Rodeo beer sales a success - 2/19-2/27/2005

Co-chairs Manfred Fodor and Roger Bivens helmed another successful Rotary Beer Sales fundraiser. Aided by many Catalina members, family and friends, Catalina sold a record amount of suds, despite some less than ideal weather on the opening day of sales. The club was proud to present a check for $46,085.60 to the Rodeo Committee.

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Rodeo fans flip over Catalina pancakes! - 2/24/2005

670 pancake breakfasts were served this year - a club record - as Keith Votens, aided by early-rising Catalina members, family and friends staged another successful pancake breakfast. The club expanded from two to three grills this year - and that third grill was certainly needed. Catalina Rotary was happy to present a check for $557.51 to the Rodeo Committee and another check for the same amount to the Parade Committee.

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Rotary weekend in Magdalena, Mexico - 4/9-10/2005

Catalina Rotary has established a relationship with a new club south of the border. During the weekend of April 9, Catalina members, family and friends journeyed to Magadalena, Mexico, for the first of what looks to be many joint community service projects. The clubs conducted a health screening at a local food store and joined with local schoolchildren in a school painting project. Afterwards, the two groups enjoyed Rotary fellowship and some fine Mexican hospitality.

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Keeping Tucson's roads clean - 4/23/2005

Catalina Rotarians, family and friends gathered for a morning nosh, then scoured Skyline Drive clean. Photos from the event are below.

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Catalina Rotarians help keep KUAT-TV on the air - 6/5/2005

Catalina Rotarians and friends staffed the KUAT phone bank during the afternoon of Sunday, June 5, doing their part to help with the public television station's fund drive. They were busiest during an hour featuring the gospel music of Elvis Presley. The "King" helped generate $1,500 in pledges.

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Keeping our adopted mile clean - 10/29/05

Once again, Catalina Rotarians, family and friends turned out to scour clean our adopted mile of Skyline Drive. Thanks to our road clean-up chairman, Matt Matthewson, for another well-organized event and BIG THANKS to 7-Eleven for giving us a place to meet, as well providing free drinks and donuts.

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Bell-ringers chime in to help the Salvation Army - 12/3 & 12/10/05

For two consecutive Saturdays, Catalina Rotarians pitched in to help the Salvation Army raise much needed funds. Members' bell-ringing, smiling faces and holiday spirits inspired many holiday shoppers to open their wallets and pocket books to help the Salvation Army continue its good works.

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Bringing Christmas to a Mexican orphanage - 12/3/05

On Saturday, December 3, Rotarians from the Catalina Club and Club Rotario de Magda in Magdalena de Kino, Mexico brought Christmas cheer and gifts of candy, clothes and toys to the orphans of Casa Vida y Esperanza. Here's a description of the weekend's events by Catalina past president Frank Presson:

Most of the kids were abandoned by their parents or grandparents. Many were abused. One 9 year old boy came into the shelter the day before. He had been found living in a car and going to school.

We went to the campus where the kids got together for a piñata given by the local Rotary club. The boys were lined up next to the girls in order of age/height. The little ones (2-3) started first with some help to try to break the piñata, while the kids sang a rhyme that tells when their try is up. The piñata was on the end of a rope so as the older kids got to swat the piñata would be pulled up and jerked about to make it more difficult. All kids got a try with three different piñatas breaking with lots of candy.

After the piñata, we brought the three big bags per child in by their Christmas tree in the mess hall. You can only imagine the wide eyes as the kids came up to get their packages. Some had dolls, others skate boards, etc. Most of us did not have a dry eye as we watched those kids have a ball. The leader said the kids had never seen anything like this. After we presented them with a large TV & DVD player, the local Rotarians served dinner to the kids and us. What a night to remember! I have had Christmas like never before.

The next day, we met with the local Rotarians over a wonderful breakfast and worked out some projects for us to tackle. Priority one is fixing the drinking fountains at the schools and the soccer field. The Doc said it was local water, untreated, that was pumped in. Lots of GI problems with the kids. Working with them, we are going to attempt to put in filters and such to clean that up. There are other projects including putting in a library of books for kids at the orphanage as well as the Rotary Hall, where they will try to do something like a Boys/Girls club in the US.

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