We encourage all members to attend this week’s meeting for the special opportunity to meet and hear from our District Governor, Thomas "Tom" Simon. A Governor’s visit is always a highlight of the Rotary year, bringing inspiration, important updates, and encouragement for our club’s ongoing work in the community.
One of Governor Tom’s key initiatives is the District-wide project, Year of Cheer—a year-long toy and gift drive benefiting young patients at UNM Children’s Hospital and El Paso Children’s Hospital. The initiative collects toys, games, books, and comfort items to brighten the hospital experience for children facing serious health challenges. With scheduled gift pick-ups throughout the year, the program ensures that joy is delivered not just once, but all year long.
The campaign is represented by its cheerful logo of a mama zebra, Zoey, and her young zebra, Zac, symbolizing care, connection, and the ripple effect of service. To show our club’s support of this inspiring project, we invite all members to join the fun by wearing black and white—or even better, zebra print—to the meeting.
Click on the button below and it will take you to the District’s website where you will find the QR codes for shopping and a link to the Toy List Ideas.
Let’s give Governor Tom a warm Los Lunas welcome and show our enthusiasm for the Year of Cheer!
This week our club welcomed one of the three remarkable young women we sponsored to attend RYLA this summer. She shared her journey with us, describing how the camp pushed her outside her comfort zone, built her confidence, and gave her hands-on opportunities to practice leadership. From team-building challenges to motivational speakers, she spoke about how RYLA not only strengthened her skills but also created friendships that she knows will last a lifetime. Her story was a wonderful reminder of why our club continues to support RYLA year after year—because the experience truly changes lives and helps shape the leaders of tomorrow.
Honoring Our First Responders
As part of our ongoing tradition of recognizing those who serve on the front lines, our club had the privilege of honoring Matt McKay, a dedicated Firefighter with the Los Lunas Fire Department. Matt was nominated by his Chief for his outstanding courage, commitment, and selfless service in protecting our community.
He was presented with the award by fellow Firefighter Andrew Yamamoto, making the moment even more meaningful. Firefighters are often called into dangerous and unpredictable situations, and it takes a special kind of individual to answer that call with bravery and compassion.
It was an honor for our club to shine a spotlight on Matt’s service and to express our gratitude on behalf of the community. We look forward to continuing this tradition of recognizing more of these everyday heroes in the weeks to come.
Special Guest – “Year of Cheer”
This week our club was joined by a special guest, Alice Mehlberg, who shared more about our District Governor’s initiative, Year of Cheer. This inspiring project encourages Rotary clubs across the district to spread joy and kindness through service. At the heart of the campaign is a year-long toy and gift drive to support young patients at UNM Hospital. Whether through small acts of cheer in our community or larger club-wide efforts, the goal is to uplift spirits and bring people together.
Alice’s enthusiasm for the project was contagious, and our members are already brainstorming ways to get involved. Click below for more details and to view the needs list for this year’s toy drive, created by her club, the Rotary Club of Albuquerque Del Norte.
Our club’s Program Committee is also working on putting together a collection box for toys, and we’ll be sharing more details about our participation at upcoming meetings. Stay tuned as we do our part to make this Year of Cheer a meaningful one!
What an exciting week it has been for our club! We had the privilege of hearing from one of our RYLA students, and her story reminded us all of the importance of investing in the next generation of leaders. We also continued our tradition of honoring our local heroes, recognizing a dedicated firefighter from the Los Lunas Fire Department whose courage and service inspire us all.
In addition, we welcomed Alice Mehlberg, who shared the vision for District Governor’s “Year of Cheer” project. I’m thrilled that our club will be participating in this initiative and I know we will bring plenty of joy and positivity to our community as part of it.
Thank you all for your ongoing commitment to Service Above Self. Each week, I am reminded of the strength and heart of this club, and I’m proud to serve alongside each of you.
