Kevin Barko our Membership Chair introduced our newest members, Mark Yslas, Superintendent of Agua Fria High School District and Melinda Marchese, Communication Coordinator, Agua Fria High School District. Welcome Mark and Melinda!
From Left. DG Larry Horton, Kevin Barko, Melinda
Marchese and Mark Yslas
Our own Past President and current Assistant District Governor, David Faragher introduced our guest speaker on November 15, Larry Horton, District Governor of Rotary District 5495.
Larry shared with us an inspirational vision of Rotary. He told the story of a man who spent 29 years building a road through a mountain one shovel at a time. He explained that the man’s wife had died years earlier because the medical care she needed was too far away and if the road had been there it would have been closer. A true story which was an excellent metaphor for how many things happen in Rotary. Because one person saw a need and acted on it. It is how our polio program started. It was how Larry Cevarich’s Homeless Youth Connection started and how just about every accomplishment in Rotary started.
Larry shared with us the success the Arizona “Pints for Polio” which was a way of enjoying a few pints of beer and the same time support polio. If you would like to know more or buy a commemorative T-shirt, click
here. The goal to eradicate polio started in the middle 1980s and is close to being accomplished which will mean Polio will be the second disease to ever be eradicated. (Smallpox being the first).
DG Larry also mentioned the Rotary week of service which will be in April, 2023.
Larry encouraged all Rotarians to consider making annual contributions to the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. The Rotary Foundation is one of the most respected charities in the world, with a rare 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, the highest rating they grant. Your club is currently recognized as an “Every Rotarian Every Year” club by the Rotary Foundation. If you don’t already donate annually to the Foundation, please consider doing so. For only $100 a year you can become a Sustaining Member.
To end his remarks DG Larry presented the club with the 2022/2023 theme banner “Imagine Rotary” on behalf of Rotary International President Jennifer Jones.
There were many questions following Larry’s interesting presentation.
District Governor Larry Horton Presents
the Club with 22/23 Theme Banner
Our 3rd Annual Verrado Rotary TopGolf Fundraiser was held on Saturday, November 19. 2022. A good time was had by all and the event was a success. Stay tuned for a full report from Doug Bredow. Great job Doug! Thanks to all who participated or otherwise supported the event.