Governor of the State of Sonora, Mexico, was spoke at Rotary Club of Scottsdale

oL-R: Ambassador Claudia Franco Hijuelos, Consul General of Mexico in Phoenix; City of Scottsdale Mayor Jim Lane; Claudia Pavlovich, Governor of the State of Sonora, Mexico and Juan Ciscomani, Senior Advisor, Office of Arizona Governor Ducey greet luncheon attendees - photo by Bob Rink.

Claudia Pavlovich, the Governor of the State of Sonora, Mexico, was spoke at Rotary Club of Scottsdale luncheon meeting held at Scottsdale McCormick Ranch Golf Club. The Governor's presentation highlighted her continued partnership with Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, in which together they are building understanding and cooperation between Arizona and Sonora. Governor Pavlovich praised Rotary Clubs for their work in Sonora and in Arizona. Matching grants from the Rotary International Foundation, Rotary Districts and Rotary Clubs provide funding of humanitarian projects that address poor health, children, women, and poverty.

During Governor Pavlovich's visit to Scottsdale, Rotarian Dale Gray briefed the Governor on projects such as “Micro-Credit” loans that help women become entrepreneurs; provide low cost water filters that improve the health of citizens of small outlying villages in Sonora; and, provide advanced medical training to doctors who serve the indigenous and low-income people. All these projects are underway because of the cooperation between one or more Rotary Clubs in Sonora and in Arizona.

oRotarian Max Rumbaugh, Mayor of Alamos Victor Baldarma, Rotarians Dale Gray and Jim Hann together at City of Scottsdale's Mayor Jim Lane's office to acknowledge water filters installed at various medical facilities in Mexico as part of the joint Project C.U.R.E. project.

Governor Pavlovich stated that the promotion of a Mega Region of Sonora and Arizona is attracting international attention including a recent visit to Sonora by government officials from Spain to Sonora. Governor Pavlovich congratulated City of Scottsdale and Alamos, Sonora on their being sister cities for 50 years. These two cities were the first in Sonora and Arizona to become sister cities. Coincidentally, the Sonoran Chief of Police attended the meeting - he along with four of his police officers are undertaking joint training with Scottsdale police personnel.

Rotarian Dale Gray also updated attendees about the joint humanitarian project between Project C.U.R.E. (headquartered in Tempe Arizona), City of Scottsdale Sister Cities, Rotary Club of Scottsdale, San Luis Rotary Club, Puerto Penasco Rotary Club, Ciudad Obregon Rotary Club Navajo Rotary Club. The project is supported and coordinated by the Secretario de Salud Sonora in Hermosillo, Mexico and the Medical Director, Director of Administration and the Head of Nursing who participated with U.S. and Mexican Rotary Club representatives along with staffs of Puerto Penasco General Hospital, San Luis Rio Colorado General Hospital, Ciudad Obregon General Hospital, Navajo General Hospital, Alamos Basico Hospital, and Agua Prieta General Hospital.

Attending the Rotary Club of Scottsdale meeting were representatives of Governor Ducey’s office, the Consul General of Mexico in Phoenix, Scottsdale's Mayor Lane, members of the Scottsdale City Council, as well as, Rotary Club members and guests. For more information about the Rotary Club of Scottsdale speakers, projects, programs and meeting dates and locations - see www.scottsdalerotary.org. Visitors to Club meetings are always welcome - call 480-945-6158.