Rotary Club August 2023

Rotary Club Honors Members at End of 2022-23 Rotary Year

Dr. Honora Norton, RCSL Public Image Director

The Rotary Club of Sun Lakes (RCSL) recently honored various RCSL Rotarians for their exceptional service to the club and community from July 1, 2022, to the present day. RCSL Club President Stephen Phair presented the following awards:

• Rotarian of the Year award to Debbie Bailey, who served on the RCSL board as Membership Director. Debbie stepped up to almost anything asked—from Membership Chair, Electronic Recycle Event Lead, Backup Minute taker, Backup Happy/Sad record keeper, greeter, making Amanda Hope Fleece Blankets, and much more.

• Service Above Self Award to Gary Kay, who served on the RCSL board as the club’s Education Director. Gary led Teacher of the Month Awards, Educator of the Year Award, interactions with Casteel High School Interact Club, supporting Jon Lyons with ASU Rotaract interactions, STEM projects, and more.

• John McCain Annual Good Guy/Gal Award to Dick Meyer, who supported many RCSL projects, including the 2023 Golf Tournament technology switch to GIVSUM. John McCain was a member of RCSL before he passed away. John served in the Air Force during World War II and was a POW in Germany. To RCSL, John became known as the “Good Guy” who always had a smile, told a good joke, and provided a positive outlook. As such, the “Good Guy” trophy was born and has been presented each year to an RCSL member who best portrays being a good guy/gal within the club.

• In Support of District 5495 Clubs Award to Ed Anderson, who supported Rotary International District 5495 East Valley Arizona Clubs as Assistant Governor.

• Rotary International Paul Harris Fellowship Awards to Dick Meyer (PHF+2), Dr. Honora Norton (PHF+3), Gary Kay (PHF+4), Victoria Flatley (PHF), Peter Meade (PHF+7), and Kandi Skrabala (PHF). Paul Harris Fellow recognition was created in memory of Paul Harris, the founder of Rotary, to show appreciation for contributions to the Foundation’s charitable and educational program. A Paul Harris Fellow is an individual who contributes $1,000 or in whose name that amount is contributed.

At the meeting, President-elect Victoria Flatley presented 2022-23 RCSL Club President Stephen Phair with a Rotary Bell and Past President Pin in recognition of his gifting of his time, talent, and resources as RCSL Club President from July 1, 2022, through June 2023.

RCSL is a Rotary Club of over 80 members within Rotary International’s global network of 15,000 Rotary Clubs with over 1.4 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change—across the globe (over 145 countries) and in their communities. To learn more about the club and/or membership, see www.sunlakesrotary.com.

Rotary Club Names 2023-24 President

Dr. Honora Norton, RCSL Public Image Director

Rotary Club of Sun Lakes (RCSL) announces that Victoria Flatley will be the club’s 2023-24 president. A Sun Lakes resident since 2021, Victoria is a native of Los Angeles, Calif. Victoria retired from a 35-year career in sales and marketing and real estate management of large subdivisions with golf courses.

Through her late husband Bob’s encouragement, Victoria joined the Rotary Club of Coolidge, Ariz., in 2013. The club’s main activity, an annual auction/dinner, supported college scholarships for high school students. Rotary Youth Leadership Academy and international student exchange were also a very important part of the Coolidge Rotary Club’s focus. Victoria and Bob hosted an interACT exchange student from Holland. Victoria was elected 2015-16 president of the Coolidge Rotary Club.

As a tribute to her late husband, Victoria has dedicated herself to the Rotary Club of Sun Lakes service, starting as volunteer, vice president, president-elect, and now president. Victoria is thrilled to follow the club’s esteemed 30-plus past Rotary Club presidents and Rotary District governors and assistant governors. It is with pride and humbleness that Victoria leads the Rotary Club of Sun Lakes in its pursuit of service, education, and fellowship.

See www.sunlakesrotary.com for more information about RCSL projects, meetings, and membership.

Rotary Club Supports Global Water Project

Dr. Honora Norton, RCSL Public Image Director

Rotary Club of Sun Lakes (RCSL) has contributed $2,000 to a Rotary International Global Grant with Denver’s Rotary Club of Fort Collins-Breakfast and Rotary Club of San Salvador Maquilishuat, along with 25 other Rotary Clubs and six Districts from around the world. RCSL’s contribution helped to fund a $130,895 sustainable water project which, by October of 2025, will provide a potable/hygienic water distribution system to two El Salvador communities—El Pital and Las Tablas—eventually benefitting 2,000-plus people. This project is a collaboration with the Rams Without Borders Club of Colorado State University, with survey assistance provided by students and faculty from the University of El Salvador.

Rotary International Global Grants support large international activities with sustainable, measurable outcomes in Rotary’s areas of focus. By working together to respond to real community needs, clubs and districts strengthen their global partnerships. Global grants can fund humanitarian projects, scholarships for graduate-level academic studies, and vocational training teams, which are groups of professionals who travel abroad either to teach local professionals about their field or to learn more about it themselves. Global grants have a minimum budget of $30,000 and a maximum World Fund award of $400,000. Grant sponsors can use a combination of Rotary District Designated Funds (DDF), cash, and/or directed gifts and endowment earnings to fund a global grant. The Rotary International Foundation will provide an 80 percent World Fund match for all DDF contributions. There is no minimum World Fund match.

For more information about Rotary Club of Sun Lakes projects and membership, see www.sunlakesrotary.com.