Club members and friends participated in and volunteered for the 2026 Lost Dutchman Days Rodeo event, February 27 - March 1, 2026.
For many years, Superstition Mountain Rotary Club members have volunteered during 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 projects such as this are utilized by the Club 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.
For more information about Lost Dutchman Rodeo Days -
Club members, visiting Rotarians and friends participated in one of our annual fund-raiser /service projects on February 15th, 2026 - the Annual Lost Dutchman Marathon 8K Trail Run. The Club has been responsible for handling volunteer efforts for the 8K Trail Run for the past 20+ years. Also joining us this year event was Apache Junction High School wrestling team coach, Lance Uehling, along with several members of his wrestling team.
The Lost Dutchman Marathon, Inc. is a public charity marathon event run by an all-volunteer board of directors and officers with proceeds directed to local youth organizations that are focused on the economically disadvantaged. Their mission statement says it best:
“The mission of the Lost Dutchman Marathon is to promote health, fitness, and community while raising funds to support local youth serving organizations and create opportunities for economically disadvantaged children.” To date, since the inception of the event in 2002, Lost Dutchman races have contributed more than $900,000 to many local youth groups and organizations. The annual event has included a marathon, half-marathon, 10k, and 8k trail run.
Club member Ed Shockley recently delivered supplies to 'Community Alliance Against Family Abuse' (CAAFA / A New Leaf) on behalf of the Club. Pictured are Allen and Jean, volunteers at 'CAAFA / A New Leaf', who accepted the donations for the organization.
Founded in 1998, 'Community Alliance Against Family Abuse' (CAAFA) is the first and only non-profit service organization providing services for victims of sexual and domestic abuse in Northern Pinal County. The organization focuses on empowering individuals and families in the community to be able to be free from abuse. Community members founded the Apache Junction CAAFA organization when they learned of local domestic violence victims, as well as their children living in cars and out in the desert because there was nowhere else safe for them to go. Seeing these survivors who had nowhere else to go, CAAFA created shelter and support services that annually help about 470 survivors. Survivors can find help from services, including a 16-bed emergency shelter, support groups, legal advocacy, case management, sexual assault victim advocacy, food boxes, community outreach services, and more.
In 2021, CAAFA merged with the non-profit, 'A New Leaf'. Since 1971, 'A New Leaf' has assisted those most in need in our local community, helping families, children, and adults overcome their challenges.
CAAFA is always in need of additional donations and financial support so it can continue providing the needed support. For more info about how you can get involved or donate -
Our speaker was Pinal County District 5 Supervisor Jeff Serdy, who spoke to Club members and provided an update about happenings in Pinal County. Also attending from Pinal County was Connie Van Driel, Pinal County District 5 Administrator.
The Club welcomed President-Elect Kim Hightower for the Rotary Club of Kihei Wailea. She and her father were visiting Gold Canyon after attending a Rotary District Conference.
Chief of Apache Junction Police, Michael Pooley, shared updates with Club members about public safety in our local area.
Also attending was Erik Arriola from Superstition Community Food Bank. The Club presented him with a check for half of the proceeds from the joint fundraiser Casino Night event. The event was a fun event, as well as a fundraiser for both Superstition Mountain Rotary Club and Superstition Community Food Bank.
Superstition Mountain Rotary Club's speakers for the February 11th meeting were Salt River Project representatives, Jill Padilla, Principal Analyst, Resource Analysis and Planning and Karl Nichols, Senior Analyst, Resource Analysis and Planning.
They covered a lot of information about resources, growth plans, and a number of other issues.
Club members and friends participated in and volunteered for the 2026 Lost Dutchman Days Rodeo event, February 27 - March 1, 2026.
Club members, visiting Rotarians and friends participated in one of our annual fund-raiser /service projects on February 15th, 2026 - the Annual Lost Dutchman Marathon 8K Trail Run. The 
Club member Ed Shockley recently delivered supplies to 'Community Alliance Against Family Abuse' (CAAFA / A New Leaf) on behalf of the Club. Pictured are Allen and Jean, volunteers at 'CAAFA / A New Leaf', who accepted the donations for the organization.
Our speaker was Pinal County District 5 Supervisor Jeff Serdy, who spoke to Club members and provided an update about happenings in Pinal County. Also attending from Pinal County was Connie Van Driel, Pinal County District 5 Administrator.
Chief of Apache Junction Police, Michael Pooley, shared updates with Club members about public safety in our local area.
Superstition Mountain Rotary Club's speakers for the February 11th meeting were Salt River Project representatives, Jill Padilla, Principal Analyst, Resource Analysis and Planning and Karl Nichols, Senior Analyst, Resource Analysis and Planning.