Our speakers for the meeting were Karen Woodford and Gary Coxon.   Karen and Gary are fraternal twins. Because of their father's involvement in the copper mining industry they were born in Cananea, Mexico. They moved north to Superior AZ and then their father became instrumental in the development of San Manuel and the underground mine there. They attended San Manuel High School, both were very active in school activities. They attended the University of Arizona. Karen in education and Gary in civil engineering.

As Karen’s career advanced, she became involved in early childhood education. Her work with early childhood education and need for quality childcare for mothers returning to the work force led Karen to be part of developing a program for company supported childcare programs. Success and growth in these programs led to adding more services and extending the reach of the programs.

 

Karen has a son and daughter. Her husband Brad passed away several years ago from pancreatic cancer.

 

 During the summer after high school graduation Gary worked with a surveying crew on Interstate-10, by Picacho Peak. Additional summer’s working in copper mining, including 3000 feet underground, prompted motivation for securing his college degree. Gary finished his degree in civil engineering, married Janet, and got a job with Bechtel Corp in San Francisco in a period of about three weeks. Bechtel is the largest engineering, construction and project management company in the US. Among the construction projects Gary managed was the Peach Bottom nuclear facility at Delta PA and a nuclear power unit in the Lake District of the UK. He also oversaw the operation of the Bechtel office in Washington DC.

 

Gary and Janet have two children and 5 grandchildren, They love to travel and have visited between 85 and 90 countries.

December 17 - an opportunity for service and socializing. President Steve and AG Barbara Barr announced a joint region clubs’ project with Wreaths Across America. The wreath laying project, to place holiday wreaths on individual graves, will begin at 10 AM on December 17^th at the Arizona Veterans' Memorial Cemetery in Marana. After the ceremonies, there are plans for Rotarians to gather for lunch.  A participation sign-up sheet will be passed at the next meeting, or you can contact President Steve directly.

For more information on the Wreaths Across

America project check out

Jim Click Ticket sales end the first week of December. Please get any monies and unsold tickets to Gary Coxon by the December 1^st meeting.

 

Karen Woodford reported that the Club has finished dictionary distributions and we served six local schools this year. Many smiling moments, including a young girl at Innovations Academy who asked if she could become a Rotarian!!