February 28
Club members and guests enjoyed our official visit from our District Governor, Kevin Pitts. Kevin shared an update about District 5495 events.A Rotarian and member of the Rotary Club of Prescott since 2004, Kevin is passionate about the Rotary Foundation and international projects. Over the years he has been active both at club and district levels and brings unique experiences to Rotary related to international service from living in Mexico City for over 12 years. His ties to Mexico have assisted him in serving as international service chair for his club and co-chair of the Mexico-USA Friendship Conference and Global Grants Exchange.
Kevin is Chief Investment Officer and partner at 'EverVest Financial' and in his spare time can often be found fishing and hunting with his family. For more info about Kevin and District 5495:
February 21
Our speaker, Club member Ron Knies, gave a Classification talk. Ron has been a Rotary member for many years and is very active with several Club service projects. For many years he has been heading up the annual Club fund-raising project that supports the Lost Dutchman Rodeo. He shared several interesting stories about his life, business and Rotary experiences. Ron had a long, interesting career at JC Penney. He shared stories about experiences working his way up the ladder to various management positions and eventually managing some of the largest retail stores across the US. He spoke about the evolution of the company's Catalog division, as well as the dynamics of the retail industry being changed by Internet sales.
We are excited to welcome Laura Ewald as the newest member of our Club!February 14
Randy Lazar, Special Education Coordinator / Apache Junction High School spoke to us about their 'Special Education / Future Readiness Program'. This program focuses on educating students who have various physical and/or learning challenges. The program is oriented toward small class groups. It focuses on providing students with functional academic skills and education. But, additionally, the program includes education and training related to daily living skills, which the students will need to advance throughout their lives.
The program additionally provides job training through campus jobs and activities, as well as coordinating community-based instruction -- all these opportunities are oriented to help the students learn practical skills they will need to thrive.
The program needs funds to be able to purchase an adequate supply of pre-vocational materials that are needed in the classrooms. Government/ state funding is limited and does not provide these needed materials. Contact Apache Junction High School for more information if you or your business can help donate to the 'Special Education / Future Readiness Program' needs. https://www.ajusd.org/o/ajhs
February 7
Our speaker was Patti King - Executive Manager for 'Pinal Alliance for Economic Growth'. Patti spoke about the 'AARP- Reading Program for Children' - an inter-generational volunteer-based tutoring program that has been proven to assist children who aren’t reading at grade level and help them to improve and become great readers by the end of third grade. Becoming more proficient in reading provides the path for the children to subsequently get better grades, have more opportunities, ultimately jobs, and move forward in life.The program's volunteers are adults, aged 50 and older. These adult volunteers are helping to disrupt the cycle of poverty by making a lasting difference in the lives of America’s most vulnerable children by helping to give them the skills to be able to read with confidence as they progress throughout life.
More volunteers are very much needed. For more information about the program and how you can become involved -