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With the “Splash” delivery there were 8000 packets for the INFO for LIFE program delivered; one to every home in the three phases of Sun Lakes. In addition a supply of packets was left at the two Fire Stations and the two local Real Estate offices, for anyone else wishing to have the information. Some 80 plus Rotarians participated in this delivery.
On January 13th the annual Sun Lakes Foundation dinner was held. PDG Sonny Brown from El Paso, Texas, was the speaker, and following his inspirational talk some Rotarian were made posse members for the Rotary International Conventions to be held in San Antonio, Texas, in June of 2001. This dinner provided $1,600 to Rotary International Foundation, including a Paul Harris Fellow award for the drawing winner, Victor Fomo. The annual Blood Drive was held with the Blood bank and 40 plus donors.
The Sun Lakes Club joined with other clubs from Arizona and California and with the Homer-Kachernek Club of Homer, Alaska as co-sponsors of a new Rotary Club in Vladivostok, Russia. PDG. Steve Yoshida of Homer, Alaska was the charter organizer. The Charter ceremony will be in Vladivostok in May.
On February 15th 60 plus Rotarians and partners drove or bussed to Palm Springs, California for a fellowship. The group attended the Palm Springs Follies, played golf and attended the Palm Springs Rotary Club meeting.
In response to a plea form the District Governor Joe Goldblatt and Rotary International; the SLRC membership raised $1,862 for Flood and Disaster Relief for Venezuela victims.
At the request of incoming District Governor Ben Eubank, the SLRC hosted a reception at Sun Lakes for DGE Bulsant K. Hetamsaria of Ramgarth, India. Approximately 40 Sun Lakes Rotarians and their partners attended on February 13th.
The Fellowship committee held a Mystery Theater at the Oakwood Country Club Ballroom. There were 175 in attendance and were entertained by an all-star cast of Rotarians and partners in a Murder Mystery in a Western atmosphere. A raffle and the show raised $1,800 for the Sun Lakes Foundation 2000.
Millenium Day, February 29th, was celebrated in honor of our frequent visitors form Canada, with a letter from the President of the Edmonton South Rotary Club. One of our frequent visitors, Mr. Ron Fath, a 50 year Charter member of the Edmonton club, spoke about his experiences in Rotary. A kilted Bagpiper escorted in a cake decorated in honor of the Canadians. A Rotary singing group entertained with a rousing rendition of “O Canada” and “God Bless America”.
The SLRC had 6 Officers and Director attend the PETS conference in Mesa. In addition 8 club members attended to Sergeant of Arms duty on the first day of the meeting.
March 8th was the first organizing meeting of a new Rotary club, initially called Chandler Ocotillo. Sun Lakes Rotary Club is the sponsor. Past President Lee Widener and PDG Bill Decker are the organizers with the able assistance of Frequent Visitor PDG Loy Dickinson. The new club will meet Wednesday noon. They are still meeting and gaining new member each meeting with 17 now signed up and are looking to charter by mid May. They will be meeting in the new Northern Trust Bank in the Ocotillo/Sun Lakes area. The Ocotillo area is the prime area to recruit new members, however there will be some from the Sun Lakes area interested in a noon club.
Eight officers and directors attended the District Assembly in Tempe. Other members also attended in Payson.
On March 21st the second annual Prayer Breakfast was held in the Oakwood Ballroom. This was a joint prayer celebration with the SLRC, Sun Lakes Kiwanis and Sun Lakes Lions Club. There were 175 in attendance. All of the members of the Interfaith Council were honored guests. Sister Mary Martha Carpenter, Schoolmaster at the St. Peters School on the Gila River Indian reservation was the principal speaker and gave an inspiring message.
On March 23rd, 24 visitors from South Africa came to Sun Lakes on a Friendship Exchange. There were home hosted and travel hosted by the Sun Lakes rotary. Their first night we had a potluck dinner at the Grotewold home attended by all the hosts, DG Joe and Helen Goldblatt and DGE Ben and Donna Eubank. There were 67 in attendance. Their travels took them to Sedona, Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon as well as to Tucson and Nogales, Mexico. They were hosted at the regular SLRC meeting on Tuesday, March 28th. What a great group! There will be 28 from District 5510 traveling to South Africa in August, 2000.
A fellowship SPRING FLING started off the month of April. This was a farewell to our Frequent Visitors and the South Africans. We also recognized all the new members that joined SLRC this Rotary year, and their sponsors. A fine dinner and entertainment was enjoyed by all at the Oakwood Country Club ballroom.
April 5th was the date of the 7th annual Charity Rotary Golf Tournament. 136 golfers had a great day of golf at the Oakwood Country club Course. A dinner, raffle, and silent auction were held and some $12,000 net was raised to support the many SLRC and SLRC Foundation 2000 Charities.
On April 12th the fourth group from Russia arrived in Sun Lakes. These groups are home hosted and visited American banks and individuals in the Phoenix area, in the banking industry. This is a joint cooperative effort by all 3 Rotary Districts in Arizona. They had previously been in Tucson, Flagstaff, the Grand Canyon, and Sedona. These groups are sponsored by the United States Dept. of State and the Center for Citizen Initiative, from San Francisco. They were here until Sunday, April 16. The balance of April was spent getting new committees established, budgets and plans for the Rotary year 2000-2001.
The Recognition Banquet for the Strive program was held on April 19th at the Chandler Center for the Arts. Scholarships in the amount of $8,000 were presented to the students of Strive. Criteria for the awards included: Raising of grade point average, Attitude about school improvement, Attendance, and Participation. There were 170 plus students, parents, educators, and Rotarians in attendance. The speaker was Dr. Camille Casteel, Superintendent of the Chandler School District.
Four new members were inducted in April to make a grand total of 118 members with a net growth of 20 members, or 20%. On April 11,Trent Lucas, a returning Exchange Student, spoke to our club. Trent spent 9 months with three families in Argentina. He gave many thanks to the SLRC for their sponsorship.
Programs in May included Club Assemblies, reporting about the activities of all Avenues of Service, on May 9th and 16th.
During May the SLRC recruited for the RYLA and Rotary Youth Exchange and Whitewater World Affairs Conference. Two members of the Club, Bill Decker and Dwight Grotewold, were at the RYLA Conference. The Service above Self and Outstanding Educators awards were presented May 23rd at the regular club meeting. There was a “Service Above Self” award to a student from both Chandler and Hamilton High Schools. There were “Outstanding Educator” awards presented to two teachers from Chandler and one from Hamilton High School. On May 23rd our speaker was the Mayor of Chandler, Mr. Jay Tibshraeney. He gave an outstanding overview of the growth and continuing upgrading of the value of life amenities of Chandler. Chandler has received many awards for the way they have handled the fastest growth of any city its size in the US.
Some twenty members attended the District 5510 Conference on May 18 through 21. There were great speakers and good programs at the conference. Our club received District awards as follows:
1. Best membership attendance retention rate 97%.
2. Most new members – net 20 or 20%.
3. Participation with Chandler Horizon in Hole in One tournament.
4. Sponsoring a new club.
5. Participation in the President’s (RI) Citation program.
6. District Achievement Award.
7. Large Club Bulletin, 2nd place.
8. Centurion Club Award.
9. Rotary Foundation District Service Award to the club president.
Rotary International Awards, only one to a district
1. RI Public Relations award for 1999-2000.
2. RI Significant Achievement Award for “INFO for LIFE” program.
On May 30th “ The Rotarian of the Year” award was made to Mr. Bill Caswell, for his steady and significant contribution made as Director and Overseer of the Strive and Vocational Service Avenues.
President-elect Gary Whiting and Mrs. Whiting attended the Rotary International Convention in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The 2000-2001 officers will be installed on June 27th. As a result of Board of Directors action, and membership approval, there will be one additional Director added for the coming year. This addition is a result of the many efforts toward the education of students. The Vocational Service area will be divided into two groups, one for K to 12 education efforts and one to traditional Vocational efforts. New officers and Directors for the Rotary year2000-2001 are as follows:
President Gary Whiting
President-elect Dick Myren
Vice-President Bill Casswell
Director one year Milt Knutson
Director two year John McCain
Director two year John Knipping
Director two year Jack Smythe
Treasurer David Florence
Secretary David Teigland
In commemoration of D-day, on June 6th the program honored all WWII vets. Breakfast was served and included old favorites such as Creamed Beef on Toast (“SOS”).
The 1999-2000 Rotary Year has been a productive and satisfying one. All of the members of this club can be very proud of their accomplishments. Their ability to work together in such unselfish ways demonstrates the principles of the 4-way test and of the entire Rotary movement. As your President I wish to congratulate you one and all for your dedication and commitment. I also know you will give the next year’s officers the same consideration you have given me. Thank you one and all.
Robert Beckley, President 1999-2000.