Sedona Chief of Police Charles Husted joined Andrew Bailor and Dr. Dan Olson as the newest members of the Rotary Club of Sedona Red Rocks. The trio were inducted by the club’s Foundation Chair, Ron Draxler, during the August 7 meeting at Sedona Rouge Hotel and Spa. Scott Gilbert and Marjie Muro acted as their sponsors.

Rotary Club of Sedona Red Rocks and Friends of the Sedona Library have collaborated on providing a new commercial grade picnic table to Sedona Public Library. The table is located at the library’s rental property that currently houses the Friends’ used book store.

The Friends’ used book store has operated at the 3270 White Bear Road location since June 2017. Prior tenants had left a picnic table on site but concerns recently developed about its condition, stability and safety to users.

Donna Hawk, treasurer for both Friends of the Sedona Library and Red Rocks Rotary, recognized the need for a new table as an opportunity for the two non-profits to join forces. Each organization contributed $450 toward the cost of the project while Red Rocks Rotary provided the skill and man-power to assemble the table’s components.

Although storm clouds filled the skies, the assembly project escaped a downpour. Hawk, joined by fellow Red Rocks Rotarians Randy Sosin, John Bradshaw and Luke Sefton, labored the evening of July 17 to complete the task.

During its first year in business that concluded May 31, 2018, the Friends’ used book store realized proceeds of nearly $46,000 that was donated to Sedona Public Library to assist with its annual operational costs.

A variety of colorful backpacks will greet forty at need elementary grade students as they return to classes in the Sedona Oak Creek School District in August.

The back packs, provided free of charge by the Rotary Club of Sedona Red Rocks, also contain essential school supplies. Each backpack, suitable for grades K – 3, holds one spiral notebook, a dozen pencils, a glue stick, one wedge eraser, a box of 24 colored pencils and a set of 24 assorted crayons.

Delivered to the Sedona Oak Creek School District Administrative Office on July 19, this is the sixth year that Red Rocks Rotary has donated the backpacks and supplies. They will be distributed where most needed by the SOCSD to students at both West Sedona School and Big Park Elementary School.

The backpack donation comes every year just following the completion of Red Rocks Rotary’s longest running service project which is the summer school literacy program at West Sedona School. The club’s support of the program began in 2003 at the urging of its founding member the late Ray Myrvold.

Red Rocks Rotary annually provides $1,500 toward the cost of the program. Red Rock Rotarians also personally visit the campus and assist the students with their reading lessons during the summer session.