RCSL in High Season of Community Service, Friendship Exchange, and Golf
Left to right: RI Friendship Exchange hosts and guests: Bill McCoach, Elaine Ralls, Ed Anderson (District 5495 AG), Kim Neziol, Reg Madison, Bernie Neziol, Loretta Madison, Stephen Phair (RCSL president), Rita-Marie Hadley, Dr. John Hadley, Suzanne Kaufman, Stan Kaufman (photo by Dr. Honora Norton)
Dr. Honora Norton, RCSL Public Image Chair
Rotary Club of Sun Lakes (RCSL) Rotarian Co-Chairs Bob Phillips and Dave Ouradnik extend a warmhearted thank you to the hundreds of sponsors, donors, golfers, and attendees of the club’s 29th RCSL Charity Golf Tournament held at Sun Lakes Cottonwood Golf Course in March 2023.
A net amount of $51,000 was earned for our club’s community service, education projects, and the club’s Dolly Parton Imagination Library Project. Check out the club’s Facebook page, Sun Lakes Rotary Club, Arizona USA, posts to view sponsor thank-you acknowledgements and event photos.
The day’s activities included (with sponsors): Ball Drop (Western State Bank), Bazooka Golf Ball Launch (American Family Insurance, Neil Cutler), Three Hole-in-One Holes (Earnhardt Auto Centers), Foursome Photos/Program (Bill and Barb Schink), Golf Balls (State Farm), Golf Lunch Truck (WestUSA Realty, Ed Anderson), and Signage (Viking).
The golf tournament’s Corporate- and Donor-Level sponsors included: Earnhardt Auto Center, State-Farm (Debbie Wiltse), TrustBank, Edward Jones Investment (Stephen Phair), The Park at Copper Creek, The Kolb Team, A-1 Golf Carts, West USA Realty, Western State Bank, The Young Team, American Family Insurance, Hon-Dah Resort Casino, Robson Resort Communities, Fish and Sarhangian Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Quality Custom Roofing, Realty Executives (Debbie Knight), Sir Speedy Printing, Debbie Wiltse, as well as over 35 Tee Sign sponsor donations that were matched by RCSL Rotarian Don Bell.
TrustBank, a Platinum-Level RCSL corporate sponsor, accepted a $4,000 check from RCSL for Positive Paths, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving women and their families in the East Valley of Phoenix and advocate for and supporting the economic stability and empowerment of women. TrustBank and RCSL are partners with Positive Paths and support Positive Paths through community service projects, events, and financial support. Sandra Hudson, president of TrustBank Arizona, CEO Trust & Wealth Management, serves as Positive Paths Board of Directors president.
RCSL Rotarian Stan Kaufman led RCSL’s recent Rotary International (RI) Friendship Exchange, which is an international exchange program that allows Rotarians to take turns hosting one another in their homes and clubs. During the week of March 26, RCSL hosted Rotarians from Brantford, Ontario, Canada’s Brantford Sunrise Rotary Club and Rotary Club of Branford. Club hosts planned a busy week for their guests—trips to Musical Instrument Museum, the Heard Museum, overnight stay at Grand Canyon, Sun Lakes Cottonwood golfing, RCSL meeting, meals in/out, and several social gatherings. Hosts included RCSL Rotarians Bill McCoach, RCSL Rotarians Elaine Ralls and Ed Anderson (RI District 5495 Assistant Governor), and RCSL Rotarian Stan Kaufman and spouse Suzanne. Visiting Rotarians from Canada included Rotarian Reg (Past RI District 7090 Governor) and Loretta Madison, Rotarian Bernie and Kim Neziol (both couples from Brantford Sunrise Rotary Club) and Rotarian Rita-Marie and Dr. John Hadley of the Rotary Club of Brantford. The Canadian Rotarians have invited RCSL Rotarians to visit their homes and club in the Fall of 2023.
For more information about RCSL membership and programs, see www.sunlakesrotary.com.
April Rotarian of the Month
RCSL Rotarian Stan Klein with Rotarian of the Month plaque
Dr. Honora Norton, RCSL Public Image Director
Rotary Club of Sun Lakes (RCSL) named Stan Klein its April 2023 Rotarian of the Month. Per RCSL Club President Stephen Phair, Stan, a Sun Lakes resident and RCSL Rotarian since November of 2021, is one of RCSL’s everywhere guys. He shows up when and where needed, i.e., at Splash and Source Book deliveries, dictionary deliveries to CUSD third graders, volunteer and mentor to CUSD elementary/high school students at A World in Motion (AWIM) robotic gravity cruiser and CO2 Dragster competitions, fundraising events, meeting set-ups, and more. Congrats to Stan for earning RCSL’s Rotarian of the Month Award.
March Rotarian of the Month
Stan Kaufman with his Rotarian of the Month Award plaque
Dr. Honora Norton, RCSL Public Image Director
The Rotary Club of Sun Lakes (RCSL) recently named Sun Lakes resident Stan Kaufman its March 2023 Rotarian of the Month. Stan currently serves as RCSL treasurer and was elected to serve the 2023-24 treasurer term. Stan has been instrumental in implementing the club’s new banking services and coordinating with the club’s hired bookkeeper. Along with other Rotarians, Stan participated in the RCSL portion of Navajo Water Project Rotary International Global Grant and upcoming club fundraiser, including the 2023 golf tournament. Additionally, Stan is a generous supporter of club and Valley veterans’ projects and events.
Stan first joined Rotary with the Toronto Eglinton Rotary Club in 1982. After moving to Fargo, N.D., in 1991, he joined the Fargo Noon Rotary Club. He was also a member of the Walker Rotary Club, Minn., in 2001-2004 before returning to the Fargo Noon Rotary Club 2005–2011. In 2011 he transferred to the San Tan Crown Rotary Club of Chandler, Ariz., and now RCSL. Over the years and with these clubs, he has held every club officer and director position. Stan and spouse Susanne have home hosted two Rotary International exchange students from Belgium and from Northern Spain, and their daughter was a Rotary exchange student to Belgium.
Teachers of the Month
Angela Birch, RCSL January 2023 Teacher of the Month
Emmanuel “Manny” Reyes, RCSL February 2023 Teacher of the Month
Dr. Honora Norton, RCSL Public Image Director
The Rotary Club of Sun Lakes (RCSL) congratulated and presented awards to the club’s Chandler Unified School District Teachers of the Month. The award selection is based on teacher’s total years of service in the field of education; examples of how the teacher goes above the normal requirements and enhances student education; the respect shown for the teacher by her/his peers, students, and parents; and the teacher’s involvement in extracurricular activities and service in the community. A $500 check is awarded to the honored teacher: $200 from the RCSL, $200 from Earnhardt Automotive Center, and $100 from Trust Bank.
Angela Birch was named RCSL January 2023 Teacher of the Month. Prior to coming to CUSD Chandler’s Haley Elementary in 2011, Angela taught first and second grades in the Kyrene School District for nine years. She attended the University of Arizona. Note the following comments within her nomination submission: Her colleagues state she is a ray of sunshine for her students, parents, and fellow staff members; goes out of her way to try and be at her students’ sporting events or even just be aware of what is happening in their home lives that may impact their learning in the classroom. Relationships are everything in education, and Mrs. Birch is a master at building strong, meaningful relationships. Her students come back year after year to see her and/or volunteer for her. This year, she has 24 students—she manages big behaviors with positive reinforcement and behavior plans and, when necessary, she is differentiating for students at all levels. She is making “morning work” more engaging by introducing learning tubs vs. worksheets so students are actively engaged in play and learning at the same time. She is on several committees at Haley, including site council and volunteer appreciation; she is the kindergarten team lead; and she has incredible communication with her classroom families. Coworkers and teammates believe she deserves to be recognized.
Emmanuel “Manny” Reyes was named RCSL February 2023 Teacher of the Month. Manny is a sixth grade teacher at CUSD Chandler’s Hartford Sylvia Encinas Elementary School. He teaches math and science and has been a part of Hartford for seven years. Note the following comments within his nomination submission: Manny relates so well with students that they are extremely comfortable asking questions and coming in after or before school hours to ask for additional help, because they know how much he cares for their well-being and education. He has high expectations for his students, and because of the students’ respect for him, they work hard to meet those expectations. He volunteers often to help with extra duties at Hartford and coaches ninth grade wrestling at Chandler High School after school hours and on weekends. He always says that Chandler High Wrestling helped him become the person he is today, and he wants to give back to students today. He is doing a tremendous job guiding the new teachers and helping them learn the ins and outs of Hartford and the curriculum. Manny is not only a role model to these students, he is also the mirror of their future.
For more information about RCSL education programs and membership, see www.sunlakesrotary.com.