Yuma Foothills Rotary Club

08/26/2026

08/26/2026

This Week at Yuma Foothills Rotary 💙💛

It was an exciting week for our club as we officially welcomed three new members to the Yuma Foothills Rotary family! 🎉

Please join us in welcoming Melanie Ware with Pacesetter Home Centers, Brenda Evers Kelly with Westerner GC, and Jose Ambriz with Foothills Bank! We are so excited to have each of them join us and look forward to serving alongside them as we continue making a difference in our community. 💙

We switched things up this week and, instead of a guest speaker, enjoyed a little fellowship with a Rotary-themed Pictionary game hosted by President Kendra! ✏️😂 A little friendly competition and plenty of laughs made for a great meeting!

Welcome to Rotary, Melanie, Brenda, and Jose! We’re so happy to have you! 💛💙

08/21/2026

This week, the Rotary Club of Yuma Foothills was honored to welcome our District 5500 Governor, Emma Carrillo, as our guest speaker!

Governor Emma shared some of Rotary’s goals for the year, both internationally and throughout District 5500, including our continued commitment to PolioPlus, strengthening membership, and promoting peace through Rotary’s work and service.

One of our favorite parts of her visit was a poem she wrote and shared about our club, we thoroughly enjoyed it and appreciated the thoughtful, personal touch! 💙💛

Thank you, Governor Emma, for spending your afternoon with us, sharing your vision for the year ahead, and reminding us of the bigger Rotary family we are proud to be a part of.

08/15/2026

We’ve had another great couple of weeks of learning more about what’s happening right here in our community!

Last week, we welcomed Yuma Proving Ground Commander Colonel Charles Seaberry, along with members of the YPG team. We learned more about the history of Yuma Proving Ground, its mission, and the important role YPG continues to play in both our nation’s defense and the Yuma community. 🇺🇸

This week, we welcomed Yuma County District 3 Supervisor Darren Simmons, who gave our club an update on what’s ahead for Yuma County. From new restaurants and businesses coming to the area, including Maverick, to upcoming construction, roadway, and traffic signal improvements, it was great hearing about some of the growth and changes happening throughout our community.

A big thank you to both of our guest speakers for taking the time to join us and keep our Rotarians informed and connected to what’s happening in Yuma! 💙💛

07/30/2026

This Week at Yuma Foothills Rotary 💙💛

This week, we had the pleasure of welcoming Justin Haile, founder of the 4th Ave Athletic Fund, as our guest speaker!

Justin shared the inspiring story behind how the organization began and how, thanks to incredible support from our local community, last year was their biggest and most impactful year yet.

The 4th Ave Athletic Fund works directly with Yuma County’s high schools, providing athletic equipment and resources based on each school’s unique needs. Because of the generosity of supporters, they were also able to expand their reach this past year by providing athletic balls and equipment to local elementary schools.

Justin’s vision is simple but powerful: to continue growing the athletic fund so every child has access to quality athletic equipment and the opportunity to succeed both on and off the field. Investing in our youth today helps build a stronger community for tomorrow.

Thank you, Justin, for sharing your story and for your dedication to supporting the next generation of student-athletes in Yuma. We appreciate all that you and the 4th Ave Athletic Fund do for our community! 💙🏈⚽🏀⚾

07/22/2026

This Week at Yuma Foothills Rotary 💙💛

We've had two wonderful weeks of learning from organizations that make a tremendous impact in our community!

Last week, we welcomed Leslie McClendon, Terri Young, and Leslie Fain from Visit Yuma. They shared how Visit Yuma has been promoting tourism in Yuma County since 1990 and highlighted the important role tourism plays in supporting our local economy. We enjoyed learning about their partnerships with local businesses, year-round events, and the many reasons people travel to experience everything our beautiful desert community has to offer. Thank you for an informative presentation!

This week, our guest speaker was Officer Richard Myers with the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Officer Myers spoke about Arizona's dove season, migrating bird populations, and the strong partnerships that make the annual dove hunt a success. He also thanked our Rotary Club for volunteering at the annual dove hunt cleanup, a project we're proud to support each year as we help keep our public lands clean after the season.

A big thank you to all of our guest speakers for taking the time to educate our club and for the work you do to strengthen our community. We appreciate your partnership and look forward to continuing to serve Yuma together! 💙💛

07/09/2026

This week, the Yuma Foothills Rotary Club had the pleasure of welcoming Gladys Brown, Director of Yuma International Airport, as our guest speaker.

Gladys shared the airport’s rich history, discussed its important role in serving our community, and gave us an exciting look at future goals for expanding flight opportunities in and out of Yuma. She also highlighted the many ways the airport partners with local organizations and contributes to the growth and success of our region.

Thank you, Gladys, for taking the time to speak with our club and for your leadership in helping shape the future of transportation and economic development in Yuma. We appreciate all that you and your team do for our community!

07/01/2026

Today, July 1, marks the beginning of a new Rotary year!

We are excited to welcome 2026–2027 Rotary International President Olayinka “Yinka” H. Babalola and his presidential message, Create Lasting Impact.

We also look forward to the leadership of our new District 5500 Governor, Emma Carrillo, as she helps guide and support clubs throughout our district.

Here in the Yuma Foothills Rotary Club, I would like to thank our 2026–2027 Board for stepping forward to serve this year. Your time, dedication, and commitment to Rotary are truly appreciated. On our board images from left to right we have: Sharon Merz, Susan Jorgensen, Millie Baycroft, Angie Mitchell, Dit Blackburn, Chelsey Diaz, Jeff McCloud, Jackson Dewbre, Kendra Ware, and Lynn Kramer (not pictured).

Here’s to a new year of service, fellowship, and creating lasting impact in our community and beyond.

06/18/2026

A huge thank you to all of the individuals and businesses who donated items to our silent auction during our Installation Dinner!

The proceeds from the silent auction will help support our Youth Exchange student, Bella Rector, as she prepares for her exciting exchange year in Thailand during the 2026-2027 Rotary year.

We would like to recognize and thank:

✨ Nikki’s Chickies
✨ Angie Mitchell
✨ Rebel & Rove
✨ Susan Jorgensen
✨ Paws & Tails
✨ Pacesetter Home Centers
✨ Millie Baycroft
✨ Express Auto/RV Repair

Thanks to your generosity, our silent auction was a great success. Your support helps provide life-changing opportunities for young people and invests in the next generation of leaders, ambassadors, and community changemakers.

From all of us at Yuma Foothills Rotary, thank you for helping make this opportunity possible for Bella and for supporting the future generation!

06/18/2026

As we officially transition into a new Rotary year, we want to extend our sincere gratitude to Jackson Dewbre for his outstanding leadership as President during the 2025-2026 Rotary year.

Under Jackson’s leadership, our club accomplished so much, including supporting our Youth Exchange Program, helping provide physical therapy gym equipment to the Arizona State Veterans Home, strengthening community partnerships, supporting local students, and so much more.

Thank you, Jackson, for your dedication, leadership, and commitment to service. Your calm presence, steady guidance, and willingness to always step up have helped our club accomplish great things this year.

We were also honored to officially install Kendra Ware as President for the 2026-2027 Rotary year, along with our incoming Board of Directors:

Past President: Jackson Dewbre
President: Kendra Ware
President-Elect: Sharon Merz
President-Elect Nominee & Service Projects Chair: Jeff McCloud
Secretary: Angie Mitchell
Treasurer: Chelsey Dee Diaz
Sergeant-at-Arms: Susan Jorgensen
Membership Chair: Lynn Kramer
Club Engagement Ambassador: Sharon Merz
Foundation Chair: Millie Baycroft
Public Image Chair: Dit Blackburn

A special thank you to Anne Fisher for conducting the installation ceremony. We appreciate you taking part in such an important moment for our club and helping us officially begin a new Rotary year.

Both Jackson’s and Kendra’s speeches served as a powerful reminder of why we do what we do. Rotary is successful because of the members who dedicate their time, talents, and hearts to serving others. Together, we look forward to another year of making a positive impact in our community.

Here’s to a great 2026-2027 Rotary year!