District 5420 Newsletter - September 2025

Have you heard?

Rotary International's President-Elect will attend District Conference!

I’m excited to invite you to an extraordinary event — the Utah Rotary District Conference, where we’ll experience something truly special: the chance to spend three full days with Rotary International President-Elect Larry Lunsford.

It is very rare and incredibly unique to have this kind of extended, personal access to a Rotary International dignitary. This intimate setting offers us the chance to truly connect with Larry — to hear his insights, ask questions, and be inspired by his vision for the future of Rotary.

This isn’t just another conference. It’s a time to deepen our Rotary friendships, re-ignite our passion for service, and engage meaningfully with a global leader in our movement. Whether you’re a long-time member or newer to Rotary, this is an opportunity you won’t want to miss.

Let’s come together, share ideas, and celebrate all that makes Rotary exceptional. I hope to see you there!

Suzanne Leonelli, District Governor

Dgsuzanneleonelli@gmail.com

Note: You may need your DACdb password

Larry Lunsford, RI President-Elect

Larry Lunsford, a member of the Rotary Club of Kansas City-Plaza, MO, and RI President-Elect, attended Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri, on an academic scholarship, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting. He first encountered Rotary when he received a Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarship to spend the 1981-82 academic year at the University of Newcastle in Australia.

A certified public accountant, Larry spent worked for Ernst & Young before joining a family-owned business, Bernstein-Rein Advertising, in 1990. He is currently executive vice president and chief financial officer for the Bernstein group of companies.

He has held positions on the boards of the Kansas City Spirit Festival and the Variety Club as well as serving as director of a local bank and treasurer of the Epilepsy Foundation for the Heart of America. He has also served on Truman State University’s alumni and foundation boards and received the university’s Distinguished Service Award.

Larry joined the Rotary Club of Kansas City-Plaza in 1991 and has since served as district governor (2001-02), RI director (2013-15), and trustee of The Rotary Foundation (2021-25, vice chair 2024-25). He has been a member of RI committees, including the Executive Committee (chair 2014-15), Membership Growth Committee (chair 2016-18), and Nominating Committee for President of RI (chair 2023-24). He also has served on The Rotary Foundation’s Executive Committee (chair 2023-24), Finance Committee (chair 2022-23 and 2024-25), and Participant Experience Committee (chair 2023-24).

We’re looking for a few good Rotarians

Our www.utahrotary.org website is in dismal shape. We admit it and we’re very sorry.

So, we are recruiting volunteers from around the district to change that!

We envision a website committee of 4-5 volunteers who will:

Keep content updated and fresh
Post new content and visuals
Work with the District newsletter editor to accomplish the above
Use the website platform: WordPress powered by Member Minder Pro. If you are not familiar, training will be arranged.

Committee members will have specific

assignments, so that your time commitment is

manageable.

To volunteer please contact me personally.

Suzanne Leonelli, District Governor

Dgsuzanneleonelli@gmail.com

Cell (435) 850-2431

Highlighting International Projects

A bright future for a village in Fiji

Millcreek Rotary & Youthlinc perform; solar power transforms!

Thanks to the generosity of Rotary District 5420’s Donor Advised Fund and the collaboration between Youthlinc and the Rotary Club of Millcreek, the village of Navolau in Fiji is now glowing with new light and energy—literally.

In February, a team of more than 30 Utah volunteers partnered with local leaders to install a solar panel system that now powers lighting throughout the village and provides reliable energy for eight sewing machines in the community’s cooperative. What once depended on costly and unreliable power sources is now fueled by clean, sustainable solar energy.

The impact has been immediate. The women’s sewing cooperative is thriving with consistent productivity, creating goods that support household incomes and community development. Families now have additional lighting and access to electrical outlets, improving daily life, education, and safety after sunset.

Sustainability was built into every stage of the project. Village members worked side-by-side with volunteers on the installation and received hands-on training to maintain the system into the future. Oversight continues through Youthlinc’s in-country coordinator, Samreson Reddy, ensuring the system remains in good working order for years to come.

This project is more than just solar panels—it’s about empowerment, resilience, and partnership. Together, Rotary and Youthlinc have helped Navolau Village take a powerful step forward, shining a light on what can be achieved when communities come together across borders to serve.

Justin Powell. Youthlinc Executive Director

Preventing TB to End TB in Nepal

Global Grant Update #1

Problem: Tuberculosis is the biggest infectious disease killer in the world, resulting in 1.5 million deaths annually and almost 10 million new cases each year. One in four people in the world are infected with latent TB.

Solution: A new safe and effective short TB preventive treatment (12 doses) can be used to treat infected patients before they develop active contagious TB.

The Rotary Club of Salt Lake City with the Rotary Club of Kathmandu Mid-Town and TB experts in Nepal joined together in Global Grant GG2457079 to scale up TB preventative therapy. We hope this will become a model of treatment soon and save millions of lives.

Key Highlights

Total TB Preventive Therapy (3HP) initiation

A total of 100 people with latent TB have been enrolled in TB preventive therapy (3HP) from the project districts Chitwan and Pyuthan.

3HP Implementation process

During the reporting period, 206 people took the Mantoux test to check for TB infection, 97 tested positive, and out of these, 83 with normal chest X-rays were enrolled in 3HP treatment; achieving 115% of the monthly target of 72.

During visits to households with TB patients, 254 people were given information and advice about latent TB.

Building capacity with health workers

Organized capacity-building trainings on 3HP were conducted in Chitwan district for 93 health workers and Pyuthan 32 Health workers to help them learn how to identify people who need 3HP treatment, explain to patients about it, follow their progress, and follow the government’s guidelines.

Advocacy and awareness

A poster on latent TB was developed for giving information about symptoms, testing, treatment and its benefits to prevent active TB. It will be displayed in health facilities from August 2025 to help health workers educate visitors.

Special thanks to the following Utah Rotary Clubs who helped make this Global Grant possible: Park City, Cedar City, Millcreek, Moab, St. George Sunrise, Sugar House, Brigham City, Centerville-Farmington.

Scott Leckman, Salt Lake City Rotary Club

leckman@xmission.com

Donations needed for therapy pool in Guatemala

For more than twenty years the Centerville-Farmington Rotary Club has been involved with “Transitions” in Guatemala. “Transitions” is an organization that provides physical therapy, custom made wheelchairs, prosthetics and all types of assistance to physically disabled children, youth, and adults all over Guatemala. They also have an award-winning wheelchair basketball team. It is an amazing organization!

They are currently looking to build the first and only therapy pool in Guatemala. They can use your club’s help! Alex, the disabled founder of “Transitions” speaks perfect English and would love to hear from you. Write him at office@transitionsfoundation.org There are many ways your club could help.

To see the amazing work watch a special 30-minute documentary shown in July on PBS. It is well worth your time. https://www.pbs.org/show/power-of-chairs/

Bruce Powell, Centerville-Farmington Rotary Club

Your club's space for news about your International Service Projects.

You are invited to use the above space to describe your club's experience going abroad to help people in need around the globe. Simply submit your story along with a few pictures to the Newsletter Editor lolabeatlebrox@gmail.com by the 27th of every month.

Rotary Foundation News

How can one person make a difference?

Make a video of your story.

As Rotarians we know how one person can make a significant difference in the world by focusing on acts of kindness, volunteering time, donating to The Rotary Foundation, and advocating for change.

Small acts of kindness, like smiling at a stranger or holding the door for someone, can brighten their day and inspire others. Volunteering time at a local charity, donating to causes that resonate, participating in Rotary projects and speaking out against injustice are all ways to create positive change.

By focusing on these actions, one person can create a ripple effect, inspiring others to do the same and ultimately contributing to a better world.

Below are some inspirational videos about Rotarians.

https://brandcenter.rotary.org/en-us/asset?id=161397940&lang=EN

https://brandcenter.rotary.org/en-us/asset?id=163262468&lang=EN

https://brandcenter.rotary.org/en-us/asset?id=137504206&lang=EN

As part of our Endowment-SHARE fundraiser this year. we want to hear from our Rotarians and their friends from outside Rotary about how they are making a difference in the lives of those around them, near and far.

Stephanie Velasco, being very generous of her time, will set up a booth at the District Conference for you to record a short video (a minute or two) on how you are making a difference. For those who will not be attending the district conference, please use the link below to upload your video.

Legacy Video Request Link: https://forms.gle/ST8WKydsxLdScDPf9

Egor Shulman

Rotary Foundation Chair 2025-2028

drfc5420@gmail.com

Endowment-SHARE – Profiles in Philanthropy

Penny and Kelly Atkinson

As most of you are probably aware by now our District Governor Suzanne Leonelli has set a goal of $10,000,000 for Endowment-SHARE contributions during her year. She plans a grand celebration on May 16, 2026.

While we are raising new funds toward this goal, we are also contacting all generous Rotarians who have recorded bequests with Rotary International. We are asking them to redirect their bequests to Endowment-SHARE. We will be contacting you this month.

Past District Governors Kelly and Penny Atkinson are very well-known for their tireless work to keep Rotary vibrant in our District. Penny’s focus on youth is inspirational and, together, they have hosted 31 Rotary Youth Exchange students over the years.

Not resting on their service laurels, Kelly and Penny have contributed their house to Rotary, retaining the rights of living there while alive. This donation resulted in their joining the Arch Klumph Society. Kelly was the District Rotary Foundation Chair who started many Rotarians on the journey of giving to The Rotary Foundation. And like all great Rotarians, they followed talking the talk by walking the walk with their contributions.

Any cash contributions up to $25,000 can be made online by selecting the Endowment-SHARE radio button in My Rotary. For larger contributions or questions about non-cash contributions or bequests, please contact me at the email address below.

Egor Shulman

Rotary Foundation Chair 2025-2028

drfc5420@gmail.com

Look to the Annual Fund Sub-Committee as a resource

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. Why do we promote contributions to the Rotary Foundation Annual Fund, you ask? Good question!

Through the SHARE system, contributions to The Rotary Foundation are transformed into grants that fund local and international humanitarian projects, scholarships, vocational training teams, and more. At the end of every Rotary year, contributions directed to the Annual Fund-SHARE from all the clubs in the district are divided between the World Fund and the District Designated Fund (DDF), after 5% is deducted for operating expenses.

At the end of three years, our district can use the District Designated Fund to pay for club and district projects that your club and others in the district choose. Districts may use up to half of their DDF to fund district grants. The remaining DDF may be used for global grants or donated to PolioPlus, the Rotary Peace Centers, or another district.

Egor Shulman, Chair of the District Foundation Committee, and his committee are on a crusade to visit clubs to educate and promote support of The Rotary Foundation and specifically the Endowment/Share and Annual/Share Funds. Feel free to call on any of us whenever you have a question or need help.

Kristi Guest – Salt Lake Valley, Tooele Valley, Park City clubs
Egor Shulman – Saint George area, Cedar City, Richfield, Moab clubs
Lynn Hillstead – remaining clubs

Lynn Hillstead

Chair, Annual Fund Sub Committee

lynngrayh@gmail.com

Youth News

Rotaract Leadership

Northern Regional Rotaract Leader – Evan Gale

Evan is the current Ambassador President at Weber State University, where he is studying pre-dental with a double major in Microbiology and Spanish. Having a strong passion for service, leadership, and community impact, Evan has demonstrated his commitment through roles such as President of the Ogden Rotaract Club and his current service on the Student Alumni Council, where he helps connect students with alumni and campus opportunities. His goal is to bring people together, lead with purpose, and prepare for a future in dentistry where he can make a meaningful difference in the lives of his patients.

Southern Regional Rotaract Leader – Kaylee Melessa

Kaylee is a senior at Southern Utah University and an active member of the SUU Ballroom Dance Team. She enjoys spending time outdoors, connecting with friends, and giving back to the community through volunteer service.

Kaylee has supported a variety of local events, including elementary STEM programs, Cedar City Rotary’s Annual July Jamboree, and the Cedar City Livestock Festival. She is excited to bring her energy and passion for service to the Utah Rotaract Committee this year.

Six Youth Exchange students arrive in our District

We are excited to welcome a new batch of Rotary Youth Exchange Students to Utah. We took them to California at the end of August for an orientation with all of the exchange students in Utah, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, and Southern California. We had a fun time and met a lot of great kids.

Keep an eye out for these young people at your club and district activities.:

Name, Country, Host Club

Ava. France, Logan

Faustine, Belgium, Lehi

Tommy, Italy, Hurricane

Isa, Brazil, Cedar City

Rawi, Germany, Centerville-Farmington

David, Chile, Murray

Aaron Lowe, District Chair, Rotary Youth Exchange

Kim - "I'm happy to support Rotary in this way."

Kim Hugentobler Lang, a member of the St. George Sunrise Rotary Club is the latest Rotarian to get a Rotary License Plate.

Funds raised from Rotary license plate sales directly support Rotary Youth programs – RYLA, Youth Exchange, Interact and Rotaract. Moreover, the legislature supports fundraising programs like ours by requiring (by law) that Rotary Humanitarian License Plates demonstrate their popularity by generating at least 500 participating donors.

To order yours, get the last four digits of your VIN number, your current license plate number, and your credit card, then click here https://dmv.utah.gov/plates/license-plates/humanitarian/

Send the Newsletter Editor a picture of your new one! lolabeatlebrox@gmail.com

Upcoming Events Around the District

Park City Sunrise Rotary Club’s

famous Shot Ski^TM fundraiser is October 11

.Park City Sunrise Rotary Club’s famous Shot Ski^TM fundraiser will be held Saturday, October 11.

This year's event will set a new world record by serving 1,410 shots and raising a lofty $70,000 to support Park City Sunrise Rotary Club's Community Grants Program.

Participants gather on Park City’s Main Street from 12 noon to 2 p.m. when the anticipation builds! Shots of High West Whiskey, the club's esteemed co-sponsor, are poured by DABS-trained Sunrise Rotarians – or apple juice if you prefer.

Promptly at 2 pm, all the connected skis will be raised simultaneously to beat the world record in our friendly rivalry with Breckinridge Ski Resort. They served only 1401 shots last December!

This spirited event is always a sellout, so purchase your tickets now at parkcityshotski.com. VIP spots with custom skis are available for purchase.

Park at Park City High School and take the free bus to Main Street. Come early!

This event is for participants 21 years or older. Proper ID is required.

Cathy's Ride-to-Nowhere will raise $$ on World Polio Day October 24

You can raise money too!

“Help me blow the dust off my spin bike to accomplish my Ride to Nowhere on World Polio Day,” says Cathy Hart, a member of the St. George Sunrise Rotary Club.

On October 24 Cathy will be riding her spin bike for seven hours -- roughly 100 miles! She’s already raised $700, but that’s only 13 percent of her goal.

All funds donated to her campaign will go to the Rotary PolioPlus Fund, which is devoted to eradicating the debilitating disease of polio on the planet for good!

Cathy, you go, girl!

To donate go to: https://raise.rotary.org/Cathy-Hart/challenge

Utah Rotarians can set up their own campaigns.

Learn how to start your fundraiser here.

Join Rotarians from around the world on a life-changing 10-day journey into the heart of Cambodia! In partnership with Sustainable Cambodia—a trusted Rotary-based organization —you’ll witness inspiring, hands-on projects that empower rural families through clean water, education, and economic opportunity.

This isn’t just a trip—it’s an unforgettable experience of service, culture, and connection. You'll enjoy comfortable, air-conditioned hotels, enjoying local cuisine, and being guided by a knowledgeable team—all for under $1,000 (excluding airfare)!

The Rotary Club of Salt Lake City is proud to serve as the international sponsor for a new Global Grant focused on Economic Empowerment and WASH. We're expecting Foundation approval by December, with the project launching in early 2026—impacting more than 3,000 lives.

Come make a real difference—and lifelong memories—with fellow Rotarians who share your spirit of service and adventure. Invite a friend, partner, or club member and be part of this transformative experience. For more information including dates, contact Paul Stringham. pbstringham@gmail.com

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.

On July 31 and August 1, the St. George Sunrise Rotary Club organized 900 backpacks filled with required school supplies and delivered them to 44 schools in Washington County. Counselors at each school then discreetly distributed these backpacks to homeless students and low-income families prior to the start of school so that all underserved students were prepared for success on their first day of school. This project continues the tradition started by Rotary 21 years ago, and included a total of 126 volunteers from the St. George Sunrise Club and other community volunteers coming together to serve our community.

On August 15, 2025, Utah Valley University Rotaractors took part in cutting the ribbon on Utah Community Credit Union Stadium. This $30 million soccer facility is one of the finest collegiate soccer stadiums nationwide.

Rotaractors were proud to hear among the highlighted donors to the sport programs at the university, the name of D.J. Smith, Orem-Lindon Rotarian. Dr. Smith worked at the university for 29 years as the Senior Associate Athletic Director.

He contributed to UVU's transition from junior college athletics into a thriving NCAA Division I program.

The concessions area at the stadium bears the name “DJ Smith Concessions” and will remind athletes and fans of his contributions, teaching about loyalty, integrity, and perseverance.

Midvalley Rotary Club honored partners Les Schwab and Unified Fire who support the Operation Santa Signature project entering its 14th year that always happens the 1st Saturday of December. The club supported the Midvale City Harvest Days Festival Fun Run. The event is a one-mile loop around Midvale City Park that welcomes participants of all ages and fitness levels. For families to enjoy with their children, the club added fun activity stations at the start and finish lines and along the path. We had volunteers from our club, South Valley Club and one potential Rotary lead. Walmart partner provided snacks and drinks.

For at least 50 years the Lions Club and, since 2015, the Murray Rotary Club have prepared breakfast at the Murray 4th of July Parade. We serve pancakes, eggs, sausage and drinks to more than 1,500 people each year. The equipment needed to prepare this meal is extensive and the generous people of Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary donate space for storage. This year we decided some cleanup was in order. We built a cabinet and shelves, took unneeded equipment to Habitat for Humanity or the dump, and created an area for grills and propane tanks. Our entire crew looked with pride on the clean, reorganized facility! By the way, we figure over the 50 years we have served over 150,000 pancakes.

The Orem-Lindon Rotary Club gathered at Orem’s beautiful Springwater Park for a Summer Social and Service Luau. Members enjoyed a potluck feast of pulled pork, teriyaki chicken, macaroni salad, and guava cake. Ali’itasi Productions Polynesian performers provided incredible entertainment. They filled the park with music, hula, and island spirit. Beyond the great food and fun, the club came together to serve, assembling over 100 women’s hygiene kits for local shelters and Texas flood victims. It was a perfect mix of fellowship, flavor, and purpose—true Rotary service with aloha! Special thanks to Susan and Joseph Butters for supporting the luau and coming down from the Murray club to have a good time with us! Mahalo!

In the Spanish Fork Rotary Club we are raising funds to purchase dictionaries for 3rd graders in Nebo School District. We will be giving away 1784 dictionaries in 21 schools. Each sponsor paid $370 this year to sponsor dictionaries for 3rd graders in a single school, with three sponsors covering two schools (with a total of 18 sponsors). Our club will also be selling cotton candy on September 5th at the Spanish Fork Harvest Moon Hurrah. The event happens each year and includes a community art show, food vendors, and children’s activities. All proceeds will be donated to Tabitha’s Way – a local food pantry, to help them pay off their building loan so they can continue serving those in need for years to come.

On June 30, the St. George Rotary Club had 73 members but on July 1 we terminated five for a variety of causes, bringing us back to 68. In mid-August, a young couple walked in and asked for membership applications after participating with our club on a service project. And, we also have three prospective members filling out applications while we continue to “rotate” to a variety of locations for our meetings. Our club treasurer tells us this is good for our budget – and to prepare for another “Rev’d Up for Rotary” Car Show on Saturday, September 6 at Red Cliffs Mall.

The Hispano Latino Rotary Club successfully held its traditional Back to School event on August 22. During the activity, many boys and girls received notebooks, pencils and other essential school supplies to help them begin the new academic year with enthusiasm and preparation.

This initiative reflects the Club's commitment to education and community well-being, supporting families, and promoting opportunities for students.