District 5420 Newsletter - April 2025

Membership Growth -

make it fun & meaningful

Hello Rotarians,

Striving to reach our Membership Target of 2025 by 2025 has been a “Top of Mind Awareness” for each club president in #UtahRotary. I appreciate all you and your club members are doing to invite new Utahns to become Rotarians. Here are the thoughts of several club presidents as they continue the journey of growing membership.

Salt Lake City Rotary Club - Spencer Ferguson, President

“Our membership chair spends a moment discussing progress at each meeting. Rotary Member Interest Cards and a New Member Referral List are on everyone’s table. Recruitment is also included in a link on our website. Currently, we are working on a corporate sponsorship package. We have secured five new members via these methods.”

Spanish Fork Rotary Club - Aaron Lowe, President

“Our club is small - only 19 members - so we were very excited to added six more members. Then our growth went from 30% to 10%--one of our Rotarians passed away, two left to serve missions, and one temporarily resigned, but hopes to return. We are reminded that if we are not constantly adding new members, the club will eventually shrink. The key is adding more than those who leave.”

St. George Rotary Club - Dave Prisbrey, President

“We have kept the course set by others before and are now seeing the rewards. We also have a great welcoming club with a great FUN committee. When members are having fun, it’s contagious!”

Brigham City Rotary Club - Randy Christensen, President

“We had great success at the beginning of the Rotary year with several new members. There was a sense of renewal for our club from my attendance at PETS two years in a row, having a vision, and talking to the club about what we could accomplish. Various members saw that rejuvenation and invited people to Rotary. But since that initial push, we’ve had a drought. The last two months show a decline due to attrition of older members due to retirement or health issues. But now there are several prospects so we plan to finish out the year strong. It’s challenging, but we stay active and do the best we can.”

Provo Rotary Club - Robyn Pulham, President

“We ensure we schedule a variety of speakers who people want to hear from. We bring in national, state and local leaders, former professional athletes, business leaders, and non-profit executives. We’ve also increased the number of service projects and focus on things our members have a passion for. We always talk about these experiences with friends and family. It’s amazing how often I’ve enlivened conversations by relating something I learned from a speaker. I share anecdotes from service projects."

Make it fun & meaningful! Don't be afraid to invite others to join you.

Todd Boyer

Utah Rotary District Governor 2024-2025

RotaryBoyer@gmail.com

Saturday, May 10 - 6 pm

Miller Event Center at Salt Lake Community College

9750 South 300 West, Sandy, Utah

$49.99 per person

Agenda

A brief overview of Rotary's efforts to bring more peace to the planet presented by Governor Todd Boyer, who has just returned from the Rotary International Peace Conference in Istanbul, Turkey.
Presentation to exceptional Rotarians who are making a difference - more than 200 Paul Harris Fellows.

Dining Menu

Indulge in an evening of gastronomic delight! Enjoy a succulent buffet of Prime Rib with all the trimmings, including parsley potatoes, gluten-free chicken, baby glazed carrots, fresh salad, rolls, dessert, water, and lemonade—all catered by the renowned Midvale Mining Restaurant.
For vegans, vegetarians, and those requiring gluten-free meals, the scrumptious buffet will offer vegan and vegetarian lasagna or gluten-free chicken.

Music by the Fuse

Rotarian Maura Hanrahan's band - The Fuse - will be performing! Maura is the current President of the Park City Twilight Rotary Club.

Check them out!

How to Register for the All Clubs Gala

#UtahRotary is switching to a less expensive payment system that will reduce processing fees by more than half!

CLICK HERE to register.

Type the district number 5420
Type in your email address - the same as on file in DACdb

Seating is limited so register today.

Calling ALL Rotarians to Action

Please promote RYLA -

the life-changing leadership program for our youth.

RYLA builds resilience, determination, gratitude and the value of Service Above Self.

This year's RYLA will be held Monday, June 9 - Thursday, June 12 at Wasatch Academy in Mount Pleasant, Utah.

The application deadline has been extended!

but not for long. Applications need to be in by May 1.

How to seek applications:

Consult with your membership, Interact Clubs, your school counselors, your faith leaders, and your neighbors to find high school sophomores, juniors and seniors that your Rotary club would like to sponsor.

Facts:

Club sponsorship is $425 per student.
Your club provides transportation or coordinates with a neighboring club to carpool.
After submission, the student application will be forwarded to your club president for your club's review.
Program description: https://utahryla.com/

Student application link: https://www.IsMyRotaryClub.org/App/?ID=250

Questions: Contact Sydney King 5420.ryla@gmail.com

Announcing the three-year

District Leadership Succession Plan

Suzanne Leonelli, District Governor Elect, 2025 - 2026

Peter Cardon, District Governor Nominee, 2026 - 2027

Sydney King, District Governor Nominee Designee, 2027- 2028

Suzanne Leonelli

Joined Rotary in 2016 after being a guest speaker.
Born and raised in Kansas - has four older brothers.
Moved to St. George with her two daughters in 2015.
Holds a license for Mental Health Counseling and is an Alcohol & Drug Addiction Counselor.
Is committed to her Rotary Club and has held many positions in her nine years of service.
Involved in her local community, serves on many boards in both Utah and Arizona.
Is a diehard Kansas Jayhawk and Kansas City Chiefs fan.
Enjoys hiking, golfing, racquetball, traveling and eating.

Peter Cardon

Joined Rotary in 2003 in the Logan, Utah club.
Currently in the West Jordan Club where he served as president.
Is a professor of business communication and teaches MBA students.
Researches how technology impacts communication, focusing on AI.
Married to Melissa; they are avid hikers and outdoors enthusiasts who enjoy planning and going on adventures together.
Looking forward to a trip to the Galapagos Islands this summer.

Sydney King

Joined the Bountiful Rotary Club in 2017 - is passionate about service to the community.
Grandfather was a founding member of the Bountiful Rotary club - following his footsteps.
Currently serves as club Youth Chair, Interact Advisor and District RYLA Chair.
Owned & operated a small chain of car washes, served on the Association Board.
Saw a need, started and ran a school district spelling bee for many years.
Graduated from USU, married Kelly King, still cheer on the Aggie teams.
Three terrific adult children, one wonderful grandchild and one very spoiled bulldog.
She & Kelly enjoy biking, skiing and traveling - exploring countries and cultures together.
Is committed to impacting youth through Rotary and empowering the next generation.

The District extends grateful thanks to Scott Florence

After nine years of serving #UtahRotary as Assistant Governor, Membership Chair, and finally Membership Leads Coordinator (6.5 years), Scott Florence is stepping aside, but not before he mentors his replacement - Clark Merkley!

According to many colleagues, Scott's passion and commitment to Rotary is extraordinary:

"Thanks, Scott, for your masterful leadership for so many years. As long as I have the master to consult, I am happy to take this over. Best wishes!" -- Clark Merkley

"Thank you, Scott! We've both been moving along in our Rotary roles together since COVID days and I am so thankful for your help every step along the way, from Club Membership Chair newbie to District Membership Chair newbie! You've graciously given of your time, resources and knowledge to make clubs across the state better and much more organized." -- Christy Hugh

"Endless thanks, Scott, for your informative contributions to our District Newsletter and for digging me out of many email membership list snafus." – Lola Beatlebrox, Editor

"Scott, your service to #UtahRotary, specifically the Membership Leads Coordinator, has been priceless. We have truly benefited from your leadership and excellent attention to detail. Your training and expertise reach way beyond the current membership committee. Your passion and dedication to Rotary continues to ripple outward, encouraging and strengthening us all. Thank you for a job well done!" -- Todd Boyer

Scott's thoughts?

"It has been an honor and privilege for me to serve the district. I'll continue to do what I can to help and support everyone in their efforts going forward!"

Why didn’t the Jeopardy contestant know the answer?

Question: This global organization, founded in 1905, is known for its motto "Service Above Self" and focuses on promoting world understanding and peace through community service and fellowship.

The answer. of course, is Rotary International. But, a recent Jeopardy contestant didn't know that. Could it be because Rotarians keep quiet about the good we do?

Your club can change that!

Name a PI Chair. Fill the Public Image Chair position on your club's Board. The PI job is to tell your stories.
Social Media. Instagram, Facebook are great avenues for your PI Chair to get the word out.
Local press. Have your PI Chair submit stories to your local newspaper about a service project or an important speaker. PSAs to your local radio station can drive prospective members to your meetings. Post the need for volunteers who might become members on justserve.org.
Do your neighbors, friends or community understand Rotary’s connection to the United Nations, the 99.9% drop in polio cases around the world in the past 37 years or what your club is doing to address seven important areas of focus which affect us all? There are so many important, interesting or just plain fun stories to tell, all providing us with the opportunity to “Say Rotary!”

We are Rotary and we are People of Action!

Linda Sappington

District Governor 2020-2021

What difference can one person make?

Ami carried water for a mile and a half from a polluted river to her home in Chipastor, Guatemala, three times a day for most of her life. That is, until a Rotarian saw her dilemma and took action.

Chipastor had never had running water. The town of about 1,500, instead relied on the women of the village to collect all water for their daily use from the river. Six other similar villages up river used the same water, bathed in it, washed their clothes in it and let their livestock drink its waters.

Working in conjunction with Behrhorst Partners for Development (BPD), a plan was prepared to pipe water from an untapped spring three miles from the village, also included in the grant were two hundred pit latrines scattered throughout the village. With the plan in place and approved by Rotary International, villagers rose at 5 am to dig the needed trench for the pipeline. After an hour each day, they would then go to work in their fields in the heat of the day.

I was honored to be present when the first tap was turned on and clean, pure, water flowed into the center of town for the first time. Acting as the interpreter, I was nearly crushed by the hugs of a large Guatemalan woman with tears of joy streaming down her cheeks so grateful to have water in her village.

A miraculous change had come to Chipastor. School children did not miss school collecting water and fire wood to boil it, the health of the village improved with the latrines and clean water. Things truly had changed for the better. One person, a Rotarian from Maine, had come to Chipastor a year earlier, she saw the need and organized a coalition of Rotarians from Guatemala, Maine, eastern Canada and Utah. Just one person made the difference for hundreds!

A single Rotarian, identifying a problem

and marshalling support of other Rotarians,

using funds from The Rotary Foundation to change lives of many.

That is what Rotary is all about.

Bruce Powell

District Foundation Chair

EREY or EraSM - What is the difference?

Every Rotarian Every Year (or EREY) is probably one of the most commonly used terms related to The Rotary Foundation (TRF). But not everyone knows or understands what it means.

As Rotarians, we are all encouraged to give what we can to The Rotary Foundation. After three years, 50% of what we give to the Annual Fund – Share comes back as district designated funds to be used for district and global grants. Because of that and because The Rotary Foundation is largely member-funded, we often call it “our Foundation.”

Giving at least $25 per year to The Rotary Foundation meets the individual EREY goal. When you give $100 or more in a year, you are considered to be a Sustaining member, or ERaSM. This year we are encouraging all Rotary Club members throughout District 5420 to be ERaSM. Step up your game from EREY to ERaSM! That rather small increase in individual giving will have a large impact on our District designated funds and our ability to fund local projects.

It’s easy to give to The Rotary Foundation. Here are two simple ways (in addition to giving through your club):

You can make a one-time or recurring gift online at: rotary.org/donate
You can also make a recurring gift through Rotary Direct at: my.rotary.org/rotary-direct

Please don’t hesitate to contact me or your area annual fund sub-committee member if you have any questions.

Lynn Hillstead, Annual Fund Sub-Committee Chair

lynngrayh@gmail.com

Additional Items of Interest

Hurricane Rotary's April Car Show is Saturday, April 19

Youth Mental Health is the major cause for this year’s Hurricane Valley Rotary Easter Car Show fundraiser on April 19 in Hurricane.

This will be the 40^th annual show, bringing 300+ vehicles and dozens of vendors downtown for super fun, excitement, and nostalgia. You can register your ride at eastercarshow.com or learn more about it by visiting Easter Car Show on Facebook.

The fundraiser is the primary way the club funds its service projects, scholarships, and other work for the community. Any clubs or Rotarians interested in donating can visit https://www.ismyrotaryclub.org/Donation/Donate.cfm?ID=191298&Embed=NStyle=Cards and make a Happy Dollars donation.

Thank you in advance for your support in helping us show the Magic of Rotary.

Bruce Cole, Hurricane Valley Rotary Club

Did you know there’s an Alzheimer’s/Dementia Rotarian Action Group?

A unique Rotary support group motivates Rotarians and districts interested in meaningful projects and programs centered on Alzheimer’s and dementia. This support takes many forms including the education of 1.2 million Rotarians and Rotary leaders on the latest scientific research in the fight to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease and about the disease’s devastating impact on communities and families.

How to Get Involved

Go to adrag.org and explore the resources on the website - Click here.
Make sure to click on Take Action. Become a member – and get their newsletter.
Dig deeper and apply to be a Club Advocate or District Ambassador.

Thank you from California District 5280 Governor

Dear Rotary Friends,

Two months ago, wildfires tore through our communities, leaving devastation in their wake. In that moment of need, the Rotary world responded with overwhelming generosity, demonstrating what it truly means to be people of action. Your contributions to the Rotary District 5280 Los Angeles Wildfire Relief Fund have allowed us to bring hope and tangible support to those most affected.

Because of you, we’ve been able to directly aid families who lost their homes, assist small businesses struggling to rebuild, and stand beside our brave first responders. We’ve already distributed over $200,000 in relief efforts, ensuring that help reaches those who need it most.

Your generosity has:

Provided hot meals for students unable to attend school in the early days of the disaster.
Supplied hygiene kits to exhausted first responders working tirelessly to keep us safe.
Supported city and county linemen, ensuring they had nourishment and resources while restoring critical power and communication lines in Altadena and the Palisades area.
Offered rental assistance to families striving to regain stability in the aftermath.

While we’ve done a great job responding to immediate needs, our work is far from over. As we look ahead to the summer, we recognize the need for long-term support. Rebuilding takes time, and we must work alongside key partners to assist in this process. Our district is beginning to strategize on how we can play a role in supporting the city and county with rebuilding efforts. I will keep you all informed as we move forward and identify the most pressing needs.

From Malibu to Palisades, from Altadena to beyond, your generosity has made a difference. With our district neighbors Altadena and District 5300, we proudly stand united—because in Rotary, there are no boundaries, only love and service for our fellow human beings. Thank you for believing in the power of Rotary, for answering the call, and for showing the world what compassion in action looks like.

With deep gratitude,

District Governor Albert Hernandez

The Club Hub

Get ideas, support other clubs! Send your service projects & fundraisers to

Newsletter Editor Lola Beatlebrox for this monthly section of the newsletter.

Got news, items, ideas, changes for utahrotary.org?

Peter Cardon, District Governor Elect-Elect, is currently the Webmaster for the #UtahRotary website. He can be contacted at petercardon@gmail.com

In February the Park City Sunrise Rotary Club sent a contingent of Rotarians to a small mountain town in Costa Rica where they helped renovate locker rooms at the school soccer field. Using Rotarian money, the community hired skilled workers to replace the roof and repair the walls. The group pulled out nails, removed old wood, plastered, and painted. They forged “forever friendships” with the community who treated them to dance and cooking lessons, and lavished them fresh, healthy meals. “Their annual income is $12K/year but these Costa Ricans have a happy, contented lifestyle they call Pura Vida,” said Rotarian Kim Kerr. “Their highest wish is to improve their community for their children.” Sunrise Rotary will return next year to help with school safety improvements.

On February 13, the Cache Valley Rotary Club embarked to Cambodia on the service opportunity of a lifetime. Our first stop was Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where we built latrines, provided a water filtration system, and brought donations to the families in the Kandal Province in need of financial help. The families were so excited to receive toothbrushes, toothpaste, treats, extra clothes, balls, jump ropes, and other items of need. We then went to Siem Reap, Cambodia and built two houses and two latrines. We also gifted the families with toothbrushes, clothes, and other items. This was such an amazing service project that will change the lives of the participants but the lives of the Cambodian people.

The 2025 South West President Elect Training Seminar (SW PETS) was held from February 21-23 in Los Angeles, California. Cathy Ambrose, President-Elect of the Orem-Lindon Rotary Club was among hundreds of trainees, including many from District 5420.

If anyone has ever wondered what happens at PETS training, please take a moment to watch this short video.

You will see what an amazing event it is and may soon find yourself at a PETS training tool. Click here..

If you have trouble watching, contact Cathy at

cathyambrose@gmail.com

The Sandy Rotary Club's annual fundraiser happened in February. The club sold 175 boxes of fresh California oranges! They were so good that we had many ask for another box. We also dropped off a few boxes to our friends at the Sandy Boys and Girls Club! We also volunteered at the Midvalley Elementary School with the Mobile Food Pantry, sending food home with kids.

The Richfield Rotary Club hosted three distinguished speakers this month - Snow College president Staci McIff, Congressmen Carl Albrecht who has served in the Utah House of Representatives from the 70th district since 2017, and Derrin Owens who represents Senate district 27 in the state Senate.

“Families with teenagers should connect with Every Day Strong,” Dave Hawk told Washington City Rotary Club members. Every Day Strong is one of several programs United Way of Washington County offers to ensure all members of the community are healthy and strong. “Instead of asking your teen ‘How did school go today?’ the Southern Utah Area Director suggested asking them what they think about their school’s robotics program or ‘Who did you help today’?” The program began in Utah but is now offered by other United Ways across the country. Hawk also shared that a recent county assessment showed there is an “epidemic of loneliness, we don’t know our neighbors,” but says United Ways are designed to address that, too: “It’s in our name.”

In March, the Moab Rotary Club hosted the district’s Youth Exchange students.

The students got to go on a thrilling ATV ride on the Fins and Things and Hell’s Revenge trails, guided by one of the host parents.

They also hiked to Corona Arch and played in the sand.

Thank you to the Moab Rotary Club and club president Dave Bierschied for helping put this together.

The Bountiful Rotary Club loves love sorting at the Bountiful food Pantry. Club members have a great time together doing service! What a wonderful group of friends!

The month of March has found St. George Rotary selling more oranges and providing more “service above self” at the Utah Food Bank, another of our 5th Monday projects. We also filled the room with members and people from the community interested in knowing about our Immediate Past President Bryan Thiriot’s “best friend forever,” otherwise known as Marco Rubio, the U. S. Secretary of State and presenting ten Paul Harris Fellows to contributors to St. George Rotary’s renovation of an 89-year-old monument honoring the “founders and builders of Utah’s Dixie” on the southeast corner of Town Square, in downtown St. George.

March 15 was truly a grand night for our St. George Sunrise Rotary "Evening of Elegance" filled with glitter, fancy attire, and a touch of magic. This spectacular event served as a wonderful opportunity to raise funds for our deserving beneficiaries: Washington County Search and Rescue, P.A.W.S, and Santa Clara Veterans Park. Our club worked diligently to make this event a success, and we were thrilled to have over 200 community members join us in support of these important causes. A heartfelt thanks to the organizing committee for their hard work and dedication in bringing this memorable evening to life. Together, we made a significant impact in our community!

In anticipation of their own trip to the United Nations in New York, UVU Rotaractors enjoyed the recent article in the Rotary Magazine about Rotaractors visit to United Nations office at Geneva, Switzerland. Joining 200 young people, the European Rotaractors participated in four days of inspiring discussions about human rights, health, economic development, peace, and science — and of course some fun (they’re Rotaractors, after all). To read their story in Rotary Magazine, click here.