Hosted by Jennette and David Bill of the
Rotary Club of Sedona Village, an exciting and enriching weekend unfolded for 14 international exchange students, proudly sponsored by Rotary Clubs from all corners of Arizona. These dynamic young individuals hail from diverse nations, including France, Ecuador, Denmark, Brazil, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Ukraine, Japan, Thailand, Chile, and Sweden.

 

Mark von Hoetzendorff gave an update on World Polio eradication that started as a Rotary project 35 years ago. "Rotarians have contributed $2.1 billion with countless volunteer hours to vaccinates 3B children in 122 countries," he said. Mark showed photos from his trips to Africa at the height of Rotary efforts on that continent. In 2020 Africa was certified by WHO as polio free.

 

Rob Schaefer made a stirring appeal for continued support of the project and gave clear instructions about how to donate. While polio outbreak is down to only a few per year in Afghanistan and Pakistan, funds are still needed to do the surveys necessary to determine when infections of wild polio virus are finally ended. It takes two years of no new cases for WHO to declare the world "Polio Free."
 

 

The Rotary Club of Sedona Village and the Rotary Club of Sedona Village
Charitable Fund presented checks for $8,930 to eight area not for profit
organizations recently. The grant recipients socially distanced at the Oak Creek
Country Club for a morning recognition ceremony.

Left to right:
Foreground: Damian Bruno, Club President; Rob Schaefer, Charitable
Fund President
Background: Rachelle Jarvis, Village Learning Center; Dan Peterson,
Imagination Library; Christine Ryan, Conscious Education; John Lothrop, Hope
House; Laurie Altringer, Science Vortex; Richard Sidy, Gardens for Humanity and
Peg Schlichtemeier, Verde Valley First Books

 

Rotary Club of Sedona Village Charitable Fund. Read more about the fund and how it is used.

 

 

Randy Hawley, Village Resident, joined several Rotarian observers at Clark’s Grocery for a five minute “grocery grab” recently. Hawley was the Grand Prize winner of the Rotary Club of Sedona Village sponsored event.

Stating that he has “never won anything in his life”, Hawley excitedly roamed Clark’s aisles and filling his basket during the five minute “grocery grab”. He was accompanied by Danielle Gian, Rotary coordinator for the event.

It all started when Rotarians Mark Von Hoetzendorff and wife Robin were taking their usual morning walk. They noticed that one of the yards they passed by had seriously deteriorated in the past two years. They learned from neighbors that the owner had significant health problems and was no longer able to maintain the yard. This seemed like a good project for the Rotary Club, so Mark proposed it to Club President Damian Bruno and the Board.

Halloween Party, Oct 26, 2019, Thanks to Robin and Mark for hosting this fun party!

Our speaker October 24th was Jon Booth. He told us about Young Life, an organization that has leaders who show they care by going where kids are,meeting them as they are, believing in who they can be.

October 24th Rotary celebrates World Polio Day.
Rob and Mark share some history of the campaign to Eradicate Polio.

Futurechef was a huge success in its debut dining experience!

Our recent Blood Drive was a great success!

This event has sold out- you can still donate to the Verde Valley Sanctuary. 

 

A Salon Piano Recital is coming to the Village and is not to be missed. Save the date for July 23. Rising Young Russian Prodigy from St. Petersburg: Natalia Lisanova. Click for more information and to watch a stunning video of a performance.  Limited to 50 tickets. 

The Rotary Club of Sedona Village awarded three, $1,000 scholarships on Tuesday, May 7 at Sedona Red Rock High School.

Verde Valley Regional Economic Organization (VVREO), Molly Spangler and Mary Chicoine were the presenters

Tree Planting at Verde Valley School was a growing experience.

Moonlight Madness Event Makes the News. Read more...

Four Clubs Work Together to Donate Funds. Read more...

Thanks to the generous gifts of fellow Rotarians, we have been able to kickstart our club with great success. Pictured: Sedona Fire District Chief, Kris Kazian, presenting our club with our new banner.

Rotary has a new Club- Sedona Village Club!

 

The Village Club already has 33 members and we're off and running. Read more about how we're just getting started.

On Thursday, June 14, the Sedona Village Club had the pleasure of listening to Mr. Dennis Dearden, new Sedona Superintendent of Schools. With great enthusiasm, he shared his background in education, experience, and desire to focus on children and make Sedona's educational offerings match the views.

What is it like taking a large team to Africa?  It has probably been one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. In mid February, I began leading Rotary members from all over the East Coast of the United States through Ghana. I’ve tried to give the team a warm Ghanaian welcome like I’ve received on my earlier trips. A large trip is a real blessing because each person sees Ghana and our work in a different way.

A highlight for the team was greeting the chief of Sagadugu. The team got excited about buying goats and food for children in the villages where I support eight churches. It was good to see the pastors of most of the eight churches, and I had to explain that we were just passing through on our way to Bolgatanga.