Rotary Club of Marana
 
                                                                            
Tony Hunter rang the bell to attend one of the sparsest attended meetings in many a year. With District Governor Kirk Reed attending this was in deed unfortunate. With no fewer than five members out of state for the summer months it is understandable, but none the less unfortunate. Passers by would have recognized the lyrics to My Country Tis of Thee if not the actual melody.
 
The SOP of our usual meeting was not adhered to as we began with individual tables discussing among themselves inspirational people in their lives. I was not privy to the discussions at the other tables, but Dan Contorno and I seem to have led remarkably uninspired lives up til now.
 
No Happy Bucks today and our lone comedian Maeve (Lynne not here today) barely got off the stage with her life. Only her instinct allowed her to avoid the small but nasty crowd. (Inside joke. You had to be there).
 
DG Kirk Reed's grandfather joined Rotary in 1922. His mother, age 97, is a Rotarian in Georgia and was their bookkeeper/secretary up until a few months ago. Kirk has been a Rotarian for twenty-seven years. His young grandson was very impressed when he learned Grandpa was the Governor of the Tucson Rodeo!
 
DG Reed is an Eagle Scout, avid reader, cyclist and baseball fan. One of the people that inspired him was Ron Santo, famed third baseman of the Chicago Cubs from 1960 to 1973. Ron, a diabetic, raised millions for the fight against Juvenile Diabetes. Another inspiration in his life is his mother who not long ago called him and said "I do not want you to worry, but I am in the hospital and my house burned down!" In spite of this heavy blow, her attitude was "I might as well move closer to my Rotary Club since my home was seven miles from where the meetings were held!" So she moved closer!
 
Bad things can happen, planning goes astray and the strong stumble. Credit goes not to the critic nor to the timid souls afraid to participate, they experience neither victory nor defeat, but rather credit goes to those who dare enter the arena.
 
In closing he quoted Ghandi in saying "The best way to find yourself is to get lost in the service to others". DG Reed will take his message of "Have Fun-Get Stuff Done" to another forty-seven clubs before his year is finished.
Our Club donated $100 to DG Reed in his Ride for The Cure polio eradication effort this coming November.
 
Next week's meeting to be held at the Marana Town Hall and will serve as our annual Club Assembly.