening of fun.

Months in advance, the Interact Club chooses the year’s theme, plans, purchases decorations and organizes the volunteers. The Rotary Club pays for the event, helps to order supplies, organize security, book the venue, DJ, and photographer, decorate and chaperone the event. The afternoon before the event the Rotary & Interact Clubs get together to decorate the gymnasium where it was held.

The entire evening is paid for by the Silver Creek Rotary Club through fundraising projects like the upcoming 4^th Annual Golf Tournament, October 5^th at the Birdie Ranch Golf Club in Show Low. The money they raise from that tournament also helps fund the Prom Closet the club holds in mid-April, so that kids can get a free outfit for prom.

The Prom Closet has been held each year in advance of the prom for all high school-aged kids at no cost to them and was the brainchild of incoming Club President Suzanne Heninger. The club receives an immense amount of clothing donations from the Peoria North Rotary Club Prom Closet and additional local donations.

For more information about the Prom, Prom Closet, the Golf Tournament, or any of the club’s other 12 projects, please visit their website at azsilvercreekrotary.org.

Prescott Rotary clubs unite to sponsor community food drive

The three Rotary clubs in the Prescott area joined forces once again for the fourth consecutive year to participate in the annual Arizona Rotary Week of Service. This time, the focus was on a vital food collection initiative. Two local Safeway stores generously sponsored the two-day event, allowing our dedicated members to gather essential canned goods and other food items from their shoppers.

Over the course of the event, which saw volunteers tirelessly working for two days, we managed to amass an impressive haul of approximately 3 tons (6,000 pounds) of food. This bounty was carefully boxed up by our members and promptly delivered to two Food Banks in Prescott and Prescott Valley.

In addition to the substantial food donations, our Rotary Clubs were also fortunate to receive generous cash contributions. These funds will be directly allocated to support the ongoing efforts of the Food Banks in serving our community. One anonymous Donor gave the Food Banks $500 in cash.

Kudos go out to Christy Manning of the Prescott SunUp Club and Gary Wolfe of the Rotary Club of Prescott for their tireless efforts in putting this together without any hitches or challenges. Marshalling volunteers sometimes is difficult but with their background and expertise in managing Volunteer Groups the event was successful and the Food Banks’ shelves were filled up.

Rotary Club of Sun Lakes supports 'Welcome to America'

Registration open for Rotary Run for Resilience

Once again, the Rotary Club of Queen Creek brings together vendors, mental health professionals, community leaders, local government officials, runners, walkers and families for a one-of-a-kind community event.

Last year’s 5K run/walk was kicked off by Mayor Wheatley and drew nearly 200 participants and dozens of spectators, all in support of raising awareness for teen mental wellness.

Proceeds benefit the Rotary Club of Queen Creek’s local programs designed to improve youth mental resilience with an effort to improve teen mental wellness.

For more information about our Club and to register, visit:

www.RotaryClubQC.com
https://facebook.com/rotaryclubofqueencreek

Check out a video of last year's event:
https://youtu.be/v2vb4JlBTAk?si=GdYrUPOk6QBByqEb

META grant will allow Mesa West to launch STEM program at local libraries

Thanks to a grant from the Meta Data Center in Mesa, the Rotary Club of Mesa West has embarked on a quest to make STEM-related education and projects not only more accessible to local students, but more exciting and enjoyable to experience.

The club is one of 15 grantees recently selected to receive a Meta Data Center Community Action Grant. The club’s foundation received a grant of $28,700.

According to Colleen Coons, president of the Rotary Club of Mesa West, the grant will be used to purchase 30 Meta Quest headsets and software to support immersive STEM experiences and learning spaces in three Mesa public libraries.

“This opportunity can really change the lives of Mesa residents, and really, students throughout Maricopa County,” said Colleen.

Colleen first heard of the grant opportunity while taking part in Mesa Leadership, a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing, training and empowering future leaders in the Mesa community. Also enrolled in the class was Amir Hasen, a director at Meta Data Center in Mesa. Creating partnerships with the Community, Amir invited Mesa West club to apply for a grant that serves the community.

The club will use the grant to provide VR/AR Meta Quest Pro headsets to the Mesa public libraries. The libraries will develop programs for the entire community to participate in multi-sensory experiences to “imagine the possibilities” of a career in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

“Students don’t always relate to the way STEM is taught in a school, or maybe aren’t getting all they need from a teacher,” said Colleen.

The new virtual-reality headsets will allow students to literally experience a project where they can see the benefits. “Maybe then, the students might consider a STEM career,” said Colleen.

Among the projects to be featured in the program is an artificial reef that was created by Rotarians in the Philippines. Using Rotary funds, a giant artificial reef in the shape of the Rotary wheel was created to restore marine life and protect the livelihood of several fishing villages.

Colleen expects the first headsets to be in place and operational by summer.

This initiative, said Colleen, is totally in synch with Rotary’s mission and areas. “How great that we’re able to live the Rotary vision statement, by uniting with community partners to take action to create an experience to move naturally in virtual spaces while mirroring real-world opportunities to create generational change in our community”

Verde Valley Rotary Clubs collaborate for Rotary Week of Service

Rotary Week of Service, initiated in 2021 by the two Arizona Rotary districts, aims to amplify Rotary's commitment to service. Throughout the week, clubs across the state engage in various acts of service, extending an open invitation to all individuals eager to contribute.

This year, the four Rotary clubs in the Verde Valley—Rotary Clubs of Sedona Village, Sedona, Sedona Red Rocks, and Verde Valley—are proud to announce their partnership with the Manzanita Outreach Food Assistance Program. From April 15 to 20, volunteers from these clubs will dedicate their time to support the program, facilitating essential assistance to those in need.

All individuals passionate about volunteering and serving their community are encouraged to join the Rotarians each day at Manzanita Outreach. Embracing the Rotary motto of "Service Above Self," the clubs aspire to foster a spirit of unity and generosity among participants.

Interested volunteers can obtain daily volunteer details and sign up information at www.sedonavillagerotary.org For inquiries or additional information, please contact Jennette Bill at 928-301-1363 or via email at JLBill@outlook.com.

Let's come together and make a difference during Rotary Week of Service. Join us in spreading kindness and compassion throughout the Verde Valley community.

Contact:

Jennette Bill
Phone: 928-301-1363
Email: JLBill@outlook.com

About Rotary:

Rotary is a global network of community leaders dedicated to tackling the world's most pressing humanitarian challenges. With over a century of service, Rotary brings together people from all walks of life who share a commitment to creating positive, lasting change in their communities and around the world. For more information, visit www.rotary.org.