Events

A fourth-generation Arizona native, I studied Biology/Ecology at Northern Arizona University, where I developed a deep appreciation for the relationships between landscapes, wildlife, and human communities. I’ve been raising goats since 2015—first gaining hands-on experience working at a goat dairy before building and managing my own herd. Over the years, our work has grown significantly, and we’ve partnered extensively with water utility companies and land managers to address both vegetation challenges and wildfire risk.

One of our primary goals has been to help land managers recognize the remarkable impact goats can have on ecosystem health. By leveraging the natural foraging behaviors and adaptability of goats, we’re able to offer land management solutions that are not only holistic and regenerative, but that also support essential human needs such as clean water, safer communities, and healthier landscapes. This approach blends traditional stewardship with modern ecological understanding, creating results that are practical, sustainable, and grounded in the needs of both the land and the people who depend on it.

Sheriff Jerry Sheridan In November 2024 Jerry Sheridan was elected Sheriff of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO). The fourth largest sheriff’s office in the nation. He began his career with MCSO as a volunteer at the age of 18. He worked his way up through the ranks from deputy sheriff the highest uniform position within the Sheriff’s OfficeChief Deputy. He has a Masters Degree in Organizational Management, earned a Certified Jail Manager certification from the National Sheriff’s Association and graduated from the FBI National Academy (Executive Leadership School) in Quantico Virginia. He also was an Adjunct Faculty Member of the Maricopa County Community College District for 22 years. Getting MCSO back to basic law enforcement services for the betterment of all citizens and animals in Maricopa County is his top priority. He says leadership is the key to accomplishing this. In his personal life Jerry enjoys spending time with Stacie and their three Airedale terriers Maggie, Duke and Lucy. They love to ride their horses and fly fish together. Jerry’s dad a retired lieutenant from NYPD is 93 and lives with them at their small ranch in the east valley. Jerry is also an award winning fine art photographer. Jerry Sheridan is a proven leader with 33 years of supervisory, executive management and real world law enforcement leadership experience that successfully guided MCSO through its most difficult years in history during his last six years as Chief Deputy. 40 years of service to MCSO and the citizens of Maricopa County has prepared him well for the challenges and difficult and dangerous times ahead. Yet he will not lose focus of the sheriff’s primary responsibilities of keeping people safe especially our children and protecting citizens freedoms and liberties

What my Sled Dog Team Taught Me About Leadership


Connie Rudd, a Harris Fellow herself, brings a variety of careers together in this presentation. While her 35-year stint in the National Park Service, or her years teaching English, journalism and photo-journalism at a large high school in Colorado, or authoring two books about her years as a park ranger at Grand Canyon, or her third career as a fine art photographer, might qualify her observations on leadership, it was the 25 years she spent on the runners of a dog sled that brings her one-of-a-kind insight about team leadership. She shares personal experience from her mukluks on the snow to reaching team goals through rounding up pups to wear the harness, training for a purpose, defining success and rewards (treats, lots of treats), to developing new recruits for the future. Hint: there might be a special furry guest with Connie, if the venue allows.

Rotary Club of Sun Lakes Foundation(s) Dinner Party will be held in our regular meeting room at Cottonwood.  The menu and the cost of the dinner party is the same as last year.  ($40 per person).  Please attend this event and bring your partner and friends.  All of the other details can be found by going to the website.  The website is also how you can make your reservation, select your meal option and pay.

Entree options are as follows:

• Chicken: Chicken Marsala with mashed potato and asparagus
• Beef: A generous portion of Pot Roast with mashed potato and asparagus  
• Gluten Free / Vegan: Mushroom Risotto

Use the QR code to register or click on this link to register.

Ray Kimball is a speaker with Voter Choice Arizona and an Arizona team member of Veterans for All Voters. He retired as a career U.S. Army officer with over 20 years of service to the nation, including overseas tours in Bosnia, Iraq, Afghanistan, and East Africa. Over the course of his career, he served as a helicopter pilot, a history instructor, a strategic advisor, and a White House staffer. His academic credentials include a Bachelors in Russian and German from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Masters Degrees in History and Russian Area Studies from Stanford and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, and his Doctorate of Education in Learning Technologies from Pepperdine. He is the Founder and CEO of 42 Educational Games Coaching and Design, a service that helps educators integrate game-based learning into their classrooms.

Meeting will be held at: The Park at Copper Creek, 901 S 94th St, Chandler

In honor of Cinco de Mayo, the dinner menu will be: MUST RSVP BY APRIL 28 to debbaileyaz.gmail.com@clubrunner.email

• Braised chicken enchilada casserole 
• Mexican rice
• Charro beans
• Chips and house salsa

This meeting presentation will provide a better understanding of why our club members support both of these Rotary Foundations.  Additionally, there will be Education Scholarship Awards.

As a reminder, this meeting will be held at Sun Lakes Phase 1 in the Navajo Room from 6:30am to 8:00am.

Dr. Anshu Chanda, will present an update on the Haiti Eye Clinic which is a Global Optometry Eye Care project.

From the Gila River Indian Community, Elder Robert "Bobby" Stone will present some history, language, and dance about the Gila River Indian Community.  Additionally, he provides student  education support for the Casa Blanca Community School.

Our meeting speaker, Beth Bonnes is a Poet and writer. Presentation Topic: "We Don’t Build Anything Alone: Rethinking Independence, Partnership, and Creating Meaningful Moments"

The Rotary International Convention will be hld in Taipei Taiwan in June 2026.  Reservations are $475 per Rotarian through Dec. 15, 2025

Flag Day is celebrated annually on June 14 to commemorate the anniversary of the adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the official flag of the United States. It was adopted by the Second Continental Congress on June 14, 1777. 

The first "American" flag was created in 1775 when the Continental Army was established to fight against the British during the American Revolution, according to HISTORY.com. It consisted of red and white altering stripes and a Union Jack in the corner. Not wanting the new nation's flag to bare a resemblance to the British one, George Washington called for the creation of a new symbol. 

It was resolved during the Second Continental Congress that, "the flag of the thirteen United States shall be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the Union be thirteen stars, white on a blue field, representing a new constellation."

As more states entered the Union, additional stars were added. In all, there have been 27 official versions of the flag, according to the Library of Congress.