Nate Reilly, Senior Vice President of Ticketing for the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League (IFL), delivered a speech highlighting the team’s recent success and the unique qualities of the IFL.
Arizona Rattlers
Mr. Reilly celebrated the Arizona Rattlers as the reigning National Champions of the IFL for 2024. He expressed the team’s excitement and determination as they prepare to defend their title in the upcoming season, which kicks off in March.
About the Indoor Football League
Reilly discussed the distinct aspects of the IFL, emphasizing how the league differs from the NFL. He described the IFL as a unique and engaging brand of football, offering a different experience compared to traditional outdoor football leagues. He encouraged the audience to attend a Rattlers game to experience the excitement firsthand.
Community Involvement: The West Valley Mavericks
In addition to team and league updates, Mr. Reilly spoke about the West Valley Mavericks, a group of professional and business leaders dedicated to supporting the West Valley community. He highlighted their mission to raise funds and support local charities, underscoring the importance of giving back to the community.
Invitation to Experience the IFL
Mr. Reilly concluded by inviting everyone to come out and enjoy a Rattlers game, stressing the fun and family-friendly atmosphere and the opportunity to support both the team and the local community.
Verrado Rotary Welcomes Phil McAllister
Dr Phil and President Holly
The club recently welcomed Phil McAllister as an Honorary Winter Visitor member of Verrado Rotary!
For more than 32 years, Dr. Phil McAllister has dedicated his career to the fields of Functional Bio-Mechanics and Neurology. His unique expertise in Sports Medicine Rehabilitation has enabled him to assist countless individuals—including athletes at all levels—with injury recovery and performance enhancement. Since 1994, he has served as both a member and Director of Medical Teams for various Olympic and professional sports organizations. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Phil McAllister hosted the television show “Living Health with Dr. Phil” on Rogers TV in Canada, sharing his knowledge and passion for health with a wider audience.
In June 2025, Dr. Phil McAllister and his wife, Cassandra, made the decision to sell their practice and retire together. This transition marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter in their lives.
A committed Rotarian since the late 1990s, Dr. Phil McAllister was inspired to give back after his daughter, Natasha, received support from a local Rotary club during her journey as a person with high special needs. Natasha’s diagnosis of cerebral palsy after a traumatic birth, which resulted in quadriplegia and non-verbal communication, motivated the family’s ongoing commitment to service.
Dr. Phil McAllister served as President of the Rotary Club of Guelph-Trillium (Ontario, Canada) for the 2025–2026 term. He found this second term as president even more rewarding than his first in 2006–2007, especially with the introduction of the innovative POD system. This system fostered greater engagement and flexibility within the club, allowing Dr. Phil McAllister, Cassandra, and Natasha to become “hybrid Snowbirds” in Buckeye, Arizona, after years of short-term visits and renting their home there while working in Canada.
Dr Phil and his family looks forward to actively participating in the club and contributing to the community to the best of their abilities.
Outside of his professional and community commitments, Dr. Phil McAllister and Cassandra enjoy an active lifestyle. They spend time playing pickleball, cycling, hiking, golfing, and working out together at home. In his younger years, Dr. Phil McAllister played semi-professional rugby in Canada and Southern California while attending school in the early 1990s. His personal experiences with sports injuries fueled his passion for helping others as a Sports Rehabilitation Specialist.
Just a reminder: Club social at President-elect Deb Burton's home on January 29, 2026 @ 5:30 PM. For more details click on the “event” on the far side of the bulletin. Friends and other guests are welcome. 5655 N 208th Lane, Buckeye (Victory)
Posted by Jamison Kaufman
Rotary International 2026/2027 President Yinka Babalola
Last week Incoming Rotary International President Olya Yinka Babalola was excited to give his first speech to ALL of the Rotary District Governors in the world (about 600+spouses) at the international Assembly in Orlando FL, a global training event for intense leadership development, strategic planning and fellowship before starting their service year. It's a week-long event held every January, preparing these leaders for their terms starting July 1st, with sessions, keynote speakers, and networking opportunities to foster global connections and reinforce Rotary's mission.
This huge event was held in San Diego until it got too big... Warren and I would drive 8 hrs (one way) to San Diego every year for a 7am breakfast we hosted at the hotel where everyone stayed for the incoming DG’s from Nigeria (about 10 people including spouses) to introduce them to our project in Nigeria: The Safe Blood Africa Project, to ensure constant and continous support for the project every year. Having them in CA was a LOT easier than getting us to Nigeria!
We met Yinka in 2003 when Warren went to Nigeria as Team Leader for Youth Exchange trip with 9 local students where they discover another culture and truly become global citizens. Exchanges for students ages 15-19 are sponsored by Rotary clubs in more than 100 countries. It was during that trip that Warren learned about Sickle Cell Anemia and met people who need blood transfusions regularly - and the Safe Blood Africa Project was born. Yinka has been to CA many times for Rotary reasons and has spent many days and nights with us discussing amazing topics on a global level. One of the most amazing men I know. The Youth Exchange program is a constant in Rotary Youth endeavors whose ideal basically is that people won’t be fighting each other if they know and understand other countries, customs, protocol and perception.
Yinka began his Rotary journey at the age of 22, participating as a Rotaractor from 1988 to 1994, then joining his current Rotary club in 1994. An attorney and executive in the energy sector in Nigeria, Yinka supports the Rotary Foundation with a named endowment and is an Arch Klumph Society member. He is as kind as he looks and gentle and o so smart.
When the Annual Rotary International convention was in Salt Lake City in 2007 about 15 Nigerians came to Monterey / Carmel Valley Rotary Club for my first meeting as President - and a real wedding to marry the man that brought me into Rotary - which of course change everything in my life! Next year that will be TWENTY years ago!!!!!
Here is a link to the video and pdf of Yinka’s speech last week at the District Governors Assembly in Orlando, FL.
Here’s a PR photo of Yinka standing next to my husband at our wedding (my first meeting as Club President 2007) with Yinkas young kids and Fr. Sunday, a Nigerian Priest.
Rotary District 5495 Conference May 2026 - Registration is Now Open
May 1 & 2 2026 - Sheraton Mesa Hotel at Wrigleyville West, 860 Riverview Way, Mesa Arizona
Great Scott! Join Rotarians from across District 5495 (all of Arizona north of the Gila River, plus Laughlin, NV), as we go “Back to the Future” for a weekend of service, inspiration, celebration and an unforgettable “Enchantment Under the Sea” prom. Join Dave Faragher, Mike & Trish, Holly & Mike and other Rotarians from our club as we enjoy celebrating with our fellow Rotarians. To register click on this link. District Conference Registration. There are hotel blocks at the Sheraton (closes April 10), as well as the nearby Courtyard by Marriott (closes March 2). You can find links to the hotel pages on the Conference registration site.
If you prefer you can attend for one day or two days and stay locally or head home at night. (Driving distance from Verrado is 42 miles).
Clay Goodman, PhD is the Buckeye City Council District 6 Representative.
Dr. Goodman retired as the Training Manager, Non-Nuclear Generation Fleet for Arizona Public Service. In this role, Goodman was responsible for the leadership and technical training for approximately 1,000 employees across six APS power plants in both Arizona and New Mexico.
Prior to joining APS, Goodman enjoyed a successful 25-year career at Estrella Mountain Community College retiring in 2015. At EMCC, Dr. Goodman served as Vice President of Academic Affairs, Vice President Occupational Education and Vice President Administrative Services. While at EMCC, Dr. Goodman was instrumental in several education related projects in Buckeye including development of the Buckeye Education Center and the Southwest Campus for WestMEC.
Councilmember Goodman is an Arizona native, has lived in the West Valley for 30 years and has been a resident of Buckeye (Verrado) since 2012. Clay and his wife Lynda have two grown children and one grandson.
Councilmember Goodman serves as council liaison on the WESTMARC Board, Buckeye Public Safety Retirement Board – Police Division, MAG – Human Services Division and the Community Development Advisory Committee. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the White Tank Mountain Conservancy, a group dedicated to the preservation of wild spaces within and surrounding the White Tank Mountain Regional Park.
