Rotary Club of Marana
 
                                                                            
Due to our Club's powerful connections we were greeted by none other than Ms Santa Claus as members and guests entered Nana's this morning. She even led us in the Pledge. President Hunter then led us in the singing of Frosty The Snowman with lyrics provided by Lynne. Those in attendance who had a more of a deprived/Dicksonian childhood could be spotted as they frequently referred to the printed lyrics, being unfamiliar with this festive Christmas  carol.
 
Today's guests included a friend of Bob Bishop's, Steve Prust.
 
 MCAT Student of the Month Ashlynn Clevland, her mother Roxann, Grandmother Bruna, boyfriend, brother, Staff Rep Dani Anich and MCAT Principal Denise Coronado.
 
 
 
Our Club will sponsor a family again this Christmas in the amount of $400. The committee consists of Richie, Tony, Randy and Rachel.
 
Randy advises the Rotary Vocational Fund topped out its donations for the year. Thank you to everyone who contributed.
 
Happy Bucks
Bob Bishop did a fine job as Sgt At Arms.
Harold-Paid his IOU from last meeting and a few extra!
John-Student of the Month (SOM)
Mary- Grateful for Global Grant donations to Cameroon Project and they are where they need to be to continue with the project.
Denise, Steve, Beckie, Don Bob-All pleased for our SOM
Randy-Happy we had Ms Claus visit us.
Rachel-United Way
Richie-Charlie is 6 months old
 
Joke Off
Ms Claus stood in for Maeve Johnson who could not make today's meeting. Given Ms Claus' background and her omniscient knowledge of good and bad children, her "joke" concerned the very bad behavior of  one, Little Sammy, who decided the best way to get a new bike for Christmas was via kidnapping and extortion. Ms Claus did not say whether Little Sammy was successful or not.
 
Lynne took her front stage opportunity to regale us with humor at the expense of those labeled with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Mental Disorders from Manuals 1,2,3,4 and 5. Randy, Mary and Don (and possibly others with a mental health background) are aware a reference to all five DSM publications was required as psychiatric disorders change with the times. What once was crazy ain't necessarily so in today's world. Any who, humor at the expense of those less fortunate is always welcomed at this club. As a hard of hearing person I should know. God help us if we ever get so PC that we cannot enjoy good natured ribbing. Excuse me while I get off my soapbox and let Lynne know I especially enjoyed the Manic and the Paranoid versions of Christmas.
 
The Club by acclimation  approved the following officers for fiscal 2018/2019:
President-Richie Benner
President Elect-John Dooling
President Nominee-TBD
Treasurer-Lynne Himmer
Secretary-John Dooling
Member at Large-Harold Burtzloff
Member at Large-Bob Bishop
Immediate Past President-Tony Hunter
 
Somewhere along this time during our meeting Tony ducked out leaving President Elect Richie Benner in charge. We did not miss a beat. Our President Elect has a command presence and will do quite well come July 1. 
 
Former member and current Principal of MCAT Denise Coronado introduced SOM Ashlynn. Ashlynn will graduate in a few days. Her educational efforts, and I use that term advisedly, began in Benson, AZ . Eventually she found herself at Tortolita Middle School then Mountain View. She attributes her poor scholastic record to basic laziness. However, she runs Ms Cornado's front office and has significant accomplishments in the culinary field having won thousands of dollars in competition statewide and even finishing in the top 40 twice in national competition. Her favorite creation is Key Lime Pie. She cites a friend she no longer has with the motivation to complete her high school education.
 
Ms Coronado, commenting on the closing of neighborhood Thornydale Grade School advised MCAT will be moving to that larger venue for school year 2019/2020. Also MCAT will be offering three courses in conjunction with JTED. JTED is funded by property taxes at the rate of .05 per $100 of assessed valuation.
 
Don won the raffle AGAIN but lost. It bears repeating that Don donated his winnings from two weeks ago to our Marana Rotary Foundation.
 
CORRECTION
Last week's speaker was Brigadier General Andrew J MacDonald, Commander of the AZ Air National Guard.
 
Next Tuesday's meeting will be held at Jackpot Veterinary Center located at 6745 N La Canada Dr.
 
See you there!