Standing in for President Dan who was vacationing with Mesa West's first lady Colleen in Hawaii was President-Elect Pam Cohen. She opened the meeting reciting the 2021-22 Rotary International theme - Serve to Change Lives. She followed that with the Rotary Vision Statement:
Together we see a world where people unite and
take action to create lasting change -
across the globe, in our communities and in ourselves
Thanksgiving Duet - Chris Krueger and Ray Smith
To extend the spirit of Thanksgiving an additional week, Chris and Ray sang the first two verses of "For the Beauty of the Earth," inviting those in attendance to join them for the third and final verse.
Invocation and Pledge
The invocation was offered by Jim Schmidt. Warren Williamson led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Word of the Day - John PennypackerWhen President-Elect Pam called on Jeane Crouse for a word of the day, she said she had not taken time to prepare - as she had been busy preparing for and celebrating Hanukkah since our last meeting. She deferred to John Pennypacker.
His word was Cenosillicaphobia - the fear of an empty beer glass.
When the editor followed up with him to get the correct spelling and definition of the word, he provided a photo to show he was not suffering from cenosillicaphobia.
Introduction of Guests
- President-Elect Pam introduced a long-time friend and visiting Rotarian from Red Deer, Alberta, Canada - Lolita Wiesner and her husband Hans.
- Pam also introduced Sean Green, who had a membership application in process (which has since become final).
- Tim Troy introduced Tom Yuzer, a frequent visiting Rotarian from Roseville, Minnesota.
Ace of Clubs Raffle - Chuck Flint
Chuck Flint asked Tim Troy to draw the winning raffle ticket. The holder of the winning ticket would automatically win $45. They would also win the opportunity to try to draw the ace of clubs from the cards remaining in the deck. Should they draw the ace of clubs, they would win $815.
The holder of the winning ticket was Warren Williamson. The card Warren drew from the deck was the eight of diamonds, which was immediately destroyed. Next week the large winnings will be larger and the odds of drawing the ace of clubs will be better.
Rotary Minute - Lolita WiesnerLolita shared some of her experience of seeing the world through travel opportunities only available to Rotarians.
One of the first places she mentioned was a visit to Newcastle, where they stayed on top of a mountain with a Rotarian met through the International Travel and Hosting Fellowship. One of the benefits of staying with an ITHF member is that some of them live in out-of-the-way places where you would never have thought of visiting.
On the visit to Newcastle, near the Hunter Valley, the road up the mountain to their host's home was not much more than a goat track. The house had a compostable toilet and internet was iffy. Their host took them to some aboriginal cave drawings from 1000's of years ago. They were introduced to an aboriginal artist and toured many wineries in the Hunter Valley.
Their first ITHF experience was a visit to Glasgow, where they toured castles and whisky distilleries. That host didn't visit them in Canada, but a host from Aberdeen did. One time they stayed with a retired American CIA agent and his Thai wife in Bangkok. They reconnected with them during the Rotary International convention in Bangkok. They have visited Hans and Lolita in Alberta.
They ran into John Pennypacker at the Sidney RI Convention.
They visited Brisbane, where they stayed with an RI director who was friends with a member of Lolita's Red Deer club and who set up the visit. While there, they visited Beerwah, home of the Irwin Zoo.
With the ITHF, you create a profile and can indicate countries you would like to visit. You can view the profiles of other Rotarians in the fellowship and contact them directly to arrange one-way or reciprocal visits.
Lolita and Hans visited Mooroopna, Australia, another little-known place, where they were taken to an annual, private dinner in a winery. Their host rented a bus and driver and with a part of about 20 feasted on a multi-course dinner with accompanying wines, and they could taste any wine they wanted. She told of a photo with eight glasses lined up in front of her. During a visit to Tasmania, they toured an unusual MONA - Museum of Old and New Art. They also toured the famous prison in nearby Port Arthur. Their hostess insisted on doing laundry form them while they were on the tour. When they returned, they found their underwear drying on racks throughout the house.
They have participated in day trips through the ITHF. When they were on cruises and they knew they would be able to leave the ship for several hours, they would contact Rotarians through the fellowship. Once in Buenos Aires, the Rotarian Lolita had contacted couldn't meet them but arranged for his sister to act as a tour guide.
Steve Hoshida and his wife picked them up in Hilo and showed them around as well as took them to their home where they were hosting a youth exchange student. Steve is also a friend of Penny May.
In Yokohama, they were hosted by Yasu and Hiroko. They hit it off so well that three months later they were reciprocal hosts in Canada. They were excited to reconnect with them in January 2020 when they picked Hans and Lolita up at the dock, took them to lunch and then to a tea ceremony. After they returned to the Diamond Princess they learned of COVID which would keep them confined to the ship. Yasu and Hiroko offered to deliver anything that was needed to the ship, but they were well taken care of.
Lolita also spoke briefly about Rotary Friendship Exchange. A group from one district visits another district which can be anywhere in the world where two district governors make an agreement. Hans and Lolita have been on three RFE;s to Australia, two of which were before and after the Sydney convention.
Lolita thanked Jeanie Morgan who was a great help when she learned Hans and Lolita were planning to sell their condo in Mesa. During early communications, the land border crossing was not open. Jeanie connected them with John Pennypacker who offered a vehicle and a place to stay, but they didn't need to take him up on it. Lolita said Rotarians are the best. She appreciates the opportunity to stay connected to Mesa West through the Messenger.
CLICK HERE to download a link to a wide variety of Rotary fellowship opportunities, including the International Travel and Hosting Fellowship.
Happy Bucks - Don LaBarge - for the month of December happy bucks will go to Salvation Army.
- John Pennypacker had heard from some Rotarians about a fraud that was being perpetrated by someone pretending to be him. He wanted to warn anyone who received something from him asking for donations of money or gift cards to report it and not open or respond to the message. The "from" email address on the fraudulent messages has never been used by John. John pledged $50 for Salvation Army.
- Warren Williamson said the reason he often tells jokes when he contributes to Happy Bucks is because he doesn't have children or grandchildren to brag about. The closest he can come to bragging rights about the next generation is a nephew who got out of jail early.
- Shelly Romine was glad she was able to attend the Salvation Army Kettle Palooza on November 30. She learned that while ringing the bell in years past, they would preach about Hell and damnation, then the Salvation Army Band would play to let their listeners know what it would be like.
- Dick Myren contributed his traditional $2 for himself and Rod Daniels. He also contributed a little more to thank Minnesota for beating Wisconsin which put Iowa in the playoffs.
- Chris Krueger fined herself for being late to ring the bell at Bass Pro because she was experiencing so much angst over the Nebraska/Iowa game.
- Allan Cady contributed $20 because he appreciated the guided tour of the Mesa Temple provided by Jim Schmidt. Two of Allan's children are members and the tour made him feel closer to them.
- Polly Cady contributed $1 because Allan took her $20. They enjoyed a great time in Cabo for Thanksgiving. They had steak instead of turkey.
- Joan Reimann contributed, thankful for a wonderful time in South Dakota celebrating Thanksgiving and their 60th wedding anniversary. She said it was awesome!
- Erwin Reimann announced that he was happy to donate to $600 The Rotary Foundation Polio Fund in honor of their 60th anniversary.
- Tom Yuzer was reminded, as he was ringing the Salvation Army bell in his shirt sleeves, why he is glad he decided to come south for the winter.
- Lolita Wiesner contributed because she was happy to be in Arizona even though it will be a short visit this year.
- Jim Schmidt contributed. He was also happy to be in Arizona - he grew up in Roseville, Minnesota.
- Chuck Flint contributed so he could tell about General Custer when he had sent scouts out in every direction. When they came back to report, they said they had good news and bad news. He asked for the bad news first, which was, "If we continue, 5,000 are sure to die." He asked for the good news, and was told, "If that happens, we won't have to go back through South Dakota."
- Ed Koeneman thanked Jack Rosenberg for referring his first woodworking customer from outside his circle of family and friends.
- Don LaBarge told about the plaque he was presented at the Kettle Palooza dinner. Scott Ramsey announced that between 2011 and 2020, Mesa West had raised $153,000 with our bell ringing efforts. The plaque was mistakenly engraved showing that we raised $153,000,000.
- Ted Williams contributed. He looks forward to ringing the bell. His son took a picture of him. He encouraged members to "Do it for Don - help him fill in the openings in his schedule. Ted likes to ring between 6-8 pm when the daily "take" is at its best. The lowest is the 10 am to noon shift - the first shift of the day. Don had his schedule with him and passed it around. He said that during the first three days, our kettle location had taken in $2,300. In years past, lots of people not in Mesa West Rotary helped fill in gaps in the schedule. Interact Club Members, Boy Scouts, and seasonal visitors. The Boy Scout Troup which helped used to have 65 members before COVID. They are down to 8. Seasonal visitation is down due to COVID as well.
Announcements
- January 15, 2022 - Post Holiday Party tentatively planned to be held at home of Pam Cohen. Watch for more information.
Program - Jay and Melissa Stuckey - New Member Talk
Both Jay and Melissa were born in 1969, so that is when their story began.
Jay is the son of Jay and Sue Stuckey of Paradise Valley, Arizona. One of the favorite places to be for this Valley of the Son native is on a ski slope.
Melissa is the daughter of Stanley and Reba Rose of Pacific Palisades, California. It appears she was able to make her feelings known early in life. She spent some of her growing up years in Parker, Colorado. After graduating from the U of A, she married and had a beautiful daughter. She lost her father in 2000 and her mother in 2016.
Jay has a background in graphic design and marketing and his career has taken him down some interesting and diverse paths, from working with the Arizona State Government under Governor Fife Symington - working with the Arizona Lottery to Muzak to Chicago Title. Melissa has an entrepreneurial side - developing a product called Biz in a Box to teach youth what things are like in the real world. At one point when both attending a fundraiser, Jay indicated an interest in helping market her product. She also developed some very practical curriculum. When she didn't hear from Jay about helping market her product, she assumed he was all talk. Jay thought their might be a conflict of interest in his current job situation at the time, and he had a lot going on in his personal life, as well.
More than a year later, their paths crossed again. By that time, Jay was divorced. Melissa was also single. She wasn't too impressed at first, but he must have done something right to win her heart. They were married October 20, 2018. He says she inspires him.Today, they are not only married, they are in business together. We will hear more about that on December 9, when they will again present the program, talking about their business:
