March 2023 Rotary Club

Rotary Club Honors Major Donors Don and Janet Prestin

Rotary Club of Sun Lakes President Stephen Phair and RCSL Foundation Chair Dick Thomas presented to Janet Prestin Rotary International’s Foundation Major Donor pin and crystal recognition piece in honor of Sun Lakes residents Janet and Don Prestin’s achieving a $10,000 level donation.

Dr. Honora Norton, RCSL Public Image Chair

Rotary Club of Sun Lakes (RCSL) Club President Stephen Phair and RCSL Foundation Chair Dick Thomas presented to Janet Prestin Rotary International’s (RI) Foundation Major Donor pin and crystal recognition piece in honor of Sun Lakes residents Janet and Don Prestin’s achieving a $10,000 level donation. RCSL presented Major Donor pins to daughters Karen and Kimberly.

The Rotary Foundation helps Rotary members to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace by improving health, providing quality education, improving the environment, and alleviating poverty. The Prestins’ gift to the RI Foundation supports local, domestic, and international service projects—projects that eradicate polio, promote peace, and develop communities.

Don, who passed away in August of 2022, had been an RCSL member since November of 2007. He served as RCSL treasurer for eight years, served on the club’s Golf Committee, Polio Plus Board, Sun Lakes Easter Parade Committee, managed “two” Sun Lakes Splash newspaper routes, and much more. Don received the club’s 2015-16 RCSL Rotarian of the Year Award and was an RI Paul Harris Fellow. Don was a United Airlines pilot for 37 years.

For more information about RCSL, see www.sunlakesrotary.com.

Rotary Club of Sun Lakes Honors Two of Its Members

RCSL Rotarian Victoria Flatley earned the Rotary Leadership Institute Graduate Studies certificate.

Ann Diamond of Rotary Club of Sun Lakes was named February 2023 Rotarian of the Month.

Dr. Honora Norton, RCSL Public Image Director

Rotary Club of Sun Lakes (RCSL) named Ann Diamond, a Sun Lakes resident, February 2023 Rotarian of the Month. Right from the start of joining RCSL, Ann has become an active new Rotarian by volunteering at the Electronic Recycling Project, making Amanda Hope blankets for kiddos with cancer, supporting the club’s upcoming golf tournament, and taking on Sun Lakes Splash and Sourcebook delivery routes. Ann has not missed a meeting since joining, has joined the club meetings’ setup/takedown team, and participated in the club’s Visioning Project. Club President Stephen Phair congratulated Ann for her extensive volunteerism.

RCSL members at the recent annual meeting congratulated Victoria Flatley, Sun Lakes resident and RCSL president-elect, who earned her certificate of completion of the Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) Graduate Course. RLI Basic Program seeks to provide quality education in Rotary knowledge and leadership skills to Rotarians interested in developing their Rotary participation and to those identified by Rotary Clubs as having a potential in club leadership. These educational opportunities teach skills that will benefit the members in their lives and in their volunteer service.

Victoria completed the three-part RLI Basic Program prior to attending graduate-level courses. The six-course Graduate Program allowed Victoria more in-depth exploration of topics of interest to the candidates and topics that explore current challenges Rotary Clubs are facing. Each graduate course had a different list of topics and a unique curriculum that meets the needs of the Rotarians attending the course. RLI course topics include public speaking and presentation skills, design and use of PowerPoint, ethics and using the Rotary 4-Way Test, team building, conflict resolution and mediation, visions and strategic planning, event planning, and motivation and leadership.

For more information about RCSL programs and membership, see www.sunlakesrotary.com.

Rotarians Seek Rotary Arizona License Plate

RCSL President Stephen Phair, Rotary International District 5495 Governor Larry Horton, and State Representative Jennifer Pawlik sharing the good news of House Bill 2062 being passed

Dr. Honora Norton, RCSL Public Image Chair

Sun Lakes resident and Rotary Club of Sun Lakes (RCSL) President Stephen Phair recently announced that House Bill 2062 (HB2062) recently passed through the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on its way to the House Floor for a vote to get Rotary license plates.

The State of Arizona allows organizations such as Rotary Clubs of Arizona the opportunity, when registering vehicles, to support local charities. To date, Rotarians in Arizona have had to choose other charities to support, because there is no license plate for Rotarians in Arizona to show their pride. That is all about to change. As People of Action, Rotarians are working with Arizona state legislators to create a Rotarian license plate.

Rotary International District 5495 Governor Larry Horton and RCSL President Stephen Phair recently made a trip to the Arizona House of Representatives to meet with Rep. Jennifer Pawlik. RCSL President Phair was able to speak to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on behalf of HB2062 and Rotary, met with the House Sergeant at Arms, and toured the Capitol with Rotary International Past District Governor Chuck Fitzgerald.

Arizona Rotary leaders ask that you contact your representatives and senators to ask them to support HB2062 so Arizona Rotarians can get their own license plate. The initial cost for the program and legislation is $32,000 to cover the administration, design, and hours needed to create this opportunity for Arizona Rotarians. Individually, when registering your vehicle, you will have the opportunity to select the Rotary license plate to be proudly displayed on your vehicles. The additional cost of $25 per registration will be paid for the specialty plate, with $17 going back to the Rotary Clubs of Arizona. If we work that backwards, our break-even is only 1,883 license plates.

Fellow Rotarians are asking for your help in raising the initial $32,000 and spreading the awareness of this program. See givsum.com/…/license-plate-project-for.

For more information about RCSL, see sunlakesrotary.com.

Rotary Club of Sun Lakes Supports The Bridge

Carolyn Cochran, The Bridges for Community Services President/Executive Board, accepts checks from Rotary Club of Sun Lakes President Stephen Phair and Stan Kaufman, an RCSL member, representing The San Tan Rotary Foundation, Inc.

Dr. Honora Norton, RCSL Public Image Director

Rotary Club of Sun Lakes (RCSL) members supported The Bridge for Community Services at the Bike Ride at Desert Wind Harley in Mesa. Between the San Tan Rotary Foundation and RCSL, checks totaling $1,500 were presented at the 2nd Annual Be the Miracle Bike Ride to help aid the homeless population in “The Zone” in Phoenix. The Bridge for Community Services is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to nourishing the spirit, mind, and body, specifically focused on the homeless population in the Phoenix-metro area.

Each Sunday morning, rain or shine, cold or blistering hot, The Bridge volunteers gather at 1118 W. Madison Street, on the northwest corner of 12th Avenue and Madison Street in Downtown Phoenix, to provide sustenance for the hundreds of homeless individuals congregating around the downtown area; wholesome meals, fruit, breakfast pastries, and other edible goodies, along with bottled water, coffee, and hot chocolate; clothing; and provide hope through a voluntary, non-denominational faith service offering music, prayer, and encouragement to those seeking spiritual help.

Per Carolyn Cochran, The Bridges for Community Services President/Executive Board, “This good work is only possible through the donations of our sponsors and other individuals who hate to see anyone go hungry in this country of plenty. The Bridge welcomes volunteers and contributions of any sort to continue the mission. For more information, see www.thebridgefcs.org.”

For more information about RCSL, see www.sunlakesrotary.com.