August Rotary Club

Rotary Announces Its 2022-23 Leadership Team

Dr. Honora Norton, RCSL Public Image Chair

At a recent Rotary Club of Sun Lakes (RCSL) meeting held at Sun Lakes Palo Verde Country Club, the Rotary International (RI) District 5495 incoming district governor, Larry Horton, welcomed the Rotary Club of Sun Lakes 2022-23 board, officers, and committee chairs to their new positions. RI officer-themed pins were awarded to Stephen Phair, club president; Victoria Flatley, president-elect; Jon Lyons, immediate past president and sergeant at arms; Kristine Schultz, secretary; Stan Kaufman, treasurer; Dick Thomas, Rotary Foundation director; Dr. Honora Norton, public image director; Bob Phillips, Foundation 2000 director and, along with Dave Ouradnik, RCSL Golf Tournament co-chair; Debbie Bailey, Membership Committee chair; Gary Kay, Education Committee chair; Judi Edmonds, Charity and Community Service and Peace Building Committees chair; Bill McCoach, Program Committee chair; David Mork, club historian and Heritage Project coordinator; and Peter Meade, Fundraising Committee.

Rotary International’s 2022-23 president Jennifer Jones imagines a Rotary where members act to make their dreams become reality and where they make the most of their club experiences. As the first woman RI president, she urges members to engage more with each other and use these connections to build partnerships that change the world. Rotary International, with a membership of over 1.2 million men and women in 140 countries, improves people’s lives, locally and globally, through service. To learn more about RCSL, see www.sunlakesrotary.com.

Rotary Supports Educational and Community Service Projects

Rotary Club of Sun Lakes supports the following educational and community service projects:

AWIM Program: Rotary Club of Sun Lakes recently announced the club’s plans to continue support of its AWIM (A World in Motion) Program within Valley schools. The program is sponsored by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) to get K-9th grade students excited about math and science so that they will consider a career as an engineer or other technical fields. The Sun Lakes Rotary Club partners with SAE and provides volunteers to go into the classroom to work with the teachers and students using hands-on projects. RCSL provides recognition to the winning teams at the end of each session. AWIM Program volunteers are members of RCSL, General Motors employee alumni, Northrop Grumman Corporation, and ASU students.

During the 2018-19 school year, 3,802 students in 20 schools were impacted by the AWIM Program. During the 2021-22 school year, 2,410 students at Surprise Canyon Ridge Elementary, Chandler’s Carlson Elementary, Phoenix Christ Lutheran, Tolleson Country Place Elementary, Chandler Fulton Elementary, Goodyear Western Sky, Avondale Pope John II High School, Chandler Patterson Elementary, Chandler Strong Foundations Academy, and Phoenix Sevilla West were impacted by the AWIM Program.

Per Rotarian Don Robins: “I’m impressed with our numbers for this school year, and the teachers really enjoyed having volunteers back in the classroom. We have a few new schools signed up for the 2022-23 school year, and some of our schools will add some more grades.”

Sleeping Mats for Valley Homeless: RCSL is partnering with Rotary Club of Tempe South in collecting plastic bags, which will be used to create sleeping mats for the homeless. Rotarians plan to crochet sleeping mats on a weaving loom. Per RCSL President-Elect Stephen Phair, this is a great summer community service project!

Snack Packs for Rainbow Angels: Sun Lakes Rotary Charity Committee assembled over 100 nutrition packets for Amanda Hope Rainbow Angels (AHRA). The packets will be distributed to the pediatric floors of local hospitals. AHRA bought refrigerators for these hospitals to help moms and dads out when they bring their other children to visit. These families are stressed out from their child’s cancer. Since the cost of feeding their other children from a hospital cafeteria can be a financial hardship for them, they can take a packet. Per RCSL Project Leader Sharon Flood, one small gesture of kindness goes a long way.

For more information about Rotary Club of Sun Lakes’ community service projects or membership, see www.sunlakesrotary.com.

Rotary Club of Sun Lakes Honors Ed Anderson and Jon Lyons

Dr. Honora Norton, RCSL Public Image Director

The Rotary Club of Sun Lakes (RCSL) named Ed Anderson its July 2022 Rotarian of the Month. It was in 2015, while playing golf at Oakwood Country Club, that Ed was asked to an RCSL breakfast. Ed served as 2018-19 RCSL club president, and for many years has served on the RCSL Golf Committee, various other committees, and community service projects, including managing two Sun Lakes Splash newspaper delivery routes. Since 2020, Ed has served as Rotary International District 5495 Assistant Governor and advises 5 of the 65 Rotary clubs in the district. Ed is a U.S. Army veteran and Sun Lakes resident. Ed is now semi-retired with many years in real estate and currently is an award-winning sales agent with West USA Realty.

In June, RCSL named Jon Lyons June 2022 Rotarian of the Month. Jon served two terms (2020-22) as RCSL club president, currently serves on the RCSL Board as past president and sergeant of arms, and serves on RI District 5495 committees. Jon joined RCSL in 2016 and immediately took on responsibilities, including membership chair and other roles. Jon is an ASU graduate with a BS in accounting and has worked in many disciplines, including finance, sourcing, quality, lean manufacturing, and operations. He retired in April of 2016. The Chandler Chamber of Commerce honored Jon at its 33rd Annual Chandler Chamber Community Awards Dinner with the Community Cup Award for his outstanding contributions to the community.

The RCSL members are excited to honor Ed and Jon as the RCSL’s outstanding Rotarians of the Month.