Visiting Rotarians today were Jill McCaughey (Calgary North, AB), Cheryl Kramer (Dubuque, IA), Neil King (Prince George, BC), and Ron McCullough (Edmonton, AB). Doris Helmich, President of Central Arizona College (our speaker) and Mary Gilliland, VP Academic Affairs from Central AZ College were guests of the club. Austin Hoops of Pinal County was a club visitor.
Aaron McDermid reviewed the list of volunteers who will be selling beer at the Festival of the Superstitions this coming Saturday and Sunday.
Jill McCaughey exchanged club banners with President Matt and told us about the Calgary North Rotary club.
Tom Puklin will participate in the Walk for Alzheimers on November 14. He will be looking for sponsors at the club meeting on November 11.
President Matt reminded us that we are still looking for prizes for our golf tournament. The golf committee will meet after today's meeting.
Jacquie Smith noted that the early trend in voting for the budget override for the AJUSD does not look favorable for passage.
Mike Cowan thanked the volunteers who worked the Ranch Rodeo. They were Aaron McDermid and his sister Brooke, Dan Govinsky, Len LaFlesch, Bob Crow, Murray Hiatt, Ben Fellows, Brian Kabat, Ed Shockley, Harvey Clark and our event coordinator, Mike Cowan. Thanks to all who served!!
Mike Dungan passed along notice of the Soroptimists of Gold Canyon November drive for donations of womens and childrens clothing and personal care items for Hope Womens Center in Apache Junction. Donations can be left at Mike and Di's LPL office (6641 S, King's Ranch Rd.) or at Canyon Rose Storage (6405 S. King's Ranch Rd.).
Bill Burrows brought us the News of the Day. Today is the 36th anniversary of the takeover of the US Embassy in Teheran, Iran. Justin Trudeau was sworn in today as the new Prime Minister of Canada.
Aaron McDermid raised some "money for the children" to add to our always underfunded budget,
Bill Burrows won the drawing and $10 but drew the king of clubs. The pot was wirth $289 today and it continues to grow.
Sharon Stinard introduced our speaker, Doris Helmich, President of Central Arizona College. Doris thanked the club for the scholarship help we awarded to CAC students.
In May, 2014, CAC awarded 892 certificates and degrees to 846 graduates. She mentioned that a professional study estimated CAC's economic impact to Pinal County to be $213 million. Most students who attend CAC are part-time students. Their average age is 28 years and 77% live in Pinal County. CAC has partnerships with the 3 public universities of AZ. Some public university courses are taught on campus, others by on-line programming.
The State Legislature has been withdrawing state support for the community colleges and thereby shifting most of the cost of operation to the counties. Since 2008, not one dollar has been appropriated for capital construction or remodeling on any of the community College campuses. In terms of your county property tax bill, K-12 school districts make up 41% of the budget, county government 17%, CAC 14%, cities and towns 9% and all others 18%.
Doris described the Phoenix Mart which is being developed in Casa Grande. The mart will have wholesalers for many industries all located in the same geographical spot. Only Paris, Dubai and Shanghai have similar marts. It should open next summer. About 3,000 workers will be employed on the site. It will be a huge economic driver for Pinal County.
