Welcome to District 5495 Club News

The Rotary Clubs of Kyrene and Gilbert would like to invite All to the 2nd Annual "Women In Rotary" High Tea event on March 22, 2025
 
Keynote Speaker:  Deepa Willingham, PDG District 5240.  Deepa will inspire us all with her wisdom and experiences through Rotary.  She is a Past Dist Governor, Past President, Rotarian of the Year, one of the 'Women of Action' Honoree at the White House and many other humanitarian awards including the 2018 United Nations Association (UNA) Peace Prize.  
 
Location: 1600 S Country Club Drive, Mesa, AZ 85210
Time: 10:00am - 1:00pm
Registration: $50.00 each (open to women and men)
 
Come join the celebration of Women in Rotary on International Women/s Day!  Bring family and friends!  Hats and Fascinators are encourage!  
 
Questions can be directed to Jackie Wasik @ jacquelinewasik@gmail.com or (815) 254-7789.
The Rotary Club of Scottsdale North will have its annual Fundraiser, PARTY FOR A PURPOSE, on Saturday, April 5, 2025, from 5 -9 pm at the Grayhawk Golf Club’s Fairway House.  
 
Join us to party and dance to the music of the Young Country Band. There will be heavy hot d’oeuvres, open bar for wine and beer, as well as silent and live auctions, wine pull, raffle and much more.  
 
Come help us help others in our communities through our Scottsdale North Rotary Foundation, a 501(3)© organization.
 
For more information about the event and our Foundation’s 15 years of Charitable Giving go to www.rotaryscottsdalenorth.org"
 
Submitted by: Dr. Honora Norton
 
Rotary Club of Sun Lakes (RCSL) just completed its Dolly Parton Imagination Library (DPIL) Fundraiser with a reverse raffle, in which 906 tickets were sold for a total of $18,120.
 
The raffle winner won $9,060. The winning ticket was sold by an RCSL member. The other half will help RCSL register more kids in the program. Co-chairs of the program, Val and Bill Crump extend a heartfelt thank you to all who supported this fundraiser. 
 
DPIL is a book-gifting program. RCSL pays for the costs involved in gifting eligible children an age-appropriate book a month sent directly to the child from the Dollywood Foundation. The cost to RCSL is approx. $2.50 per book. The benefits to this early-childhood educational opportunity to children are immeasurable. RCSL has enrolled children ages 0 to 5 and who live in the cities of Guadalupe and Chandler.
 
Currently 1,231 kids are registered in RCSL’s DPIL program and six hundred kids have graduated out of the program. Since April 2019, RCSL has provided over 37,000 books to 2,102 kids. 
 
For information, contact Val Crump at mcrump9544@hotmail.com. To donate online, visit this link: tinyurl.com/2c9snm8n.
We are excited to announce the re-establishment of the Rotary Club of Prescott Valley, a beacon for service, leadership, and community collaboration. With the support of civic leaders, Rotary visionaries, local business professionals, and dedicated citizens, we are embarking on a mission to uplift Prescott Valley and make a lasting difference.
 
Our Mission
The Rotary Club of Prescott Valley is committed to improving lives through impactful projects and fostering connections among service-minded individuals. Together, we can build a stronger, more vibrant community.
 
How We’re Making a Difference
Rotary members are united by a passion for community service and creating solutions to local challenges. Some of our upcoming initiatives include:
  • Supporting Food Banks: Helping provide essential supplies to families in need.
  • Organizing Blood Drives: Partnering with the American Red Cross to save lives.
  • Empowering Schools: Supporting students and educators through meaningful programs.
  • Honoring Seniors, Veterans, and First Responders: Recognizing and supporting those who serve and shape our community.
 
Why Join Us?
Rotary is a global network of 1.4 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who believe in taking action. As a member of the Rotary Club of Prescott Valley, you will:
  • Make a tangible difference in your community.
  • Grow your personal and professional network with like-minded individuals.
  • Develop leadership skills through collaborative service projects.
  • Be part of a global movement tackling pressing issues like health, education, and sustainability.
 
We Need Your Help
Rebuilding the Rotary Club of Prescott Valley is a community-wide effort, and we’re looking for passionate, service-oriented individuals like you. Whether you're a civic leader, business professional, or concerned citizen, your skills and dedication can help us achieve great things for Prescott Valley.
 
Join Us Today!
Be part of a movement that’s transforming communities and changing lives. Reach out to us for more information about how you can get involved, attend our meetings, or support our projects.
 
Let’s make Prescott Valley a shining example of what community collaboration can achieve. Together, we can achieve more!
 
 
Meeting Information

Our first meeting will be Tuesday, January 14th @ 4:30 PM
 
The Rotary Club of Prescott Valley will meet twice a month on Tuesdays at 4:30PM. Meetings last approximately 1.5 hours and are held at the Elks Lodge, located at 6245 E. Second Street, Prescott Valley.
 
For more information, please contact:
Joe Sweeney
(928) 642-4252
Email: rotaryjoe5495@gmail.com
Bob Ticer
(928) 642-6198
blt4490@hotmail.com
 
 
 
 
Casino Night by Mary Kay Utecht,
President, Rotary Club of Goodyear Pebblecreek
 
Literacy shouldn’t be a “gamble” but in today’s world literacy is not guaranteed.  
 
The Rotary Club of Goodyear Pebblecreek has made a concerted effort to improve the literacy rates for the young people in our communities. We have devoted our time and resources to that cause.  And on January 10th , from 6pm to 9:00pm in the PebbleCreek Tuscany Falls Ballroom, you can join us for our “Gamble for the Cause” evening from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm.  We are holding a Rotary Casino Night to raise funds to continue and expand our programs for literacy and other youth service programs. It will be a fun evening of friendship and fellowship and “gambling for the cause.” 

For our serious gamblers, $75 will purchase you $250 of funny money and open the door to Rotary Casino.  You can show your luck at the Roulette Wheel, the Blackjack Table, slot machines Bingo,  or the Crap Table.  Throughout the evening there will be four special spins on the roulette wheel with payouts of $125.  Later in the evening a special raffle provides the lucky winner with a $500 cash payout. If you find yourself short of “money”, you can always purchase more funny money throughout the evening. If you need a break, relax at the cash bar and share some complimentary snacks with your friends. Once you have restored your gambling energy, check out the fabulous raffle items and join in with the live auction. 

Your evening of gambling  will help Rotary enroll more youngsters in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.  With the new funds, Rotary can provide a new book to be mailed to the child’s home each month.  Currently, GYPC Rotary Foundation is providing and paying for books to be mailed to 1,650 children ages birth to five. Since the program started in 2021 we have mailed over 37,000 free books. Also, to help support our literacy message, Rotary Club of Goodyear Pebblecreek Foundation provided our school districts’ school buses signage with messages that remind parents on the importance of reading to their children daily.  And next month, we will complete our efforts to put 10 Little Lending Libraries in neighborhoods throughout the community.  
 
Our GYPC Rotary Club and Foundation is committed to stocking each library with new children and adult books every month.  Each month the children in the neighborhoods should have new books to add to their reading lists.  All this is made possible through our business partnerships and community fundraising.  Please think about attending Rotary Casino in this effort on January 10th..   We invite you to think about becoming a member of the Rotary Club of Goodyear Pebblecreek.  Please use this QR code to purchase your tickets to attend. 

We meet each Wednesday morning at 7:00 am at the Eagles Nest clubhouse in PebbleCreek.  Join us any time!  It takes a village…come be part of our village!  

Questions? Contact Colleen Malany 630-651-1677 or Jim Frey 415-271-0714. 

See you at “The Rotary Casino.” 
 
Photo and story by Past President Lawrence Kenna
 
Winslow Rotary club awarded nine Paul Harris Fellow awards at its regular club meeting on Wednesday December 11, 2024.  
 
This Christmas-themed meeting welcomed District Foundation Chair Tom McLarty from the Cottonwood club and Past Governer and current District 5495 Interact Chair Art Harrington from the Prescott club to help in the festivities.  
 
In the photograph, from left, receiving their Paul Harris Fellow certificates are Kristy Armijo, Winslow Rotary Club President-elect; Rotarian Erna Snukis, Rotarian Connie Gover, Rotarian Ben Harris, Past President Kevin Coolidge, Winslow Rotary Club President Jessica Cox Atha, and Past President James Atha, Not shown are Rotarians Frank Guzman and Bob Hall; Tom McLarty from the Cottonwood Rotary Club, Art Harrington from the Prescott Rotary Club, and Past President Greg Hackler from the Winslow Rotary Club also shown officiating the occasion.  Art Harrington led the group in singing "Silent Night," an old tradition of the Winslow Rotary Club.
 
Erna Snukis is the club secretary and Kevin Coolidge is the club treasurer.
 
Several Rotary Club of Sun Lakes members attended the 21st Annual Heroes Patriotic Luncheon held at the Commemorative Air Force Museum at Mesa's Falcon Field.  Sponsored by the Veterans Medical Leadership Council (VMLC), the event honored many WWII veterans in attendance including US Marine Corps Peter McDonald - Corporal Navajo Code Talker in Pacific Theater of Operations in 1944-1946.  Medal of Honor recipients retired U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Sammy Lee Davis and retired U.S. Army Colonel Bruce Perry Crandall were special guest speakers.  Keynote speaker was retired senior Army Special Forces Officer John Fenzel. RCSL Rotarian/VP/U.S. Navy OEF/OIF Veteran Kiamesha Guy serves on the VMLC Board.
 
At a November RCSL meeting, Rich Simmons Board Member/VP of the Arizona Veterans Fly Fishing (AVFF)  program spoke about the non-profit organization that helps facilitate the physical and emotional well-being of disabled veterans through fly fishing and related activities.  RCSL and the San Tan Rotary Foundation presented checks totaling $900 to AVFF.
 
Vietnam Army Veteran Bill Wooster Captain of the Patriot Guard Riders shared his experiences of how the Patriots honor and show dignity and respect at memorial and funeral services honoring Killed in Action/Active Duty Fallen, Military Heroes, First Responders, Law Enforcement Officers and honorably discharged Veterans and their families. RCSL presented the Patriots a $500 check in support of the group's community service projects. 
 
Additionally, Army Veteran Mike Garcia shared his experience participating in AVFF fly fishing events and how his Soldiers Best Friend veteran service dog Nico has impacted his transition from active duty/combat. 
 
RCSL ackowledged its many Rotarian Veteran members, as well as, their veteran family members and friends. For more info about RCSL see - www.sunlakesrotary.com. 
 
Photo:  RCSL Club President Peter Meade and RCSL President-elect Ed Anderson present check to Bill Wooster Captain of the Patriot Guard Riders