March #UtahRotary Newsletter

District 5420 Newsletter - March 2025

Peace begins with us.

Hello Rotarians,

Peace is a collective action, mentored and supported to help communities. Peace begins with us - Rotarians, Peacebuilders and Friends. The values we adhere to foster trust and hope.

It was my honor to represent UtahRotary and attend the first ever Presidential Peace Conference in the Middle East, held in Istanbul, Turkiye. One thousand Rotarians from 90 countries gathered for the opening of the 7th Rotary Peace Center established worldwide - the Otto and Fran Walter Rotary Peace Center for Middle East and North Africa at Bahcesehir University.

Rotary Peace Centers are Institutions of Education. Combined, they award masters degrees to 1,000 graduates annually. These “soldiers” tread Pathways to Peace throughout the world as they focus on “Healing in a Divided World” by building trust, respect and solidarity.

Some of my takeaways from the peace conference?

Peace begins with a smile.
Agree to disagree.
Listening and understanding each other is the beginning of peace.
Turn down our own thoughts and listen deeply.
Strength comes in numbers.
Connection with people builds peace.
Building peace extinguishes despair and differences.

Rotary is about connecting with others - around the world and within our own clubs. By getting to know each other better we have the opportunity to serve as beacons of hope to those around us.

I want to give a shout out to District Rotarians who also attended the Peace Conference - Scott Leckman, District Governor 2018-2019, and his wife Kay, and Egor Shulman, a member of the St. George Sunrise Rotary Club.

Thank you for the connections you are making in our Rotary family.

Todd Boyer

Utah Rotary District Governor 2024-2025

RotaryBoyer@gmail.com

The All Clubs Gala has been re-scheduled.

The All Clubs Gala, originally scheduled for March 22, will be held on Saturday, May 10th. Mark your calendars now!

Saturday, May 10 - 6 pm

Miller Event Center at Salt Lake Community College

750 South 300 West, Sandy, Utah

$49.99 per person

Paul Harris Fellow Points will be awarded to all who attended the District Conference in Cedar City.
Paul Harris Society Members will be recognized.
Governor Todd will discuss the Istanbul Peace Conference.
As always - dinner, dancing and friendship!

Plus: 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!

Plan now for World Polio Day October 2025

In February, Rotary International celebrated the 120^th anniversary of its founding in 1925. The Utah Rotary Club of Hispano-Latino was one of potentially 35,000 clubs in 220 countries to take advantage of the occasion by highlighting the service we do in our communities and the world.

The next big opportunity to share your club’s Rotary story is October 24 - World Polio Day. Because so many members of the public mistakenly believe the wild polio virus was eradicated decades ago, World Polio Day is your club’s chance to deliver the message that “It’s not over 'til it’s over.” Two countries in the world still harbor wild polio – Pakistan and Afghanistan. Last year’s quick vaccination campaign against an outbreak in Gaza by the World Health Organization dramatically reminded the world that polio is still a threat.

Public Image strategies.

Spotlight activities in your own club – your local service projects and financial contributions to your community – as well as Rotary International's service around the world.
Develop relationships with digital news media, local magazines and newspapers, radio stations and make posts with pictures on all social media platforms.
Run PSAs. Don’t forget 30 second Public Service Announcements are FREE on your local radio stations … And invite your local TV station(s) to help get the word out about upcoming Rotary events or share heartwarming stories about some of your members or projects.

Plan now.

Discuss your public image strategies at Board meetings now. Appoint a PubIic Image chair, if you don’t already have one, to lead your club's World Polio Day campaign. Don’t let another newsworthy Rotary day go by without finding ways to draw attention to our amazing organization.

Linda Sappington, Utah District Governor 2020-2021

lcsappi66@yahoo.com

Utah Rotary in Action

Supporting the Bountiful Food Pantry week in & week out

At the Centerville-Farmington Rotary Club, service isn’t just something we talk about; it’s something we do. Every week, our members roll up their sleeves to support the Bountiful Food Pantry, helping ensure local families access fresh and nutritious food.

Each Friday morning, a Rotary volunteer joins the north route pickup team, collecting an impressive 1,600 pounds of perishable food from five grocery stores in Farmington and Centerville. This effort is part of a larger operation, where pantry trucks visit grocery stores six days a week to rescue food that would otherwise go to waste.

With a dedicated team of about a dozen Rotarians, we rotate shifts from 7-9:30 am, ensuring a smooth and efficient collection process. The photo above captures one of our volunteers loading up at Dick’s Market in Centerville, just one of the many stops along the way.

Beyond our weekly commitment, the entire Centerville-Farmington Rotary Club comes together quarterly to sort and organize donations at the pantry. There’s nothing more rewarding than knowing our efforts directly support families in need, reinforcing our Rotary mission of Service Above Self.

Want to get involved? Join us in making a difference, one truckload at a time. Contact Bryce Peterson to volunteer with us at bryce.peterson@gmail.com

Rotary Youth News & Highlights

Youth Exchange students experience the Greatest Snow on Earth

District 5420’s Rotary Youth Exchange students had a great time this past month at a Weekend in Park City sponsored by the Park City Rotary Club, one of three clubs in Park City.

Hosted by Rotarian Christina Miller, hostess extraordinaire for all things Rotarian, the teens visited the Capitol in Salt Lake City, had dinner with the Park City High School Interact club and watched the World Cup aerial ski jumping competition in Deer Valley.

They toured the Utah Olympic Park bobsled, luge and skeleton course, the Nordic ski jumps, and the Alf Engen Ski Museum. A stroll down Park City’s historic Main Street was a favorite.

The students also went hiking and snowshoeing to the top of Empire Pass at Deer Valley in a snow storm! The weekend concluded with a “mentalist” show at Park City High School. It was a great experience for these students to enjoy Utah’s Greatest Snow on Earth.

Aaron Lowe, Youth Exchange Officer

transitreg98@gmail.com (801) 592-0913

The Four-Way Test teaches third graders to use a dictionary.

When it's time for Rotary club dictionary distribution, the Four-Way test does the job. Your club probably uses this technique, but Rotarians new to the joys of teaching third grade students how to look up words in a dictionary are always impressed.

Rotarians begin by reciting the Four-Way test and explaining what Rotary is all about.

Then the fun begins. Students crack open their new dictionaries when they're asked to find their first word: TRUTH.

With a little bit of coaching, hands soon shoot up with exclamations. "I got it!" "Here it is!"

A Rotarian asks, "Who wants to read the definition?" More hands shoot up.

Kids continue to find more words - Fair, Friendship, Goodwill, Beneficial, and FUN!"

At the end of the session, Rotarians conduct a little tour of the back of the dictionary - weights, measures, and the LONGEST word in the English language. Do YOU know what it is?

For a copy of the UtahRotary Four-Way Test Lesson Plan, email your Newsletter Editor. She loves words -- lolabeatlebrox@gmail.com

2025 Rotary Youth Leadership Awards

RYLA will be held June 9 -12, 2025

Wasatch Academy, Mount Pleasant, Utah

Inspiring our next generation in leadership, service, and making peace a priority.

Applications now open!

Consult with your members, Interact Clubs, your school counselors, your faith leadership and neighbors to find 2025-2026 high school sophomores, juniors and seniors with potential to represent your Rotary Club.

The student’s application will be forwarded to your club president for your club to review for the qualifications you are looking for in leadership and Service Above Self. Student sponsorship by your club is $425, and transportation needs to be provided by your club or coordinated with a neighboring club to carpool.

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

Sydney King 5420.ryla@gmail.com

Facilitators sought for RYLA June 9-12

Applications due April 1st

Are you passionate about leadership and community service? Join us as a facilitator for the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) program, an impactful leadership development experience for high school students, scheduled for June 9-12, 2025.

What You'll Do

Lead small groups in workshops on leadership, communication, problem-solving, and community service. Must commit to stay the entire four days.
Facilitate activities and discussions to foster growth and team building.
Mentor and inspire young leaders with positive feedback and encouragement.
Create a supportive and inclusive learning environment.

Who Should Apply

Rotarians who are passionate about youth development and leadership.
Former RYLA participants eager to share their journey.
Excellent communicators with strong interpersonal skills.

Apply now and join us in creating a transformative experience for tomorrow’s leaders! Deadline is April 1, 2025. Contact Brent Parkin, RYLA Facilitator Chair at 801-698-5444. All applicants must complete Youth Protection Training and complete background check.

Advice to make your day the BEST

What if we each had a number of sacks?

One sack for each of the good things we did today?

Another sack for each dollar we've contributed to the Rotary Foundation.
Another sack for those who we invited to join Rotary?
Another sack for someone to whom we brought a smile.

I don’t know -There might also be a sack for each opportunity we had to do good in the world - but didn’t. Personally, some of my sacks would be looking fairly empty. We cannot do everything, but we can be a positive influence for those around us.

Pick any sack - at least one of the positive ones.

Decide today you will invite a friend to Rotary.

Go to the Rotary website and make a donation to eradicate polio or support any of the areas of focus.

Fill up your sacks, one at a time, with the larger and marvelous purpose of Rotary and all Rotarians:

“DOING GOOD IN THE WORLD!”

Bruce Powell

District Foundation Chair

Upcoming Events

Hurricane Rotary's April Car Show will support youth mental health

Youth Mental Health will be the major benefactor of Hurricane Valley Rotary’s 40th Annual Easter Car Show to be held on Saturday, April 19 in downtown Hurricane.

The mental health of our youth has always been important, but the complexities and pressures of today’s world make it an even greater concern.

Rotary is dedicated to a better future for all, and nothing will contribute more than to support our future leaders. Hurricane Valley will work with local organizations to identify how to use the funds raised to make a significant impact on our youth. Hurricane Valley may make Youth Mental Health the annual major benefactor and a signature cause for the club.

The Easter Car Show is one of southern Utah’s biggest one-day events, with some 300 cars, trucks, vans, and other vehicles on display. Typical visitor attendance in recent years has been approximately 10,000 for the high-profile Rotary-sponsored community event.

Clubs and individual Rotarians interested in supporting Youth Mental Health through Hurricane Valley’s car show should contact club President Logan Winder at logan@windercounseling.org.

If you're a poet, you could make our District proud

Rotary International announces the annual International Rotary Poetry Awards. This year’s winner could come from your very own district and become the Rotary Poet of the Year. Last year’s winner came from Denmark.

The winners will be announced at the Calgary Rotary Convention in June by Rotary President Stephanie Urchick. The actual awards will be presented locally, unless the winner attends the Calgary International Conference.

There are only two categories this year - an open category and The Magic of Rotary. For complete information go to poetrycompetition.org

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, seven Millcreek Rotary Club members and three guests dedicated their time to a meaningful service project at Valor House in Salt Lake City. We spent two hours painting two bedrooms, helping create a more welcoming space for veterans transitioning out of homelessness. Valor House provides 72 single-room micro-apartments for veterans as they work toward permanent housing. It’s an incredible organization making a real difference!

Park City Twilight Rotary had a big turnout of 15 volunteers for our Unsheltered Kits Project. The event was hosted as the home of our President-elect. We assembled 40 kits and delivered them to kits4kidsutah.com.

We highly recommend supporting this non-profit organization. Our other well-attended event was assisting the Swaner Nature Preserve in Park City with their birdhouse annual cleanout when we snowshoed across the preserve and removed any debris from the houses.

38,300. That’s the number of people aged 65 and older living with Alzheimer’s disease in the state of Utah. Almost three times that number, 112,000, are family members and caregivers who help these individuals remain active, and maintain connections with family and friends. Nearly 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's. By 2050, this number is projected to rise to nearly 13 million. Southern Utah Development Manager Desiree Anderson told members of the Washington City Rotary Club the Alzheimer’s Association-Utah Chapter participates in a nationwide initiative to raise awareness about Alzheimer's and dementia. The AA provides many support services for caregivers and Desiree shared ways members can help fight the disease including fundraising. The Club presented a check to Desiree to support her efforts.

February was amazing and historic for St. George Rotary with the induction of seven new members.

Those 7 of 14 new members since July 1, 2024 are Lyn and Jeff Hogrefe, Ryan Heck, Gerald Sharkey, Raelie Madrid, Laura Rosch and Allen Young.

Another significant milestone finds Club #1079 with eight Rotarian couples including Jeff and Lyn, Jim and Joann Coleman, Tom and Allison McArthur, Carla and David Martinez, Ken and Barbara Sizemore, Kolby and Naomi Traveller, Terance and Tiffany White and Linda and Ed Sappington … all active and contributing members.

Also, in February we banked almost $5,000 selling California navel oranges.

Former Richfield Mayor and Rotarian David Ogden presented at the Richfield Rotary Club a few weeks ago. He and his wife will serve an LDS mission in the Four Corners area in a few weeks. He invited several former coaches from Richfield High School to thank and recognize for their service to students and the community. This week Snow College President Stacie McIff gave an excellent presentation on programs and other data about the Ephraim and Richfield campuses.

The Brigham City Rotary Club hosted the first annual Bricks in Brigham event on February 8, 2025 at the Fine Arts Center, sponsored by the Northern Utah Lego User Group as well as the Utah Lego User Group.

Over 400 people attended the event with 45 others serving as volunteers. Attendees came from the local area in Box Elder County, but also had visitors from as far South as Salt Lake City, and as far North as Boise Idaho. Multiple Lego sets were given to participants in building competitions.

The Boys and Girls club received cash donations as well as Lego Sets. The Club also raised more than $9000 from the 2024 Brigham City Rotary Greatest Wild Bird Challenge event which funded the purchase of the book “Jake Drake - Know It All” for Box Elder families.

In February the Bountiful Rotary Club wrote Valentines cards to Veterans and tied blankets for Lifting Hands International. Helping Veterans or refugees, we love spending time together as a Club doing projects that matter.

In January 25 Utah Valley University Rotaractors in collaboration with the Utah Valley University’s Center for Social Impact Volunteer Night, provided the supplies to put together 12 birthday kits for Tabitha’s Way, a local food pantry in Utah County. Kits included cake, cake frosting, candles, gift bag, balloons, napkins, plates, a birthday banner, candy, and a book.

This event was organized by Janessa-Michelle Purcell, Utah Valley University Rotaractor through the student-engaged Learning model, which encourages students to work together to solve real life issues. Rotarators presented kits to Christian Butler, the outreach program manager at Tabitha’s Way.

On Saturday, February 8th, Murray Rotary Utah and Brigham City Rotary partnered to host an event supporting the Boys and Girls Club of Brigham City. We held an all-day LEGO festival featuring two local LEGO clubs, ULUG and NUTLUG.

The LEGO builders put together 2 great displays and hosted many activities including workshops, building with oversized bricks, a bridge-building activity, and a speed build challenge.

The community worked together to make two amazing art pieces for the Brigham City Fine Arts Center and the Boys and Girls Club. We had 45 Rotarian and LEGO volunteers supporting over 350 attendees from the general public. The LEGO and Rotary Clubs collectively donated over $3,500 in cash, prizes, and LEGO bricks to the community and the Boys and Girls Club of Brigham City! It was an extraordinary event that we plan to expand next year!

Congrats to the 356 Rotarians who accepted the 2025 by 2025 UtahRotary

MEMBERSHIP CHALLENGE!

This Rotary year, Governor Todd Boyer met with his forty-five outstanding club Presidents and dreamt a big dream. Together, they set an inspiring goal: to challenge every Rotarian in the District to bring one new member into the ranks of Rotary by June 25, 2025. This initiative is known as the "2025 by 2025 Rotary Challenge." Below are the individuals, in alphabetical order by clubs in District 5420 who have accepted this challenge and are committed to growing Rotary. With their dedication, more good can be done in our communities and the world. Congratulations on your courage to take on this challenge and make a difference!