RCSL Rotarian Dr. Honora Norton, RCSL member, Gilbert resident, and Rotary International volunteer, administered oral polio drops to a child in Hermosillo, Mexico, barrios.
Dr. Honora Norton, RCSL Public Image Director
Rotary Club of Sun Lakes members completed several community service projects in the closing weeks of 2022. Per Rotarian Debbie Bailey, Chandler resident and RCSL Team lead, the RCSL, partnering with Sun Lakes Computer Booters, held its first Electronics Recycle Event on Nov. 5 in Sun Lakes. The event was a success. Close to 250 vehicles dropped off goods, AZStRUT filled “four” 18-foot trucks, and nearly 20 RCSL members and ASU Rotaractors volunteered—some the full four hours. The club is considering making this project an annual event.
During November 2022, RCSL Rotarians pledged $4,000 to Rotary International’s Polio Plus Campaign. Per Peter Meade, Sun Lakes resident and RCSL lead for this project, Rotary International, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched the Global Eradication initiative in 1988. Since Rotary started the fight against polio, polio cases have been reduced by 99.9 percent and reached more than 2.5 billion children with the vaccine. Join RCSL in the fight against polio—see www.endpolio.org.
RCSL members and friends gathered in Sun Lakes to make wonderful goodies—cozy fleece blankets for little cancer warriors. The fleece (funded by RCSL members) blankets were donated to Amanda Hope Rainbow Angels organization. Amanda Hope Rainbow Angels is a nonprofit support and educational organization founded in 2012 in celebration of Amanda Hope’s life. The organization provides gifts to children diagnosed with cancer and other blood-related disorders, supports healthcare professionals in providing person-centered care to children and their family with empathy and understanding, and helps families have a voice and choice above the harsh protocols often present in the healthcare system.
On Nov. 15 RCSL held its annual Veterans Day celebration to thank veterans and their families for their service and sacrifice. Event chair and RCSL member Maureen Alger facilitated the meeting in which RCSL Rotarian/U.S. Navy veteran Kiamesha Guy, keynote speaker, shared her experiences as an aviation and damage control specialist and gave an overview of Global Maternal Wellness (which she co-founded), a 501(c)(3) for care of veteran mothers. RCSL members Bill McCoach led invocation; Chandler Unified School District high school students Elliana Friedlund sang the national anthem, Conner From performed “Taps,” and Ethan O’Donnell played the snare drum; and Hamilton High School JRAFROTC performed color guard duties. An endearing slide program was presented highlighting RCSL members who are veterans and friends/family members of RCSL members who have served in the military.
During November, RCSL Rotarians delivered dictionaries to third graders in schools throughout the Chandler Unified School District. The club has donated $9,360 to the National Dictionary Project, which has delivered over 35 million dictionaries, of which 75,000 were sponsored by RCSL. The Rotary Dictionary Project is a nationwide effort to provide young students with their own personal dictionaries.
RCSL supports the ASU Rotaract Club projects and members. The club recently presented a $1,000 check to the club to assist with community service projects. Rotaract is a service organization for people from the ages of 18 and above focused on local service, international relations, and leadership.
For more information about RCSL meetings in Sun Lakes, the club projects, and membership, see www.sunlakesrotary.com.