It is so hard to believe a year ago Gordon and I were running up and down the back stairs at HOA 1, trying to get a Wi-fi signal strong enough to have our first hybrid meeting.
Our club has grown and changed so much in the past year; I could not be prouder. We moved to The Ranch, outgrown the board room, and now are busting at the seams in the private dining room.
Our membership has grown from 42 members at the first of the Rotary year by 40%, bringing our current membership to 58 members. And so many of our new members bring decades of Rotary service to our club. It is now wonder our club has been able to accomplish so much for our communities.
I so look forward seeing what we can accomplish……thank you all for the dedication you continue to give our club.
One hundred years ago this month, World War I came to an end. At least 1,800 Rotarians from North America and Great Britain served in the military during that war; hundreds more enlisted in the Red Cross, the YMCA, and various government departments. More than 50 gave their lives. On the anniversary of Armistice Day, we look back at how the war unfolded in the pages of the Rotarian magazine. Watch for your copy.
Mark your calendars and plan to attend. All members, amigos, spouses, and partners are welcome!
We will be passing the gavel from Liese to Gordon with a celebration dinner and dance on Wednesday, June 29th at the Saddlebrooke Ranch House Ballroom. Happy Hour will begin at 5 pm with a no host bar. Dinner will begin at 6 pm. There will be a brief program as we recognize Liese for her service as president and welcome Gordon as our incoming president. The fun will continue as we dance to the sounds of Chuck Moses.
Tickets are $40 per person.There are two entrées to choose from:
6 oz flat iron steak topped with cowboy butter, cooked to medium, served with seasonal vegetables and roasted red potatoes
or baked salmon with a maple mustard pan sauce, also served with seasonal vegetables and wild rice pilaf.
Dinner will include a salad, bread and butter, and salted caramel cake for dessert.
Tickets can be purchased at our weekly meetings. Tickets will go on sale on Thursday, May 19th, and the last day to purchase tickets will be Thursday, June 9th. Bring a check, payable to Rotary Club of SaddleBrooke. You may pay by credit card if you prefer. There will be a table set up as you enter the meeting each week. If you are unable to attend a meeting in person, contact one of the organizers to arrange to send a check by mail. When you pay, please state your entrée choice for each person.
This is an important event in the life of our club and one of the highlights of the year. Plan to get your tickets right away!
SaddleBrooke Rotarians and guests can look ahead to a fantastic line-up of programs in 2022. Here are some you will enjoy:
June 2, 2022
The Arizona Heroes Memorial will be open to the public and will be unique to Arizona, a dedicated place to provide people with a physical space to remember and to learn. By creating such a space in which people may gather to remember and to learn, Oro Valley will honor the past and educate future generations about the meaning of service and sacrifice to our country. It is time to recognize, honor and remember the living and fallen veterans, first responders and healthcare workers together.
This beautiful living Memorial will contain art, monuments and landscaping that are symbolic to all branches of the Department of Defense, First Responders and Healthcare Workers. We have more than 400,000 veterans, active military and first responders in southern AZ alone.
On January 24th of this year, Oro Valley announced the appointment of Executive Director, Lisa M. Hopper. In this new role, Hopper is responsible for day-to-day operations along with fundraising to ensure the building of Memorial starting in 2022. It will be a destination place for education, history, and reflection. Since its inception in 2016, The Memorial vision has facilitated and expanded the foundation of it mission to honor Active Military, Veterans, First Responders, Healthcare providers.
Lisa Hopper has most recently served as an account executive for Times Publications and was the founder & executive director of World Care International Humanitarian Aid Organization, a nonprofit that created and managed non-emergent and disaster relief for local, national and international events since 1994. Her work with International Humanitarian Aid was recognized with hundreds of awards including presidential letters. Prior to that, she held senior leadership roles in Washington D.C. and Tucson Arizona healthcare industry, serving in development and leadership roles for such organizations as George Washington University Medical Center and University of Arizona Medical Center. Hopper is a veteran and served in the U.S. Armed Services. She is also an author and artist. Lisa Hopper holds a B.S. in Radiology Administration and Physics from George Washington University.
Saddlebrooke Rotary and Saddlebrooke Rotary Foundation, Inc awarded 7 academic scholarships at the 2022 Senior Awards Ceremony. Congratulations go out to Linda and John Howard for the excellent job they did in organizing this year's application process.
On Saturday, May 14, Saddlebrooke Rotarians pitched in to help make Oracle, Arizona more beautiful. From left to right above: Logan Goode (Paul Herr's Grandson), Paul Herr, Roger Bailey, Monica Oszust, John Oszust, Liese Razzeto, Bill Demeroutis, and Dan Greene.
The first annual San Manuel Revitalization Coalition Chili Cook-Off is in the books! Saddlebrooke Rotary was the proud Habanero sponsor. Our team met well in advance to organize participation. The preparation at the event started the night before and on Saturday our team worked from 7:00 AM until after 4:00 PM. We set up 2 work tents, one for the cooks and the other for the Rotary hosts.
The cooking team consisted of Linda and John Howard, Bill and Diane Demeroutis, Harvey Smith, and Ed Lueck.
The Rotary Host team consisted of Gordon Wainwright, Barbara Barr, Eric Erickson, Leslie Hawkins, Jeff Veselenak, Wanda and Roger Bailey, Elaine Terry. and Dan Green.
Our chili must have been great because it was totally consumed by the end of the event. Fellow Rotarian, Stephen Argentati who was representing his real estate company, Oracle Land Realty and Investments won the Peoples Choice Award. Congratulations Stephen.
To see more photos of this great event visit our website photo album at
Saddlebrooke Rotarians and guests were hosted by the Oracle Community Staff for a regular club meeting. This marked the first time an event was held at the center following the installation of a new air conditioning unit.
The Community center Board of Directors were present and served the meals. Steve Chavez, President of the OCC gave a hearty "thank you" to Saddlebrooke Rotary Club for its support and assistance in financing the new air conditioning unit. He emphasized just how far the center has come since its early years and thanked the club for our support.
The food was great and all had a great time meeting and greeting.
What a fantastic meal prepared by chef Branden.
Stuffed Chicken Breast with Cream Cheese and Spinach
The 2022 Inspiration in the Desert featuring Diana Madaras was a smashing success. Over 170 guests attended at the beautiful Saddlebrooke Ranch Ballroom on Saturday, April 9th. Guests were treated to a truly inspiring presentation by Diana. Her presentation included a wonderful video as well as a large selection of photos of her beautiful art works. Each guest received a gift of cards from Diana at registration.
Our committee of volunteers did an outstanding job of planning, organizing, and hosting the 3 hour event.
Shown above, Barbara Barr, Linda Howard, Joe Guyton, Wendy Guyton (chairperson), Patsy Ticknor, Wanda Bailey, Kristi Halvorson. Not shown were, Diane Demeroutis, Roger Bailey (photographer), and Linda Daubers.
President, Liese Razzeto served as Emcee and did a fantastic job keeping the program lively and interesting. President Elect Gordon Wainwright introduced Liese to start the program.
The celebration included a Gallery Trunk Show featuring art by Diana Madaras and guest artists of the Gallery, as well as Southwest gifts, Southwest holiday cards, jewelry, and more.
Artist Diana Madaras says, "Painting fills me with joy." She is equally well known for her bold, colorful Southwest art as for her generous charitable giving. Madaras owns the gallery in Tucson, Arizona that features her work, and she is president of the non-profit Art for Animals Foundation, a charity she founded in 1999 to help abused, injured, and orphaned animals.
Madaras is a colorist who celebrates the subtle, natural beauty of ordinary scenes in a way that is both intense and dramatic. She paints in both watercolor and acrylic and has a diverse portfolio — from brilliant desert landscapes to expressionistic portraits. A signature member of the Southern Arizona Watercolor Guild, Madaras has been featured in a dozen one-woman shows, and her art has hung in the Tucson Museum of Art. She was named the featured artist of the Empire Ranch 100 Show in 2009.
Much in demand for commissioned artwork, Madaras has completed paintings for Westin, Loews, and Miraval Resorts. She also has created 8 paintings for the estate of the former President of Mexico. Her painting, The Blues at Old Main, was commissioned for the cover of the University of Arizona Alumni Magazine and her art has appeared on the covers of 6 other magazines, including Art Book of the West and Tucson Lifestyle.
Madaras is very active in community service, and her art has benefited more than 100 charities. "I believe that when you have a wonderful, fortunate life, it's important to give back and help others who need a hand up," she said. In 2008, her art show African Sojourn raised $80,000 for charity. The show followed a safari to South Africa and Botswana, a trip the artist describes as an unforgettable adventure. "If I can help animals and people through art, there's nothing better."
The Rotary Club of SaddleBrooke wishes to thank our sponsors for the event: Morris Trust and All Season’s Senior Living.
To View more photos of the event go to our Photo Album at:
Saddlebrooke Rotary joined the Oracle Community Center on Monday, March 21 to prepare and serve meals to all guests. This was our second time to serve meals. Not only was it a generous outreach but it will be a lot of fun for the participants.
Club Information
Welcome
Service Above Self
Thursdays at 11:30 AM
Saddlebrooke Ranch Club House and Zoom
31143 S E Amenity Dr suite 2
Oracle, AZ 85623 United States of America