We officially started the new Rotary year today, with the passing of the gavel. Bob Benjamin, 2019-2020 president, turned over the leadership of the club to Harvey Clark, 2020-2021 president. Many thanks to Bob for all your hard work this year--especially in leading us through the COVID-19 uncertainties by keeping us connected via Zoom. Best of luck, Harvey, in carrying us forward!
PRESIDENTIAL PARDON
"May it be known that ROBERT W. “BOB” BENJAMIN
(Navy Lieutenant - ret) aka “BENJ”
as of this date be forgiven any and all fines that he
incurred during his term as Superstition Mountain Rotary Club President
2019 -2020; and
Whereas, he has contributed significantly to the quality of life for the members of Superstition Mountain Rotary Club, the residents of Gold Canyon and Apache Junction and the citizens of the State of Arizona; and
Whereas, community service is a noble calling involving a wide variety of challenges but most of all your demonstration of “Service Above Self”; and
Whereas, may this pardon provide you with the mental relief from any and all attempts of collection from the Sergeant-at-Arms; and that I do herby proclaim this pardon my first official act as President."
Walter “Harvey” Clark, President 2020-2021
Len LaFlesch, Club Treasurer and Past President, was named Rotarian of the Year, for his outstanding service to the club.
June 17
Tina Makris from Intuitive Hound LLC gave us pet lovers some valuable advice on development of a 'Beloved Animal Urgent Pet Plan'. Three tips she offered were:
Designate two or three planned caretakers who will come to your home to care for your pet at a moment's notice.
Create an urgent pet plan supply kit, that could include daily care instructions, medical records, contact information for all caretakers and potential back-ups, transport instructions, mediations and supplements.
Keep your urgent pet plan statement with you at all times, in your wallet and/or on your mobile phone.
Member Elise Otero shared her story with the group today. Elise was born in Kingman, Arizona and is a fifth generation Arizonan. Her family has a long history in mining (both copper and turquoise). Elise got her start in real estate in 1978, and progressed to owning her own business, specializing in property management. She has been dubbed by fellow Rotary member, Judy Lutes, as the 'AJ Rental Queen', and was awarded her prized coffee mug that depicts the difficulty involved with being a queen!
June 3
Denise Hart, President/CEO of the Apache Junction Chamber of Commerce, updated us on current activities at the Chamber.
The Chamber and Visitor Center is now open, with summer hours of 9am – 4pm. They are following the CDC and the AOT (Arizona Office of Tourism) Visitor Center guidelines to ensure the safety of their visitors and staff, which includes enhanced sanitization, wearing of masks by their staff, suggestion of wearing masks by their visitors and social distancing of at least 6 feet.
Denise mentioned that businesses are starting to open up, including some new ones (Dutch Brothers Coffee, Hatfield Medical Group and Mountain America Credit Union). To help get them going, the Chamber is kicking off their 'Shop Local' program, which will run from June 1 through October 31, and have over 30 businesses participating. To receive the discounts, simply stop in at the Chamber to pick up your Shop Local card. The price for the card is a $1.00 donation that goes toward their scholarship fund. To get a list of the discounts and participating restaurants, shops and businesses, visit the Chamber's website (https://www.ajchamber.com) and click on Shop Local in the top right corner of the screen.
Other upcoming events include the Meet the Candidates forum at the Apache Junction High School Performing Arts Center at 5:30 on June 23, and the mayor and city council election in August.
City Manager Bryant Powell has shared the following video, which was produced by the City of Apache Junction and the Arizona State Department of Tourism:
Bob Benjamin announced that he met with the Apache Junction Parks & Recreation director, Liz Langenbach, and received a check for $3,000 for our club's work with the Lost Dutchman Marathon 8K event. We will put this money to good use providing scholarships.
Our newest members, Jeff Mitchell and his mother, Pat Mitchell, became our newest members on June 17, 2020
Dr. Krista Anderson accepted two checks from President-Elect Harvey Clark, on behalf of the Apache Junction Feed the Children program. The first was directly from the Club, and the second was made possible by an anonymous donor.
Bob Benjamin delivered the club's donation of $500 to the Lost Dutchman Foundation's fund for restaurant coupons for Apache Junction's graduating seniors. The coupons can only be used at local restaurants, and are intended as a graduation gift to the students and to help local businesses get up and running again following the COVID-19 shutdown.
President-Elect Harvey Clark delivered $1,000 checks to CAAFA, the Genesis Project and the Boys and Girls Club, which was their share of the $5,000 anonymous donation to the club.
We were joined in June by regular winter visitors Mary Drader and Brenda McCullough from Canada, Phyllis Chambers from Nebraska, John Raines from Iowa, Sean Drake from Scottsdale (previously California) as well as District Governor David Simmer and Past District Governor Art Harrington. Also visiting us were Heidi Potsma, Mike Lamb, Cathy Johnson, Tina Miller, Ben Kochendorter, guest of Tracy Yamamoto, Mike Lamb, Carlotta Thorne, Suzanne Davis, Pam Burks, Anna Manzon and Sean Drake, guests of Harvey Clark and Gina and Eric Richardson, guests of Jeff Mitchell and Al Otero, guest of Elise Otero.
We officially started the new Rotary year today, with the passing of the gavel. Bob Benjamin, 2019-2020 president, turned over the leadership of the club to Harvey Clark, 2020-2021 president. Many thanks to Bob for all your hard work this year--especially in leading us through the COVID-19 uncertainties by keeping us connected via Zoom. Best of luck, Harvey, in carrying us forward!
Member Elise Otero shared her story with the group today. Elise was born in Kingman, Arizona and is a fifth generation 
Denise Hart, President/CEO of the Apache Junction Chamber of Commerce, updated us on current activities at the Chamber.
Bob Benjamin announced that he met 
Dr. Krista Anderson accepted two checks from President-Elect Harvey Clark, on behalf of the Apache Junction Feed the Children program. The first was directly from the Club, and the second was made possible by an 
