District 5420 Newsletter - November 2026

Governor's Message

Happy November!

Dear Rotarian Friends:

Every month, we focus on one new challenge to build community. One of the best ways to build our Utah Rotary community is the district conference.

Please plan now for this year’s district conference. We want you and even your family and friends to join.

Date: Saturday, March 20, 9 am to 4 pm (approximate)

Location: Westminster University in Salt Lake City

Here’s a summary of the activities:

Service Projects (Morning). We’d also love to see family and friends join.

Panel Discussions (20-minute sessions in the afternoon). 3 or 4 Rotarians with experience share best practices about various topics.

3-Minute Project Highlights (afternoon). Share one of your best projects and explain what we can all learn and celebrate from the project

3-Minute Pitches (afternoon). Share an idea you have for a future project or initiative, and explain how other clubs or the district can help. Dream big!

We want your ideas for the service projects, 3-minute presentations, and panels. Your club presidents will share some ideas for your club. You can feel free to offer your ideas directly to us as well. If you have an idea for a service project, a panel, or one of the 3-minute presentations, please contact Kristi Guest (kristilguest@gmail.com) and me (petercardon@gmail.com) or fill out this form: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/utah-rotary. We would like to see every club in the district represented.

We’ll share registration information in December or January.

Thanks for all you do. Service Above Self!

Peter Cardon, District Governor, 2026-2027

petercardon@gmail.com

International

A very dobable Enterprise Global Grant project

How Salt Lake City Rotary helped a Cambodian couple build their Enterprise Project

In Cambodia’s Sdok Chum village, 51-year-old Chuon Sim and her husband Seang Samet transformed the land around their home into a thriving vegetable garden. Before 2020, the family struggled to grow food during the dry season because water was scarce and they lacked modern cultivation skills.

Their prospects changed when a Rotary Global Grant Enterprise project provided vegetable seeds, gardening materials, and training through Sustainable Cambodia. Chuon Sim and her husband learned to prepare compost, improve soil, rotate seasonal crops, and use simple materials such as foam buckets, bamboo mats, cement bags, and fencing to expand production.

Through patience and repeated practice, their harvests steadily improved. The garden now supplies the family with fresh, natural food every day and creates dependable income close to home.

By selling surplus vegetables at the local market, Chuon Sim earns about 25,000 to 45,000 riel each day, helping cover household needs and school supplies for her children. Her sons also help in the garden after school, making the work a shared family effort.

Additional project support brought a bio-sand filter for safe drinking water and a 4,000-liter rainwater tank for cooking, cleaning, and drinking.

Together, these resources improved the family’s health, resilience, and security. Chuon Sim credits Rotary and Sustainable Cambodia with giving her family knowledge, confidence, and opportunity. Her story shows how training, tools, and water can help a family build independence and hope.

And yes! That's Chuon Sim and her husband Seang Samet in the picture above!

More information about this slam dunk, duplicatable, less complex, less costly Enterprise Global Grant Project

Though any club can ask for more information, this is an especially awesome opportunity for clubs intimidated by the complexity or the cost of Global Grants, to do their own Enterprise Global Grant.

Even a Rotaract Club can do it! Why?

The complexity is less because this Global Grant (GG) project has been done a number of times very successfully. Your application can be written from the existing template, modified for the community you choose in Peru, Honduras, Colombia, or India. Because other communities and Rotary clubs have heard about the project, foreign clubs are approaching us to help them do the project in their community.

The cost is less because the community is helping the host club with the cost. The governments in these communities want to decrease poverty by helping people start businesses. They have committed to pay 50% of the cost of the bakery stove, welding equipment, avocado seedlings, guinea pigs, hydroponic materials -- whatever the newly trained entrepreneurs need to start their small businesses.

Also, we will be asking the local LDS Humanitarian Missionaries to contribute to this project.

And if your club has never done a Global Grant before, our District policy has a “First Time Global Grant Exception” --

"A club sponsoring their first GG ever will be allocated $2 in district designated funds (DDF) for each $1 in club funds up to $10,000 in DDF allocated to their project.” In other words, these Enterprise Global Grant projects are smaller -- $10,000 in DDF is enough.

The objective of the Enterprise Global Grant under the Area of Focus Community Economic Development is “Building the capacity of entrepreneurs and locally supported business innovators.”

It doesn’t get easier and better than this! Teach them how to fish! A hand up! A slam dunk!

So, communicate with Mark Maxfield. Ask for more information, choose your host country and that community and club. Visit them if you want! This is fun! Mark and I will help you all the way.



Mark Maxfield, markallenmaxfield@gmail.com

Jerry Summerhays, SummerhaysGS@gmail.com

Utah Rotary Global Grant Subcommittee Chair, International Service Chair

Foundation News

Your IRA Can Change Lives —

Today and Forever!

Did you know your retirement savings can help The Rotary Foundation change lives while potentially providing tax advantages?

Beginning at age 73, most traditional IRA owners must take annual Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs), generally subject to income tax.

But you don’t have to wait to get older! If you're 70½ or older, you can direct funds from your IRA straight to The Rotary Foundation through a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD). Eligible QCDs can satisfy all or part of your RMD without adding the donated amount to taxable income.

Imagine what your gift can accomplish!

Contributions to the Annual Fund-SHARE help fund District and Global Grants, supporting clean water, education, healthcare, economic development, and other life-changing projects in Utah and worldwide.

Want your generosity to last forever? Consider contributing to or establishing an Endowment-SHARE Named Fund. Your gift becomes part of Rotary's permanent endowment, generating funds for your club for future grants year after year.

Whether supporting today's projects or tomorrow's generations, your IRA can become a powerful force for Doing Good in the World.

Act before December 31! Contact your IRA custodian and consult your tax advisor about eligibility, timing, and tax implications.

Get inspired at - https://www.rotary.org/get-involved/ways-to-give/rotary-endowment

This article provides general information, not tax or financial advice.

Egor Shulman

D5420 Rotary Foundation Chair 2025-2028

drfc5420@gmail.com

Your Rotary Legacy: A gift that lives forever

What if your commitment to Service Above Self could continue changing lives for generations?

Every Rotarian hopes to leave the world a little better than they found it. Through a bequest to The Rotary Foundation, that hope can become a lasting legacy.

By including The Rotary Foundation in your will or estate plan, you can make a future gift while retaining control of your assets during your lifetime. Your bequest can be a specific dollar amount, a percentage of your estate, or another planned gift arrangement. Other planned-giving options may even provide income during your lifetime.

Consider directing your bequest to an Endowment-SHARE Named Fund, established in your name, your family's name, or your Rotary club's name. Your generosity can support Rotary grants in Utah and around the world, year after year, long into the future.

A bequest of $10,000 or more will qualify you for Rotary's Bequest Society and Benefactor recognition, recognizing those who make an extraordinary commitment to future generations.

You don't have to be wealthy to leave a legacy. You just have to care about making a difference.

Talk with your estate-planning advisor, Egor Shulman, our District Foundation Chair, and/or Rotary's planned-giving team about creating your Rotary legacy. Together we can CREATE LASTING IMPACT!!

Your generosity today can become someone else's opportunity tomorrow.

Egor Shulman

drfc5420@gmail.com

435-619-1317

Fun, Exciting & Important Youth News

Cedar City paints 'em purple 

In honor of National Polio Day, the Interact Clubs from Cedar, Canyon View and Parowan High Schools raised money for Polio Plus by filling orders for purple-sprinkled, chocolate dipped pretzels!

They also delivered a Rotary presentation about the history of polio, Rotary International’s eradication and fundraising efforts, and worldwide vaccination campaigns.

They described how children receiving polio vaccinations had their left pinkies painted purple and then - painted Rotarians’ pinkies purple too. 

Rotarian Robert Cox offered $100 if Club Secretary Wayne Manzione would agree to have his toenails painted purple.

Others chimed in, with a total of $1,000 pledged for Wayne’s toenails. Combined with the pretzels and pinkie painting, Interactors raised over $1,450. With his purple pedicure complete, Wayne remarked “What toes around, comes around.”

Meriam Keener, Cedar City Rotary Club

Inspired by RYLA, two Interactors founded a new Interact Club at Orem High School!

Two Orem High School students, Addy Suazo and Liv Marshall, are turning their desire to serve into action by founding a new Interact Club!

Inspired by attending Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) in June, Addy, granddaughter of Orem-Lindon Rotarian Doyle Mortimer, took the initiative to start the club. Liv Marshall, daughter of Orem-Lindon Rotarian Derek Marshall, independently recognized the need for a student service club.

Together, these young leaders are already making a difference.

Students recently sorted donated foster care clothing by size, gender, and condition. Some items went to the school’s resource center, while others will help Navajo families displaced by flooding. Remaining clothing was donated to Savers.

The Rotary Club of Orem-Lindon celebrates these students’ leadership and commitment to service!

Cathy Ambrose, Orem-Lindon Rotary Club

Applications now open for Youth Exchange!

The Rotary Youth Exchange program is the largest and least expensive exchange program in the world. With more than 9,000 students participating in exchanges annually, our Youth Exchange program provides youth with the opportunity to live with people from other countries, allowing them to experience new cultures and planting the seeds for a lifetime of international understanding:

• Students learn firsthand about all aspects of life in another country.
•  As their concept of the world expands, they mature and develop a deeper understanding of who they themselves are.
•  Immersion in another country’s educational system enhances academic and personal growth.
• Host clubs, families, and the entire community are enriched by extended, friendly contact with someone from a different culture.

To learn more, information meetings will be held at the following times and locations:

Applications are due December 15, 2026. Apply online:

https://www.utahrotary.org/rotary-youth/youth-exchange/outbound-students/

Questions? Please contact:

Aaron Lowe, District Chair Utah Rotary Youth Exchange

(801) 592-0913

transitreg98@gmail.com

News You Can Use

Membership Minute

Members are what make Rotary work!

Without our club members, we would not have the resources to do what we do. We cannot fund or complete service projects without them. I think we would all agree that association with fellow Rotarians is one of the things that keeps us coming back.

Unfortunately, membership in many of our clubs has declined in recent years.

As District Membership Chair, I recommend the following analysis to help your club reverse a declining membership trend. Ask these questions:

• Who has left Rotary in the last couple years and why? What can be done to retain the members you already have? Club culture, meeting times, dues, etc. are all things to re-evaluate.
• Does club membership reflect your community? Are there people in your community who are underrepresented? How can you reach out and encourage them to consider joining?
• Are there past members who may be interested in returning? Personal reasons are a common factor in a decision to step away from Rotary. Reach out, see what’s changed, and invite them to return.

I look forward to working with your club leadership on growing and strengthening our membership. I would love to hear your membership successes and challenges. We are always ready to help!

Drew Allen, District Membership Chair.

Houndoc@aol.com

801 910 5215

Newly chartered Sanpete County Rotary Club is alive and running

The Rotary Club of Sanpete County completed its first dictionary distribution in October, handing out 420 copies to third graders at nine elementary schools. Chartered in September, Sanpete is the district’s first new Rotary club in several years.

The dictionary project, which costs $3,000-$4,000 annually, was funded by a summer-long rifle raffle and is a priority because statistics show that half of Utah third graders do not read at grade level.

In addition, members of the new club helped feed more than 600 people at Mount Pleasant’s Fourth of July pancake breakfast, donated to the Sanpete Clothing Resource Bank for back-to-school underclothing, and joined the statewide Rotary effort delivering water cubes to Navajo elders in the Oljato chapter near Monument Valley.

Mariah Tyler Moore, Rotary Club of Sanpete County

The Utah Rotary E-Club is changing its name to Rotary E-Club of Education and Opportunity, reflecting members’ decision to make education the club’s central cause.

The new name captures a simple idea: Education creates opportunity.

From helping children discover the joy of reading to supporting learning throughout life, education gives people the knowledge and tools to strengthen their families, contribute to their communities and shape their futures.

For the club, this focus offers a shared purpose and a broad invitation. Members bring different backgrounds, interests and experiences, but share a desire to put Rotary’s ideal of Service Above Self into action. The new name will help communicate that purpose to prospective members, community partners and fellow Rotarians.

As an e-club, the group offers a way to build meaningful Rotary connections and participate in service through an online meeting format. Its Utah roots remain an important part of its identity, while its virtual format creates opportunities to connect across geographic boundaries.

The club welcomes conversations with other Utah Rotary clubs about education projects, speakers, and opportunities to serve together. Fellow Rotarians are also invited to visit a meeting and introduce someone who might find a Rotary home in a club focused on education and opportunity.

To learn more or arrange a visit, contact me - Club President Devin Thorpe. Together, we can help turn a love of learning into opportunities that change lives.

Devin Thorpe, President

E- Club of Education and Opportunity

devin@thesupercrowd.com

Upcoming Events - District & the World

Salt Lake City Rotary invites you to a timely presentation by Rotarian Shahab Saeed about Iran

Join Rotary Club of Salt Lake City on Tuesday, November 3 for lunch with former club president Shahab Saeed whose perceptive talk will illuminate the issues facing the country of Iran.

Shahab left Iran when he was 17 years old and immigrated to the United States with his family to escape religious persecution.

He will share his perspective based on what he is hearing from friends inside Iran, and how that correlates with what we are hearing in the media reports – or not.

The luncheon will be held at The Other Side Academy, 667 East 100 South, Salt Lake City.

For more details and to register online go to Salt Lake City Rotary Club’s webpage: Rotary SLC Nov 3 Lunch Presentation

Check out Rotary's Rose Parade video! Click here.

Rotary International Convention in Barcelona June 26-30, 2027

The 2027 Rotary International Convention will take place in Barcelona, Spain, from June 26–30, 2027, at the Fira de Barcelona Gran Via.

Event and Venue Facts

Location: Fira de Barcelona Gran Via (L'Hospitalet de Llobregat), Spain.

• Dates: June 26–30, 2027.
• Convenience: General sessions and the House of Friendship are housed in the same building for easy transit.

Important Registration information

• 31 March 2027: Last day for preregistration discount.
• 30 June 2027: Last day for onsite registration.

You can sign up for updates and future booking details directly through the Official Rotary Convention Site.

Park City Sunrise's Shot Ski event raises $60K

The Park City Sunrise Rotary Club celebrated the tenth year of their annual Shot Ski Fundraiser on 10.10.2026. The sold-out event, always held on Main Street Park City, featured 588 skis bolted together for 1,430 participants raising their shot glasses for charity. This year the event raised $60,000, to fund grants for the many deserving Park City non-profits. Sunrise Rotary is grateful for presenting sponsor, Park City’s High West Distillery, and its highly popular double rye whiskey, enabling Sunrise Rotary to beat the record set by Breckenridge last January. All Sunrisers look forward to next October when the friendly rivalry continues –there will be more than 600 skis in 2027.

The Spanish Fork Rotary Club has helped coordinate raising more than $200,000 to get the Armenian Irrigation Water project off ground. The pipeline trenches are almost complete, the pumps have been shipped from China and should arrive between mid-November and early December, and construction of the pump station is nearly finished. Due to changing exchange rates and increasing materials costs, the project is expecting a $25,000 funding shortfall. Many Rotarians have already donated to support this project which Armenians are determined to finish. The Club will step up again. 

The Rotary Club of Millcreek is thrilled to announce that our “Dream Big” fundraiser successfully raised over $20,000 for Moss Elementary School! Moss Elementary is a Title I school and will also be receiving a District Donor Advised Grant and a District Grant for a total of over $29,000. Funds will be used for a variety of needs, including literacy materials and teacher appreciation nights. We are also excited to announce the initiation of our own foundation. A big THANK YOU to all the fellow Rotarians who came and supported our event!

On October 20th members of the Vernal and Roosevelt Rotary Clubs joined together to learn more about Soulful Strides Sanctuary, a Christ-centered nonprofit in Vernal. Founder Becky Gardiner believes they can change lives as they heal hearts with Faith, Love & Horses.

Through equine assisted psychotherapy, equine learning and therapeutic groups and camps, they can offer meaningful pathways for healing, growth, resilience, peace, and purpose.

One in five adults experience a mental health condition. Utah ranks among the highest for depression and suicide. The Rotarians enjoyed a night of friendship and dining while going on a wagon ride pulled by two beautiful Clydesdales.

 The District Rotaract Trainings brought together Rotaract leaders and Rotary leadership to strengthen connections, develop leadership skills, and support Rotaract growth throughout Utah. Across the two trainings, we welcomed members from Midvalley Rotaract, Salt Lake Community College Rotaract, Utah Valley University Rotaract, and Utah Tech University Rotaract. We were honored to welcome Big West General Secretary Stephanie Velasco, District Governor-Elect Sydney King, District Governor Nominee Egor Shulman, St. George Sunrise Rotary President-Elect Richelle Hallman, Lieutenant Governor Kristi Guest, and Past District Governor Jose Velasco. Their participation demonstrated how Rotarians and Rotaractors are working together to bridge the gap between Rotaract and Rotary, build stronger relationships, and create opportunities for collaboration and leadership development across District 5420.

Every October, southern Utah welcomes - conservatively - 25,000+ visitors for the Huntsman World Senior Games, St. George Marathon and the PGA TOUR – but not all at the same time, until this year. Eight St. George Rotarians joined 100 volunteers to fill 12,500 swag bags for senior athletes. Another 18 each signed up for three 7-hour shifts at the PGA TOUR in 100+ degree weather while 35 Rotarians and friends of Rotary manned aid station #18 for the 50^th running of the St. George Marathon. Ten also provided 40+ beds for some of 79 BYU health science students in town assisting with Huntsman health screenings – all activities combined generating 1,179 hours of Service Above Self.  

Brandon Barrowman, a member of the Rotary Club of Lehi, passed away on September 14th of ALS. He left behind his wife and six children. Bill Brimley, a member and past president, along with his wife Beckie, spearheaded a fundraising dinner and auction held on September 26th, to help relieve some of the potential financial stresses.

Many people and organizations lovingly stepped in to support the family. The turnout was phenomenal! The auction was spectacular! We witnessed the miracle of love and service. District 5420, you have been magnificent! Many clubs and individuals joined in to help with the fundraiser and/or GoFundMe donations. It was a heartwarming success.

Five years of friendship, service and making a difference! In October the Washington City Rotary Club celebrated our fifth charter anniversary. Our club’s beginnings took persistence--three attempts over two decades brought the vision to life. In 2021, we called 25 members to order at our charter celebration and our members were already putting service into action! Rotary began in Chicago in 1905 with Paul Harris and three others gathering for fellowship. Our charter connected Washington City to that growing legacy of service. We honored the people who made our club possible and everyone who continues its mission.

The Logan Rotary Club stayed busy with many volunteer opportunities.

We cleaned out an office for an ailing Rotarian and appreciated the help of two Rotaract students (Ethan & Jay) from USU.

We hosted a team on the Alzheimer’s Walk, we installed a Peace Pole and assisted in the Top of Utah Marathon!

New ways to access the District Newsletter

The Utah Rotary District Newsletter goes out by email to more than 1,400 Utah Rotarians on the first of every month.

But some Rotarians never receive it. Unfortunately, their email platforms automatically block “mass mailings.”

That’s why there are three alternative ways to access the District Newsletter:

Visit the Utah Rotary website

• Go to utahrotary.org
• Click on For Members - a menu will drop down
• Select District Newsletter
• Click on the link of the issue you want to read

Ask your Club President for the link

On the first of every month, Club Presidents will receive the District Newsletter link.

They’ll include the link in their communications to your club membership and publish it on your club’s website, if you have one, and your Facebook page, if you have that!



Facebook

Look for the link on your club’s Facebook page

Or the Utah Rotary Facebook page