Chartered in 1963, the Mountain Empire Rotary club is a small group of individuals who serve the communities of Sonoita, Elgin and Patagonia in Southern Arizona. The club works locally to promote projects that effect residents as well as those that focus on international needs.

In September, Rotary distributed 43 dictionaries/resource books to the 3rd Grade classes at Patagonia Elementary, the Patagonia Montessori and Elgin Schools. Members of Rotary spend a half hour with each class, interacting with the kids and showing them all the amazing resources within the book, which is so much more than a dictionary.

Mountain Empire Rotary donates dozens of high quality hardcover books to the schools as part of their Birthday Books program. Through the program, every student is gifted a beautiful book, compliments of The Mountain Empire Rotary Club, on their birthday.

Each month the organization honors and awards a student at Patagonia Union High School with $100 as the Student of the Month. Students must either demonstrate the following Six Pillars of Characters criteria on an ongoing basis or they must have achieved an award-worthy accomplishment that falls into the criteria:

  • Trustworthiness (Integrity, Honesty, Reliability, Loyalty)
  • Respect (Golden Rule, Tolerance & Acceptance, Nonviolence, Courtesy)
  • Responsibility (Duty, Accountability, Pursue Excellence, Self Control)
  • Fairness (Fairness & Justice, Openness)
  • Caring (Concern for others, Charity)
  • Citizenship (Do Your Share, Respect Authority and Law)

The Mountain Empire Rotary club completed construction of a community park at the Sonoita Fairgrounds. Named The Fred Sang Memorial Rotary Park in honor of Fred Sang, a Rotarian, entrepreneur and community leader who passed this year, the park includes covered picnic areas with ramadas and gardens with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. There will be a Grand Opening Celebration in the near future.

The Mountain Empire Rotary club is hosting its First Annual “Ride to End Polio” in coordination with the Tour De Tucson on November 14th, with a bike ride from The Fred Sang Memorial Rotary Park in Sonoita to Patagonia. If you’d like to learn more about First Annual “Ride to End Polio” or engage with the youth of The Mountain Empire, please contact Susan Scott, Membership Director, 520-455-4713.

The Mountain Empire Rotary Club became a sponsor during Mat Bevel Company’s “Building Our Universe Together” campaign to help students find new ways to problem-solve and contribute to their local communities. To learn more about The Mountain Empire Rotary Club’s activities at their Facebook page.

The Mountain Empire Rotary club emphasizes the values of leadership and activism in the community’s youth while providing opportunities that encourage students to grow and demonstrate leadership.