2014 Press Releases (Jul-Dec)

Press Releases
 
2014 Press Releases (Jul-Dec) - Rotary Club of Scottsdale
 
 
Rotary Club of Scottsdale Recreates History
 
The Rotary Club of Scottsdale holds two Paul Harris Days each year at multiple meeting sites. Meetings are held - one in the fall and one in the spring. This day is an excellent opportunity for club members to learn more about each other by gathering in small groups, in member's offices or other locations, just as our founders (including Paul Harris, pictured on the white board) did a century ago. "Rotating" between member's offices is actually how the name Rotary was established.  Pictured: Rotary Club of Scottsdale members meeting hosted by member, Dr. Jan Gehler, President - Scottsdale Community College.
 
 
Local Rotary, business leaders bring oceans to local students

Richard Reese (Hensel Phelps) had a dream to bring Jean-Michel Cousteau to Arizona to talk to Arizona students about saving our oceans. 

A local team of business executives joined Mr. Reese to make that dream a reality: Michelle De Blasi (Gammage & Burnham), Ben Barcon (ADM Group), Don Keuth (Phoenix Community Alliance), Kelly Mc-Cullough (Eight, Arizona PBS), Dr. Honora A. Norton (Rotary Club of Scottsdale) and Denise Brittain. 

The local team’s oceans project took shape through generous sponsorships of Core Construction, Gammage & Burnham Attorneys at Law, ADM Group, Stone Cold Masonry, Urban Energy Solutions, Pueblo Mechanical & Controls, Wholesale Floors, Progressive Roofing, Gila River Indian Community, Dick and Bette Reese, Mr. & Mrs. Funderburk and Dr. Honora Norton and Michael Elert. 

Jean Michel Cousteau through his family’s Ocean Futures Society (www.oceanfutures.org), serves as Ocean Future’s spokesman. Jean-Michel is an impassioned diplomat for the environment, reaching out for more than four decades to the public through a variety of media. 

Jean-Michel has dedicated himself and his vast experience to communicate to people of all nations and generations his love and concern for our water plan - he is an explorer, diver, environmentalist, educator and film producer. 

Ocean Futures Society, a nonprofit marine conservation and education organization, serves as a “ Voice for the Ocean” by communicating in all media the critical bond between people and the sea and the importance of wise environmental policy. 

On Oct. 13, Jean-Michel arrived at Phoenix’s Sky Harbor airport and made his way to a reception at the Palomar Hotel to meet with the local oceans project team, guests, Arizona school district leaders, various city officials and donors. 

The next morning, Jean Michel made his way to the local ASU Channel 8 KAET Arizona PBS Studios. Kelly McCullough and staff facilitated the two-hour filming of Jean-Michel’s talk, ‘ The Sustainable Future: Preserve the Oceans, Protect Ourselves.’ Close to 300 students from varied school districts attended and toward end of program eagerly asked questions. The program will be available on-demand via KAET’s education network, ASSET. 

The local team is encouraging Arizona schools to add oceanography/saving our oceans educational modules to its science programs. 
 
 
From left, Kelly McCullough, Jean-Michel Cousteau, Richard Reese, Michelle DeBlasi, Dr. Honora Norton, Don Keuth
 
 
Rotary Club Members Assist Students with their Dream Profession
 
Youth Mentoring is a youth program offered by Rotary Club of Scottsdale. The program assists high school students prepare for a job, career, or education. The program is designed to help students who are planning to immediately enter the job market, enter a trade or vocational school, or enroll in a college or university after high school. 90% of graduating students do not have a mentor. Many students have never met a professional in their field of planned post high school training or education. Rotary has a wide variety of career choices represented in its membership. Upon being accepted into the program, Rotary will seek members or other professionals who wish to mentor the student and are willing spend one hour being interviewed by the student. The student will be invited to attend a Rotary meeting with their mentor.  High school students wishing to apply for the program or to learn more about it are invited to email youthmentor@scottsdalerotary.org. 
 
Tony Martino, CEO Select Specialty Hospital - Downtown Phoenix and Scottsdale Campuses and the Club's Youth Mentoring Program Chair recently arranged a mentoring session with Mehek Mohan, Senior at Scottsdale's Desert Mountain High School.  Ms. Mohan is interested in Biomedical Engineering with an emphasis on stem cell research/cancer research.  Ms. Mohan's mentor is Roger Johnson, PhD Biomedical Engineer, Director of Strategic Initiatives, ASU's Biodesign Institute, which forms partnerships with hospitals, companies, other universities and U.S.and foreign government entities to perform biomedical & environmental research and development.  
 
For more information about Rotary Club of Scottsdale membership, programs and meetings - see www.scottsdalerotary.org.  
 
Pictured:  Tony Martino, Mehek Mohan and Roger Johnson, PhD.
 
 
 
 
 
New Activity at Rotary Park
 
Scottsdale Rotary Park is an eight acre oasis in the heart of City of Scottsdale's Gainey Ranch.  The park was built by members of the Rotary Club of Scottsdale and then donated to the City of Scottsdale.  The park features lighted walking paths, a children's playground, barbeque grills, a greenbelt, multiple picnic ramadas, a restroom facility, memorial trees, and the world's first plaza designed in the shape of the Rotary International symbol.
 
In 2002 the Rotary Club of Scottsdale added Unity Plaza and the Spirit of Unity Flagpole to Rotary Park.  These were a Rotary International Centennial Project in commemoration of Rotary International's 200th Anniversary in 2005.  Today, the Scottsdale Rotary Foundation continues to offer naming opportunities at Unity Plaza for major donors.  Recently, through generous donors, over 60 new paver bricks were added to the plaza by Club Rotarians.  Additionally, another memorial tree was planted and a U.S. flag were donated in memory of Virginia Knuth Murray by her Rotarian son Bob Murray. After the flag had flown for six months at the plaza, it was then donated to area's Salvation Army headquarters.  All tax-deductible memorial donations (after costs of flags and/or paver bricks) benefit the Rotary Club's Foundation, which supports the Club's important work with the youth of our community.
 
Rotary Plaza is located at 7959 E. Doubletree Ranch Road, Scottsdale, AZ.  This is approximately one mile south of Shea Blvd. and one mile east of Scottsdale Road, on the north side of Doubletree Ranch Road at Gainey Ranch Road.  For more information about Rotary Club of Scottsdale's Rotary Park memorials, programs, meetings and membership - see www.scottsdalerotary.org.
 
Flag - Pictured: Mervyn Morelock (Rotarian/Salvation Army), Robert "Bob" Murray, Edit Murray and Craig Miller (Past Club President)
Pictured:  Various Rotary Club of Scottsdale members who recently installed over 60 memorial paver bricks at Rotary Park Plaza - front row: Bob Saatholf, Craig Miller, John Thornton; Back row: Ken Brown, Doug Lyons, Carroll Huntress, Jason Brock, Sandy Miller and Jason Washo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

Scottsdale Rotary Honors One of Its Veteran Members

 

Park Shaw & Rep. Sinema

 

At a recent Rotary Club of Scottsdale (RCS) luncheon meeting, Kyrsten Sinema, 9th District Congresswoman, presented RCS club member COL Albert Park Shaw USA Retired with a commendation award and a US flag which has flown over the US Capitol.  This honor was in recognition of COL Shaw's exemplary service to our country during his distinguished military career and for his continued service to our country as a vital member of many military and community service organizations. 

 

In 2006, COL Shaw was inducted into the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame - this award was presented by Governor Napolitano.  Col Shaw was inducted into the Infantry Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame in 1991 (an honor bestowed upon only 1% of it’s graduates).Colonel Shaw graduated from Kentucky Military Institute in 1942, the summer after Pearl Harbor, and immediately enlisted in the Army. At 19 years old, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant, infantry, at Ft. Benning, Georgia. He served extensively in the Southwest Pacific during World War II and participated in the initial assault wave on Luzon, Philippines, in 1945 and in the initial occupation of Hokkaido, Japan. Following the war, Colonel Shaw served as member of the General Staff at the 6th Army Headquarters at the Presidio in San Francisco.  To learn more about Rotary Club of Scottsdale membership, programs and community service projects see - www.scottsdalerotary.org.
 

 

Scottsdale Rotary Recognizes Its Exchange Students 
 

 

Lili, Max, and Wyatt
 

 

Rotary Club of Scottsdale Youth Exchange Committee Chairperson, Max Rumbaugh, introduced the club's out-going and returning Rotary Youth Exchange students to club members.   Wyatt Miller, after graduating from Chaparral High School, spent a year at a high school in Italy and now plans to attend ASU Barrett Honors College.   Lili Donnenwirth, graduated from Arcadia High School.  She has left Scottsdale to spend a year at a High School in Germany.  Upon her return, Lili hopes to attend American University in Washington DC to study International Affairs.

 

Rotary International's Youth Exchange is a study-abroad opportunity for young people who spend anywhere from a few weeks to a full year as an international student hosted by local Rotary clubs.  The Rotary Club of Scottsdale, has a long history of sponsoring in-bound and out-bound exchange students during its 60 years existence in Scottsdale.  To learn more about Rotary Club of Scottsdale membership and its outstanding youth and speaker programs see - www.scottsdalerotary.org.
 

 

Busy Rotary Club of Scottsdale welcomes its Exchange Student and Installs the Rotary Club at City of Scottsdale's Civic Plaza

 

Thursday July 24, 2014 was a busy day for Rotary Club of Scottsdale.  Rotary International's District 5510 Governor, John Pennypacker; Club President, Tim Baughman; several club members/families;  the host family; and, others were on site atPhoenix Sky Harbor Airport to greet Valentina, the Club's 2014-15 In-bound Rotary International Youth Exchange Student.   Valentina arrived on time and safely from Coyhaique, a city in southern Chile, just in the western shadows of the AndesMountain range.  The Rotary Club is so excited to be hosting her for this school year.   Valentina will be attending a City ofScottsdale high school.  The Rotary Club of Scottsdale is also sponsoring a high school student who will be going toGermany for the next school year.

 

Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) is a Rotary International student exchange program for students in secondary school.  Since 1929, Rotary International has sent young people around the globe to experience new cultures. Currently, about 9,000 students are sponsored by Rotary clubs every year. Typically, students are sent to another country for a year-long stay, generally living with multiple host families during the year and being expected to perform daily tasks within the household, as well as, attend school in the host country.  Valentina has already begun participating in the Club's 4-day orientation program, which includes spending an afternoon with a returned Rotary Youth Exchange student who went toBrazil two years ago.   Pictured, Rotarian Max Rumbaugh greeting Valentina at the airport and Valentia with her new family and Rotarian friends.  

 

Valentina and Max   Group at Sky Harbor to meet Valentina

 

Also, on July 24, 2014, several club members were on site at City of Scottsdale's Civic Plaza to witness the exciting installation of the "Rotary Clock." The Rotary Clock became a reality via the dedicated project leadership of clubmember, Jason Washo, and through the generous donations to the Scottsdale Rotary Foundation by many club members, area businesses and club friends.  The Club's Foundation  supports many community projects, such as this project and Scottsdale's Rotary Park, as well as, annually the Foundation provides tens of thousands of dollars in scholarship  to deserving Scottsdale youth.  The Club's Board of Director's extends sincere thank yous to all who supported this project with their gifts of time, talent and resources. For more information about the Club, its meetings, its projects or about membership - see www.scottsdalerotary.org  Pictured:  Team Fishel staff installing the Rotary Clock and Rotarian Jason Washo, with fellow Rotarian, the Honorable City of Scottsdale Mayor Jim Lane

 

Team Fishel and Clock.      Jason Washo and Mayor Lane