A Busy Rotary Week

The third week of October was busy for members of St. George Rotary Club with “service above self” the focus of three projects.

“It seemed like a good idea at the time,” said Ken Sizemore, who decided to create a mock Guatemalan stove at the Huntsman World Senior Games 3rd Annual International Festival on the weekend of October 15-16. After tracking back and forth from his car to the Rotary booth at the Town Square, Sizemore realized carrying a dozen cinder blocks for the project was probably not the best idea he’d ever had. Just the same, the booth was a hit, with lots of interaction with individuals interested in SGR’s international project which helps install stoves in Mayan villages where women still cook over open flames. In addition to comments about the stove, Ken, Ray and Ruby Robinson, and members of Rotaract collected $51 in donations and a number of visitors expressed interest in joining Rotary!

The 8th annual SGR dictionary project came to an end on Friday, October 22 when the last of 1700 dictionaries were delivered. Third graders in approximately 72 classrooms in 19 schools in Washington County received this gift of literacy bringing the overall project total of books delivered since 2003 to13,837. Thanks to all who helped make the project, funded by a Rotary matching grant, a success including chairwoman June McAfee, Reed Noble, Linda Sappington, Phil Hall, Janet O’Riley, Mike Welker, Ray Robinson and Andy Anderson, West Martin, Kris Neal, Lee Sheets, Jim Coleman, Nick Lang, Greg Basso, Shar Heitkotter, Allen Hilton, Grant Carter, Sheldon Banks, Terance White, Jenny McDowell, Don Pendleton, Bob Miller, Nancy Neff, Durant McArthur, Jeff Morby, Debbie Justice, Kip Bowler, Richard Isom, Steve Radmall, Ken Sizemore, Les Stoker, Laura Taylor and Linda Baker.
After a night of substantial rainfall, the sky cleared on the morning of Saturday, October 23, as Rotarians gathered to take part in a tree planting at the SK8 Park. Gil Trujillo, Grant Carter, Reed Noble, Linda Sappington, Greg Basso, Ken Sizemore and Linda Baker, along with approximately a dozen members of DSC Rotaract Club, dug deep into the thick, clay-laden mud to plant ten pine and other types of trees. Despite the slip-slidding around, the social interaction was pleasant and the minimal amount of effort by many willing hands will one day produce large shade trees and beautiful pines.

Thanks, on behalf of a grateful community, to all who supported these projects.