Three outstanding speakers at Sun Lakes Rotary

 

Norm Noble

On Tuesday, March 6, Detective Ronald Kelley of the Chandler Police Gang Unit will be talking about the history of gangs, current gang trends and gang identifications. He will also talk about policing in general. Detective Kelley has been a police officer for 23 years and is currently assigned to the gang unit for Chandler PD. He has worked gangs for the past 17 years. He has vast knowledge in gangs to include gang investigations, interviewing and talking to gang members, identifying gang members and instructing on gangs.

Detective Kelley served his country as a U.S. Marine. In 2016, he was named Chandler Police Officer of the Year. He is a member of Chandler’s SWAT team and serves as a crisis negotiator. Come learn more about Chandler.

On Tuesday, March 13, Sun Lakes Rotarian Dick Vogel will talk about his days leading up to nuclear testing on the Bikini Atoll. The first hydrogen bomb test was conducted on the Bikini Atoll in February, 1958. The device was called Castle Bravo, and its yield of 15 megatons far exceeded expectations. It destroyed most of the island, leaving it radioactive and uninhabitable.

Three months later, on May 11, loud speakers announced, “Count down in 30 minutes.” The “KOA” hydrogen device was going to be tested. “KOA” was to be the largest bomb (1.3 Megaton) yet tested. Dick Vogel was the first one to walk down the beach where the other scientists were to assemble. They were issued dark glasses and told to sit about 50 yards from the lagoon, facing the oceanside of the island.

Then the sky lit up, and he sensed a burning feeling on his back. It was as if someone was applying a heat lamp. The heat became uncomfortable, and then the pain went away. The word came over the loud speaker that they could turn around and look into the fireball.

“It was the day the sun came to the earth,” Vogel said. He knew of no other way to describe what he had just seen. His experience is something you will want to hear.

At 4:30 p.m., at a special Tuesday afternoon meeting on March 27, Linda Robson, Publisher/Editor for all of Robson’s community newspapers and source book telephone directories will be the featured speaker.

Linda began her career at Robson Communities in the Design Center for new home sales. After five years, because of her marketing and communications background, she became the Publisher/Editor of all the Robson community newspapers. With a staff of 12, they publish eight monthly newspapers and eight yearly source book telephone directories. In April of 2019, she will have been with Robson for 30 years.

In her spare time, Linda enjoys golf, hiking, reading, cooking and spending time with her three very active grandchildren.

The Rotary Club of Sun Lakes meets for breakfast every Tuesday morning at 6:30 a.m. in the Oakwood Country Club Ballroom. The meetings start at 7:00 a.m. and end promptly at 8:00 a.m. Cost of breakfast is $13. To make reservations for any meeting, contact Rotarian Peter Meade at 480-600-2458. For Sun Lakes residents, if you want to know more about the club, contact Charles Loew at 602-721-3680. SunBird residents should contact Walt Mills at 480-883-8007. See more about the club at www.sunlakesrotary.com.