Events

Our March 18^th meeting features a presentation by Angel Pilato, Lt. Col. USAF (Ret.), PhD. Her talk “The War That Never Ended,” will focus on UXO (Unexploded ordnance) in Laos after the Vietnam War that are still as deadly today as they were 50 years ago. Even though millions of UXO are still in Vietnam and Cambodia, her focus is on Laos as it was the most heavily bombed country per capita in the world, and because many of the pilots from her Air Base were shot down and killed while flying bombing missions over Laos. 

She will discuss what UXO are and their deadly effect on the population, especially the children. She’ll tell us how she got involved with the NO UXO in LAOS project and how it’s helping to remove UXO in Laos.

Dr. Angel Pilato, a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, was the first woman assigned to manage an Officers’ Club and the first and only woman to run an O-Club on a fighter pilot base in a war zone. Her memoir, Angel’s Truck Stop: A Woman’s Love, Laughter, and Loss during the Vietnam War, highlights some of the challenges, conflicts and choices she confronted. 

Angel has held management positions in Hi-Tech, Higher Ed and non-profit organizations. Angel, has a private pilot’s license, is a former Rotarian and Paul Harris Fellow, she as a life member of The Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association, (The River Rats), and Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. After spending 50 years traveling and living mostly in the Northwest she’s returned home to Rochester, NY to be near family. In her retirement, Dr. Pilato continues to advocate with The Mines Advisory Group (MAG) to remove the UXO from Laos.

4 Pm to 6 Pm - Plan to have a wonderful evening meeting to kickoff the New Rotary Year with fellowship and a great meal.

Dental Services for Special Needs

What it’s like to be dropped into an alien world that has no instructions, clear regulations or operating manuals that tell you how this alien world works and what your place in it is!!! If you haven’t embraced Amor Fati, you may have a tough row to hoe.

Chandler Library/Historical Society

An update on the Mesa Gateway Airport and future plans

Panera Bread is providing the Rotary Club of Sun Lakes the opportunity to raise some funds for our club and enjoy delicious food at the same time. On July 30 from 4-8 pm, Panera on Arizona Ave will donate 30% of proceeds to our club.  All we have to do is bring our friends and family to Panera and show them the attached flyer.  You MUST show the flyer for us to receive the 30% for our club.   Please share the flyer with anyone and everyone!  The only requirement is net sales must be at least $150.  

Thank you Panera Bread and to all that attend.  Remember, you must show the flyer at Panera Bread when you place your order.

Lana Berry is a graduate of Colorado State University and a CPA. She has served as the Assistant Superintendent for Business Services, and now Chief Financial Officer, of the Chandler Unified School District (CUSD) since July 2013. Prior to CUSD, she worked in the Page Unified School District for 13 years. While in Page, Lana served 11 years as the District Business Manager and two years as a high school teacher and boys’ basketball coach.

Lana enjoys volunteering for her church, her children’s sports teams, and in local Political Action Committees, as well as both Chandler Education Foundation and Queen Creek Education Foundation. Her husband, Queen Creek Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Perry Berry, and Lana have four amazing children.  All four kids keep them busy and happy, as they travel around the country for all their sporting activities.

Marlene Ramirez is a Casino Players Club Marketing Manager with 15+ years in Marketing and Guest Service for Gila River Resorts & Casino Enterprise.  She is very passionate about helping the casino business grow to include informing people of all, and new exciting happenings.

Natasha Davis is an Arizona transplant from New Jersey where she was a Special Education Teacher and School Social Worker in an out-of-district placement serving students that experience social, emotional, mental health, and educational challenges. For the last few years within CUSD she served as the District Social Worker and Prevention Coordinator before becoming the Director of Counseling and Social Services.

Natasha completed her Bachelor's Degree in Human Development from Virginia Tech and her Master's in Social Work from Boston University. Natasha has also completed her second Master's in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University. It is her hope to continue to destigmatize mental illness, raise awareness and spark conversations about wellness. 

At the start of her career, Bridget Doherty worked for the City of Phoenix Police Department, where she collaborated with detectives from multiple bureaus to assist crime victims in navigating the often cold criminal justice system. During this time, she was selected as the Mothers Against Drunk Driving Advocate of the Year and became a co-recipient of the Office of the Attorney General Distinguished Service Award.

Bridget continued her passion for serving the community during her 12 years with Dignity Healthcare. As a community educator for St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, she built community programs and partnerships to promote health and safety within the City of Phoenix and surrounding suburbs. and surrounding suburbs. and surrounding suburbs. Moving on from her role within the hospital foundation system, Bridget transitioned to a community non-profit. She served as the Sr. Director of Development for Make-A-Wish Arizona, Chapter. Over six years, she worked to raise funds for over 4,000 wishes to come true for critically ill children.

Bridget is now with the Arizona Burn Foundation as the Chief Development Officer. She has been with the organization for a little over a year and is working to tell stories of triumph of  the Arizona Burn Foundation through the eyes of our survivors and their families along with growing the awareness of the Arizona Burn Foundation by connecting with people in the community, corporations in the community, and groups with the state that can help further our mission by volunteering, donating, and spreading our mission in their circles of influence.  

 Ken Sain grew up in Phoenix, attending Washington High School and just about every community college at the time. He hung around Arizona State University long enough until they got sick of him and finally gave him a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. Most of his journalism career has been in sports, starting as a part-time reporter for the Arizona Republic, before leaving the state to travel the country. He went from Southern California to Alaska to Northern California to Ohio/Kentucky to Texas to Washington, DC to Baltimore. Finally, after 27 years in Arizona, then 27 years around the country, he moved back to Arizona for his last chapters to be close to his family. In his 30-plus years in journalism he has been laid off five times, had to choose other journalists who would lose their jobs, and watched as some of the brightest and best people left the profession. He is now the managing editor of the Chandler Arizonan and Santan Sun News, covering Chandler for Times Media Group.