Rotary golf balls drop for charity
Desert Valley Times
Friday, Nov. 7, 2008
The glowing objects falling out the night sky last Saturday at The Palms golf course were not signs of an alien invasion, but a sign that some people won some prizes.
Riley Frei was the winner of the first prize of $2,500 in the Mesquite Rotary Club’s second annual Glow in the Dark Golf Ball Drop which raised about $2,500 for the polio eradication campaign and for local charitable causes.
The Rotarians sold tickets for numbered golf balls which were put in a hopper and hoisted above a special surface with 10 holes, then dropped. For each ball that went into a hole, a prize was awarded.
Ticket holders were also entitled to play in the Rotarians’ Glow in the Dark Golf Adventure, playing nine holes in the dark with glowing golf balls. Continue Reading…
Rotary Fights Polio
Rotary is the largest and oldest service club in the world. From it’s meager beginnings, starting with 1 club in Chicago in 1905, it has grown to over 35,000 clubs worldwide, with 1.2 million members. As a service club, Rotary’s goal is not just to raise money, but to use that money for hands on projects that Rotarians themselves tackle. Each local club that receives a charter becomes a part of the larger organization called Rotary International. Members are active in their local communities as well as partnering with other clubs in large projects worldwide. One such project is the eradication of Polio.
Many people are surprised to learn that polio is still affecting the world. Here in the United States polio was eliminated in the 1960’s. But around the world this crippling disease has been devastating. In 1985, with the help of groups such as the World Health Organization, UNICEF and the Center for Disease Control, Rotary decided to take on the task of ridding the world of Polio. This has been a monumental effort. To date, over 600 million dollars has been raised and spent towards this goal. We are 99% there.
This year Rotary International is making the final push to complete our mission. To help this effort, Bill & Melinda Gates have pledged 100 million dollars in a matching grant through their foundation. All of the Rotary clubs in the world are committed to raising those matching funds so that we can finally eradicate Polio.
The Mesquite Rotary Club has pledged to do their part in raising money to fight Polio. The club will be holding their 2nd annual “Glow In The Dark” GOLF BALL DROP on Nov. 1st. This is the main fundraiser that supports all of their projects, both local and international. This year they have also added a “Glow In The Dark” Golf Adventure, a nine hole golf game at the Palms Golf Course, to be held right after the ball drop.
To donate to Rotary with the purchase of a golf ball, please call (702) 346-7025.
For more information about the Mesquite Rotary Club visit our website at www.mesquitenvrotary.org
CHECK PRESENTATION TO FOOD BANK
Rotary Club of Mesquite supports the Virgin Valley Food Bank as one of its local projects for financial support. The club voted unanimously to donate $100 a month, along with providing a work force to help distribute food at the Food Store. Volunteers also help unload and store the food brought into Mesquite by the Four Square Food Service from Las Vegas.
In the photo, Rotary club President Randy Aveline, along with Rotary volunteers Wes Smith, Rhonda Bales and Randy Ence, present a check for $150 to Virgin Valley Thrift and Food store managers Gladys Smith and Leslie Montgomery.
Rotary Report
8/5/08
Rotary Club of Mesquite
The (Luncheon) Rotary Club of Mesquite conducted its usual weekly meeting at Hugo’s Restaurant at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug 5, 2008.
Randy Aveline gave a presentation of the 1500s life styles.
Sunrise Rotary Club
The (Breakfast) Sunrise Rotary Club conducted its usual weekly meeting at Sundancer’s Restaurant at the Oasis Golf Club at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 31, 2008.
Curt Chambers of Nevada State Bank, Lisa Cook of Bank of Nevada and Jacque Hart of Mountain America Credit Union provided information regarding what is going on in their industry and how it might affect the local community.
Rotary
Rotary Club membership is open to active or retired members of the business and professional communities. Also, clubs are always delighted to find individuals willing to speak on subjects of interest to the general community.
Contact:
(Luncheon) Randy Aveline at 702-755-7821
(Breakfast) Bill McClure at 702-346-2902
Corazon Superbuild
See the photos HERE
ROTARY SUPERBUILD
By: Roberta Bird
We started our day at 6:00 a.m. and by 4:00 p.m. we had built a house. Eight Mesquite Rotarians, along with other Rotarians from Nevada and California traveled to Tecate, Mexico on June 17th to build homes for deserving families. The project was organized by Corazon, a non-profit organization based in southern California. People in need do not receive hand-outs, rather, they participate in programs of assistance that allow people to help themselves. In the process, they help their neighbors and their community to grow and prosper. Since 1978 Corazon volunteers have built more than 750 homes. Each house build project is organized down to the detail and each home is built the exact same way. Our group of about 30 volunteers arrived in the tiny village to find the supplies on site and ready for construction. First, we met the family who would own the home at the end of the day. The family, father, mother and 5 daughters, ranging in ages from 13 to 3, were on the site all day watching the progress of their new 16 x 20 ft. home, which to the family I am sure was viewed as a “mansion”. After a brief organizational meeting we all were put to work. Though the heat rose above 100 degrees we encouraged one another. Each volunteer, including a few teens, used their skills for sawing, construction and painting. The pace was quick to keep things on track for completion in 7 hours. A requirement for the family is to feed the “crew” lunch during the day, which we all enjoyed. As we were building one house, 4 other volunteer groups were on other sites constructing houses, in total, completing 5 homes in one day. The day ended with a ceremony. The family was given a plaque, which each volunteer signed, and the keys to their new home. Though they could not speak English, the gratitude was conveyed in their smiles. Service to Others is what Rotary is all about, in our own community and internationally. So, as our local Rotary clubs joined with others in service, the impact was not one-sided. Volunteers received much more in return for what we gave. I, for one, will be house-building again next year.