Rotary Scholarships awarded by club members Haymar Britton & Holli Ploog. Students from left to right: Vincent Smith-Shayawatt (NAU); Fernanda Mendoza (Coconino College); Aubrie Doyle (NAU); Glenna Barnes (NAU); Angelo Matisko (Yavapai College)
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (JR RYLA) 3 day Camp in Prescott, June 10-13, 2026 Twelve middle school students attended this year thanks to scholarships from both the Sedona and Red Rocks Rotary Clubs. Many thanks to our volunteer bus driver John Bradshaw, chaperone Jean Barton, and school for loaning us their bus. JR Counselor Fernando Quisumbing, also from RRHS helped make camp fun for all!
Our Charitable Fund gave over $101,000 this last school year to support West Sedona School’s Extended Day Program, the “Wildcats Kids Club.” This affordable, vital program helps Sedona's services workers who struggle to manage both time and money. Sedona businesses benefit from this program!! All Sedona Residents use the services they provide.
JOIN US TO HEAR MORE!
Live Testimonials from West Sedona School’s Working Parents, Children, and Employers
Inviting all who are able to take off work to attend - and interested Sedona residents!
July 14, 2026, 12:00-1:00 PM
Sedona Library's Community Room.
West Sedona School and Extended Day Update by Principal Elisa Stieg, and Extended Day Director Jessica Sweeney - Changing Plans for the 2026-27 School Year
Inviting all who are interested!
July 28, 2026, 12:-1:00 PM
Sedona Library's Community Room.
THANKS YOU SPONSORS!! OVER $101,000 GIVEN TO THIS VITAL PROGRAM in 2025-26 !!
West Sedona K-5 Public School provides a free, on-site, supervised program before and after school until 6 pm for working parents. Children love playing with their friends and attending clubs. They can receive homework help and tutoring that is integrated with the regular school curriculum. Working parents love the flexibility. In the 2025-26 school year, the new director, Jess Sweeney, her staff, and volunteers remarkably improved the program.
Another fun filled Sedona Community Supper at St Andrews Church, prepping and serving a delicious vegan supper organized by Ray & Peggy Harris. 5/18/26
. 
ROTARY'S - JR Interact Club 2025-26, A Community Service Club at Sedona Red Rock JR High with Faculty Sponsor Isabelle Fritzer & Club Sponsors Jamiss Sebert and Haymar Britton
Today, David Simmer gave an overview of The Rotary Foundation and its amazing impact throughout the world! Global partnerships have brought basic needs to developing countries. Fun and informative!
Community Library Sedona Board Chair and fellow Rotarian, Linda Allen, described the current state of libraries nationwide, and the future vision for the Sedona Library.
Arizona Community Foundation grant kicked off the club's fundraising drive for West Sedona School's Wildcat Extended Day. Thank you ACF and Chelsea Buck-Leilich from ACF-Sedona. Left to right: Holli Ploog, Dave Young, Tracey McConnell, Jean Barton, Chelsea, Jamiss Sebert. https://www.azfoundation.org/ways-to-give/give-locally/acf-of-sedona/
Verde Valley Sanctuary
Our guest speaker for Tuesday's meeting was, Brian Bergner, Development and Communications Director for the Verde Valley Sanctuary. He shared the vital work they are doing to provide a safe haven for survivors of abuse and violence. Brian highlighted the importance of their pet-friendly environment, which allows survivors to bring their pets, making the sanctuary a safe place for many more people. It is shame that the VVS is necessary, but we are grateful that it exists to serve those who need a safe refuge while they get back on their feet.
We were thrilled to see 80% attendance at our Tuesday meeting! Our members' dedication to Rotary is inspiring. We also appreciate the hard work of the Rotary Club of Sedona Charitable Fund Board as they prepare for a major fundraising event. Jean Barton shared that we are nearly halfway to our goal for the Wildcat Extended Day program, which supports the children of the West Sedona school. Let's keep the momentum going! The Charitable Fund board will be reporting regularly and is working on a kick-off event.
The Rotary Club of Sedona focuses our efforts locally, regionally and globally on Working Hard for Working Families. To advance that mission we try to expand our knowledge and understanding of organizations that support our focus. Jennifer Perry of the Sedona office of the Arizona Community Foundation suggested that we invite “LISA” to speak.
On Tuesday (July 11) we were joined by Eric Wyles, founder of Low Income Student Aid (a/k/a LISA) and two board members for the organization. LISA’s mission is to help to elevate the experience of children from low income households to the level of experience for those who are not so challenged.
It’s water delivery day and Monica anxiously scans the Navajo Reservation horizon for the big white water truck. When she sees the vehicle in the distance carefully maneuvering around deep ruts in the dirt road to her home she hustles her two small children safely inside. Like many on the Navajo Nation, Monica has lived for years without running water or electricity. Today will be life-changing for her young family.
Members of the Rotary Club of Sedona take up positions to monitor the delivery. The truck rolls up to the freshly installed underground cistern beside Monica’s tiny home. A 1200 gallon tank is the heart of the home water system and for the first time will provide Monica and her children with clean, hot and cold running water. The days of hauling hundreds of pounds of water from a regional well each week to provide for her family are behind her.
Basil & Mimi Maher Received Make-a-Difference Award
The Rotary Club of Sedona recently presented local philanthropists Basil and Mimi Maher with the club’s Make-A-Difference Award.
A $1,000 donation was made to the Scorpion Booster Club in recognition of their contributions in supporting local working families through their on going efforts to provide affordable housing.
The Sedona Humane Society - more than just rescues!
At the May 13th meeting, Rotarians learned that the Humane Society of Sedona is much more than an animal rescue service!! Caring for pet owners, pet adopters and the animals are all part of its mission. What is best for the animal is always foremost. They help pet owners keep their pets when they don’t think they can, or they help them find new owners, bypassing a stay at the Center. Support for the new owner assures that the adoption is successful. Kids and Kritters Summer Camp teaches animal care and behavior to kids. Last week, they hosted Red Rock JR High’s Interact Club Members. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, they depend entirely on volunteer and community support.
Need some good news?
Check out this interview with David Byrne on the Rotary.Org podcast about his nonprofit online magazine Reasons to be Cheerful ,"Where all news is good news".
Angela Lopez, the Rotary Membership Officer for the western 1/3 of the US (i.e. our “Zone”) and a wonderful friend made the trip up from the valley to speak to us about membership. Lots of good information….the most important of which was being intentional about membership and her message that we need to keep in mind that every members of the club impacts membership. We all create an environment (good or bad) which will influence 1) the likelihood that a prospective member will join the club and 2) the likelihood of them staying in Rotary. I believe it is so important to develop a milieu of friendship and reinforcement of all the best that Rotary is. Let’s work on this together!
