Stories

Peoria North Rotary toasted the marriage of Katie Murphy and Nathan Hedgecock during the club's Sept. 17 meeting. Katie was the club's first "Student of the Month" and later an Ambassador Scholar to Oxford on a Rotary scholarship. Katie was married over the summer at West Point Military Academy. Members George and Willi attended the wedding and brought back several bottles of champagne served to those who attended the ceremony -- so that our club could ceremoniously toast Katie and Nathan.
 

Peoria North Rotary Club members recently thanked the managers of three local Basha's Grocery Stores for their continued support of our book bins. The bins -- located at one Basha's store in Sun City West and two in Peoria -- have generated over $10,400 for the club since first introduced nearly 10 years ago. Funds raised through the bins help the club fund literacy projects and its annual dictionary project. Nicole Martinez, the assistant manager of the 99th and Beardsley Basha's, attended the club's Sept. 10 meeting. Not at the meeting, but also recognized, were Steve Stover, the manager of the 99th and Beardsley store; Alex Lopez, manager of the Sun City West store; and Kim Pirtle, manager of the 75th and Thunderbird store. From left, Willi Wheeler, book bin coordinator for the club; Nicole Martinez; and Janet Gregg.

The Peoria North Rotary Club welcomed inbound exchange student Ya-Han "Sandy" Cao to Arizona during June and July. Several members of the club hosted Sandy during her six-week visit to the Valley of the Sun. Sandy's activities included celebrating Independence Day, viewing the Arizona Diamondbacks, visiting the Heard Museum and traveling to Southern California.
 

Chuck Strange visited the club in June to promote a nationwide project that collects cell phones for those serving in the military. Chuck shared with the club the purpose of the nonprofit campaign and its desire to collect cell phones and ship them to those serving abroad in time for the Fourth of July holiday. Chuck is a long-time community volunteer and serves on the Peoria Chamber of Commerce and Peoria Diamond Club Boards of Directors.

BATTER-UP Get ready sports fans. It's about time for our Rotary Club's annual outing to the Peoria Ballpark for a Spring Training BB game. The game will be at 1 pm on Saturday, March 22, so save the date. We've got 18 great seats - the best in the house, and they're all together in a group to make for easy schmoozing. Tickets will be $20, which is actually a real bargain for seats this good, but they'll be on a first come first served basis. Ticket sales will open about a month ahead of time. We'll let you know the exact date ahead of time.  Questions?  Contact Winston.

 

 

 One of the ongoing projects PNRC has been committed to has been assisting with the Cactus High School Pantry;  a program that was initially started with the assistance of a District Simplified Grant in 2011.  This is a place where students and/ or student's families can go in times of need to obtain school supplies;  personal hygiene supplies etc.  While the Pantry has become relatively self sufficient,  there are times where they can benefit with some assistance.  Therefore we are collecting school supplies thru the end of July;  supplies may be placed in the collection box at BMO Harris Bank (91st Ave and Union Hills);  or you can bring any donations you may want to make into a club meeting.  Items in need are any standard school supply:  paper, pens, notebooks, BACKPACKS, etc.  Additionally, the Pantry is suggesting basic personal hygiene products such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, etc.  

PNRC Commotion Night was held Wednesday, June 26th in our traditional 'passing of the torch' ceremony.  With laughter and fellowship,  the new 2013-14 PNRC Board of Directors has been installed.  Your Board Members and Committee Chairs for the next year will be:

President:  Katie Carmack

Treasurer:  Deb Utz

Secretary: Ken Parsons

President Elect:  Mary Anne Baker

Foundation: Rebecca Wilks

New Generations: Tamera Sabinsky

Ad Hoc Board Member: John Fairchild

Committee Chairs:

Club Administrator:  Rebecca Wilks/Maria Mathews

Sgt At Arms: Dave Hammond

Fundraising:  Mary Anne Baker

Web/Newsletter:  Tamera Sabinsky

Additionally, this year, the PNRC Board has elected to explore a new venue for Membership with a Mentoring Program, with Gary Connely, Steve Mathews, and Janet Gregg all volunteering to step into the role of New Member Mentors.  

Let's all wish President Katie Carmack best wishes as she moves PNRC forward into the new Rotary year..... just look for her yellow 'Chariot'.

One of PNRC's ongoing commitments is that of fostering literacy both locally and internationally.  Early each spring, PNRC partners with the Peoria Rotary Club to assist in the distribution of dictionaries  to  every 3rd grader in the Peoria Unified School District.  Club member Ken Parsons is seen here with an excited group of students who have just received their personal dictionaries.... smiles abound.  

Last Friday, Rebecca and MaryAnne met five people whose lives have been transformed by Microcredit in Nogales Mexico. They had a cultural exchange and lots of fresh-baked Mexican dulces. More details are on Rebecca's photo Blog. — with MaryAnne Baker, Rob Baker, Rebecca Wilks and Marco Cecala.

Club President, Katie Carmack, celebrates with the Mountain Ridge HS Spring Rotary Students of the Month. 

 On April 13, Peoria North Rotary participated in a "Visioning" seminar, brainstorming our priorities for the future.  Photos are here.

Four representatives of Peoria North Rotary Club toured projects with members of the East London, South Africa Sunrise Club a little over a year ago.  We started talking with then then about projects we might work on together, and those conversations have now come full-circle.

Marco and I are just back from Guatemala, visiting schools served by the Guatemala Literacy Project and visiting with Florentina, the student Marco and I are sponsoring.  Florentina is the youngest of 5, being raised by a single parent (Dad)l.  She is 17 and in High School ("Diversificado") studying accounting.  It has been delightful seeing her grow into a poised young woman! The GLP is a model of positive, sustainable literacy work.  Learn more at www.coeduc.org

 Photographs from the February 2013 trip are here.

Among the newest of Arizona's nearly 140 Rotary Clubs, Peoria North Rotary Club is a member of Rotary International, an organization of business and professional leaders who strive to provide strong humanitarian services, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and build goodwill and peace throughout their community and the world. Peoria North Rotary Club received its charter from Rotary International on December 2, 2005.

   

Congratulations to Lieutenant Kathryn Murphy, our Ambassadorial Scholar, upon completion of her Master's Degree program in Russian language and Eurasia Politics from Oxford University, England.  We look forward to many great things from Katie as she heads for full time Army life. 

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