Stories


Rotary Club of Green Valley Update 3.10.23 Rotary Club of Green Valley Update March 10, 2023… Rotary Club of Green Valley Foundation presents $1,000.00 checks to two local food banks RCGV Foundation President Jerry Kriebel presents a check to Community Food Bank of Green Valley Client Services Supervisor Lilia Dawson, as Rotary Club members Eveline Eaton, (R) and Merril Ehrmentrout (2^nd from left) and guest Josh Migdal (far left) watch. == Club Foundation President Kriebel presents a check to Kellie Tonks, Sahuarita Food Bank Office Administrator, with (left to right) Food Bank Program Coordinator Sofia Castro, Past President Bob Shevln, Tonks, President Elect Nominee Merril Ehrmentrout, Kriebel and guest Josh Migdal. (photos by Phil Noble) Club Survey Results: ==== We as a club raise funds for many important needs. I feel that our members as a whole are generous, with several being very generous. So, community support is good. I like to think that we’ve made our club visible in the community and that most residents, especially Green Valley, are aware of what we do. I think our joining with our other clubs for projects south of Tucson is good, and maybe we can improve that. Recruiting new members, but even more, involving them early and then retaining them needs improvement. Finding younger members is a known shortcoming, and maybe our meeting hours contribute for those working. On the opposite side, I believe we’d lose current members if we went to morning or early evening. Getting volunteers for critical roles, e.g., treasurer and secretary, has proven difficult. I’d also like to see our club/BOD develop an annual schedule of events, fund raisers and special events. ======== We have great camaraderie. I do think that it’s usually the same people who work the most. I’d like the meetings to be kept to one hour. ===== 1 How I don't know but we have great speakers and provides lots of info to the club on a variety of topics, all appreciated 2 Review our fund raising options rather than expect club members to just purchase the tickets to our events. ===== We have great speakers! What about hosting a meeting with all the local service clubs i.e. Lions, Kiwanians, other Rotaries, etc., and choosing an all-club community project? ====== I enjoy the fellowship and all of the programs. They have helped me learn about the community. There seems to have been and nice influx of new members and I like the fact that meetings are relatively short. I can’t think of any major suggestions for improvement but I have enjoyed the field trips we have done in the past. ======== Maybe we could think about having a table at community events to promote the club, we talked about this. And, seems like it would be good to be involved in more hands on projects in the community since we are getting a few more members who are not in their eighties, like me. And another thing the Club does well, has events that people enjoy and look forward to attending. ====== # 1 Our programs and #2 need our sign back up @ the Grill. ====== We need a project we can greatly publicize that is performed by the entire club, not just the "usual subjects." whether it be "clean a highway", or paint a house for an elderly household, or rescue a forgotten cemetery, etc. When we work together, we shine. We have to treat any project as a team effort - everyone must perform. The Board must brainstorm to somehow figure out how to motivate those who need it. ====== Do well… 1- I think our club and foundation are well managed. 2- I think we work well w Dist 5500 and RI 3- I think we are generous and aware of options 4- I think we have very good meetings 5- I think we have good participation 6- we welcome and include sojourners 7- maintain and grow membership Do better to improve… Encourage everyone to speak and share Seek additional new sponsors ====== Maybe one of the duties of a new membership chair, would be to oversee and engage new members. Get them involved, and active. New members need mentors, who take an ACTIVE role in getting new members engaged and active. New management (coming online) should take on leadership of some projects/programs. Coordinate more with our Foundation (regular meetings just between top two leaders of each- Club and Foundation). Part of these discussions could be to identify new leaders and how to develop new leaders for each organization Field trips? More socials? (avoid the trap of “We tried that before”) ======= 1) Do well: a) socialization, b) programs are always pretty good — several recently have been very good, c) our fundraisers are generally working well (I don’t know how many of us actually sell tickets — several of us enjoy paying for them and giving them away. I expect that a few don’t like to sell and don’t feel they can pay for them to give them away — probably best if we let that slip by (and I sense we probably do). Might consider telling those Rotarians we would accept 50% payment if they don’t feel they can pay the full amount to give away tickets. d) I think we have been doing a good job cooperating with other Rotary Clubs and have even made a little progress working with non-Rotary service clubs. 2) Do better: 1) recruit more members. 2) see my last idea under fundraisers above — consider subsidizing (as needed) members who would like to give tickets to friends but don’t want to pay full price for full quota of tickets. ====== 1. Most of it works. I like the camaraderie of the group. Although impossible to get good speakers every week, sometimes they hit a home run with a wonderful surprise guest. For the most part, I enjoy it. 2. Fundraising event marketing seems a bit weak. I can't believe local radio spots generate any interest. GV News is good; perhaps an ad in the CPAC program outlining the Rotary Events for the year? I also believe we should have one main annual event and seek various levels of sponsorship support. The meeting room situation at Canoa Ranch could be improved as to sound and food. Special fundraisers would get more traction if the charity being supported is one the donor has a special interest in supporting. Saying it's going to corporate just doesn't do it. We should identify fundraiser recipients in advance and get more sponsors.	Rotary Club of Green Valley Update 3.10.23	Phil Noble	2023-03-10 07:00:00Z	0
Two New Members Join Club New Rotarians David McAllister Romo and Eveline Eaton (2^nd & 3^rd from the right) are sworn in by PDG Julie Reppenhagen with their sponsors, Joyce Finkelstein (r.) and Katie Carter looking on. The event was conducted by Past President Paul Loomans at the club’s last meeting at the Green Valley Hospital, which is now closed.	Two New Members Join Club		2022-07-11 07:00:00Z	0
Civil War General Impersonator To Speak Club member Steve Harris will be introducing General Jackson, who just turned 198 in January. The General will be contrasting life in the 19th century with life in the 21^st century. “I have asked him to address his struggles with 'supply chain' shortages, labor shortages, and the shortage of healthcare professionals,“ Steve says.	Civil War General Impersonator To Speak	Phil Noble	2022-07-10 07:00:00Z	0
Club Member Scott Lamb Returns From Ukraine Club member Scott Lamb related to the club at its July 5, 2022 meeting his experiences in volunteering in Ukraine for the past 2 1/2 months. Scott hooked up with the English-speaking Rotary Club of Lviv, Ukraine and worked distributing medical supplies to troops fighting on the Eastern Front of that war with Russia. Scott met several dedicated Rotarians there during his time and forged friendships that he will retain. His talk pointed out one of the most important aspects of Rotary membership--the international network of Rotarians in almost every country of the world who any Rotarian can turn to in time of need. Scott previously served in Uganda on a Rotary project in that African nation. He lives the motto, "Service Above Self."	Club Member Scott Lamb Returns From Ukraine		2022-07-10 07:00:00Z	0
Polio Is Making A Comeback! Poliomyelitis is making a comeback. Israel reported in March that a 3-year-old child was paralyzed. Ukraine had two cases in late 2021. Health experts warn that interruption in vaccination of children could lead to outbreaks of polio within the United States. The COVID-19 pandemic has slackened our immunization of children with childhood polio vaccinations. It takes only one traveler with polio to bring the disease to the United States. People most at risk are those who never had polio vaccine and those who never received all the recommended doses. The best way to keep the United States polio-free is to maintain high immunity (protection) against polio in the population through vaccination. Support organizations making a difference. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative began in 1988, when about 350,000 children were paralyzed by the virus each year. This work produced astounding results and by 2016 the number of polio cases in the world was 42. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative is a public-private partnership led by national partners with the World Health Organization (WHO), Rotary International, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), UNICEF, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. (https://polioeradication.org/financing/donate/). Spread the word that polio is a global disease that has to be fought on our own shores. Some people who have only stomach flu-like/fever symptoms may not be aware they are infected with polio and transfer the virus to others. Combat the mistruths fostering dangerous health futures for children of the world. Mistrust of vaccination leads to lower rates of vaccination. Friends and family can assist parents to understand the polio vaccination schedule and get kids to appointments. People who have lived through polio epidemics and speak about how polio crippled kids are in the best position to educate vaccine-hesitant parents. Susan L. Schoenbeck, MSN, RN is a nurse educator for Walla Walla University. She is the author of “Polio Girl” (June 2022).)Marny Eulberg, M.D., is a family physician and educator serving on the board of directors of Post-Polio Health International. Both writers contracted polio as children before the polio vaccination was available.	Polio Is Making A Comeback!		2022-03-23 07:00:00Z	0
Club salutes veterans Our club members handed out free snacks and coffee to veterans and thanked them for their service today...Veteran's Day. Please join us in thanking everyone who has served in any capacity. (photo by Past President Bob Auflick)	Club salutes veterans	Phillip Noble	2021-11-18 07:00:00Z	0
Pima County Government Update Tom Berezny, Green Valley/Sahuarita Representative for County Supervisor Steven Christy, told us how county governance works. His organization chart for the county put the taxpayers at the top. Read more...	Pima County Government Update	Phillip Noble	2021-11-18 07:00:00Z	0
Rotary Peace Pole Project Progressing A Peace Pole is an internationally-recognized symbol of the hopes and dreams of the entire human family, standing vigil in silent prayer for peace on earth. Each Peace Pole bears the message *May Peace Prevail on Earth* in different languages on each of its four or six sides. There tens of thousands of Peace Poles in nearly every country in the world dedicated as monuments to peace. The Rotary Club of Green Valley is working to put a peace pole in our community in the near future.	Rotary Peace Pole Project Progressing		2020-02-22 07:00:00Z	0
Judge Warns of Distracted Driving Dangers Judge Ray Carroll, who majored in philosophy at Regis University in Colorado, became a Pima County District 4 Supervisor in 1997, serving (as a Republican in spite of being from Chicago) until retiring in 2017. Later that same year he became Presiding Judge in the County’s District 7 and was certified by the AZ Supreme Court in April 2018. He’s had 100’s of hours of training in not letting politics interfere with the job of judging. Judge Carroll told us distracted driving is the #1 killer of teens with over 4000 deaths in the last year. Distractions include alcohol, of course, along with texting. He highly recommended the GVC Safety Briefing Forum coming up Monday, March 2, from 1:30 PM to 3 PM at the GVR West Center. Part of the presentation is a movie made for just $15,000 with a phone. There was quite a lot of discussion with the Club, tales of horrible driving from the senior citizens in Green Valley (none of us, of course) on La Cañada, and we all remember drivers missing the brake and going through the walls of local buildings. In speaking of penalties, he said the only thing (fine) under $100 these days is a parking ticket. Last September, acting as Justice of the Peace, Judge Carroll performed the marriage ceremony for Pat and Michael’s grandson.	Judge Warns of Distracted Driving Dangers	Patsy Pease	2020-02-22 07:00:00Z	0
Club members show science to students Makerspace Presentation (Rotary Club of Green Valley and Rotary District 5500 Matching Grant Project) Jerry Kriebel volunteered to share his career with the Makerspace Club at a local school. The presentation included quite a bit of science, with details like the electron beam used to sterilize medical equipment can punch a hole in ¼ inch stainless steel in a fraction of a second. He described other methods -- gas and gamma rays – and the advantages and drawbacks of each. Pat Pease used a chemical dye and UV light to show how easily contagion can spread, and Michael modeled an epidemic with the MIT Scratch program.	Club members show science to students	Patsy Pease	2020-02-22 07:00:00Z	0