Robert's debunking at the home of Paul and Sally Wexler was an outstanding event! The great food, plentiful libations, outside seating (complete with torches) and good music were all in keeping with the Mexican Fiesta theme. Rotarians were observed wearing shorts, sandals and sombreros. We told you to be there or be square!

Robert was recognized by Cliff for his outstanding year and the accomplishments of our club. Robert, however, declined to accept the credit personally and truly spread it around. Numerous club members were recognized for their contributions not only orally, but with plaques and other presentations. Two members were recognized as Northwest Las Vegas Rotarians of the Year. Their bios and contributions are listed further in this newsletter. The new officers were installed during the evening.

The evening was an outstanding finish to an outstanding year for our club. It was a class act all around and our president showed his class by recognizing all who contributed. Congratulations to Robert for his service and to Cliff on his opportunity to continue our club's contributions to our community.

We will be dark Tuesday that all may celebrate Independence Day. Fly your flag proudly. Our program on July 11th will be a club assembly with a "State of Rotary" discussion.
The programs that are lined up after that are:
July 18 - Two presentations: one re: fishing at Adam Graham's Lodge and one about the Rotary International Convention. All presentations by Club Members.
July 25 - Clark Dumont, Nevada Cancer Institute
August 1 - barbara Strahl, Senior Mediation Specialist at the Neighborhood Justice Center.
August 8 - Las Vegas Ronald McDonald House (name will be provided later).

Recently, several of our members attended the RI convention in Europe. Our own president took the opportunity to propose to Cindy Sue, complete with a kneeling request in a historic church and a beautiful engagement ring. (That ring had was certainly examined closely on many occasions at the debunking!) Congratulations Robert and Cindy Sue.

Although we will be dark on the 4th of July, our newly installed officers and directors will be participating in a retreat at TPC on July 8th from 9:00 to 1:00. Breakfast will be served at this planning session as Cliff presents his plans for the upcoming year. If you are attending and have not yet RSVP'D, let Cliff know quickly.

Jim Cady has served as the secretary of our club and continues in that role. This job, in itself, requires more dedication and commitment than most roles we fill as Rotarians. Add to this, his commitment to our fundraisers for the past two years and you realize what a dedicated member we have. Jim has not only worked on the organization of the events, he has facilitated the donation of many (if not most) of the prizes that are contributed to these events for the past two years.

Jim is currently the general manager of the Doubletree Club at the airport. He went to college to be a chef and even served in that capacity in the restaurant he owned in Missouri (a far cry from native Syracuse, New York). He has run fences on a cattle ranch and served in many roles in the hotel business, coming to us from managing a golf resort in San Diego. Thank you for your outstanding contributions to our club, Jim!

Not satisfied with his role as Kideract Coordinator for just one at risk school, John took our club to new levels of exposure last year as he added a second to the program. Ask any fifth grade Kideract members at Booker or Ronzone Elementary School and they will tell you about how they have been inspired by one of the many outstanding speakers John has arranged for their school program. Not only does John coordinate the speakers, he attends every session at both schools, coordinates with the teachers and ensures that valuable life lessons are incorporated into each meeting.

John will have been a Rotarian for ten years next year. He is not new to community service, having served on several different boards for years in roles such as treasurer, grants committee chair and (we suspected) president. With his degree from Cornell University and service as an Army officer behind him, John entered the corporate world in roles ranging from software programer to executive and entrepenauer before retiring in 2005. John, we salute you and thank your for your service to our club and community!

If you would like to be a sponsor of the weekly newsletter and get your advertising out on a weekly basis, space is still available! Twenty-five dollars buys a years worth of ads in this venue. See Joe Germain at the next meeting if we can add your ad!