SGR Tours Electric Theater

On Monday, March 28, members of SGR attended our weekly luncheon meeting, first at the new Rock Canyon Bank (in the old St. George Post Office building on the corner of Tabernacle and 100 South) where we enjoyed a delicious box lunch from Dickey’s Bar-be-que.  After horseplay and club business, we had the opportunity to tour the newly remodeled Electric Theater Arts Complex on Tabernacle Street. 

RI Founder is Natalie Isom's NHD Topic

Natalie Isom, 10-year-old daughter of Richard Isom, longtime treasurer of the Rotary Club of St. George, did her National History Day project on RI founder Paul Harris, explaining the “Exploration, Encounter, Exchange in History” he and Rotary have had on the world, including PolioPlus and last year’s District 5420 service in Puerto Penasco, Mexico. Judges who viewed and heard the Diamond Valley Elementary School 4th grader’s presentation reported, they were very impressed with her knowledge, understanding and confidence. One judge even noted it brought tears to her eyes because she was so touched by the impact of Natalie’s presentation. Congratulations to Natalie ... no doubt, a future Rotarian.

Pickleball for Lunch

It was a spectacular spring day when members of SGR met at The Fields in Little Valley for lunch and a lesson on the intricacies of pickleball leading up to a proposed tournament in the fall.  Lynn Beecher and Janet O’Riley are heading up the planning committee in a partnership with Pure Pickleball.  Lunch today was provided by Dickie’s Bar-be-que.  Fun meeting!

Club Assembly to Discuss Pickleball

Today in Rotary we took part in a Club Assembly / Business Meeting.  President Terance spoke of a potential shortfall in funds for upcoming projects and invited members to consider their support of a pickleball tournament which Lynn Beecher and Janet O’Riley are organizing in a partnership with the local business Pure Pickleball.  More to come on this project.

Tuacahn Update

Tuacahn Center for the Arts is one of Washington County’s great success stories with an economic impact of more than $85 million in revenue to hotels, restaurants and of course, to the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located in the “Canyon of the Gods” in Ivins, Utah.  As the 2^nd largest economic driver in Southern Utah (#1 is Zion National Park and the 3^rd is “all-things-golf”), Tuacahn partnered with the Walt Disney Corporation in 2005 to bring popular and family friendly musicals – and more than 285,500 patrons annually - to this beautiful red rock canyon. 

In addition to nearly a dozen big-name spring and fall concerts which generate about $1 million in income annually, the summer theater season of outstanding musicals  brings in another $9-10 million in revenue in support of Tuacahn Center for the Arts and Tuacahn High School, the first charter high school in the state of Utah. 

What’s new at Tuacahn?  According to Jeff Fisher, TCA’s Director of Development, “the place is jumping with construction underway on a 19,000 square foot building to house a restaurant and café, gift gallery and a show care facility on the upper floor and a lower level / basement with a full-sized inside stage as well as classrooms for choir, dance and orchestra to accommodate the needs of THS’s more than 400 9^th -12^th grade students.