District 5420 Newsletter - August 2026

Governor's Message

Happy August!

Dear Rotarian Friends:

For most of us, we’re in some way connected to the school year. Some of us have kids or grandkids starting school in the Fall. Some of us are educators. Many of us participate in educational initiatives as part of our Rotary efforts. Perhaps we just remember shopping for new school clothes to start off another new year. On the cusp of a new school year gives us an opportunity to look forward to new opportunities to learn and grow.

Our Rotary night out at the Salt Lake Bees game was a blast. Super fun to have 207 Rotarians and friends join the event. Thanks to everyone who showed up and made this such an exciting evening. To top it off, the Bees pulled out a late-inning comeback for the win!

Each month, I’ll share one challenge to build the community. This month’s challenge: commit to reading and talking about our Rotary magazine. (Last month’s challenge was to commit to reading and talking about our district newsletter).

Some of you love the print version. For some of you the digital version is more convenient. Check it out here: Rotary Magazine | Rotary International. If you’re a podcast listener, you can access stories in audio form: Rotary Voices Podcast | Rotary International.

A few highlights from the last several issues of Rotary magazine (all online):

• Rotary International President Olayinka (Yinka) Babalola’s vision for Rotary this year.
• Rotary efforts to rebuild California communities affected by last year’s fire. Many of us know someone affected by these fires. All of us can learn about responding to disasters.
• Tips to end polio (from the May issue). A collection of creative ways that Rotary clubs fundraise for and fight polio. We’re almost there – let’s get this to the finish line.
• The 2026 Photo awards (from June’s issue). Please check these out – so many visually powerful stories told!

One way some clubs make sure we talk about the Rotary Magazine is to have a “Magazine Moment” in club meetings.

At a recent Bountiful Rotary Club meeting, I joined one of the club members who pointed out the inspiring messages from Yinka (our RI president). At the Orem Rotary Club, there is a one-minute “Magazine Moment” each meeting. What a great way to bring this content to life in such a short amount of time. If your club doesn’t have a consistent way of sharing and talking about the Rotary Magazine, experiment with new traditions.

Thanks for all you do. Service Above Self!

Peter Cardon

District Governor, 2026-2027

petercardon@gmail.com

Congratulations on your Installation, Peter!

Melissa & Peter Cardon

More than 200 Utah Rotarians enjoyed the Salt Lake Bees game and the Installation of our District Governor!

Alert

There is currently a shortage of blood donations. Please see the flyer in the Events Section below for information on why and how you can help.

International News

The Venezuelan people need our help!

According to the most recent reports, the earthquakes have left more than 5,200 people dead, 16,740 injured, about 17,900 people homeless and more than 23,500 citizens remain in temporary shelters. 856 buildings were severely affected, 190 completely collapsed. More than 1,400 aftershocks continue to hinder rescue and recovery efforts.

My father was a Rotarian. I was an Interactor, a Rotaractor, and President of my Rotary club in Venezuela. Now I am President of the Multicultural Rotary Club of Utah. More than half of our club members are from Venezuela. Needless to say, we want to help our people. Rotarians we know in Venezuelan District 4380 ask us to send them money so they can purchase what is needed by families they know who are facing the most difficult moments of their lives.

Please write your check to

Multicultural Rotary Club of Utah

PO Box 1386

West Jordan, UT 84088

If you want a tax deduction, send us your check made out to “Murray Rotary Club Foundation”, and we will run it through Murray’s 501(c)(3).

I love Rotary. I feel deeply about our motto, 'Service Above Self,' and this year’s theme, 'Make Lasting Impact.' I like the word “solidaridad” in Spanish. It means “unity, mutual support, shared responsibility and compassion, supporting one another to make a positive difference.”

We invite all Rotary clubs, members, and friends of District 5420 to join this cause. When we work together, our service transcends borders and transforms lives. True impact is not measured by what we give, but by the lives we manage to change.

Sincerely,

Jose Puliodo

President, Multicultural Rotary Club of Utah

In Ukraine

Would your club help create a safe school beneath a school?

District 5420 has been approached by our Rotary friends in District 2232, Ukraine, with an inspiring project that provides children with a safe place to continue learning despite the ongoing war.

Their vision is to transform the underground shelter at Vydovska Gymnasium into fully equipped classrooms where education can continue uninterrupted during air raid alerts.

The project will furnish classrooms with desks, lighting, computers, educational materials, art supplies, and other resources that create a secure and engaging learning environment for students ages 6–17. Each completed classroom becomes operational immediately, allowing children to benefit without delay.

At this time, we are not requesting contributions. Instead, we are gauging interest from Rotary clubs and individual Rotarians who may wish to participate.

If your club or you personally would like to learn more or would consider supporting this humanitarian effort financially, please let us know. Your expression of interest will help us determine how to move this project forward.

Together, we may have the opportunity to provide hope, safety, and the gift of education to children facing extraordinary circumstances.

To express your interest or ask questions, please contact Egor Shulman at drfc5420@gmail.com or call/text 435-619-1317. Our contact in Dnipro is the President of Dnipro Rotary Club and District 2232 Stewardship Chair, thus ensuring complete accounting of funds and project sustainability.

Egor Shulman

D5420 Rotary Foundation Chair 2025-2028

drfc5420@gmail.com

Foundation News

Only 5 easy steps!

Set your goals in mere minutes so you can

get your District Grant Check in September!

One of the first and most important tasks for every Rotary club each year is setting your three Rotary Foundation goals in Rotary Club Central. These goals help your club plan for a successful year and demonstrate your commitment to The Rotary Foundation.

In District 5420, clubs must enter their three Foundation goals before the district can release approved District Grant funds.

How to enter your goals:

1. Log in to My Rotary at my.rotary.org.
2. Select Rotary Club Central from the Manage menu.
3. Choose 2026-27 Rotary year.
4. Open Foundation section.
5. Enter your three Foundation goals, click Save.

To help clubs establish meaningful and achievable goals, we recommend:

• Annual Fund Giving: Your number of Paul Harris Society members × $1,000, plus your total club membership × $100.
• PolioPlus Giving: at least $1,500 per club.
• Benefactors: One Benefactor for every 40 club members (or fraction thereof).

These goals will strengthen The Rotary Foundation and increase our district's ability to fund District Grants, Global Grants, Polio eradication, and Rotary's many life-changing programs.

Please take a few minutes today to enter your goals in Rotary Club Central. This simple step unlocks your District Grant funding, helps your club measure its success throughout the year, and demonstrates your commitment to Rotary's mission of Doing Good in the World.

Need Help? – Egor Shulman

D5420 Rotary Foundation Chair 2025-2028

drfc5420@gmail.com

Thank you, District 5420!

Together, we are changing the world

As another remarkable Rotary year comes to a close, Past District Governor Suzanne and I want to extend our heartfelt thanks to every Rotarian in District 5420 who invested in The Rotary Foundation. Your generosity continues to transform lives in Utah and around the world.

During the 2025-26 Rotary year, Rotarians contributed an extraordinary $1,657,396 to The Rotary Foundation.

• That total included $376,338 to the Annual Fund, exceeding our giving goal by an impressive 142.8%,
• $64,698 to PolioPlus, surpassing our goal by 117.3%,
• $119,660 to other Foundation funds,
• and an incredible $1,096,701 committed to the Endowment Fund, ensuring Rotary's good work continues for generations to come.

Our Annual Fund giving averaged $229.75 per member, one of the strongest performances in our District's history.

Just as inspiring are the people behind these numbers. This year we welcomed 46 new Benefactors, 13 new Bequest Society members, 37 new Major Donors, and 22 Major Gifts. We also ended the year with 689 Sustaining Members, 176 Paul Harris Society-eligible members, 273 Paul Harris Society members, and 141 Rotary Direct participants.

Every Gift Matters

Every dollar helps fund district grants, global grants, PolioPlus, peacebuilding, clean water, education, disease prevention, and countless projects that improve lives.

Thank you for believing in the power of The Rotary Foundation. Let's continue this incredible momentum in 2026-27.

Egor Shulman

D5420 Rotary Foundation Chair 2025-2028

drfc5420@gmail.com

Rotarians shaping our lives for the better

Welcome to the new Sanpete County Rotary Club!

Start a new club - I can help you!

District Governor Peter Cardon has a goal to start two new Rotary clubs and two new Rotaract clubs this year. As an incentive, he has also established guidelines for receiving new club start-up funds.

• You can start a new satellite club with only eight members. A satellite club’s members belong to their sponsor club unless they charter as a new Rotary club.
• You can now charter a new Rotary club with only 15 members (instead of 20).

Retaining existing members and recruiting new members to existing clubs is important, but starting a new club is the fastest way to grow Rotary membership. Why? It’s simple - Rotary research shows nearly 90% of members in new clubs are new to Rotary.

We can even start new clubs in areas where there are existing clubs by offering a different meeting day, time or a different club experience. The Wasatch Front in particular is rich with opportunities to start new clubs.

If you’re interested in starting a new club, please contact me. I’m here to help you through the process. Let’s exceed the district governor’s goal and start a number of new clubs this year!

Scott Florence

New Club Development Subcommittee Chair

srf2624@yahoo.com

435-522-8123

The Utah Rotary eClub is alive & kicking

As the new Rotary year began, the club resumed its schedule this month under new president Devin Thorpe. The eClub’s eight members never stopped supporting Rotary. They continued paying dues, serving others, and preserving the club’s foundation, thanks in part to the steady leadership of Natalie and Mike Argyle and others who have served faithfully.

Now, the eClub welcomes Rotarians from across District 5420. It can be an especially good fit for people who love Rotary but can no longer attend a club because of work, travel, caregiving, health, or other circumstances.

The club meets online on the second Wednesday at 7:30 pm MT for business and the fourth Wednesday at 7:30 pm MT for a guest speaker. Dues are $60 per month.

Learn more or visit a meeting at rotaryutaheclub.org or email Club President Devin:

Devin D. Thorpe, President Utah eClub

thorpedevin@gmail.com

Reserve your club’s program today

Fight polio with Dr. Robert Day 

Dr. Robert Day has been appointed to the position of Rotary District 5420 PolioPlus Subcommittee Chair.

A member of the Park City Sunrise Rotary Club, Dr. Day’s mission is to help every Utah club better understand the remarkable story of Rotary's leadership in the fight against polio, where we stand today, and why our continued commitment is essential to finishing the job.

Dr. Day will be honored to visit your club to deliver an engaging presentation about:

• the history of polio and the development of the vaccine,
• Rotary's leadership and partnership in reducing polio cases by more than 99.9% worldwide,
• where eradication campaign stands today and continuing challenges,
• how every Rotary member and every club can play a meaningful role in achieving a polio-free world.

Dr. Day will also work with every Utah club to identify a PolioPlus Champion—a member who is passionate about Rotary's flagship humanitarian initiative—and help establish a PolioPlus Society within your club to encourage sustained annual giving.

"Please contact me today to reserve one of your upcoming club programs for a PolioPlus presentation. Together, we can educate our members, inspire greater participation, and help ensure that Rotary fulfills its promise to eradicate polio forever."

Dr. Robert Day, District PolioPlus Subcommittee Chair

robtwday@gmail.com

Youth Exchange students tour the U.S.

Utah Rotary’s seven Youth Exchange students from Belgium, Brazil, Chile, France, Germany, Italy and Spain concluded their year in Utah with a four-week train tour around the United States in June. 

First stop - Los Angeles, then up the coast with to San Francisco, Portland and Seattle. Glacier National Park, the Dakotas, Minneapolis and Chicago were hits. 

In Chicago they visited Rotary International Headquarters and meet with the outgoing and incoming RI presidents. From there, they headed up to Niagara Falls, then Boston for the 4th of July, then down the eastern seaboard, stopping in NYC and concluding in Washington DC on July 11th. 

This was an especially amazing tour because it coincided with both the America 250 celebrations across the country as well as the World Cup. While they didn’t get to attend any World Cup games, they did get to see several of the stadiums where the games were being played and see the groups of fans in those communities. 

Plus, they were with all of the other exchange students cheering and jeering as their respective countries battled each other. 

Thank you to the following clubs for hosting our students: Logan, Centerville-Farmington, Murray, Lehi, Springville, Cedar City and Hurricane. We look forward to our next batch of students arriving in August. 

Aaron Lowe, District Chair, Rotary Youth Exchange

transitreg98@gmail.com

Large Scale Advertising

The Murray Rotary Club has proven that Large Scale Advertising works!

More than 800 people ordered pancakes, sausages, scrambled eggs, and this year, burritos at Murray Rotary's annual fundraiser on the Fourth of July.

Of course, there’s always a drawback – to feed numbers like this, Murray Rotarians starts preparing at 4:30 am!

Congratulations to Jim Willcox and all members of the Murray Rotary Club! They prove good things sold with completely out-of-proportion advertising REALLY works!

Lola Beatlebrox

Newsletter Editor

Public Image Tip of the Month

Put the phone down & make a connection!

In a world filled with screens, notifications, and endless scrolling, one of Rotary’s greatest strengths is still face-to-face connection. Some of the most meaningful friendships, business relationships, and service opportunities begin with a simple conversation.

This month, challenge yourself to spend a little less time on social media and a little more time connecting with people in person.

• Invite a guest to a Rotary meeting
• Have coffee with a fellow Rotarian
• Attend a community event and introduce yourself to someone new

Rotary isn’t just about service projects—it’s about building relationships that strengthen our clubs, our communities, and our lives. The most powerful network you’ll ever build starts with a handshake, a smile, and a genuine conversation.

This week, take one intentional step: reach out to someone and set up an in-person meeting—whether it’s coffee, lunch, or attending an event together—and make that connection happen.

RuthAnn Beardsley

District Public Image Chair

Ruthannsellshomes@gmail.com

Why do we have a District Peace Chair? 

And what does the Peace Chair actually do?

Our District Peace Chair changes minds. Enhances the Four-Way Test. Illuminates emotions you can cultivate to live a life full of peace. And explains the relationship between peace inside of us and peace in the world.

Our Utah Rotary Peace Chair Kris Swanson offers three presentations to strengthen our ability to maintain personal peace. And, through that process, to strengthen peace in our clubs, our family life, and even the world.

·       

Create Your Peace of Peace - a 25-minute introduction to the three keys to how you may begin to control the peacefulness of your life: Identifying your desire for peace, deciding to improve that area of life, and overcoming your fear so you can move forward. 

Let's Talk Peace - a 25-minute overview of how we create peace results in our lives and two important tools that help us change our peace results: Gratitude and Dignity. 

Starting with Dignity - a 25-minute introduction to the critical importance of dignity and how we can use The Dignity Index to begin easing divisions, prevent violence, and solve problems by choosing dignity over contempt. 

Contact Kris Swanson today to reserve your club’s date for a session full of peace and wisdom.

Kris Swanson

District Peace Chair

Kris@kristinaswanson.com

Utah Rotaract sets goals for next Rotary Year

As Utah Rotaract begins the 2026–2027 Rotary year, our district is focused on strengthening clubs, empowering leaders, and creating impactful opportunities for service and connection.

Under the leadership of District Rotaract Chair Martha Velasco and Co-District Rotaract Representatives Kaylee Melessa and Savannah Bristol, the team has established ambitious goals to grow from eight to ten clubs, surpass 100 members, expand leadership training, and strengthen communication across the district.

Priorities also include supporting new club development, increasing participation at District Conference and Big West Rotaract events, encouraging collaboration between Rotaract and Rotary, and ensuring every club has the resources needed to succeed.

Through regular trainings, social events, service opportunities, and intentional leadership development, Utah Rotaract is committed to building stronger clubs and stronger leaders. Together, we look forward to a year of growth, collaboration, fellowship, and service above self throughout our district.

Savannah Bristol, District Rotaract Representative 2024-2026

savannahb@utahrotaract.org

Upcoming Events in the District & the World

Help us Spread the Word

Click on the link to get access to our promotional video

about our Rotary Rose Parade Float and involvement.

This video is free to share: Promotional Rose Parade Video (New)

Click here - Join the Parade - to find out more.

Millcreek Rotary Club fundraises for a deserving school

Millcreek Rotary Club and Moss Elementary are fundraising to establish and maintain a Basic Needs Resource Closet that will remove barriers to attendance, preserve instructional time, and ensure the children at Moss have the essentials they need to fully participate in school.

Moss serves approximately 450 students, including 64% who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, 11% experiencing homelessness, 53% English Language learners (representing more than 30 different home languages), and a large population of immigrant and refugee families.

Through an analysis of office visits, school staff identified a recurring and solvable barrier to learning: Children frequently lose instructional time because basic needs cannot always be addressed.

If you cannot attend the fundraiser on September 17^th, please consider purchasing items directly for Moss Elementary. Items for purchase, such as books, hygiene kits, and more, can be purchased via the “Auction Tab”. 

Use this link to access both tickets for the event and the “Auction” items that the students at Moss need: https://givebutter.com/c/untitled-campaign-jx77nx

UVU Rotaractors learn about UN operations in Europe by going there

Twelve UVU Rotaractors returned from Europe where they participated in the United Nations projects and partnered with Geneva Rotarians in Switzerland. Utah District Rotary grants including one from Governor Leonelli made the trip possible.

We established a partnership in Geneva with local Rotaractors and met with officials at the World Health Organization - WHO. Oliver Rosenbauer, Communications Officer for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative discussed Rotary International’s role in helping the WHO eradicate polio.

Save the Dates

Your District Governor and Governor-elect invite you to save these dates for upcoming Rotary events

• Southwest President-Elect Learning Seminars, February 18 - 21, 2027 for all club presidents-elect, new and returning. Location - Marriott LAX. 
• District Training Assembly, March 19, 2027 for all incoming club officers, new and returning. Location - Salt Lake City
• District Foundation Recognition Dinner, March 19, 2027 for all Rotarians
• District Conference, March 20, 2027. Location - Salt Lake City
• Rotary International Convention, June 26-30, 2027. Barcelona, Spain
• RYLA, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards July 7-10, 2027 Mt. Pleasant, Ut Wasatch Academy
• Rotary Zone 26 and 27 (that's us) Zone Institute, November 11-13, Reno, Nevada

Sydney H. King

Rotary District 5420, District Governor Nominee

Rotary Club of Bountiful