Liz Cohn presented past club president Ron Devries with the Rotary Presidential Citation Award at our July 2nd meeting. Our club received this award because it: “Achieved net increase in membership with two new members; diversified its membership; enhanced Rotary’s public image via participation in the City Slicker Rodeo Fundraiser and through radio programs on KJU Radio, Tucson; members volunteer as a Rotary Volunteer.” The Pima Club received special recognition for having inducted two women during the 2009-2010 Rotary year and having completed a service project each month. Our club was one of only 13 in our district to receive this award. Congratulations Ron!

This year we have one member attending the Tri-District PETS 2010:

Jeff Keeme / President-Elect for 2010

The Arizona Presidents-elect, Secretaries-elect, Treasurers-elect and Presidents-nominee Training Seminar is a system of long standing multi-district PETS training sessions. AZ PETS is a joint effort of the three Rotary districts in the state of Arizona. AZ PETS is managed, prepared and conducted by a PETS committee and the District Governor-elect from each participating District. Consisting of well known exceptional speakers, informative workshops, detailed district training sessions and fellowship and networking, the basic purpose of our PETS is to have the best prepared, most enthusiastic club leaders in the Rotary world. Annually, the attending Presidents-elect, Secretaries and Treasurers leave well prepared to carry out their Rotary duties.

On Saturday, August 29th, members of the Pima Rotary Club joined in the effort to keep the Rillito River Walk trash-free. Over the course of three hours we cleaned up 5 bags of trash and left the walkway newly clean and beautiful for its many joggers and cyclists. We will be participating in this clean-up effort on a yearly basis, in conjunction with other Tucson-based Rotary Clubs.

Jacob McKeever was formally inducted to the Pima Rotary Club by Club President, Ron DeVries, at the Friday meeting on August 7th. He will be a very active and valued member of our club. Welcome Jacob!!

On Saturday, August 1st, the Pima Rotary Club spent the day at Old Pueblo Children’s Academy.   Through this effort,  we aided a brand new school in installing baseboards in the entire school.  Old Pueblo Children’s Academy is a charter school that works with special needs children grades K-8.  Please visit www.oldpuebloacademy.org for more information on this school.  The Old Pueblo Children’s Academy website was also donated by one of our members.

The Pima Rotary Club is part of Rotary International, the largest humanitarian organization in the world.  The fourth weekend of each month concept was created so that a service project where ‘real work’ is done rather than just writing a check. Through efforts such as these and others, Rotarians aspire to build goodwill and the friendship of the community.   The club also supports projects such as world polio eradication, providing dictionaries to third grade students locally as well as supporting students in Kampala, Uganda.  Meetings are held the first three Fridays of the month at Chad’s Steakhouse at Swan/Ft. Lowell at 11:15 am.  Visit www.pimarotary.org for more information.    Look below for some pictures of us in action!

On Saturday, June 27th, the Pima Rotary Club spent the day at the home of a recipient of aide from TIHAN.  Through this effort, this person living with HIV has had her ceiling in her home resealed and new window coverings.

TIHAN invites the religious community to join them in an informed, sensitive and compassionate response to those affected by HIV/AIDS. They are called to care through education, service and advocacy:

• working within their faith communities to promote education and prevention of HIV/AIDS
• educating clergy and laity in offering support to those affected by HIV/AIDS
• assuring the availability of spiritual care, respecting each individual’s faith and tradition
• advocating in the community for those affected by HIV/AIDS
• To see more about TIHAN and our recipient’s story click on the following link:

http://www.tihan.org/georgeannie.htm

The Pima Rotary Club is part of Rotary International, the largest humanitarian organization in the world.  The fourth weekend of each month concept was created so that a service project where ‘real work’ is done rather than just writing a check. Through efforts such as these and others, Rotarians aspire to build goodwill and the friendship of the community.   The club also supports projects such as world polio eradication, providing dictionaries to third grade students locally as well as supporting students in Kampala, Uganda.  Meetings are held the first three Fridays of the month at Chad’s Steakhouse at Swan/Ft. Lowell at 11:30 am.  Visit www.pimarotary.org for more information.

On May 25th the new officers of the Pima Rotary Club were installed by District Governor Elect, Steve DiMuzio and Past District Governor, Jim Aslin.  An Italian Feast was prepared by incoming president, Ron DeVries, and current president, Mona McCane, with the aide of Marylin Curiel, incoming sargeant-at-arms and PR chairperson, at the club house at the apartment home of the incoming president.  A great time was had by all including our exchange student from Brussels, Belgium, Louise, and her current host parents, Margie and Don.

The Pima Rotary Club is currently selling chances to win several prizes.  Ten cruise vouchers for Ensenata, Mexico or Nassau, Bahamas and ten “Getaway to Paradise” weekend packages will be given to the winners of the chance drawing to occur in late June.

Tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20.  If you would like to find out more about the prizes or would like to purchase tickets, drop us a line at info@pimarotary.org.

  On Saturday, April 25th, the Pima Rotary Club spent the day at Comin’ Home to kick off their inaugural “Fourth week project”.   Through this effort, Comin’ Home now has a permanent chicken coop which will  play a part in assisting veterans achieve self sufficiency by allowing them to earn an income and provide for themselves.

     Comin’ Home provides homeless veterans support services and housing through transitional and permanent settings and outreach.  Outreach occurs in urban and rural areas reaching the veteran that had not yet come for assistance.  Many of the men and women have complex issues related to mental illness, substance abuse, health and physical disabilities as well as chronic employment and housing problems.

     The Pima Rotary Club is part of Rotary International, the largest humanitarian organization in the world.  The fourth weekend of each month concept was created so that a service project where ‘real work’ is done rather than just writing a check. Through efforts such as these and others, Rotarians aspire to build goodwill and the friendship of the community.   The club also supports projects such as world polio eradication, providing dictionaries to third grade students locally as well as supporting students in Kampala, Uganda.  Meetings are held the first three Fridays of the month at Chad’s Steakhouse at Swan/Ft. Lowell at 11:15 am.  Visit www.pimarotary.org for more information.    Look below for some pictures of us in action!

BJ Cordova, outbound Group Study Exchange (GSE) team member, joined the Pima Rotary Club for Lunch today to speak about his impending trip to South Africa and discuss his work with Tucson Clean and Beautiful.  The Pima Rotary Club is hopeful that upon his return he will be joining the club and also providing access to projects for the club to complete on their 4th Week Projects, their new format for meetings on the fouth week of the month.  The club has recently adopted a non-traditional meeting schedule which includes three regular weekly meetings and a service project on the fourth week of every month.

BJ is very active with his organization, Tucson Clean and Beautiful, which provides the following mission:  a non-profit organization to preserve and improve our environment, conserve natural resources, and enhance the quality of life in the City of Tucson and eastern Pima County.  These goals will be achieved through initiating educational and participatory programs implemented with broad citizen, multiculture support.

This is an obvious synergy and potential partnership with Rotary’s mission to improve local communities through service projects.