SGR Learns of HWSG's Success and Future Plans

OPENING: Sergeant-at-Arms Donald Ira Pendleton greeted Rotarians and guests to the 3764th meeting of SGR. Ray Robinson lead the SGR Choir through both verses of "Home on the Range." Richard Brown invited members to follow him in the Pledge of Allegiance and President-elect Grant Carter asked for the blessings of heaven on the meeting and the meal.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Nick Lang was pleased to introduce Kristen Nelson, new Rotaract President at Dixie State College.
President Ken Sizemore read a note of thanks from Jan Dunham for Rotary support during this difficult time following the death of her husband and Rotarian Don Dunham.

Ken also noted he and board members Phil Hall, Terance White and PDG Jim Coleman all flew to Provo for Saturday’s foundation meeting. He shared with members of SGR the award received for club support of the Polio Plus Challenge to match the Gates donation of $355 million. Only four countries remain with new cases of polio: Nigeria, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India. Club members are invited to consider traveling to India for an immunization day program. See Ken for more information.

June McAfee announced receipt of the dictionaries. The books are labeled and ready for distribution before Thanksgiving. See June for school assignments.

PROGRAM: Linda Baker introduced Kyle Case, Rotarian and Executive Director of the Huntsman World Senior Games who shared details about the recent 21st annual games (October 4-18) involving "a higher risk" group of athletes. Calling his second year as the Executive Director "incredible" Kyle reminded SGR the games began in 1987 when John and Daisy Morgan were looking for an event which would fill their hotel with participants. In the first year, the number of participant athletes was somewhere between 150 and 200! "Today we are the largest multi-sports event, for people over age 50, in the world." The Games include 26 sports and this year, 8971 athletes "slightly down from last year," 317 softball teams, 127 volleyball teams and brought 2006 new athletes to St. George for the first time. Athletes come from all 50 states, with Utah the #1 state based on the number of athletes competing, followed by California, Washington, Arizona and Colorado. The #1 country, based on the number of participants is Canada, followed by Venezuela, Barbados, Russia and Germany.

Kyle (front row, in blue t-shirt) noted he is very pleased with new innovations in 2009, including a redesigned website and an online registration system, new medals and 3 new countries (Bolivia, Estonia and Virgin Islands) bringing the total number of countries participating, to date, to 61! Based on the state’s formula, Kyle believes the games provided an economic impact of more than $9,300,000 this year. He will be recruiting in China this year in preparation for the 2010 games and his staff is busy preparing for a volleyball "friendship tour"

Members of SGR can help in several ways. According to Kyle "first, you can compete!" Go to the website at http://www.seniorgames.net/ to sign up. Other ways to help include volunteering, being a supporter and a spectator, being an ambassador sharing information and enthusiasm, or being a sponsor. For more information, call Kyle at 674-0550.