Rotary Club of Sun Lakes members start early with an orientation meeting for “Saturday deliveries” to refugee families in the West Valley. Pictured (clockwise) are Victoria Flatley*, Marge Wright*, Kandi Skrabala*, Polly Giessing**, Bill Giessing (standing)**, Stan Klein*, Roger Edmonds*, Gary Magao*, and Dick Thomas* (*Sun Lakes residents/**Chandler residents)
Rotary Club Supports and Welcomes Refugee Families
Dr. Honora Norton, RCSL Public Image Director
Rotary Club of Sun Lakes (RCSL) has been very active with the East Valley’s Welcome to America Project (WTAP). The Welcome to America Project shares transportation, technology, and transformational resources to enhance success so that refugees do not just resettle in our country, they find community and flourish. WTAP creates impacts that last a lifetime for the refugees, as well as the volunteers who serve.
The Tempe-based WTAP is proud to celebrate over 20 years of creating meaningful interactions and providing needed resources to refugees becoming our new Phoenix neighbors. In that time, the organization has welcomed more than 15,000 refugees from more than 40 countries, helping them find community and flourish. In the coming year, they will assist more than 2,000 incoming Afghan refugees.
In early April 2022, partnering with WTAP, RCSL volunteers donated, purchased, packed, delivered, and set up items for the bathrooms in an East Valley
Chandler/Gilbert YMCA Board members accept a $500 check donation from RCSL President Jon Lyons. Pictured (left to right) are Chandler/Gilbert YMCA Board members Bob Rice, Brandon Hebert, Jon Lyons (RCSL President), Garrett Brolsma, Shelley Huntoon, Jennifer Veitch, and Brittany Walker.
Supporting Youth Through Speech Contest and Scholarships
Dr. Honora Norton, RCSL Public Image Director
The Rotary Club of Sun Lakes (RCSL) held its annual Rotary International Four-Way Test Speech Contest. Six students from six different Chandler Unified School District (CUSD) High Schools competed. The purpose of the speech is to apply the principles of Rotary International’s (RI) Four-Way Test to a current ethical issue. Students are challenged to identify a topic they feel passionate about and to adopt a point of view from which they will seek to persuade others. It should be something from the speaker’s personal experience or general knowledge. Each part of the Four-Way Test was addressed during the speech. The Four-Way Test addresses: Is it the TRUTH? Is it FAIR to all concerned? Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
Judges at the event included Bret McKeand (RI District 5495 Governor), Dr. Craig Gilbert (CUSD/RCSL member), Frank Narducci (CUSD), Leo Schlueter (CUSD/RCSL member), Larry Horton (RI District 5495 Governor-Elect), and Bonnie Snow (RCSL member/Sun Lakes resident), with Bill Schink (RCSL member/Sun Lakes resident) serving as Judging Auditor.
Bill McCoach, RCSL member/Sun Lakes resident and event chairperson, announced the following placement awards:
• First Place—$500: Gauri Murkoth, sophomore at Arizona College Prep with
Best golfing team at RCSL’s 28th Annual Golf Tournament: Randy Rainwater, Bo Ciomber, John Kiehl, and (not in photo) RCSL Rotarian Frank Wiley
The only all-women golf team at RCSL’s 28th Annual Golf Tournament (left to right): corporate sponsor State Farm team of Debbie Wiltse, Janet Cobb, Chris Jackson, and Teri Tinney
RCSL Celebrates 36th Birthday and Its 28th Golf Tournament
Dr. Honora Norton, RCSL Public Image Director
In a statement released by Sun Lakes resident, Rotary Club of Sun Lakes (RCSL) past Club President Gary Whiting, “RCSL celebrates 36 years—the club was chartered on April 22, 1986. RCSL was chartered with 15 members, with Allan Gustafson elected as club president. The club is known as the “Education Club” because of its youth/teacher projects, programs, and scholarships. The club has participated in many Rotary International (RI) community service and educational projects through RI’s Foundation and local fundraisers/sponsors.
From a start of 15 members to a high of 140 members, the club now balances between 80 to 90 men and women members. In 2000-01, RCSL was recognized by RI as one of the top 50 largest Rotary clubs in the world, winning the 21st Century Challenge Award. RI celebrated its 100th year in 2004-05, when Mr. Whiting served as Arizona RI District 5510 Centennial Governor, overseeing 46 Rotary clubs and 1,648 members.
Wayne Johnson, who just turned 94, is still an active Rotarian for 65 years and the only remaining RCSL charter member. Mr. Johnson has served as club president, many other positions, and is an RI Paul Harris Fellow. Rarely has Wayne missed a meeting in all these many years. As Wayne says, “If you want to stay young, get involved with your passion,” and for him, that’s about contributing to your own community through Rotary.
Recently, RCSL held its 28th Annual Charity Golf Tournament at Sun Lakes Oakwood Country Club. Proceeds from this event fund RCSL’s community service projects and scholarships. Per Events Chairperson Bill Schink, the event is one of the organization’s largest fundraisers, with sponsors and donors: David and Marlyce Logan; Earnhardt Auto Centers; Fidelity Investments; The Park at Copper Creek; State Farm, Debbie Wiltse; Trust Bank; Home Instead; and Edward Jones Investments, Stephen Phair, tournament sponsors: Kolb Team; Robson Resort Communities; Hon-Dah Resort – Casino; Ameriprise Financial, Steve Nelson; Butcher Block Meats; Fish and Sarhangian Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery; Good Sound Audiology; Realty Executives, Debbie Knight; Robson Reserve at Sun Lakes; Saba and Romanin Dental Associates; Santa Roger; Sir Speedy; and Young Home Team, with special recognition to Steve and Marianne Perkins; Hornacek Golf Centers; The Party Favors, Scott Faver; Bill and Barb Schink; Peter and Karin Meade; West USA Realty, Ed Anderson; and Viking Signage, along with hole sponsors: American Title Service Agency; Chandler Business Alliance; Bill and Val Crump; Rowin and Paul Floth; Frosch Travel, Lisa Phillips; Dan Halloran; Stanley and Susanne Kaufman; Krystle Accounting & Tax Services; David and Sandy Mork; Bring Change to Mind, Dr. Honora Norton; Ocotillo Foot & Ankle Center; Orbitel Communications; Jason Snyder; Sun Devil Auto; Sun Lakes-Chandler Animal Clinic; Sun Lakes Pest Control; Sun Lakes Rotary Foundation 2000; Walden Dentistry; and Marjorie and Wayne Wright.
RCSL Club President Jon Lyons thanks the 2022 RCSL Golf Tournament Golf Committee, all of the golf tournament’s sponsors, golfers (178), volunteers (including CUSD District high school students), dinner attendees (260), and auction/raffle donors and buyers.
Visit www.sunlakesrotary.com for more information.