Saturday, March 23, 2024 a few Rotarians attend the annual District 5495 Club Leadership Academy at Desert Willow Conference Center in Phoenix, AZ Sessions including Grants Management training, Rotary International mental health initiatives, scholarships, fundraising and visioning for your club. Incoming District Governor, Michelle Holcomb hosted the day as she rang in the new year's theme, "The Magic of Rotary." Rotarians attended this year's academy; Frank Robinson, Nick Proctor, Debbie Clason, Sue Hendershott, Past-Presidents Todd Harris, Scott Sommer and President Julie Ewald. Also Todd, Scott and Julie facilitated some of offered sessions for attendees.
2024 District 5495 CLA: Rotarians head to Club Leadership Academy in Phoenix!
Rotarians focusing on clean streets: Annual Trash Duty!
Clean streets create a positive impression on residents and visitors alike, fostering a sense of pride and belonging within the community. When our surroundings are well-maintained, it reflects a shared commitment to a higher standard of living, making our neighborhoods more attractive and inviting.
The 50th Annual Fountain Festival of Fine Arts & Crafts shows are truly the meeting place of talented artists and highly skilled artisans from across the country and around the world. You can see work from artists who have come together to represent global diversity. From the United States to Europe. From Africa to Asia. From South America to Australia. Art speaks a universal language. And you’re certain to understand that language as it is spoken in Fountain Hills.
Rotarians on Thursday, February 29th from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. gathered at the Fountain Hills Community Center. Over 200 volunteers are helped to pack meals that are distributed internationally by the Food for Kidz organization. These meals will be distributed locally to the Extended Hands Food Bank of Fountain Hills, AZ Brainfood, which serves school children in the Valley, Native American Urban Ministry and Native American Connections. This club "Service Above Self" event was lead by Jerry Holtzman, Director of the club. Nice work Jerry and Rotarians!
On Saturday, February 17, 2024 Four Peaks participated with another "Service Above Self" community event at the Fountain Hills Elementary School. The Passport to Better Health was well attended and attendees had the opportunity to meet and chat with over 24 exhibitors and sponsors relating to your path to better health. Including, several presentations and demonstrations were onsite to attend. Pictured: Tim Taylor, Foundation Treasurer, Julie Ewald, Club President, Bill Pape, our Pssiionate Rotarian!
Four Peaks Rotary table at the Health Fair providing information to attendees on mental health, healthy living and Peace Fellowship Master and Certificate programs now available to apply.
Healthy Fountain Hills Keynote speaker, Dr. Kristin Swanson is a mathematical oncologist and serves as co-director of the Precision Neurotherapeutics Innovation Program and Director of the Mathematical NeuroOncology Lab at Mayo Clinic. She also holds appointments at Arizona State University and the Translational Genomics Institute. Her team believes "every patient deserves their own equation."
On January 24th Four Peaks Rotary participated at the the Town of Fountain Hills Activities and Volunteer Expo. Attendees had learning and volunteer opportunities, time to gather information, and speak to representatives from many clubs and service organizations in the town. Not only did the Expo allow residents to find out what the clubs have to offer it allowed clubs an opportunity to learn and meet one another. A FUN afternoon at the Community Center! (Pictured left to right: Todd Harris, 2022-2023 Past-President, Julie Ewald, 2023-2024 President and Jerry Holtzman, Board of Director member and Community Projects Co-Chair)
Rotarians at the 2024 Fountain Hills Activities and Volunteer Expo
On October 21, 2023 Four Peaks Rotary participated in Make a Difference Day today by helping the Fountain Hills Community Theater clean and organize their storage units.
Our jobs were to empty designated storage containers and set all contents in the yard for inspection. Once the emptied containers were swept out, theater staff determined which props to load back into the container and which should be put in the dumpster. Thanks to Four Peaks Rotary's efforts last year, other containers did not need to be cleaned and sorted.
Four Peaks Rotarians partner with the Fountain Hills Community Theater each year on Make a Difference Day to honor the memory and legacy of Bill Beamish. Bill was an avid supporter of the Fountain Hills Community Theater who passed away in 2021.
More photos of this project are available on the Four Peaks Rotary website.
On July5th,Four Peaks Rotary Club in Fountain Hills Arizona USA and a few of the Fountain Hills High School students providing Community Service (graduation hours) participated this glorious morning at Fountain Park to assist the town clean-up the grounds from the fabulous Fireworks Display at the Fountain on the 4th! Thank you Rotarians, Students and a few other residents for your dedicated "Service Above Self" time keeping our Fountain Park environment top notch! We had a lovely breakfast at Phil's to end the morning.
July brings in New Leadership (Transition) Month. Welcome to the new Rotary year and our theme "Create Hope in the World."
Todd Harris turns the Rotary Bell and Gavel to our 26th Club President, Julie Ewald, who looks forward to supporting the mission and vision of Rotary International incoming president Gordon McInally theme focusing on Peace, Mental Health, Empowering Girls and building upon prior years.
How do you say "thank you" to an out-going president?
Well, if you're a Four Peaks Rotarian, you roast them thoroughly (thank you, Jeff Stack), then toast to their passion, dedication, and timeless effort.
Thank you, Todd Harris, for your selfless service above self. We appreciate you!
Are you still reading? Then it's probably because you're wondering why we're all wearing bright yellow safety vests. Todd wears one at practically every Rotary community service project, most especially the golf outing, so we thought it would be fitting for our members to wear one for his salute farewell toast in his honor.
Thank you President Harris, We Salute You for A Year of Success!
A two-month Community Paint Project calls it a wrap this Father's Day weekend. To President Todd Harris's "A Team." a sincere and grateful "thank you", including many other Fountain Hills Community Service Groups, Businesses, Rotarians, Kiwanians, etc who participated in the beautification endeavor for the FHUSD. The Middle School students will be transitioning to the High School location this fall to a fresh new start! Also, the paint project included a hallway mural representing spirit of education, and to welcome the students and staff by Heather, of Heather's Interior Design and Painting. In appreciation, Todd Harris awarded Heather with the Clubs Presidential Gratitude Chain. The Gratitude Chain is given to a Rotarian or Humanitarian Leader recognizing their humanitarian service, encouraging high ethical standards in all vocations, and helps build goodwill in our community and the world, demonstrating "Service Above Self." and "People of Action."
On May 29th Four Peaks Rotarians participated in their annual Memorial Day Flag presentation. Thank you to all of the community volunteers who helped us place nearly 2500 flags around the Fountain Park walkway and Avenue of the Fountains this morning. We honor and remember those brave individuals who made the ultimate sacrifice in securing our American freedoms. We wish you all a very peaceful Memorial Day. A special mention and thank you for some our Fountain Hills Toastmasters group joining in to help.
In May of 2019, Rotary International and Toastmasters International formed a unique strategic alliance, drawing from the strength of their many similarities and complementary differences. The opportunity for Toastmasters members is primarily to establish fellowship and make new connections, contribute more to communities, and potentially elevate clubs. Rotary members have the opportunity to develop new skills and may ask to visit Toastmasters clubs or receive evaluations. Toastmasters also developed eight educational courses for Rotarians and Rotaractors, available on Rotary International’s Learning Center, which can be accessed by their members in nine languages.
2023 Memorial Day Flags placed around the Fountain and Avenue of the Fountains
On May 6, 2023 the Four Peaks Rotarians held a FUN DAY at their 2nd Annual Kentucky Derby Run for the Roses fundraiser to support the Midwest Rotary Disaster Fund and Rotary Polio Fund. Special guest appearance by Tender Little Heart ponies who were "making friends, warming hearts, sharing smiles and spreading joy, one tender little heart at a time." This year's event was held at the beautiful Desert Canyon Golf Club.
On behalf of the Four Peaks Rotary club we appreciate the generosity from participators, sponsors, and the Rotarian Derby Committee; Robin Brand, Debbie Clason, Sandy Davis, Julie Ewald, Denise Ricketts, Gary Shuey and Coco Pameditis who supported our event to a successful outcome.
This years event raised $3400 which $400 was donated to Rotary International Polio Fund and $3000 benefited Mississippi Rotary District 6820. Pictured Derby Committee members Debbie Clason, Denise Ricketts, Sandy Davis and Julie Ewald presenting the check to Mark E. DiBiase, Mississippi District Governor on June 22, 2023 at the club meeting.
Here's a big dose of cuteness to brighten your day....
Also pictured are the "jockeys" for the winning "horses" from the field of eleven entries and two of the Tender Little Heart minis.
Win: Sand & Sage of Hill Family Stables. John and Nedra Hill, owners
Place: Nothing Better Than a Dog of City Lights Stables. Todd and Jan Harris, owners
Show: Hard Steel of Steelcrest Thoroughbreds. Doug Lawyer, owner
Prizes and a year of bragging rights were awarded to Best Derby Hat, Best dressed Lady and Gentleman, Most Dapper Couple and Best overall Paddock (horse, jockey and stable decoration). Many thanks to Gary Shuey and Doug Lawyer of Steelcrest Architectural Designs for creating the steel horses for the event.
Four Peaks "Kentucky" Derby Run for the Roses Fundraiser is a success!
On March 25, 2023, some of ourFour Peaks Rotarian Leaders (Todd Harris, President, Sue Hendershott, Club Foundation Secretary, Jeff Stack, Vice-President and Julie Ewald, President-Elect) attended District 5495 Club Leadership Academy (CLA) at Desert Willow Conference Center. The day consisted of fellowship, connection and education to bring back to our fabulous club members and Fountain Hills community. Honored to meet Featured Speaker, Greg E, Podd, Trustee of the Rotary Foundation (2022-2026), former Vice President (2015-2016) of Rotary International and past District Governor of 5510. Including expert Rotarian panel of District Leaders, Larry Horton (Current DG), Kevin Pitts (DG 2023-2024) Michelle Holcomb (DG 2024-2025).
On March 10th, some of the Four Peaks Rotary Club in Fountain Hills Arizona USA Rotarians (Sandy, Jim, Dave, Jerry, Julie and President Todd Harris) had a FUN day participating with serving their famous pretzels at the Fountain Hills Falcons 1st (Ignaurgal) Staff Picnic 2023. It was a pleasure to meet some of the FH Educators, Administrators, Governing Board and staff of the Fountain Hills School District! We were honored to sponsor their community school event and we look forward to next year! Thank you Rotarians and FHUSD! https://www.fountainhillsschools.org/
On Saturday, February 11, 2023 the 1st Annual Fountain Hills Community Health Fair was held by Four Peaks Rotarian Debbie Clason of Clason Communications in efforts to support Healthy Fountain Hills lifestyles and health awareness for the Fountain Hills Community! Exhibitors, Educational Presentations, Blood Mobile and MOM (Mammogram Mobile) made for an outstanding afternoon at the FHUSD Learning Center. Congratulations Debbie for a well-attended community event and project for you club Rotarians.
Four Peaks Rotary participates at the annual Activities & Volunteer EXPO on January 25, 2023 at the Community Center sharing their message with the community, recruit new members and network with other clubs and organizations in town. Attendees learn about Rotary opportunities, gather information and speak to club representatives Todd Harris (President), Julie Ewald (President-Elect), and John Gianotti (Foundation Member). A wonderful time spent with the Community of Fountain Hills!
A wonderful evening at FireRock Country Club celebrating the successes of 2022 with fellow Rotarians. In addition to celebrating the 25th club year, the club also celebrated the year of giving by distributing over a $100,000 to local and global non-profits and people in need. Congratulations Four Peaks Rotarians, cheers to a prosperous 2023 and next 25 years! See our FaceBook Reels highlights.
Fountain Hills Best Overall and Best Civic/Business Float
"Golden Turkey Award"
Congratulations Four Peaks Rotary for winning the Golden Turkey Award for Best Overall and Best Civic/Business Float at the Fountain Hills 2022 Thanksgiving Day Parade! The Golden Turkey Award was presented to Bart Shea and club members at their 25th Anniversary Holiday Party in December.
Special thanks to the Co-Chairs for this project, Julie Ewald and Bart Shea.
We also want to thank our "Rotarian Elfs" (Robin Brand, Joe Cardona, Sandy Davis, Dave Delucia, Todd Harris, Gary Shuey and Pam Carlson).
The Golden Eagle Education Foundation accepts a $10,000 grant and eight members receive Paul Harris certificates from District 5495 Governor, Bret McKeand.
2021 marked the passing of Jerry Berna and Bill Beamish, two beloved club members who left a lasting legacy to Four Peaks Rotary Club and the Fountain Hills community.
Carrying on with the vision of Past Member and Club President, Bill Beamish, Four Peaks Rotarians built a scaled replica of the Twin Towers surrounded by 411 American Flags representing the Firefighters, Paramedics and Police Officers that died at the 9/11 site.
The wonderful display served as a backdrop for the Town of Fountain Hills memorial celebration.
On June 10, 2023 Four Peaks Rotary members install the 2023-2024 Officers and Directors. The new year begins July 1, 2023. (Pictured left to right, Jeff Stack, President-Elect, Isabelle Roethe, Treasurer, Robin Brand, Secretary, Pic in Pic, Joe Cardona, Vice-President, Julie Ewald, President, Art Tolis, Director, Jerry Holtzman, Director, Greg Golucci, Director, Todd Harris, Past-President). Congratulations to the new Board, they have an exciting year planned ahead.
Four Peaks Rotary Club is an international service and humanitarian organization based in Fountain Hills, Arizona. USA. Our members focus on the needs of our community, world, environment, promoting peace, fighting disease, saving mothers and children, supporting education and our future generations.
Four Peaks Rotary Club members celebrated our 25-year anniversary, acknowledged the end of an era at DC Bar & Grill, awarded grants to Golden Eagle Education Foundation and US Vets, received good news from GCU Rotaract, attended the rededication of the Rotary Splash Pad, and participated in another successful Memorial Day flag installation.
Jimmy Curtis (February) and Colleen Jacobson (March) were named Four Peaks Rotary Club's Teachers of the Month. Both received a certificate along with a $275 monetary award.
NOVEMBER 5, 2020 – Four Peaks Rotarians celebrated Halloween and World Polio Day on October 24 with a virtual social featuring a reverse raffle fundraiser that netted $6,400 for the Four Peaks Rotary Foundation.
The 2021-2022 Rotary International theme is Serve To Change Lives, tasking Rotarians to create opportunities that strengthen their leadership, help put service ideas into action, and improve the lives of those in need. We are always working to better our community and the world we live in. The following officers will lead us through coming Rotary year!
President: Scott Sommer
President Elect: Todd Harris
Past President: Scott Sommer
Secretary: Robin Brand
Treasurer: Patrick Benkowski
Directors: Jeff Stack, Bob Jacobius, Isabelle Clausen
The Four Peaks Rotary Club lost two esteemed members in the last two months with the passing of Jeff Poynter in December and Jerry Burnain January. Jeff's memorial service was conducted on Jan 6. Jerry's family is planning a spring memorial service. Our heartfelt condolences go out to their families during this difficult time.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Lyn Dickinson and his family as he undergoes chemotherapy treatments.
Michelle Webb, Scott Schlossberg and Todd Harris along with Sue Hendershott and Debbie Clason, are heading up a Reverse Raffle in hopes of adding $6400 to club coffers. Click "read more" to learn how you can make this fundraiser a success.
Danielle Fisher of McDowell Mountain Elementary School and Valerie Reichler of Fountain Hills Middle School were named Teacher of the Month for August and September.
Guest speakers from Mayo Clinic and Golden Eagle Mentor Program educated club members on COVID 19 and the state of the mentoring program in Fountain Hills. For details on each presentation, click the "read more" link.
All of us know that our good work in the community is dependent upon the various fundraisers we hold throughout the year. Although Four Peaks rotary Club members are committed to serving our constituents, our fundraising efforts will likely look a little different for awhile. In that spirit, President Scott is encouraging us to put on our "creative thinking caps" in an effort to keep the funds flowing. Feel free to send your ideas to Michelle Webb, who is heading up a committee to explore other avenues for fundraising.
To read a brief summary of status of our three fundraisers, current at the time of publication, click "read more."
DigDeep was able to install nine home water systems to Navajo families in Dilkon before the pandemic brought the project to a halt. Dilkon is a town on the Navajo Nation located in Northeastern Arizona.
One of the recipients was Annie (left), who has lived in her house for 50 years without running water. She has always relied on hauling buckets of water from Coyote Springs.
Officers for the Four Peaks Rotary Foundation of Fountain Hills current fiscal year include President Gil Miller, Secretary Sue Hendershott and Treasurer Tim Taylor.
Officers for the Four Peaks Rotary Club of Fountain Hills were installed for the 2020-2021 year during an online club meeting on July 9. Scott Sommer was installed as president. Sommer, who lives in Fountain Hills with his wife, Ashley, and two children, oversees operations in Fountain Hills and the Verdes for ProSkill Services.
Other officers for the 2020-21 year include President-elect Nicola Bird, Vice President Greg Golucci, Secretary Robin Brand, Treasurer Patrick Benkowski, and Directors Bob Jacobius, John Colucci and Michelle Webb. Michelle Holcomb, Rotary District 5495 Assistant governor and Fountain Hills Rotary Club member, conducted the installation.
Our Mother's Day vehicle parade was a big hit with the staff and residents of the two major senior living facilities in Fountain Hills! 30 Rotarians, spouses and friends participated in the celebration on behalf of all the moms who have endured the mandatory pandemic lock-down these past several months. Many of us finished the parade with a nice take-out lunch at Phil's Filling Station! A big THANK YOU to everyone who participated!
President Jeff and first lady Julie need your prayers!
Jeff is back at the hospital, undergoing additional surgery and recovery. He is in very serious condition and needs your prayers. We do not have his hospital and room information yet, but will e-blast it ASAP, so that your cards can be sent and received.
To think there are thousands of people living in Arizona without access to basic plumbing and clean, running water is unimaginable. But that is precisely the case for the Navajo Nation, located in parts of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah.
In 2019 Jeff Poynter was optimistic that the project fits well with Four Peaks Rotary’s vision. “We’re a club that wants to help as many people as possible. This is a tremendous opportunity for Four Peaks Rotary to step up and really make a difference in many lives.”
Alongside Rotary and DigDeep bring a vital commodity to their ancestral homeland RI article
DigDeep was able to install nine home water systems to Navajo families in Dilkon before the pandemic brought the project to a halt. Dilkon is a town on the Navajo Nation located in Northeastern Arizona. Below, Rotarian Project Champion, Paul Perreault and 2022-2023 President Todd Harris on location with the DigDeep team. Future updates coming in Spring of 2023
Back in 2019, Four Peaks Rotary President-elect Jeff Poynter (left) and Rotary International project coordinator Jim Bissonet shared Rotary’s plan to initiate underground cistern systems to hundreds of homes in the Navajo Nation. Four Peaks Rotary is hopeful of becoming a part of this Rotary International effort to supply clean water and electricity to the Navajo Nation.
At the Club's annual In and Out Banquet on May 18, Four Peaks member Doug Lawyer was awarded "Rotarian of the Year". Among many Club activities which Doug is involved in is the twice-a-year Fountain Hills Art Fair where the Club is the official trash collector during each four-day event. Doug assumes responsibility for scheduling and overseeing all trash collecting duties and proudly wears the title as the Club's "Sanitation Engineer." Doug has been a key sponsor for the Club's annual golf tournament and can always be counted on to volunteer for various Club activities and events. Congratulations to Doug Lawyer, the 2018-19 Four Peaks Rotarian of the Year!
For just an hour or two a year, our club members can help raise money at Fountain Hills High School for great school causes by volunteering at the Student Store, providing beverages and snacks to hungry students and the occasional teacher. It's a fun way to interact with parents, teachers, students and other Rotarians. New Generations chair, Bill Beamish is looking for just one or two Rotarians each month to help for 7 minutes during the three morning class breaks around 8:30, 9:30 and 10:30. You could help during one, or all of those shifts, depending on your available free time. Click on the photo of John and Darlene in action for a brief video clip: https://youtu.be/-QQPLT4X9TA
Four Peaks Rotary's newest Club member is Michelle Webb, shown here at her September 13 induction with (from left) Jay Schlum, Alex Ross, and John Colucci.
Four Peaks Rotary club members, friends and family volunteered to serve delicious German beer, pretzels, other beverages and even taking out the trash at this year's Fountain Hills Oktoberfest in Fountain Park. The fun and fellowship also helps support great community causes!
It's time to get in the spirit of Oktoberfest! Be sure to keep the evenings of Friday and Saturday, Sept. 28-29 open for helping your club and your community!
ClubRunner makes it easy to publish your weekly Club eBulletin, and send to all members and friends of the club, by incorporating home page stories and events with the push of a button.
The Four Peaks Rotary Club provides Free vocational services and advice to Veterans, high school, junior college and college students as well as individuals considering a career change. The Club offers one on one or group discussions with Members of the Club active in any number of careers, those with many years of service. Click on the Vocational Services site page link located on the lower left hand column under the heading Site Pages for additional information. That link will connect you to the Vocational Services E mail address and hot line. Use that contact information to obtain information or arrange for a meeting with a Rotarian willing to provide information which may assist you in considering your career opportunities.