RCSL members and guests attending a meeting held at Casa Blanca Community School on the Gila River Indian Community
Happy 39th Birthday to the Rotary Club of Sun Lakes
Gary Whiting, Past District Governor and Past RCSL President, and Dr. Honora Norton, RCSL Public Image Director
April is a special month for our Rotary Club of Sun Lakes (RCSL). RCSL, chartered on April 22, 1986, celebrates 39 years of service within the Sun Lakes Community. RCSL was conceived in 1985 when Chandler Rotarian Andre Felix put an advertisement on the Sun Lakes clubhouse bulletin board to see if anyone was interested in attending a Rotary meeting at the Palo Verde Country Club. Rotarian Wayne Johnson, who had just moved to Sun Lakes, responded. Wayne and seven other Sun Lakes retirees met with Andre and decided there was a need for a Rotary club in this fast-growing Sun Lakes Community.
Gary Whiting, RCSL member and past RI District Governor
After working with the Arizona Rotary District 5510 and Rotary International (RI), final approval was granted, and RCSL was chartered as a Tuesday morning club with 15 members. Allan Gustafson was elected the charter club president. Over the years, RCSL has become known as the “Education Club” because of its youth projects, teacher recognition, and scholarships provided for K-12 education, vocational education, and higher education.
RCSL has participated in several RI “Global Grant” projects through the RI Foundation and Sun Lakes/Chandler community projects. For example, an RCSL Rotarian delivers the Sun Lakes Splash newspaper to residents’ driveways. If you hear about inside running tap water being furnished to off-the-grid Navajo homes on the Navajo Nation, that was RCSL providing this humanitarian project through an RI Foundation Global Grant. RCSL provides more than 4,000 dictionaries each school year to third graders in the Chandler Unified School District. This school year, RCSL provided dictionaries to the Casa Blanca Community School and the St. Peter Mission School on the Gila River Indian Community.
RCSL grew to 140 members in the year 2000 from the start of 15 members, and now there are more than 85 men and women members. In Rotary year 2001, RI recognized RCSL as one of the most-involved top-50 clubs in the world with the 21st Century Challenge Award at the Rotary International Convention held in San Antonio, Texas. Rotary celebrated its 100th year in 2004-05. Arizona Rotarians selected RCSL past Club President Gary Whiting as Arizona Rotary District 5510 “Centennial” Governor, overseeing 46 Rotary clubs and 1,648 members in the Northeastern part of Arizona, USA.
Sadly, charter member Wayne Johnson recently passed away. He was a Rotarian for 66 years and served as club president, on the board of directors, and committee chairmanships and was an RI Paul Harris Fellow in support of the RI Foundation.
To learn more about RCSL, visit www.sunlakesrotary.com and our Facebook page. Come for a visit and join us as people of action.
Sun Lakes Rotary Foundation 2000 board members present at awards dinner (left to right): Dennis Nelson, Bill Giessing (secretary/treasurer), Bob Phillips (president), Elaine Ralls (VP); board members not present: David Ouradnik, Howard Rudge, Kristine Schultz, Marge Wright
Rotary Club of Sun Lakes Honors Members for Their Philanthropy
Dr. Honora Norton, RCSL Public Image Chair
Rotary Club of Sun Lakes (RCSL) held its annual philanthropic recognition dinner at Sun Lakes Country Club. Sun Lakes Rotary Foundation 2000 is the philanthropic arm of RCSL. The mission of the Foundation is to promote charitable giving and provide support for important community-based projects and programs, as well as vital international programs.
At the Foundation’s annual dinner, Sun Lakes Rotary Foundation 2000 awarded $5,000 to Oakwood Creative Care, The Perfect Place, in Sun Lakes. Sherri Friend, president/CEO of Oakwood Creative Care, thanked RCSL and provided attendees an overview of the organization’s mission, which is to enhance the quality of life and spark joy for older adults with cognitive or physical challenges, as well as their family care partners, through day clubs, memory cafés, and other home- and community-based services.
Additionally, RCSL members support the Rotary International (RI) Foundation that transforms Rotarian gifts into service projects that change lives both close to home and around the world. RCSL recognized Club President Peter Meade and spouse Karin for becoming major Rotary International Foundation donors. Additionally, RCSL recognized Rotarian Ed Anderson for becoming an RI Foundation Bequest Society member.
For more information about RCSL, see www.sunlakesrotary.com.
Left to right: February 2025 Rotarian of the Month Dick Meyer and RCSL President Peter Meade present the Rotarian of the Month plaque to Dave Ouradnik, March 2025 RCSL Rotarian of the Month.
Rotary Club Names Dave Ouradnik Rotarian of the Month
Dr. Honora Norton, RCSL Public Image Chair
Rotary Club of Sun Lakes (RCSL) named Sun Lakes resident David Ouradnik March 2025 Rotarian of the Month. David currently co-chairs the club’s golf tournament and has co-chaired past tournaments. David has earned the Rotary International Foundation’s Paul Harris designation in recognition of his philanthropic gifts to Rotary local and international service projects. Dave supports service projects both at RCSL and his former Fargo, N.D., Rotary Club.