Rotary Club Celebrates 40 Years in Sun Lakes

Gary Whiting and Dr. Honora Norton

The Rotary Club of Sun Lakes (RCSL) is celebrating 40 years of service, leadership, and community impact. Chartered on April 22, 1986, RCSL has grown from a small group of retirees to one of Arizona’s most active Rotary clubs.

RCSL plans to hold its 40th Anniversary Dinner Celebration on April 21 at the Sun Lakes Cottonwood Country Club ballroom between 4:30 and 6 p.m. Watch RCSL’s website at www.sunlakesrotary.com for details to register and join RCSL’s members, guests, and contributing sponsors at this inspiring celebration.

In 1985 Chandler Rotarian Andre Felix posted an invitation for Sun Lakes residents to attend a Rotary meet and greet. Wayne Johnson was among the first to respond, and soon, with seven others, the group decided Sun Lakes needed a Rotary presence. Arizona Rotary District 5510 and Rotary International formally approved RCSL as a Tuesday morning club with 15 charter members, led by first president Allan Gustafson. Membership peaked at 140 in 2000–01 and now maintains more than 90 members.

RCSL has had 40 presidents, including six women, several of whom have served in Arizona district leadership roles. In 2000–01, Rotary International recognized RCSL as one of Rotary’s 50 largest clubs and received the 21st Century Challenge Award. During Rotary’s 2004-05 centennial year, past President Gary Whiting served as Arizona District 5510’s Centennial Governor, overseeing 46 Rotary clubs in Northeastern Arizona.

RCSL is known as the “Education Club.” RCSL supports youth programs, such as Student Exchange, Interact, Rotary Youth Leadership Award, AWIM, Four-Way Test essay competitions, and scholarships. RCSL honors educators with monthly and annual awards. One of RCSL’s traditions is the 3rd Grade Dictionary Project, launched 22 years ago by the late Dwight Grotewold. Annually, more than 4,000 dictionaries and, to date, more than 88,000 dictionaries have been delivered to Chandler Unified School District students and Gila River Indian Community schools.

RCSL supports the Rotary International Foundation and has participated in 13 Humanitarian Global Grants totaling over $533,000, which include a 2018–19 project bringing inside running tap water to 33 off-the-grid, isolated Navajo homes, improving access to safe water. Sun Lakes Foundation 2000, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, often funds RCSL’s community service projects.

Rotary Club of Sun Lakes Supports Veterans

Dr. Honora Norton, RCSL Public Image Chair

The Rotary Club of Sun Lakes visited Catholic Charities MANA House. RCSL volunteers helped pack welcome and exit packages, served dinner, and enjoyed fellowship with resident veterans. In November of 2024, Sun Lakes Rotary Foundation 2000 gifted $5,000 to MANA House to upgrade MANA House’s security/safety system. During this visit, Dr. Honora Norton, representing RCSL Veterans Services Committee, presented a $500 check and breakfast goodies to MANA House. MANA House is a peer-run organization of homeless and formerly homeless veterans offering personal, individualized basic resources, community, and advocacy for all veterans. For more info on MANA House, see www.manahouseaz.org.

Sun Lakes Rotary Holds Annual Foundation Dinner

Dr. Honora Norton, RCSL Sun Lakes Public Image Chair

Rotary Club of Sun Lakes (RCSL) held its annual Rotary International (RI) Foundation and Sun Lakes Rotary Foundation 2000 (F’2000) dinner. At the dinners, the F’2000 financial advisors shared how the charitable funds are managed, growing and helping expand F’2000’s support of community charities. RCSL’s RI Foundation Chair Dick Thomas reviewed how RCSL’s member donations to RI Foundation are making a difference around the world.

The Rotary International Foundation helps Rotary members to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace by improving health, providing quality education, improving the environment, and alleviating poverty. F’2000 is an Arizona 501(C)(3) nonprofit formed to promote charitable giving and provide financial support for charities that are endorsed by the RCSL and/or the Sun Lakes Rotary Foundation 2000 Board.

For more info, see www.sunlakesrotary.com.

Rotarians of the Month: Helvi Winter and Dr. Diane Bruening

Dr. Honora Norton, RCSL Public Image Director

The Rotary Club of Sun Lakes (RCSL) extends congratulations to Helvi Winter and Dr. Diane Bruening who were named RCSL’s March 2026 Rotarians of the Month. Both Helvi and Diane are leaders of RCSL’s Engagement Committee. Each month they provide members with a newsletter promoting the month’s events and activities. Together they enthusiastically foster member engagement through various social activities.

Sun Lakes Rotary Earns Peace Award

Dr. Honora Norton, RCSL Public Image Director

The Rotary International District 5495 Governor has awarded the Rotary Club of Sun Lakes (RCSL) the special Peacebuilder designation by Rotary International. Per the club’s Peacebuilder Committee Chairs Kandi Skrabala and Ann Diamond, RCSL has been designated a Rotary Peacebuilder Club, a select, prestigious club whose members actively focus on promoting peace, conflict resolution, and positive community change.

RCSL fosters understanding by initiating projects that address root causes of conflict, such as poverty, illiteracy, and lack of healthcare, both locally and globally. RCSL members are educated, engaged, and empowered with ideas, opportunities, and projects that address education and potable/hygienic water projects globally and with nearby Indian reservations.

For more information, see www.sunlakesrotary.com.