Yes, and it’s mine! What an honor it is to serve as your District Governor. Visiting local Rotary Clubs during the last two weeks has been amazing – and I have only just begun.
Anyone who thinks Rotary has lost our luster, some of our effectiveness, in recent years has not spent time with local clubs. It is at the local club level where the good work of Rotary happens. At the local level Rotarians take actions that change communities. people and lives forever. Rotary is making a difference. You are changing lives. The fellowship and community service in clubs of all sizes and makeups is truly something to behold.
We are not without our challenges. One of our greatest — in District 5500 and North America — is declining membership. We do not have a recruitment problem. We have a retention problem, an engagement problem. What? In District 5500, over the last 3 years our clubs inducted 754 new Rotarians. That’s right – 754!
We already have lost 248 of those new members — a loss of 31.5%. Sadly, we also lost 614 existing Rotarians (a 32% lost).
Why are we losing so many members? My friends, the bottom line is that we are not giving our members what they want! Too many members are not actively engaged in club activities. If our members are happy, they will stay. They will stay because they enjoy the friendships, the fellowship experience and the meaningful hands-on community projects.
So, how do we change this trend? Ask your club members. What is working, what is not working? Experiment changing your meeting format. Contact District Membership Chair,Norm Rebenstorf (nrebenstorf@cox.net)for ideas. Working together, we can reverse this troubling trend.
Joe Hentges
District 5500 Governor, 2017-2018
Coming Attraction:
Fall District Conference
This year’s District Conference will be held October 13-15, 2017.
The theme is “Change A Life.” Keynote speakers are Jennifer Jones, Susan B. Neuman, Michael Angelo Caruso and John Matthews – our own Rotary International Director. There will be more than 20 breakout sessions and special events for our Interactors and Rotaractors Saturday morning.
Friday evening will be the favorite Casita Night sponsored by clubs and Sunday morning will include a salute to Rotarian veterans and active duty personnel. The conference will be held at the redecorated Hilton DoubleTree Hotel Reid Park in Tucson. Rooms are available for only $79 per night, plus taxes. Early Bird Registration (through Sept. 29th) is only $185 for the entire conference – and what a conference it will be!
Find out more about the conference, watch the video and register for the conference and the hotel at the new website, created by Tom Nelson, Bisbee RC President, and Ray Naylor, District Conference Vice-Chair. Thanks, Tom and Ray!
Serving the Rotarians and Communities in Southern Arizona
Rotary Hurricane Relief
Help Disaster Victims
District 5500 is recommending two options for Rotary Clubs and Friends of Rotary to contribute to relief efforts to help those affected by Hurricane Harvey in Texas and elsewhere. The choice of options is a local decision for individuals Rotary Clubs.
Option #1: The Rotary District 5500 Foundation is a conduit through which any individual or Rotary Club can make contributions to the hurricane disaster victims. Donations in any amount may be sent to: District 5500 Foundation Hurricane Relief Fund, c/o Dan Contorno, 8910 N. Shadow Rock Dr., Tucson, AZ 85743.
Please indicate on your check that the donation is for hurricane relief. Please do not send cash. The Rotary District 5500 Foundation qualifies as an exempt organization under the IRS Code (Federal Tax EIN 27-0824884). Donations are tax deductible.
At the conclusion of the donation period (to be determined later) District 5500 will determine an authorized Rotary District(s) Foundation to which all donations will be forwarded.
Option #2: Individuals and Rotary Clubs may choose to send donations directly to one of the following Rotary District Charitable Foundations. The Zone Disaster Chairman for Zones 21b and 27 has recommended the following 3 Rotary Foundations. This way we can be assured that our fellow Rotarians will be spent in the best way possible in their affected areas.
Rotary District 5930 is partnered with McAllen North Rotary Fund – a 501(c)3 to set up an Emergency Relief Fund. Please make checks to McAllen North Rotary Fund (Federal Tax EIN 27-3855943).
Questions can be sent to DG Betty Ramirez-Lara, 956-683-5706, bettylararotary@gmail.com, PO Box 3882, McAllen, TX 78502.
Rotary District 5910. Funds can be sent to: Rotary District 5910 Charitable Foundation, c/o Bobbie Applegate, 985 IH-10N, Suite 111, Beaumont, TX 77706.
Questions can be sent to DG Rhonda Herrington, 903-724-8515, Rhonda.herrington@yahoo.com, 616 S. Sycamore, Palestine, TX 75801.
Rotary District 5890. Funds can be sent to: District 5890 Charities, Inc. c/0 Jackie Barmore, 3525 Preston Ave., Pasadena, TX 77505-2008. Fed. Tax EIN: 76-0569758.
Questions can be sent to DG Bill Palko, 303-618-6859 (cell), 713-450-2623 (home), William.palko@amergybank.com, 202 Blue Castle Lane, Houston, TX 75015.
USA/Mexico Friendship Conference
Set for October in Scottsdale
The annual USA/Mexico Friendship Conference and Projects Fair will be held October 26-29 at the Franciscan Renewal Center in Scottsdale. It is a great opportunity to meet Mexican Rotarians, learn about Global Grant projects in Mexico, and seek partners and support for your proposed Global Grant.
Entering a float into The Tournament of Roses Parade draws attention and makes viewers ask “What is Rotary?”
This year we drew the attention of over 73 million viewers worldwide by winning The Princess Trophy for “the most beautiful float under 35 feet” – our fourth trophy in 14 years. There was no better way to draw attention to Rotary’s Centennial Celebration of The Rotary Foundation than to have viewers tune in to be entertained and see this award-winning float. This resulted in more TV, social media and print coverage of our float than ever before.
Our 2018 Float will represent the first year of our Foundation’s second century. The Tournament of Roses announced their 2018 Rose Parade theme is “Making a Difference.” Coincidentally 2017-18 Rotary President Ian Riseley announced his theme for 2017-2018 is “Rotary – Making a Difference.” What a wonderful theme to describe how our 1.2 million Rotarians impact their communities and the world with their selfless every day acts of kindness.
Please click on any “Donate” button on this website to help fund the cost of this float.
Joseph Ramos III, Chair
2018 Rotary Rose Parade Float Committee
Be a Part of the Float Team Groups of 30 are needed for every shift and sign ups to work on this float start September 15. A donation of $5 per person covers the cost of the T Shirts. Please visitrotaryfloat.org.
TRVFA: Providing Grants for Vocational Training in AZ
The mission of The Rotary Vocational Fund of Arizona, Inc. (TRVFA) is to partner with Rotary Clubs to provide assistance to qualified candidates in obtaining education, training, and skill development so they may, in turn, attain career oriented employment and financial stability, and contribute to their communities.
TRVFA, with a 501(c)(3) tax status, is funded entirely by donations and grants and is a program created by and administrated by Rotarians! Your TRVFA donations are eligible for Arizona state tax credits.
Rotary Clubs need to interview the applicants that contact the club, however no club monies are needed. See website for further information.
We are neighbors, community leaders, and global citizens uniting for the common good. With you, we can accomplish even more.
a good bet you’ll enjoy the Old Pueblo Rotary’s Poker Challenge 2017 on September 23. The doors open at 5 p.m. and play begins at 6 p.m. at the Viscount Suites Hotels, 4855 E. Broadway.
Each year, OPR sends 35-40 Flowing Wells High School kids to the University of Arizona’s Sky Camp for 4 days and 3 nights in the Catalina Mountains to study flora, fauna and astronomy taught by UA graduate students.
RYLA Delegate Spaces Are Filling Fast; Junior Counselor, Adult Advisor Applications Due
Now that school has started, begin recruiting and interviewing candidates to fill the RYLA delegate spaces you have reserved. Look for individuals with strong leadership potential who your Club believes will most benefit from attending RYLA. Applications are due by Nov. 1. A waiting list will be started as soon as the 96 spaces are reserved.
Applications for Junior Counselor and Adult Advisors can be sent in any time before November 1st, and there is no limit on how many individuals can apply.
Candidates will be interviewed in early November by the Admin Team. 12 Adult Advisors and 12 Junior Counselors will be selected. Cost to sponsor a Junior Counselor is $400; Adult Advisor cost is $190. Money will be refunded if your Club’s applicant(s) for either role are not selected.
All applications for delegates, counselors and advisors are available at: www.rylad5500.org, and should to be sent to San Luis Rotary, Attn. Marcos Ramirez, PO Box 13926, San Luis, AZ 85349.
Schedule a Presentation on RYLA for a Club Meeting
If your club is interested in scheduling a presentation on what we have planned for RYLA this year, contact Barbara Harrison, District 5500 RYLA Chair, bjsharrison@comcast.net / 520.250.3437
All clubs are invited to sell tickets for the Rotary Club of Tucson’s classics car show and keep half of their sales. Tickets are just $5 each and are a chance to win this beautiful 2008 C-6 Corvette convertible or $15,000 cash, and four other great prizes. And, each ticket is also an adult admission to the Tucson Classics Car Show on October 21 at the Gregory School. The winning tickets will be drawn there, but you do not have to be present to win.
This annual event raises money for charities targeting early childhood literacy and job training. This is a Win-Win!
Join us at City Park in Old Bisbee on Saturday, October 7, for great local foods and 30+ wines to sample, micro-brewed beers from Tombstone Brewing Company (and others to be named shortly), jazz and standards from Out of the Blue with Jessica Fleet, raffles, silent auction items and more! This event, running 4-7 p.m., is our major annual fundraiser that allows our small club to do a tremendous amount of good in Bisbee, Naco, AZ and Naco, Sonora. Tickets and more information are available at https://vintagebisbee.org/cart/tickets-sq.aspx?EID=112033 or call event chair Tom Nelson at 520-727-1285. Groups welcome, news on transportation coming soon!
District 5500 Loops the Loop
to Spread the Good Word
On September 16 District 5500 joins other El Tour de Tucson non-profits in the 2nd annual Loop the Loop.
This FREE community activity starts from any point along Pima County’s LOOP. Cyclists ride from station to station where El Tour charitable beneficiaries greet them with goodies, fun activities and information. District 5500 and participating clubs will distribute munchies and information about individual clubs and Rotary’s good works.
Mary Straus, past president of the Rotary Club of Marana, is leading the effort. Any club can participate by providing 50 copies of a club brochure and one volunteer to help staff the booth between 6:30 and 10:30 a.m. An added bonus would be to provide snacks to distribute to help defray the costs. District 5500 will be at the Christina Taylor Green Memorial River Park Station.
1st Annual Presidio Rotary Club
Trap Shoot Invitational
The Rotary Club of Tucson Presidio invites you to its first Trap Shoot Invitational, Sunday, November 19. Cost is $50 per person, or $250 for a team of five. Cash prizes: For Rotarians only: High-gun wins $1,000, 2nd wins $500, and 3rd wins, $250. High Team is $100 per shooter, and 2nd is $50 per shooter. Funds raised will support Presidio Rotary charitable efforts including Southern Arizona Justice for Veterans.
Benson joins with groups to increase visibility and membership.
As president of the Benson Rotary Club and a member of several community groups, I realized there was an opportunity to raise awareness of Rotary and other groups by working together. To that end, our club has shared an information booth at local fairs and events with 3 other community groups. This has resulted in increased exposure and potential membership leads.
The first effort was booth at the Benson July 4th celebration with Rotary, Benson Beautiful, and the Benson Museum. The three groups took turns manning the booth, passing out information, and running a 50/50 raffle. The raffle used hands of blackjack to make it interesting, and most importantly, to get people to give their contact info. A second joint booth was done at Triangle T Ranch’s garlic festival and we added the Chamber of Commerce as a partner.
The joint booths had an unexpected benefit. They drew the four groups closer and we started supporting each other. There will be more efforts to do joint projects.
For more information, contact David Bryan at azdavidbryan@gmail.com.
Why Seven is a Lucky Number for D5500
District 5500 is lucky to have seven clubs that have achieved the distinction of “100% Paul Harris Foundation” Clubs.
What does that mean? It means that every member in those clubs have become Paul Harris Fellows — something to be proud of and something that all clubs should strive for.
The Clubs are: Green Valley, Marana, Rio Rico, Sierra Vista West, Tucson (Casas Adobes), Tucson Sunrise and Tucson Sunset.
If you have the chance to visit one of these seven clubs, congratulate them for their achievement.
Gary Friedman
D5500 Annual Fund Chairman
D5500 District Foundation, Secretary
Rotary Leadership Institute
Our next District 5500 Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) program will be Saturday, September 16, at the Yuma Main Library, 2951 S. 21st Drive, Yuma, AZ 85364. Sessions 1 and 2 will be offered at that time.
RLI is a training program established to improve the Rotary knowledge and leadership skills of future club leaders. It is a great starting place for new Rotarians looking to find their niche in the Rotary world. The exchange of ideas with other experienced Rotarians alone makes the courses worthwhile.
The RLI training program consists of three full-day sessions, followed by graduate seminars.
Future sessions will be announced soon for the 2017-18 Rotary year. Cost is $65, including a continental breakfast and lunch. Many clubs budget RLI costs to cover members attending.
Full registration information is available under the RLI heading on the District
For further information, contact Joe Guyton, Coordinator Rotary Leadership Institute District 5500, 520-820-0134, jjguytonjr@gmail.com.
Habitat for Humanity Tucson Needs You
You’re invited to help on a Habitat home in partnership with the Tucson Association of REALTORS Habitat for Humanity Build Day! We need 20 volunteers to help on Wednesday, September 13, 6:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at a Southwest Tucson address TBD.
On this day of fellowship, Rotarians and non-Rotarians will show the difference we all can make when we come together. It’s also a great opportunity to share who Rotarians are in our community!
To volunteer & for more details, please contact: Lauren Smith Klase, Past President, Pantano Rotary Club, Lauren.Klase@stewart.com520-237-9292
Join the Fun: 1st Annual Taste of Salsa
A salsa competition where YOU are the judge!
That’s what the Rotary Satellite Club of Tucson Presidio is putting on Saturday, September 23, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Truly Nolen Training Center, 434 S. Williams Blvd., in Tucson. Tickets for the 1st Annual Taste of Salsa are $20 per person. Children under 12 are free with a paid adult. The event will include a contest for “Best Salsa” from local restaurants, “Best Salsa” from a caterer, raffle prizes, and Salsa dance lessons.
All proceeds benefit our vocational students and future community leaders by providing grants to further their vocational training.
For more information, contact Patty Frates, 520-236-3427.
The Rotary Club of Tucson Sunrise will be hosting their 8th Annual Rotary Road Rally to benefit Intermountain Centers for Autism on Sunday, October 22. The Rally will feature celebrated routes through Tucson, route clues and awards, and the famous Road Rally BBQ.
The route will start at 9:30 a.m. at The Gregory School, 3231 N. Craycroft Road, at the north field. It will return to the school for the BBQ after touring the Tucson area and will end at 2 p.m.
Title sponsors are GEICO and Coco’s Bakery Restaurants.
For more information visitTucsonSunriseRotaryand click on the Road Rally 2017 button.
SaddleBrooke Sunrise Rotary Club Hears About a Project in East Jerusalem
Past Rotary District Governor Michael Drake discussed the Israel/Palestine conflict and the history of Rotary in the Middle East at the SaddleBrooke Sunrise Rotary Club’s July 27 meeting. He also presented a proposed Rotary Foundation humanitarian project in East Jerusalem.
The project would support the Princess Basma Center School, a school on the Mount of Olives in East Jerusalem that teaches and works with disabled Palestinian children. The project would make the school library more accessible to disabled students, purchase computer equipment and software and train teachers.
The East Jerusalem Rotary Club and Rotary clubs in Southern Arizona raise funds for the project, which are then matched by the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. The SaddleBrooke Sunrise Club is considering supporting the project.
“In February 2018, the eyes of the Rotary World will be on Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Zones 24 and 25 will host the Presidential Conference on Environmental Sustainability and Peace — one of six international peace building conferences planned for the 2017-2018 Rotary year. President Ian Riseley has made environmental sustainability a major focus for his year and we are honored that he has chosen Vancouver to hold the first Presidential Conference on this key area.”
John Matthews, International Director
John asks that you “save the dates” of February 9-11, 2018, and share this information with all Rotarians in your Clubs. For more information click here.
New Newsletter Submission Guidelines
All clubs are encouraged to submit news of previous and upcoming activities for newsletter inclusion. Please keep summaries to about 100 words o so, add a headline and include a photo with a caption if appropriate. Then add a “for more information link” to websites and forms.
Just model your submissions after those in this newsletter and you'll be set.
Additionally, put the name of your club and the month the article will run in the subject line of your email to newsletterAZ5500@gmail.com. Submit the article ONLY as a .doc or docx. No pdfs or flyers, please. The deadline is the 15th of each month for publication around the 1st of the next month.
Coming Attraction: 
3-15, 2017.)
une in to be entertained and see this award-winning float. This resulted in more TV, social media and print coverage of our float than ever before.
attain career oriented employment and financial stability, and contribute to their communities.
ry’s Poker Challenge 2017 on September 23. The doors open at 5 p.m. and play begins at 6 p.m. at the Viscount Suites Hotels, 4855 E. Broadway.
prizes. And, each ticket is also an adult admission to the Tucson Classics Car Show on October 21 at the Gregory School. The winning tickets will be drawn there, but you do not have to be present to win. 
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Trap Shoot Invitational, Sunday, November 19. Cost is $50 per person, or $250 for a team of five. Cash prizes: For Rotarians only: High-gun wins $1,000, 2nd wins $500, and 3rd wins, $250. High Team is $100 per shooter, and 2nd is $50 per shooter. Funds raised will support Presidio Rotary charitable efforts including Southern Arizona Justice for Veterans.
e and leadership skills of future club leaders. It is a great starting place for new Rotarians looking to find their niche in the Rotary world. The exchange of ideas with other experienced Rotarians alone makes the courses worthwhile. .png)
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clues and awards, and the famous Road Rally BBQ.
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l be on Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Zones 24 and 25 will host the Presidential Conference on Environmental Sustainability and Peace — one of six international peace building conferences planned for the 2017-2018 Rotary year. President Ian Riseley has made environmental sustainability a major focus for his year and we are honored that he has chosen Vancouver to hold the first Presidential Conference on this key area.”
