Back in 1905, even Rotary founder Paul Harris and his fellow Rotarians liked to shake things up a bit by rotating meetings to keep things interesting.
In our day, rotating - for one reason or another -happens infrequently, but we are about to have a history making rotation when we leave the Abbey for four weeks in a row!
On Monday, March 23, we will "talk and tour" at the newly remodeled Pioneer Courthouse on St. George Blvd., now occupied by the United We Pledge organization with former Rotarian Dennis Leavitt as our tour guide. For our 5th Monday "service above self" project on March 30, we will gather at the Utah Food Bank hosted by our own Paul Tikalsky where our efforts will help the UFB feed those who are hungry in our community. On Monday, April 6, we have been invited by St. George Fire Chief Rob Stoker for lunch and another "talk and tour" at Fire Station #1. On Monday, April 13, we will come together at the WashCo School District board room for the opportunity to hear from our 4-Way Test Essay Contest winners with lunch catered by the Pizza Factory, thanks to our own Lisa Shaw!
So, please mark your calendar because we don't want anyone showing up hungry at the Abbey when your lunch - and your friends - will be elsewhere!
St. George Sunrise Rotary's "Evening of Elegance" event on Saturday, March 14 filled the Garden Room at the Dixie Convention Center to capacity. The annual fundraising party raised money in silent and live auctions in support of the non-profit organizations "Backpacks for Kids" (providing over 900 backpacks and school supplies for needy kids); "WashCo Search and Rescue" (who put their lives on the line to protect and serve their community); "PAWS" (working to rescue, protect and place animals into safe and loving homes); and Utah Rotary District 5420's Endowment-SHARE fund (ensuring Rotary's impact continues for generations).
SGRotarians who shared the "Friends of PAWS" table through the generosity of Jeff and Lyn Hogrefe were Daniel and Tina Adams, Linda and Ed Sappington, LaRene Cox, Reed Noble and Randy Gordon.
It was a very long but a fun evening with entertainment provided by Utah Tech's amazing "Fusion" performing group. Congratulations to "Sunrise" who was successful in raising lots of money for "service above self" projects.
ANOTHER REMINDER: The 2026 Rotary Youth Leadership Awards / Academy is coming quickly. It you know someone in your home, business or church family, or your neighborhood, here is what you need to know to be able to extend an invitation:
* Dates are June 24-27 at the Wasatch Academy in Mt. Pleasant.
* Cost to student participants is $0 (SGR has budget for at least 4 students who wish to attend this amazing youth leadership training. If you find interested others, SGR will find additional sponsors).
* Qualified RYLA participants must be sophomore or junior students in the upcoming school year!
* Attendees will travel up and back to this event with 2-3 other youth participants and a responsible St. George Rotarian behind the wheel.
* Application deadline is April 1 ... and that’s no fooling!!!
Questions? See Bryan Thiriot for answers.
Utah Rotary's DG Suzanne Wilhelm's two ambitious goals for D5420 are (1) the establishment of an Endowment-SHARE in the amount of $10,000,000 (or more) from which the district's 46 clubs can apply annually for a portion of the estimated interest of $330,000 for club and district grants; and, (2) increase district membership by a net 200 new members
by June 30, 2026
So, who do you know who is willing and can afford to write a sizeable check and/or should be a member of
St. George Rotary Club?
Golf is an important "industry" here in Washington County and is considered one of four factors which put southern Utah "on the map" in the past 4-5 decades. Do you know the other three which brought the world to our door?
You should probably sit down for the rest of this report … because last week 4 more Afghani children were confirmed paralyzed by wild poliovirus (type 1) bringing the total in 2025 to 51 (20 in Afghanistan and 31 from Pakistan). In the more-bad-news department, the first case of wild polio-caused paralysis in 2026 was also reported in a Pakistani child.
This year, please resolve to join the PolioPlus Society at a cost of just $8.50 PER MONTH - or an annual donation of $100 to save children around the world from this dreaded disease.
FMI, contact Foundation Chair Dave Prisbrey or Club Treasurer Collin Davis to make your wishes known!
