MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

April 26
 
Lynne Nemeth, Executive Director at Boyce Thompson Arboretum (BTA), was our speaker today. Lynne shared with us the mission of BTA--to inspire appreciation and stewardship of desert plants, wildlife, and ecosystems through education, research and conservation.
 
Located off Highway 60 in Superior, BTA holds collections of desert plants from the United States, Mexico, Australia, Madagascar, India, China, Japan, Israel, South America, the Middle East, Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Arabian Peninsula. Situated on 372 acres of scenic upland Sonoran Desert with nearly five miles of trails, BTA is Arizona’s oldest and largest botanical garden and one of Arizona’s top tourism sites. 

BTA was founded in 1924 by William Boyce Thompson, a mining magnate who understood the importance of plants as the ultimate source of our survival and well-being. Today the Arboretum offers tours, classes and events, bringing a wide community together in appreciation of the astounding diversity of its growing collection. 

 
For more information, hours and fees - https://btarboretum.org/
 
 
April 19
 
Our speaker was Mid Carlozzi, Food Bank Manager of Gold Canyon United Methodist Church Food Bank. Mid shared demographic information about those who come to the food bank in need of assistance, which in the past have been primarily the homeless and large families. But currently, a rising demographic in need of assistance is our older population.  
 
General overall rising costs for food, housing, utilities, and basic-cost-of-living expenses have created growing food insecurities among our older population -- those on fixed-incomes. These demographics need increased assistance from food banks.
 
Mid shared information about where the Food Bank food comes from, as well as how the Food Bank co-ordinates ways they can be of assistance, while working with other local area non-profits. The volunteer-staffed food bank provides assistance to anyone who is in need. Currently the facility is open Mon, Wedand Fri mornings. Also joining Mid at the Club was long time, food bank volunteer, Wayne Collins.
 
Aaron presented a check from the Club to Mid for the Food Bank, to help support individuals/families experiencing food insecurities.
 
For more information about Gold Canyon Methodist Church Food Bank -http://goldcanyonumc.org/ministries/missions/local-missions/
 
 
April 12
 

Dr Jim Blessman spoke via Zoom about 'Blessman International' ministry. While their US offices are in Iowa, the mission operates in rural Limpopo province of South Africa, serving more than 6,000,000 meals through their network of eleven feeding hubs. The ministry has grown from early days of only feeding 300 children a year. 

Opportunities created by their programs include: 
- a program for individuals to sponsor an individual child
- sports programs fostering children's soccer and netball skills
- menstrual health solutions/product distribution helps keep young women from missing school
- recovery program addressing destructive/compulsive behaviors, unhealthy relationships, addictions, anger, shame, past abuse, codependency, spiritual development
- safe/sanitary bathroom facilities for children, helping to avoid dangerous conditions that spread disease and expose children to hazardous animals while finding a place in the bush to go to the bathroom
- clean water wells, providing clean water to families and students for drinking/bathing and farmers for irrigation
- agricultural training providing a mindset of self-sufficiency 
- mission trips to South Africa 

Superstition Mountain Rotary has helped provide some support for a number of years, as well as this year. For more info about how you can be involved, visit https://www.blessmaninternational.org/  -- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsB7sH6CmmWYvhVhyBqwVGw

 

April 5
 
Our speaker was Claude Haynes from 'East Valley Astronomy Club' (EVAC). He shared information about Gilbert Riparian Preserve and EVAC.
 
An observatory is located in the preserve, which opened in Oct 2006. The observatory was 'Rotary Club of Gilbert's' 2005 Centennial Project. The observatory is open for public viewing on Friday and Saturday evenings from Sunset to 9:30pm (weather permitting). 
 
At the preserve, in addition to the observatory, there are ponds, a large variety of water fowl, hummingbird garden, fossil bones, picnic area, playground, pavilion for presentations .... and more. It is a great place to take the entire family. There is always something interesting to see and do.
 
 
The club was excited to welcome our newest member, Ron Horton, owner of Rhietta Enterprizes.