Tuesday, October 29, 2013

What Does Mesa West Rotary Do?

You may ask yourself, what does Mesa West Rotary do?  Of course we provide entertaining and informative meetings each week for our members and get to know community leaders within and outside of our club, but that is only the beginning... What else do we do? 

Of course we provide entertaining and informative meetings each week for our members and get to know community leaders within and outside of our club, but that is only the beginning...

Mesa West Rotary within the last year has also completed the following projects:
  • Salvation Army Holiday Turkeys;Salvation Army Bell Ringing at Bass Pro Shops (topped all Mesa Clubs last year - three years in a row - proudly going for four next year); 
  • Target Back to School Program in conjunction with the Mesa Boys and Girls Club to assist kids in selecting and buying back to school clothing and supplies
  • Funding and Provided Three $1,000 scholarships for Westwood High School Students;
  • Promoting the Rotary Vocational Fund;
  • Hosting a Youth Exchange Program Student  
  • Providing Financial Support for Interact at Westwood High School
  • Providing Financial Support for the Boy Scouts;
  • Providing Financial Support for ASU Autism Research;Support Polio Plus - we are "this close" to eradicating Polio;  
  • Support gift of Life – Arizona
  • Dictionary Project for Third-Graders in Mesa
  • Toiletries for US Veterans

This is only a partial list of what we do.  What else can we do with your help?  You can change the world starting in your community. 

Camp Geronimo Project 2013

  Camp Geronimo is a 200 acre Boy Scout Camp located 18 miles North of Payson Arizona.  The Camp has been operational for more than 50 years and was started after a land grant of the property from Spade Ranch.  The Camp runs an average of one thousand Scouters a week during the summer and is a full Scout camping experience.  It is run by Grand Canyon BSA Council. Numerous projects are done at the camp every year and any company wanting to be involved can contact Grand Canyon Council in Arizona.

  In 2011 Boy Scout Troop 451 from Mesa Trinity Baptist Church undertook an ambitious project to install a parade and flag stand at Camp Geronimo.  After installing 4 flag pole stations in May 2011, Troop 451 realized that the cost of the project to completion was beyond its means.  Realizing that the project cost approached $35,000, Troop 451 began looking for assistance. 

  Mesa West Rotary’s Don Labarge, a long time scout and ardent supporter of the Boy Scouts got involved in early 2012.  The project took on a life of its own, as Mesa West Rotary, Arizona District 5510, the Rotary District for Youth Services, Boy Scout Troop 451, and numerous contractors and suppliers donated time, money, and labor to complete the project.

  Due to the generous contributions of many this $35,000 project was completed with grant funds and individual donations totaling almost $7,000.  The remainder of the project was completed by volunteer labor, volunteer materials supplied by local business and individuals, and the hard work of many.
Mesa West Rotary would like to thank the following individuals and companies that participated in this project by providing money, materials, labor, or expertise (and in many cases, provided all four):

Troop 451
Jones Concrete of Phoenix
Grand Materials of Apache Junction
TLW Construction of Mesa
JTD’s Masonry of Mesa
Don LaBarge (Mesa West and Boy Scouts)
Jeff Denning (JTD’s Masonry)
Ted Williams (TLW Construction and Mesa West)
Mark Biegel (Troop 451)