President Larry Rumans called the meeting to order.
Stan Turney led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Doug Woodard gave the invocation.
Jeff Shields welcomed Daniel Erickson from Leman Academy and visitor Samuel Ksiazkiewicz.
Notes:
Larry reminded everyone that World Polio Day was last Saturday, October 24th. Doug reminded everyone of the movie “Breathe” will be shown at the Loft Cinema on Tuesday, November 26th to raise money for PolioPlus. Funds have been raised to cover the cost of putting it on so that the price of tickets, $15, will all go to PolioPlus. More information is on the Loft website.
Joe Mahon announced that bell ringing for the Salvation Army will be Saturday, December 7th at Safeway on Swan and Sunrise at one door only. He passed around a sign-up sheet.
Laura Ziady said that some dictionaries have been delivered and the rest were in the process of being delivered.
Stan Turney thanked Larry Minich for donating a certificate for a year’s car wash from Mister Car Wash which will be the grand prize for the golf tournament. He thinks we’re doing OK with tee signs but will always accept more. Also he’s concerned that the winner’s plaque is missing and no one seems to know where it is.
Jim Bunker said he’s still finishing up the 8th Grade presentations and also would like suggestions for the keynote speaker.
Larry reviewed District 5500 announcements: need for a new chairperson for RYLA, the 4-Way Test contest on April 18th, Foundation Day on November 9th from 10-12 at Habitat for Humanity on N. Mountain Avenue and the Ride to End Polio at the El Tour de Tucson. Mike Kloehn said the same person who represented the club last year will ride again this year but for a shorter distance.
Kym Adair from the Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl spoke about the background of the event and plans for this year’s game which is in its fifth year. The two other sponsors are Rio Nuevo and Visit Tucson. The bowl is a locally owned with 100% of the net proceeds going to charity. There is a staff of 5 people and many volunteers. The event makes a major economic impact on the community between hotels and restaurants.
In 2018, 32,000 people attended with 14,000 tickets going to local heroes (military, teachers, and first responders). $633,000 went to local charities. The game aired on CBS Sports Network and was cross promoted on CBS.
This year’s game will be held on New Year’s Eve although in the past four years it was held in late December, not on the 31st. On the 30th there will be a pep rally downtown. On the 31st there will be tailgating and pre-game events starting at 11:00 with the game starting at 2:30 pm. From 6:00 pm to 1:00 am there will be Bowl Bash downtown in conjunction with the Hotel Congress. There will be live music, ice skating, a kid’s zone and 9x9 foot adult piñata suspended from a crane. Fireworks at midnight will end the evening. They are expecting 5-10,000 at the bash but hope that number will grow in the future.
Kym doesn’t know yet what teams will be playing. Starting in 2020, the beginning of the next bowl cycle, teams will come from the Mountain West Conference and the Mid American Conference and the Arizona Bowl will have the second pick for the teams to play. The Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl is now a B+ Bowl.
Kym encourages everyone to sponsor, volunteer and buy tickets.