Rotary District 5500 - District News

On 16 May 2009, the remains of 57 Civil War era Soldiers were relocated from Tucson and laid to rest with full military honors at the Southern Arizona Veteran’s Cemetery in Sierra Vista. Over 800 people attended the ceremony to include Arizona Governor Jan Brewer and Arizona Representative Gabriel Giffords. Members of the Sierra Vista Noon Rotary Club were on hand to support the ceremony by managing the parking effort. Outfitted in our patriotic shirts, the Rotary members provided, according to Joe Larson, Director of the Southern Arizona Cemetery, “invaluable support…. We could not have done it without the Rotarians!”

Having just completed a very successful GSE to South Africa, upcoming District Governor Steve DiMuzio is announcing next year's team will be going to Turkey. Information is already up on the district website. Applications will be taken for Team Leader and Team Members. Please identify those who would make up such a team. Link below will supply information on District 2440, Turkey and qualifications for the team.

Herewith a letter to the Sea Point Rotary, Cape Town, from Pres Elect Gavin at the farewell outing to Ilitha just before the team’s departure from Cape Town for home.

Dear Members,

At the Conference the GSE team from Tucson chose to donate US$1,500.00 towards the many needs of our two active projects, at Ilitha and Included. We will do a needs analysis together with Christina and Susan to establish how the money will be spent.

The GSE team decided to visit the Ilitha crèche on their last morning in South Africa which turned out to be a wonderful joyful celebration with the children singing and dancing and Christina thanking them for their generous and kind donation, she delivered a very moving speech.

They were taken straight to the airport after their visit to commence their long trip back home to the USA.

The morning was filled with both happiness and sadness as we had to bid farewell to our good friends from Tucson.
I am forwarding a photo taken outside the crèche.

Regards
Gavin

The Rotary Club of Yuma North End is moving to a new location for our Tuesday meetings at 5:45PM. If you should be in town to visit them, you will find them at the Radisson Hotel located at 1501 S Redondo in Yuma. They will begin meeting there on June 30^th.

The Cienega/Vail Rotary Club has changed its meeting place, day and time. As of Wednesday, June 3, the Club will be meeting on Wednesdays, 5pm at Del Lago Golf Club in Vail.

Ashley Kaimowitz's devotion continues to inspire even after death. Our thanks to PDG Rodney Mazinter, Cape Town - District 9350, for sharing this story published in the Atlantic Sun.

Long Distance Induction

The Sierra Vista West Rotary Club recently conducted an unusual induction ceremony for it's newest member, Armando Jasso. Armando's sponsor, club Secretary Nancy Cassel, was on a month-long trip to Florida when the ceremony was scheduled to take place. Not to be left out, Nancy read the induction paperwork to Armando via telephone from Florida as club President Amanda Baillie looks on and holds the phone. President Amanda then completed the induction by pinning on Armando's Rotary pin.

Armando is a former Rotarian from the Benson Rotary Club and is now manager of the Ace Hardware store in Sierra Vista. He's the West club's 30th member and is thrilled to be a Rotarian once more.

Rotary District 5500’s fourth Rotary Leadership Institute was held on Saturday, April 18^th at the Property Conference Center , Casa Grande , AZ. Forty students registered for the event, seven of whom completed their third session and graduated with special recognition certificates and pins.

RLI consists of three one day training sessions conducted over an 18 month period. Its aim is to facilitate club leadership development. The district’s 5^th RLI is scheduled for October 3, 2009, location to be announced. Curriculum details may be viewed at: http://azrli.org.

As their blog indicates, they are having the a lifetime experience. PDG Rodney Mazinter from District 9350 sent this photo of our team presenting at his Rotary club, Seapoint. Keep up with the team through their blog.

A day after their arrival the GSE team from District 9350, South Africa, gathered at the home of Nik & Gina Scherer for an orientation. They were provided an itinerary for their tour through District 5500 by GSE Inbound Chair Michael Drake and DG Tom Tilton. Shortly after they were joined by GSE Team Leader Randy Brooks and his outbound team as well as Rotarians who are hosting them during their initial stay in Tucson and others. It was a welcome party for the inbound as well as a bon voyage for the outbound who will leave for South Africa on Saturday, April 11.

DG Tom provided a rousing welcome and token gifts to the South African team. It was followed by comments by GSE Chair Ann Cook, who lead a team in 1998 to District 9320 in South Africa and PDG Rad Fisher who lead a team to District 9350 in 1988.

The outbound team gave the excellent presentation that they will use on their tour of South African Rotary clubs. They were then presented with The Rotary International pin given only to GSE members and Ambassadorial Scholars. Then came the highlight of the evening when PDG Rad Fisher presented each of the outgoing team members with a Paul Harris Fellow Recognition on behalf of the Pantano Rotary. He explain the significance of the award and encouraged each member to consider joining Rotary on their return.

These teams will meet once again, next time in South Africa where they will be attending the D9350 conference at the end of May and will be presenting a combined team program.

On Monday, April 6, at the welcoming party for the inbound team and the farewell for the outbound team, Pantano Rotary took the occasion to present the District 5500 outbound team members with Paul Harris Fellow Recognitions. Then, on Thursday morning, April 9, at the Tucson Sunrise Rotary, DG Tom Tilton's home club, he presented each District 9350 inbound team member a Paul Harris Fellow Recognition, on behalf of District 5500. As team leader, Graham Todd, was already a Paul Harris Fellow, he was presented with a one sapphire pin designating his second PHF. All were extremely pleased to be given this award.

District 5500 GSE Team with Pantano Rotarians
Back row: B.J. Cordova, team leader Randy Brooks, Barbara Dolan, Jennifer Carrillo, PDG Rad Fisher, Neil Deppe, Nik Scherer.
Front row: Brian Bearcliff, Sarah Dahlan, PDG Sandy Goodsite.

District 9350 GSE Team with District Officers
Back row: Team leader Graham Todd, DG Tom Tilton, GSE Outbound Chair Judy Herring, GSE Inbound Chair Michael Drake, District Foundation Chair PDG Al Chesser.
Front Row: Wendy Van Schalkwyk, District GSE Chair Ann Cook, Jolene Nel, Zulfa Petersen, Tracey Crommelin

As many of you know, this project was pending at the Rotary Foundation headquarters when the grant funds were exhausted. However, the Rotary Foundation gave us the opportunity to proceed using only club funds and DDF. Because of the continuing outpouring of support from clubs in our district and the offer of support for this wonderful project from District 5770 (Oklahoma) we were able to proceed with this project without having to wait until the next Rotary year in July. It is now pending at the Rotary Foundation and we expect fairly speedy action.

This project was the idea of, and originated with, First Lady Maria Tilton. Her dutiful husband then took up the cause and his untiring fund raising efforts has made this possible. The total cost of this Adopt A Village project is $44,724. With these funds the Rotary Club of Agadez, working with the village of Tiguinde, will be able to lift this village on the edge of the Sahara desert out of extreme poverty. They will do this with a series of sustainable projects for clean water, food production, sanitation, income generating sources, and health measures. This is truly Rotary at work "doing good in the world".

Chair, D5500 Grants Committee

DGE Steve DiMuzio Installation

As Rotary year 2008-2009 is drawing to a close, plans are underway for our next District Governor's installation, which will take place in Casa Grande on Sunday, June 28th 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at the Francisco Grande Hotel and Golf Resort. For more information -

                                                                                Information flyer
                                                                              Online Registration
                                                                              Mail-in Registration

Michael Drake is selected District Governor Nominee Designate for 2011-2012.

District 5500's District Governor Nominating Committee met on Saturday, March 21, 2009 in Casa Grande, Arizona to conduct interviews for the position of District Governor, 2011-2012. After a personal interview and selection process, Michael Drake of the Rotary Club of Tucson Sunset was the Nominating Committee's choice. The District Governor, Thomas Tilton, shall declare Michael the official District Governor Nominee Designate following the District mandated 30 day challenge period. The Committee was faced with a difficult choice from a slate of qualified and competent candidates and wishes to thank each of the Rotarians who applied, and the Clubs that nominated them. Job well done! Please join District 5500 in congratulating Michael and wishing him will in his new Rotary endeavors. Our District will be well served under his very able and capable leadership!!

The FaceBook listing was a strong recommendation at both the Presidential Membership Conference, and at the San Diego DGE training, and Past Officers Reunion, since many people under 35 are looking at these sites. People aren't joining RI, they are joining a group of Rotarians who belong to FaceBook, and they can get more information and leads (to our website and the RI website) from FaceBook, and then perhaps join a club. There have been a number who have already viewed the site.

Canyon Rotary Club in northwest Tucson is in formation. First meeting at the Metropolitan Grill will be Thursday evening, January 22, 2009. Social hour at 5:30 and meeting at 6:00 pm. Dinner is optional. This will be the third Tucson area Rotary Club that Jay McCall has taken the lead to charter. This will be the fifty-sixth club in District 5500.

Jay is currently District Extension Chair and slated to be Membership Chair for District Governor Elect Steve DiMuzio. Jay says, "After having the opportunity to facilitate the Dove Mountain Club as Special Representative for PDG Anne Fisher, I set a goal of at least starting a total of four new clubs."

The Canyon Rotary Club will provide an evening choice to the morning and noon choices for prospects to consider in northwest Tucson. The format will follow the "New Face of Rotary" concept that was successful in chartering the Tucson Foothills Club.

Jay has a membership PowerPoint presentation titled "Back to Basics" that is available for a club program. It presents the 10 benefits of Rotary and the demographics from which clubs need to recruit.

Jay can be contacted at website www.jaymccall.com or 520-909-9375.

Randy Brooks, Rotary Club of Marana, was recently inducted into to the D5500 Paul Harris Society.

Randy joined the select few who have chosen to make a commitment to contribute $1,000 or more each year to The Rotary Foundation’s Annual Programs Fund, PolioPlus, PolioPlus Partners, or Humanitarian Grants Program. In an induction ceremony at his club, Randy received a certificate of membership and a PHS pin banner (pictured here). The pin banner can be worn with the Rotary pin, a Paul Harris Fellow pin, or another type pin.

Because of the commitment of PHS members, The Rotary Foundation is better able to achieve its goals in the three main program areas: Polio Plus, humanitarian grants, and educational programs. For example, $1000 will provide polio vaccine for 2000 at-risk children in India, will help to bring clean water to a needy community in Africa, or can provide up to 900 dictionaries to third graders in YOUR community.

The Paul Harris Society is a special program administered by Rotary districts to recognize those individuals who choose to make a commitment to contribute $1,000 or more each year to our Rotary Foundation.

To obtain an application for membership or to learn more about PHS in D5500, please contact Annual Giving Chair Ernie Montagne at ernie.montagne@cox.net or by phone at 520-378-4601.

During the fiscal year from July 1, 2007- June 30, 2008, our District , our clubs and you as individual donors have done an exceptional job of showing that ROTARY SHARES!!! Forty nine of our fifty-five clubs participated in Rotary International Foundation giving.

The final reports on August 1, 2008 indicate that we surpassed our goals from the beginning of the year by giving 123.7% and that totaled $252,494.81 for Annual Giving! Restricted giving (such as initial gifts to the Gates Polio Challenge) totaled $87,091.76, and gifts to the Permanent Fund totaled $17,580. The GRAND TOTAL was $357,166.57.

That is not all: ShelterBox USA has notified me that our District clubs or individuals have donated $20,316.66 during the same fiscal year, placing us in the top ten of donor Districts in the northern Americas. For those who missed my speech as Governor at your clubs, each $1000. ShelterBox and its contents saves the lives of 10 people in the terrible disasters that occur each year. We have been there to help during September 2007 Uganda unrest, October 2007 floods in Mexico, January 2008 floods in Kenya, and helping AIDS orphans in Swaziland who had no shelter. Generous donors saved over 200 lives this past year…proof again of the adage that it is not the number of breaths we take, but the number of moments that take our breaths away that really count in our lives. You have all contributed to make a difference, and it absolutely touches my heart.

As I finalize the accounting reports for auditing and presentation at DG Tom’s fabulous “ Cruise with a Cause” District Conference at the end of October, a small truth about our new District Corporation Bylaws becomes clearer. I was nominated and elected by majority vote to serve on this year’s Finance Committee, because the Bylaws state that you cannot serve while Governor. We should also change the Bylaws to state you cannot serve while immediate Past District Governor: I am trusted with reviewing my own Fiscal Year reports for errors, omissions or misuse, and that is not appropriate. Therefore, I have asked DG Tom to name a replacement for me for this year. I will welcome serving at a later date.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Governor during 2007-2008. It has been an honor.

The contest will be held in three steps: the club competition, the regional competition, and the district competition. Clubs are responsible for the club‐level competition, and assistant governors are responsible for the regional competition. Delegation is fine, even encouraged. Club presidents may assign the competition to an individual or a committee. Assistant governors are free to appoint a regional speech contest coordinator.

1. Date. The club competitions must be completed by January 31, and the regional competitions must be completed by March 20. For the club competitions, having the contest as a club program is ideal, if the time of the meeting works for the students. A club meeting may also work for the regional competition. If not, a Saturday is a good choice. The district competition will be held April 18.

2. Location. For the regional competition, choose a location where you will have a quiet room for the competition and a waiting room or area for contestants.

3. Arrange for judges and timekeepers. You will need three judges plus an alternate, a timekeeper, and a teller. At the club level, the applicant need not attend a school within the territory of the club. Clubs may use their own discretion in selecting the schools or home school locations from which to solicit applicants.

Clubs are requested to coordinate their efforts so that the approach to the school is clear and well organized. If there are fewer high schools than Rotary Clubs, clubs may jointly sponsor a contestant, or each club may sponsor a contestant from the same school. Clubs are asked to encourage all schools, including parochial and charter schools to participate.

For the first time ever, five communities in northern Togo have access to clean, safe water from wells provided by Rotary matching grants supported by clubs in D5500 and elsewhere in the Rotary world.

Working fast to beat the coming rainy season, the Rotary Club of Dapaong (host partner club in D9100) and its well-drilling contractor completed five drilled wells with manual pumps in August 2008, only four months after approval of the grants by TRF in April.

Prior to receiving the wells, the communities lacked access to clean, safe water. The women walked miles each day to fetch water from unclean, open sources where pigs and cattle drank.

These wells will make a tremendous difference in the lives of thousands of needy people. Among the benefits of the wells:

The impact of the wells on the communities can be measured by these comments from community leaders. The village chief in Ganlore said, “This bore hole well is the center of health in our village.” The village chief in Naki-est said, “With this bore hole well, our wives will not have to fight with animals in fetching water at the river.”

Support for these projects came from hundreds of individual Rotarians in Rotary clubs across the USA and in Togo.
In D5500, these clubs provided support: Casa Grande, Nogales, Sierra Vista, Sierra Vista Sunrise, Willcox, and Yuma. These clubs outside of D5500 provided support: RC Dapaong, Togo (D9100), RC Lawton, OK (D5770), RC Mitchell, SD (D5610), RC Peoria North, AZ (D5490), and RC Yuba City, CA (D5180).

The Rotary Clubs of Peoria North (D5490) and Sierra Vista (D5500) served as international partner clubs.

These districts also provided support: D5180 in California, D5490 and D5500 in Arizona, D5610 in South Dakota, D5730 in Texas, and D9100 in Togo

Completion of these projects brings to 12 the total number of wells completed in Togo under the aegis of D5500 and RC Sierra Vista. Other projects are underway or complete in Niger with RC Sierra Vista, RC Sierra Vista Sunrise and RC Green Valley serving as international partner clubs.

Additional projects are planned for 2008-09. For more information, to make a contribution, or to arrange a presentation at your club, contact Ernie Montagne at ernie.montagne@cox.net. Or visit our web site at www.rotarysv.org.

Pima Rotary Club has changed its meeting place from The Hungry Fox to Chad's which is at the northwest corner of Swan and Ft. Lowell (not Camp Lowell). It will still be meeting at 11:15 on Fridays.

The Department of Economic Security and its Hunger Advisory Council are launching "The Arizona Partnership to End Childhood Hunger." By way of public Community Conversations, they are soliciting input on ten key strategies for ending child hunger in Arizona. This input is extremely important for ensuring the plan is comprehensive and relevant to all communities.

To learn more about the Partnership, the key strategies and details for the Community Conversations, please visit www.endchildhungeraz.org

Background: Tiguinde is a small, extremely impoverished village of 2,650 Tuareg people. It is located on the edge of the Sahara desert, in the Agadez Region (and the Ingall Commune). The community consists of 327 one room palm branch "tent" structures. Most of the people sleep outside on mats. The area is extremely dry and villagers suffer from severe hunger and malnutrition for several months of each year. They also have malaria, and diseases caused by unsafe water. May children die each year. Also, there is an extremely high rate of maternal deaths and serious illnesses during childbirth. There is a structure for a school, but there are no furnishings or desks or books because the community cannot afford them. None of the children go to school. In order to find work to buy millet and survive, the men go off to bigger cities or become migrant farm workers. The women and children are left in the village to eak out a meager existence. The diet is mainly millet (a grain similar to wheat) and dirty water, with no vegetables or protein sources.

The Rotary Club of Agadez (Niger), the Village Chief and the community have developed plans to lift the village out of this condition of extreme proverty into an economically viable unit with sustainable projects that will enable the village to be on their way to self-sufficiency within a two year period of time. The total cost of this project is $36,940 and it is eligible for a matching grant from The Rotary Foundation.

Hugh Grinnell	Contact - grinnell797@hotmail.com Available until May 31, 2009	Three Low-Budget Matching Grant Projects - overview of three projects which will be received in District 5500 before September 2009 as Matching Grant applications
Rachel Gioannini	Rachel Gioannini Designer/Owner Casa Serena Landscape Designs LLC 520-955-1861	Easy Water Harvesting Some of the easiest water harvesting techniques take only a little investment of money and time. www.casaserenadesigns.com
Marion Hook president of NAWBO Greater Tucson (National Association of Women Business Owners)	innkeeper@aroseinn.com 520-405-3317	Cross cultural communication Interacted regularly with high level individuals from all countries with which the U.S. has diplomatic relations. Worked closely with and for the Department of State “Community Connections” (primarily Russians and Ukrainians).
Greg D'Anna Pima County JTED (Joint Tecnhological Education District)	gdanna@pimajted.org 520.352-5833 ext. 109	Of interested to many Rotarians and would tie in with the vocational component of Rotary
Margaret Higgins, PhD	MargaretHIggins@thehaventucson.org 520 623 4590	Residential centers for women struggling with substance-abuse disorders. www.thehaventucson.org www.casadepalmas.org
Faith Christiansen Smeets Protect Our Homes	(602) 443-4786 or 1-866-591-1103 faith@protectourhomes.com	The Protect Our Homes Initiative is an important measure that will constitutionally shield your home from real estate transfer taxes. www.protectourhomes.com
Ernie Montagne Sally Montagne	ernie.montagne@cox.net sally.montagne@cox.net	Rotary Making a Difference in West Africa. Fifty-seven clubs and nine districts in six countries provide water, sanitation, and alleviation of poverty to thousands of needy villagers in Togo and Niger, West Africa.
Ernie Montagne	ernie.montagne@cox.net	The Rotary Foundation Annual Programs Fund Subcommittee Chair. The Rotary Foundation 101. Everything you always wanted to know ....
Gary Whiting	gift@giftoflife-az.com	Gift of Life - contact through their email with a couple of suggested dates. Arrangements will be made for a board member to make presentation. Also visit their website www.giftoflife-az.com
Tom Kiley	928-580-7859 tom@hunteremployment.com	The Rotary Vocational Fund of Arizona - program regarding this AZ Rotary Fund
Jay McCall	520-887-7847 520-909-9375 Cell jmccall415@msn.com	Back to Basics: A provocative look at marketing membership in the second century of Rotary.