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Are you a Rotarian wanting to expand your knowledge of and connection to Rotary? Are you going to be an assistant governor or an officer in your Rotary club in 2019-20? Then Rotary Spring Training is for you! In addition to covering the roles and responsibilities of officers, programs will be also be offered in other areas of interest. See the District website for more details and registration. Dates: Saturday, April 27, 2019 in Yuma, and Saturday, May 4, 2019 at the Quail Creek Country Club in Green Valley. Register now! Cost is $12.00, or $10.00 if 4 or more of your club members attend.

Rincon Taste of Chocolate Returns

Taste of Chocolate returns on Sunday, 7 April 2019 at the Doubletree Reid Park. Join Rincon Rotary club of Tucson to help judge a chocolate competition. Tickets are $15. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.tucsontasteofchocolate.org. If your club would like to sell tickets, contact wbtus@aol.com.
 
 
Rotary Offers New Type of Club: Passport Club
Like to travel? Then get your passport ready because it’s time to consider starting a Passport Club!
 
What is a Passport Club, you ask?  Well, just as a passport gives you freedom to travel to different countries, a Rotary Passport Club membership gives you the freedom to visit and work with Rotary Clubs all over the world and take part in activities, programs and projects that interest and engage you.  
 
So instead of being stuck in a chair every week at a meeting, you’re out in your community and the world doing great things for others.
 
Sound good? Imagine how it’ll sound to a potential Rotarian. So check it out! Visit our District website at rotaryd5500.org and click on “Membership Development”.
 
For more information, contact District Membership Chair Sandy Wahl: sandrawahlaz@yahoo.com
 
Yuma Club Offers Unique Raffle
A longtime member of Yuma Rotary passed away recently and left his 1980 Mercedes 450SL to his daughter.  She and her husband, who is also a member of Yuma Rotary, have donated the beautiful red convertible Mercedes to the club to raffle off for our youth services fundraiser.  The raffle will take place April 9, 2019 at the club’s regular lunch meeting.  Tickets are $10 each. To purchase a ticket and support Yuma Rotary Club youth services, please email Page Misenhimer at pageyrc@gmail.com.
 
 
Casas Adobes Holds Fund Raisers
Casas Adobes Rotary Club held a rummage sale Saturday, February 16th.  The first-time fundraiser was a success. The club is also holding a traditional raffle with the grand prize being a week’s stay at a beautiful Kauai, Hawaii condo.  Anyone interested in buying tickets can contact Emmet Zimberoff at 520-906-2000 or emmet@zmarkpro.com.  The drawing is April 18th.
 
Preparations are underway for the 8th Grade Honor Program Breakfast in May.
ShelterBoxes Delivered in Many Countries
If you have heard about ShelterBox, you know it is a British based NGO. But did you know it started in the Rotary club of Helston Lizard?
 
The first boxes were sent for victims of the 2001 Gujarat earthquake.  From there, Shelterbox grew in response to the 2014 Tsunami. The Haiti Earthquake required the largest deployment - over 28,000 tents for families in need. Today we have responded in more than 100 countries to 300 disasters. Do you know which country we have deployed to the most? 
 
Next month, we will share how Shelterbox decides to deploy.  For club presentations please contact donjorgensen@comcast.net.
 
 

Four-Way Test Speech Contest Finals Coming Up

Join us for the Four-Way Speech Contest. Happening on Saturday April 13th, 2019 at Social Hall Christ Church United Methodist (655 N. Craycroft Road, Tucson). The event start time is 10 a.m. and the topic is “Who Has Been or Presently Is an Inspiration in Your Life and How Does He/She Embody The Rotary Four Way Test?” For more information, contact the Four Way Test Speech Chair Debra Haddock, haddockhacienda@aol.com, 520-822-8591 or 520-471-4145.
 
 

District Party in Hamburg

Please join Rotarians and friends in District 5500 traveling to Hamburg June 1-5, 2019 to experience the many opportunities at the annual RI convention. There truly is something for everyone whether you’re a longtime member or you have just joined Rotary. Unforgettable moments are made at the RI Convention, a place where the Rotary spirit fills the air with the highest level of energy and enthusiasm.
 
Discover the unique blend of historic and contemporary culture that makes Hamburg a perfect setting for memorable experiences. It’s a flourishing city with friendly people and many delights that will make you want to return to this beautiful port city again and again.
 
March 31st is the last day for preregistration discount so take advantage of the limited –time registration rates when you register at http://www.riconvention.org/en/hamburg
 

Green Valley Back in Action After Holidays

Members of the Green Valley Rotary Club are back in action after the December holidays. At their annual election, they chose executive officers for the next three years: Paul Loomans, Jerry Kriebel, and Bob Auflick.

Almost everyone turned out to support the Spaghetti Spree on Jan. 16. Although the final numbers aren’t in yet, it’s estimated that a record 550 dinners were served. 
Two GV Interactors have returned from RYLA. 

The third and final major fundraiser of the year is the Spring Bacchanal wine and hors d’oeuvres tasting with live music on March 30.
 

New Requirements for Foundation Grants in District 5500

The District Rotary Foundation Committee adopted updated requirements for D5500 Rotary Clubs to Qualify to receive a Rotary Foundation District Grant or be a Sponsor of a Global Grant in 2019-20:
  • Clubs must be in “Good Standing”   (D5500 Bylaw 3.2
    1. No indebtedness to RI or D5500 exceeding six months
    2. President attended PETS in preceding year
  •  Two members attend a Grant Management Seminar before July 1, 2019  (dates and format  to  be determined
  • By July 1, 2019 the President appoint a Club Rotary Foundation Chair and advise the District Rotary Foundation Committee (DRFC)  Chair and Stewardship sub-committee Chair of name, contact information
  • The 2019-20 President and President-Elect sign a Club Qualification Memorandum of Understanding  and send it to  Stewardship Chair before submitting an application for a Rotary Foundation District or Global Grant.
 
 

Tucson Rotary, Lions Club Collaborate on Shoe Project

The joint project with the South Tucson Cyber Lions Club to provide shoes to students from Elvira Elementary School took place on Tuesday, February 19. Twenty-five students, accompanied by Tucson Kino Rotarian and Principal of Elvira, came to the Payless Shoe Source at the Spectrum Mall. Robert Stevenson, president of the South Tucson Cyber Lions Club, met them there.

On a positive note, each child received not one, but two pairs of shoes and a package of socks. This good fortune for the students was caused by the "Going out of Business" sale happening at the store.

Children had their feet measured, then accompanied by a Lion or Rotary volunteer to the appropriate size area. Delighted oohs and aahs were heard throughout the building. One by one, each child chose their favorites and tried them on.
 
Reserve Now for Cruise with a Cause
 
Call the Cruise Connection at 1-800-246-7447 to reserve your spot for the 2019 District Conference. All you’ll need is a $50 or $100 deposit, depending on the size of the cabin. The all-inclusive price (excluding alcoholic beverages) will be $404-$409 per person for an inside cabin or $454-$484 for an ocean-view cabin. 
 
We sail from Long Beach on Friday, October 25, docking in Ensenada on Sunday, October 27 for a day of active service and wine tasting, returning to Long Beach on Monday morning, October 28. One of Rotary’s most sought-after speakers, John T. Capps, will be with us at our plenary sessions.
 
But the real reason to be part of our “Cruise With a Cause” is to experience Rotary at work around the world, fellowship with terrific Rotarians, and the chance to learn and to develop practical skills to strengthen our clubs. 
For more information contact DGE Ellie Patterson, ellie@thetempconnection.com.
 
 
 
Wakefield School, 101 W. 44th Street, Tucson
 
Most of us lament the divisiveness of today’s world. As Rotarians, we’re proud to be working to build peace and mutual understanding. We provide practical skills and the kind of learning that translates into lasting global and local change. Our Southern Arizona Day of Peace on April 6, 2019, will be memorable in many ways. Sessions will be active and experiential, not just lectures or speeches for a maximum of 150 participants including Rotarians, Rotaractors, Interactors, and community members. Leadership will be provided by the Outward Bound Center for Peacemaking in New York City, as well as by local leaders. 
Stay tuned for sign up information for this exciting adventure in peacemaking!

Please send all your articles to:  newsletteraz5500@gmail.com by the 21st of each month! 

 
Upcoming Events
SOUTHERN ARIZONA DAY OF PEACE
Apr 06, 2019
8:30 AM – 3:30 PM
 
Yuma Teacher of the Year Recognition and Banquet
Yuma Civic and Convention Center
Apr 23, 2019
5:30 PM – 9:00 PM
 
2019-2020 Spring Training in YUMA
Yuma Main Library
Apr 27, 2019
8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
 
Rotary Spring Training - Yuma Apr 27, 2019
Apr 27, 2019 8:30 AM
 
2019-2020 Spring Training in GREEN VALLEY
Quail Creek Country Club
May 04, 2019
8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
 
Rotary Spring Training - Green Valley May 04, 2019
May 04, 2019 8:30 AM
 
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How Rotary has changed to help people get clean water for longer than just a few years

 

Profile: A vine ideaHeidi KühnRotary Club of San FranciscoHeidi Kühn arrived in Utsunomiya, Japan, in 1975, a few months after the end of the Vietnam War. She was a Rotary Youth Exchange

 

Stephanie Woollard went from Down Under to the top of the world to find out if one person can make a difference.

 

Rotary clubs in Canada invest in the PACT program, an urban peace initiative that aims to break the cycle of youth

 

Rotary peace fellow creates Red Dot Foundation to fight street harassment and violence against women.

 
Russell Hampton
National Awards Services Inc.
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