Club members had a great time providing water and directions to runners and walkers participating in the 2025 Lost Dutchman Marathon 8K Trail Run.
The Lost Dutchman Marathon is an annual event, which includes a marathon, half-marathon, 10k, and 8k trail run. All proceeds from the five non-profit Lost Dutchman race events benefit many local youth organizations. To date, since the inception of the event in 2002, Lost Dutchman races have contributed more than $900,000 to these causes. Club members have been annually responsible for managing volunteer efforts for the 8K Trail Run. The event provides the Club both an opportunity as a service project, as well as a fund-raiser to help the community.
The Club also participated in and volunteered for the 2025 Lost Dutchman Days Rodeo event, February 21st-23rd.
For many years, Superstition Mountain Rotary Club members have volunteered at the annual Lost Dutchman Days Rodeo. The event provides both a fund-raiser and a service project opportunity for the Club. Volunteers actively work for all three days, handling beer sales.
Funds received from participating in service projects such as this are utilized by the Club, throughout the year, to assist many non-profit, need-based, youth, and community causes. Additionally, the Club utilizes funds received from service projects to help provide funding for student scholarships.
Elaine Poker-Yount, who represents 'Successful Aging,' spoke to the Club about issues related to dementia. Elaine works to help provide information and care for aging families. A goal is to help families more successfully move forward as aging and illness bring change.
She specializes in educating and empowering people how to truly understand and navigate the complexities of daily life with Dementia/Alzheimer’s disease. Her approach goes beyond care - it's about teaching individuals how to live well, even in the face of these challenges. For more information - https://successfulagingaz.com/
February 19
Our speaker was Paula Blessman, Co-Director & Co-Founder of 'Girls Matter Period'. ''Girls Matter Period' is a non-profit 501 (c)3 organization based in Arizona that provides education and feminine hygiene kits to 1000's of girls and women each year. The organization focuses on serving needs of girls and women by providing valuable information and education, along with washable/reusable feminine hygiene supplies. This enables girls to stay in school and enjoy the dignity that they deserve.
The groups of volunteers meet regularly in Phoenix, AZ, and Crosslake/Aitkin, MN, areas. Volunteers make thousands of feminine hygiene kits to be distributed each year, primarily in Limpopo, South Africa. The Club provided a donation to help with their volunteer efforts.
Club member, Aaron McDermid, shared several interesting stories about his life, family, business, and Rotary experiences. He is a proud US Army Veteran, serving our country as an Army Ranger. For several years he has had a successful career as a State Farm Insurance Agent, owning State Farm Insurance businesses in two locations - (Signal Butte/Southern and Power/Baseline).
Aaron has been a long-time Rotarian, involved in many leadership roles, including multiple terms as President and has been very dedicated to volunteering for service projects. He is always lending a helpful hand to the Club and our community in various ways. He is also on the Board of the Apache Junction Chamber of Commerce and has completed the FBI Citizens Academy.
Our February 5th meeting was a Club Assembly which featured a smörgåsbord of speakers sharing information about a wide range of topics. There was information related to Rotary District happenings, updates about upcoming Club services projects and activities, and an update from Club member, Dr Robert Pappalardo about tax credit opportunities that can benefit the Apache Junction school district and it's students. For more information about Apache Junction School tax credit opportunities, visit https://www.ajusd.org/taxcredithero.
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Club members had a great time providing water and directions to runners and walkers participating in the 2025 Lost Dutchman Marathon 8K Trail Run. 
The Club also participated in and volunteered for the 2025 Lost Dutchman Days Rodeo event, February 21st-23rd. 
Elaine Poker-Yount, who represents 'Successful Aging,' spoke to the Club about issues related to dementia. Elaine works to help provide information and care for aging families. A goal is to help families more successfully move forward as aging and illness bring change. 
Our speaker was Paula Blessman, Co-Director & Co-Founder of 'Girls Matter Period'. ''Girls Matter Period' is a non-profit 501 (c)3 organization based in Arizona that provides education and feminine hygiene kits to 1000's of girls and women each year. 
Club member, Aaron McDermid, shared several interesting stories about his life, family, business, and Rotary experiences. He is a proud US Army Veteran, serving our country as an Army Ranger. For several years he has had a successful career as a State Farm Insurance Agent, owning State Farm Insurance businesses in two locations - (Signal Butte/Southern and Power/Baseline).
Our February 5th meeting was a Club Assembly which featured a smörgåsbord of speakers sharing information about a wide range of topics. There was information related to Rotary District happenings, updates about upcoming Club services projects and activities, and an update from Club member, Dr Robert Pappalardo about tax credit opportunities that can benefit the Apache Junction school district and it's students. For more information about Apache Junction School tax credit opportunities, visit