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Your Chief Resource
for
News & Updates
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Message from the New District Governor
Stronger, Closer, and More Engaged Clubs Mean Deeper Service
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Welcome to the 2023-2024 Rotary year! Nicole and I could not be more excited or honored to serve as your District Governor and District Governor Partner this year. I especially want to thank Governor Jose and Martha for making the 2022-23 Rotary year fantastic. The district is stronger, closer & more engaged than it has been in the past as a result of their efforts. Again, thank you Governor Jose and Martha.
Two years ago, Governor Jose and I made the decision to cultivate and grow continuity of leadership in Utah Rotary. We hope that you’ve begun to see that, and that you will see and feel more of it in the years to come.
Governor Elect Todd and Governor Nominee Suzanne have been fully engaged with us as we planned the 2023-24 year, and we have been fully engaged with their planning of the 24-25 and 25-26 years of Utah Rotary. We will continue to be engaged and provide support to them and whoever our District Governor Designee is this year.
Last year we instituted the Governor’s Advisory Board composed of Past District Governors who meet regularly with the current and incoming governors to provide advice. Isn’t that what continuity in Rotary is all about—building on the best of Utah Rotary’s past to create an even stronger, closer, and more engaged Utah Rotary in the future?
I encourage each of you to discuss this concept in your clubs. Create strategies for developing greater continuity across leadership. Because stronger, closer and more engaged clubs mean deeper service, and greater projects that impact and create hope in the world.
I look forward to serving with each of you in this new Rotary year.
John Redd
Utah Rotary District Governor 2023-2024
dgjohnredd@utahrotary.org
#UtahRotary
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Create Hope in the World
More from DG John Redd - The Power of One!
The Rotary International theme for the 2023–24 Rotary year is Create Hope in the World. I had the opportunity and blessing of attending the International Assembly of Governors in January where our new Rotary International President Gordon McInally introduced this theme. It instantly resonated with me in a very deep and personal way.
Another great example of continuity in Rotary leadership occurred as President Gordon committed to continue polio eradication, strengthen Rotaract, and empower girls around the world. These initiatives were started by past Rotary International Presidents and will continue under his leadership.
RI President Gordon’s also introduced emphasis on peace and mental health. He encouraged us as leaders to focus on the well being of our members and our communities at large. He encouraged us to ask these questions as we greet each other: “How are you?” and “How are you, really?”
As I mentioned, the theme Create Hope in the World really resonated with me, but at the time I wasn’t quite sure why. Later I was asked by an acquaintance, “What is Rotary?” For whatever reason I promptly answered, “We create hope in the world.”
Isn’t that what we do?
We create hope through projects that lift and impact lives. We offer a way for people to help themselves improve their own lives.
That is The Power of One.
The power of one individual, one club, one district and one Rotary to make a significant difference in the world. Imagine what the world would be like today if one individual had not said, “I think we ought to do something about polio.” If one club and then one district had not worked on the problem of polio. And if one organization, Rotary International, never said, “We are going to eradicate polio.”
I’m so grateful to be a part of an organization that Creates Hope in the World.
John Redd
Utah Rotary District Governor 2023-2024
#UtahRotary
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Last Chance for Your Club to Choose One of these Projects
Shouldn’t every club do at least one international project?
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Box Trailer to be Rural Public Library
in Baja California
Please help purchase a 10’ X 6’ box trailer to serve as a mobile public library in the rural village of El Cardonal, municipality of La Paz , Baja California. The mayor of El Cardonal already has obtained 1,000 books for this their first library, which will serve 1,200 people including 140 students.
President Elect Tom Brogan of the Rotary club of Los Barriles, Baja California, hopes a Utah Rotary Club can contribute $2,000; their club will provide the other $2,000. Could two smaller Utah clubs provide $1,000 each and do the project together
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Keep People from Going Blind in Mexico
President Carlos Calderon of the Irapuato Villas Rotary Club in Irapuato, Central or Colonial Mexico, asks a Utah Rotary Club to help them provide Cataract Surgery for poor people. “We have ophthalmologist surgeons who have the equipment to perform the operations free of charge in terms of their services and facilities,” he says. “What costs about $650 per surgery is the intraocular lens and medications. Could you fund 1 or 2 of these surgeries? “We can provide you the clinical history of the candidates,” says President Calderon. “If we do not help them, they will go blind.”
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Email Jerry Summerhays, District International Service Chair, SummerhaysGS@gmail.com. Jerry will put you in contact with the soliciting club. | |
News from Around the District | |
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Sponsor an Exchange Student
from Ukraine
The Cedar City Rotary Club is hosting a Rotary Youth Exchange student from Ukraine next year. Sasha, a deserving high school student, does not possess any funds to pay for the exchange.
About $5,000 is needed to support his dream of spending the next academic year in the Rotary Youth Exchange Program.
Cedar City Rotary is reaching out to other Utah clubs and individual Rotarians who want to make Sasha's exchange possible. Here's how donations can be made:
Venmo our foundation @CedarCityRotaryClub
Mail a check to: Cedar City Rotary Club. P.O. Box 1401, Cedar City, UT 84721
For more information email Tessa Douglas, Past President, Cedar City Rotary Club, tdouglas@stech.edu
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Murray Exceeds
Rotary's Citation Goals
Regarding D5420's 13 clubs which achieved the Rotary International Citation, there is one club which FAR EXCEEDED and went well-beyond the 13 goals RI and D5420 expected.
Congratulations and then some to the Murray Rotary Club. Not only did this amazing and longstanding club get to 13 ... they achieved 24 of 25 goals RI set to be recognized again as a vibrant, active and contributing club.
Pat yourself on the back, Murray Rotary. You more than deserve it!!!
Linda Sappington, Past Utah Rotary Governor (2020-21)
District Public Image Chair (2022-23)
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Logan Rotary Raises $1,900
for the Native American Initiative
Congratulations to the Logan Rotary Club for their successful 65-mile Ride the Wellsvilles (RAW) bike event on the glorious Saturday, June 17.
Enthusiastic bicyclists made it possible for the club to donate $1,900+ to the Helen Summers Fund in support of District 5420's Native American Initiative.
Since its introduction in RY2020-21, the Native American Initiative has provided "Service Above Self" in one form or another to most of Utah's 11 tribal communities.
Thank you, Logan Rotary!
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Resources to Make Your Club Even More Effective | |
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Help with Project Planning
Jerry Summerhays recommends this five-part webinar series on the Rotary International website. Project Planning: Design for Results will support you and your clubs in developing effective projects with lasting, sustainable impact. Learn directly from Rotarians and Rotaractors about the tools and strategies they use to plan, find resources for, implement, and evaluate projects.
Webinar topics include:
Promoting Projects: Tell Your Story
Planning a Project: Design for Results
Finding Project Partners and Resources: Build an Effective Team
Measuring Results: Demonstrate Your Impact
Expanding Reach: Partner with Youth in Service
Jerry Summerhays, District International Service Chair, SummerhaysGS@gmail.com
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Your Club's Personal Coach for Foundation Annual Giving
With the start of the new Rotary Year, I'm changing hats from District Membership Chair to Annual Fund Sub-Committee Chair. Please allow me to introduce the newly formed annual fund sub-committee (AFSC) and their club assignments:
Scott Florence - SW area clubs (St. George, St. George Sunrise, Washington City, Hurricane Valley and Cedar City)
Kim Kerr - eastern clubs (Park City, Park City Sunrise, Park City Twilight, Heber Valley, Roosevelt, Vernal, Richfield, Moab, Monticello and Blanding)
Sue Vanderhoof - northern Salt Lake Valley clubs (Salt Lake City, Sugarhouse, Hispano-Latinos, Millcreek, Holladay, Valley West, Murray, Midvalley, West Jordan and Tooele Valley)
Lynn Hillstead - southern SL Valley and Utah County cubs (South Jordan, Sandy, Multicultural, South Valley, Utah E-club, Lehi, Orem-Lindon, Provo, Springville and Spanish Fork)
Dick Leatham - northern clubs (Logan, Cache Valley Morning, Brigham City, Odgen, Mt. Ogden, Layton, Kaysville, Centerville-Farmington, Farmington and Bountiful)
The Annual Fund Sub-Committee exists as a resource to all clubs to help you determine and realize your goals for giving to The Rotary Foundation Annual Fund. We can assist you with finding your next Paul Harris Fellow, Paul Harris Society member or Major Donor. We will be reaching out to club foundation chairs and/or club presidents but feel free to call on any of us whenever you have a question or need help.
We are looking forward to working with each club!
Scott Florence
Annual Fund Sub-Committee Chair
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Utah Statistics-Our Donations to the Rotary Foundation
Transparency & Give Backs Are Key
The Rotary Foundation is key to the goals of Rotary. It is this Foundation that Rotarians are encouraged to donate to all year. It is also the Foundation that provides much of the funds for District, Global and Disaster Grants. Rotary International is meticulous in accounting for each dollar donated and spent. As a result, The Rotary Foundation (TRF) is consistently ranked among the top-rated foundations in the world.
Reports are available on a monthly basis for Districts and individuals. The district reports are subject to when donations come in and are recorded as are expenditures, so the interim numbers I will share are subject to change.
The data as of June 25th indicates our District donated $188.68 per capita this year to TRF for a total of $300,753. Our District can boast we were the largest donor to the PolioPlus fund in the WORLD with $5,077.789. Okay, five million of that was from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, but still let’s boast!
We had 152 Rotarian in the District, as members of the Paul Harris Society, donate $1,000 each. 19 more became Major donor reaching the goal of donating $10,000 accumulative this Rotary year. 121 District Rotarians use Rotary Direct to donate monthly. Signing up is easy. Congratulations to all!
This last year we received $75,686 back from TRF for 37 different District grants. Another $42,245 was received to support 3 funded global grants with another $26,00 tagged for payment and $25,00 that was sent to support rebuilding efforts in Ukraine. There is yet another $110,000 TRF is holding for Global Grant in the works.
As we work to increase donations to the Rotary Foundation, we also build the funds that we can each use to “do good in the world!”
Bruce Powell
Utah Rotary District Foundation Chair
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What Will Your Club Do on Sept. 11?
September 11 is the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The 2023 National Day of Service and Remembrance is a federally recognized day set aside for turning the hearts and hands of Americans to service. People of every age, color, gender, religion, race and socio-economic status will meet needs in every community, District 5420 and the nation.
According to statistics from the Corporation for National and Community Service, Utah ranks #1 in the nation for volunteering with 44% of Utahns providing regular service – and, on Monday, September 11 (or sometime during the week) 65,000 of them are expected to find a way to make a difference to someone, somewhere.
Rotarians, Rotaractors, Interactors and friends of Rotary are encouraged by District Governor John Redd to join in and to partner with any group on any project.
Make plans now to participate in this made-for-Rotary activity … which is also a great opportunity to invite others to get better acquainted with the Rotary concept of “service above self.”
For more ideas, see JustServe.org.
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Time to Report Your
Service Impact in RY2022-23
The 6th annual Service Impact Report, District 5420’s “great idea” originated by PDG Bev Christy, will once again showcase your club’s “service above self” projects and activities of RY2022-23.
Clubs from Logan to Moab, St. George to Park City and everywhere in between will then have this powerful public image tool - when we all share the online FLIPBOOK with neighbors, friends, co-workers and others - to increase awareness, membership, foundation giving and Rotary’s public image!
Deadline for submitting your club data has been changed to July 15, 2023.
If you need help measuring and reporting your club’s impact, please contact District Public Image Chair Linda Sappington at Lcsappi66@gmail.com or call / text to 435-669-8020.
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Parting Words from DG Jose Velasco
As we complete the 2022–2023 Rotary year, I have enjoyed being in contact with you every month in a brief but substantial way.
I can say that that my tank is starting to feel a little empty, but truly, my hearth is filled with emotions and memories. I have enjoyed so much serving our district as your Governor. A humble but exciting experience motivating fellowship.
Much is said about how hard and complex it is to be Governor or, for that matter, any position in our district or club, although so rewarding. For that reason, I hope that many of you take the step to want to serve at the level(s) you feel comfortable - whenever you are ready
Thank you for the opportunity to be with all of you. Thank you for your Leadership and the bravery and kindness of your service. Throughout the year I have had the opportunity to share with you my Leadership, enthusiasm for service; and specially, the chance to be the biggest cheerleader our clubs and members can have.
As a District Governor, that is our focus - to motivate, not to obligate, members and clubs to do their best. I hope I have done that and as a Past District Governor I will continue to support the Governors line, members, clubs and Past District Governors that have provided their best to promote and continue the legacy of Rotary.
Jose Velasco
District Governor 2022-2023
josevelasco5420@gmail.com
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Get ideas, support other clubs! Send your service projects & fundraisers to
Newsletter Editor Lola Beatlebrox for this monthly section of the newsletter.
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The Park City Sunrise Rotary Club is pleased to help change the lives of four students, their families and multiple communities with four scholarships to college. All four students are the first generation in their families going to the University. James Kwan won the clubs Bill Brown Service Above Self Award at Park City High School. He will study Biomedical Engineering at the University of Utah. Three South Summit South Summit High School Interact Club students won $1000 scholarships. McKelle Creer will attend Utah State University in Wildlife Ecology and Management, Sara Vasquez will study marketing at the University of Utah, and Arlet Ramirez will study business at Utah Valley University. | | |
The Cedar City Rotary Club was busy this month celebrating our own members and accomplishments. We had programs with members who have joined our club in the past year and heard from the Cedar High School, Canyon View High School, and Parowan High School Interact Clubs about all of their accomplishments this year. We got goodie bags ready for our annual July Jamboree Car Show in the city on July 8, and we supported Cedar City’s Railroad Centennial Celebration. We inducted our new Club President, Brittany Fischer and celebrated this past year with our past Club President, Tessa Douglas! | | |
On May 24, the Rotary Multicultural Club of Utah held its award ceremony for the club's first scholarship. These awards were made possible by the diligent work of the club members. They set a funding goal and spent many hours contacting local businesses to gather financial support. In parallel, a high school information campaign alerted graduating students. Our scholarship goal is to support high school graduating students who are enrolled in college. The award criteria is based on academic excellence and spirit of service. Students wrote an essay and completed an interview to be selected. The club supported six students entering college with a total funding of 11,000 dollars. | | |
The Ogden Rotary Club completed a service project in June that involved cleaning up the Ogden River Parkway, Lorin Farr Park and the surrounding areas. We had a great turnout of club members and their families, co-workers, and friends who all came out to help! This has become an annual service project for our club, and we look forward to improving the area for those who use the parkway for biking, walking, dog walking, running and fishing, and making the park cleaner and safer for the youth in our community! | | |
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A hardy group of Murray Rotarians along with four other volunteers tackled the task of painting the outside and building interior shelves in three storage sheds used by the Murray Fire Department.
The new Murray Fire Chief expressed his admiration for all Rotary does in the community.
The fire department provided all of the paint and shelving materials and Murray Rotary provided the energy and technical know-how to get all three sheds.
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Washington City Rotary Club members expressed a warm thank you at a special luncheon on June 26th to Beverly Whipple who served as president for the term just ended. Beverly was thanked for her leadership that led the Club to reach new heights in community service. A few highlights included another successful golf tournament, the Mayor’s Cup 2023 raised over $13K, $3K of which went to the UT Food Bank, $1000 Club donation to the Hurricane Rotary for the All Abilities Park and donations that totaled $1400 to local nonprofits, among many other community service projects. Beverly received flowers, a gift card and her own special gavel. The luncheon also installed new officers who will be taking the helm for the new term. | | |
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On June 23, Hurricane Valley hosted a ribbon cutting for the All-Abilities Playground it sponsored at Dixie Springs Park in Hurricane.
City of Hurricane officials, major contributors, and dozens of children and adults from the community joined the Rotarians to officially open the playground which is more than 7,500 sq. ft. and has more than 30 separate play stations.
Thirteen shade sails provide some respite from the sun on the many hot days in Southern Utah.
The Hurricane Valley Rotary Club initiated the $600,000 project in 2021 to increase the number of play opportunities for everyone in Southern Utah, but especially for children with special needs whose options are quite limited.
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Members of the Literacy Committee of the Vernal Rotary Club delivered nearly $1,200 in books to the Uintah County Library on Wednesday. The Club is a proud sponsor of the Summer Reading Program. 4-Way Test Stickers were placed in each book. This test, adopted by Rotary in 1943, is the code of conduct for Rotarians posing guidelines in making good decisions. Vernal Rotary is excited to establish a partnership with the Uintah County Library. Literacy is one of the seven guiding principles of Rotarians worldwide. The Rotary Club also sponsored $500 in books that were handed out during the holiday season. $6,500 was spent during fiscal year 22-23 on local literacy projects. In addition, $6,700 was awarded in mini-grants by the Vernal Rotary Club Board.
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There aren't enough words to express what hosting the 25th anniversary Bountiful Rotary's "Coats for Kids" Car Show meant to us and the community. It was the biggest year yet with 419 cars registered and a sea of people for two days coming out for the cause. After 25 years, we could not put on this event without the incredible sponsors and volunteers that believe in helping the children in our community. The hours of work and preparation from Bountiful Rotarians is unfathomable. To be blessed with an event that has gotten bigger and more successful over 25 years has left us all speechless. We are grateful to everyone for the selfless amount of blood, sweat and happy tears. Thank you from the bottom of our smokin' tire hearts. | | |
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On Saturday June 10, the Moab Rotary Club held the yearly “passing of the baton” for the outgoing Rotary Club President and to the incoming president with lots of fun and a great meal and a beautiful view of La Sal mountains.
We had also fundraising and were able to support two students attending USU Moab in the coming years, with a donation from our members of over $8000 that evening.
It does not get any better than that.
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The Orem-Lindon Rotary Club hosted the Orem Fest all-you-can-eat Breakfast Fundraiser on June 10. Thirty Orem-Lindon Rotarians, members of their families, and UVU Rotaractors contributed to this service project by having a breakfast menu featuring mouth-watering pancakes adorned with butter, a variety of syrups, including homemade buttermilk, fresh berries, and fluffy whipped cream, and a selection of fine breakfast beverages. During the event Rotarians raised over $1,765 to support of the “Coats for Kids'' project, which helps needy families in Orem, Utah. It was an experience that highlighted for UVU Rotaractors the importance of giving back to the local community. | | |
In early June, the St. George Rotary Club welcomed President Dale Desmond back from the RI Convention in “Aussieland” … and 21 St. George Rotarians and friends from Guatemala after a week building cinderblock stoves in Mayan villages. All enjoyed their trips – SGR’s 17th to Central America - and the chance to report their adventures! In mid-June we kicked off the restoration of the fire pit in Worthen Park – originally built by St. George Rotary in 1948. This $18,000+ project, in partnership with St. George City, is expected to take a month to complete. We also enjoyed a high-energy party to induct new club officers! | | |
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St. George Sunrise Rotary celebrated the passing of the gavel with great fun and delicious barbecue at the Washington County fairgrounds. The past leadership team acknowledged all of the great work that was accomplished this year that led to us being awarded the Large Club of the Year award. Tony Damiano, President for the Veterans Club and Mike Branum, this year's Club President have exciting plans for our new year. Thanks to our outgoing President Dave Nelson for his leadership.
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July 2023
July 15 Deadline to Submit Data for Service Impact Report
September 2023
Sept. 9 All Clubs event
Sept. 11 Utah Rotary Day of Service
October 2023
Oct. 24 World Polio Day - begin today to plan your project or fundraiser
November 2023
Nov. 8-12 GETS, GNETS and Zone Institute in San Diego
March
March 1-3 High Country PETS in Denver (PE’s and spouses)
June
June 5-8 RYLA in Pleasant Grove, UT.
June 8-12 RI Convention in Singapore
Coming in 2024
Friendship Exchange to Colombia
Rotary Youth Leadership Academy in Mt. Pleasant, UT.
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Stephan Atkinson, Orem-Lindon Rotary Club
Javier Barros, Rotary Multicultural Club of Utah
Lola Beatlebrox, District Newsletter Editor
Carolyn Brown, Cedar City Rotary Club
Bruce Cole, Hurricane Valley Rotary Club
Tessa Douglas, Cedar City Rotary Club
Scott Florence, Annual Fund Sub-Committee Chair
Britta Kingsley, Moab Rotary Club
Alicia Maldonado, Washington City Rotary Club
Veronica Monroy, Park City Sunrise Rotary Club
Cheri McCurdy, Vernal Rotary Club
Rachel Palmer, Polio Plus Society Chair
Bruce Powell, Utah Rotary District Foundation Chair
John Redd, Utah Rotary District Governor 2023-2024
Linda Sappington, District Governor 2020-2021
Krista Simonsen, Bountiful Rotary Club
Charlotte Shelley, St. George Sunrise Rotary Club
Jerry Summerhays, District International Service Chair
Jose Velasco, Utah Rotary District Governor 2022-2023
Robin Wade, Ogden Rotary Club
Jim Wilcox, Murray Rotary Club
Thanks for Making this Newsletter Possible
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