Introduction
Remember in elementary school we all had to write that hated composition " What did you do this summer?". Well, this Club has been really busy. We are trying to keep all the club members up to date, especially since all the snowbirds are beginning to return so we wanted to bring you up to date on all this busy club has been doing this summer.
The summer has been busy with active meetings, engaging service projects, planning for activities and fund raisers, assisting with creating a new community Rotaract Club, awarding scholarships as well as having some fun while we are doing it.
July
Since our Rotary Year (25/26) started on June 17, our club has been busy. We had our first Board Meeting on July 9 where we instituted our committee structures, reviewed the Club’s 2025-2026 goals, and established our budgets for the coming year. (Then in our first meeting of the year President Jim showed us the new committee structures and based on the members’ survey, we were all voluntold to be part of the club’s committees. Also, this year we began broadcasting all our meetings on Zoom so members who can’t be at the meetings can still participate.
All this year we continued to support the Surprise Dolly Parton’s Library Initiative
as of the writing of this article we have enrolled over 870 children into our program, 
and Glenn Schmitt issues a challenge – for each Rotarian to fund ten kids ($312) for a year. So far Glenn, Gerry Nossotti, Ron Klaphake and Mike Byers have stepped up to the challenge.
On July 19 we had our first monthly service project at the Valley View Community Food Bank in Sun City.
This is the first of many projects this year.
On July 22 we had a couple of speakers, first was Lisa Gill from the Alliance of Business and Community(ABC’s) in Sun City West. She spoke on her background (she is with the First Citizen’s Bank in Sun City West) her background and passions as well as
the history and support the ABC provides to our local community. 
We also had Maya Delgado, one of our 2025 Rotary Club Scholarship awardee, talk to us on her goals and looking forward to her studies . We also began having member spotlights with our first spotlight on Glenn Schmitt.
In July we also welcomed Crickett Barrientos as a new member of the club. She brings a wealth of non-profit experience to the club, and we supported the Sounds of Autism backpack program through her.
We also welcomed Sun Health Corporate Alternates to Pamela Kohnen, Bonnie Robinett, Jascia Redwine, and Stephanie Bridgeo.
Stephanie Bridgeo and Bonnie Robinett with Ron Klaphake
We continued to plan the “Fore the Kids” Golf Tournament (on December 6, 2025, at Briarwood Country Club in Sun City West), our Surprise Meals of Hope (Oct. 25th at Ottawa University Faith Arena), the Military Appreciation Celebration (Nov 5th at the Colonnade), and the Taste of Surprise (April 25th at Surprise Stadium). These meetings went on throughout the summer.
A great win for the club was the award of our Rotary District Grant for Meals of Hope. This grant will help fund our food packing event on Oct. 25 at Ottawa University (Surprise Campus).
August
August 11, we had our monthly Board meeting and discussed new members, the Taste of Surprise, upcoming events, budgets and club business. August 12, we had our own Assistant Governor Adria Poindexter talk with us on The Rotary Vocational Fund of Arizona and the scholarships they provide for folks not going to college but learning about critical trade/non college opportunities and certification. We also heard from Alexander Thompson another 2025 Rotary Club Scholarship winner. Alex will be majoring in Administrative Management in Law Enforcement, and he hopes to become a member of the Arizona State Patrol.
August 16th, we had our monthly service event at the Valley View Community Food Bank,
and then we worked with the Women4Women feminine hygiene products packing event on August 26th at the Colonnade before our meeting.
We enjoyed folks from the Colonnade joining us in our packing event. Our Meeting speaker that night was Rotarian Jo Grant to talk with us about the Women4Women program and the club raised funds right there to help support the efforts.
In August we welcomed new members Grace Agaba, and Debbie and Greg Sullivan. Grace comes to us as a transfer and an international member and Debbie and Greg come from the Meals of Hope and we are looking forward to getting to know these great new members.
Also, this month we continued to meet with Ottawa University to get the latest Rotaract Club off the ground.
September
In Sept. we met as a board on Sept. 8 and discussed our upcoming meetings (a special meeting with Michael Sawyer on sponsorships more on that later), our upcoming adopt a street and the Surprise Grande Festival on Oct. 11, our TRVFA Awardee interview on August 18, and the approval of the Taste of Surprise Contract. We also discussed the Rotary around Town pictures.
On Sept. 9 we had Kathleen Frederick talk with us about the benefits of a planned retirement community (basically having a plan). It was helpful in teaching us the advantage of planning for that time when we no longer want to care for our own homes.
After the meeting Michael Sawyer from the City of Surprise talked with us on sponsorships (how to obtain, follow-up etc.) as well as gaining restaurants for the Taste of Surprise. His talk was informative, and his offer of help was great. He has reviewed our Taste of Surprise website, and he provided us a lot of information.
September 16, we had our first “social” event at Booty’s bar and grill in Surprise. Attendance was small but mighty, and we learned about each other and talked about our passions (over appropriate libations). Jim and Traci also met with the students at Ottawa University and essentially kicked off the Rotaract Club at Ottawa with the Peoria North Club. It looks like they have set up their leadership and will be off to a great start. (Insert picture).
Sep.t 20 was our monthly service project at the Valley View Community Food Bank – a great time was had and we met some new friends.
Also, Jeri Robertson and our Junior Interact kids made dog toys at the Arizona Charter Academy (insert Picture) for a fundraiser and to help our local animal shelters.
Lastly in Sept, our final meeting of the month had our own Debbie Sullivan talk with us on Meals of Hope, the why, what and how it happens to address the issue of food insecurity in our community.
Looking ahead
Mark your calendars for a busy fall. We are looking forward to Meals of Hope Oct. 25, more work at the Valley View Community Food Bank and great meetings. Our Road cleanup will be Oct. 11 and will follow with us staffing a table at the Surprise Grande Festival. On Oct 14 there will be a team building event with Crickett Barientos and folks from the Colonnade at 3:30 before our regular meeting.
The Military Appreciation night is Nov. 5 at the Colonnade, and we are participating in the Veterans Day Parade in Surprise on Nov. 11.
In addition, the District Governor, Jim Schmidt, will be making his Club visit to the November 25th meeting.
Remember to look for those sponsors and golfers for our Fore The Kids Tournament in December, recruiting restaurants and sponsors for the 2026 TOS & Arts Festival, and get ready to ring bells for the Salvation Army. We’ve done great and will keep it up.
What a busy summer!
Great Job!
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